I'm looking to pick up a classic motorcycle and just wonder
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- Tocsik
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This has turned into a fun thread!
My first was a Yamaha RD200. 2-cylinder 2-stroke. Amazing power band. This isn't mine but an exact picture:
The next was the Yamaha XS400 that I cafe'd-out with black chrome drop bars, chopped pipes and a quarter-faring. Fun, fun, fun (but not as pretty as the RD200 was)! I need to look around and see if I have an old picture of that bike...
My first was a Yamaha RD200. 2-cylinder 2-stroke. Amazing power band. This isn't mine but an exact picture:
The next was the Yamaha XS400 that I cafe'd-out with black chrome drop bars, chopped pipes and a quarter-faring. Fun, fun, fun (but not as pretty as the RD200 was)! I need to look around and see if I have an old picture of that bike...
- Mulliganal
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Someone has one of those available for $800 near me; granted it needs work.PeteH wrote:I had this blue CB550F:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/mcy/2294018255.html
".....Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us......"
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That's why I stay off Craigslist!babblefish wrote:Eric, I've seen examples of all of those motorcycles you posted on my local Craigslist including that Gilera and Benelli!
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
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The CA305 is The One for me. I didn't post because it's outside my "under 200cc" range for previous post. Krustyburger has one.polianarchy wrote:1965 Honda Dream.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
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Just found one of these on Craig's list and apparently it's been in his garage for years and only needs to have the carb rebuilt an a little bit of TLC. He's asking $1,250 but I'm thinking he will take less. I'm waiting for some better photos to see how clean it is.
".....Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us......"
- babblefish
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Jump on it!!! That bike looks great! It's also very collectable.Mulliganal wrote:Just found one of these on Craig's list and apparently it's been in his garage for years and only needs to have the carb rebuilt an a little bit of TLC. He's asking $1,250 but I'm thinking he will take less. I'm waiting for some better photos to see how clean it is.
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- jrsjr
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Re: I'm looking to pick up a classic motorcycle and just won
Very nice! Many thumbs up!lmgreco wrote:Here's my CB200T. Pretty much stock, except new seat cover, missing air cleaner covers, and bar end mirrors. It was sitting since the late 70's and only had 800 something miles when I got a hold of it!
- babblefish
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Just to drive Eric crazy:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/2368192816.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/2368762828.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/2368789904.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/2368191260.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/2365735306.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/2362753419.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/2359288271.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/2366047671.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/2368192816.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/2368762828.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/2368789904.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/2368191260.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/2365735306.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/2362753419.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/2359288271.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/2366047671.html
Some people can break a crowbar in a sandbox.
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I'm a brand new member, and I saw this post. I'm really a motorcycle guy who just bought a scooter, and I am loving riding it. Anyway, here is my motorcycle.
This is my second Norton, and even though I love these motorcycles more than anything ever made, I wouldn't recommend them to everyone. You have to be ready to tinker and work on them every week almost. Then there are the oil leaks, etc.
Even with all of that, it's still the most inspiring ride I have ever had, and I have ridden just about every brand of modern motorcycles.
This is my second Norton, and even though I love these motorcycles more than anything ever made, I wouldn't recommend them to everyone. You have to be ready to tinker and work on them every week almost. Then there are the oil leaks, etc.
Even with all of that, it's still the most inspiring ride I have ever had, and I have ridden just about every brand of modern motorcycles.
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- Mulliganal
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Question, I've read many posts out in cyberspace that also say exactly what you’re saying about Norton bikes requiring a lot of tweaking and maintenance. With this being said, why do you think they are so sought after?Shiner1 wrote:
This is my second Norton, and even though I love these motorcycles more than anything ever made, I wouldn't recommend them to everyone. You have to be ready to tinker and work on them every week almost. Then there are the oil leaks, etc.
Even with all of that, it's still the most inspiring ride I have ever had, and I have ridden just about every brand of modern motorcycles.
Also, beautiful Norton you've got there.
".....Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us......"
- jrsjr
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Shiner1, welcome to Modern Buddy! Great first post, too, btw. That Commando of yours is a beauty. It's great to know that we have a member who speaks Isolastic. Hope you ejoy your B125, which (I hope) will require a little less wrenching than your Norton.Shiner1 wrote:I'm a brand new member, and I saw this post. I'm really a motorcycle guy who just bought a scooter, and I am loving riding it. Anyway, here is my motorcycle.
This is my second Norton, and even though I love these motorcycles more than anything ever made, I wouldn't recommend them to everyone. You have to be ready to tinker and work on them every week almost. Then there are the oil leaks, etc.
Even with all of that, it's still the most inspiring ride I have ever had, and I have ridden just about every brand of modern motorcycles.
- babblefish
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Welcome aboard Shiner1! That's one heck of an entrance showing us your beautiful Norton. I've always wanted one, but could never seem to come up with enough money even though used ones' could be had for less than $1000 when I was attending high school in the late sixties. Now that they're selling for around $6-8000, I still can't afford to buy one.
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babblefish wrote:Just to drive Eric crazy:
I already had a chance to buy a SWEET CA77 earlier this year for under 1K. I had to pass on it, though. I'd just gotten the Stella and was coming off 2 of the worst years of my career as far as income. Just couldn't justify it. SOMEDAY.
Welcome!Shiner1 wrote:I'm a brand new member, and I saw this post. I'm really a motorcycle guy who just bought a scooter, and I am loving riding it. Anyway, here is my motorcycle.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
- babblefish
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You're either less than 50 years old or just got into motorcycles in the last 25 years or both.Mulliganal wrote:Question, I've read many posts out in cyberspace that also say exactly what you’re saying about Norton bikes requiring a lot of tweaking and maintenance. With this being said, why do you think they are so sought after?Shiner1 wrote:
This is my second Norton, and even though I love these motorcycles more than anything ever made, I wouldn't recommend them to everyone. You have to be ready to tinker and work on them every week almost. Then there are the oil leaks, etc.
