Eye Candy - Tribute to Darth

[Dallara]

I was hoping Darthrider would start an "Eye Candy" thread, as it was one of the most popular ever on the old board.

As a tribute to ol' Dave (Darth) I am going to start one off here and hope he jumps in!

http://www.gianniniracing.com/benellipic.jpg

http://www.gianniniracing.com/norton.jpg

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com/images/road/Norton_004_small.jpg

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/features/2003/delmar/matchless.jpg

http://www.motos-anglaises.com/matchless/g80cs-francis06.jpg

http://www.blacklotus.no/gallery/albums/album18/DSCF0005.sized.jpg

http://www.allan-wren.com/Matchless_G50_500-large.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0121.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0054.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0032.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0041.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0044.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0021.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0019.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0024.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0038.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0013.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0061.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0102.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0135.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0185.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0152.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0117.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0113.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0182.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0132.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0177.jpg

http://www.bsaocnc.org/2004%20clubmans/pict0068.jpg


Enjoy!

But join in, too... And post plenty of pics!

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara)

[Dallara]

Here's some more...

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/features/2003/delmar/DesertMaster.jpg

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/features/2003/delmar/militarytrim.jpg

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/features/2003/delmar/TR-6.jpg

http://world.honda.com/goodwood/machines/rc166/image/01.jpg

http://www.honda.co.jp/SEEVERT/gallery/05_rc115/image/rc116.jpg

http://world.honda.com/goodwood/machines/rc116/image/01.jpg

http://photos.motorcycle-usa.com/HondaRC30Portrait7.jpg

http://www.ken-friis.dk/RC45.jpg

http://usuarios.lycos.es/panzxr/images/motor%20NR.jpg

http://211.141.107.26/HONDA/PIC/NR/9.jpg

http://211.141.107.26/HONDA/PIC/NR/8.jpg

http://211.141.107.26/HONDA/PIC/NR/1.jpg

http://211.141.107.26/HONDA/PIC/NR/6.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Track/4248/73cr250m.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Track/4248/78250shogn.jpg

http://www.red-racer.com/images/MugenME125.jpg


http://www.minuit10.net/Honda-900cb/honda-900bol-dor.jpg

http://static.sportbikez.net/bikepics/1053683038.jpg


Please add on your favorites!

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara)

[Capt. Blackadder]

Wow... such a boatload of motoporn on one page. Should almost be labeled "NSFW." :icon_mrgreen:

[DJ Down Under]

Wow....very nice...:023: :023: :023: :023: :023:....thanks.

DJ

[DJ Down Under]

Here's some nice new eye candy.....well...candy to some people....the new Kawa ZZR1400

February 10 2006
ZZR not quite 200bhp
Kawasaki’s ZZR1400 wont be the 200bhp bike that everyone thought it would be – but it gets pretty close.

The firm has released official power figures and without ram-air the bike is claimed to make 187bhp, still a pretty impressive helping of go.

But put ram-air in to play and you can expect 197bhp from that stock bike accompanied by a massive 113.5ftlbs of torque.


How come it's not green???

DJ

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/jpeg/429/10999982.jpeg

[boxermania]

Quite a display Allan.....it reminds me how old I'm getting......:eusa_clap:

[Acacia]

Did anyone see/hear the rides - including the Honda 250, 6 ridden at the Goodwod festival this year? Was on Speed TV here in the uS

Ear and eye candy with cream on top!!!

[mnnden]

Allen, GREAT pictures, some really nice bikes, I realize that "Beauty lays in the eye of the beholder" and in my eye, Moto Guzzi is producing some real "Eye Candy". and i think, a pretty good bike. Den
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/991455/studio_10.jpg

[DarthRider]

HOOCHIE MAMA!

Just what I needed to see this cold morning to get the juices flowing.
Actually the 30 deg. ride to work DID get the "juices flowing" but that's a whole 'nuther deal!

That cat with the Vincent sure looked pleased with his trophy, didn't he!?

I was holding off on re-starting "Eye Candy" until we get the site in it's final form...trying to avoid having all our great images drop off to Page 23 and oblivion. Hopefully we'll have it set up as sort of an archive rather than just a plain ol' thread to avoid that.

But in the meantime...why not? The worst that can happen is that we have to start over when we "re-organize", but maybe we can transfer the images over to the permanent "Eye Candy".

Thanks for the re-start...I'm in!

Dave

[Dallara]

Some more "Eye Candy"...


http://enduretro.free.fr/annonces/15-06-05/250-CZ-2.jpg


http://enduretro.free.fr/annonces/15-06-05/250-CZ-1.jpg

http://www.motoscalatarrago.com/images/cz250g2.jpg

http://www.motoscalatarrago.com/images/cz250g5.jpg

http://www.motoscalatarrago.com/images/cz250.jpg

http://www.ahrma.org/machines/cz_400.jpg

http://www.motoclassicevents.com/images/membersbikes/cz_400_23.jpg


More to come...

