Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
The Lounge => The Lounge => Topic started by: bo1142 on December 21, 2011, 07:27:44 PM
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I've been into motorcycles and motorcycle racing for years. I also drive a car on a daily basis ;D
(http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h438/bo1142/20360_240803599129_23892719129_3320584_4431907_n.jpg)
(http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h438/bo1142/Boone.jpg)
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I'm more of a bike guy.
First MC was a 1984 Honda VT700C "Shadow". Nice bike, but my 6'1" frame is a bit pretzel'd up on it.
Then I got a 2007 Triumph Bonneville T100 (865cc). Really love this bike!
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/emandpee_2006/IMG_0877.jpg)
Also have a 1986 Honda Helix 250cc maxi-scooter, it's actually my wife's, but I got it from a friend.
Rounding out the stable is a 1974 CB550K, rescued that out of a garage that it sat in for 20 years. Put in a new battery, stripped and cleaned the carbs (and replaced seals/gaskets), dumped the old gas (full tank! no rust!) and added new, and it fired right up! This is my gravel road bike, it's so nice and light, it's a blast!
-K
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Looking at some of the photographs of motorcycles in another section, I thought I'd see if anyone would like to get invovled in a motorcycle specific thread. If you have pictures of your current or past motorcycle(s), post a picture here. Give a little background about your motorcycle history and involvement with them.
With that, I hope my photographs come through....
(http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i357/barefooter_99/Motorcycle/August132010002.jpg?t=1288233382)
(http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i357/barefooter_99/Motorcycle/August132010003.jpg?t=1288233523)
These two pictures are of my 2002 Honda 1800 Goldwing. The wife fell in love with it when we visited our friend/owner of the local Honda dealership. I am glad she enjoys riding motorcycles. She told me that it was an early retirement gift to me (and her as well). I retired in 2003, but returned to work after retirement. She has 5 or 6 more years to go. I am not sure if I will keep working until she retires, or if I will leave in a few years. I guess a lot depends on the economy and getting our daughter through college.
I am looking forward to seeing some pictures and hearing more about riding. We need to do something to keep ourselves going during the cold months.
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I just happened to be at a Honda dealer today and was looking at the new GWs.....that is a monster machine. My ride is much......less monster-ish. :)
(http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/ebickphotos/Vulcan/DSC_1151.jpg)
(http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/ebickphotos/Vulcan/IMG_20111120_113152.jpg)
(http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/ebickphotos/Vulcan/DSC_1152.jpg)
(http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/ebickphotos/Vulcan/IMG_20111120_113201.jpg)
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I haven't been riding much lately, but here I am with my 599 before an Iron Butt ride:
http://idisk.me.com/thorw/Public/599.JPG (http://idisk.me.com/thorw/Public/599.JPG)
I've done three IB rides so far. Fun stuff.
I also loved old British bikes and owned one of these for a while, a very rare and wonderful bike:
http://idisk.me.com/thorw/Public/nortonmercury.jpeg (http://idisk.me.com/thorw/Public/nortonmercury.jpeg)
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My Scoot is a bit more utilitarian but gets me by. A 1996 Virago XV 1100.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/smansbucket/Tahoe2009042.jpg)
And a blast from the past. A 72 CL 350 Honda
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/smansbucket/Honda350.jpg)
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Hello Sachi,
Yes, that is a very rare motorcycle. A Norton Mercury made between '68-'70. A friend in my Norton club has one in original condition.
madx2
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Sachi, that Norton is gorgeous. I've been into motorcycles for years, and even got into racing for a while. A few bad crashes(one on the street) have led me to getting out of the sport for a while.
I've owned several bikes, but all Yamaha's. I raced an 04 R1 and a 07 R6. I even used a TTR-50 as a pit bike. I hope to get back into racing soon, but I have a bumpy road to go.
I'll try to post some pics up tonight when I get home.
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Hello Sachi,
Yes, that is a very rare motorcycle. A Norton Mercury made between '68-'70.
