Old Motocycles - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Grzpdlr · #16 05-09-2019, 12:21 PM

First bike was a NSU Quickly, 50cc, two stroke, 3 speed, could do 45mph with a tale wind. Second a Triumph Tiger Cub, third a 1948 Indian Chief, fourth a 305 Honda Dream, then a Goldwing, Shovelhead Harley, BMW 1100RT, finally a custom bike that I spent way too much on.

vwnate1 · #17 05-09-2019, 12:27 PM

I had several Honda Dreams and Benlys, they were worthless in the early 1970's but good daily riders, I toured American on the largest, 305CC version, it only went a bit over 70 MPH wide open but it was miserly on fuel and ran, and ran, and.....

One neat thing about all those 1960's Honda Motos was : once in top gear you could pin the throttle and ride it wide open all day, all night .

Jus change the oil and check the valve gaps and timing every 1,500 miles or so...

I tried hard to buy the BSA 250 single once, it was an entry level bike many couldn't understand the limitations of so they hated it, many more loved them .

It's drizzling here in L.A. again so I wimped out, no Moto riding to - day .

blt · #18 05-09-2019, 09:36 PM

I have a 1971 R60/5 Toaster and a 1974 R90/6 with R100 barrels, heads and Mikuni TM flat slide carbs.

The R60/5 has tons of chrome and looks much older than 71, the R90 is classic and looks stock until you look at the details.

(not my bikes, but very close)

t walgamuth · #19 05-09-2019, 10:24 PM

Mine was bronze or orange and looked just like the blue one. I hated all the chrome and wanted a tank like the black one like crazy!

oldsinner111 · #20 05-10-2019, 06:28 AM

love to have a 72 norton comando

t walgamuth · #21 05-10-2019, 08:23 AM

Riding a big bmw is an aquired taste. Whenever you shift the torque of the motor twists the bike to the side a bit. You get used to it and lean into each shift to compensate. then if you get on another bike when you shift the bike lays over due to your learned shifting action.

Great bikes!

Every time I see a boxer BMW I have the urge to ride, but I suppress it.

oldsinner111 · #22 05-10-2019, 09:14 AM

I'd be afraid of the jutting cylinders. My son just bought a monster,suzuki gsr 1000 199 hp stock,he will have it tuned to more power. He drag race's with stock lenght

t walgamuth · #23 05-10-2019, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsinner111

I'd be afraid of the jutting cylinders. My son just bought a monster,suzuki gsr 1000 199 hp stock,he will have it tuned to more power. He drag race's with stock lenght

What about the cylinders? If you fall down they'll keep the bike off your leg. They're fine except on a very hot day...then your ankles and feet suffer.

blt · #24 05-10-2019, 11:39 AM

With today's better tires you have to be careful not to lean over too far. If you do, you know it. Feeling the rocker cover hitting the road is unnerving,

The other odd thing is the left foot peg is about 2-3" forward of the right one (crankshaft offset). Feels a little weird the first time you hop on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

What about the cylinders? If you fall down they'll keep the bike off your leg. They're fine except on a very hot day...then your ankles and feet suffer.

t walgamuth · #25 05-10-2019, 03:15 PM

I found there was a place which I rode over frequently which had a dip while leaned over a bit. When I went over with the wife on back the center stand drug (not the valve cover) so I put the springs up a notch.....problem solved.

vwnate1 · #26 05-10-2019, 06:48 PM

Love that SWB Toaster ! .

The Toaster Tank is an acquired taste as is the Bing or DellOrto carbys .

Mark DiSilvestro · #27 05-11-2019, 01:58 AM

Only 'real' motorcycle I've ever owned and ridden was a 1966 BMW R27 - the last of the BMW singles. Bought it from a guy in 1979, for $350. It was white, with black pinstripe, and the old 1930s style heavy frame and front swing-arm suspension. Mine came with a banged-up front fender, messed-up carb, and misc electrical issues. I kept it for awhile at the shop I worked in, until my boss kicked it out.
No covered or safe parking for it in my low-income apartment complex, so it wound up stored on a lady-friend's oversize carport. Fixed the electrics, got the carb working (sort-of), then sneaked occasional rides the length of my friend's dead-end street for the next couple years, as I never registered it. Planned to eventually restore it and go on trips - which never happened.
Traded it to a buddy that worked at the local BMW dealer - for his wife's 1977 Pinto, which after some minor fixing, I sold for $900.
Wonder what an R27 is worth today?

Happy Motoring, Mark

oldsinner111 · #28 05-11-2019, 05:47 AM

my first was a bsa 250,one cylinder,with large frame. think a 70, kick start,loved it.But english electronics sucked,charging problems

t walgamuth · #29 05-11-2019, 07:42 AM

A guy in my hometown had an r27. I remember him abusing the poor thing in the parking lot outside the pool hall trying to pull the front end off the ground. It never elevated an inch. I had no clue at the time what a BMW was all about. It was the first I ever saw.

Later when I lived in the Detroit area I had a chance to buy a R(something) 500cc which was in beautiful condition but the motor was stuck on. It probably would have been an easy fix but I passed, not having the confidence to work on it at that time.

Angel · #30 05-12-2019, 12:06 AM

There is a '79 R65 in my driveway waiting for attention.

I started on a CX500 and moved quickly to a Katana 750.
I rode away from my wedding on that Bike. It also did and Iron Butt but I ended up succumbing to its Carburetors around 70k miles (years later, I think I know why I couldnt get it to work...). Excellent UJM only lost by my mechanical ineptitude.

I'd think more about the R65 if I could ride it for hours - my minimum work trip is 1hr (and often 4h) and I cannot want to ride an R65 for that long.
K-LT ? K1200RS ? R1200CL ? maybe, but not an airhead.

That being said...
Lotsa airheads here

-John