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara)

[Dallara]

Here's some Maico's...

http://www.tvrc.org/Members/Jerry%20Miller/my%20'76%20MAICO%20AW250.jpg


http://www.virginiabritishmotorcycleclub.org/images/2004rallye/Maico(22).JPG

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/maico.mas/pm_2.jpg

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/apr2001/rick/maico/02.jpg

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/apr2001/rick/maico/04.jpg

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/apr2001/rick/maico/03.jpg

http://www.tvrc.org/Members/Clay%20Fugate/Maico125_3.jpg

http://www.calvmx.com/guestbook/images/delmar_2004/delmar1.jpg

http://www.superiorsleeve.com/Kramer1-HT03.jpg

http://www.racing-motorcycles.co.uk/images/photos/right/18.jpg

http://www.classic-motorrad.de/galerie/albums/userpics/10001/maatkamp.jpg

http://www.vintagemaicos.com/squarebarrelweb/images/1970%20Maico%20125%20from%20Bultaco%20West_jpg.jpg

http://www.vintagemaicos.com/squarebarrelweb/images/1971-Maico-400_jpg.jpg

http://www.vintagemaicos.com/squarebarrelweb/images/1972%20MC250%20Maico%20Only_jpg.jpg

http://www.vintagemaicos.com/squarebarrelweb/images/1974%20Maico%20501%20GP_jpg.jpg

http://www.vintagemaicos.com/nonmaicomotorweb/images/1-Maico%20with%20BMW%20motor_jpg.jpg


(Yes, that's a Maico chassis with a BMW Airhead in it!)

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara)

[Dallara]

Here's some other various dirt bikes... I just love off-road stuff for its simplicity and for most being totally dedicated to the ideal of "Form Follows Function"...


(This first one is very unique... It's a four-stroke Honda MX bike built by HRC for Roger DeCoster back when he was head of their MX program...)

http://www.calvmx.com/guestbook/images/delmar_2004/delmar3.jpg


http://www.calvmx.com/guestbook/images/delmar_2004/delmar4.jpg

http://www.calvmx.com/guestbook/images/delmar_2004/delmar6.jpg

http://www.calvmx.com/guestbook/images/delmar_2004/delmar11.jpg

http://www.calvmx.com/guestbook/images/delmar_2004/delmar17.jpg

http://www.calvmx.com/guestbook/images/delmar_2004/delmar16.jpg

http://www.calvmx.com/guestbook/images/delmar_2004/delmar13.jpg

http://www.calvmx.com/guestbook/images/delmar_2004/delmar8.jpg

http://www.calvmx.com/guestbook/images/delmar_2004/delmar5.jpg

http://www.vmxktm.net/pics/KTMgallery/250%20KTM%20gs%201973.jpg

http://www.vmxktm.net/pics/KTMgallery/1987%20KTM%20MC%20125%20P5.jpg

http://www.vmxktm.net/pics/KTMgallery/ktm1973%20250.jpg

http://northfortycyclepark.com/northforty/4-20-75-penton-250.jpg

http://digilander.libero.it/massimo254/MOTO/penton%20100%201970.jpg

http://northfortycyclepark.com/northforty/4-20-77-penton-gs400.jpg


More to come...

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara)

[Dallara]

Okay, back to street and race bikes for a while...

http://www.motorimania.it/moto/mv_agusta/images/2005-mv-agusta-f4-tamb-1.jpg

http://www.motorimania.it/moto/mv_agusta/images/2005-mv-agusta-f4-1%2B1-1.jpg

http://www.motorimania.it/moto/mv_agusta/images/2005-mv-agusta-brut-crc-1.jpg

http://www.motorimania.it/moto/mv_agusta/images/2003-mv-agusta-F4S-1-zoom.jpg

http://patrickmenier.free.fr/salonmoto03/MV%20Agusta%202.jpg

http://patrickmenier.free.fr/salonmoto03/Proto%201700%20CV.jpg

http://patrickmenier.free.fr/salonmoto03/Moto%20Guzzi-1.jpg

http://patrickmenier.free.fr/salonmoto03/Ducati-12.jpg

http://home.planet.nl/~motors-20th-century/drawing/BMW-R90S-1974-ghosted.jpg

http://www.micapeak.com/winona/mvagusta/mv_agusta_800s-1.jpg

http://www.micapeak.com/winona/mvagusta/mv_agusta_350_scr.jpg

http://gw2.kareltek.fi/~tippanokat/images/pyoria/MV%20Agusta.JPG

http://www.comp.fi/images/Formula/BH_2/benelli_350.jpg

http://www.comp.fi/images/Formula/BH_2/benelli_rear.jpg

http://www.comp.fi/images/Formula/BH_1/mv_agusta.jpg

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/exhibits/MV/side.jpg

http://www.moredesktop.com/Transports/Motor-Cycle/MV/Agusta/350-1961/MV-Agusta-350-1961.jpg

