Pivot

One thing I have grown to appreciate are "vintage rallies." Not the anal timed stuff, but events where people get together and have a good time. Turns out, there are a number of vintage motorcycle rallies. Like cars, the definition of vintage can be fuzzy. So, if you are thinking about a "vintage bike," what would you buy?

At one end of the spectrum is a 1952 Vincent. Why 1952? Turns out, that was a very good year. I had a buddy who had a Vincent. Very cool bike. Small animals and children had to be careful because they would be sucked into the carburetor. The problem is I'm not a good mechanic. Still, you can get the equivalent of a 250 GTO for maybe $50,000.

At the other end is a 1970 sandcast 750. A monster then, a monster now. A good one might set you back $30,000.

If you were going to buy a vintage bike, what floats your boat?

 

Maybe a vintage Triumph triple?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225798992819?mkevt=1&plmtId=1110100101&mesgId=4001&mkpid=0&emsid=enull.m1951.l7494&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid&bu=43199086877&trkId=6e3d269e-3beb-4512-a862-b5145c85e7f5&cnvId=a7fb74a1-c76a-4a5d-81a4-a4efd73d9c0c&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20231008174003&segname&recoId=225798992819&recoPos=1

 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1971-honda-cb750-54/

 

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1975-bmw-r90s-26/

 

https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-motorcycle-touring/classic-motorcycle-events/events-calendar/

 

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Honda CX650 or CX500, yeah I know, small CC bike, no biggest dick on the block bragging rights but, ride one before you scoff. Produced from 1978 for the 500 to maybe 1985 for the 650.

Water cooled, drive shaft bike. All but the turbos are affordable, and there appear to be plenty of parts around too.

 

I'm a slut for looks. I can see where this bike has potential, but it would be like kissing your sister.

 

If its anything like vintage car racing your choice will be limited to whats allowed by the sanctioning bodies at the events you most want to take part in.
An old buddy was in the vintage Brit bike world. As much as I was a fan of the British invasion of both motorcycles and music I just don't have the temperament for Brit bikes. Early Honda 4 is a great choice as is early Suzuki GS. Prewar or early post war American. Ducati and MV Agusta have some good choices. Ducati 750 GT was a great bike. BMW has a number of good choices.

 

The Japanese Bonneville. I have seen several of these modified into very cool bikes.
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I'm trying to find out how different groups define vintage bikes.

 

Always liked these bikes.

 

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Wow! Love it.

 

Only problem is so far it looks like the vintage motorcycle rallies are mostly show. They are not doing rides like this.

https://www.vintagerallies.com/

 

You don't really want a vintage bike. The reason they don't do rides is because the bikes aren't much fun to ride.

You want a modern bike, which looks like a vintage bike-- like a modern Triumph.

If you absolutely have to have a bike older than 1980, I would go BMW.

My friend crashed his 1990 BMW GS (okay, maybe not truly "vintage") off a 50 foot embankment a month ago. He was fine (amazingly), and after the tow truck pulled the bike up the hill, he rode it 400 miles home. Try that with most modern bikes!

 

It looks like the vintage motorcycle events are show only. Pass on that. I'd like looking at them, but I'm not interested in showing a bike.

 

BTW, have you seen the new GS?

https://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/en/models/adventure/r1300gs/tripleblack.html

https://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/en/models/adventure/r1300gs/option719-tramuntana.html

 

The Quail Motorcycle Gathering had a one day ride as part of the event. I went a number of times. The ride was not limited to vintage bikes but was heavily attended by vintage bikes and had a dinner in the evening with a speaker. On year I recall it was Mert Lawwill. Lots of interesting people on the ride too. Dan Gurney came several years on one of his odd motorcycles and several Hollywood types came with him all riding Gurney motorcycles. It was a fun show, ride dinner etc.

 

Good to know. I've always wanted to go.

 

Kenny Roberts is usually there with a few old race bikes. The restaurant for the dinner is on the second floor of the club house at Quail lodge.
Some guy was given Roberts old Yamaha TZ based 750 mile bike to put up on the second floor on display. He was holding up the motorcycle at the bottom of the stairs trying to figure out what to do when I stopped to help. I said this thing is pretty light but you and I ain't getting it up a flight of stairs. I took a peek and it had fuel. I told him no one is around, if you help me push start it I'll just ride it up. He seemed game but just then about 20 people showed up so we decided that would just cause trouble. We rolled it over to the elevator and stood it on end like you'd do to move a sofa into an apartment building. At the top a few looked a little surprised when the elevator arrived with a motorcycle stood up inside.

 

Cool story. Too bad you didn't fire it up!

 

This is a good old bike. Nortons used rubber to knock out most of the vibes that made Triumphs un-riddable back in the day. They also sat lower than the Triumphs. The later models had electric start. I never saw one work, though.


https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-norton-commando-750-roadster-2/

 

A friend had a few Nortons. Never rode one I didn't like but then I never rode a Manx. I think I could hate one of those.

 

The Honda CB750, for the win..
Visit Houston Cycle Exchange on West 14th in the Heights.

For vintage BMWs it's Wolfsmith on 27th by the decades old upholstery shop, They rebuild vintage BMWs into some colls hit.

Vintage Ducatis too at times.
LMK we can get food at Cavatori's!!!

 

Rode real Triumph Bonneville's "back in the day"......they seemed pretty tough once sorted..