Over at Iconic we’re helping the Petersen Museum sell some of their collection – one of the bikes that will be finding a new home is a Famous James that’s offered with no reserve! ML stands for Military Lightweight, as this bike was originally designed to be utilized by airborne British and Canadian troops in WW2. A civilian version was offered between 1946 and 1948, after which the model was replaced by the James Comet.
There’s a folk tale about how the bike got the nickname of “Clockwork Mouse” – supposedly on the afternoon of D-Day, a dispatch rider who was normally used to riding bigger bikes was asked for his impression on the James. His quote was “You wind it up and it goes – just like a ‘Clockwork Mouse'”. Whether or not you believe that story, the bike uses a Villiers 9D 125cc two stroke with a three speed hand shift transmission. For more information on the ML 125, check out this page dedicated to the model.
This example has been part of the collection at the Petersen Museum for several years but as of late it’s been tucked in a corner of the Petersen Vault. So with that in mind, it’s time for it to find a new home!
Find this ML for sale in Los Angeles, California with bidding up to $1,350 here on Iconic Motorbike Auctions.
Disclosure: Bike-urious is a partner in Iconic Motorbike Auctions.