http://www.motonline.com/img_repository/ri_MVAgusta500-4c_b.jpg

http://www.motonline.com/img_repository/ri_MVagusta125bialb_b.jpg

http://www.motonline.com/img_repository/ri_PettinariTeam_b.jpg

http://www.motonline.com/img_repository/ri_HD250_b.jpg

http://www.motonline.com/img_repository/ri_Gilera-500-4c_b.jpg

http://www.motonline.com/img_repository/ri_BSA750Rocket-III_b.jpg

http://www.motonline.com/img_repository/ri_Benelli175bialbero_b.jpg

http://www.motonline.com/img_repository/ri_AermacchiAladoro408_b.jpg

http://www.motonline.com/img_repository/ri_MotoGuzzi500-2c_b.jpg

http://www.raptorsandrockets.com/images/benelli-sei750_edited.jpeg

http://www.qcql.com/temp/qcql057/100101.jpg

http://www.qcql.com/temp/qcql057/100109.jpg

http://www.gianniniracing.com/benelli.jpg

http://www.ducatimeccanica.com/phantom_ducman/benelli_big.jpg

http://www.ducatimeccanica.com/phantom_ducman/750sses_big.jpg

http://www.ducatimeccanica.com/phantom_ducman/ncr_tt2_big.jpg

http://www.ducatimeccanica.com/phantom_ducman/cool_line_up_big.jpg

http://www.ducatimeccanica.com/phantom_ducman/bayless_hodgson_big.jpg

http://www.ducatimeccanica.com/phantom_ducman/overview_big.jpg


Enjoy! More to follow...

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara)

[DJ Down Under]

BMW now have an eye candy website... http://www.bmw.ca/motorrad/home/home_fs.asp?lang=en click on the little R1200S pic...then on language...then on Download's.

Here's some pics from it..

DJ

http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/specials/r1200s/media/papers/Country800x600.jpg

http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/specials/r1200s/media/papers/Garage800x600.jpg

http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/specials/r1200s/media/papers/Track800x600.jpg

[Boxerboy]

Luverley!

http://www.boxerworks.com/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=143988&t=143988

[DJ Down Under]

Luverley!

http://www.boxerworks.com/phorum/rea...43988&t=143988
WOWSER!!!....very nice.

DJ

[Deans BMW]

WOW,

Fantastic on that old slash five.

[Dallara]

Here some interesting Design Concept drawings from an Italian who loves the newer Triumph's...

http://www.triumphchepassione.com/immagini/prototipi-triumph/Triumph-Urban-Track.jpg


http://www.triumphchepassione.com/immagini/prototipi-triumph/Triumph-Flat-Track.jpg

http://www.triumphchepassione.com/immagini/prototipi-triumph/Triumph-Daytona.jpg

http://www.triumphchepassione.com/immagini/prototipi-triumph/Triumph-Slippery-Sam.jpg


Enjoy!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

[Dallara]

Are you guys familiar with HPN?

They're the outfit that used build BMW's factory off-road racers for Paris-to-Dakar, etc.

Here's some beautiful examples of their work.


http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/baja85-1.jpg


http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/baja85-2.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/paris-dakar86.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/paris-dakar86_2.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/lundmark1.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/lundmark2.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/kordys1.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/kordys2.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/rallye_schief.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/hpn_rallye_rechts.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/rallye_rechts.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/gsrr1.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/gsrr2.jpg

http://www.hpn.de/bilder/high_resolution/zebra.jpg



Take a really close look at some of these... Makes ya' kind'a wonder just exactly where the new BMW HP2 came from, don't it?


Cheers!

Allan (Dallara -NACD)

[arkline]

How's about these:

http://www.2tausend1.de/motors/normal/AJS-E95-500Racer-1953.jpg

http://www.2tausend1.de/motors/normal/Ariel-SquareFour-1958.jpg

http://www.2tausend1.de/motors/normal/Ducati-750-SuperSport-1974.jpg

There is a veritible catalog of images of twentieth century motorcycles here:

http://home.planet.nl/~motors-20th-century/motors.html (http://home.planet.nl/%7Emotors-20th-century/motors.html)

[Boxerboy]

WOW,

Fantastic on that old slash five.

It's a 90/6 I believe Dean.

The barrels look brilliant don't they, but the painted motor has yet to pass the test of time.