I'm actually surprised that anyone knows what it is! Mine was a 1969 model, 26 serial numbers from the end of production. I had to do little to keep it up; I just rewired some of the connections using spade connectors (with shrinkwrap over them!) to keep it all together, and that made it a very durable machine. It wasn't too buzzy either, so was a nice highway ride at about 60 mph.
I also owned a '64 Bonneville, which I rebuilt from a pile of parts. That one wasn't quite so nice to ride as the Norton (there's a reason those frames were called featherbeds) but it also was a very enjoyable bike.
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Woot! A motorcycle thread!
I've been fascinated by bikes since I was a baby! I used to stand in my crib, looking and pointing out the window saying "moh-no-sahti" because I couldn't say 'motorcycle'.
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/emandpee_2006/MC/EPSON001.jpg)
This is me as a toddler on a neighbor's Moto Guzzi 850T.
I didn't get my own until about ten years ago. And that was just a fluke, really. My father-in-law had a 1984 Honda VT700C Shadow. But, he hadn't ridden in several years for a number of reasons, one being screwed up shoulders. So, I was at a family gathering and I overheard him talking to his brother about the motorcycle and something about calling a junk man. My ears perked up and I started asking questions. Turned out that if I hauled it away I could have it! Well, two weeks and a trailer rental later and she was in my garage!
Spent a few days changing fluids, battery and carb cleaning and I got 'er running! Did some cleaning and found out she really was a gem under all that dust!
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/emandpee_2006/MC%20Share/shadow.jpg)
I still have that bike, it's really a great bike for the year it was made. Dual disc brakes, shaft drive, hydraulically adjusted valves, liquid cooled, dual spark plugs, reserve fuel tank, low fuel light, burnt taillight warning indicator, etc. Really a Rolls-Royce of the time period.
But, I'm six-one and feel pretty pretzel'd up on it, so I eventually started shopping for a new bike.
Along comes 2007 and I made my choice, a Triumph Bonneville T100, 865cc parallel twin.
Here I am the day I brought 'er home (40 mile ride in 38°F):
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/emandpee_2006/MyPics/T100_Left_K.jpg)
Here's a more recent 'glamour shot' of it, with new aftermarket mirrors and a different saddle:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/emandpee_2006/MC%20Share/CopyofIMG_1380.jpg)
My wife got into riding a bit, so I just had to get one specifically for her (that was the rationale, anyway! ;) ).
Here's her Honda Helix 250cc that I got from a friend:
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/emandpee_2006/MC%20Share/MelsFirstRide1sm.jpg)
Then, just a year or two ago I heard a rumor about a Honda CB550 that'd been sitting in a nearby garage for twenty years.
Went to check it out and man, it had a lot of 'garage wear'. Dust and questionable taste in accessories.
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/emandpee_2006/CB%20550/IMG_1518.jpg)
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/emandpee_2006/CB%20550/IMG_1520.jpg)
Notice the registration sticker, 1985!
But, the price was very right (waaaaay under $500) so it followed me home in a pickup truck.
The rehab was a nice surprise, the battery had been removed (so no acidy corrosion everywhere), the tank was full of old gas (so no rust). I pulled the carbs and did a deep cleaning, put in a new battery, 4 new spark plugs and new gas. And it started on the second kick!!! The 4 into 4 exhaust was full of holes, so I shook the windows in the entire cul de sac, but hey, she was alive!!!
Since then I've done a bunch to make it roadsafe (NOS Dunstall exhaust, new rubber all around, new fork seals, new steering stem tapered bearings, new chain/sprockets, and a few other things) but am keeping it stock.
Here she is recently.
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l185/emandpee_2006/CB%20550/IMG_0959.jpg)
That CB really is a fun, quick, light little bike. I use it as my hard-pack dirt road bike, and I think next time it needs tires I'll put on dual sports like Anakee's or something.
:)
-Kris
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Hey Everybody...nice bikes posted so far. Maybe a moderator could move the motorcycle pictures that were posted in the "any auto enthusiasts here?" thread to this thread??? or should we repost them ourselves?
