The story of 233 ALT started in 1963 when it was purchased from a  motorcycle garage in Acton West London.

It was used on a daily basis for a short journeys to and from

Power Road in Chiswick.

Every year it would make the journey to the West country for a two week

break enjoying the open roads to be found in that area during the 60s.

On one of its journeys to work it was hit side on at 30 mph by a car throwing it and its rider high into the air.

233 ALT came crashing to the ground with its rider not far behind.

Amazingly 233 ALT was not badly damaged,  just a few scratches and

the rider escaped with the same.

During 1968 it was sold to a chap living in Twickenham where its life

spiraled downwards until it was bought by Peter Caisley who lived in

Twickenham at the time,  for spares.

Peter kept it for many years and decided eventually to give it a new lease of life.

Peter began by introducing an extra fuel tank between the rear and front frames but it did not end there.  Many other modifications were tried and discarded until it

evolved into the machine it is today,  A "Cafe"  Racer.

The pictures below tell the story from its days of run about to the beautiful machine it is today. 

233 ALT during its early life in Chiswick,  note the fur around the headlight rim, (very mod)

Peter Caisley has now become its new owner and has fitted a prototype fuel tank.

Years on and 233 ALT takes on a very sporty look

The near finished article looking

every bit the racer,  it still needs

an engine modification to complete the project.

Two exhaust mount straps await final addition

of extended pipes.

Fitted here are two Typhoon 80

dellorto 17.5 mm carburettors  fitted to reed valves from the crankcase. (not cylinders)

Peter scoured scrap yards to find two Piaggio Typhoon 80 cylinders and cylinder heads shown here.   

Peter leaves the Kempton park show on his nearly completed "cafe" racer.

Two Typhoon 80  75cc cylinders complete with pistons and heads were grafted onto the Rumi crankcase.

The cylinders have no inlet ports to attach carburettors therefore holes were machined out of the crankcase

to take two Typhoon reed valves.

Two re-jetted  manual choke modified  Typhoon 80 17.5mm carburettors were then fitted to the reed valves.

At present the original Rumi silencer is being used but it is planned to attach two sexy "Endy" extractor pipes.

An electronic ignition system to give un-paralleled accuracy and a 15 tooth drive socket to cope with output demand

has been fitted..

On the scooter I fitted front shocks,  cut down fibreglass mudguards front and rear,  supplementary fuel tank

and racing seat which houses a battery and toolkit.

The crash rail was removed in favour of rear set footrests which required a modified brake pedal and prop stand

all topped off with a pair of original "Ace bars".

All this sounds simple but it has taken two years to perfect.

Peter Caisley 

                                                                                        233 ALT

I recently found this picture drawn by my twin brother who owned 233 ALT in the early 60s.

You may find this hard to believe but this is how he wanted 233 ALT to look if he had the money

to modify it.

It bares an uncanny resemblance to how 233 ALT looks today.

I think this is very strange.  What do you think.         ( Paul Stokes)