[Sir Limpsalot]

I am sooooooooo loving this. Wonderful thing the internet, some of the above photos were taken at Brands Hatch not 50 miles from my front door. Here I am enjoying them at the Motorcyclist Cafe via Texas. Roughly 5000 miles from my front door!
Si

[Bones]

Allan,
When I was a kid, I stole a ride on a friend's Sears mini bike with a Briggs and Stratton engine and a centrifugal clutch. I was hooked. Then, Rupp minibikes were floating around the neighborhood. They were "trick" compared to Sears minibikes. Then, Hondas started appearing. The first bike that I would consider a "real" motorcycle that I rode was just brought back to memory by your post. It was that Honda Elsinor 125 !!! I couldn't remember the exact bike, but I have remembered that first ride vividly for now over 35 years. But your post had that bike there and BINGO! What a fantastic thing. I still remember the smell of the exhaust.

Have you seen one of those running in the past few years?

Thanks.

Jeff

[Dallara]

Nope, Bones...

I haven't seen an early Honda CR-125-M Elsinore out and running in a number of years. They have gained sort of *cult* status... even more than the original CR-250-M (which is weird, as the 250 came first, and in many ways was tricker than the 125...), and because of that many of the originals are being snapped up, restored, and then tucked away by collectors.

Actually, more 125's were produced, so the original 250 Elsie's should be more rare. However, they were pretty tough sleds (except for second and third gear engagement dogs, but this was easy to contend with), and with just a modicum of care they would run forever... Just like any Honda.

I have a couple of friends who have 1973/74 Honda CR-250-M Elsinore's and so I get to see them roost around fairly often. Both guys are guys I raced way back when... and they rode Snore's, too. Both quit racing decades ago, even before I did. But when they got the hankering for a dirt scoot to bop around their ranches they both picked 250 Elsinore's, and each found a fairly thrashed one and restored it. One is literally concours condition, but still gets ridden a few times a year. The other looks more *seasoned*, by is a rocket, and gets ridden a lot.

It is really hard to describe to anyone that didn't experience it why an original Elsinore leaves such a lasting impression. They were such a light years ahead leap of performance and refinement over what had been available before that is was truly a magical piece. For truly the first time in production moto-crosser history you really could take a bike out of the box and race and win with it, and with absolutely *NO* changes to it... Nothing... Not a bolt. And everything on it was rebuildable on it, even the rear shocks... Which was rather unheard of at the time. They were affordable, reliable, fast as light, handled like they were on rails, lighter than a feather, and parts were at any Honda dealers. Truly a revelation, and a revolution.

Honda single-handedly brought production moto-crossers kicking and screaming into the modern age... Signaling a whole new era in dirt bikes. From then on if your company's over-the-counter MX machine wasn't at least as good as an Elsinore, and come standard with good forks, good shocks, a foam air filter, plastic fenders, nice controls, grippy footpegs, a decent seat, quality fasteners, great power, lightweight, and reliability - standard - then you just couldn't compete... And slowly but surely makes like Montesa, Ossa, Bultaco, CZ, Maico, Monark, etc. disappeared.

Much like what happened to the British with street bikes, the Honda Elsinore (and the other Jap bikes that followed it) rang the death knell for many a European moto-cross manufacturer.

Hell, I could go on and on about Honda Elsinore's for days, but I don't imagine anybody wants to hear about 'em... Mostly street riders here I imagine. That said, I would like to find a decent condition original Honda 350 Elsinore, restore, and give it a ride every now and then.

Funny you mention Rupp mini bikes, Bones... Though I never rode a Rupp, the very first powered two-wheel vehicle I ever rode was a Steen's "Taco 44" mini bike, powered by a 3.5 HP Briggs & Stratton. It was the sister bike to this one:

http://scooter.lst1090.org/steen168.jpg



Except it had a real swingarm rear suspension, complete with what at least looked like real motorcycle shocks...

Here's what the Taco 44's looked like:


http://members.tripod.com/jleibovitch/73880e00.jpg

(The one I rode was a purple one just like this one above... And here's some more)

http://members.tripod.com/jleibovitch/6ec397c0.jpg

http://members.tripod.com/jleibovitch/6ee3d7f0.jpg

http://members.tripod.com/jleibovitch/6ea397c0.jpg


Here's some Rupp mini bikes... Any of them like the ones running around your neighborhood?


http://members.tripod.com/jleibovitch/12a902c0.jpg

http://www.scomo.net/images/catalog/scooters/rupp/mediumimage/CSR-001.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/mjh0/images/ruppadd.gif


http://www.scomo.net/images/catalog/scooters/rupp/orange/rupp1.jpg

http://www.scomo.net/images/catalog/scooters/rupp/orange/rupp2.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/410ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/373Ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/372Ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/374Ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/403ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/402ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/400Ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/401Ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/371ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/367ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/354Ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/343Ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/333ebay.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/mvc-709x.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/69RuppRoadster.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/72Enduro.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/RH1.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/images/rupp0004a.jpg

http://www.ruppbikes.com/Images/INTAKE02.jpg



This was all I could find on a Sears mini. Is it like the one you started out on?


http://members.tripod.com/jleibovitch/8afcf770.jpg

http://members.tripod.com/jleibovitch/8b1c82b0.jpg



By the way... Did any of you know that MV AGUSTA built a mini-bike way back when???

