www.motorklassiek.nl: and La Mondiale

Yesterday I had a nice conversation with someone who had a fantastic idea: A site about classic engines. He saw a nice revenue model in it too. Such a site is very nice indeed. We have had 'motor classic' online for years.

A good site is a service to the readers. No advertising vehicle

From experience I could tell that it is fantastic to create such a site. But that we had not quite found the revenue model behind it. The Dutch language area is not interesting enough for search engines and if you share your soul and salvation with something like Google ads, readers are running away en masse because the site is flooded with advertisements.

But everyone who wants to advertise is welcome!

An example of a digital story

Following that conversation we had about classic motorcycle sites, we give an example of a text from www.motorklassiek nl. The story about La Mondiale….

We also showed that to the planner. He has decided to make other plans.

La Mondiale, the forgotten brand from Belgium

“NON-DEN-JU, DA'S NE SCHONE”, CALLED ONE BELG AGAINST THE OTHER THAN THEY WERE TO ENJOY A PIECE OF IRON ON TWO WHEELS. “AWEL, DA'S 'NE LA MONDIALE, HE. SPACIOUS 80 YEAR OLD NOW. "" WHAT IT MADE EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THINGS. "

I know, my Belgian is no longer what it used to be, but this is more or less the phonetic representation of two motorcycle men who discussed the problems of this illustrious motorcycle brand in a very small room. We were there and recorded a 'clean' story for you.

It's been a while

It is summer 2009 when we are guests in a tiny workshop in Bruges where lathe and refrigerator keep company side by side. We are with Jean Claude VanMaekelbergh, a friendly man who, in addition to his trade in old engines, has further qualified himself in restoring pre-war single-cylinders.

Jean Claude - who is called Jimmy by friends and intimates - is a big fan of these old pots. Brands such as Norton, Jap and BSA predominate with him. There is even a beautifully restored BSA Sloper in the living room. This is for a change when the offer on the life-size modern and very flat television screen that hangs fraternally next to the engine was disappointing.

La Mondiale and a Manx

There are four engines in his workshop. Three from the La Mondiale brand and one Manx. All from far before the world fire. Apparently Beachraces were driven in America with the Norton Manx. The engine that therefore has a kickstarter (you couldn't push it in the sand) is completely original.

So La Mondiale

La Mondiale is originally from Belgium. Jean Claude has specialized in that brand. One engine is still in its original state. Nothing has changed and he is still like he was driving around. Even the paint, at least if you can still speak of paint is original. The other has been restored to new condition. It is a striking appearance and beautifully finished down to every detail. The third La Mondiale is still in the pipeline and is currently being tackled by JC.

It is a racer

It is a racer. "A very special one," reports JC. He points to a few characteristic details such as the quick fasteners on the tanks, the loose friction damper on the front fork and the open clutch. And of course he has a JAP engine. An 500 cc single-cylinder with open head valves. It is these single cylinders in particular that do something to him.

A little further in another 'room' we will say there is still a racer. It is a Cotton also with an 500 cc single-cylinder. TT is stamped in the frame and then a number follows. The engine that looks very cool is equipped with two Brooklands exhausts, two very large brakes and a handlebar that is bent downwards as it was then. He must certainly have been for 1930 otherwise they will not get in with JC. And he must have a JAP engine that is "sure".

I love JAP

Why JC is so fond of JAP engines becomes clear when we discuss the matter with a nice beer. “I identify JAP with sports and racing engines. They are high-quality engines that were originally from home. They were built-in motors that were used by many brands. However, very little has remained of it. That only makes collecting them more interesting. The engines also used in La Mondiale. A brand that I love.

La Mondiale was originally a Belgian brand. It has nothing to do with the Italian brand Mondial as many people think. They were built in Brussels and they were one of the first brands to have a pressed sheet steel frame. They looked very contemporary. I'll say a little Art Deco. Now very interesting to collect in the classic motorcycle atmosphere. Well, I love that style, they may be a bit on the heavy side but that should not spoil the fun.

A challenging project

The racer that I am currently working on was highly incomplete. In fact, I only had a bicycle part that didn't drive. Even as a bicycle not because there were no wheels in it. Parts were missing from the block, but the essentials that were recognizable for a racing engine were missing. From time to time I was able to complete the engine. An engine was searched for, a nice carburetor and two front hubs. Yes, two because the racers had picked up two.

It was therefore important to connect the two front hubs together in order to realize a double front brake. And then it becomes really interesting. I have a lathe here so that you can do things. Turning is a beautiful profession and indispensable when you devote yourself to these types of engines. It also offers the possibility of making something that seems impossible, nevertheless possible. And that is a bit the case with a project like this.

