Very OT -- for the Motorcycle Guys

[tedwhite]

Golly, this RFF is littered with motorcyclists! Including myself. I production road-raced Triumphs in the 60's in the bay area. I rode Triumphs and Bultacos (TSS & Metralla) for Monroe Motors on Valencia Street in SF, and Yamahas for Al Fergoda Yamaha on Market Street (two stroke 305 was plenty fast but the bike handled like the frame was made out of PVC pipe). When I wasn't racing I photographed the races for Cycle World magazine (using, of all things, a Rolleicord, as it was the only camera I had).

You might want to google the Kawasaki W650, a retro bike only brought into the states in 2000 and 2001. Looks exactly like either (your choice) the Triumph bonnie or the BSA 650.
Vertical twin with bevel cam drive. I bought one at once when they were introduced and rode it for two years. What got me was that those clever Japanese folks had even got the exhaust note spot on.

In the last ten years I've owned a Ninja 500 (very underated bike and a great bike in the twisties, once you get rid of those OEM Exedra tires); a Honda F3, a Suizuki VX 800, a Suzuki DR350SE, a Suzuki Bandit 600, a Suzuki SV650 (V-twin engine from heaven) and an 100cc Kawasaki Eddie Lawson Replica.

But I've fallen on hard times; only bike I've got currently is a 1975 two-stroke Hodaka 100cc Road Toad that I bought new. Nice cow trail bike, but that's it. Carry cameras in an over-the-shoulder courier bag to minimize shock. Of course, when I fall off and land on the courier bag, all bets are off.

Currently working on a friend to sell me his Suzuki DR650SE.

Cheers

Ted

 

[FrankS]

Favourite Japanese bikes: the classic Honda CB750-4 (early years), Kawasaki 900, Suzuki GS1150.

The 2 stroke Kawasaki 350, 500, and 750's were insane.

 

[tedwhite]

Frank, check your PM's.

Good choice of fav's. I found the Kawasaki 900 flat scary.

 

[RichC]

So, Rich C, are you at wildguzzi.com? Seems I remember your bike. Mine's a 77.

Sometimes - I usually hang out at the Guzzi Exchange Forum (http://morini.com.au/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1), as the Aussies all seem to ride really old Guzzis like mine!

There's a mechanic over here who tunes Guzzis, and has supercharged his 850T (very tidy conversion - it looks tatty and standard until he smokes the tyre!). I'm seriously thinking of getting him to supercharge my lemon!!

Not keen on BSA A65's though - used to own a '73 lightning in the late 1980s. Horrible thing. I had to wear waterproofs to keep the oil off me! It vibrated so badly ("they all do that, sir!") owing to its (standard) high-compression pistons that my hands would go white and blotchy and eventually become so numb that they'd slip off the bars!! And the trail of parts that used to fall off!!

It got a bit too hot once. I was riding through town, and someone shouted "Oi mate - your bike's on fire". When I looked down, sure enough, the engine's blazing away. I leapt off just before the petrol pipes burnt through, depositing a gallon or so of petrol on to the flames. The only postive thing I have to say about that bike is that despite being engulfed in flames, it survived as there's so little plastic - a new seat, wiring and a respray sorted it out (I dread to think what a modern bike looks like after a fire!). Anyway, that was the last straw, and I sold it.

 

[amateriat]

Rich, you're a better man than I am. 😱


- Barrett

 

[amateriat]

Barrett,
My next trip to NY may be with a one-way plane ticket and a visit to this shop! On second thought, would I really want to ride a BSA across country? Probably...

Depends on that particular BSA. If it was a Rocket 3 or the like, maybe (I wanted a Triumph Trident something awful back then...now it might be a Speed Triple). Watching a garden-variety Beezer at idle struck fear into me...I had a lot of dental fillings to lose, and at the time didn't have a witty girlfriend who'd threaten to kiil me if I didn't take her for a ride on one. 😀

But, crouching between a Lightning and Thunderbolt at that shop, it struck me that these bikes had, for for one thing, the essential look a real motorcycle should have, which can't be easily duplicated/faked (though many have tried). Obviously depends somewhat on when one was born, among other things, but it was fun to watch people of all ages stop and stare at these machines.

- Barrett (who really, really hopes they don't get hold of a mint, orange-silver-mist BMW R90S)

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Favourite Japanese bikes: the classic Honda CB750-4 (early years), Kawasaki 900, Suzuki GS1150.

The 2 stroke Kawasaki 350, 500, and 750's were insane.

A Kawasaki 500 triple pulled alongside and challenged me while on my Spitfire. We were both heading onto the freeway entrance ramp and much to my surprise (and likely his as well) the Spitfire beat the Kawasaki -- that was a good day 🙂.

