Innholdsfortegnelse for May - June 2018 i Motorcycle Classics

Until the late 1960s, the typical “dual-sport” machine was a street bike wearing parts that made minimal concessions to off-highway riding and were chiefly cosmetic. The 1968 Yamaha DT-1 changed all that. Suddenly, Triumph TR6Cs, Honda CL350s and BSA Victors looked heavy, clunky and stodgy — which they were by comparison. It didn’t take long for the other Japanese manufacturers — especially Suzuki — to catch on. With six world motocross championships in four years from 1970-1973 with Joel Robert and Roger De Coster, Suzuki emphatically demonstrated the company’s dirt-bike chops, and successfully translated the technology into their over-the-counter scramblers and dual-sport bikes. Top of the 1971 dual-sport range was the TS400J, a street/dirt bike based on the TM400 customer motocrosser. It featured a 396cc single-cylinder, air-cooled 2-stroke engine with…

Peter Starr takes it to the limit for charity In 1980, motorcycle filmmaker Peter Starr produced his seminal work, Take it to the Limit. A close, in-depth look at professional motorcycle racing and the riders who were making motion history, the critically acclaimed film featured the greats of the time, from Mike Hailwood blitzing the Isle of Man Mountain Course on a Yamaha TZ750 to Russ Collins charging down the strip trying to break 200mph on his 600 horsepower drag bike, The Sorcerer. That movie, and the 40-plus other motorcycle films Starr made during his career, formed the foundation of his 2009 book and semi-autobiography, Taking it to the Limit — 20 Years of Making Motorcycle Movies. Fourteen years ago, Starr, now 75, was diagnosed with prostate cancer, an experience…

Ducati built three 750 Sport prototypes, two running and one a mock-up. The intention was to gauge public reaction, and they certainly made a statement. White frames and black tanks, along with special curved mufflers, never made it into production, but the basic design captured the imagination of a niche of road riders seeking the race track experience at their doorstep. Some 15 years ago, Ducati enthusiast Rob Labordus became intrigued by this little chapter in Ducati’s history. “I believe that the three prototypes were lost after being sent back to Italy; dismantled and used for parts,” he says. That inspired him to create a replica of one of the three prototypes, based on black-and-white photos. “My friend Robert Buijs had an incomplete but dismantled round-case GT,” he says. “In…

Motorcycles excite all of the senses. When it comes to sight, they can be beautiful or ugly — and even in between. In regards to smell, they emit a heady scent of oil, gasoline and rubber — and heat has a way of intensifying the effect. Touch? There are many different textures on a motorcycle, from cast aluminum to welded steel — and of course there’s the sensory overload of actually riding, and that’s where taste could enter the picture. And aurally, motorcycle engines produce their own distinct music, whether a tiny 2-stroke single-cylinder or a large 4-stroke multi-cylinder. Enthusiast Mark Cummings appreciates everything about motorcycles, but in the late 1980s it was the sound of an MV Agusta 750S America that sent a chill down his spine. Growing up…

During most of its long existence, Harley-Davidson has built its reputation more on making powerful, reliable and sturdy V-twin-powered motorcycles than on innovation. Yet in 1919, Harley introduced an entirely new engine with essential features that wouldn’t become part of the family lineup for almost another decade. By the end of 1918 and with World War I over, the Harley-Davidson company looked forward to peace, prosperity, and selling motorcycles — especially to veterans who had been introduced to motorcycles while in the military. Company engineer William Harley thought these new riders would want an innovative, user-friendly motorcycle with updated features, and he headed for the drawing board to deliver. The bike that H-D introduced to dealers in mid-1919 was definitely innovative. Advertised as the Harley Sport, the Model W was…

The Norton Commando is one of the most popular classic motorcycles ever made — and they made lots of them, an estimated 60,000 over an almost 10-year life span. Endowed with excellent handling and a torquey, train-pulling twin, they were the Superbike of their day. Although electric starting was planned at least by 1970, the first electric-start Commando didn’t appear until 1975, the last year of full production. That means that most Commandos, whether 750 or 850, were kickstart only. The Norton lump can be a challenge to kick over, and as the Norton faithful aged, the market for an electric-start conversion grew. There are now several available, including the one from Alton in France (alton-france.com) that we installed in our subject 1974 Norton Commando 850 MkII. Applicable to pre-1975…

DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL NATURAL AREA, CALIFORNIA Great riding, great scenery, amazing roads, and an up-close-and-personal peek at California’s most famous fault, the San Andreas, make for a magnificent ride to a delightful destination: The Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area. Nestled in the northern slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Devil’s Punchbowl is a quick 1 hour and 15 minutes’ drive north of Los Angeles if you take the express route, but that would be missing the point entirely. A far better approach is to take the day and combine a visit to this geological gem with a circumnavigation of the San Gabriel Mountains. This is an awesome ride that can originate anywhere around the periphery of the San Gabriels, a southern California mountain range minted with motorcycling in mind. The San…

More green BMWs I don’t know where my friend Ken Week’s green BMW R75/5 is now, but he rode it until ’77 or ’78; it was the first BMW I ever rode. That’s me on the left 42 years ago before I quit my job and rode from Salem, Oregon, to Key West, Florida, largely at Ken’s urging. I bought my bike, an R60, from Reid, the guy in stripes who had to have an R90S, which he put a Windjammer on. Ken and Reid were known for long day excursions, often 500-plus miles, on these bikes. I hope all the green/5’s come out of the woodwork now. Ben Beckley/Sisters, Oregon Best letter ever I wish you could have seen the huge smile on my face as I was flipping…

Trolling the internet turned up quite a few examples of Suzuki’s big 400cc 2-stroke dirt bike, with offered examples ranging from parts bikes to near perfect survivors. Prices were all over the place — a low-mileage “survivor” was offered for $5,000 — but solid, nicely presenting bikes seemed to be trending in the $1,750-$2,750 range. The bike shown sold at Mecum Auctions’ 2018 Las Vegas sale for $2,200, right in the middle of the range we found. Said to be in good, original condition, the Mecum bike had 8,117 miles on the odometer and was wearing its original paint and decals. The original exhaust system looked to be in excellent condition — always a plus as original replacements are hard to find — as was the seat and the rest…

Our first show dates are coming up fast, kicking off with Vintage Motofest, June 8-10, 2018, at Road America racetrack in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. We’ll head up judging for the annual Rockerbox Bike Show at Vintage Motofest, with editor Backus otherwise roaming the circuit in pursuit of great bikes and even better stories. Historic Road America racetrack is an amazing venue, and Vintage Motofest is the perfect start to a summer of great vintage motorcycle events. Get the full schedule of happenings including live music, a microbrew tasting and more at roadamerica.com Our second June event is the Motoblot Urban Motorcycle & Hot Rod Street Rally, June 22-24, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois. An urban street show — as the title suggests — Motoblot has rapidly grown to become Chicago’s must-attend…

You could say Serge Bueno has come a long way on several levels. At 14, he was zipping around Paris, France, aboard a 50cc Yamaha. He would go on to race motocross for 15 years, including the 2001 Rally of Tunisia, a 2,000-mile, 11-day desert run where he was one of the 60 who finished out of the 300 who started. And for decades he’s been tracking down ultra-rare, historic motorcycles and restoring them to perfection. Four years ago, Serge packed up lock, stock and motorcycle barrels, and moved from France to the U.S. He then built his Los Angeles, California, shop, Heroes Motorcycles (heroes motors.com), literally with his own hands, opening its doors on the day before Christmas 2014, during which he “unwrapped” a treasure trove of antique, vintage…

If there is only one thing to know about Italian motorcycles, it might be this fun fact: From 1900 until Ithe present day, there have been hundreds of Italian motorcycle manufacturers. In fact, there is an entire micro region known as the Motor Valley that has been home to many of the most famous car and motorcycle companies, including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, and more than 40 motorcycle manufacturers including Ducati. Balsamic vinegar, Parmesan cheese and high performance machines all thrive in the same small part of Italy. And to give you an idea just how long the list is, my friends and I used to play a game to name Italian motorcycle manufacturers, the more obscure the better — “name one that starts with B — Benelli, Bianchi, Bimota.” This…

