Indian motorcycle ad.

[squirrelslayer]

I haven't seen too many of the tri-cyl kawi's around here. Only one I've seen in action was headed up to our hunting area "tight canyon road" and I smelled him long before heard him and then I finally saw him! I came up on him in my hopped up diesel pickup which I can fling around going up hill pretty well and he cranked it on and we were off! Finally pulled over in town at a gas station and I had to pull in. When he got off of it and pulled his helmet off I said "damn that thing is rad" and he replied with a grizzled "WHAT!!!?" and then pulled his ear plugs out! lol

[gypsyman]

First motorcycle I threw a leg over, I could call mine, was a 1971 350cc Harley. Bought it brand new from the local Harley dealer here in Toledo.  Imported from Italy, Amerecchi-Harley Davidson. Single cylinder four stroke. By 1973, I had a 1966 shovelhead. Use to win bar bets by starting it by hand. (took off the electric start, as it wouldn't turn over with the higher compression pistons I had installed) Always had a few of the old timers riding the Indians from the 50's. Good times!! Anna, I had a few friends that liked those Kawaski's triple's. The 500cc,(they made 350-500-and 750 in the 2 stroke) was the meanest. I believe it was about 80hp and weight was somewhere between 350-400 lbs. Heck of a hp to weight ratio. We nicknamed them ''widowmakers''.  gypsyman

[Oldshooter]

 

1971 350cc Harley. Bought it brand new from the local Harley dealer here in Toledo.  Imported from Italy, Amerecchi-Harley Davidson.

A friend of mine had one of those. Wasn't a bad machine. It responded better if ya cussed it in I talian.     We discovered Most of Jefferson county on that ride. I was 14 he was 16   Dont know the year model but that was in 66
 
 
oops checked the Math

[Conan The Librarian]

GypsyMan:
 
That "widow maker" nickname triggered some memories about the Kawasaki 500 triple. I think they got that name because of two things:
1) They had really bad handling characteristics with all kinds of crazy wobbles at speed, both cornering and going straight.
2) They were too powerful for most riders. You supposedly could pull a strong wheelie at over 100mph on one and flip over backward. They were easy to wheelie, I don't know about 100mph though.
 
I remember them as smoking a lot. Real oil burners.
 
There was a great movie call Gumball Rally made in the mid 70s that's a great comedy. There was a character there, I think called the crazy Hungarian. The movie was about a cross country race. He was the motorcyclist. It was not a speaking part. He was there for comic relief using sight gags in what was already a comedy. I think he rode a 350 triple. The sight gags included lots of things that motorcyclists have to deal with, like bugs and slippery pavement. It's a good movie. I should see if I can rent it again.

[ChungDoQuan]

I was into dirt riding back in the 2 stroke days. I went from a 125 Elsinore to a 250 Elsinore, to a 360 Yamaha Enduro (it had lights, does that count as a street bike?) I did win a bar bet once, on which would win in 1/8 th mile, between a Honda 350 Four, a Harley Sportster, or a 442 Olds. The 350 smoked 'em, like I knew it would.  Sometime last year there was a show on Speed channel where they put a Suzuki street bike (Hayabusa, I think) against a Lamborghini and a newer Corvette. They did a drag race, a road race, and just flat out top speed. One of the cars got top speed. By the way, the BMW (either "S" or "HP4") is now the fastest production bike on the road, but that top slot never lasts long.

HDs are really pretty bikes. So are the new Indians. They just don't do it for me. I actually liked the Kawasaki Drifter, which was a flat-out ripoff of classic Indians.  One problem I have with the mega cruisers is the gas mileage. HD does pretty well stock, but they start to suck gas if you modify them. 1100-1200 ccs is about the maximum size to get good efficiency. My bike can get nearly 50 mpg if I don't push too hard, usually around 45 mpg. A big cruiser can get less than my car! It's all about what you want to ride.

[Conan The Librarian]

ChungDoQuan:
 
you wrote:
"I went from a 125 Elsinore to a 250 Elsinore, to a 360 Yamaha Enduro "
You, sir, have superb taste in cycles. All three are classics, and were superb.
 
My problem with the big bikes today is that they're so big. Why back in my day, you whippersnappers, the H-D Electra Glide weighed 600 pounds and was considered massive. Today there are cars that weigh less than some of the biggest bikes, which can exceed 1000 pounds.
 
