Anyone else in to old bikes from the 60's, 70's. That's the direction I'm going. I have the 2013 TW and sold all the rest. Thinking about a Honda 750 or Suzuki 750GS to start with. I don't intend to amass a "collection". I guess I just want to walk (ride) down memory lane in retirement. As I recall I had more fun on these smaller displacement bikes than I ever have on the Harley's or Goldwings I've owned.
I am very slowly restoring a '73 CB500 Four which is older than I am.
I consider it school-fees as I am learning a lot about mechanics and electrics and motorcycles and budgeting, and patience and...
Classics are a lot of fun, and with added nostalgia, I can't believe you'll go wrong. Keep us posted on what you end up picking up.
I own a 1981 seca 750, but it's just be stored without running for 8 years..... I think I could sell now if offered something more than a few hundred. OMM.
I love the Classis but lean heavily toward the English brands, Triumph, Norton, Royal Enfield of the early 1970s. When I see a well preserved or completely refurbished Norton Commando my heart skips a beat and I want it. Back in 1972 I purchased one of the first Kawasaki 750 H2 triples in these parts and loved the raw speed that engine produced but it was a terrible bike over all. The Jap bikes seemed to concern themselves with engines but left a lot to be desired in handling. Oddly, Harley's do nothing for me and never have.
I had the opportunity to ride a early 70s Norton in 1977 I was in the Air Force in Biloxi and a friend need to use my 55 Chevy to go home for the weekend. I rode his Norton all weekend. Very cool bike.
Nice thing about the old single cam CB'S is there are plenty of parts sources out there. Dime City Cycles here in Florida has all kinds of goodies to make rebuilds easy.
In my old, senile and very feeble opinion I think that the old Triumphs, BSAs, and Nortons are some of the true classics. The Japanese bikes not so much even though they were excellent machines. If my old Norton was not leaking oil it just meant that all the oil had already leaked out. At the young and tender age of 70 I am still in lust for a 650 Triumph. In addition to my TW of course.
In my old, senile and very feeble opinion I think that the old Triumphs, BSAs, and Nortons are some of the true classics. The Japanese bikes not so much even though they were excellent machines. If my old Norton was not leaking oil it just meant that all the oil had already leaked out. At the young and tender age of 70 I am still in lust for a 650 Triumph. In addition to my TW of course.
Oh I can be a bit fickle but for now I'd like a mid 70's Honda 750. The Honda 750 was named one of the top three most important bikes ever made. The reason I like the Jap bikes, especially Honda, is because it was Dr. Honda's genius that brought motorcycling in to the mainstream. With the 60's Cubs and 100's he and his advertising campaign of "you meet the nicest people on a Honda" civilized motorcycling. It encouraged average folks to give two wheel transportation a try. Motorcycles were no longer the exclusive province of "bad boys" and Hell's Angels. Anyone remember the episode of the "Dick Vandyke Show" when Rob bought and rode a bike (a Honda 100 I believe) with a helmet and leather jacket? I think there was a big rose on the back of his leather.
The Brit bikes were important to American motorcycling, undeniably, but IMO Honda opened up peoples hearts and minds to the idea of fun on two wheels. As in the Beach Boys famous tune.
I think the Honda Nighthawk 750 was the best general use utility bike ever produced
Retro bikes must have a market. Kawasaki came out with the W650 in the early 2000's. Now Honda has the new CB 1000 in it's second year of production. The TU is retro styled. I'd say the Triumph T-100 is retro looking and the Ural and Enfield certainly rely on past styling Q's. Must be a market for them.
I had two Triumph 650's, a '68 and a '71. Best wheelie bikes ever, but wherever I went my hands always smelled like gasoline from priming those carbs. I miss that.
I have three of them.
Their forum mentioned TW200s and I wound up here.
I also have a
76 Yamaha Camp 80
Suzuki RE5-A
2 66 Ducati Cadets
77 750 Automatic
74 CL450
65 Harley M50
94 TW200
10 fatboy
14 Limited
V45 Magna
Couple of mopeds
And a bunch of others
Excellent choice,toma55.Many,many great iconic models to enjoy. Restoration nowadays overall much easier given the good quality after-market parts sources in place to offset the dwindling pool of NOS/OEM pieces. Personally,I give the Brits top honors for their work-which many actually do theirselves-this 'hands on' effort has created an excellent cottage industry offering professional services for the rest of us-lol.
Most of us Yanks prefer to 'write a check',rather than actually restore anything....I became involved during the late '80's,then both parts and foreign bikes were plentiful. Have fun!
Excellent choice,toma55.Many,many great iconic models to enjoy. Restoration nowadays overall much easier given the good quality after-market parts sources in place to offset the dwindling pool of NOS/OEM pieces. Personally,I give the Brits top honors for their work-which many actually do theirselves-this 'hands on' effort has created an excellent cottage industry offering professional services for the rest of us-lol.
Most of us Yanks prefer to 'write a check',rather than actually restore anything....I became involved during the late '80's,then both parts and foreign bikes were plentiful. Have fun!
Love the Norton and it looks very well preserved or highly restored! Quick question regarding registrations and insurance on collections such as this. Here in NY it would cost you a small fortune to keep all of those bikes road legal. No way around the state reg. fees but can you find an insurer who understands you can only drive one bike at a time or do you have to insure each one separately?
Are these all yours? if so, great collection. I guess because I'm getting older, fast, my need for speed is decreasing but my desire to have the fun I did in the 70's on small displacement bikes is strong.
The "classic" I'm hunting for... is HARD to find (in decent condition). When I was the service manager for a Harley - Suzuki shop, they let me have my choice of used bikes as a "demo" rider, until it would sell. The best and one I still have a big empty place in my heart for?
1981 Yamaha XV920RH in red. I put a few thousand miles on one, some of it in the Texas hill country down around Austin. What an awesome bike that was (is).
The "classic" I'm hunting for... is HARD to find (in decent condition). When I was the service manager for a Harley - Suzuki shop, they let me have my choice of used bikes as a "demo" rider, until it would sell. The best and one I still have a big empty place in my heart for?
1981 Yamaha XV920RH in red. I put a few thousand miles on one, some of it in the Texas hill country down around Austin. What an awesome bike that was (is).
I have had lots of bikes, Hodaka Ace 100, Homemade minibike with Yamaha 55 engine, Yamaha XS 650, SWM Trials bike, Yamaha TY250, and TY80 for kids, various Enduro bikes. My street preference is Moto Guzzi. Older 70's models. '72 El Dorado project in garage, and '78 SP1000 sport touring bike. I like toe "soul" of the Moto Guzzi, and the history behind it. There is a forum for the '67 through '72 Guzzi's that is on par, if not a little more helpful than this forum. Look for Loopframe motoguzzi forum if interested.
I guess I don't need to say, "just my opinion" here.
Tom in Wichita
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