Here is a review of the major Sunbeam S7 and S8 documents available.

Sunbeam S7 and S8 (Super Profile Series) - Robert Cordon Champ

This book was first published in the mid-eighties as part of a popular series of marque guides published by Haynes. The book is roughly spit into three sections. The history and evolution section give a great insight into the bikes, the factory, industry and process that came together to produce the Sunbeam S7 and S8's. It briefly covers the pre-war Marston Sunbeams, the design phase for the bikes, their disappointing sales, the launch of the deluxe and S8, and the eventual cease in production. This first section of the book is well researched and written; it is the best part of the publication. There's a brief section on Sunbeam identification and a reprint of road tests. There is then three owner interviews, which each add a little in terms of practical ownership advice. The last section of the book is stuffed full of photos. Many of the photos illustrate differences, or specific details of the models. I do not worry overly about my bikes appearance; it's a road running machine. However there are many bikes in something approaching factory condition, and it is a pity that a few better preserved machines had not been used for the photos. A book like this could have been a reference point when looking for how a bike might have original been; unfortunately most of the photos are of road running bikes with many minor alterations.

The Sunbeams were a commercial failure and the bikes are not perfect. These two points are highlighted by the book, time and time again, which leaves the reader with rather a negative impression. Since the book is mostly aimed at the owner/enthusiast audience, it seems a shame to focus on the negative aspects of the machines. I would have thought the book could have covered and in no way glossed over all the bikes failings whilst better highlighting the advances made by the bikes design and the enjoyable and successful aspects of the machines.

This book is worth owning for the excellent first section covering the history and evolution of the bikes, the book peters out from that point on, but the good bits make for a very interesting read.

Bedtime Book - Chines Stewart

This book was written by Chines Stewart, one of the original proprietors of Stewart Engineering. It's an excellently quirky book that starts with a lecture about caring for one's 'beam, and at least reading, preferably memorising, the maintenance advice before you might first need it. Before you first step on the kick start. High ideals. The core of the book contains step by step instructions for all minor and major maintenance. It is written in a great level of detail and all in a plain-spoken language. It covers how to start the bike, to how to remove and overhaul the engine. There are just a few diagrams and pictures, used sparingly where required, there are no fillers, no pictures of nice bikes. Any detailed descriptive work is done via reference to the standard Sunbeam Plate diagrams.

This booklet has been republished various times, in several sizes and with slightly different covers. If it says Bedtime Book on the cover, these details are relevant to the contents.

As way of introduction Chines states "This book is intended to play its part in your life with your 'Beam. Read it, digest it, follow it, consult it,..... keep it as your bedside book !"

If you own a Sunbeam, you should own this book.

Sunbeam Motor Cycles - D. W. Munro.

To be completed

The book of the Sunbeam S7 and S8 (Pitmans) - W. C. Haycraft.

To be completed

Manual

When you purchased a brand new Sunbeam it came with an Instruction Manual. The oil stained remnants of an Instruction Manual with at least half of the pages missing came with my bike many years ago, but recently a Mate of mine in the Harley Club, who has a lot of magpie DNA in his genes, found a pristine copy amongst his this will-come-in-handy-one-day's in his loft
Being generous to a fault he passed it on to me and I have been thumbing through it since.

The first thing that struck me was the comprehensive detail. The section headed Major Overhaul explains that This section has been compiled for the benefit of the experienced owner who may prefer to do, as far as possible, all his own repair and maintenance work. Can you imagine in this age of tamperproof machines such a statement in a motorcycle or car owners instruction book with its repeated exhortations to take it to your dealer. My Harley Electraglide came with a mammoth volume, which basically contained the tire pressures, suspension setting and the instruction to take it to your dealer in twenty different languages
Whereas this little 84 page gem will guide you through a full engine strip and rebuild.

Certainly one of the delights of a period publication like the Sunbeam Instruction Manual is the language used, which gives a flavour of the times and a glimpse into the experience of the bikes first owner. When my Beam was manufactured I was six years old so the language of the manual, imagined in a clipped Reithian BBC accent, triggers childhood memories of men in baggy trousers with turn-ups and braces, smoking pipes whilst they buffed up the family sidecar outfit or pre-war Morris Eight. For instance under the heading The importance of running in.. It is a power unit, relatively small in size, running at very high speeds, handling a great deal of heat and developing an enormous amount of power. So give your engine a chance to settle down during the first 1000 miles of its life. The language together with the books very clear black and white drawn illustrations will take you back to the birth of your Beam and you might very well find yourself remarking to your chums over a well earned glass of beer that you find your game old machine surprisingly sprightly in performance. Chines Stewarts Bedside Book contains all you will ever need but the Instruction Manual adds a sense of period, enjoy.
Review by Graham Bassett