Your Collection: 1961 Greeves MCS
Sunday, March 3, 2013 | 6:00 AM
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PrintThis weeks collection comes to us from Mark Edwards.
Here is my pride and joy. A 1961 Greeves MCS (MotoCross Special). From around 1958 to 1964, Greeves was the 250 to have. Their first success was with the Hawkstone model which was named after the legendary track with the same name in England. That bike was developed by Brian Stonebridge who rode for Greeves until his death in a car accident in 1960.
In 1959 a young up and comer by the name of Dave Bickers was hired by Bert Greeves the founder of the company. Dave was a tenacious rider. He quickly became the dominant rider in the 250 class and also won many races against the bigger 500cc four stroke machines of that time period. He entered the 1960 European Championship (it was not called the World Championship until 1962) and won that easily on the Hawkstone. By midyear of 1960, Greeves had made some modifications to the Hawkstone (bigger alloy cylinder, a full 256cc displacement, new air filter, square tubing swing arm, and full width hubs for strength). These new improvements went in to production for the 1961 model and was called the MotoCross Special. It was essentially a Dave Bickers’ Replica. Dave went on to also win the 1961 European Championship on the same bike.
My father was in the Air Force and stationed in England in 1959 – 62. I was only 5 in 1961 but I can remember going to my first motocross races there. At that time about the only bikes on the starting line were Greeves with a few DOTs, James and Cottons’ thrown in but the Greeves was the bike of the day. I have always been involved in dirt bikes and motocross ever since then. I restored a couple older mini bikes and decided I wanted to do a full size motocross bike from the sixties as this time period of motocross is my favorite era. The first bike I thought of was the Greeves. I looked on EBay and Craigs List for over a year before I found this MCS. It was just what I wanted. It took about a year and a half to get it completed but it turned out better than I could have imagined. I was going to race it in a couple vintage races a year but now that it is done I don’t think I want to damage it. Every time I walk into my garage and see it, it puts a smile on my face.
In hunting for parts I found a contact in England that knows Dave Bickers. I sent them a number plate to have Dave sign it for me. Dave has had some physical problems the past couple months and has been in the hospital but they said he is doing better and they hope to get the number plate signed as soon as he recovers. To have Dave’s signature on the front number plate will make the bike complete.
Here is a before and after photos.
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I don't see the point of owning a bike and not riding it. I wouldn't want to ride an old p.o.s like that. Maybe it's cool to some people, but i think the money spent would have been better off on a modern bike, something you can actually ride. just my opinion though. Just don't see the point of having a bike sit in the garage that your not gonna ride :(
It truly was a very important mx bike. Some people actually appreciate history. I remember seeing a few Greeves that were raced in 68 at the old Crotona scrambles in NY. And besides is there a rule that says you can't have another bike to ride?
Nice work Mark!!! I love seeing the vintage bikes at the races that are put on display. It amazes me that parts are still available for restoration purposes. It must be difficult to find and polish everything up. The years really show on old parts.
Sorry to hear about Dave Bickers. Hope he recovers well. Man, that is a name out of the past!!! Pre Joel Robert and Roger DeCoster era!!! By the way, seeing the vintage bikes brings a smile to my face as well!!!
Beautiful job! Would be a nice addition to anyone's collection and Bank's signature would be frosting on the cake. Taking offers yet? ;-)
DK
Excellent find and restoration.
That is a fine museum piece. Now build another you can play with !
I'll tell you why somebody won't ride that bike. I rode it, and I know why.
1. It's slower than hell. After getting off my prototype, the Greeves felt like it had no power whatsoever.
2. The leading link suspension makes it nose dive like hell off of every jump, and you can't air it out much or you'll endo.
There's no sense in destroying every old bike. Even a TM400 deserves to be preserved, if only to strike fear in the hearts of those who left them behind long ago.
I'd like to have that Montesa. first bike I ever owned.
Wonderful restoration! I remember a guy back in the early 70's had one restored but it was a different year? I think the frame was black on that one. It did have the leading link front suspension. It has been a long time and I also thought it did come with an up pipe? The one I remember had an up pipe? No silencer. I was only 14 or 15 at the time but it was a big deal even then! If I could remember the guys name that had it all I remember was the guy instead of cussing used the word Knoking all of the thim? He also stuttered. The guy was from Bulington Iowa, I am pretty sure? He also had some early CZ's.
