Innholdsfortegnelse for May - June 2017 i Motorcycle Classics

I just finished reading the March/April 2017 issue from cover to cover and your advertisers will be happy to note that this also includes all their ads. I take everything pretty well as Gospel in this issue except for one line on Page 10, and I’ll quote: “ ... and join us for our Sunday Morning Ride, a leisurely run through the beautiful Alabama countryside.” Leisurely? Bah humbug. I was on the 2016 ride. While I was trying to keep up, I was also concentrating really hard on not dropping my brother’s restored 1973 Yamaha TX750 while he was thoroughly enjoying the tour on his 1979 Yamaha XS750 café racer. The ride was anything but “leisurely” and more like “exhilarating” for a 78-year-old whose usual daily ride in Canada is…

Just as the Mini did in Britain, Fiat’s 500 Cinquecento, introduced in 1957, devastated the Italian motorcycle industry in the 1960s. With more than 500,000 motorcycles produced in 1959, the industry was coming off a record year and the future looked bright. Yet by the end of the next decade, famous names like Bianchi, FB Mondial, Rumi, Ceccato and Itom had either ceased motorcycle production or were absorbed into larger companies like Piaggio. Those that survived the decade (Moto Guzzi, Ducati and Benelli, for example) did so by producing sturdy and sporty small bikes for those still unable or unwilling to buy a car. This led to the increasing importance of the 125cc class: Guzzi’s Stornello (“Starling”) of 1961 perfectly fit the new market reality. Better known for his race…

Project Honda CB350 sells for $5,500 at Bonhams’ Vegas auction As it usually does, the annual Las Vegas classic motorcycle auctions yielded more than a few surprises. The biggest sale of the January event was over at Mecum, where, underscoring increasing interest in original condition machines, a 1912 Henderson Four sold for a stunning $490,000, a price that climbs to well over $500,000 once the buyer’s fee, typically 5-10 percent, is added. Bonham’s top sale of the event was a 1914 Feilbach 10 horsepower Limited that sold for $195,000. Assembled from leftover parts following the factory’s 1914 closure, it was owned by the Feilbach family until the 1980s, giving it a very unique history. Mecum reported a 92 percent sell-through, while Bonhams reported 70 percent. And while Mecum was clearly…

Soon to become the prime minister of England, Churchill was referring to the role Russia might play in the Second World War when he made that statement in 1939. But his quote rings true, especially in regards to the Triumph T120 TT Specials; some of the finer points are complex and rather puzzling. Although many have written about the Triumph T120 TT Special, there are still some mysteries surrounding the line’s exact specifications — and we’ll get into that in short order. Introduced in 1963 and running until 1967, the Triumph TT Special was built solely for the American market, where just about every manufacturer was selling seriously competitive sports motorcycles. The TT Special had definite appeal to riders interested in going fast in offroad events such as TT racing.…

Let’s play the “what if” game: What if we could go back in time, but take with us the conveniences and amenities that we enjoy today? In terms of vintage and classic motorcycles, what if we could go back in time to create a bike that commands the nostalgia and charisma normally associated with old iron, yet engineer it in such a way that we benefit from today’s technology? Bike-builder Greg Hageman pondered that concept and came up with a plan. Although he knows that there’s no way to really jump back in time, he figured he’d create a motorcycle that gave a worthy salute to yesteryear anyway, bringing with it the convenience of modern components. Things like disc brakes, electronic ignition, self-adjusting hydraulic valves — even a carburetor that…

Enthusiasts today might say “no way,” insisting that we leapfrog back to the present, touting the 2016 Ninja H2R with its rollicking 326-supercharged-horsepower engine as the top 4-stroker from the Big K. Calmer heads might point us back in time, say to 1966, so they could coolly explain that the W1 and its 624cc vertical-twin 4-stroke engine was the bike responsible for setting the company’s 4-cycle movement into motion in the first place here in America. Or not. See, before any of those models ever so much as rotated a camshaft on these shores, Kawasaki had the SG250 in its American model lineup. The SG250 (some early documents describe it as the SG1, others suggest 250SG) had a singlecylinder, overhead valve 4-stroke engine that produced a claimed 18 horsepower at…

