Unusual bikes you've had?

[Fleegle]

BeastieBoy73 said:

That is bizarrely magnificent

It reminds me of a suppository

[Mr2Mike]

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)

They aren't cheap, but the 3.5x7" tyres are available.

[AMGSee55]

1985 Yamaha FZ250 Fazer - 4-stroke, 4 cylinder red-lined at 16000 rpm - I never took a picture of it for some reason but it was identical to the one above. It was physically tiny but somehow felt like a bigger bike, I guess as a result of its across-the-frame 'four'. It was also very reliable - more's the pity I through it down the road coming off a roundabout - boo

[andrew_r]

podman said:

They have gone from looking a bit weird in the 90s to cool now!

...but shouldnt you have rode that in this style.....?

I'll try that one next time!

Watching that scene as a teenager, I knew I had to own the bike When I got older!

Andrew

[shoestring7]

I bought one of these for the first Mrs SS7, a Ducati 400SS Junior.



Apparently Ducati brought about a dozen into the country, but they took a couple of years to shift them. She did several thousand miles on this, including a trip to Biaritz and back and it didn't miss a beat. Its worth mentioning that Ducati made a mess of the carburettor settings, and it had an appalling mid-range flat spot (more of a chasm really), but the Baines brothers at Silverstone sorted it out with jets and a modded can and it ran very sweetly, albeit without much of a kick.

SS7

[BeastieBoy73]

D

Mr2Mike 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)

They aren't cheap, but the 3.5x7" tyres are available.

Awesome! Thanks so much for the link, it's hugely appreciated!

[quoteunquote_sir_]

BeastieBoy73 said:

Awesome! Thanks so much for the link, it's hugely appreciated!

I've been lurking on this thread and really enjoying seeing the obscure machinery various PHers have ridden or curently ride, but this is the first one I've wanted to comment on. That's got to be the coolest scooter I've ever seen. At any price, you must get this MOTed! Tyres can be had and exhausts can be welded. Just imagine turning up anywhere at all on that - what an entrance!

[BeastieBoy73]

quoteunquote_sir_ said:

BeastieBoy73 said:

Awesome! Thanks so much for the link, it's hugely appreciated!

I've been lurking on this thread and really enjoying seeing the obscure machinery various PHers have ridden or curently ride, but this is the first one I've wanted to comment on. That's got to be the coolest scooter I've ever seen. At any price, you must get this MOTed! Tyres can be had and exhausts can be welded. Just imagine turning up anywhere at all on that - what an entrance!

Thank you very much for your comment. Many years ago when I considered restoring it the lack of available tyres put pay to that. Also, the log book and key had long since gone so we offered to donate it to the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham (they didn't want it). Feeling a bit dejected, I'd resigned myself to the fact that it would never be much more than an ornament, a pretty cool one though. Thanks to a fellow PH'er posting a link to available tyres getting the scooter back on the road does now look to be more than a possibility. I did some research on the scooter at the time and found that when new, the Piatti was considered the worst scooter ever to have been built being both unreliable and unsafe. I suspect that's why ours has only done about 6000 miles.

I've found an old picture of it from when it was in the garage.

Edited by BeastieBoy73 on Wednesday 8th February 07:02

[BeastieBoy73]

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?

I really like this one, particularly the wheels. It also reminds me of 80s TV show "Streethawk".

[Spannerski]

scoobygaz1 said:

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??

Yeah, the VF500 has the same crank configuration ,360 degree, as the RC30 and sound very similar.
I was lucky that in the late 80's I worked for HUK as mechanic and prepped all the bikes the journalist tested.
The VF500 had been superseeded by the then brand new CBR600, I rode both back to back, CBR was quicker but the VF was just a handling joy.

[Spannerski]

podman said:

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.

Interestingly enough, my Brother had a brand new Bandit 600 at the same time that was rated at 70+ bhp and it was no quicker than my VF500. The VF had a higher top speed. The NS400, I would love one, apparently chucking away the exhausts and ATAC and fitting some (decent) after market systems gave them a 20bhp increase.

[gareth_r]

quoteunquote_sir_ said:

I've been lurking on this thread and really enjoying seeing the obscure machinery various PHers have ridden or curently ride, but this is the first one I've wanted to comment on. That's got to be the coolest scooter I've ever seen. At any price, you must get this MOTed! Tyres can be had and exhausts can be welded. Just imagine turning up anywhere at all on that - what an entrance!

You should look for images of British, German, and French scooters (actually, anything that's not Lambretta or Vespa). Lots of weird and wonderful devices.

National stereotypes abound. The British ones mostly look like they were designed and built in sheds (Velocette is the exception, but the company's founders were German ) and the German ones are mostly big, fast, and properly engineered.