Anyways, here is another Norton I used to own. It is a 1947 ES2 Norton. 490cc OHV single cylinder.
(http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa349/madx22/Kickstart%20Meeting%202011/DSC01493.jpg)
I bought it as an incomplete basket case. Spent about 10 years gathering parts from around this country and England.
(http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa349/madx22/Kickstart%20Meeting%202011/DSC01473.jpg)
No need for a tach...you can count the rpm's!
(http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa349/madx22/Kickstart%20Meeting%202011/DSC01477-1.jpg)
These pictures were taken at one of our club meetings in the spring of 2011.
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Nice thumper you had there, Madx2!
Seems like a lot of Brit bike fans here!
Was that an Amal Concentric carb you had on that? I couldn't quite see.
Very cool!
8)
-K
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No. It is a Mikuni. The original carb was totally clapped out so this was used. The ES2 used an Amal 276 style which was pre-monobloc...which was pre-concentric.
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I can see there is a passion for the wind on our faces and maybe a bug or two in the teeth for those of us who ride. Everyone is posting potographs of some mighty fine looking motorcycles. I really enjoy looking at the pictures and reading about them and their owner's journey. I need to figure out where some pictures of my past motorcycles are and scan them so I can post later on.
Going backwards I am going to try and recall the bikes I have owned. Along with my Goldwind already posted, I currently have a 1978 GS 1000 Suzuki I bought new. It only has 16,000 + miles on it. I last rode it about 5 years ago, but I now have some serious troubles with the gas tank. It has rusted out pretty bad due to improper storage on my part :( . I had a 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad (1500). It was not a speed demon, but the ride was pretty good for me. The wife did not like the rear seat and complained every time we took a trip out of State. I think this is one of the reasons we got the Goldwing :) Before that, I had a 1993 Yamaha 920 Virago. It was definitely a one person bike even though two could ride on it. It was more of the local cruiser bike. I also had a Suzuki 550 (1974 I think) 3 cylinder. This bike was quick and fun to ride even though old school manufacturing. Before that, I had a 1972 or 73 Honda CB 350. That bike really had a shine to it in the sun with the red and chrome. Before that was a 185 Suzuki road/trail bike (cannot recall the year). And, the first bike was a 1971 Honda Scrambler 100cc. That motorcycle took me many places when I first got on the roads with her. I had a lot of fun with it.
Of all the motorcycles I've owned, the 2002 Goldwing is by far the best all round motorcycle I've had. Most people think that with the size of it that it would be hard to handle at lower speeds. It has an aluminum frame and is really light and nimble. It is quick, a comfortable ride, and I do not believe too hard on the eyes. Growing up, I always dreamed of owning a 750 Honda or a 900 Kawasaki Z1 or Z9 (can't remember the exact model designation due to age). When Suzuki came out with the 1000, I read a lot about it and just jumped right in with the purchase ove the Kaw and Honda..
Keep those pictures coming along with descriptions and tells of their/your history ;D
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Nice rides everyone! Here's mine, a GL1500 SE.
(http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu88/Dane59/GL1500%20Posting/GL1500SE004.jpg)
(http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu88/Dane59/GL1500%20Posting/GL1500SE007.jpg)
(http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu88/Dane59/GL1500%20Posting/GL1500SE013.jpg)
(http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu88/Dane59/GL1500%20Posting/GL1500SE015.jpg)
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Hey Everybody...nice bikes posted so far. Maybe a moderator could move the motorcycle pictures that were posted in the "any auto enthusiasts here?" thread to this thread??? or should we repost them ourselves?