Anybody wanna' see some pictures and a brochure?

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

[Bones]

Allan,
That purple Rupp was the one a friend of mine had and it was the Tits! All 3.5 hp of it. His was blue. Riding around in circles of a flat field of grass against my parents' wishes (and knowledge) going all of what must have been 15 mph, what a feeling. The thing wouldn't really go up a hill at faster than a jogging pace, but the thrill of a motorbike at that age was just beyond discription.

I remember the smell of THAT, too. It used to burn some oil, or maybe it was my jeans (in those days called Dungarees) against the exhaust. The percentage of unburned fuel that ran through those things was pretty impressive, in retrospect.

I was wearing PF Fliers and a stripped short sleeve shirt and had hair almost to my shoulders. Used to eat Chocks Vitamins in the morning (anyone remember those?). Johnny Unitas was the quarterback for the Colts.

The neighborhood had some Honda Mini trail bikes, too. We would show up at the grade school baseball fields and ride around until the police came and chased us away. Nobody owned more than 1/4 acre lots in the suburbs, but there were some woods around and that school field. There was one guy whose family had about 5 acres "out in the country" and his Dad used to race stock cars, so he was allowed to ride. None of our parents would let us go to his house for that reason. He also learned early how to modify engines, and made a 5 hp Briggs and Stratton produce enough power to push a home made go kart 50 mph down the street. Can you spell M E L T E D P I S T O N ?

That series of photos clearly brought back some memories. Man, those were some primitive machines.

Wish I could remember what a new Rupp cost in those days.

Jeff

[socalrob]

My parents got my brother & me a mini bike with a briggs & stratton 3.5 HP engine. Bought it at a FEDCO department store, put in the car trunk, a brought it home. My Dad insisted that we wear the $10 3/4 indestructible plastic helmet he bought. At best it had a rather weak rear brake. I think I was about 5th grade, my brother in 8th grade.

Two things a remember about that little bike, one was we screwed about a 10 inch long piece of water pipe into the exhaust port instead of the muffler, gave it a nice deep sound that had a nice back fire thing on closed throttle. The other thing was reaching under the seat to knock a little metel piece against the spark plug to ground it and kill the bike, if you weren't careful your finger would hit the spark plug & shock the crap out of you.

We rode it around our neighborhood, on trips around the block my sheltie would race along on the sidewalk & was able to keep up.

About 1/2 mile on very back residential streets from my house was an abandoned hillside subdivision. The only things they had built before stopping for several years were the graded streets, house pads, and concrete curbs. There was a row of about 8 lots that were seperated by anywhere from 15 ft. to 4 ft of grade, so you could zoom along a flat lot, ride up a nice slope, get good air at the top, then on to the next. At the end ride back down the dirt street & repeat. 1000's of times.

A few years later, when my brother turned 16 & I was 13, we bought a Hodaka ACE 100 from a guy who raced it. But thats another story.

[BobFV1]

Those were the good old days - Los Angeles, from about 1967, when I was 10, until 1975, when I went off to start my higher education in Northern California. Taco minibikes were very popular, many kids had them. Stanley SPencer, my best buddy in toung childhood, had a dad who built dune buggies out of VW's and Corvairs in his garage across the street and he had a Taco that we would ride up and down the alley outside his house, unless his dad needed us to stir resin or to hold something while he welded it.

That Ellsinore brings back memories too - I never rode one but it was one of my dream bikes. Jawa CZ, Huqvarna, and Bultaco, three brands now all but gone from the scene, were the popular and sought after marques for our afternoon dirt track riding - I had an old, mongrel Bultaco POS I used to run on our illegal track - and from the cops going to and from the track.... Whatever happenned to Bultaco and Husky? I think Husky still makes snowmobiles and chainsaws, but in the good old days, the days of "On Any Sunday", I used to knock around LA with the round Bultaco thumbs-up patck on my jean jacket. Cool people knew what it was.

http://epll.no-ip.com/Bultaco/miquel/Bultaco/logo%20bultaco%201.jpg

[Dallara]

Bob,

Husqvarna is still very, very much alive... And even winning races. They just aren't Swedish any more!

Husqvarna was originally a Swedish gun manufacturer, and began making bicycles in 1903. It wasn't until 1915 that they first put an engine onto one of their bicycle frames to make their first motorcycles. The first motorcycles they built actually used other manufacturers engines (like FN, Moto-Reve', Sturmey-Archer, JAP, and NSU). They didn't start making their own engines until 1920 or '21, if I recall correctly, and it was 550cc V-twin. They won races with their bikes and engines all through the 1920's against the like of BMW, DKW, Excelsior, FN, Harley-Davidson, Indian, Norton, Velocette, and others. They even won at the Isle of Mann, if memory serves.

