Greeves The Complete Story

Author: Colin Sparrow, ISBN: 9781847977410, 222 pages, Hardback, Published in 2014

In twenty-five years, Greeves produced around 25,000-30,000 machines — a number considered relatively modest when compared with some of their contemporaries, such as Triumph. However, Greeves was not small in ambition, or indeed achievement, which is resoundingly illustrated in Greeves — The Complete Story.

From a tentative start in the early 1950s, Greeves expanded through the 1960s, producing scrambler, trials, road racing and road bikes. Founders Bert Greeves and Derry Preston Cobb produced machines from their factory at Thundersley in Essex, establishing a world-wide reputation in motorcycle sport, particularly off-road competition. Greeves scramblers won the European Championship in 1960 and 1961, and numerous ACU Scrambles Stars.

The trials bikes were consistent front-runners in competition and were a leading influence in the move from big four-strokes to lighter two-strokes in trials. Greeves bikes won the European Trials Championship in 1964 and 1967. In 1969 a Greeves was ridden to victory in the Scottish Six Days Trial, the last British bike to achieve that honour.

With an ever-increasing reputation for success, Greeves machines were to be seen in high numbers in the International Six Days Trial (ISDT). Works machines were included in one or more of the British International Trophy or Silver Vase teams in every year of the 1960s. In all, forty-one ISDT Gold Medals were won on Greeves machines.

In 1963 Greeves put a 250cc road racing machine into production. Intended as an inexpensive clubman's mount, it nonetheless succeeded in winning the lightweight Manx Grand Prix in 1964 and 1965, and numerous short-circuit races. Greeves made some very attractive roadsters that handled well, utilizing technology developed in competition. They were lightweights mostly powered by Villiers engines, and Greeves' twin-cylinder models were particularly pleasant bikes to ride.

Standing as they do among the legendary sporting marques, Greeves' products are still accessible to enthusiasts as affordable classics with excellent potential for competition use.

Synopsis:

A detailed history of Greeves motorcycles from the early 1950s to the 1970s. With production histories and specification details for all the main models, and hundreds of photographs throughout, Greeves — The Complete Story is an ideal resource for anyone with an interest in these classic sporting motorcycles. The book covers:

• Bert Greeves, Derry Preston Cobb and the formative years — from invalid carriages to motorcycle production in 1953
• Model-by-model specification guides for the main roadsters, scramblers, trials bikes and road racing bikes
• World-wide motorcycle sport success, including European Championship wins for Greeves scramblers in 1960 and 1961
• The final years — 1972-1979
• Advice on owning and restoring a Greeves model today

About the Author:

Colin Sparrow, who is a retired Chief Environmental Health Officer, has been a motoring enthusiast since childhood. From early adventures with British bikes in the 1960s through to modern Japanese superbikes, motorcycles have always had a place in his life.

Essex-born, he has always been interested in the products of the Greeves concern, and has exploited their competition potential in road racing, sprinting, trials and scrambles.

As past Chairman of the Greeves Riders Association, current Editor of their publication Leading Link and sometime writer for RealClassic magazine, he has accumulated a broad spectrum of Greeves knowledge and experience.