Author Topic: Old bike thread - 60+ (Read 4196 times)

SED · « **on:** January 09, 2021, 11:37:12 AM »

WG people often own and ride really interesting old bikes. Canuck 750 is restoring a 1947 Airone and has rebuilt a Cardellino, JJ posted a cool NSU. DRSDave mentioned a Terot! (did I spell that right?) I've only seen one Terot, bolted to a sidecar ridden by an elderly couple. Others have old bikes in their signatures. And then there was the discussion about when motorbikes got reliable...

We should have a picture thread for really old bikes. Have an old one you'd like to share?

My oldest bike is 1937 GTV - 84 years in February! It has some really old engineering, but it is "unit" construction (engine and gearbox in the same crankcase). Strangely it is only the second "unit" bike I've owned.

Bulldog9 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2021, 11:56:54 AM »

One day I would love to own and restore an old bike (meaning 1940's or older) Currently my oldest bike is a 1976 Convert.

Ncdan · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2021, 02:07:30 PM »

I really enjoy seeing the old (50 and down) bikes in person or photos. My favorite is the old HD bikes with the bicycle type saddle and suicidal shift. We have a museum in Ashboro NC, free to the public. Cliffrod here can vouch for their cheeseburgers which the restaurant there serves 👍

JJ · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2021, 02:58:42 PM »

Looking through my photo files, this is the oldest two-wheeled vehicle I have ever owned / ridden...

1959 Cushman Eagle - - 8HP, foot-clutch, tank-shift, 2-speed (Lo and Hi), 30-35mph top speed, (maybe...downhill, in a tail wind with my fat ass on it!!)

radguzzi · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2021, 03:41:36 PM »

This will be a fun thread...

I don't have any old exotica either but I do have this '69-ish Dalesman Trials. These were built in England from 1969 though 1974 as far as I can discover about them. Reynolds chromoly frames, equipped with Sachs or Puch engines in a couple of different sizes, hand made aluminum tanks.

JJ · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2021, 03:51:30 PM »

Quote from: Ncdan on January 09, 2021, 02:07:30 PM

I really enjoy seeing the old (50 and down) bikes in person or photos. My favorite is the old HD bikes with the bicycle type saddle and suicidal shift. We have a museum in Ashboro NC, free to the public. Cliffrod here can vouch for their cheeseburgers which the restaurant there serves 👍

Well, here is a 1916 Indian ("replica") seen in a window this week in Jerome, AZ...

remove duplicates from string

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #6 on:** January 09, 2021, 04:02:12 PM »

Best I can do is these old beaters.

'72 Sherpa

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #7 on:** January 09, 2021, 04:06:24 PM »

My oldest is this 1936 HD VLH. I have had it for about 10 years. It received an amateur restoration about 30 years ago. It is slated for a full restoration after I finish my 1980 T3 California and 1955 Triumph T110.

It is a cool bike and great fun with the sidecar.

JJ · « **Reply #8 on:** January 09, 2021, 04:25:32 PM »

Now THAT is one "way cool" vintage American V-twin!! Love the Art Deco color combination also!!

TDF · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2021, 08:11:09 PM »

Here's my oldest. 1949 Ariel VB600. 600cc flathead. Can't ride it without a smile on your face.

TDF

QuattroValvole · « **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2021, 08:27:29 PM »

Lots of older ones in my garage.

Oldest Guzzi is the 1949 Astore

Oldest is my 1937 Indian Chief. Started as a pile of parts, was never going to be restored to original so it became a bobber.

SED · « **Reply #11 on:** January 09, 2021, 08:36:59 PM »

Great pictures and great information! Learning a lot. That 2-tone Harley is a looker!

Great VB. Love Ariel singles. Here's mine on the way to California some years back

PhilB · « **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2021, 09:06:01 PM »

Some lovely machines there.

My oldest bike turned 60 last year -- a 1960 Heinkel Tourist 103A1 scooter. 175cc ohv 4-stroke. (Picture below.)
I also have a 1962 Maico Maicoletta scooter, 275cc 2-stroke; and a 1964 Vespa GS160 scooter, 160cc 2-stroke.

My mom has two old cars that my dad had bought -- a 1930 Packard sedan, and a 1929 Reo Flying Cloud sedan.
I want to keep the Reo, mainly because it's mostly original, and we're the second owner.

