Indian motorcycle ad.

[Conan The Librarian]

That's how I got mine. The hodgepodge was better, at least for the stuff I worked on.
 
Best tools I ever used were BMW. Awesome. I still have them. They're the best metric tools I have ever encountered.

[ChungDoQuan]

I used to have a '72 650 Triumph TR6R--- like a Bonneville with a single carb. I was fortunate; I lived near one of the last known Triumph pit mechanics--- HE claimed. He was also one of the last original Triumph dealers, so he had parts! I did "weird" things to mine to make it reliable, under his direction. For instance, I rewired the whole bike and changed it to a negative ground 12 volt system with a Suzuki regulator/rectifier. (I believe the original set up was a 12 volt Zener diode!) The Amal carb was a treat--- it had casting flash in the throat and the idle jet hole didn't go all the way through. My mechanic friend showed me how to clean it up with a set of small files and he opened the idle port hole with a tiny drill in a drill press--- he knew where to drill!. I also added an electronic ignition pickup to get rid of the points. Mine was--- well, MORE reliable! It still tended to shake parts loose on longer rides...

[Conan The Librarian]

I used to do safety wiring on these. Basically drilling through nut and bolt and running a wire through it and twisting so the bolt could not come loose. Very time consuming.

[Anna]

Must be an old timer. Riding used to be an adventure. Ala when you left the house,you did not know if you were pushing it back or riding it.Talking bout the BSA/Triumph/Royal Enfield/Velocette days.Don't like this yuppie era,it's why I no longer ride. I did have a Guzzi Le mons. Like riding a rocket ship on rails.Had all the Harley and Indian too.At least a guy could work on them. Just like buying a vintage british sporty car,ya better be a darn good mechanic.This was part of the price of admission.

Now there's a post lol. There is an old timer in town who collects those old British motorcycles.
Little before my time but he has the Triumph Trident, the BSA , and a Norton Commander.
He let me ride the Trident and I'm telling you that was a mans bike. The vibration was horriblle 
but they were such beautiful bikes. He told me its hard to find an old Triumph in original condition
most of them were made into choppers in the early 70's. And your right he works on them all the
time just like an old AMF Harley shovel head you had better be a good mechanic to keep them
running right. But they say if it weren't for AMF there wouldn't be a HD around today.

[Anna]

Indian has some serious backing and R&D this time around. It will be very interesting to follow. Moto Guzzis are an acquired taste for most people. A common comment by a first time rider is something like this: "I hated it the first 50 miles and was in total love at the end of next 100 miles." But yes they handle way beyond what they look like they should. Their quality control and fit and finish are now as good as any bike company and better than most since Piaggio took MG over. My 2011 Norge model is smooth, fast and handles beyond what one would think considering it's size. My 75 T-3 model has over 100K on it and I would not hesitate to jump on it tomorrow and head out cross country. They do however need to seriously expand their dealer network. You can tell by my handle that I might be a bias toward these great bikes.
GuzziJohn

Your right about the backing Polaris is a serious contender in this market, the Victory is a great
bike but they are great bikes still looking for a name.
And your comment about R&D couldn't be more true. Polaris with their all electric ATV line is
stealing the market.

[Anna]

I love motorcycle threads - they're much more fun than polytics.


I'd like to ride a Harley, haven't been on one since Jimmy Carter was president. They're a heck of a success story. Buying a Harley gets you a certain club membership, as much as a motorcycle.


Guzzis are entertaining, the way they tilt as you blip the throttle...

Yeah, politics does seem to take a back seat to motorcycles. Maybe all the people should have a bike
we all might just get along that way. 

[mauser98us]

Growing up and still living in Arizona,it was/is a great place to ride,dirt and street. I started riding at 7 years old,racing at 13, and at 19 had the Triumph factory looking at sponsoring me. Then they went out of business.Rode till about ten years ago. I just pretty much had done about all I could with a scooter. Then the business I was involved with started to lag,and I sold all my stuff and the Indians and Harleys I got from my dad. Now with all the grand kids, I pretty much am involved with vintage electric toy trains, Pretty relaxing and the grand kids love them. Besides, I can work on them and enjoy drinking some beer at the same time.

[Conan The Librarian]

Mauser98us:
 
That's some pretty cool personal history you got there! I figured anybody who knew details about Imperial wrenches must have some special experience.
 
My favorite relic of the British bike era was the concept of the 500cc thumper (single cylinder). Yamaha had one for a while and it was quite a good back roads bike with enough gazoompah for the highway.

[yellowtail3]

Besides, I can work on them and enjoy drinking some beer at the same time.

That's been a long-time practice of Harley-Davidson riders...