Even with all of that, it's still the most inspiring ride I have ever had, and I have ridden just about every brand of modern motorcycles.
Also, beautiful Norton you've got there.
Nortons to us wiser, ok, older guys are what classic Ferraris' are to car nuts. Back in Norton's heyday, they were one of the manufacturers to beat in European GP racing. Their main competition came from Italy. The Japanese brands were only building cheap, small displacement motorcycles meant mainly for cheap transportation - very much like comparing Ferrari and VW Beetles. Compared to other British bikes like Triumph, BSA, AJS, etc., Nortons were very expensive to buy so fewer were sold, plus many were raced which makes finding clean examples of stock bikes harder to find. So for us older, er, I mean wiser guys, a Norton is more than a motorcycle, they're history, art and our past all rolled up in one. And we also like wiping up oil from the garage floor...
Last edited by babblefish on Mon May 09, 2011 5:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
Some people can break a crowbar in a sandbox.
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- babblefish
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Anyone looking for an old Lambretta?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/2369306308.html
Cushmans?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/2369245174.html
Fuji Rabbit?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/mcy/2369233616.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/2369306308.html
Cushmans?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/2369245174.html
Fuji Rabbit?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/mcy/2369233616.html
Last edited by babblefish on Sun May 08, 2011 8:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Some people can break a crowbar in a sandbox.
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Well, I was under 50 a few years back. I guess the 25 year part has some merit since I drove around New York City on a Suzuki GS650e over 25 years ago. But I know more about the history and mystique of Harley Davidson than I do the British bikes, but now that I'm in my 50s I like the smaller size of the British and Japanese bikes than I do the HD FatBoy type bikes.babblefish wrote: You're either less than 50 years old or just got into motorcycles in the last 25 years or both.
My question about the Norton had less to do with the mystique of the bike and more to do the maintenance history that I've read about. Perhaps the need for constant maintenance or repair is more hype than reality, because I love the look of the bike. The Commando has been one of my favorites for years but I just didn't want to deal with what I thought was constant maintenance.
".....Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us......"
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Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
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Thanks for the welcome everyone! I like to think that I am not that old at 38. My Commando and I are exactly the same age. We both are still rocking along!
Maintenance is not that bad, really. It's significantly more than a Japanese or modern Harley. Everything tends to rattle loose at some time or another, so there is always that to deal with. Mine has all been changed to standard, so no more Whitworth tools to deal with.
I agree with Babblefish. There were not a lot of Nortons around, and in the day, they were THE bike to have. They were nearly as fast as anything around. My dad had a Norton Commando when I was a kid, so that was the first big motorcycle I had experienced. It was love at first ride.
They do ride and handle extremely well if the isolastics are in proper adjustment. Mine is completely rebuilt and restored, so it rides better than it did new. Hard to explain the infatuation with them, but they are something.
Maintenance is not that bad, really. It's significantly more than a Japanese or modern Harley. Everything tends to rattle loose at some time or another, so there is always that to deal with. Mine has all been changed to standard, so no more Whitworth tools to deal with.
I agree with Babblefish. There were not a lot of Nortons around, and in the day, they were THE bike to have. They were nearly as fast as anything around. My dad had a Norton Commando when I was a kid, so that was the first big motorcycle I had experienced. It was love at first ride.
They do ride and handle extremely well if the isolastics are in proper adjustment. Mine is completely rebuilt and restored, so it rides better than it did new. Hard to explain the infatuation with them, but they are something.
- babblefish
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- babblefish
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Eric,
If you like that early Honda 750 based cafe, then you're gonna like these:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/mcy/2362004935.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/2357695692.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/2365363701.html
I've been seriously eyeballing that first one; '77 550.
If you like that early Honda 750 based cafe, then you're gonna like these:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/mcy/2362004935.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/2357695692.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/2365363701.html
I've been seriously eyeballing that first one; '77 550.
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- ericalm
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I bet those prices would be higher in LA right now (not that I've looked). The cafe trend has caught on in the fashionable eastside 'hoods. I think all these guys traded their mopeds in for cafe bikes.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
- babblefish
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Cafes' have been popular around here for years. Long as I can remember. There are tons of them on the streets. Must be the awsome roads we have along the coast and into the local hills. Or it could be that we have at least three road race tracks in the area.
Oh, and there's still plenty of hopped-up mopeds running around SF. Sometimes they sound like herds of angry bees.
Oh, and there's still plenty of hopped-up mopeds running around SF. Sometimes they sound like herds of angry bees.
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- babblefish
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Yeah, one of my favorite bikes. Too bad I can't find a good example of one. All I come across are "parts" bikes.gearhead wrote:The late 70s and early 80s yamaha xs650 bikes come out to good looking cafe bikes
Not to mention all the available parts for them
Though not a Cafe, I'd take this flat track style XS650 in a heartbeat!
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- Beamster
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Had this Bonneville since new back in '76.
Old Brits can be fun but you need to be a tinkerer and fuel requirements on any old bike can be demanding. No lead and low octane, not to mention alcohol in modern fuels can be a problem.
You might find it's one of those "nice to look at but I wouldn't want to live with her" situations.
And no, it's never leaked a drop of oil. Don't buy into that fallacy; it just applies if the engine had been disturbed and not put back together correctly.
And the Prince of Darkness never caused me a bit of trouble on all the Triumphs that I have owned. The MGB was another matter.
And Brando and McQueen found them the ride of choice.
Last edited by Beamster on Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:05 am, edited 1 time in total.