Triumph Hurricane X75, sold on Trademe...

[toycollector10]

This was a great price for a great motor-sickle. End price was more than double the reserve.

What a classic and desirable bike. I would love to know the story behind why the buyer just had to have it. Of course, it will be worth $60,000 by 2017. And what a gutsy last bid. Totally shut down the two underbidders although it might have been an autobid situation. If anyone knows the buyer get her to post up here her thoughts and what the story behind her bidding was.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=98080491

[Paul in NZ]

Nice bike - good price but then, they have always commanded a premium.

[RantyDave]

This was a great price for a great motor-sickle.
Holy crap, thirty grand. Even looks worth it.

Dave

[Big Dave]

Nice bike - good price but then, they have always commanded a premium.

Not stock paint either is it?

[Motu]

A friend of mine bought one brand new from Shafts for $2,500 - we thought he was crazy to pay that much for a bike.Tridents (and Rocket 3's,which is what the Hurricane reallly is) are thirsty if ridden hard,and he built a small tank fitted to the rear to increase the range.I remember he once dropped the bike in the Awakino Gorge and flattend the 3 mufflers.He was a panelbeater,and a good one...made a few rods,one out of one of my cars - he repaired the pipes and they never showed a mark.Be he wishes he had it now.

Pity about the paint alright - like painting a Ferarri pink.I don't reckon the pipes are correct - prove me wrong.....

[toycollector10]

Yes, there has been a lot of comment about that on the listing. I didn't want to interfere with the auction so didn't comment. The PO wanted to get rid of the red/orange standard livery, and that is his right. There are plenty that think that it just doesn't look right. Would you paint an E-type Jaguar dayglo pink? Forrest Green instead of British Racing Green? Vetter got the colour right, just as he got the design right. Right first time. Personally I think the new owner should restore the cycle to original colours.

[AllanB]

I think it looks heaps better in the green than the original orange.

[Eurodave]

30 g's & it was unregoed/unWOFed!!!

[Paul in NZ]

Not stock paint either is it?

Its a wierd old thing..... Exact restoration etc etc. I'm not really into exact restros, my bikes all get modified (or evolve) they way I think they should look or reflect the use that they are given. Usually they (hopefully) reflect the era they were born in and make me smile. Like my Trumpy - it has a 'wrong' engine and a buncha other wrong stuff but I cant see the engine numbers from the saddle and i don't care - it has a lot of history with me.

However, the big bucks go to the 100% correct bikes and 'collectables' are more valuable in stock form. I'm not an X-75 expert but there are a few things that scream 'oh oh' about that bike to me. Those mufflers look to have a bit much air between them and I would be wanting documented proof of correct numbers as well as wanting it registered and wof because if I wanted to use it or export it, I'd need the paperwork to be 100% correct.

Not that I care - I didn't want it and they never turned me on that much...

[Motu]

http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/Motorcycle_Designs/Hurricane_Pages/Database%20of%20Hurricanes.html

Looks like we were both wrong about the pipes Paul...but I too remember them being smaller and closer together.Guess compared to the huge mufflers of the times they looked small.The colour was built into the gell coat,they were never painted.

[merv]

Yeah he hasn't definitely got too much air between the top and second muffler and I hate the colour. The original colour was so 70's and to me without that this bike is all wrong.

[toycollector10]

I'm into Japanese classics...Don't really care for Triumph or BSA, except for the T160. The argument will just go around and around regarding stock or "improved" and customised. There won't ever be a winner. If you own it, do whatever you want with it, it's your ride. The next owner, and there will always be another owner if the bike is of any consequence, will either add or subtract to what you have done, then it will all start again. You can never take these things to the grave with you and you will always be someone elses "Previous Owner".

Getting back to my first post, If anyone knows the buyer it would be nice to read her/his comments as to why this was "the bike" that could not be let slip through the fingers.........

[Paul in NZ]

Hey - good luck to em... Pipes and all. I'd never pay that for one so i guess someone really wanted it. Niffty looking bike all the same..

[xknuts]

I think it looks heaps better in the green than the original orange.

