Old school rides: Let's see 'em!

[Alchemist]

Originally Posted by GaelicDog

CB175. Found this about 5 miles from the house,,,,, been garage kept, covered in a blanket and just turned over 1100 miles!

That XL100 hiding at the back was my brothers first bike way back in......jeez.....73/74 ? I'll never forget how cool I thought he was riding up and down our street. I got a later model (all red, much faster) in 76. God I wish I could find one here in OZ to do up.

PS....just bought the bike I lusted after in 76.......a Mk1 Le Mans Guzzi. Pictures to follow when its in my garage.

[Gringo]

Originally Posted by xtphreak

I love looking thru this thread

What IS the lure of the Classics (or not so Classic, but old & neat)?

Is it memories of these when they were new and "modern" / "state of the art"??

Is wanting to be "different" from the masses of "indivualists" in our fetish?

Is it admiration of the engineering diversity?

Is it the appeal of NON-COMPUTERIZED hardware?

Are we just nucking futz?




for me probably all of the above + frugality

dunno about you, but for me it's nostalgia - looking at bikes I or my friends had, or lusted over, when we first began riding... I think alot of folks are into the oldies for that reason - being able to own something now that you either have fond memories of owning 'back in the day' like the Honda Trail 70's or 90's or smaller dirt bikes; or better yet, owning something that was completely out of reach back then - scratching that itch at long last...

wish I had a 3-bay garage...

[wpbarlow]

Originally Posted by xtphreak

I love looking thru this thread
What IS the lure of the Classics (or not so Classic, but old & neat)?
Is it memories of these when they were new and "modern" / "state of the art"??
Is wanting to be "different" from the masses of "indivualists" in our fetish?
Is it admiration of the engineering diversity?
Is it the appeal of NON-COMPUTERIZED hardware?
Are we just nucking futz?

I've been in and out of the old bike thing a few times and for me it's quite simple: for the ones I'm interestested in and have owned, I like riding them. They were fun rides then, and time has done absolutely nothing to make them less fun today. There is nothing quite like riding a conti-equipped bevel down a road through the woods with the exhaust echoing off the trees and only being somewhat muted by the bushes. Though I like looking at most old bikes (and most of them made since the mid 60's resonate nostalgically in one way or another) my main old bike riding/owning interest is bevel Ducs, Norton Commandos, sporting Guzzis, 1st gen Brit triples, and big Laverdas.

Other than riding them, there is the absolute primeval joy in the split second after your kick start follow through when the bike explodes into life. That is still one of the most purely satisfying motorcycling experiences that I have.

[Eurobiker]

North American Laverda Rally, Willow Springs 4/30/05


The following are from private collections








Ever see 6 Mondials in one place?




One guy had cars, too.

[Alchemist]

Originally Posted by Eurobiker

North American Laverda Rally, Willow Springs 4/30/05

Three letters to make me drool SFC

[Eurobiker]

Originally Posted by Alchemist

Three letters to make me drool SFC

You know there's quite a Laverda following Down Under.







Piero Laverda explaining the race effort of the early 70's. Wonderful gentleman, very unassuming. Helped me load my bike on the trailer before going home.

[Anorak]

This wouldn't happen to be at a small airport north of Sacramento would it?

[Alchemist]

Originally Posted by Eurobiker

You know there's quite a Laverda following Down Under.

Yes I know. Nearly bought a 1980 JOTA about a week ago. Was in pretty poor condition and he wanted top dollar so I let it go. Very well respected down here. Unfortunately one of our best Laverda shops is cutting back to just spares, no sales or workshop.

Hence I went for a MK1 Le Mans Guzzi now. I have my eye on an SFC but it won't be availabe until sometime next year. Lots of time to save up and convince the boss

Those are amongst the nicest SFC I've ever seen. Just beautiful.

I guess its to be expected that two industrial machinery manufacturers (Guzzi and Laverda) make engines which look like their cut form a single piece of marble. Solid engineering is the best aesthetic for me.

[Eurobiker]

Originally Posted by Fluorescentbrown

This wouldn't happen to be at a small airport north of Sacramento would it?

No, Santa Monica, I think- Besides , where the F**k were you? I remember giving you and your buddy the heads up on this. It may have been a once in a lifetime opportunity.

[Alchemist]

Originally Posted by Eurobiker

No, Santa Monica, I think- Besides , where the F**k were you? I remember giving you and your buddy the heads up on this. It may have been a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Not meaning to but in here guys. Were all those bikes for sale ? If so, how much did those tasty MV's (350 ?) go for.

[Eurobiker]

None for sale that I know of. These guys are like Velcro, nothing gets away. Let me know if I'm being too cruel.

[Alchemist]

Originally Posted by Eurobiker

None for sale that I know of. These guys are like Velcro, nothing gets away. Let me know if I'm being too cruel.

You are, you are..but hey don't let that stop you.........

I saw one of those Seeleys for sale here in Sydney but he wanted absolutely ludicrous money for it. Like around $20K. Quite a few Rickmans available lately (like 2 ) but not as nice as that Seeley

[Eurobiker]

OK. Here Piero is regaling us with the history of this one off works bike. I mean he knew the specific details of this bike. It was like reliving history in the first person.

[Alchemist]

Originally Posted by Eurobiker

OK. Here Piero is regaling us with the history of this one off works bike. I mean he knew the specific details of this bike. It was like reliving history in the first person.

OK OK, now you're just showing off

[Eurobiker]

Originally Posted by Alchemist

OK OK, now you're just showing off

Then you won't want to
click here.