Zenith [noun, usually singular] = pinnacle, apogee, summit [antonym, nadir, abyss]. That’s how the Cambridge Dictionary describes the name that British engineer Frederick W. Barnes, then 27, chose in 1905 to market an innovative two-wheeler with a low-slung frame and hub-center steering named the Bi-Car. Powered by a 3 horsepower German Fafnir engine, when launched at the Crystal Palace show that year it was said to be “a revolution in motorcycles.” Though the Bi-Car had a short life, its maker went on to experience both the zenith and the nadir of two-wheeled existence, including Brooklands race victories and twice breaking the World Land Speed Record. Moreover, Zenith rode out two world wars, and survived receivership as a consequence of the Depression before finally succumbing in 1950, simply because it could…

No spark Q: I just bought a 1972 Husqvarna 250 WR. It has been sitting in a heated basement since 1975. It was never raced and is all original. It even still has the original tires. What it doesn’t have is spark. I got a flywheel puller, but I have not removed the flywheel yet. Using a multimeter, I’m getting a reading of 4.32 ohms on the original coil. I’m not sure how to test the stator or if that is the correct next step? Randy Kuser/via email A: It sounds to me like the coil is fine, so next I would rotate the flywheel until I could see the points through one of the flywheel slots. They’re bound to be corroded from sitting and may not be conducting properly.…

What: Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area, 28000 Devil’s Punchbowl Rd., Pearblossom, CA, 93553, (661) 944-2743, and a circumnavigation of the San Gabriel Mountains. How to Get There: From the south, pick up SR 210 east, slab it to I-15 north, climb through the Cajon Pass (watch the winds; they can tip tractor trailers), make a quick left on SR 138 (Angeles Crest Highway), and pick up Lone Pine Canyon Road. From there, follow the directions outlined above. Best Kept Secret: The Devil’s Punchbowl itself. It’s tucked away in the San Gabriels’ northern slopes and few people know about it. Try the Grizzly Café’s French toast in Wrightwood; you can thank me later. Avoid: Speeding on the Angeles Crest Highway (it’s heavily patrolled). Don’t use a navigation program; it will tell you…

American heroes aren’t supposed to die, but they do. Like many race fans from my generation, my American hero was Dan Gurney, one of America’s greatest race car drivers of all time. He passed away Jan. 14, at the age of 86. Gurney’s high-water mark occurred in a single week in 1967 when, after teaming with A.J. Foyt in Ford’s Mk IV to win the LeMans 24-hour endurance race, Gurney piloted his Eagle Gurney-Weslake to victory at the Belgium Grand Prix. After he retired as a driver, Gurney’s Eagle race cars won several Indianapolis 500s, and his All American Racers team accounted for numerous other championships, as well. Gurney was also a bike guy, and he loved riding. In their early 20s, Gurney and his best friend, Skip Hudson, rode…

Rider: Scott Mercer, Beaver, Pennsylvania Age: 57 Occupation: Marriage and family services Current rides: 1976 BMW R90S, 1978 BMW R100RS, 2007 Kawasaki ZX-14 Scott’s story: “As the owner of a 1976 BMW R90S, I had the privilege of attending a wonderful 40th anniversary celebration of the model in 2014 in eastern Pennsylvania. It was so successful that immediately a plan was hatched by the event organizers to hold another 40th anniversary event for the R100RS in three years’ time. The man responsible for the design, Hans Muth, was at the R90S celebration and enjoyed it so much he committed to attending the next one in 2017. At the time I didn’t own an RS, but upon my return home I set about remedying that situation. I reached out to the…

• 1975-1979 • 27hp @ 5,000rpm (claimed)/81mph (period test) • 397cc air-cooled 2-stroke single • 5-speed, chain final drive • 290lb (wet)/35mpg • $1,371 (1975)/$1,000-$3,000 1975-1979 Yamaha DT400 A direct descendent of the DT-1, the 1975 DT400B grew from the 351cc RT-1 and DT360A (“the best all-round big-bore dirt bike in town,” according to Cycle). With a 5mm bore increase for 397cc, “The DT400B is notably better,” they said in November 1974, calling the DT400’s mill “the best enduro engine regardless of displacement from the Orient.” Like the DT360, the 400 used a reed-valve intake, but had a larger carburetor and new radial-fin cylinder head, eliminating the mid-range detonation that Cycle magazine experienced with the 360. In spite of an automatic decompressor, Cycle found the 400 difficult to start, though…

