A thread for classic motorcycle fans…

[glasgowcyclist]

Just to kick off, here’s a nice old Moto Guzzi I saw in Verona last week. I was in a rush so it’s not a great shot.

 

[Sharky]

A good excuse to drop this photo again....

My great uncle, at the IOM TT races in 1933 or 34.
He crashed in the second one.

 

[ktmbiker58]

Some photos from 1983 and my first racer - a BSA Goldstar that I built out of my Rocket Goldstar after the third engine grenaded, the RGS was still taxed and MOTd when I built the racer so I took it for a few laps of the Isle of Man TT circuit.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

I love old bikes. Here's a favourite from about five years ago.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

 

[Tail End Charlie]

There are two old bikes coming up at a local auction next week. I'm tempted by the Royal Enfield (it's an 02 reg) as I think the Norton will go for way more than I want to pay. I know nothing about REs, other than they are much better nowadays, but I do know one end of a spanner from the other. The RE has a recent MOT. Anyone any thoughts? @Cavalol you know about bikes @steveindenmark I believe you have an RE. @fritzkatzenjammer you had a similar one I believe?

 

[gbb]

Probably mentioned in earlier posts in other parts of the forum but...never been a fanatic, never had a motorcycle but I can appreciate them, but early 1970s, we lived on a mothballed airbase and two years running, the Vintage.Motorcycle.Club set up on the runway and did 1/4 mile standing starts. So astonishing and funny to see them go hell for leather on aged bikes, Vincent's, Velocettes, AJS etc etc, what a bunch of utter nutters

Some even smeared tar like grease around the rear tyre and went slippy sliding, up the runway, like a demented thing.

Fastest was a Hillman Imp engined drag bike...I can still see (and hear...and.smell) it now

 

[Cavalol]

There are two old bikes coming up at a local auction next week. I'm tempted by the Royal Enfield (it's an 02 reg) as I think the Norton will go for way more than I want to pay. I know nothing about REs, other than they are much better nowadays, but I do know one end of a spanner from the other. The RE has a recent MOT. Anyone any thoughts? @Cavalol you know about bikes @steveindenmark I believe you have an RE. @fritzkatzenjammer you had a similar one I believe?

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Have to confess I don't know a massive amount about either of those brands. I'd imagine the R.E will be a good bet, I'm not sure I ever heard anyone who owned one really slag them off, including ones of that 'vintage'. The colour scheme and seat are an acquired taste though! Unless my eyesight is worse than I thought, it seems to have a right foot gearchange/left foot brake, which British bike riders will probably love, but for those of us used to more modern bikes might struggle with!

I did try and buy a year or two old R.E Himalayan late last years they are a fantastic looking bike (imho) but it was the dealer who put me off them after the one I owned for 15 minutes had a fault and a combination of what I thought were lies and a bit of brand slagging off by them helped change my mind.

I bet that Norton will be cheaper now than say 5 or 10 years ago, the market does seem to be waning for bikes of that era.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Have to confess I don't know a massive amount about either of those brands. I'd imagine the R.E will be a good bet, I'm not sure I ever heard anyone who owned one really slag them off, including ones of that 'vintage'. The colour scheme and seat are an acquired taste though! Unless my eyesight is worse than I thought, it seems to have a right foot gearchange/left foot brake, which British bike riders will probably love, but for those of us used to more modern bikes might struggle with!

I did try and buy a year or two old R.E Himalayan late last years they are a fantastic looking bike (imho) but it was the dealer who put me off them after the one I owned for 15 minutes had a fault and a combination of what I thought were lies and a bit of brand slagging off by them helped change my mind.

I bet that Norton will be cheaper now than say 5 or 10 years ago, the market does seem to be waning for bikes of that era.

Yes, the brake and gears are the way you think. If I bag it, it'll be a learning curve for me too! The box behind contains a few spares, including a fuel tank, I'm going to have a closer look on Monday.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Yes, the brake and gears are the way you think. If I bag it, it'll be a learning curve for me too! The box behind contains a few spares, including a fuel tank, I'm going to have a closer look on Monday.

It's easier than you'd think to swap from left to right gear change. I had use of a mates Bantam before I got my first Honda and left foot shifts became second nature straight away.

 

[dicko]

My Dad on his Royal Enfield, we would ride to the village pub me sitting on the tank, I was five.

 

[Pete.H]

This is my 30 year project
1972 Suzuki GT550J 2 stroke triple

 

[Drago]

I've given up riding. I've slathered the FZR in Duck Oil, rolled it under the work bench and covered it up.

But I could be tempted out of retirement for an old aircooled BMW R65/75/80.

 

[steveindenmark]

Oddly enough. I have a Royal Enfield Classic 350 Reborn. Its not fast but it is a joy to ride. Because it looks so retro, I am happy to bimble around at 50/60 mph. There is a huge following for RE. I came from Moto Guzzis and there is the same family feel for RE. People will go out of their way to help you and include you.

The company is in great hands and has done a Skoda trick. Gone from a iffy beat up vehicle and blossomed into something with all the bells and whistles.

Parts are easy to get for all the models.

Thats a lovely looking bike they have for sale.

 

[dicko]

I loved my Bonnie