As an owner for 21 years one gets to know other owners & other bikes. I have only seen one other that is not original colour but that owner owned two!!! Lucky Bastard

[toycollector10]

Regarding restoration/customisation. A bike is only ever original once. In the USA the real money is in unrestored, low mileage and original cars and motorcycles. The real interest is there. For myself, my bike has "cats piss" all up the alloy fork covers and the frame is a little chipped and has rust in some spots. For me, that's good, the bike is 38 years old. I don't want it looking all frumped up like some bloody tart in a push-up bra. She shows her age.

[toycollector10]

I went to the Jokers bike show in Ashburton earlier this year. There were four (I think) Hurricanes there. All stock, all looking very sweet.

All imports, I am guessing, too. They looked fantastic.

[toycollector10]

Talking of the Jokers' motorcycle show....I sent in an application and my cheque for $40 or whatever is was. I wanted to show my Japanese bike, it's sort of a relevant bike historically and I thought there might be people out there interested...Anyway, I recieved a letter back from them with my cheque included and a note saying something like, "sorry, we have no room for Japanese motorcycles". Ha, ha, they only make up about 50 percent of the current market. But they (the show organisers) seemed to be mostly into HD and Buells and the British makers and the odd Italian, so to me it was a bit of a shame. Their show, they call the shots, but for goodness sake, it was like some sort of time warp down there and Japan never made a motorcycle worth mentioning??

[What?]

I went to the Jokers bike show in Ashburton earlier this year. There were four (I think) Hurricanes there. All stock, all looking very sweet.

All imports, I am guessing, too. They looked fantastic.
Not saying that those bikes are not the real thing, but there are alot of replicas out there... A bit like BSA Rocket Gold Stars. And JPS Commandos. Some of them are very well done, too.


Looks like we were both wrong about the pipes Paul...but I too remember them being smaller and closer together.

I think you were right - the pipes are too far apart, and missing the balance tubes. I'd put a Moro bar on them being non-original.

[xknuts]

I went to the Jokers bike show in Ashburton earlier this year. There were four (I think) Hurricanes there. All stock, all looking very sweet.

All imports, I am guessing, too. They looked fantastic.

Two Hurricanes at that show. Mine and one from CHCH. Both imports, mine from 1986 as a complete basket case. I organised that British display, and it was recieved very well.

[toycollector10]

Yes, that was nice work. A nice display.

[What?]

Two Hurricanes at that show. Mine and one from CHCH..

Nice work, and nice bike. Of all the customs ever built, I have always thought the Hurricane to be the best looking.

xknuts, I have sent you a PM.

[Paul in NZ]

Nice work, and nice bike. Of all the customs ever built, I have always thought the Hurricane to be the best looking.
.

Now thats something we can all agree on...

I have a magazine article on Vetter someplace which features an earlier twin based bike - more a TT look and i can't help but wonder what would have happened if Triumph / BSA had got Vetter to do the styling of the Trident / Rocket 3 instead of Ogle.. Mind you - the windjammer fairing was no oil painting..

[Eurodave]

Paul,who was it that restyled the 'breadbox' T150 into the T160 with that gorgeous tank?

[Paul in NZ]

Paul,who was it that restyled the 'breadbox' T150 into the T160 with that gorgeous tank?

I'm not sure about that without checking in a book (not really a Trident guy). Possibly Triumph took the work back inhouse? Outsourcing the original design to Ogle was a disaster. The US dealers genuinely thought Triumph was pulling a gag stunt when it was unveiled to the US dealers at a conference.... As one book mentioned, there was never anything wrong with the Triumphs 'looks', it was the engine that needed updating to compete...

I've seen a few of the 'beauty kit' Tridents and IMHO they look way better than the breadbox aqua ones. (Triumph had to release a kit to alter the look of the un sold tridents in the USA and it was called the beauty kit)

My personal fave Trident (apart from slippery sam types) is the last US spec T150V with disk front... Nice!

Cheers

[avgas]

yeh they were a nice bike, i still would rather have a T120 though. Been my fav triumph since way back

[Paul in NZ]

yeh they were a nice bike, i still would rather have a T120 though. Been my fav triumph since way back

Still the 'C' bikes for me I'm afraid or early trophy / tiger... nice....

[Motu]

The T160 was based on the Rocket III as Meridan had the Trident tooling and wouldn't give it up....that's why the T160 has sloping barrels.I really liked the last Rocket III,with the small chrome Lightning style tank - that was beautiful compared to the big Raygun bike.Love Tridents - the noise,the handling,the ''coming on cam'' at 4500rpm....like all Triumphs,but it's special with the triple.

