I rember the English Bikes
were quirky what with the vibrations and Lucas "Prince of Darkness" electrics but damn were they gorgeous. I learned to ride on a brand new 1969 Triumph 650 cc Bonneville which even with only 49 hp was in the day considered a very fast motorcycle. My Dad bought a new one every year for several years till he started riding HD's. I remember the dealer somewhere on Long Island with the new Triumph's and Royal Enfield's and Norton's with perfect paint and even more perfect chrome. But better they stay a pleasant memory cause like cars the new ones really are much better machines.[img][/img]
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i have a 2010 speedmaster sitting in my barn, havent ridden it in three years. im 70 now and dont enjoy ridding much anymore. i really need to get it out and find it a new owner. great bike and beautiful Triumph styling. rode the "Dragon" with it when i was 65. 0 -
I always had a sweet spot for British Bikes. I had a Greaves 250 dirt bike that was fun, a 1972 Norton 750 that I got as a basket case and a 74 Norton 750.
When I was racing Dirk Bikes I rode a Maico 250-440. I loved the old Maico's they were so fast and light, my last Maico was a 1983 490 Sand Spyder and boy would it move.0 -
Yes Ricci, I "Rember" the English bikes also. That is a nicely done BSA you have pictured.
Varian, I have a 1999 BMW F650 dual sport, heavily decked out in high end touring gear, that I need to get a new home for also.
I'm done Road riding. Too many close calls and down many times over the years. I would love to trade it for a used UTV. Would love to ride the dog around and get him out and about.
Like Warbirds Sam06, I used to Roadrace bikes. 8-)0 -
I never road raced too dangerous
I was a dirt bike rider. I did race flat track for a few years too.
The Nortons were strictly for riding on the street as transportation.
Ricci is right about the electronics in british vehicles they are atrocious. I had a Spitfire at one time what a PITA. Fun car but not to reliable.
Only the british would have their vehicles set up for a specific set of tools nobody else makes and a Positive Ground. :twisted:0 -
My first bike was a beat up Honda Dream, but I lusted for a Norton Commando like the one advertised in Playboy magazine.
I love the way Triumph has maintained their original look.0 -
I had a BSA 441 Victor. Good bike but vibrates and leaked worse than any HD. I was 16 at the time and had a lot of adventures with it.
Got a goldwing now and nothing cover the miles like a goldwing but it isn?t very exciting.0 -
Owned a Triumph TR6 back in the day. Inline 6. Dual side draft Stromberg carbs. Dual SS exhaust. Best sounding exhaust note of any car I have ever owned. (Would give you goose bumps.) Used to get constant compliments on it's sound at stop lights.
Was out of the Army, and in College. Someone did a Hit and Run on it outside my off Campus house. Started looking at what replacement parts were going to cost. :shock: Sadly had to part with it. I loved that car.
Seen what they go for now? :?:0 -
I thought we were talking about motorcycle?s? 0 -
'64 Bonneville was mine. Lucas in spades, and had to wrench after every right to make sure things were tight. Loved it. 0 -
jimdeere wrote:I thought we were talking about motorcycle?s?
Sam06 threw in that he used to own a Spitfire. I threw in that I used to own a TR6. (Sorry.)0 -
My wife has a Bonneville, one of the newer ones.
Same look and lines, but fuel injected, no electrical issues disc brakes etc.
It is a bit heavy (steel frame) and a bit under powered (parallel twin) but a fun bike. It does exactly what it tells you it is going to do.
It is one of the last years of the aircooled Bonnies and I do enjoy it for what it is.
Full disclosure- when I was riding it home from the dealership brand new out of the box, the speedometer fell out. I knew I had a proper English bike on my hands.0 -
It is i who should apologize. I?m trying to be more understanding. It?s hard.KenK/84Bravo wrote:jimdeere wrote:I thought we were talking about motorcycle?s?
Sam06 threw in that he used to own a Spitfire. I threw in that I used to own a TR6. (Sorry.)0 -
Lucas electrics...GRRRRR!! If I ever get to England (not likely) I?ve sworn to find where that guy is buried, drink a case of their warm beer and...well, you know. (Obviously I?ve owned an old trumpet or two and worked on a bunch more. Ugh.)
Maico was a damn fast ride Sam. Lots of the MX guys around here raced them. I did the flat track circuit in this area for a few years riding Bultaco?s. Remember the old steel shoe? Haven?t seen one of those in years.0 -
ChrisStreett wrote:Lucas electrics...GRRRRR!! If I ever get to England (not likely) I?ve sworn to find where that guy is buried, drink a case of their warm beer and...well, you know. (Obviously I?ve owned an old trumpet or two and worked on a bunch more. Ugh.)