Finding spark Q: I’m having trouble getting spark at the plugs on my 1980 Suzuki GS850. At first I wasn’t getting any spark, so I replaced the igniter unit. It then had spark, but when I installed the carburetors and tried again, there was no spark. What should I do? Tyler Hubenthal/via email A: We’ll consider the igniter a good part. Get your volt-ohm meter (VOM) and check from the battery to the igniter for voltage. From the battery, there should be two wires: one to the starter relay and a second, smaller lead to the fuse box. Follow the smaller lead to the first junction, disconnect and test for 12 volts from the battery. cylinder to ground them. Set your VOM in resistance test mode to the 1 ohm…

The mark of a favorite piece of gear around here is when it gets used year after year, even with newer options around. I’ve had this Joe Rocket Sonic 2.0 perforated leather jacket since August 2006, and it immediately turned into a favorite, becoming my go-to jacket anytime temperatures were above 65 F or so, which means I’ve been wearing it for the bulk of my yearly riding. I haven’t given this jacket much care: It’s been wiped down with a wet cloth five or six times in its life, but that’s it. The Sonic 2.0 is made from drum-dyed cowhide, and while the finish on the leather held up and looked sharp for five years or so, after 11 years it was beyond due for some attention. My jacket…

The Sonic and the Sabre I was fascinated to read your article on the Can Am Sonic in the January/February 2017 issue. A really interesting machine, it was a clever response to the popularity of the Yamaha XT500 (of all the bikes I’ve ever owned, my personal favorite) and the Honda XL500 (which I also owned). The Sonic never achieved the sales numbers of the other two, partly because of its ungainly appearance (especially compared to the gorgeous Yamaha), and its seat height, which put many buyers off. Something you might not be aware of is that the bike was originally going to be called the Sabre! I distinctly remember going to the motorcycle show in Calgary when the bike was introduced, shortly after I had read the article about…

The motorcycle market’s not exactly flush with used Moto Guzzi Stornellos. In a month of searching, we found but two on the market, both 1966 models and similarly priced at $2,600 and $2,500. The $2,600 Stornello was an original survivor showing just over 2,500 miles on the odometer. A runner, it likely needed lots of TLC, clearly having just been pulled out of a long hibernation before being dusted off for sale. Tires were original and paint was, in a word, tired. Somebody saw promise, however, and bought it. This bike, the $2,500 Stornello, has issues of its own. Purchased by a Moto Guzzi enthusiast in non-running condition (“ran when parked,” said the previous owner), it was stuck in third gear. But it was pretty, with a non-professional paint job,…

Their goal was to ride the Venom to a new motorcycle speed and endurance record. By Sunday morning, the team had covered 2,400.92 miles on the Venom from the time it roared off the start line the previous day, in the process setting two new records, the first for running an average speed of 100.05mph over 24 hours — in spite of a 34-minute stop to replace the gear selector mechanism and rear chain — and a new 12-hour record for an average speed of almost 105mph. Although missing most of its electrical ancillaries and fitted with a “dolphin” fairing, the Venom was close to stock Clubman specification with 8.75:1 compression, though an Amal GP carburetor and taller gearing had been used. The record bike produced an estimated 40 horsepower…

A surprising number of the products of these early American manufacturers have survived and are now, not surprisingly, valuable collectibles. One highly sought-after motorcycle was made by the smallest of America’s inline four builders — Cleveland. Although America’s love affair with the automobile, immeasurably sparked before World War I with the introduction of the Ford Model T in 1908, had dried up much of the market for commuter motorcycles, a few small, inexpensive machines continued to be popular. One of these was the Cleveland 2-stroke. Built in Cleveland, Ohio, this peppy, fun-to-ride 221cc single built up a following. Introduced in 1915, it was gradually improved over the years, its engine growing to 269cc to cope with increased weight of 195 pounds. Looking to expand their market beyond their 2-stroke single,…

