The rarest, most unusual bike you've ever OWNED

[freetors]

^^

[ibafran]

circa 1964. Honda CA-95, Benly Touring. 16hp@10,500rpm, leading link suspension controlled (hah) by rubber donuts similar to what hangs modern cage muffler systems today, Stamped steel (welded) frame and forks surprisingly strong for how much abuse this bike suffered. Kinda square plastic rear shock covers. Square sealed beam headlight requiring dealer specific replacement (Suzuki x-6 Hustler had an odd shaped headlight too which is another story). Bike might hit 80mph downhill w/tailwind and rider under the paint when the speed wobble started. Might reliably hit 70mph otherwise. BITD, people actually toured 2-up on such a bike or so I am told. All my budds' 90cc bikes would eat this bike everywhere except on very long straights.

UPs: Peter Egan of Cycle World has/had one and liked it. Enclosed drive chain never wore out, hardly needed lube or adjustment, and could be ridden in the worst dirt/mud/water/snow/salt without damage. (Harley made a big bike with an enclosed chain that ran in an oil bath. I know of one example that the plain roller chain has 80k miles on it with no sign of wearing out. Says a lot for the idea of an enclosed chain.) Jewel of an engine. Very sturdy bike crashed a lot and actually hit once with only cosmetic damage. Rode a lot of dirt with the bike and it took it pretty well. Big (ugly, flared) mud guards kept me and the bike pretty clean. Springs in the seat were pretty comfy compared to the usual foam seats of the day. Honda electric start in the day when a lot of big bikes were kick starters.

Downs: Worst suspenion/handling that I have ever encountered. Gave me personal riding tics that I have yet to conquer to this day. Ugliest bike that I know of. Internal throttle mechanism had the cable exiting the bar thru a little hole in the riser. That hole caused the bar to bend/break on every fall to that side. Mufflers, centerstand, solid pags dragged at such shallow lean angles as to make harley dressers of any era look and be more nimble. The mufflers/pegs always lifted the rear wheel off the ground during the most minor touchdowns.

Bike has my nomination for the 'most disposable' UJM ever made. BITD, I might have known/seen 2 other examples besides my own. Nowdays, I see one every once in a great while at shows or museums or collections. As rare as it might be in the States, the 'unsual' (scary part) doesn't really happen until it is ridden briskly while trying to keep up with a period Super Cub. I have no idea how Egan might like this bike as a sum total experience?

[Tom48]

I had a 1971 BSA Rocket III. It didn't run when I got it and wouldn't start for the new owner when I sold it.

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by Tom48

I had a 1971 BSA Rocket III. It didn't run when I got it and wouldn't start for the new owner when I sold it.

They all do that.

[Aramidos]

A friend of mine builds custom bikes, he keeps them all and ride them often...









Seservice.com. Check him out ! Vids on youtube just search : stellan egeland

[Lomax]

These are not really on par with the other beautiful bikes here, but here goes.

1989 Honda GB500, one of 1500 sold in the US and still in pristine condition. I still have this one.




1989 Honda Transalp just slightly modified. I still have this one.




1984 BMW R100RS Last Edition, one of 250 in the US according to BMW. I still have this one.




1973 Norton 850 Commando. Sadly this one was sold a couple of years ago.




1968 Honda CL350 Scrambler. Also regrettably sold. But hey I have to have new toys.



1942 Harley WLA. Also sold to a museum but it was a blast to restore and ride. All the way up to 45 miles per hour.



Marc

[BCBelstaff]

Late to the party.... But here's my 1988 Canadian TZR250 one of 25 imported to Canada that year according to the Yamaha rep I emailed.

[Motoduc1]

The 1980 SR 500 in my avatar isn't really rare. Not a lot sold, however.

I did own a 2001 Ducati 600 Monster Metallic. Not many 600's came in and only one of 50 600 Metallics that came into the U.S. It looked pink in the bright sun. I later worked with a Ducati North America employee who told me that the paint scheme was a marketing ploy to attract women riders!

[Roadracer_Al]

Hmm. Is that a Pinzgauer behind the HD 45?

[Lomax]

Originally Posted by Roadracer_Al

Hmm. Is that a Pinzgauer behind the HD 45?

Unfortunatly it is long gone now days. I do miss that truck.

Marc

[jehu]

C&J XL440

[concours]

Originally Posted by BanjoBoy

Wow, that is rare; never seen or even heard of one of them. So it's a 750 4stroke twin? And totally different from a stroked/bored out XS650.
I do recall Kawasaki make'in one in the late '70s.

Yeah, they are rare for a reason, they blew up a lot. AND they were aimed at the Brit bikes, which were waning.

[Import]

Steve.g. Very envious........ My all time favourite bike..rc30. Beautiful condition.
Depends where you live I guess.... Mine (sad to see it go) a " ccm 604 " dual sport / crosser, with a rotax engine, paioli front forks, white power rear suspension, marchanese rims,( bad spelling) brembo brakes etc...... Rode the welsh mountains on it.........and loved it all..
Import

[Chip Seal]

I had a 1975 Bultaco Frontera ISDT 360.
I never took a picture of it.
It was actually given to me by a colleague. He told me he wished he could have a bike, but his wife wouldn't let him! Of course, I answered, get a new wife. He laughed his butt off over that comment. Called me up two weeks later, said I told my wife what you said. Oh great, I thought.
He tells me the wife told him to give me his old dirt bike languishing in the garage. She was tired of looking at it.
It turned out to be a gem. His Dad had bought it for him as a kid. 345 original miles on it, street plated, title, everything but the tool kit. It even had a center stand, but no side stand.
Cleaned it up and got it running. Ran terrific. Took it to a vintage show and people couldn't believe it. Of course I didn't tell them I got it for free.

[slartidbartfast]

Originally Posted by concours

Yeah, they are rare for a reason, they blew up a lot. AND they were aimed at the Brit bikes, which were waning.

They were not especially rare at the time. ... but they were fragile, hence there are not many around now. Supposedly very nice when they run well. Fortunately Yamaha did not give up on the "big" parallel twin, hence we got the TDM850 and it's progeny, and now the Super Tenere.