[Motig]

Just had a look at 'Triumph and BSA Triples' and the T160 fuel tank was based on the Vetter designed TT Boneville. The TT was never produced apart from 1 prototype due to problems (money I presume) that NVT had at the time, in fact if it hadn't been for the workers sit in the factory would have closed altogether.

[PeeJay]

The T160 was based on the Rocket III as Meridan had the Trident tooling and wouldn't give it up....that's why the T160 has sloping barrels.I really liked the last Rocket III,with the small chrome Lightning style tank - that was beautiful compared to the big Raygun bike.Love Tridents - the noise,the handling,the ''coming on cam'' at 4500rpm....like all Triumphs,but it's special with the triple.
Got it a bit ass about face. All triple engines were manufactured at Small Heath. Tridents were assembled at Meridan where the chassis and running gear were manufactured. During the lockout it was the lack of a chassis that was the problem. The T160 wasnt "based" on the R3, it was a T150 with the barrels angled to give room for the electric start and a bigger airbox.
Personally I think if BSA had designed the triple rather than Triumph we may have had a better bike. Single cam, pushrod tunnels, rockerbox intergrated with the head, all mean less places for oil to leak from, twin downtubes allowing a nice clean exhaust system. But if I had foresight I would have bought a couple of Hurricanes and popped them in a safe for 30yrs. mate of mine still has a 73 T150V he bought new from Whites. I thought he was nuts paying $1999.00 when a new 750 bonny was $1699 (thats what I bought)
cheers

[peasea]

I went to the Jokers bike show in Ashburton earlier this year. There were four (I think) Hurricanes there. All stock, all looking very sweet.

All imports, I am guessing, too. They looked fantastic.

I went to the Jokers show and I could have sworn it was in November last year. Maybe I've lost the plot. However, there were four at the Magogs show over Easter and I have a mate who owns a Hurricane with delivery miles on it. It's great to have an absolutely stock/standard one as a reference. Story goes; it was exported to the US and had a couple of faults, a porous carb body and a sticking slide in another. As far as I'm aware those faults are still there. It sat on a turntable for ages, didn't sell and was simply stashed. Twas at the City of Cycles show.

Gotta love them triples!

[White trash]

I remember when I was a wee little lad, 13 I think, at the Easter Rally in Portobello, just outta Dunedin with the old man. Dad had a really nice Bonnie' and I was manning the gate.

This dude rocked up on an X75. I was fucken drooling I tell ya. I told dad that was the best looking bike I'd ever seen and to this day, I back my statement. Stunning.

[Paul in NZ]

I remember when I was a wee little lad, 13 I think, at the Easter Rally in Portobello, just outta Dunedin with the old man. Dad had a really nice Bonnie' and I was manning the gate.

This dude rocked up on an X75. I was fucken drooling I tell ya. I told dad that was the best looking bike I'd ever seen and to this day, I back my statement. Stunning.

The really odd thing is, Triumph / BSA never repeated the exercise - they should have learnt what tweaked the buyers nipple - but no.... I'm not even sure they understood what the bike really meant but HD and the japs sure did! Oh well - it was probably too late by then anyway.

If they had something it was a lightness of being - beautiful use of space

[Motu]

If they had something it was a lightness of being - beautiful use of space

If you ride other British bikes....they never had it either,it was just a Triumph thing.Sure they may have been faster or handled better....whatever - but they didn't have that dumb puppy dog happiness that a Triumph has.

[toycollector10]

Hey White Trash....go here, the NZ dollar is crap at the moment. It's a great time to buy....let me know how you go, you might never get another chance......
I imported a bike ex USA in 2005 and it's easy and well worth the effort. I can talk you through it if you like..