I don't know why the bike bug has bitten me again, especially in the middle of winter, but I'm looking at a couple of other BSA's even though I should know better having once owned one. Another strong contender is a BMW R100S that I have been negotiating with the owner on, and I'm always tempted by the Moto-Guzzi Centauro (and LeMans). Thank God my wife is tolerant...🙂

 

[Paulbe]

FrankS---first bike I ever owned was a Kaw Z1-B--bought a brand new 1975 leftover---beautiful red.
Talk about a Jeckyll-and-Hyde personality!
Paul

 

[pvdhaar]

I don't know why the bike bug has bitten me again, especially in the middle of winter ..

I've used the Suzuki GS450L coffee-grinder through a couple of winters. And provided you've got the right clothing, it's big fun to be out there in the fresh air. It certainly beats riding through rain!

Only bad thing was that the salt used to de-ice the roads ate away at the aluminium, leaving large white blobs on the engine shells. The thing looks horrid now.

What I did let pass though, years and years ago, was a Cagiva Freccia. I was at the garage picking up the Suzuki after a repair when I saw it for sale. A very fast 125cc two stroker. Could have bought it.. wouldn't have been very practical, but it looked really good..

 

[taffer]

Taffer, for the sake of Barcelona's pride, I have a Bultaco Metralla Mk2 Kit America in my garage, with a TSS fairing. Also a Frontera.

Phew ! Been checking around, there seems to be quite a tradition for those Spanish bikes in the US. You're only lacking a Derbi now 😉

 

[aad]

Frank, I suspect you know quite a bit about Guzzis-so I guess you like the lot, eh?

 

[Steve B]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see that so many people here are into esoteric motorcycles. But I was kinda surprised so have to make my own confesion. I used to be a completely terminal euro bike nut. I owned a BMW R80/7 that I converted to big del orto carbs and did a bunch of performance stuff to before I decided to go big and bought a 1980 Ducati 900ss with campagnolo wheels, 40mm del ortos, open conti pipes, the whole bit including the glass bevel drive gear cover. Boy did my neighbors hate me and it sure made the chopper pilots turn their heads as it had that open throated big twin roar. Wish I still had the thing, except that I'd be dead by now. I used to ride with a guy who had an 850 Le Mans and we'd switch bikes now and then. That was a wonderful machine, too. If I ever got another bike now I'd probably go for something classic and not full race. Maybe an R69 or a big british thumper. Too bad I can't afford a BSA Goldstar or something. Cameras sure are cheap by comparison! But then, I don't own any Leicas.

 

[Steve B]

Nope, my name is steve. The guy that I used to ride with who had the Le Mans was named Max. We called him Mad Max of course. He move to Hawaii and offered me the chance to buy his bike. I still wish I had. This was in Davis CA around 1984. We used to go on the "Sunday Morning Ride" in Marin County. What a grand collection of esoterica!! The local sheriff's dept would have the paramedics out in force as there was always trauma. Totally irresponsible! But a lot of fun! My brother had a 1965 Triumph Trophy that we did the whole job on from repainting the frame to bottom end. It was beautiful but we'd spend sunday afternoons watching it "walk"around the garage while idling on its center stand. You never knew where it would wind up with that 360 degree crankshaft but it sure sounded grand!

 

[Steve B]

Hey Frank, I always wanted one of the Hailwood Replicas but I never felt the need for better cornering. I have literally had my knee on the pavement at over 100 so I guess I never had the "kneed". Heh, heh. What bike did you have? God I'm glad I survived that period in my life!

 

[Rob]

My bikes:
1. New 1974 Yamaha DT250 put on 10,000 miles
2. New 1981 Suzuki 550T put on 60,000 miles, long distance touring.
3. Used 1985 Honda 750 Super Sport, bought it fixed it rode it once sold for twice the price.
4. Borrowed 1982 Yamaha xs750? for a trip from NC to Canada and back..
No use for a cycle these days, I carry too much junk around with me.

 

[BJ Bignell]

I saw a handsome Norton here in Liege this afternoon. Hopefully the pictures I took do it justice!

 

[Andy K]

No use for a cycle these days, I carry too much junk around with me.

Get yourself one of these. Slow, but with on demand drive to the third wheel, should get you through any sticky stuff...

 

[Honu-Hugger]

From a standing start and over 100 yards, I'd put money on my horse beating any motorbike 😉

Jenni

Jenni,
From one horse owner to another... save your money 😀.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

This is what I'm reduced to during the winter months...there's a knob on the back that makes the pistons move. Winter's long here in the Rockies 🙂.

 

[Andy K]

This is what I'm reduced to during the winter months...there's a knob on the back that makes the pistons move. Winter's long here in the Rockies 🙂.

Like I said, get one of these. No fear of snow...