For all the furor when Ducati launched its Scrambler subbrand back in 2014, many people overlooked that Triumph invented the street scrambler category back in 1949 with the TR5 Trophy, named after the Speed Twin-based bikes Triumph built for the 1948 International Six Days Trial, which won three gold medals and the Manufacturers Team trophy. The TR5 Trophy powered Triumph’s expansion in the U.S., where street scramblers became a big deal in the 1960s, with Triumphs the class kingpins, dominating desert racing and enduro events for the next two decades. Still, for a lot of fans of Triumph’s yesterdays, the 650cc TR6C Trophy as introduced for 1966 is the most alluring of the many different models in Triumph’s back catalog. With its rakish stance and high-rise handlebars, it still looks…

As soon as I saw it I knew it was the right bike, and after parting with $1,550 cash we were heading back to Sydney on the motorcycle that would end up taking us around Australia. Having landed six months earlier in Darwin on one-way tickets from Indonesia with just $22 to our names, it was hard to contain our excitement knowing the next adventure was about to begin. Gearing up With a total investment of $50 in plastic bags, bungee cords and waterproof gear, we headed off, rumbling out of Sydney on Australia’s southeast coast bound for North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. The road out of Sydney is motorcycling perfection — or at least it was then — weaving and winding through the hilly countryside, passing the…

With the theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind playing in my mind, iconic Devils Tower appeared before me as I rode north across Wyoming’s high plains. Instantly recognizable, the dark monolith climbs 867 feet above its surroundings. Attributing the divine, the supernatural, or even an extraterrestrial vibe to Devils Tower is a natural reaction; it’s been done by no fewer than six Native American peoples, Steven Spielberg, and U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. One of the things that makes Devils Tower so dramatic is its distinctiveness; it just doesn’t look like it should be. While no one can dispute its existence, to this day geologists can’t agree on how it came to be. The rock docs agree that it was formed by magma (molten rock) forcing itself up between…

5/6 Attend the 9th Annual The Quail Motorcycle Gathering at The Quail Lodge in Carmel, California. This year features Norton Motorcycles, celebrating 50 years of the Norton Commando, plus 10 more categories. The $75 ticket includes a barbecue lunch. On the web at signatureevents.peninsula.com 5/20 Head to the Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford, California, for the 49th Annual Hanford Vintage Motorcycle Rally, which will feature an antique and classic motorcycle show, a parts exchange and sale corral, RV hookups, food and more than 150 vendors. On the web at classiccycleevents.com 5/20 Legendary motorcycle racers and father and son Yvon and Miguel Duhamel will be the Grand Marshals for the 18th Annual Riding into History Motorcycle Concours at the World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida. RIH begins on Friday with the…

I’m 62 and have been getting bike mags since 1970. Your mag is the best. Because of my age it has all the stuff I like to read about. Because of your last mag write-up of the Suzuki GT185 I just had to write. Many people do not remember the Suzuki T200 X5 Invader. Mine is a 1967. I’m writing because of the great motor and handling it has. The motor pulls so strongly with its low-down rpm. It is amazing for a 200. The motor does not have to rev like the Suzuki GT185 or the Yamaha RD200 or other bikes in its class. It pulls like my T350 Suzuki down low. Any gear, any rpm, any time. Top speed at 88mph also makes it the fastest stock 200…