However, they ceased production of this engine in the 1930's, and they also pulled out of racing. However, they allowed Albin to start producing a single-cylinder version of the engine and it was used in Husqvarna's military motorcycle and in Monark brand bikes. Husky did start building lightweight two-strokes in 1935 that were 98cc's and used in bicycle frames. In 1946 they started building a 120cc engine and real motorcycle that was a big seller and since they were available only in black they were called "Svartkvarna", which translated means "Black Varna"...

They started building what would become the two-stroke engines most all will remember from the movie "On Any Sunday" in 1957 as a 175cc two-stroke single (the "Silver Arrow"), and it is quickly joined by a 200cc version ("Golden Arrow"), but the Swedish government considers it too fast for Swedish roads (it had a top speed of nearly 100 MPH, in 1958!), and asks that Husky discontinue the model. Husky takes the 200cc "Golden Arrow" off the streets but uses it as the basis of their new off-road and moto-cross bikes, and they won their first World Championship in the 250cc MX class with Rolf Tibblin aboard (they also won their first 500cc class World Title in 1960 with Bill Nilsson in the saddle, but that bike used an FN four-stroke single). It wasn't until 1969 that they won a 500cc title with their own 360cc two-stroke with Bengt Aberg riding for them, but this was a monumental achievement because it marked the first time a two-stroke own the premier 500cc class, and essentially ended the big 500cc four-stroke MX'er's reign in that class.

Husqvarna, however, were actually the first to bring back competitive four-stroke singles with their radical 500cc singles in 1983, which were essentially a two-stroke bottom end with a reed-valve arrangement in the crankcase to pump oil to a four-stroke top end. They were light, fast, and competitive. Unfortunately they simply didn't sell as well as had been hoped (along with having some early teething problems that scared buyers away despite these ills being quickly cured...), and the parent Husqvarna company (which does still make chain saws, etc. in Sweden) sold off the Husqvarna motorcycle name, plants,tooling, etc. to Cagiva in 1987.

(As an aside, all of the Swedish engineers that developed the four-stroke Husqvarna left after the sale and started their own motorcycle company - Husaberg - which did quite well, but recently was sold to KTM, who still produces the Husaberg line intact...)

The Castiglioni brothers, who owned Cagiva, continued to build and develop Husky four-strokes, but replaced the two-stroke line-up with their own, but badging them as "Husqvarna".

As most know, the Castiglioni brothers flew Ducati right into the ground, and Husky went right along with it... But, they did still own the name, and eventually raised enough coin to start up production of the four-stroke Husky's again, only this time produced in its entirety in Italy. Eventually the Castiglioni brothers would get the rights to the MV Agusta name, and so now MV Agusta's are produced right alongside Husqvarna's!

BTW, Husky has been a huge force in European SuperMotard and enduros, winning multiple European titles.

Here's some current Husqvarna's...



http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2006/images/360x260/te450_2.jpg

http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2006/images/360x260/smr_1.jpg

http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2006/images/360x260/sm610_4.jpg

http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2006/images/360x260/tc510_2.jpg

http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2006/images/360x260/TE610_06.jpg

The current Husky's use an all new engine, which debuted in 2002 or 2003, and it is a thoroughly modern design and follows current four-stroke trends, with high-pressure trichodial oil pumps, dual-overhead cams, narrow valve angle and flat compact combustion chambers, etc. The engines are quite compact and produce good power, though a bit heavy.

Here's a link to Husqvarna's USA web site:


http://www.husqvarnausa.com/


The current Husqvarna's are fast, reliable, and use state of the art components... However, it seems the entire line-up suffers from being a bit overweight compared to their competition.


Now, on to Bultaco...

The sad story of Bultaco is a bit too long a story to tell in this post... Maybe in another one sometime if their is any interest.

However, Bultaco is now back in the motorcycle business... They just aren't called Bultaco's!

A group of enthusiastic trials pros, led by Marc Teissier, got together in 1998 and purchased much of what was left of Bultaco, including a production facility... However they didn't get the name. Still they have hatched wonderfully detailed and highly competitive off-road motorcycle now marketed under the name Sherco.

Heres some Sherco pics...


http://www.shercousa.com/foto_29.jpg

http://www.shercousa.com/foto_45(2).jpg

http://www.shercousa.com/sm-450.gif


Here's a link to Sherco's USA web site:


http://www.shercousa.com/


By the way, can anyone tell me who now owns Montesa? (Hint - If you don't know you probably won't believe it when you hear it...)

And another day, another time... The tragic saga of CZ...

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

[DarthRider]

Allan -

Great stuff on Husky...matter of fact, the last beeg teecket I got from the constabularies one berg over was on a Husqvarna 610 Super Moto. Just like the black/gray one you illustrated.
Nice enough bike but, based on one ride only, I'd go with a KTM 625. Or even an MZ 660 Black Panther if I wanted similar performance but a little less flash for a lot less coin!
Damn but these speeding tickets are getting expensive, more a nuisance before (I used to call them a "Fun Tax"), but they're really getting greedy these days!