hi madx2,
i moved a couple of motorcycle pics & i found out that there no way to be able to do it directly -
i had to split & merge a topic, it ended up changing the title of the new thread to the title of the
thread the pics originally came from, changed the name of the person that started the thread &
it does not recognize the time stamp at the time of the merge, so it placed the motorcycle pics
from the other thread in before the first pic post in this thread ... it basically made a big mess :(
i will post links to the motorcycle pics that are there & request that all motorcycle pics be posted here -
this is one area where SMF is lacking & looking on their forum for an answer, there is no solution for this
roadbiker's 2004 Victory Kingpin (below his 81 Corvette)
http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/index.php?topic=251.msg2879#msg2879 (http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/index.php?topic=251.msg2879#msg2879)
pacmktg's 2005 Victory Kingpin
http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/index.php?topic=251.msg3813#msg3813 (http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/index.php?topic=251.msg3813#msg3813)
your '57 BSA M21
http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/index.php?topic=251.msg5694#msg5694 (http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/index.php?topic=251.msg5694#msg5694)
in order for posts to stay in order & for the original topic to remain the same, the poster
must delete the post they wish to move from where the topic where it was originally placed &
then repost it in the new thread, as split/merge will mess up the entire order of the thread
i'll place a notice at the end of the auto thread to post motorcycle pics here
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I currently own a Yamaha V-Star 1300 Tourer in St Louis and a Suzuki Boulevard M50 in Florida. Once I'm down in Florida full time the Yamaha will also be there and the Suzuki will find a new home. Maybe I can get some pics of them...
In the past I've owned a Kawasaki PE 125, a Yamaha RD 400, a Yamaha XS 500, a Yamaha Radian 600, and a Royal Enfield Military 500.
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In the past I've owned ............, and a Royal Enfield Military 500.
Those RE Military models are pretty neat. The ride somewhat like a tractor (not a complaint, just saying they're torquey on the low with no top end) but are very pleasant to tool around the countryside on. Gobs of nostalgia, too!
(http://gadgets.boingboing.net/gimages/royal-enfield-military.jpg.jpg)
:)
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In the past I've owned ............, and a Royal Enfield Military 500.
Those RE Military models are pretty neat. The ride somewhat like a tractor (not a complaint, just saying they're torquey on the low with no top end) but are very pleasant to tool around the countryside on. Gobs of nostalgia, too!
(http://gadgets.boingboing.net/gimages/royal-enfield-military.jpg.jpg)
:)
Yup...that's exactly what mine looked like.
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It is hard for me to ride street bikes. I would get many tickets. I rode enduro for alot of years, where you had to get to the next check point as fast as you could. Being younger and not feeling pain was some of the best years of my life.
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This was my grandfathers 1951 Harley Davidson WL 45 cu in. On this bike I learned to use the "foot clutch" and "hand shift" in the pasture.
He traded an HD 3 Wheel Service Car for a motorcycle for me then bought this in a "basket" and rebuilt it in the 60's. I have great memories sitting on the back of his 3 wheeler holding onto his "Oskosh Bib Overalls" riding around Southern Indiana. As he got older his wished he kept the 3 wheeler. I ended up getting him an ATV 185 then a TRX200 finally a TRX250. Each vehicle allowed him to extend his riding into older age with electric start and reverse. He also paid for my Accordian and later Guitar lessons.
He passed away in 1987 and this bike has been with me to Little Rock, Houston and now So Cal.
I have been blessed to be able to teach my son and daughter how to ride and afford them lessons to play music. My son is very accomplished and I joke he will inherit the Taylors and she will want the Harley.
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Here is a replica of a modified 650cc, 300 lb. Triumph made for Steve McQueen. The clothier Orvis is selling them for $XX,000 each.
(http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/prodimg/5R0RF1HK_lg.jpg)
http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=5R0R
edited for price
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Unlike my name, I do not race. I do ride a Harley FLHX. Nice to have that type of freedom cruisin down the road.
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Mostly a track day person now although that's getting less frequent. Here's the track bike and the street bike to follow, both collecting dust :(
[attachment deleted by admin]
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street bike, my beloved Aprilia
Oh well, can't get a shot worth looking at that will fit the size limit
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(http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/Swablr/Aermacchi.jpg)
One motorcycle I'd love to own: the 247 pound Aermacchi Racer with single-cylinder, 500 cc, 51 H.P engine from the Netherlands. It is based on the Aermacchi motorcycle that eventually became the Harley-Davidson Sprint 350.
