Vintage Motorcycle Thread

[tevake]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I'd say that first one would be your best bet for a worry free ride. I think you'd enjoy it a lot more than the others.

Are you talking about the first Honda on this page, the 900 CB?
I was digging on it till I read about its complex drive train and 600 +lbs weight.

Just more thanI want to handle.

Which brings me back to the

Kawa cruiser
https://prescott.craigslist.org/mcy/5783753299.html

Not sure how hard it is to clean carbs, and flush fuel system. Looks pretty accessible.

I talked with the seller it's been sitting half a year and spluttered and stopped last time he started it. He sounded negotiable.

[BeyGon]

I don't believe I posted this one before, it was a 250 single and immaculate, just another one I should never have sold. I think it was a 1959 and I sold it with most of the others when I bought the property in Costa Rica.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

Bill, there are some classic pics of you with bikes. You should be featured on the "Dads are the original hipsters" site

Thanks Peter. These 1970's pics sure give me a good laugh. I look at that pic and think "If only I could have sung, and got a band together."

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I'd say that first one would be your best bet for a worry free ride. I think you'd enjoy it a lot more than the others.

That's kind of pricey for CB900C and remember that those have a 10-speed transmission, which has more detractors than fans. I'd recommend a Nighthawk, but one of the later ones that are known for long life and low maintenance. That or the '97 Shadow, though I'm not a fan of feet forward bikes myself. I was considering a Bonneville America or Speedmaster, though, before I found the Guzzi.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by tevake

Are you talking about the first Honda on this page, the 900 CB?
I was digging on it till I read about its complex drive train and 600 +lbs weight.

Just more thanI want to handle.

Which brings me back to the

Kawa cruiser
https://prescott.craigslist.org/mcy/5783753299.html

Not sure how hard it is to clean carbs, and flush fuel system. Looks pretty accessible.

I talked with the seller it's been sitting half a year and spluttered and stopped last time he started it. He sounded negotiable.

Yes, I was talking about the CB900.
I think if you treat the trans as (2) five-spds rather than a 10 spd it would work just fine. Also the balance of that era Honda is pretty nice so I wouldn't let the weight scare you. I had a 1980 750F which is about as small as I'd go if you're going to do any long distance traveling. I traded it on a 1982 V-45 Sabre which I'd have today if I hadn't had kids I wanted to see grow up.
I'd say get a test ride of the CB before writing it off your list. I test rode a CB650 as the first four cylinder bike I'd ever ridden and the dealer offered to let me try the CBX he had sitting on the showroom floor. Kind of wish I'd taken him up on his offer now, but coming off a Yamaha XS-400 I was intimidated by the size. I'm glad I took the advice of a friend of a friend who was a Honda tech at the time when he said save for the 750F instead of getting the 650.

[nine11speedster]

my 1960 Velocette Viper

(Any Velocette owner here?)

[Chocaholic]

Always thought the Vincent Black Shadow deserved the award for the single most beautiful motorcycle ever to grace Planer Earth.

That Velo is very cool too.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by tevake

Are you talking about the first Honda on this page, the 900 CB?
I was digging on it till I read about its complex drive train and 600 +lbs weight.

Just more thanI want to handle.

Which brings me back to the

Kawa cruiser
https://prescott.craigslist.org/mcy/5783753299.html

Not sure how hard it is to clean carbs, and flush fuel system. Looks pretty accessible.

I talked with the seller it's been sitting half a year and spluttered and stopped last time he started it. He sounded negotiable.

I owned and rode a CB900 in the day. The trans is a 5 speed, but with a high-low range choice. Just like a bicycle with a 7 or 9 gear sprocket in the rear with a 3 gear pedal sprocket. It was very reliable...as all Honda's are..and very quick when using the lower range of gears.

[jorian]

I am having this restored by a local shop. 1965 Honda Dream. It belonged to my Dad. I remember riding around on the back with him when I was a little shaver.

It'll probably cost $10K and be worth about 5. Right next to it is the first bike I ever owned. Still have it. Suzuki 100. 1979 (I think). Not sure what to do with that one.

[Steve F]

Originally Posted by nine11speedster

my 1960 Velocette Viper

(Any Velocette owner here?)

SWEET! Very cool Gus on India street was a Velo Dealer years back in San Diego. Have a 1965 Norton G15CS for what's worth mentioning

[JavaBrewer]

I haven't thought about getting a dirt bike since the mid 90's. Too damn old and fragile these days. Then I see this on CL...very tempted.

1983 Yamaha IT490K Lot's of bang for the buck!

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

I haven't thought about getting a dirt bike since the mid 90's. Too damn old and fragile these days. Then I see this on CL...very tempted.

1983 Yamaha IT490K Lot's of bang for the buck!

Java: That would be a great choice. Those things are tractors. I rode one in the single track around here for over 10 years. Did over 500 miles/yr on the tight trails. Sold it to a friend at least 12 years ago. Last year he sold to back to a friend of mine for just $200......

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Those things are tractors.

The new trail bikes - Enduro bikes, are such racers they are hard to ride tight trails with. An old tractor type bike doesn't have the maintenance issues and you just hold half throttle and the thing hauls you up steep hills without a whole lot of wheel spinning or flipping over backwards.

[Yorkie]

This. '70 Yamaha AT1 that my 10 year old and I are fixing up.

[mikeferg75]

Scored 4 very mint and very cool vintage Honda's from an estate.

Bike one is a 74 XL 175 low miles and mint.





Bike two is a 75 XL 350, this one is insanely nice. 1k orig miles, this one I'm keeping.




I also got a 1983 XL 200r with 1,400 miles and a Insane 1979 CBX with 2k original miles that a good buddy already talked me out of.

Have not decided if I'm going to keep the 200 or 175 yet, I thought I was for sure going to sell the 200r till I rode it, fun bike. No storage for them all. I already have a 70 CT70.

[jorian]

Good score! Did you get the entire collection? The 350 is pretty cool.

[mikeferg75]

Yes, bought them all as a package deal. They all needed tank and carb cleaning, but now they start and run perfect first kick. Love these old Honda's. They were in a basement in Boulder of a aerospace engineer who passed. None had seen the light of day since the 80's. It's amazing, no rot even on the rubber.

[Gogar]

Nice! Sell me the CT70!

[jorian]

Originally Posted by mikeferg75

Yes, bought them all as a package deal. They all needed tank and carb cleaning, but now they start and run perfect first kick. Love these old Honda's. They were in a basement in Boulder of a aerospace engineer who passed. None had seen the light of day since the 80's. It's amazing, no rot even on the rubber.

Fantastic. A real time capsule.

[mikeferg75]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Nice! Sell me the CT70!

I've had that one a while, not part of this package, kids would kill me if I sold it.