Personal favourites are the Goggomobil Goggo, the Maico Mobil, and the Velocette Viceroy, with the Zundapp Bella, Maicoletta, and Heinkel Tourist close behind.

EDIT:
Nearly forgot the Moto Rumi Bol d'Or production racer (yes, really) - 90mph with the race kit.

Edited by gareth_r on Wednesday 8th February 13:10

[Pat H]

BeastieBoy73 said:

Also, the log book and key had long since gone so we offered to donate it to the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham (they didn't want it). Feeling a bit dejected, I'd resigned myself to the fact that it would never be much more than an ornament

The National Motorcycle Museum wouldn't be interested simply because theirs is a collection of solely British bikes.

If you know the registration number, you can complete a V62 and see if the DVLA will send you a V5.

If it has been off the road for ages and missed the boat when the "new" computerised system was introduced in 1983, then you will have more of a challenge, but it is certainly worth the effort to get it registered.

I managed to re-register my late Dad's wreck of a TVR, despite the fact that it was last on the road in 1977. I also managed to get a 1968 Triumph Bonneville registered by proving its age, despite the fact that it had never been previously been registered, either here or abroad.

It's a wonderful project. Imagine turning up at the pub on it. Fantastic stuff.

[gareth_r]

Pat H said:

BeastieBoy73 said:

Also, the log book and key had long since gone so we offered to donate it to the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham (they didn't want it). Feeling a bit dejected, I'd resigned myself to the fact that it would never be much more than an ornament

The National Motorcycle Museum wouldn't be interested simply because theirs is a collection of solely British bikes...

Manufactured by Cyclemaster in Byfleet, although it was originally designed by an Italian for a Belgian company.

[RumpleFugly]

BeastieBoy73 said:

Holy Cow! Never thought I would see a Piatti, even in this thread

My dad had one as his first 'bike' in the early '60s and
His Mum got annoyed with it one day and put it out for the trash men. He came home to find pieces of it scattered up the road as it was dragged away

All we have left is the number plate and a manual.

(If you ever want to move it on, let me know. I'd love to surprise my old man! )

[Pat H]

gareth_r said:

Manufactured by Cyclemaster in Byfleet, although it was originally designed by an Italian for a Belgian company.

Blimey.

Every day's a school day.

[gareth_r]

Pat H said:

gareth_r said:

Manufactured by Cyclemaster in Byfleet, although it was originally designed by an Italian for a Belgian company.

Blimey.

Every day's a school day.

In the immortal words (almost) of Baccara, "Yes sir, I can Google!", although the internet is strangely silent on the subject of what, exactly, Ingegnere Piatti was smoking when he put pencil to paper.

[BeastieBoy73]

RumpleFugly said:

BeastieBoy73 said:

Holy Cow! Never thought I would see a Piatti, even in this thread

My dad had one as his first 'bike' in the early '60s and
His Mum got annoyed with it one day and put it out for the trash men. He came home to find pieces of it scattered up the road as it was dragged away

All we have left is the number plate and a manual.

(If you ever want to move it on, let me know. I'd love to surprise my old man! )

Many thanks to you all for your comments about the Piatti. My Grandfather would have enjoyed the fact his odd little scooter would have sparked such a reaction.

To answer some of the points above... It does still have the number plate so about 10 years ago I did try and apply for a log book as It had lapsed during computerisation. The DVLA did decline but did also supply a list of owners clubs that could help. Unsurprisingly there wasn't a Piatti owners club listed. Due to the lack of available tyres (at the time) I resigned myself to the fact it wouldn't return to the road so didn't persue it. I had made a replacement plate with his initials and the year he was born on made as a period tribute. All I remember of the Museum declining the scooter was that they simply weren't interested. I should have the letter somewhere (pre email).

The scooter is never likely to be put up for sale. If you or your Father are ever in the Nottingham area you're more than welcome to come and check it out. Give me plenty warning and I'll stick the kettle on/get some cans in.

[Mr Tidy]

I first got a bike licence in the 70s, so went through the usual Honda CB, Yamaha RD (X4), Kawasaki progression.

In about 1997 I was offered this, and couldn't resist!





Kawasaki KH500 with AllSpeed spannies, H2 forks and twin discs, alloy rims, alloy swinging arm, Marzocchi piggy-back rear shocks and best of all a 3 cylinder 2-stroke - fantastic!

Why did I sell it? - I wish I knew! Dope!

[RemaL]

Only bike i've ever had that is different or limited but not old in my H2. One's of the reasons i wanted it was that it's different from most other bikes on the road and I just feel for it