How about an old Ironhead Sporty being flogged mercilessly around a racetrack? This guy is getting everything a 550 pound, 65 horsepower bike on really skinny tires has to give. The Ducati 848 mounted cameraman is nothing if not gracious, staying behind this old bike to give us a great view of a guy having some real fun. He could have passed him at will.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Dncu3wHdurs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

LMAO, Jeff! That thing is a total abortion. Just LOVE the gold accents.

There's still some good deals on two strokes out there, but not for long. Even the lowly RD350 is starting to creep up. I've seen low miles, stock RD350s going for $8,000 recently. RD400s are even higher.

I have a chance at a GT750 water buffalo. Not sure about it, though... They are a bit ungainly looking, but I have no doubt it will be worth big $$$ in 20 years or so.

I'm left wondering if it actually runs. No oil tank visible (among other details that jump out at an Ironhead owner), although that could be hidden up in or next to the gas tank. That, and the open tube ends poking up to take core samples of the rider's chest, have me wondering...

The video, though, is the real deal. I have to say, though (again, as an Ironhead owner), that that guy used up seven or eight of its nine lives on those two laps. You just can't run 'em like that for long. You've probably discovered that running the XR1200 class, and that is a markedly "updated" and "improved" Sportster design.

My buddy with the Kawi two-smokers really kind of rues the quality of those machines, and the aftermarket stuff available for them. He says it was before Kawasaki really hit their stride. How are the Suzukis? The Yamaha RD's?

Nelson.
A great track layout in need of ownership that gives a rats a$$ about the place.

Me exiting the last turn onto the front straight.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1420176088.jpg

^ +1, it is a shame. A lot of history there. I thought they had a buyer in contract last year, a cable channel money guy or someone like that?

Wow... just wow... when I'm goofing on the internet looking at things I don't have the time and/or money for (cars, motorcycles, spoons) I drool over the RD's.
A friend had a water cooled GT550... scared the poop out of me but it sounded like angels singing when revved up. Not sure how fast I went on it because as I approached triple digits the ride got a little rough and looking down at the speedo did not seem prudent.

Re: two strokes.
The two strokes are great collector bikes. Not so great to ride, on the street.
Old tech, by virtue of their age. Stinky. The stink sticks to your clothes. This can be perceived as a good thing, depending on circumstance. : )
The "hit" from the 750 triples? Addictive, for sure.

I owned one in high school. Parts would fly off it, at speed.
I can still feel that flexi-frame, at work.
Put her over backwards, with the mayor's kid on the back, 75-80 mph. I bet that the kid, aged 60, now, still has the scars to prove it. I escaped relatively unscathed.

fwiw: I just sold my last two stroke to the owner of Tech 3, in France. He has been madly gathering up 2 strokes from North America. There were 20 of them, in the container. His agent has been collecting and sending 1 container/year, for a while.
There were 2 water buffaloes on board.

Oh man, I'm just sitting here chuckling to myself. Your experiences almost exactly mimic some of my own.

I had a room mate right after I got out of school and went to work who was as into bikes as I was. This was the early '80's. I had my current Ironhead and a few dirt bikes, he had a Honda 550 four, some dirt bikes, and an H2 with a big bore kit, expansion chambers, and some sort of carb upgrade. I rode it once, and just once. That flexi-frame felt like it had a vertical hinge right under the seat; I got into a near tank-slapper just as we crossed into triple digit speeds that darn near pitched me from the bike. I swore it off right there.

The mechanic out in the shop that I mentioned earlier - we have known each other for over 30 years. We rode together a bit in the mid '80's. Yes, me on that Ironhead... he already had a couple of H1 and H2 Kawasakis. My one chance to "beat" him in a drag race came one day when a big old Vista Cruiser wagon was in front of us, blinker on, slowing to make a left hand turn. I was in the right half of the lane, so I had clear road ahead of me first. I did the obvious and hammered it, leaving my buddy behind. At least temporarily. He caught up in very short order, right about the time that peaky little H1 got up on the pipe. He flipped it over backwards about the time he cleared my front fender. Wearing one of those "Michelin Man" down jackets (perfect riding gear, huh?) he exploded in a cloud of goose down as he landed on his back in the middle of the road. He wasn't hurt, the bike got only a little bit scraped up, and we both laughed our asses off.

Not sure why I want one now. You're right, they were horrible machines even when new. They have a certain appeal, though...

No way. Hervé Poncharal? I know him well from watching races on BBC. What 2 stroke did you sell him? I've personally been buying 2 strokes from all over the country, and I know I have competition from a couple people. I wonder if he's one of them. Any idea what other 2 strokes he's been acquiring?

Kawasakis were very, very crude until the mid 80's, when they introduced the 900 and 600 Ninjas. They kind of had a kit, homebuilt feel to them. Yamahas were much, much better. I don't really know much about older Suzukis. I have a 1982 Suzuki Katana 1000 and its actually very solid. Hondas, of course, were the best.

I have to admit, I wasn't really paying attention back then. In retrospect, however, this really seems to fit. A high school buddy rode RDs; first 350s and then 400s. None of us on the Sportsters, Bonnevilles, Commandos, Tridents, or Rocket IIIs could ever keep up. Plus, those darn things ran every day, including Sundays. One guy had a Honda 750; he could run with the RD guy, plus he never had to work on it. I only knew one guy with a Water Buffalo, so it was the only Suzook two-smoker I remember. He had it set up for touring (bags, windshield, etc.) so it didn't really count. Maybe I should focus on RDs and smaller Suzukis.

Ha, Jeff it sounds like my time with motorbikes around here.

A Honda 750 definitely was the mark of a man, and anyone with a Kawasaki 900 was elevated to a God like level. Us Triumph boys had too much pride to ride with them (because we didn't want to get thrashed :eek: ). A few of the guys went the Suzuki 380 route then bought water buses (the 750). LOL One or two are still alive and ride BMWs now.

I sold him my '68 YR2C. aka 350 street scrambler. H. P. noticed my bike being advertised and directed his agent to purchase the bike.
Claude is the name of his rep in Canada. He is a shark helmet technician.
Claude included 2 tickets to Moto GP in Valencia, with the sale. We didn't make it there, due to unforeseen circumstances.
The 750 triples. He wants all of them. Mach 3's, as well.
Couple of water buffaloes and a Titan in the container.
There were a few smaller single cylinder 2 strokes in the container. 250's 175's.
The agent bought my bike over the phone, basically.
BTW They have a B and B outside Marseille. Shop next door. Claude inferred that there would be viewing opportunities, if we chose to stay there.

Yamaha RZ 500 is THE two stroke to own, IMHO.
The RG 500 Suzuki comes in a close second.

Raresportbikesforsale gotta stay away from that site.

Winter project dropped off today!
 

Just had this beauty dropped off today! 1980 Kawasaki 650. Some updating with forks, rear with mono shock, balloon tires, very excited!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1420318803.jpg

Something like this:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1420318885.jpg

Part is aesthetic, part ride. Looking for a sporty comfortable ride with a retro look.

NRD