Young lust

Man, oh, man, what I would have done for one of these back in the day. It would blow the door off a Honda 90.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-yamaha-yl1e-jet-set-100-electric/

 

But I did have one of these:

 

I wanted one of these so bad...

https://timeless2wheels.com/676145/suzuki-t250-hustler/

 

I remember lusting after the Yamaha RX 50 when I was a young un.' Think I may have an old sales pamphlet for it stashed away somewhere.

 

In 2004 or so my other half and I were walking around downtown Maranello when I heard a familiar sound from my past and I turned around to see a Kawasaki 500 Mach one in white with drum brakes, stock exhaust etc. The last thing I expected to see on the town square in Maranello was a 35 year old Japanese hotrod. I just stared speechless.
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First bike, age 17. Maybe $275? Dad rode it home from a dealership Friday afternoon, b/c I had no mtcycle license. (He grew up riding a JD/74)
Roared out of bed Saturday AM all ready for my first lesson. Mom says, "Your father took off an hour ago with your bike". He rode it into the lobby of the station house...he was a local cop...
Coming home from a lifeguard job, exiting the parkway and for some reason I look down and notice the swing arm nut has come off and the bolt is vibrating loose. Managed to kick it back into place a few times to get me home. Coulda been ugly.
Wanted the twin jet 100, too. Ended up w a red Tiger Cub.

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That thing was a deathtrap. All motor, no brakes or suspension. Ah, the good ol days.

 

That would have been cool to see.

 

Good choice on the Triumph. I'm sure it taught you character.

 

We had a fast turn at the bottom of a hill after a long straightaway on one of the local MC roads we called Wobblesaki turn.

Even the disc brake bikes had lousy brakes.

 

Always wanted an RD 400. Never got around to it.

 

There was a nice one recently on BaT.

 

I have my eye on a 500 Daytona on ebay. Haven't had a brit bike since the '90s. Long enough to forget about tickling Amal carbs + the prince of darkness.

 

I've been thinking of a old 500. They vibrate less than the 650s.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234875332420?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=iSHhyqnnTyG&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=scw7vHxoQ66&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

Love the blue tops. I don't follow prices, but the seller sure seems optimistic.

“This bike was stored for years and needs to be cleaned up cosmetically and reconditioned mechanically from the years it was stored. It does have some minor marks and wear as shown from use but overall, it is in great shape considering the age. Given the storage, the bike should be fully checked over before use. We have no way to know the physical condition of the engine, transmission or drive train aside from how it runs. We did not drive it and while it worked through the gears without it running and stops. We are guessing the carbs should be rebuilt and synched as well, and the tires are old. It is being sold as-is without warranty or set aside.”

 

Brings back memories, I had a 1972 175 enduro, did all sorts of crappy (life lesson) jobs to pay for half, dad covered the rest. Wished I still had it, ultimately sold it to fund a down payment on a car.

MB

 

Daytona Tiger, eh?
I've had a couple of these over the years, and my recollection is that there were three models of 500.
Trophy - single carb, high pipes
Tiger - single carb, low pipes
Daytona - dual carbs, low pipes

 

Hmm. Sidecover says Tiger but dual carbs.

 

When i was 16 this was the bike. Still looks good to my eyes.

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I remember those my friend's brother had one. They had a digital fuel gauge which was extreme cutting edge back then!

 

My 750 had LCD

 

LOL…..not the thread I expected to see judging from the title, I had better things to think about back then than motorcycles.