This gets to the problem of lifting up a bike if it drops. I was chatting with an enthusiast whose father had a H-D. He dropped it and as it lay there he could watch the handlebar bending under the weight. It was a 900pound plus bike. He has a comparable Kawasaki, I don't remember the model, but it's a big one too. He said the center of gravity is so low on that bike that he can easily right it after it fell. It took him and his dad to lift the H-D.
 
For me, I've always liked my touring bikes right around 450 pounds. Agile, but heavy enough to cruise well.
 
Strange sighting: I was in traffic last summer and there was an older guy with a goldwing. He had a special set of wheels that looked a lot like training wheels on a bicycle. They allowed him to keep the bike steady when at a stand-still. Seemed like a pretty good idea for an older gent or a guy with a bum leg who wants to keep riding. Looked a little strange, but hey, all full dressers look a little strange.

[Conan The Librarian]

By the way, in case anyone was wondering, there is no limit to the amount of small talk I'll make on the topic of cars or motorcycles. I haven't owned a bike since about 1984, but I still like them a lot.

[Oldshooter]

Strange sighting: I was in traffic last summer and there was an older guy with a goldwing. He had a special set of wheels that looked a lot like training wheels on a bicycle. They allowed him to keep the bike steady when at a stand-still. Seemed like a pretty good idea for an older gent or a guy with a bum leg who wants to keep riding. Looked a little strange, but hey, all full dressers look a little strange.

I saw one of those myself, the guy rode up flipped a switch and the wheels came down while he was rolling, stopped and he stepped off.  Not my thing but for a handicapped fellow or old fart(older than me) it might extend riding time. 
 
prolly be good in parking lot traffic too.

[guzzijohn]

Check this video out on how to pick up a fallen motorcycle. I have had to try it on my Moto Guzzi  , although not as heavy as some bikes it is not small and it works well as long as you have traction. Easy to do on pavement, more difficult on sand or dirt as your feet tend to slide out just about the time you almost have the bike up.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeLkrPkjimo


GuzziJohn

[Oldshooter]

I had to learn that when I started riding dressers. An old man taught me,.... that was in 88. Wonder if he is still riding here on earth.

[FPH]

Strange sighting: I was in traffic last summer and there was an older guy with a goldwing. He had a special set of wheels that looked a lot like training wheels on a bicycle. They allowed him to keep the bike steady when at a stand-still. Seemed like a pretty good idea for an older gent or a guy with a bum leg who wants to keep riding. Looked a little strange, but hey, all full dressers look a little strange.

I saw one of those myself, the guy rode up flipped a switch and the wheels came down while he was rolling, stopped and he stepped off.  Not my thing but for a handicapped fellow or old fart(older than me) it might extend riding time. 
 
prolly be good in parking lot traffic too.

Saw those on a Goldwing with an older gentleman and his wife (trailer too).....he said it kept him from having to go to a three wheeler.  He loved them.

[guzzijohn]

Quote from oldshooter:
"I had to learn that when I started riding dressers. An old man taught me,.... that was in 88. Wonder if he is still riding here on earth."


Don't know if it could be the same guy but I know a rider in OK that will be turning 92 soon. He has been putting 20-30K a year on his bikes until this year when he had a bit of a cancer battle but he seems to be beating the cancer and is riding regular again. He still pulls a pop up camper with the bike, doesn't use motels. He is my "getting old" model.
GuzziJohn

[Conan The Librarian]

GuzziJohn:
 
Good post. Thanks! I used to just grab them by the handlebars and lift them up. They were easy. Good to know that technique in case I need to help somebody that way. Nice to see a lady can do it too.
 
I'd have to see how it works on a bike without all the handholds of a dresser.

[Dee]

Boy! After readin this I guess I started pretty small. In 62 when I turned. 12 I got a cushman huskey.

[Conan The Librarian]

Dee:
 
Very lucky! Standard in my area was mini-bikes. Believe it or not, I had a Kawasaki brand mini-bike that I bought used. It looked just like a conventional mini bike, including the Kawasaki brand Briggs-Stratton style 4-stroke engine. 5hp!

[BBF]

Always went Japanese, good price, less noise, they started and didn't leak oil.    My first, a 250 cc Suzuki electric start and a rotary gearbox. Sometime in the early 1960's bought in El Paso.

[Conan The Librarian]

Those Japanese never really figured out how to do motorcycles right, except for handling, looks, performance, reliability, durability, quality, finish, affordability, comfort, ergonomics, innovation, style, novelty, overall roadworthiness, dealer support, parts network, repair network, aftermarket accessories, and racing pedigree.    I guess that leaves je nais se quoi, which is what a lot of the other companies sell.