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&isfrommerc=1,1&itemcount=8,8&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3AWNA%3AUS%3A72&refwidgetloc=watch_reminder_email,watch_reminder_e mail&viewitem=&refitem=140114442972,140114442972&item=110123566151&refwidgettype=osi_widget,osi_widget

[JimBob]

Got it a bit ass about face. All triple engines were manufactured at Small Heath. Tridents were assembled at Meridan where the chassis and running gear were manufactured. During the lockout it was the lack of a chassis that was the problem. The T160 wasnt "based" on the R3, it was a T150 with the barrels angled to give room for the electric start and a bigger airbox.
Personally I think if BSA had designed the triple rather than Triumph we may have had a better bike. Single cam, pushrod tunnels, rockerbox intergrated with the head, all mean less places for oil to leak from, twin downtubes allowing a nice clean exhaust system. But if I had foresight I would have bought a couple of Hurricanes and popped them in a safe for 30yrs. mate of mine still has a 73 T150V he bought new from Whites. I thought he was nuts paying $1999.00 when a new 750 bonny was $1699 (thats what I bought)
cheers
Considering my trident leaked from every available joint in the top end (16?) at one time or other maybe a BSA designed triple would have been a bit better
Bought a Honda CB750 in 72 for $1999. What a machine, electric start, smooth, so different from the British bikes I was bought up on. There were some interesting bikes in the early 70s. 500 Titan and 750 waterbus, Tridents, 3cyl Kawasakis, that Yamaha 500 twin that kept blowing up. 750 twins from kawasaki and yamaha that tried to woo british bike riders by including unreliability and oil leaks as standard, XS750 & 850, 450 Honda Black Bomber that used to waste Bonnies, my trophy with 11:1 pistons which required the grit, determination, and guts worthy of an SAS soldier to kick over because you knew what was going to happen!!
And of course the the king, Z900 Kwaka whooha

[JimBob]

And of course a bit later the 6 cylinders from Honda, Kawasaki, and Benelli, Rotary from Suzuki and Norton, Sort of makes todays crop of singles twins and fours all a bit boring? Sorry forgot about the 3 cyl triumph and the new R3

[Paul in NZ]

And of course a bit later the 6 cylinders from Honda, Kawasaki, and Benelli, Rotary from Suzuki and Norton, Sort of makes todays crop of singles twins and fours all a bit boring? Sorry forgot about the 3 cyl triumph and the new R3


I think we also forget that in every era - adventurous types have introduced all sorts of whacky designs and configurations. In the 70's, suddenly we had effective and fast communications and distribution channels coupled with real advances in manufacturing technology PLUS it all happened at a time when we could remember it...

It was a great time though... I never purchased a new Jap bike but I did like oggling them through the shop window and when the first Ducati Vs appeared. Holy crap! An effective V twin - who woulda thought...

Paul N

[JimBob]

And I forgot about the longitudinal v4, flat 4 and flat 6 by Honda. So I guess only a rotary missing. Not so boring after all.

[Far canal]

Well thankyou Guys for most interesting forum,Yes I bought the Cane,picked it up Yesterday.To answer some of your questions,the following is for your info,

1)Paint,this was not a big issue as it is easy to repaint to original,however having picked up the bike I wont.I may purchase if I can a spare tank and paint it original.The paint work on the bike is amazing.

2)The mufflers are fine.

3)The numbers are fine

4)To quote Kiwi Rider mag the bike is better than a brand new hurricane.

5) Shiny: The man I bought it off should be commended for the condition.OK,if putting a little black on a few pieces, and putting braided hose fittings instead of the plastic hoses,and putting covers on some of the bolts is a crime well so be it.To put this bike to original would take a few hours plus the paint.

I wanted a hurricane and I wanted and got a good one,

Far canal:scooter:

[dogsnbikes]

This was a great price for a great motor-sickle. End price was more than double the reserve.

What a classic and desirable bike. I would love to know the story behind why the buyer just had to have it. Of course, it will be worth $60,000 by 2017. And what a gutsy last bid. Totally shut down the two underbidders although it might have been an autobid situation. If anyone knows the buyer get her to post up here her thoughts and what the story behind her bidding was.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=98080491

Yes Meet the buyer on friday in danniverke on our way to the cold duck.....and triumphs were the dicussion card .....very nice couple they were too :Punk:

[Paul in NZ]

Well thankyou Guys for most interesting forum,Yes I bought the Cane,picked it up Yesterday.

Good for you!

