Hi, that looks like a finished bike not a project, in 1983 I bought a brand new Kawasaki ke175, it was a great bike for blatting around the local streets on, I sold it in 1989 to buy the kr-1 that I still have today! that rambler is interesting, what year is it? the frame looks like a direct copy of the Yamaha dt175mx from the late seventies, this was Britains last ditch attempt to stop the Japanese bikes from dominating the uk market, and it failed, what make of engine does it have? looks a bit east European, here's a really bad quality pic of my ke taken just after I got it in 1983, in the background is my first car, a 1978 vauxhall chevette, by the time I sold it it had twenty (yes, 20) stereo speakers in it!
Just did a google search and found out that the engine is from a Yamaha Dt175, all the electrics and cycle parts are Yamaha derived as well, the bodywork was made in Italy so apart from probably the frame the bike was a kit that was assembled in the uk. such a shame that an industry that ruled the world for nearly a century ended up in this way
Sorry I have not replied for a while been busy with work, anyway what I should have said is this is the project I have just completed.
NVT made the frame, the monoshock was several years before Yamaha or any one else at the time, Marzocchi suspension, Grimeca brakes and lights from CEV all Italian, the engine, instruments and indicators are from Yamaha as fitted to the dt 175mx. I have just put it back on the road after an absence of 33 years.
Looks great, I remember the BSA Tracker that was sold alongside the Rambler, it was basically the same bike but with 'BSA' stickers on the tank! its good that these bikes are preserved for future generations to appreciate
Yep good article, they are testing a few tiddlers this moth with the 200 cc trailies and the AR80 review. I didnt realise the NVT's previous owner had used it as a field bike. It makes the refurb look all the better.
Steve
Thought I had one in my brochure collection; here's an A2 size double sided poster for the NVT range. The receipt is a quote I got for a 125 Rambler, which I never did buy!
Stop annoying me, I'm running out of space to hide the bodies!