1966-1967 Ducati 125 Sport Ducati’s 125 Sport engine was a direct descendant of the 1955 Gran Sport, albeit with a different cylinder head, enclosed valves and springs, and other detail changes. It also marked the end of the line for Ducati’s “cammy” 125s. The bevel-drive OHC 4-stroke single had a 22mm Dell’Orto carb giving 10 horsepower at 7,000rpm. Drive to the 4-speed transmission was by bevel gears, with sparks provided by a 6-volt generator and battery/ coil. An open-cradle single downtube frame supported the drivetrain and ran on 2.5-inch front and 2.75-inch rear tires with SLS drum brakes. The front fork was by Marzocchi with 3-way adjustable twin shocks at the rear. Bodywork included the scallopsided gas tank and two-tone paint. The result was an attractive, sophisticated and sporty small…

The first link is that Rob sympathetically restored and owned for 10 years the first of three 1970 Husqvarna 400 Cross offroad machines that McQueen bought back in the day. The second link is that Rob produced the subtly updated Bimota HB1 replica featured here. Beginnings of Bimota The Bimota name was created using the first two initials of the surnames of its three founding partners: Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri and Massimo Tamburini. Of the three, Tamburini played the largest role in designing what could be considered some of the most exotic Italian motorcycles ever produced. Tamburini’s fascination with motorcycles began as a youngster in his hometown of Rimini, Italy. Often driving his mother to distraction, he listened for the sound of approaching motorcycles and then rushed out of the…

Giulio Macchi’s company built some of the world’s fastest aircraft in the interwar years and during World War II. In 1934, the Macchi MC72 set an absolute world record speed of 440.7mph that held for five years, and is still the fastest speed ever achieved by a propeller-driven seaplane. Chimera Much like Honda, Aermacchi had a Dream. On joining the company in 1956, chief designer Alfredo Bianchi was tasked with creating an all-new production motorcycle. Bianchi borrowed styling ideas from the automobile industry to produce a futuristic- looking motorcycle with fully enclosed bodywork that hid the mechanical components. These included a compact, lightweight 175cc 4-stroke engine and an ingenious swingarm rear suspension controlled by a single spring/shock unit. While the Chimera (Italian for “dream”) created a sensation at the 1956…

Positioned as they are at the front of the bike, forks end up by default with heavy exposure to road debris and moisture. Dirt and moisture take a toll on fork seals, which help keep fork tubes clean, wiping them with every pass. And while keeping the fork tubes clean helps, once the tubes become pitted there’s nothing left to do but replace both the fork tubes and the seals. This How-To centers on rebuilding Roadholder forks on a 1974 Norton Commando. First introduced in 1946 and then modified in 1953, Roadholder fork construction stayed relatively constant until the end of Norton production in the mid-1970s. A robust design — a fact echoed by their long production life — they’re generally easy to service, with the typical overhaul involving a…

Race Tech brake arcing service After reading my vent a few issues back about the poor front brake performance on my 1973 BMW R75/5, vintage suspension specialist Matt Wiley at Race Tech (racetech.com) contacted me, asking if I knew about Race Tech’s brake arcing service for drum brakes. Briefly, brake arcing involves machining the brake drum so that it’s perfectly round, then matching the brake shoes to the drum for optimum contact. Back when drum brakes were the norm, brake arcing was common, but with the advent of disc brakes it’s become an increasingly rare and specialized service. After talking with Matt, I decided to test the concept. Before sending my wheel off for service, I checked it against Race Tech’s requirements. First up was inspecting for any loose spokes;…

Few people in 1972 even considered that a motorcycle race curiously conceived in an aging football stadium would eventually lead to one of the most successful forms of racing in motorsport history. That race, officially known as The Yamaha Superbowl of Motocross, held in the Los Angeles Coliseum (site of the NFL’s original Super Bowl game in 1967), was staged to make one man — rock-and-roll concert promoter Mike Goodwin — a lot of money. And that, in so many words, was the essence of the race, even though it was included in the AMA’s ill-conceived Inter-AMA Series that same year. The Superbowl of Motocross was a race like no other. In 1974 the Superbowl of Motocross, joined by two other “indoor” races, formed the nucleus of the AMA’s new…