C5ALIVE Forum

C5Alive General Category => Welcome To The Forum => Topic started by: Howard81 on 02, January, 2013 - 01:11:45

Title: New C5 owner from London
Post by: Howard81 on 02, January, 2013 - 01:11:45

Just wanted to say Hi here. I picked up my C5 today from Steve in Baldock, who had bought them over from Minorca - he purchased a bulk lot of them 20 years ago as surplus, left over from a failed attempt at hiring them out apparently!  I've been hankering after an nice original C5 for years, and this one fitted the bill perfectly. Here's a couple of photos from the original advert:

(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i257/1stbooboo/DSC02497.jpg)

(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i257/1stbooboo/DSC02499.jpg)

Mine is the one with the number plate on the back - to get them road legal in Minorca they were apparently registered as Mobylettes :o

Transporting it back to East London involved strapping the poor thing to my roof bars, but I had no problem in transporting it this way - just a few strange looks on the motorway! ;D

(http://www.howard81.co.uk/upload/c5/sinclair02.jpg)

The C5 is actually in much better condition than anticipated, and very complete right down to the original toolkit. The body is a bit grubby due to storage, but PVC window cleaner gets it looking nice without too much effort. I haven't wired up a battery yet, but I have a spare 015 to hand so I shall be utilising that with the original battery cover.

I do have one problem holding me up so far, the adjustment cone holding the rear right-hand wheel on has split in two! Any ideas on where to get a replacement? The spare ones I have are for a smaller thread and my local bike shops didn't have any in the correct size.. but I'm back to work tomorrow, so I'll try the shops there as well!

Other than that, it just needs cleaning and a few things painting (handle bars, light switch bracket, etc) to make perfect! There's a nice network of cycle lanes where I live, not forgetting the Thames Path, so it'll be getting some good use when completed!!

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: KarlG on 02, January, 2013 - 07:43:20

Hi,

welcome to the forum.

Looks like you made a good purchase there. Excluding the cone and maybe a few accessories it doesn't look like you'll need much in the way of help.  :) :)

Wishing you many amusing miles and a Happy New Year.

KarlG.

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: radiomarty on 02, January, 2013 - 08:28:01

Hi and welcome to the forum - nice Triumph by the way - I believe I may have serviced the control box on your C5 for the previous owner - hope you enjoy it and maybe get to one of this years runs - Marty :)

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: Luke S on 02, January, 2013 - 08:45:38

Welcome to the form and a happy new year :) :)

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: Lancealot on 02, January, 2013 - 08:49:27

HI and welcome to the forum, The C5 looks well and I hope you enjoy it.

Lance

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: Karl on 02, January, 2013 - 12:16:10

welcome to c5alive mate .

email me your address details and I'll get another cone nut off to you  ;)

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: kamilb1998 on 02, January, 2013 - 13:06:43

Welcome to the forum!

Your C5 looks like a good 'un! ;)

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: Dave.76 on 02, January, 2013 - 15:53:12

Welcome to the forum.

It looks like you've bought a good C5, good luck with it.

Lovely looking Triumph Dolomite too.  Is that pagent blue?

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: Howard81 on 02, January, 2013 - 16:25:15

Thanks, I am really looking forward to getting it up and running then hopefully joining in some of the club runs this summer!

BooBoo - you have email!

Dave.76 - indeed it is Pageant Blue!  1978 Dolomite Sprint, one of my other passions ;D

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: Karl on 02, January, 2013 - 18:21:27

Quote from: Howard81 on  02, January, 2013  - 16:25:15

BooBoo - you have email!

I've replied, and the item will be posted tomorrow  ;)

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: Dave.76 on 02, January, 2013 - 18:22:14

Quote from: Howard81 on  02, January, 2013  - 16:25:15

Thanks, I am really looking forward to getting it up and running then hopefully joining in some of the club runs this summer!

BooBoo - you have email!

Dave.76 - indeed it is Pageant Blue!  1978 Dolomite Sprint, one of my other passions ;D

It's one of my favourite car colours and looks great on the Dolomite.

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: Howard81 on 06, January, 2013 - 16:20:36

First run out in the C5 today and covered a distance of 3.1 miles along the Thames Path and various cycleways. All I can say is that the C5 got a LOT of looks, and a fair few positive comments :D it's absolutely bonkers to drive! Great fun too. But you already knew that  ;D

Even so, in this cold weather and a fair bit of peddling I used up 3 out of 5 LED's on the charge bar. I reckon you could do 5 miles on a charge, probably more in the summer when it's not so cold. I'm using a cheap £40 015 battery. Does that seem about right?

I'm now thinking about stripping the motor and gearbox for a service and re-grease and fitting a set of the Schwalbe tyres from the C5Alive shop!!  ;D

(http://www.howard81.co.uk/upload/c5/c5canal.jpg)

Title: Re: New C5 owner from London
Post by: Karl on 07, January, 2013 - 12:43:55

lovely piccie  ;)

the mileage out of your battery seems about right  8)