[squirrelslayer]

I know my 06 dyna took some serious abuse with a 115 hp 95'' twin cam and I rode that thing like it was stolen every time it was out. It held up well for what I did to it. But even though I would prob never personally own anything but a harley I can admit to their shortcomings and they are indeed heavy, lethargic, over priced, poor handling, "currently god awful looking" machines. But I can't stop buying, breaking, and cussing them!

[yellowtail3]

I know my 06 dyna took some serious abuse with a 115 hp 95'' twin cam and I rode that thing like it was stolen every time it was out. It held up well for what I did to it. But even though I would prob never personally own anything but a harley I can admit to their shortcomings and they are indeed heavy, lethargic, over priced, poor handling, "currently god awful looking" machines. But I can't stop buying, breaking, and cussing them!

I'm not anti-Harley, even if I diss 'em sometimes. I thought the coolest looking thing they did, was their attempt to counter the ascendant Z1s and other Japanese bikes of late 70s. If only it had some performance to go with the looks...

[Conan The Librarian]

Motorcycle parking...
 
http://cdn1.images.videobash.com/photos/000/010/541/10541.jpg
 
http://www.heapsoffun.com/pictures/20120207/funny_parking_the_motor_bike_m1004.jpg
 
 

[squirrelslayer]

Doesn't take much to get em to rip though. Just have to be ready to fix them. After finishing my 06 it only made it about 1k mi before I twisted the flywheels on a gnarly burnout up the main drag in town. Twisted so badly that it exploded the oil pump and destroyed the cam plate. Got a new set of wheels and had them welded and trued and that seemed to hold up. Wished I would've stroked it at that point but oh well. But between the burnouts and wheelies it never really had much other trouble except for severe oil consumption that I later found out was due to harley packaging the arias pistons with the wrong sized rings in the piston kit I ordered.

[Bigeasy]

When I was a kid, what really turned me on to bikes was reading those motorcycle magazines with the Norton advertisements on the back...  The ones with the skimpily dressed, long legged, long blond haired British girls posing with an all black Commando....  Alas, my first bike was a Honda Dream 305 two cylinder.  Sounded cool with straight pipes though.  All my bikes since, with the exception of a brief flirtation with a 1982 Honda 750F have been Harley's....Just like em for my riding style.

Larry

[guzzijohn]

Moto Guzzi had some "long legs" ads.

[Conan The Librarian]

Norton ads
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/NORTON-COMMANDO-750-NORTON-RIDEABILITY-GIRL-Ad-1972-/00/s/MzgwWDI4OQ==/$(KGrHqJ,!l!FCeqOWhnBBQub6ud,m!~~60_35.JPG
 
http://www.reproductiondecals.com/images/brochures/norton750_71.jpg
 
http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l9IGN0wkUmY/RkyT8eQZgEI/AAAAAAAAACM/fFBSi09TLxc/norton-commando-1972-hotpants-1280.jpg
 
Here's a Munch Mammoth ad just to shake things up:
http://www.motobrit.com/motc2/mimages/ads/euro/Mammoth4.jpg

[Oldshooter]

No here is a Mammoth.
 
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=boss+hog+cycles&mid=9F20B59960D997924CBB9F20B59960D997924CBB&view=detail&FORM=VIRE3

[two-blocked]

Long legs definitely influenced my choice of mighty steeds!
 

 

 

 

 

[ironglow]

Curiously, i have avoided 2 otherwise clean-cut things..motorcycles and golf.  That may seem strange since used rightly,  they are both generally good, clean fun.  I avoided them because I see how people get hooked on both those pursuits..and I don't want to be hooked on anything!   ...But that's just me..
  Actually a lot of my friends have bikes, my friend & neighbor who happens to be a multi-millionaire,  has  new bikes about every other year.  This year he has both a regular Harley and a three wheel model..both dark metallic blue.  My friend M _ _ _ who is a SWAT team member in the city has two Harleys..both bright orange , with side cars.. one a 2006, the other a 1938..and can't tell them apart... for condition.
  My son as a teenager had a Yamaha dirt bike, I don't recall if it was 75cc or 125 cc..he was at a local country snack bar and talked a Harley rider into a drag race of a bit less than a quarter mile..the Harley on the road and he in the field beside the road.
       I was surprised to see there was no competition.. that little dirt bike was fast!  I have little doubt though that if both were on the road, somewhere short of the half mile mark the Yamaha would have been easily passed.
 
  My friend with the two blue Harleys, keeps his Lincoln and a scooter (650cc, I don't know the make)) at his home in Venice, Florida.  He says that scooter surprises some of his Harley friends.
 A couple years ago I was doing a blacksmithing demo at a small country country fair, when a group of riders came up.  Great folks; and I noticed one rider had whtat looked like a 1953 BSA... all done up in olive drab.  looked military and looked very new.  He explained that it was an Indian bike..that is made in India.  It seems a company there bought all the old tooling from BSA and is making exact reproductions.
 
