Show your other bike(s) - What else do you ride?

grandpaul · Jul 9, 2016

MS850 said:
My 60th birthday present 3yrs ago from stepson and family, 1973 Honda CB500

What a beauty.

Never having ridden a 500 (3 different 550s), I can't compare although they look identical.

I wonder how much that 50ccs is missed with all else being equal? I know that at just under 130# (at the time), and my bike being as hopped-up as you could build a 550 (apart from rods & crank), it was pretty amazing; I had no trouble keeping up with my KZ1000 until the ride got longer than 1/2 mile.

It's a classic.

MS850 · Jul 9, 2016

mrmach5 said:
Wow,,,,, Mark , Incredible.
It's beautiful! Nice work . Mine is nice, but not that nice. As you can see mine lacks the original 4 into 4 exhaust, but does have a very nice 4 into 2 exhaust . Some one is making new 4 into 4's now however after pricing it all out, by time you buy the pipes, brackets, etc, and then ship them, probably $1300-$1400 bucks. That's about 1/3 of what I've got in the bike, so hard to pull the trigger.
Did you replace your exhaust , re-chrome???
Anyway, thanks for sharing the photos,,,,, awesome job.

I wish they made re-pop pipes for the 500-550, those are the orig with zero rust, just pitted. Right side is banged up from what looks like things hitting them not from crash. If you saw the bike up close you would see pitting on the pipes, rear fender and fork ears all of which are not available. The front fender is a re-pop CB750. I missed out on a nice set on eBay for about $800.
The story goes the PO bought new in '73 rode for 1243 miles parked it. He got a job working the Alaskan pipeline, last registered in '82. The wife told my step son she had a bike for sale, he bought it for $300. Sat in a backyard in SoCal, thats why it wasnt in real bad condition. It was a great gift, much appreciated, its turned into a family heirloom.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTutQ9KSLk4[/video]
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5EaletdXhY[/video]

lcrken · Nov 12, 2016

Well, this one is not my usual style, but it is a big pushrod twin.

Show your other bike(s) - What else do you ride?

It's a 2006 Yamaha Road Star Silverado MIdnight XV1700. I bought it to help out a friend with a brother who needed cash now. It hadn't been ridden for a couple of years, and wouldn't run without the choke, and the rear tire was down to the cord in several places. The local bike shop wouldn't take it to sell, so I bought it cheap for $2000. It has about 24K miles, and looks really nice. I put half a can of Seafoam in the gas tank, ran it for a while on the choke, and it cleaned out and runs great. Still pretty cold blooded, but fine when warmed up. Might have something to do with the the aftermarket Cobra pipes. Put a new rear tire on it yesterday, and took a ride on it today. Quite an experience. It is really heavy, close to 800 lbs, and is a little scary at first at low speeds. Very easy to ride once you're at speed, and handles surprisingly well. I always wondered what it was like to ride one of these behemoths, and now I know. Still, it's not for me long term. As soon as the new registration arrives, I'm putting it up for sale. I'm sure I can get my money out of it and make a little profit at the same time.

Ken

Fast Eddie · Nov 12, 2016

lcrken said:
Well, this one is not my usual style, but it is a big pushrod twin.

It's a 2006 Yamaha Road Star Silverado MIdnight XV1700. I bought it to help out a friend with a brother who needed cash now. It hadn't been ridden for a couple of years, and wouldn't run without the choke, and the rear tire was down to the cord in several places. The local bike shop wouldn't take it to sell, so I bought it cheap for $2000. It has about 24K miles, and looks really nice. I put half a can of Seafoam in the gas tank, ran it for a while on the choke, and it cleaned out and runs great. Still pretty cold blooded, but fine when warmed up. Might have something to do with the the aftermarket Cobra pipes. Put a new rear tire on it yesterday, and took a ride on it today. Quite an experience. It is really heavy, close to 800 lbs, and is a little scary at first at low speeds. Very easy to ride once you're at speed, and handles surprisingly well. I always wondered what it was like to ride one of these behemoths, and now I know. Still, it's not for me long term. As soon as the new registration arrives, I'm putting it up for sale. I'm sure I can get my money out of it and make a little profit at the same time.

Ken

Or...
Cheap donor for outrageous featherbed special....

lcrken · Nov 12, 2016

Fast Eddie said:
Or...
Cheap donor for outrageous featherbed special....

Actually, that thought crossed my mind, but I'd have to build a custom featherbed to fit. It's a really large engine! No way I could fit it into a normal FB.

Ken

grandpaul · Nov 14, 2016

lcrken said:
Actually, that thought crossed my mind, but I'd have to build a custom featherbed to fit. It's a really large engine! No way I could fit it into a normal FB.

Why not order a "Longline" Fetherbed from a custom builder.

lcrken · Nov 14, 2016

grandpaul said:
lcrken said:

Actually, that thought crossed my mind, but I'd have to build a custom featherbed to fit. It's a really large engine! No way I could fit it into a normal FB.

Click to expand...