Its really hard to tell from digital pictures - they can make a dog look like a peach and a great bike look average,

Regardless - you pays your money and takes your chances and above all - thats a nice looking bike. If you are keen to use it - drop me a line as I'm in Kapiti as well and the Wellington Classic Club do a great monthly ride

Paul in NZ

[Far canal]

Thanks and I will do Paul,

I took the sucker for a little ride this avo. It is so awesome to ride.
I do feel very humbled to own such a bike. I will only know when I sell it if I paid too much,there was however a buyer in the wings so to speak.
I have had two people,one whom owned or ridden can comment on the bike.
Ironically both assumed in was a brand new Triump retro.


F:C

[terbang]

Yeah you got a nice bike there. When I first saw one of those when I was around 15 I thought it was the most beautiful machine I hade ever seen. Still looks great even today.

[Paul in NZ]

Thanks and I will do Paul,

I took the sucker for a little ride this avo. It is so awesome to ride.
I do feel very humbled to own such a bike. I will only know when I sell it if I paid too much,there was however a buyer in the wings so to speak.
I have had two people,one whom owned or ridden can comment on the bike.
Ironically both assumed in was a brand new Triump retro.


F:C

Yeah - that 'happens' even with mine but not as much now I have the skinny green tank on it.

The Wellington classic bike show is the end of the month - might see you there..

Cheers

[Mr. Peanut]

It's old, slow, unreliable and ugly. Reminisce all you like, but it's totally outclassed by modern machinery.

Some people must have broken heads.

[Motu]

Go away little man,your trolls don't work on mature riders.

[Paul in NZ]

It's old, slow, unreliable and ugly. Reminisce all you like, but it's totally outclassed by modern machinery.

Some people must have broken heads.

Broken heads?

Hmmm - maybe but a Triumph X75 was an instant classic from day one (and that really is RARE) and has constantly appreciated in value. It may well be old, slow, unreliable and ugly (subjective) but it will be prized, collected, admired and loved long after you are mouldering in the ground and the unspeakable rubbish you ride has long been forgotten. An X75 is not quite my cuppa tea either but it IS a significant, world class classic in anyones book. Stop being a twat.

[Mr. Peanut]

I'm sorry, I thought bikes were made for riding.

As you were.

[Paul in NZ]

I'm sorry, I thought

That I doubt... ;-)

[JimBob]

Broken heads?

Hmmm - maybe but a Triumph X75 was an instant classic from day one (and that really is RARE) and has constantly appreciated in value. It may well be old, slow, unreliable and ugly (subjective) but it will be prized, collected, admired and loved long after you are mouldering in the ground and the unspeakable rubbish you ride has long been forgotten. An X75 is not quite my cuppa tea either but it IS a significant, world class classic in anyones book. Stop being a twat.
Dont know about being a classic from day one. Most people I knew (and I was big into pommy bikes) thought it was piece of junk. No-one took it too seriously. Compared to a normal Triple the Hurricane didnt corner, didnt handle, and ran out of petrol sooner. It cost too much and it wasnt actually a good motorcycle. They sat on the floor, they didnt make any money so they stopped building them. If they were popular and instead of a 1000 odd bikes they made 50,000, would it still be a classic? probably not. Instead it was another nail in the coffin for the British motorcycle industry.
It meets my definition of a classic today though, its old, its rare, it was different, it wasn't a raging success, and to top it off, people are willing to pay heaps of money for them.
If someone told me they were going to be worth 30g in the future I would have figured they had been hitting the buddah a bit too hard

[Paul in NZ]

I'm pretty sure every one that came to NZ was easily sold but you also have to remember - things like Vincents were hard to sell at the time as well. The fact that the people in the british industry didn't take it seriously shows how blind they were to where the future lay and that the japanese approach of multiple models catering to a stratified market place was a successful one. Triumph could have made an X75 alongside a Slippery sam replica relatively cheaply and covered a wider demographic.

The significance is the birth of the f'actory custom' which was not really new but the cruiser influence woke a lot of the makers up to a whole market segment. In that respect it was a more successful bike than the Norton Highrider and yet as a practical motorcycle they left a little to be desired. But thats not the point of an X75 and never has been. As an impact vehicle they have few peers and even today most folks would walk over 3 new GSXR's to look at one old X75. The british of all people should have realised the significance of the development of bikes into 'toys' rather than transport for the whole family.