    It does look like fun..but I'll pass, for the already given reason..  Have a great biking summer friends..

[scootrd]

Last Bike I owned was a 1972 Burgundy Norton 750 Commando.
Wife's dad lived in a tiny town and needed a used bike to commute to neighboring town where he worked so I gave it to him for a B'day present in 1980. After that we moved to Atlanta GA area , and I never bought another bike. Just as well, Atlanta traffic was a killer (literally). Probably would have become a statistic.

Now that we live up North , I have considered trying to find an old 1969 - early 70's Triumph Bonneville to restore. 

[Anna]

2B, Ouuu Ouuu that is so hot !    Sorry don't do nuthin fer me.
Got some hunk pics with real bikes?
I've seen Harley engines bigger than those mosquito road pest.
But the Guzzi was a good looking bike if your into a crotch rocket.
But a 200 mile ride on one of those things would make you hate yourself in the morning.
Somehow by looking at those they would make me feel seduced and abandoned if I owed one of
them. Like the Japanese monster movies the Japs still can't seem to get it right.
The Italians go for sex appeal like they do with everything else.
Americans are traditional and we embrace technological changes.
But don't mess with our Harley's or Indians or try to copy them then call it good.
Same with the British bikes and I hope they make a come back, there is just something about
speaking english that adds to the flavor of a real motorcycle.
Anybody got a side car if you do post pics I've been thinking about getting one of those.
 

[FPH]

All the sudden Vespas are kinda cool!

[Oldshooter]

Anna prolly can tell you, Gals may pose on those vespas, but if you show up on one..........Well those pics are as close as you are gonna get! 

[FPH]

Anna prolly can tell you, Gals may pose on those vespas, but if you show up on one..........Well those pics are as close as you are gonna get! 

I don't care what I show up on........that's as close as I am going to get.

[Mike in Virginia]

I think I might be oldest bike ridin' geezer here.  This is my 46th year on motorcycles.  Currently it's is a new VStar, the lowest saddle I could find.  At my age, I need both feet flat on the pavement at a stop. 
Maybe I'm not the oldest, but I'd bet I hold the record for no accidents on a bike.  Not one in 46 years. 
 

[Oldshooter]

 

I don't care what I show up on........that's as close as I am going to get.

Now that is funny right there!

[ChungDoQuan]

MINE is an '03 California--- same frame as the Le Mans, higher bars, and floorboards. It handles nearly as well as the Le Mans, and I do 200 miles one way, by 10 AM, on an easy ride! I have done some 700 mile days, 'cause parts of Texas, Nebraska, the Dakotas... well, let's just say a lot of that is a big flat straight spot that I just want to get across. A Guzzi is a big pushrod V-twin, too. With fuel injection (the first bike with it, in fact). Adjustable suspension, stock fork brace, accessory outlet, heated grips. Oh, and mine has hydraulic lifters, so maintenance is changing the oil and keeping tires on it. I do wash and wax it every now and then. All Guzzis are rare--- less than 1% of the US market. Oh, yeah, before Piaggio took them over, you had to do some "tweaking" to them, even the new ones--- something else they have in common with HD.

[yellowtail3]

anyone here ever have any two-stroke street bikes? Yamaha RD, Suzook GT, or any of the Kawasaki triples?


I lusted after an H2 or Mach III when I was in high school, but didn't get one (thank God; I'd have probably killed myself on it). I did have an RD400 for a few years. Put rearsets, clubman bars, D&G pipes, jetted... the whole nine yards... wanted to road race at Gainsville while in USN. Never did race, but it was great fun. Anything short of a litre bike (Z, GS1000, XS1100, etc) was meat on the table.


I love the smell of two stroke, but haven't ridden one in decades.

[Anna]

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. 
[size=78%]  [/size]

[Conan The Librarian]

Anna, the kawi triples were twenty mile bikes. That is, your butt hurt so bad after twenty miles, you had to stop riding. But long distance is not what those were about. Lots of power in a light bike. All about being a true hotrod. A classic because of its outstanding performance. I think maximum range on a tank of gas was something like seventy five miles. One of those kawis with a 140 pound rider that knew how to come off the line was poetry in motion.


Since the base topic here is Harleys and the like, I remember cases where a drag race between a hot rodded harley and a stock 500 triple was just shocking. The 500s accellerated so fast it as as if the other bike was not even moving. When the 900 fours from kawi came out, the legend continued, but in a more versatile bike.


The BMWs and to a lesser degree the Gootsees, were top flight no compromises touring bikes. Very comfortable for the long haul. A lot of the comfort had to do with geometry. The position of the rider. I believe BMW did it better than anyone. In the unlikely event that I were to return to cycling, I would study the new Beemers first.


As for harleys, my favorite feature was low speed torque. I'd just put them in fourth gear and leave them there all the time. No need to shift.