Unusual bikes you've had?
Discussion
y3sjy said:
Gilera CX125 - Bought last year at auction and hope to get on the road at some point. ( was sold this as an ex phil read bike)
Single side wheel on front AND back!!
have you seen one before?
Hope you get it on the road soon.
I have a Piatti scooter. They were made by Cyclemaster in around 1956 and from what I've seen online, there's only a handful left. My late Grandfather had it from nearly new. I've never heard it run, the exhaust is rotten and tyres (3.5" X 7") are impossible to get hold of. It's a cool ornament in my office, though.
(It's the same as the one in this picture)
(It's the same as the one in this picture)
podman said:
That would be the Mr 750Turbo
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...
I spotted this restored beauty last month, yours for 12k...I also have a soft spot for them, I think the production run was only a year or 2 maximum but they where the best of the turbo bikes for sure.
What a machine...Thank you for posting....You should be proud... I remember when I was going on holiday to the beach abroad with family & used to see them...Kings of the road...Bravo !http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...
I spotted this restored beauty last month, yours for 12k...I also have a soft spot for them, I think the production run was only a year or 2 maximum but they where the best of the turbo bikes for sure.
A Suzuki GSX250F. Not especially unusual except that the fuel tank isn't really a fuel tank, its a storage compartment for a helmet or twelve 375ml stubbies of Tooheys. The fuel tank is under the seat, filled via the panel behind the pillion seat which is a flap concealing the filler. 45hp of practicality there. Maxed out at 148kmh and woeful with a hot blonde on the back who would much rather have been on a Fireblade. Especially when it again ruptures a carby diaphragm, on the freeway.
I didn't realise I had anything rare or unusual until maybe 3 years ago, and by that time I'd sold it 40 years ago. But here's a tale...
As a yoof just turned 18 I'd served my time on my Honda 250 and wanted a Norton Commando. Triumphs never did it for me, and the Japanese fours were too rich for me as a student (although I bought a new Z900 the following year, but that's another story).
So, back in '75 a mate of mine was keen to buy my 'mildly cafe' Honda, and I saw an advert for a Commando Fastback in Yorkshire (I lived in Scotland). So the plan was I'd ride my 250 down to Yorkshire and another mate would take my bike-buying pal down on the back of his Suzuki GT550. I'd buy the Norton, my mate would buy the Honda from me, we'd camp over and then all 3 ride home.
Only when we pitched up to see the Commando it was a mess, and to my eyes a bitza. As far as I was concerned a Fastback should have a long fibreglass tank with the seat extending round the rear of the tank. This had a steel tank - like it had come off a Norton Atlas, and the seat was kind of 'chopped' at the front. And it had the wrong side panels; plus it was in a really bad state. But in fairness the paint and logos on the tank and tailpiece (in red) was pretty good.
But having ridden down, and my mate keen to buy my 250 and ride it home, I was kind of pressured in to buying the Norton. Sure, the first time I opened it up I was in love, but it was still a mess. And I couldn't understand why anyone would put this dumpy steel tank on a fastback; I guessed maybe the 'glass tank had leaked.
I decided to try to tidy it up and did my first (aerosol) respray, and with lots of rubbing down it actually came out pretty well. And in the year that followed it proceeded to break a gearbox, wreck a clutch and primary and hole a piston. So I quickly became adept with spanners...but it was a great ride.
But for the entire time I had it, it was always a 'fastback with the wrong tank'. No-one I ever met ever suggested anything different; and that's how I sold it, cheap, because it was a fastback with an Atlas tank.
Roll-on the best part of 40 years and while I'd rebuilt/restored a few Japanese bikes, I had a hankering to get another Norton a few years ago. And then I spotted a Fastback in the ads with the 'wrong tank', but presented as a 'Fastback LR'...and an asking price 30% more than a regular bike. Duh? And so a bit of investigation turns up the factory made around 400 'Fastback LRs', which was the fastback tail and effectively the Atlas tank and a different seat. So actually a rare beast, and I see even Wikipedia says most went to Australia. They only came in red and green, and mine had been in the standard factory red when I bought it.
I see there's an un-restored one on eBay for £12,500...while regular Commandos of a similar vintage/condition are maybe in the £8-9K range. Jeez, I had a 'rare' Fastback LR, bought in the original factory paint and for the last 40 years I always thought I just had a lash-up.
So...after I tidied it up/repainted/rebuilt it:
I had less weight and more hair 40 years ago.
...and rode in flares with pressed creases
As a yoof just turned 18 I'd served my time on my Honda 250 and wanted a Norton Commando. Triumphs never did it for me, and the Japanese fours were too rich for me as a student (although I bought a new Z900 the following year, but that's another story).
So, back in '75 a mate of mine was keen to buy my 'mildly cafe' Honda, and I saw an advert for a Commando Fastback in Yorkshire (I lived in Scotland). So the plan was I'd ride my 250 down to Yorkshire and another mate would take my bike-buying pal down on the back of his Suzuki GT550. I'd buy the Norton, my mate would buy the Honda from me, we'd camp over and then all 3 ride home.
Only when we pitched up to see the Commando it was a mess, and to my eyes a bitza. As far as I was concerned a Fastback should have a long fibreglass tank with the seat extending round the rear of the tank. This had a steel tank - like it had come off a Norton Atlas, and the seat was kind of 'chopped' at the front. And it had the wrong side panels; plus it was in a really bad state. But in fairness the paint and logos on the tank and tailpiece (in red) was pretty good.