The hubs had to separate first. That means rivets separate from the brake drums. Shorten the hubs by sawing them in two and then welding them together again. Then a new axle must be turned and the brake drums can be mounted. I like this job, but it is labor intensive. Of course they have to be repackaged and then you have a wheel that looks like that of the racers. Then a tipping piece must be made with two cable holders on the front fork to operate the case. The front fork also made of sheet steel, got a friction damper and a new bent handlebar. Of course a bit bent down because it is a racer. I think this is all great work. Every time you have something finished and it mounts you see the engine grow.

La Mondiale had plug-in handles so you look for them. You must also have a sort of fast gas with a passage of a thumb and a decent steering damper. You are looking for that for a few days. You have to go to trade fairs and every time you see something I take it with you. But with just building the front party you are not there.

Then comes the big work. Sketch plates had to be made before the engine block could be inserted. The container had to go in and everything had to be aligned. The chain from the coupling to the crankshaft must be in line. There is a chain edge around it, you also have to make it yourself and the foot rests are mounted. To make everything a little lighter, I have pierced the pedals and other parts. Not too much of course but exactly as it used to be.

Outlets must be bent. A tank must be made. Also a very special one. And a shot comes between the frame on which everything rests. You can see that you get a more complete La Mondiale on the workbench. ”So much talking, that gives you a dry throat. "Another pintje?" Clearly restoring old engines is a wonderful but also labor-intensive hobby.

Belgium 1924-1933

In the previous major crisis in which the well-to-do citizen also ran into financial gums as a result of wild speculation driven by greed, there was a slight spot of light every now and then. The motorcycle world, which was certainly not easy, did everything to survive. Reason why so many different models were born and disappeared. It was no different in the bustling city of Brussels where La Mondiale was manufactured.

To be modern, they came as one of the first brands with a sheet steel frame and front fork. The machines were top heavy but the customer thought it was beautiful. They started by installing two-stroke engines with a capacity of 308 cc and a bore and stroke of 75 x 68 mm. In England they would say "Long stroke pots."

The two branches were so good in taste that heavier versions were made. That is how an 349 cc came out, which heralded a new era while smoking and roaring. They were cheap and also very stylish to see. In order not to be left behind in the fierce competition, four branches were also built. These were heavier and modern, even with the overhead camshaft. For example, they used Chaise engines with a content of 347 cc and 498 cc that had a sort of rotating disc in the head as a camshaft. Villier's four-stroke models were used for the cheaper versions, usually with push rods.

In Brussels, La Mondiale became a real concept that, despite the lean times and the lamplight of tail lanterns on lamp oil, created a beautiful image on the roads.

Signs on the wall

It is clear that Jean Claude is sensitive to the right atmosphere around him. In his workshop, old billboards are interspersed with different engine blocks on the shelf. They are mostly single-cylinder and from the JAP brand, but that is almost impossible. On the side is an old Manx with a blanket in a prop on it. The Norton has not been refurbished and is still completely original. "That's the way I like them," says JC. We can only confirm that, but find them!

Because he was able to turn his hobby into his work, he can often be seen on Marktplaats where he offers some of his exotics. If we take a quick look at one of the others, as he says 'kotjes', we soon see five other engines. For example, there is a beautiful old Norton with all the emblems on it that were collected by the previous owner by driving rallies.

There is also a James V-twin from the twenties waiting for the next customer. There is a beautiful Matchless from the forties and a very nice Cotton. Somewhere under a pile of crates is an Indian Powerplus in parts. Not complete but for sale. A little further we see boxes full of parts for Excelsior. It doesn't seem to stop, every time we look further we see more. A paradise for the enthusiast. "You just have to love it," my wife always says. And she is right. I also do that.

The La mondiale in street version is such a motor to love. If you compare it with the racer you can clearly see the differences. The frame is almost the same but has a very low seat. He misses the extra spare tank on top but has a cute tool box again. There is a very long handle on the side for lifting it onto the centerstand. The exhausts are open, how beautiful it must have sounded at that time!

Only the oil tank is different, smaller. This also applies to the front party. The front wheel is smaller with a gear ring for the odometer drive. The block is also lighter. It is a JAP with a content of 347 cc. On the center tube you can clearly recognize the suspension of the gearbox. This is also the only tube on the frame. Because of the electric light (also very modern), it has a magdyno (magnet and dynamo) and is a very complete motorcycle for its time.

But something different than the La Mondiale racer that is built by JC. When he has to be finished, JC smiles. “What do you think? I really don't know myself, young. Have a beer, for the time being it looks good here. "

Read more about classic engines? Look at www.motorklassiek.nl Looking costs nothing. But advertisers are of course welcome. And in print we have real stories every month about really classic motorbikes. In a real paper monthly!