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Well, motorcycles are my other passion. I started riding when I was 14 years old on a Honda S90. When I was 15, I moved up to a Harley 250 S Model sprint and I have owned about everything from Hondas, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Harley since then. Way too many to list here but I have pictures of a lot of them on my Facebook page.
Here is my current ride. A 1999 Yamaha Royal Star Venture with a Bushtec Roadstar trailer. I bought it new in April of 1999. My wife and I have taken some nice trips on it, the longest being just over 6,000 miles. I also run a site and forum dedicated to the Yamaha Venture, Royal Star Venture and Royal Star motorcycles at http://www.venturerider.org I founded the site and club about 8 years ago. A lot of great folks and we have a lot of meets around the USA and Canada so if there are any Yamaha fans here, I hope you'll check us out. We also have some Honda and Harley riders but mostly Yamaha.
[attachment deleted by admin]
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I've been riding motorcycles almost as long as I've been playing guitar (guitar- age 11, motorcycles - age 14). We've had 9 Harleys, 4 Goldwings, 2 BMWs, a Triumph, and some other Hondas and Yamahas. These days, I'm riding a dual purpose bike when I find the time...
(http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z440/eiwiz/BikeE.jpg)
Best wishes,
Captn Jim
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Well, due to problems with my legs when I ride with my wife two up, I decided to go to three wheels: I traded in my V Star 1300T for a new leftover 2011 Can Am Spyder RT-AC...and the Spyder trailer.
(http://www.holydie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/2010-Can-Am-Spyder-RT-622-Trailer-Quantum-Blue-Color.jpg)
Shortly after I bought it I rode it from St Louis to the Florida Space Coast and it was one of the most comfortable rides I've ever taken. And, I might add, my wife loves it. I still have my Suzuki M50 for the rare days when I just have to lean, but I'm really glad I gave in and stepped up to the Spyder. With this beast I should be able to ride into my 70s (I'm 61 now).
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I came very close to buying one like that last year about this time. Trailer and all. The problem is, I'm 6'3 and have LONG legs. As much as I tried to convince myself that I would get used to the seating position, I knew deep down that I never would. My wife really like it and wanted me to buy it. Even the dealer told me though that they were NOT the best for tall riders. I did put some miles on one and it was a lot of fun. I'm sure you will enjoy it.
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Well, due to problems with my legs when I ride with my wife two up, I decided to go to three wheels: I traded in my V Star 1300T for a new leftover 2011 Can Am Spyder RT-AC...and the Spyder trailer.
(http://www.holydie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/2010-Can-Am-Spyder-RT-622-Trailer-Quantum-Blue-Color.jpg)
Shortly after I bought it I rode it from St Louis to the Florida Space Coast and it was one of the most comfortable rides I've ever taken. And, I might add, my wife loves it. I still have my Suzuki M50 for the rare days when I just have to lean, but I'm really glad I gave in and stepped up to the Spyder. With this beast I should be able to ride into my 70s (I'm 61 now).
Nice phil. Hope you enjoy it!
Oh and thanks for continuing to remind me you're retired............... ;) :D
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We retired people are like that...
;) ;D
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I've had lots of bikes over the years.
This one's on my bucket list:
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/dcarey69/bike/Vincent.jpg)
Now...who can ID my dream ride?
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Yes, that would be a sweet one to have. Looks like a Vincent Rapide of about 1951?
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Close but no cigar..you got the year and the maker, but not the model.
Vincent Black Shadow! Easy mistake, because the engine is supposed to be black.
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Yes, the "mismatch" of the polished cases (normally Rapide) and a 5inch speedometer (Black Shadow) was my downfall. I guess it could be one of the super rare "White" Shadows??
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Didn't the White Shadows have black cylinder castinqs with everything else polished? I'm far from being any kind of expert.