PhilB

SED · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2021, 09:21:04 PM »

Love the big 4-stroke scooters - they look so cool. A friend has a Heinkle but never seen it run...

Most think of the Norge as a "new" -ish bike, but the name goes back to 1927. This "history" was just published in an Italian group (machine translated). Can't confirm any of it and there were no citations, but the info about personalities suggests Carlo and Naco were probably not easy to work for!

It all started with the engineer Giuseppe Guzzi, known as ′′ Naco ", older brother of the best-known Carlo (the founder of Moto Guzzi) and true technical supervisor of the house of Mandello del Lario. Giuseppe Guzzi was described as a grumpy at the limits of misanthropy, who suffered enormously from the heat in any season, so much as to regularly work on the technigraphy in a tank top and underwear. Maybe that's why he didn't like receiving visitors: they distracted him from his calculations and, above all, forced him to cover himself. During the summer months he made long trips to Austria, Germany or France, with the dual aim of testing his achievements and finding some cooling.
In 1927 Naco built the prototype of the GT 500 model, first Moto Guzzi with an elastic frame and, in honor of the Italian airship that the previous year allowed Umberto Nobile and Roald Amundsen's mission to fly over the North Pole, the new motorcycle is immediately renamed Norge. It was a promotional move that tried to ride the enthusiasm of the moment, but it sparked a choir of protests from competing motorcycle houses, who accused Moto Guzzi of unfairly taking advantage of the popularity of that company. The diatribe became a war with press releases that ended up burning the already hot summer of 1928, causing Carlo Guzzi to worry, who feared a huge ′′ image damage ′′ for the company. Regardless of the ongoing controversy, his brother Giuseppe was quietly preparing for his usual travelling holidays. But it was only appearance, he was actually planning another one of his findings: Norge fed up, he set off for his usual summer trip, which this time was over kilometers and took him to the North Cape. Reaching the Arctic Circle, on the roads and with the motorcycles of the time, was an incredible feat, and the news camped in newspapers across Europe, calling thousands of curious people on the way back. As soon as he returned to Mandello, exhausted more by the crowd baths than by the trip, Naco returned to the technigraphy, leaving his brother the task of juggling interviews, awards and convention. Legend has it that Carlo Guzzi, a man with little compliments, has entered his brother's office and, without even mentioning the accomplishment, discussed with him for a couple of hours about the changes to the suspension. But this time, because of the heatwave, even the austere Carlo put himself in a tank top and underwear; a singular and mute tribute that, between the two grumps, was worth a thousand praise. It was so that Moto Guzzi could fully use the name Norge, and North Cape became an important motorcycle goal.

Huzo should see this!

Demar · « **Reply #14 on:** January 09, 2021, 09:21:54 PM »

I have a 1953 Galletto that I imported from the UK 4 years ago. It was a partial restoration and is pretty clean (picture is not my Galletto). I need to get this going. It had a small oil leak. I want to pull the engine and have Charlie rebuild it.... if he's still ok with doing the rebuild.

It's a 175. MG produced mostly 160 and 192cc versions. If I can get it sorted out I may try the Scooter Cannonball.

80CX100 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 09, 2021, 09:51:00 PM »

So many beautiful machines,

Dave if you could photoshop that tree out of the background, that simply stunning shot of that rig is mag cover material, just classic

The one that gets me jonesin though is John's Bultaco;

I always wanted one, the brand has a lot of interesting history, very unique cachet, never to be made again, in it's time for a few years it was THE BEST in it's class. I've seen a few go by recently that appeared in good shape at what I thought seemed reasonable prices, but when I researched them, a few people commented, if you want to do anything else besides work and ride your Sherpa 350, this isn't the bike for you,lol.

A beginning trials rider tends to fall over a lot, I don't like doing that either,lol

This post is better than a day out at the museum.

Denis · « **Reply #16 on:** January 10, 2021, 08:06:20 AM »

Here is mine: a 1940 Indian 640-B Canadian Army bike. I bought it as an incomplete pile of an old website, George's Worldwide Antique American Motorcycle Trader. I bought it in a package with a nice 1925 Henderson Deluxe project.
They were in a little town north of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and I had them shipped to my office.

I sold the Henderson years ago but finally got the Indian up and running. Now I'm working on a '41 Indian 841.