@ speed shifter how old are you and you really raced one, or rode one? that is neat!
Love the restoration! Love the leading link front suspension (even with its faults) Very good job. I am in the midst of a 1970 Kawasaki F5 Big Horn (2/70 date) so its an early first year model. You can watch the serires of the restoration here.
http://www.thejunkmanadv.com/barn-fresh-restoration.html
My cousin was friends with a kid named Richard Harris Fayetteville, NC who finished top 20 at Road Atlanta 1972 in the 500 mx on a greeves. He is to this day the only human on the face of the earth that has title of only rider to ever race the bike in a national..That is pretty cool distinction to have..... It was a great day ,excellent venue in the day. A friend of mine got 2nd Gary Semics form Ohio also on a husky.. I watched every MX event that they ever had... There were some great races there!
@Welker, 54, and I didn't race one, only rode one. Somebody had one and let me ride it. Although it felt like an ancient dinosaur to me at the time and I wouldn't want to race it, I really appreciated it for what it was. There's something really beautiful about those early motocross bikes, and I wish I had one!
Its got laid down shocks, but a springer front end. The motor and chrome tank looks pretty sano! I bet it was a good flat tracker- nice to see such an old one. The VR CR and KX in the background make me much wetter though.
Don't see how anyone can call an old bike from the past a p.o.s? Maybe if it has been setting in someones back yard or in the junk yard for year, but other than that the old stuff is cool. First it is about HISTORY. What are we going to have in years to come if no one cares? I have my 1969 250cc Greeves that I rode back in the day and a few others I don't ride because I want them to be just like they were. This will give my grandkids something to look at when they get older so they can see what grandpa rode compared to the bikes of today.
These bikes need to be restored and if we don't ride them that's ok. If you want to restore one and go race it at a vintage event then that's cool as well. As for me I rode all those old bikes from 1957 till now, and to see them brings back some old memories.
Restore those old bikes and put them in your garage for a few friends to see or put them on display somewhere for may to see.
If it wasn't for a small few that care these old bikes would be gone forever.
If you have an old bike that you want others to see at a Supercross or Motocross Nationals event. Go to: http://www.legendsandheroestour.org/
PRESERVE THE HISTORY, and the bikes of Motocross.
Eli949494: Not sure why you would bother commenting on this article. Once you move out of your parents house your pizza delivery job will barely cover the cost of your zit cream.
Very cool restoration!
Great Old sled.!!!! Those were just a few yrs before my TM 400, but I remember a few around. Now that Montesa in the back ground brings fond memorys of Mark Hinkle in Michigan kickin every ones butt 77 - 78.
@ Eli....I can't believe you made that type of comment. These old bikes are MX history.
Try going to Mid Ohio Vintage National and racing an old bike...you would probably get
your butt kicked...
@ Gary...nice comments.
@ Joe I got the best of Hinkle back in the day on my RM's...He did ride those things to
the limit.
I remember the # 1 on Hinkles Montesa, Until Alan King came along to swipe it I believe?
Hruska and Horrocks were animals on their Maico's. I wonder how Matt is doing...He had a bad crash and had severe head trama...I saw him about ten years ago at Red Bud and He didn't remember me or any old race days.
I remeber battling with Hinkle in '77 Pontiac qualifier he crashed in the mud down by
the old doubles. I beat him straight up for four races along with winning money motos.
Still got the old copies of Cycle News in my scrap book. Del Vasey, Mark, and I going
at it on the old night track.(Grass track now)...good stuff. Say Hey to me next time you
come to Red Bud at the tower.
What a magnificent piece of action-art. It is something to think that moto-heads of the day used to campaign these simple machines, putting their dreams and future in the hands of such ham-fisted engineering. It gives you more and then somehow less respect for the meen of steel that wrestled these behemoths through the twisties in pursuit of fame and glory.
Well done.
Nice restore! I've got a Greeves 250 Scrambler which I think is a 1968. Need to get of my arse and restore it as well. Thanks for the motivation!
Will do Larry, I haven't been to red bud since 2001...Planned last yr but didn't make it, will try this yr.......... I recall Hilgendorf and Horracks and Bentley putting on the best 125 race ive ever seen But I believe it was Portland. Exellent old restore.
Sweet bike !great job on the restoration. Congrats...