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Here is a picture of my first. Wish I still had it, but everybody would leave me in the dust, so I had to get something a little bigger.
(http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff366/mgap1/thumbnail.jpg)
The other thing that prompted me to get a bigger bike is that I had a hard time picking up girls with this one.
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My first street legal bike a CL 350 honda................
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/smansbucket/Honda350.jpg)
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Since we're talking firsts... my first was a Honda Dream 150. Looked like a tank; I think it was before Honda learned to creatively bend sheet metal. ;) I moved up as soon as I could afford it: a Honda 350 CB. My first "big iron" was a 1969 Triumph Bonneville. I taught my then girlfriend (now wife) how to ride on that bike. Some things haven't changed so much in all these years... I think I hooked her because I had long hair, played guitar in a band, and rode a motorcycle... the parental "trifecta nightmare"!! 8)
Well, I'm a one-man band these days, the hair is lots shorter and thinner, but I still ride. Still with the same Blonde. And it only took her Mother about 35 years to warm up to me.
Captain Jim
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Though I didn't care for 2-stroke engines, my first motorcycle was a 150 cc Suzuki S32 which I bought for $100 in 1972 (the equivalent of $548 today) when I was in college. The red paint was so badly faded that my brother bought flat black spray paint and hastily painted it black. Eventually the mufflers fell off and we drove the bike without them though we had numerous complaints from the apartment neighbors, all college students, who claimed, perhaps rightly, that it was the loudest bike they'd ever heard. I enjoyed driving the little thing and not worrying about damaging it or even theft.
(http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic-bikes-2/S32.jpg)
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Didn't the White Shadows have black cylinder castinqs with everything else polished? I'm far from being any kind of expert.
I am no expert either so we are both in the same sidecar (to stay with a m/c metaphor). What little "googling" I have done said the White Shadow was done to Black Shadow engine specifications but with the Rapide livery.
I talked to a friend that has a '52 Black Shadow and he said it is very hard to tell apart a Rapide and Shadow of the same year by looking if the "black" had been removed. He also said no one in their right mind would do that because "that is where the money is". Two of the minor differences are the Shadow has the 150 mph and finned front brake drums. Inside the engine it has a "hotter" cam profile and even more care taken in matching/weighing components and assembly.
Now the Black Lightning...that takes everything to another level!
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All I know for sure is that a Vincent is the next item on my bucket list, although it may be easier to get a Norton Commando first, so that's a viable alternative.
Either way, I need a British bike that shakes a bit and leaks oil for a Summertime toy! I've been far too long a time without a project bike. The wife can't ride because of back issues so I can get away with something smaller.
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Hello Sachi,
Yes, that is a very rare motorcycle. A Norton Mercury made between '68-'70.
I'm actually surprised that anyone knows what it is! Mine was a 1969 model, 26 serial numbers from the end of production. I had to do little to keep it up; I just rewired some of the connections using spade connectors (with shrinkwrap over them!) to keep it all together, and that made it a very durable machine. It wasn't too buzzy either, so was a nice highway ride at about 60 mph.
I also owned a '64 Bonneville, which I rebuilt from a pile of parts. That one wasn't quite so nice to ride as the Norton (there's a reason those frames were called featherbeds) but it also was a very enjoyable bike.
Hi Sachi,
I finally got some pictures of my friend's 1969 Mercury. Here is a trip down memory lane for you!!
(http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa349/madx22/billpix10001.jpg)
(http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa349/madx22/billpix10002.jpg)
The airplane is a P-51D Mustang. It used to be at a local airport but has since been sold to a Texan.
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Very nice! His bike is a little cleaner than mine was – I rode mine all over, so it was definitely a working bike. But gosh, they all are lovely.
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Yes, it is clean. The owner is very fastidious. He doesn't ride much anymore so this is one of his "babies".
He also has a 1959 T-110 Triumph that he bought new. That one has a great patina and runs like a sewing machine. I asked him once why he never sold it when the Japanese bikes were so popular and he said, "I always liked this bike." Short and to the point.