Glawster · « **Reply #17 on:** January 11, 2021, 07:59:17 AM »

Great thread and some lovely bikes.
I do have a modern Guzzi (V85TT), but it's generally last choice and only really gets used for touring holidays. The old bikes are just so much more interesting and fun to ride. Here's my oldies, which pretty much covers everything I need.

1973 V7 Sport, 2nd production series

DSC_3394 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

1955 Falcone Sport - definitely my favourite

DSC_0437 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

1955 Moto Parilla 175 Turismo Special. Lockdown project just completed. Idea is to do the Moto Giro d'Italia on it, but man a 175cc is hard work to ride!

20200901_193608 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

1979 T3 Cali. Stupidly I sold it to buy the V85, which I regret.

DSC_3183 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

nick949 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 11, 2021, 08:50:10 AM »

1960 Panther M120 (650)

Still working on some crankcase pressure issues (running a shovelhead piston), but should soon be up for some 'Nick-style' travels.

If you haven't already, come for a ride:
https://youtu.be/rqITb4SiNHs (long)
https://youtu.be/d33ZDVN4YCE (short)

Nick

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #19 on:** January 11, 2021, 09:05:01 AM »

Quote from: Glawster on January 11, 2021, 07:59:17 AM

Great thread and some lovely bikes.
I do have a modern Guzzi (V85TT), but it's generally last choice and only really gets used for touring holidays. The old bikes are just so much more interesting and fun to ride. Here's my oldies, which pretty much covers everything I need.

1973 V7 Sport, 2nd production series

DSC_3394 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

1955 Falcone Sport - definitely my favourite

DSC_0437 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

1955 Moto Parilla 175 Turismo Special. Lockdown project just completed. Idea is to do the Moto Giro d'Italia on it, but man a 175cc is hard work to ride!

20200901_193608 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

1979 T3 Cali. Stupidly I sold it to buy the V85, which I regret.

DSC_3183 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

Not to pour salt in your wound, but that T3 California was amazing! The rest aren't bad either. Wonderful shot of the V7 Sport!!

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #20 on:** January 11, 2021, 09:10:20 AM »

Derek, where was this picture taken? Perfect!!

ccoli · « **Reply #21 on:** January 11, 2021, 10:00:51 AM »

My 1932 Sport 15. Picture taken on the way home after purchasing it. I've replaced a few bits that were required but it still has a lot of patina

Darren Williams · « **Reply #22 on:** January 11, 2021, 01:08:08 PM »

Great looking vintage motorcycle some of you guys own!

But what do they have to do with a thread about the moderator being over 60?

Glawster · « **Reply #23 on:** January 11, 2021, 01:08:42 PM »

Dave,
That photo is in my local area The Cotswolds, a backwater of old England!
Below picture is in the splendidly named village Lower Slaughter.

DSC_3385 by Derek Wardell, on Flickr

JJ · « **Reply #24 on:** January 11, 2021, 02:31:37 PM »

Now THAT Parilla 175 is a very rare, vintage Italian bike indeed...Lovely bike and photo, by the way!!

garbln · « **Reply #25 on:** January 11, 2021, 03:14:18 PM »

My oldest, 56, Harley KHK

JJ · « **Reply #26 on:** January 12, 2021, 08:34:36 AM »

Quote from: garbln on January 11, 2021, 03:14:18 PM

My oldest, 56, Harley KHK

Yes...long before the legendary Sportster, there was the KHK

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #27 on:** January 12, 2021, 01:41:06 PM »

Quote from: garbln on January 11, 2021, 03:14:18 PM

My oldest, 56, Harley KHK

2 KHK owners on this forum. How can that be!?

garbln · « **Reply #28 on:** January 13, 2021, 03:11:55 PM »

Quote from: Dave Swanson on January 12, 2021, 01:41:06 PM

2 KHK owners on this forum. How can that be!?

Not that many of us out there, they didn't make that many.

SED · « **Reply #29 on:** January 22, 2021, 08:09:41 PM »

I was loving the old bike pictures, but then it just kinda faded. Maybe it just needs a kick start.

Here's my 1939 Ariel bitsa built from left over parts.

And here's how you ride it:
https://youtu.be/MgcmyNR-BxY

Post your favorite old bikes!

News:

Author Topic: Old bike thread - 60+ (Read 4196 times)