There is worldwide hype about Ducati’s allnew V4 Superbike, which comes on the back of the Panigale R Final Edition, combining the Superleggera engine with the chassis of the homologation-special Panigale R. And while all this exotica is simply mind blowing, what is even more remarkable is that Ducati did something similar decades ago. Way back in 1972 the Italian company broke equally new ground with the world’s first production “no-compromise” V-twin café racer. Sure, Harley-Davidson had its tarmac-tearing Sportster and there were various road burners from Triumph, BSA and Norton. But apart from slow-selling models like Moto Guzzi’s V7 Sport, Laverda’s SFC and MV’s 750S, none came standard with clip-on handlebars and rearset footpegs. Certainly none had racing-style megaphones, or were stripped to the bare minimum to achieve a…

IIn 1979, Triumph, desperate for U.S. sales, introduced the custom-inspired T140D Bonneville Special. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as custom or as special as Triumph’s ads might have tried to suggest. Something of a failure when new, it’s a rare bird today, and even old Triumph hands find themselves drawn to its unique lines. Richard Hardmeyer was flat tracking in the glory days after World War II, when the 500cc overhead valve Brit bikes were going heads up against the flathead 750cc Harleys and Indians. He has a lot of racing stories, but this Sacramento Mile event is one of his favorite memories. “I was at the Sacramento Mile, riding a 500 Triumph twin out of Joe Sarkee’s shop. I used my practice tires for the heats, but for the main event…

TThe annual January Las Vegas vintage motorcycle auctions always produce interesting if not surprising results, with record highs and unexpected lows. But while the auctions are seen as an indicator of where motorcycle values are going, the direction isn’t always clear. Longtime enthusiasts and collectors Robert Smith and Somer Hooker share their observations, with Robert’s report first. Provenance sells The ex-Tony McAlpine, Jack Ehret 1951 Vincent Black Lightning set a new motorcycle price record of $840,000 ($929,000 including buyer’s premium) at Bonhams’ 2018 Motorcycle Auction in Las Vegas. The 1953 Australian Land Speed Record Vincent was sold to a telephone bidder and is heading back to Australia. Also into six figures were 1926 and 1939 Brough Superior SS80s, fetching $126,875 and $120,500, respectively. No other motorcycles offered at Bonhams (including…

Thirty years ago, on April 3, 1988, the first-ever race in the World Superbike Championship was staged at Donington Park in England. It was won by Davide Tardozzi on the works Bimota YB4EI-R, marking the first step in what promised to be a march to the inaugural World title by the small, specialist Italian manufacturer’s 750cc 4-cylinder Yamaha-engined bike. But after crashing in the second race held that day, Tardozzi forfeited any points on combined results for his victory in the day’s first race — an anomaly in the rules that was immediately corrected, but not backdated, that eventually deprived him and Bimota of the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) title. After winning five races in the nine WSBK rounds held that year — two more than any other rider —…

Safe travels: Schuberth C4 I’ve never been a fan of modular hel mets. I’ve tried a few over the years, and while I appreciate the convenience of a flip-up for interacting with toll booth operators and in situations where it’s nice to converse easily without having to remove your lid, the downside of the attending bulk pushed them out of first choice consideration. Back in 2012, I sampled the then-new Schuberth S2, at the time the lightest flip-up on the market. Nicely styled, it was an excellent lid. And while it was relatively light at around 3 pounds, 12-3/8 ounces, it was still too bulky for my tastes. I tried again a few years later when Nolan introduced the N104 Evo, which, while lighter yet at 3 pounds, 10 ounces,…

5/5 Attend the 10th Annual The Quail Motorcycle Gathering at The Quail Lodge in Carmel, California. This year’s show will feature café racers, electric motorcycles and the Arlen Ness Private Collection, plus 10 more categories. The $75 ticket includes a barbecue lunch. On the web at signatureevents.peninsula.com 5/19 Head to the 50th Annual Hanford Vintage Motorcycle rally at the Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford, California, which will feature an antique and classic motorcycle show, more than 150 vendors, a parts exchange and sale corral, RV hookups, food and more. On the web at classiccycleevents.com 5/19 Legendary flat track racers Bill Werner and Scott Parker will be the Grand Marshals for the 19th Annual Riding into History Motorcycle Concours at the World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida. RIH begins on Friday, May 18, with…