Dave

[NoRRmad]

From Montesaweb.com:
"Thanks to the fact that Montesa had a very solid commercial and industrial organisation, it managed to avoid closing its factory doors by inking an agreement with Honda Motor in 1982. Thus, a new company was incorporated called Montesa Honda S.A., whereby Honda committed itself to marketing new special models of the popular Cota 125, 200 and 349, manufactured under the MH mark, which were sold through its sales network in Europe."

[arkline]

This was THE HOT ride when I was in junior high in Roswell, NM, circa 1961:

http://www.hobbytech.com/Homepage%7Epix/MVC-576S.JPG


And the company is still in business, but no longer making anything as near so much a turn-on to the thirteen and fourteen year old, testosterone poisoned, pimple-faced kids way too young to drive a car (legally)....

[DarthRider]

Me and my Harley Dee 165 2-stroke always disputed with the Cushman Eagle boys as to whose bike was "fastest".
The Cushmans would out accelerate me but my 165 would get 'em on the top end.
We never did settle that argument...

Dave

[Dallara]

You got it, NoRRmad !!!

And that's all accurate, except now Honda owns Montesa lock, stock, and barrel... It's not just an "agreement" any longer.

But it is good that the Montesa marque is still alive.

Good job, NoRRmad !!! :eusa_clap:

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

[arkline]

Well tha Motorcycle Museum seems to think the HD165 is worth more than a casual mention:

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/classics/bike.asp?id=64

http://home.ama-cycle.org/membersonly/museum/images/b64/Classic_600.jpg

I wonder Dave, did you get the genyooowine Harley accessories too?

http://home.ama-cycle.org/membersonly/museum/images/b64/ClassicAccent_600.jpg

[DarthRider]

Ron -
*That* HD 165 is a little nicer and very different than mine. Here's what mine was like, except it was red and a little beat up. And it had "goose-neck" handlebars that were cool. The only accessory I had was "crash bars" and they were black 'cause I couldn't afford chrome. It was a very tough little bike and dependable too.
It was big brother to the HD 125cc Hummer (it was a long time before I found out what that really was!). The 125 was a copy of the German DKW, the design and production rights having been awarded jointly to England and the U.S. after WWII as war reparation. BSA produced the Bantam and Harley produced the Hummer/165 for years and both were very good little motorcycles.
Man, I wish *any* bike now could make me feel like that little 165 did when I got it when I was 15! That's an unfortunate by-product of experience...you get a bit jaded. I still get plenty jazzed up before & after the acquisition of a new bike, and every time I ride one but that's coming from somewhere, some*thing* else.
Back then it was because the world was brand new and it had motorcycles in it...

Dave

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/32936549-L.jpg

[Dallara]

Here's some various Norton's...


http://heim.ifi.uio.no/~paall/bilder/norton_commando_850_mkIIa_1974_.jpg

http://www.corbin.com/norton/nc850_2.jpg

http://www.corbin.com/norton/nsmug_2.jpg

http://www.cbbc.de/gallery/norton/Commando.jpg

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/news04090801.jpg

http://www.ducati.net/arch/ss/PhilCommando.jpg

http://www.wemoto.com/wem/pic/z16.jpg

http://www.cvmg-gpr.ca/Norton-after.jpg

http://www.captainjakes.com/abcd2002/bikenorton01.jpg

http://www.jwoodandcompany.com/2003/daytona2003/norton_mk11_75.jpg

http://www.bmoc.ca/GV%20Gallery_files/JB%2069-S.jpg

http://www.robinsclassicmotorcycles.com/snrtn10f.jpg

http://www.motopress.be/images/Photos/Fonds/NORTON_COMMANDO_952.jpg

http://www.dropbears.com/m/models/classic/images/norton/commando.jpg

http://www.motosclassicas70.com.br/propaganda_Norton-Commando-750.jpg

http://www.motosclassicas70.com.br/propaganda_Norton-Commando-850S.jpg

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com/images/road/Norton_002_medium.jpg

http://www.coloradonortonworks.com/images/road/Norton_005_medium.jpg
http://www.coloradonortonworks.com/images/road/Norton_001_medium.jpg

http://www.eurospares.com/dnnort.jpg

http://www2.uol.com.br/bestcars/carros/motos/norton-commando-2005-1.jpg

http://www.jerrydoe.com/nov01/new.jpg


http://www.jerrydoe.com/adtwentytwo.jpg

http://www.jerrydoe.com/adtwentythree.jpg

http://www.jerrydoe.com/adthree.jpg

http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/data/pics/1Laguna-2004-Photos-158.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/norton/comfyra.jpg

http://www.jerrydoe.com/nov01/hi_res.jpg


Hope you enjoy 'em!