But having ridden down, and my mate keen to buy my 250 and ride it home, I was kind of pressured in to buying the Norton. Sure, the first time I opened it up I was in love, but it was still a mess. And I couldn't understand why anyone would put this dumpy steel tank on a fastback; I guessed maybe the 'glass tank had leaked.
I decided to try to tidy it up and did my first (aerosol) respray, and with lots of rubbing down it actually came out pretty well. And in the year that followed it proceeded to break a gearbox, wreck a clutch and primary and hole a piston. So I quickly became adept with spanners...but it was a great ride.
But for the entire time I had it, it was always a 'fastback with the wrong tank'. No-one I ever met ever suggested anything different; and that's how I sold it, cheap, because it was a fastback with an Atlas tank.
Roll-on the best part of 40 years and while I'd rebuilt/restored a few Japanese bikes, I had a hankering to get another Norton a few years ago. And then I spotted a Fastback in the ads with the 'wrong tank', but presented as a 'Fastback LR'...and an asking price 30% more than a regular bike. Duh? And so a bit of investigation turns up the factory made around 400 'Fastback LRs', which was the fastback tail and effectively the Atlas tank and a different seat. So actually a rare beast, and I see even Wikipedia says most went to Australia. They only came in red and green, and mine had been in the standard factory red when I bought it.
I see there's an un-restored one on eBay for £12,500...while regular Commandos of a similar vintage/condition are maybe in the £8-9K range. Jeez, I had a 'rare' Fastback LR, bought in the original factory paint and for the last 40 years I always thought I just had a lash-up.
So...after I tidied it up/repainted/rebuilt it:
I had less weight and more hair 40 years ago.
...and rode in flares with pressed creases
y3sjy said:
Gilera CX125 - Bought last year at auction and hope to get on the road at some point. ( was sold this as an ex phil read bike)
Single side wheel on front AND back!!
have you seen one before?
Probably not massively rare but I bought my Ccm nearly 10 years ago at just 6 months old and 400 miles.
It's probably one of the rarer ones due to its condition and the fact it came from the factory with the enduro jets and exhaust (its loud! ;p ), think it's done about 7k now but I've only done about 100 miles in the last 3 years and 3 oil changes lol, can't bring myself to part with it
It's probably one of the rarer ones due to its condition and the fact it came from the factory with the enduro jets and exhaust (its loud! ;p ), think it's done about 7k now but I've only done about 100 miles in the last 3 years and 3 oil changes lol, can't bring myself to part with it
Edited by chedixon on Tuesday 7th February 12:19
I bet you wish you still had them?BeastieBoy73 said:
I have a Piatti scooter. They were made by Cyclemaster in around 1956 and from what I've seen online, there's only a handful left. My late Grandfather had it from nearly new. I've never heard it run, the exhaust is rotten and tyres (3.5" X 7") are impossible to get hold of. It's a cool ornament in my office, though.
(It's the same as the one in this picture)
That is magnificent.(It's the same as the one in this picture)
But you really need to get it out of the office and back on the road.
Spannerski said:
My 1987 Honda VF500F2F. 500cc V4, 4 cams, 16v, 4 carbs. supposedly 70bhp.
Owned since 1997, 60K miles. About to have a top end re-build.
Why? they handle like you wouldn't believe, even now. No-one else has one and are gaining a cult following. The V4 engine noise.
Nice...My good friend had one of those when I had my NS400 back in 86/87, , was a great bike of the day and about the only V4 Honda offered before the VFR750 that didnt eat itself as I remember it...The BHP claim was really exaggerated, as was the NSs 72, they both ended up with 50 or a bit less at the tyre. Wouldnt mind a VF or an NS again myself.Owned since 1997, 60K miles. About to have a top end re-build.
Why? they handle like you wouldn't believe, even now. No-one else has one and are gaining a cult following. The V4 engine noise.
notquitepastit said:
1987 - Foale Quantum 2
Superbike magazine ran a readers competition to design the bodywork for this, I was surprised the winning entry actually got made. I still have all those old Superbike magazines. Edited by notquitepastit on Sunday 5th February 19:44
Edited by notquitepastit on Sunday 5th February 19:51
Pat H said:
BeastieBoy73 said:
I have a Piatti scooter. They were made by Cyclemaster in around 1956 and from what I've seen online, there's only a handful left. My late Grandfather had it from nearly new. I've never heard it run, the exhaust is rotten and tyres (3.5" X 7") are impossible to get hold of. It's a cool ornament in my office, though.
(It's the same as the one in this picture)
That is magnificent.(It's the same as the one in this picture)
But you really need to get it out of the office and back on the road.
Lack of available tyres will keep this off the road. It has the originals on it but they haven't held air for years.
Spannerski said:
My 1987 Honda VF500F2F. 500cc V4, 4 cams, 16v, 4 carbs. supposedly 70bhp.
Owned since 1997, 60K miles. About to have a top end re-build.
Why? they handle like you wouldn't believe, even now. No-one else has one and are gaining a cult following. The V4 engine noise.
My best friends brother had one of these in red,white and black. Always like the hondas hence the RC30😁Owned since 1997, 60K miles. About to have a top end re-build.
Why? they handle like you wouldn't believe, even now. No-one else has one and are gaining a cult following. The V4 engine noise.
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