Wishing in Vain

[Brian G]

This thread has absolutely no educational value....just so you know.

I found this while wandering around ebay. I had one for 5 - 6 years, though mine had a nicer seat, an after-market windshield, and highway pegs. If it were closer I might be really, really tempted (alright, I'm tempted anyway).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 16895&rd=1

I know it's an oldie, but I can tell you it's a goodie. 1100cc's and four carbs, unfettered by luggage. That was the finest piece of machinery I ever had the privilege of owning and operating. What a hoss. [:-king]

Brian G.

Damn Photos Are Making Me Verclempt [:-weepn]

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Brian G

This thread has absolutely no educational value....just so you know.

I found this while wandering around ebay. I had one for 5 - 6 years, though mine had a nicer seat, an after-market windshield, and highway pegs. If it were closer I might be really, really tempted (alright, I'm tempted anyway).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 16895&rd=1

I know it's an oldie, but I can tell you it's a goodie. 1100cc's and four carbs, unfettered by luggage. That was the finest piece of machinery I ever had the privilege of owning and operating. What a hoss. [:-king]

Brian G.

Damn Photos Are Making Me Verclempt [:-weepn]

I don't know anything about the bike. But he's got a ton of really nice cameras for sale. They're all rather boldly overpriced.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[fqp25]

Hello Brian G.

You bring up the subject of motorcycles. I guess you're a rider, and you should know, that there are two types of riders in the world:

Those who have crashed, and those who will!!!!

I have my share of "Road Rash"

Frank

[Brian G]

I'm on your side of that equation Frank. I had a couple of minor spills myself, but I was trying to teach this girl I knew how to drive one once (a bike she bought). She wrecked us pretty good. I had road rash on both knees, both elbows, in the middle of my back, and spent 6 weeks on crutches with a badly sprained ankle. I kept riding, but never got on behind anyone again. Screw that. [:-irked]

There was a stretch of a year and a few months when that particular bike was all the transportation I had. You learn the value of good equipment at a time like that. [:-cold]

I've been bikeless for about 10 years now, and the urge has been coming back more and more for the last two. I'm starting to look around. I'm getting another bike sometime, just to run around on. [:-masked]

Brian G.

2 Wheels Are More Fun Than 4 [^]

[Jim Morrison]

Originally posted by Brian G

I've been bikeless for about 10 years now, and the urge has been coming back more and more for the last two.

Brian G.

2 Wheels Are More Fun Than 4 [^]

This is a medical condition, AARP-boy. It's called a mid-life crisis. I've never had either, but friends tell me motorcycles are cheaper and safer than mistresses. I hope that helps.

Your younger brother-from-another-mother,

Jimmy

[caryseidner]

I sold my Honda V45 Sabre a couple of years ago and I occasionally consider replacing it, but then I remember having to put the bike down on 2 occasions and countless other close calls. Lots of road rash. Permanent burn marks on my calves. Dozens of replaced turn signals. It just too congested in my area.

I used to love to get out onto a nice 2 lane highway on a Sunday morning in the boonies, but the boonies kept getting further and further away from me as the "Suburbs of Chicago" spread. No more for me, at least not until I retire and buy a place out in the sticks.

[hausdok]

Hi,

Back in Connecticut in 1971 I had a Honda CB 750. I loved that bike but when the fall weather came around I ended up going down twice when I hit patches of road completely covered by falling leaves; once right in front of a State Trooper. It was years before the skin on the underside of my forearms was normally colored again. Not sure that at my age I'd want to go through that again. Still, I do feel envy when I see some guy out enjoying a nice warm summer ride.

OT - OF!!!

M.

[Chad Fabry]

I've ridden on and off my whole life. I love motorcycles but the danger is too significant.

About a month ago, I was checking the pulse of a 20 year old kid and felt his last heartbeat minutes after he T-Boned a car that didn't see him at an intersection.

[Brian G]

Originally posted by Jim Morrison

This is a medical condition, AARP-boy. It's called a mid-life crisis.

