What the Parts Man Sees (some motorcycle-buying considerations)

City Bike ^ | May 2015 | Maynard Hershon

[martin_fierro]

Found this article in a local, free, chatty Biker mag that makes for good bathroom reading.

[martin_fierro]

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[ABN 505]

Have not ridden a new Triumph but I still Ride a 69 Bonny and 70 Firebird [BSA] and they still turn heads when people see them. Had a 350 Ducati back in 65 and it was a great machine wish I still had it.

[tacticalogic]

I always figured you could tell Triumph Trident riders, because their left forearm was about twice the size of the right one.

Didn't see any mention of KTM, but I've been tempted to find a dealer and throw a leg over one of those big-bore Duke singles just for grins.

[umgud]

I had a whole bunch of Limey bikes in the 60’. Triumph, BSA, Matchless, JAP, etc.

Wish I still had some of them.

[Hot Tabasco]

I recently saw a fully restored ‘72 Norton Commando with modern and fabricated parts on Youtube and it was a thing of beauty. I think the restoration cost was around $35K.........

[tacticalogic]

"A Moto-Guzzi customer is older, gray hair, heavier-set, rides by himself, comes in alone. Guzzi riders are different from riders of other brands. The bikes are good but not fast. You don’t buy them for performance but for uniqueness."

Not sure if it's true, but the story I heard on Moto-Guzzi was that it was the result of a German engineer and the son of an Italian industrialist who served together and became friends during WWII. The German (Guzzi) had come up with the lateral V-twin design and showed it to his friend. They planned to go into business after the war building them. Guzzi was killed in the war and the Italian went ahead and created the company and built the bikes, naming them after the designer.

[umgud]

That would be sweet. I never had a Norton.

[jumpingcholla34]

I still have a 1977 Triumph Bonneville 750 in my basement. It’s kickstart-only. Every so often, when I have a bunch of guys over and we’ve had a few drinks, we kick at it until it starts. It takes a LONG time.

[doorgunner69]

Had a brand new Commander for a short time, drove me crazy. leaked oil from the shaft that drove the points, not a good place for oil.

Unfortunately, I had a Honda CB750 before that and was spoiled by oil-tight construction and good brakes. Too bad some senile old man turned left in front of me while I was going 50mph.

[Semper Mark]

I recently saw a fully restored ‘72 Norton Commando with modern and fabricated parts...

That's a nice bike.

I've been wanting a '72-'74 Commando 850 for years.

But not enough to invest the time and money to restore one.

[Ouderkirk]

I am and always have been a Kawasaki guy.

Ninja 1000R. Yoshimura Pipe, Lectron 48mm flat slides, and had the head shaved to make it 12.5:1 compression. Would do almost 180MPH with a 6’3”@190lbs on it, and still could turn on a dime.

Those were the days...

[bicyclerepair]

I dream about a Piaggio BV500

[PAR35]

“I’ve noticed that the more well-off the person is, the more discount they ask for or pretty much demand. I’ve had people argue and beg for five more percent off when I’ve already given them 20%, and they leave and get into a Ferrari. I don’t know why that is.

Because they didn't get rich paying full retail. The guy flashing a roll who wants to pay top dollar probably doesn't have anything much except that roll of bills.

Although my experience has been that the people that have real money generally don't drive Ferraris or Bentleys. More often it is something in the $50 - $80,000 range.

[martin_fierro]

Saw this guy in Hollister, CA last weekend. It didn't seem to be marking its territory. Much. < |:)~

[eyeamok]

My dad had a BSA, Triumph and a couple Indian's. Me well I pretty much stuck to the Jap Bikes, here are a few:: My Favorite as always is the RZ500, kick in the ass and really fast, really wakes up above 100mph. Left to Right 1985 RZ500 Yamaha 1976 RD400 Yamaha (I have 2 of them) Original Owner 1975 Z1B900 Kawasaki Original Owner

[umgud]

Kewl

[Riley]

You can tell Triumph Rocket 3 riders, because their right thigh smells like cooked meat.

[umgud]

Nuthin wrong with Japanese bikes.

[Talisker]

Too bad some senile old man turned left in front of me while I was going 50mph.

Ouch. But 1) You lived to tell about it. and 2) You presumably got away with most of your original skin.

That's a win.