SO NEARLY THERE

Our story starts in the summer of 1968 and outside a cafe in Cardiff – which was a popular hangout for local two-wheeled enthusiasts – a motorcycle is kicked into action. The bike is a British twin, but unlike most of the machines of that era, it doesn’t wear the name of Triumph, BSA, Norton or Matchless on the petrol tank but that of a two-stroke made in Birmingham; a Scott. With gear engaged the bike howls away leaving a fresh-faced teenager open mouthed at its distinctive exhaust note, and planting a dream of him one day owning such a machine. The youngster’s name was Andy Rowett, and 50 years on that dream has turned into reality twice over, as not only does he now own an early-1930s TT Replica, but also one of the last British-powered two-strokes, in the form of a Silk 700S.

Think of a typical British made stroker and you will almost certainly conjure up a mental picture of a humble Villiers-powered lightweight, but in comparison, the Silk was conceived as a top of the range, high-end sports tourer, to rival the likes of BMW. Out