That can't be, not at 27. []

I was just talking about that with my brother a few days ago. I'm 45, and looking up the family tree at our four late grandparents suggests that number is right at the middle indeed. It's hard to think about that; as long as I've been alive and all that's happened, from before my earliest memories to now, and I may have that far left to go yet. It'll go quicker though.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Bikes are inherently dangerous. No question about that, just the varying degrees depending on local conditions and the rider. This is a good area to ride in, but same as everywhere else, some folks just don't see you. Then again, some of 'em don't even see cars or 18 wheelers. [:-blindfo

Funny thing was, I never had any spills at all after I quit drinking. I was stone sober when the girl wrecked us, but all my others were at least partially under the influence. Hell, one was in a black-out. Youth and ignorance...how do we survive? [:-drunk]

Chad, what got the young man? Head injuries, or chest? Any helmet laws there?

Brian G.

Just Happy to Be Here [:-angel]

[Brian G]

Here you go Mike. This one's near me; want me to pick it up for you?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 05254&rd=1

I had a CB-350 first, then a CB-750, then ole' big boy XS-1100. That dang 350 got 29 miles to the teaspoon. I used to almost fill 'er up for $2.50 cash.

Brian G.

By-Gone Days For Sure [:-calndr]

[hausdok]

Hi,

Thanks but no thanks, Brian. If I were to show up with a motorcycle meine Frau will skin me alive and feed me to the fishes. However, if you find one of these I'll be more than happy to risk being skinned.

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ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

P.S.

This is the wallpaper on my monitor. I look at it wistfully every day and refuse to stop at any motorcycle dealer under any circumstance because I'm liable to see one and buy it on the spot. If that happens, you guys will be calling dibs on my reference materials and she'll probably get sent up for life.

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[Brian G]

Gotta love those fins Mike. Big huge fins with bullet tail lights are forever cool. I read some guy recently who was complaining about soooo many cars looking like a men's electric shaver on its back. [:-slaphap

The ole' CB-750 brought a little over 5 grand. Pretty good for an oldie.

Brian G.

Once We Had Style, Now We Have Aerodynamics [8]

[hausdok]

Originally posted by Brian G

The ole' CB-750 brought a little over 5 grand. Pretty good for an oldie.

Brian G.

Once We Had Style, Now We Have Aerodynamics [8]

I bought mine for $1350 from my boss. It was his spoiled rotten son's and was less than a year old.

The chain had bound up between the small sprocket and the crankcase, locked it up and cracked the crankcase. He'd put it down and broken his forearm.

I pulled the engine, cracked the case, took it down to a heliarc shop, had them repair it, reassembled the motor, put it all back together with some new turn signals, clutch handle, and headlight housing, etc., climbed on, and drove off down the road.

It was the first time in my life I'd ever driven a motorcycle; I didn't realize just how much one had to move to get it to move from side to side and I damned near had a head-on collision before I figured out how to get it over onto the right side of the road.

I drove it the 20 miles back to my hooch in the woods outside of Woodinville, CT and by then I'd gotten the hang of it. Didn't get my bike license for about two months after that, though I drove it every day. Even took it down to Hershey, PA to the Morgan Horse grand national.

Those were the days, sigh. No more though, that Packard Hawk is my goal now.

OT - OF!!!

M.

[Chad Fabry]

Chad, what got the young man? Head injuries, or chest? Any helmet laws there?

He was wearing a full face helmet but it didn't do him much good. As I was doing chest compressions I can only describe the sensation as pushing a bag of Jello. That was the fourth time I've done CPR and it brought my success rate from 66.6 % to 50%. Sorry I was a downer to the thread.

My bike list from motocross days: Bultaco, Hodaka, Maico, Husqvarna ending up in Yamahas and Hondas.

Road bikes: Yamaha RD 400 European. It was very, very fast. 3 cylinder 2 stroke. I almost made a living trouncing the Kawasaki 750 triple 2 strokes of the day. Nothing could beat it from 0 to 75.

