1929 U Model 32 250cc two-stroke

These machines were originally only a run-out model of the remaining U Model production, and were produced until the introduction of the first newly designed (and completely different) GTPs. The petrol tank was painted blue, and apart from that it seems that they were identical with the Us that preceeded them. For some reason they were priced slightly cheaper than the Us at 32 pounds (Sterling) and sold as the '32 Model.

I built this machine up in 1983, from a collection of unrelated parts I had found over the years. It was completed the week before being ridden on only the one major week long Alpine Rally. It was the only two-stroke machine and the smallest at 250cc. The ML magneto failed from seized squishy windings on the last morning of the rally, and was replaced by a spare that had been carried – just in case!