Why not order a "Longline" Fetherbed from a custom builder.

It would have to be both longer and taller to fit this engine. I'll take some measurements and compare to the FB space, just out of curiosity. After all, these engines are commonly available on eBay for $1000 or so. If I really wanted to build one, the smart way would be to sell this one for $4000 or so, and use that money to buy an engine and build a frame. I have to keep reminding myself not to start any more new projects until I finish the ones I already have.

Ken

grandpaul · Nov 15, 2016

lcrken said:
If I really wanted to build one, the smart way would be to sell this one for $4000 or so, and use that money to buy an engine and build a frame.

You could always trade straight up...

Fast Eddie · Nov 15, 2016

lcrken said:
grandpaul said:

lcrken said:

Actually, that thought crossed my mind, but I'd have to build a custom featherbed to fit. It's a really large engine! No way I could fit it into a normal FB.

Click to expand...

Why not order a "Longline" Fetherbed from a custom builder.

Click to expand...

It would have to be both longer and taller to fit this engine. I'll take some measurements and compare to the FB space, just out of curiosity. After all, these engines are commonly available on eBay for $1000 or so. If I really wanted to build one, the smart way would be to sell this one for $4000 or so, and use that money to buy an engine and build a frame. I have to keep reminding myself not to start any more new projects until I finish the ones I already have.

Ken

Simple Ken. Off load some unfinished projects.

PM me and let me know when to come and pick up the 1007 project that's cluttering the place up...

lcrken · Nov 15, 2016

Now why didn't I think of that, Nigel? So kind of you to offer to help. I have been making some progress on the 1007, but haven't posted anything for a while. Expect some more progress reports when I get back in town next week.

Ken

grandpaul · Nov 15, 2016

Here's something else I just had my first short ride on, but looking forward to enjoying fall/winter riding on-

1969 BSA A65, Actually a Firebird, but "dressed" as a Lightning (yes, I know the front brake is '68).

Took it as partial payment for the Norton MkIII restoration I'm doing for Rick. Just got it running without much fuss after it sat for 3 years.

Killed all the mosquitoes in my neighborhood when it lit off, even though I drained the sump. Cleared up pretty quickly, though.

MS850 · Nov 16, 2016

grandpaul said:
Here's something else I just had my first short ride on, but looking forward to enjoying fall/winter riding on-

1969 BSA A65, Actually a Firebird, but "dressed" as a Lightning (yes, I know the front brake is '68).

Took it as partial payment for the Norton MkIII restoration I'm doing for Rick. Just got it running without much fuss after it sat for 3 years.

Killed all the mosquitoes in my neighborhood when it lit off, even though I drained the sump. Cleared up pretty quickly, though.

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Damn thats nice, thats it Im selling my house and buying more bikes.
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Ill just live in van down by the river.

Peter R · Nov 18, 2016

Here's a pic of my freshly restored Benelli 250 sport special.

grandpaul · Nov 18, 2016

Peter R said:
Here's a pic of my freshly restored Benelli 250 sport special.

Fantastic restoration of a classic roundhead.

MS850 · Nov 18, 2016

Peter R said:
Here's a pic of my freshly restored Benelli 250 sport special.

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Gorgeous bike, nice work, was it hard finding parts,

Peter R · Nov 18, 2016

MS850 said:
Peter R said:

Gorgeous bike, nice work, was it hard finding parts,

Click to expand...

Grand P and Mark, thanks for the compliments. Finding parts for these little Italian bikes is not straightforward indeed, there are a few part suppliers in Germany, but they do not have everything in stock, I have also foud some parts in Italy, England, and the USA via fleabay. Here in the Netherlands nothing is available for these bikes. It was my fist non-british bike resto, and I realize now that we are spoiled for choice when it comes to Norton and other British brands.
This said, the restoration was a lot of fun, I loved doing this resto job, the hunt for parts brought my wife and me even on a trip to Italy ! As result, my wife now looks forward to my next Italian resto project, so she can join me on the next holiday/parts hunt trip to Italy. Is'nt that terriffic ?

MS850 · Nov 18, 2016

Peter R said:
MS850 said:

Peter R said:

Gorgeous bike, nice work, was it hard finding parts,

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Grand P and Mark, thanks for the compliments. Finding parts for these little Italian bikes is not straightforward indeed, there are a few part suppliers in Germany, but they do not have everything in stock, I have also foud some parts in Italy, England, and the USA via fleabay. Here in the Netherlands nothing is available for these bikes. It was my fist non-british bike resto, and I realize now that we are spoiled for choice when it comes to Norton and other British brands.
This said, the restoration was a lot of fun, I loved doing this resto job, the hunt for parts brought my wife and me even on a trip to Italy ! As result, my wife now looks forward to my next Italian resto project, so she can join me on the next holiday/parts hunt trip to Italy. Is'nt that terriffic ?

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Great story, boy your right on finding Norton parts, it's like a kid in a candy store.
Even the parts for hondas I restored weren't as easy to find.