Registered 3rd March 1926 this Coventry Eagle Flying 8 is a B160 model fitted with its correct 998cc JAP OHV engine ( type KTOR ). Actually registered in Coventry as RW 6127 records show it was first owned by a Mr L Wickinson but past to Alexander Forty of Croydon some time in the early 1930’s. Mr Forty was a keen motorcyclist who modified the bike for continental touring, constructing his own set of front forks, modifying the front brake and fitting a large fuel tank. The history file contains a period photo, taken in Europe in the late 1930‘s showing the bike in this specification fully loaded with luggage. These modified parts have survived and come with the bike. Having been owned by Mr Forty most of its life it only became available in the late 1970’s / early 80’s when he was no longer able to ride it, finally coming to the last owner in 1983 who undertook and extensive restoration to return it to its original factory specification. This was painstaking and meticulous work even for someone with an engineering background who had restored many Broughs and other fine motorcycles as great care and attention had been taken to return the bike to state that it is in now.
Complete with its correct type Webb double spring forks, super rare Jardine 3 speed gearbox, twin float Binks carb and lucas electrical equipment this is probably the most correct specification example in existence. The Flying 8 was a direct alternative to the Brough SS100 of the same era and shared the same JAP KTOR engine, but is much rarer as fewer were built and even less have survived. As such examples hardly ever come to the open market, this could be a once in a life time opportunity to acquire one of the finest pre War ‘sports / touring ‘ motorcycles of its time, in excellent condition with a very fine and interesting history.