[kennyd]

Well I may as well chime in.  My older brother taught me to ride on a '48 EL, (61") with a foot clutch and hand shifter.  First year of the panhead and last of the springer forks.  Had that thing WAY too fast a couple times with the hard tail, and little brakes.  Went all over a little later on a BSA 441, rode a Sears 250 (Puch 2 pistons on a forked rod) all the way cross Kansas and half of Colorado in one long trip.  Cruised at 50 to 55.   


Now the bike is a Triumph Bonny. 


If there is a next one it will be a dual sport of some sort.   


As for HD and Indian, they need to ex

Those Japanese never really figured out how to do motorcycles right, except for handling, looks, performance, reliability, durability, quality, finish, affordability, comfort, ergonomics, innovation, style, novelty, overall roadworthiness, dealer support, parts network, repair network, aftermarket accessories, and racing pedigree.    I guess that leaves je nais se quoi, which is what a lot of the other companies sell.

pand their offerings if they will keep getting newer riders.

[Old Syko]

I can remember the Kawasaki 500 two strokers when I was a kid. But it seems the riders didn't last
very long on them. 

Here's one  old guy who survived them.  Started with the S2 350 that ate 750 Hondas for lunch.  Went from that to the 500 and then to the 750 which responded well to internal modifications.  Take it from someone who lived it, there was no comparison between the 500 and the modded 750.      Used to buy Klotz 2 stroke oil by the case.  Went from that to the 900 4 with a 1250 kit.  It wouldn't outrun the big triple by any stretch of the imagination but you could ride it more than a handful of miles at a time.  BTW, my son standing on the seat of the S2 will be 40 soon.

[yellowtail3]

fine poast, Syko. Last time I rode an S2 was about... 1978, and it was a few years old then.

[Brett]

My brother used to build custom choppers back in the early to mid 70's , mostly Harleys.  His bikes were every bit as good looking if not better than the stuff Orange County Choppers ever put out.   My brother used to watch OCC and laugh at some of the Afro-engineering that they used when building their bikes.   He was also amazed at the money they got for them.  My brother got out of the business because back in those days they were not profitable.   He could hardly sell the bikes for enough to cover materials and labor back then.   

You guys ever see a Vincent Black Shadow?   My brother had one for a short time.

[kennyd]

Just had to do that didn't you?  Vincent made IMO the best layout there could be; v twin with both exhausts on the front of the cylinders, staggered by the amount of the rod ends on the crank, a rear suspension with one spring, similar to the monoshock, except that was in 1928.  We all have seen the picture of Rollie Free at Bonneville.  Vincent club came to Colorado a few years ago, so I took the day off and went to the show at Central City.  Rode with a gentleman owning a 36? single that was hotrodded a bit.  Fun to see and hear.  There is a warm spot for 500 singles in my heart.


As for the Kawasakis, brother had a friend with one.  Let me try it, and I was impressed with the power, then it hit 6000 rpm and it wheelied when it came on the pipe.  Scared me, I was used to lugging engines.  As I remember, he got killed doing 100 on South Broadway in Denver (the business thurofare.

[Conan The Librarian]

Vincent song....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxKTzwaEa2o&feature=player_embedded
 

[Brett]

As I recall Vincents were all hand built and had many innovations that were quite advanced for the time such as the afore mentioned rear suspention.

[ChungDoQuan]

Vincents were cool. Basically a big engine with a triple tree mounted on the front and a swingarm on the back. One of the coolest engines ever, I might add.

[Dee]

Some of this stuff never made it to my little town. I did have as couple of Honda 305 Superhawks that were pretty fast.

[gypsyman]

I think that I remember reading that Lawrence of Arabia rode a Vincent. Not a real person, but a comic strip back in the 60's, Steve Roper/Mike Nomad, had Nomad on a Vincent in a couple strips. I believe Jay Leno has a Vincent or 2 in his collection. gypsyman

[ChungDoQuan]

Lawrence rode a Brough Superior. He was around in the 1920s, a little early for a Vincent.

[Old Syko]

On the subject of Indian motorcycles, if you haven't seen the documentary movie The Worlds Fastest Indian, you're missing a treat.  Anthony Hopkins plays the part of New Zealander Burt Munro's quest to set a land speed record on his 1920 Indian he modified with literally no money.

[yellowtail3]

On the subject of Indian motorcycles, if you haven't seen the documentary movie The Worlds Fastest Indian, you're missing a treat.  Anthony Hopkins plays the part of New Zealander Burt Munro's quest to set a land speed record on his 1920 Indian he modified with literally no money.

Thanks... I think I'll fire up Frostwire...