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

[DarthRider]

I always enjoy a lineup of Snortin' Nortons!

Dave

[arkline]

I've always kinda wanted one of these....

http://www.nortonmotors.co.uk/images/P43Prosp.jpg


Or these:

http://www.nortonmotors.co.uk/images/RNF1.jpg


I have a sound file of one of the rotaries "warming up at Goodwood" one year. It is an amazing sounding machine. Nothing quite like it anywhere else. Like a double-A feuler and ripping silk all at once. Reputed to rev to 12K...

Until I can find a way to get it somewhere you can download it, send me your email address and I'll email the thing to you.

[DarthRider]

Ron -
There are some rotaries in the states and I've seen them come up for sale every once in a while.
There is rumored to be one of the racers here but I don't know for sure.
Dave

[Deans BMW]

Guys, don't forget the old geezer fart and the Snorton Norton.

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/15809769-M.jpg

[DarthRider]

Hey, who you callin' a fart?

Dave

[Boxerboy]

http://home.ama-cycle.org/membersonly/museum/images/b13/classfeb_600.jpghttp://home.ama-cycle.org/membersonly/museum/images/b13/classfeb_600.jpg

Anything unusual about this thing?

[DJ Down Under]

Someone stole one of the cylinders...or...the exhaust is on the other side.

I give up....do tell.

DJ

[Boxerboy]

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/classics/bike.asp?id=13

[Dallara]

Before I read your link, Boxerboy...

Are you asking that question because the Harley above has a horizontally-opposed twin engine in it?

If so did you know that it wasn't the only Harley built with a "boxer" style powerplant, and unlike the chain-drive one above, the other Boxer-Harley had shaft drive?

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

[Arby]

Allan
I don't know anything about the Harley shown above, but the model you're refering to was a WW 2 model developed for the US military.

I don't believe it made it to production , or did it?

Bob

[Arby]

Allan

Regards your comment in an earlier post on this thread about the then new Honda CR250 & 125 signaling the end for a lot of the European manufacturers.

It wasn't for lack of customer service that they failed.

When I raced a 400Cz, it spun a crank bearing quite a while after I began racing it. It damaged the crank and I seem to recall the case half as well.
When my dealer notified American Jawa , they had us ship the box of parts back to them and not long after they sent an assembled engine back ready to go, no charge.

later on , I purchased one of the first VA 360 Montesas when they resumed making open class bikes in 1976. The first VA360 had sand cast cases and the clutch mounted on the crank.

This crankshaft mounted clutch allowed the engine to make power very smoothly, but was allowing the crank to flex so badly that it distortrd the cases enough, especially when landing from jumps, that the gear box would jam and bust the cases.

To make this short, my dealer was no help. I called Larry Wise with Cosmopolitan Motors, the east coast distributor, he gave me the phone number of the factory in Barcelona.

When I called and asked for a Mr. Modesto Solle they put me right thru.(He was the export manager for Montesa, he and his secretary spoke perfect english)

He said they had only just become aware of the problem and said he would authorize Cosmopolitan to give me all neccesary parts tp keep my engine running, would send a hand built engine via Cosmo asap, and then would send a new production engine once they found a permanent solution.

They did exactly as they promised.

I don't believe I would have gotten that kind of service from the Japanese back in those days. (Yes, the Japanese bikes were breaking too).

I rode Montesa from then on and still have my 1980 VF414 that I ride with my grandsons on their KX65 & 100. We have a homegrown m/x track on 14 acres of abandoned citrus grove .

If there is any interest in Montesa, Google Southwest Montesa for anything you need or Jarret, the owner, will tell you where to get it.

Bob

[Boxerboy]

Before I read your link, Boxerboy...

Are you asking that question because the Harley above has a horizontally-opposed twin engine in it?

If so did you know that it wasn't the only Harley built with a "boxer" style powerplant, and unlike the chain-drive one above, the other Boxer-Harley had shaft drive?

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NACD)

Allan...yes and yes..the ww2 was the Xa or something?

[Boxerboy]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com.au%3A80%2Fsearch%2 Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D%2B4622050313 %26fvi%3D1&item=4622050313

Candy? I don't think so:037:

Interesting and unusual. Definitely.

[DJ Down Under]

Re that chrome thing around the riders seat..imagine hitting a bump..and bouncing down on that..:icon_eek:

DJ

[Sir Limpsalot]

To do that to a poor unsuspecting Guzzi is bad enough, but a Benelli 650 Sport?? and a Hercules Rotary?? Don't get me wrong fellers, I love classics and most certainly don't object to some tastefull upgrades but.............All that chrome crap stuck everywhere, surely that's what Harley's are for!!!!!!!:037:
Si

[arkline]

Some one seems to have dropped acid one too many times and gone out to the garage...Gaaaakkkkkk.