Then a CB750 Sport which I hated because the engine was wound out to almost 4,000 rpm at 70 mph and it vibrated.

Last was a Yamaha rather like Brian's but without the gold trim an 1100 LTD

[kurt]

Man, there was nothing like a Bultaco.

Personally, I have my customized BMX Masters Division bicycle.

0-17 in about 9 seconds.

[hausdok]

Originally posted by kurt

Personally, I have my customized BMX Masters Division bicycle.

0-17 in about 9 seconds.

Ah, the perfect vehicle for the Alaska Marine Highway system (another thread), Kurt. you should contact them and have them send you their CD. I just got mine, I'm planning on doing that trip. If not this year, probably next.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Les]

Isn't that a Studebaker?

my list

Cushman Eagle, Allstate 250, Jawa 344, BSA 344, Honda 90, Suszuki 50 ice bike, Honda 305 Dream, Honda 305 dirt, Harley 44, Harley 74, Sportster 1000, Suszuki 650, Kawasaki 650, Sportster AMF 1000, Yamaha 350, and several various pieces of iron taken in for security. Dumped twice, hit a car once, lost two friends that kissed trees.

Only think I ever regretted is that I sold all of them!

[Chad Fabry]

Jawa 344, BSA 344, Honda 90, Suszuki 50 ice bike, Honda 305 Dream

Geez Les, your ecclectic tastes in bikes made me remember that I also had a 170 Dream and a 305 Dream and an ol post WW1,preWW2 CZ .

The Dreams had fenders big enough to use as a porch.... and those funky rectangular shocks.

[Les]

God's truth! The front flare fender on the Dream caught a girl's skirt as she stepped in front of me and knocked her down! No injury to her or me and I got to party with her for a couple of weeks! Dreams only came in Red, Black and White - mine was Red and cost $719.00.

Chad, remember the key (or lack of key) on the CZ's? My Jawa had the matchstick type and a reversing shifter for the kick start. Made lots of money betting macho men they couldn't start my bike, even if I gave them the key!

I'm trying to find a couple of old photos of some of my bike history.

[hausdok]

Hi Les,

No, it's a Packard. Studebaker and Packard merged in the 50's and Packard produced a Hawk at the same time that Studebaker produced a hawk; kind of like Camaro's and Firebirds. There were less than 700 Packard Hawks ever made. They were too high priced; people could get a T-bird for a lot less. Besides, you didn't see guys hanging around at the drive-in with their Packards. Hell, even their full-page ad slicks of the time showed some guy in a suit escorting some high fashion gal in a fur coat and an Afghan hound in hand away from one. Too snooty for their own economic good, I guess. Still, there's just something about them that's been saying to me, "I'm for you," for the past 37 years since I first stumbled across an ad for one in an old magazine.

Someday.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Les]

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Crappy photo, but you get the idea! I was recovering my '72 Sportster from a drinking buddy on a morning at 12deg below zero!

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Me before wife, kids, common sense or helmet law! 305 Honda worked up to 52hp. Couldn't ride it more than 20miles before the jug got cherry red! Ahhh the good life.

[John Dirks Jr]

For a Jap bike of that age it looks in really nice shape.

Brian, click the buy it now button, buy a one way ticket, fly out there and ride it home.

Thats exactly how I bought my last vehicle. It was in Nebraska. A one way ticket from Baltimore to Omaha cost me $148. I little more than 24 hrs later it was in my driveway. I bought a radar detector just for the trip. Here she is.

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[Brian G]

Say hello to my little friend.

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It's a 1992 Yamaha Virago 750D, previously residing about 15 minutes east of Knoxville, TN. It only has about 14,500 miles on it, and runs great. I'm loving it. []

Brian G.

Back on a Yama-Dog [:-masked]

[kurt]

Sweet. I had one of those. Nice, simple, bulletproof. Comfortable saddle. Great little short hop (<300 miles) cruiser.

[Les]

Brian,

wear your helmet. You can't afford any more brain damage!