Maico was a damn fast ride Sam. Lots of the MX guys around here raced them. I did the flat track circuit in this area for a few years riding Bultaco?s. Remember the old steel shoe? Haven?t seen one of those in years.
I still have mine
Along with my leathers. I cannot get into them anymore though. I had a Maico 360 engine and front end on a frame made by a guy named Lester Combs in Dawson Ga(He is like a 3rd cousin of bill elliot). No brakes no rear suspension it had a regular gear box but I only used 3rd gear. It was fast.
Lucas Electronics is why the Brits drink warn beer.0 -
I had a pair, or more like one and half Ariel Square Fours I bought. Most of it was 1939, the rest was 1938, that came mixed in boxes and milk crates. I got one assembled, but could never get it running. A guy showed up in my driveway and offered twice what I paid for it, so he left with a pickup full of bike and parts. Sometimes I wish I had hung onto it, then I remember what a PITA it was trying to work on it. Looked like this, but a lot more patina on lt. 0 -
I think the Guzzi's are cool too. Except I think they use some Fiat parts. [img][/img]0 -
TRAP55 wrote:I had a pair, or more like one and half Ariel Square Fours I bought. Most of it was 1939, the rest was 1938, that came mixed in boxes and milk crates. I got one assembled, but could never get it running. A guy showed up in my driveway and offered twice what I paid for it, so he left with a pickup full of bike and parts. Sometimes I wish I had hung onto it, then I remember what a PITA it was trying to work on it. Looked like this, but a lot more patina on lt.
There was a guy here n Wilmington that chopped a Square 4 and a buddy had one for a while. I seem to remember they had a problem with the rear cylinders running too hot. Good looking machines.0 -
The hot rear cylinders caused blown head gaskets, and they were a non existent part, you had to make your own. Running the four pipe exhaust gave better cooling, but it was still just a matter of time before the head gasket blew. Finding the right material to make one, was just slightly easier than finding a NOS gasket. 0 -
About 35 years ago I had a 650 BSA that had been semi-chopped. It was pieced together and was a lot of fun. Makes by whole body hurt now just to think of riding it, man, was it rough. Of course being young at the time I didn't care and rode the crap out of it. 0 -
I had a few Triumphs over the year, still have a 250 Greeves and 441 BSA rode my 99 Honda 650 today, but for the road my 2018 Goldwing is more comfortable. I started out with a Sears Moped in 1959 and had a lot of bikes since. 0 -
If you are in the TX hill country there is a great selection of British bikes here.
https://lonestarmotorcyclemuseum.com0 -
I owned a 650 Bonneville back in my miss-spent youth . I was still riding in a club and of course owned a Harley but every now and then would have to break it out just to outrun everyone .. guy i sold it to hit a semi on it and was paralyzed for life 0 -
arraflipper wrote:I had a few Triumphs over the year, still have a 250 Greeves and 441 BSA rode my 99 Honda 650 today, but for the road my 2018 Goldwing is more comfortable. I started out with a Sears Moped in 1959 and had a lot of bikes since.
You ONLY have one Greeves? That in it's self is a bit more rare than owning a Greeves. Most Greeves owners (me included) are members of the Greeves Owners and Breeders Association.
If you'd like to join that club, I'll make you a package deal. I've gone back to boat racing and need the shop space.
Oh, and I can toss in a few B44s and some B50s (MX and flat track/TT trim to boot)0 -
While stationed at an airbase in the UK, I bought a 1969 BSA 650 Lightning. We couldn't get Triumphs, they were all being shipped to the States for sale. I like the comment about Lucas and the Prince of Darkness.
I was riding back to the base one night when I lost all electrics. I blew every fuse I replaced and ended up pushing the bike five miles back to the base. When I hit the bed, I swear my arms wanted to stay up in the air.
The next day I went out to the flight line where I was an aircraft electrician, and took a circuit breaker out of an old F-100 fighter that the fire dept was going to use in a pit fire for training.
I wired it into my bikes electric system, but the bike never pop the circuit breaker for the seven years that I owned it. I never did find out what caused the short circuit.
I had a T shirt that had " If Lucas made guns...wars wouldn't start"...printed on the front.0 -
I agree with Ricci. Still have my '77 Guzzi 850 T3. 0
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