My interest is not as a motorcycle but as a marketing device (wildly successful in generating column inches) and as a design. The design is a good one visually with a excellent ballance of space / metal. In the flesh they just look 'right' almost like a cartoon motorcycle. brilliant.

Having said that - I would not want to ride home from Auckland on a wet winters evening on one though...

[Motu]

The Huricane sat in Shafts a long time before it was sold,we wondered why no one bought it.But we still thought the guy who did get it paid the crazy price of $2500 for it.It was also a bit strange that Shafts should have the bike,they were a new shop,Whites were the main Triumph dealer in Auckland,and Weston-Webb only a few streets away in Otahuhu also sold Triumphs.I guess Shafts were being aggressive there,unusual in the day.

None of the factory ''custom'' bikes were popular,and yet they all have a strong ''rep'' all these years later.The Huricane never sold well,The Hi rider or whatever it was called from Norton,the boy racer Commando and Ducati were never popular either - everyone one wanted a Commando roadster or a 750GT Ducati....cafe racer was uncool.Harley's first factor chop was not a big seller either.

And just to be picky again on the X75 paint - it was never painted,the colour was in the gel coat,so any paint job is unoriginal.

[toycollector10]

Oh dear, MrPeanut, your moniker says it all, and refers to your brain I'm afraid.

[toycollector10]

And poor young peanut rides an NSR250m whatever the hell that is???...

An appreciating classic maybe or just a POS?? Time will tell peanut, time will tell.

[Mr. Peanut]

I thought you mature riders were above responding to my comments.

You have a CB750, your motorcycle more or less exterminated crap like the X75. Further more, I can understand its status as a classic.

I suppose if I've got nothing positive to add I should keep my mouth shut. Stubborn old buggers...

[toycollector10]

"wanted a hurricane and I wanted and got a good one,"

Nice quote. It's all about passion which is something that us older guys understand. So good luck to you and I hope that you have a lot of fun with your bike. You will surely turn heads when you stop for coffee or gas. As you should. Ignore the knockers on their sport bikes wearing their sand-shoes and shorts, you know what I mean. Peace.

[xknuts]

I have had two people,one whom owned or ridden can comment on the bike.
Ironically both assumed in was a brand new Triump retro. F:C

A comment I have had often from the uninformed, but it still surprises me when bikers are admiring that one hears them say they have never seen one. I do believe that there are more 'Canes per head of population in NZ than anywhere in the world.




It's old, slow, unreliable and ugly. Reminisce all you like, but it's totally outclassed by modern machinery.

Some people must have broken heads.

Think again Mr Peanut, It was ahead of its years in styling in 1973, one change of a rear sprocket and you can cruise all day @ 130 kms, I have never been let down except by the "Prince of Darkness" and that turned out to be my fault, and UGLY??? I don't think so! Park it in a crowd & it will attract attention all day. Outclassed? Yes but so is a 1960's E Type Jaguar!!! And they are still getting more $ than most new cars.

[toycollector10]

The thing about motor-sickles is that it's a bit of a passion or drug thing for some people. It is for me. My original post asked more or less, what was the story behind someone bidding $30,000 on a bike? Question answered. I would love about half a dozen bikes in my garage, in particular a T160 Tripple but space won't allow. Peanut, when he gets to having spent 35 years in the workforce or building up his own business, sireing half a dozen sprogs and educating them and shunting them out the bloody front door, might decide that the NSR250 he had when he was young was just the bees'nees or he might decide that as he couldn't afford a GSXR-1000 in 2007 that in the year 2037 he might just decide to track one down and find the best example he can. It's not the quickest bike on the block any more but by God it's the prettiest and sweetest sounding (to him) so Gud-Damn boah, if it costs him $680,000 (2037 dollars), that is what it's going to cost him.

[Motu]

I had a '74 CB750,and my wife a disc brake T150 - The Trident was by far the better bike to ride in every way,even if it didn't have the outright power and speed of the Honda,it was the faster bike to ride because of handling and power delivery.But a shit of a thing to tune for idle and cruise....but modern carbs and ignition would sort that.

[Forest]

The thing about motor-sickles is that it's a bit of a passion or drug thing for some people. It is for me. My original post asked more or less, what was the story behind someone bidding $30,000 on a bike? Question answered. I would love about half a dozen bikes in my garage, in particular a T160 Tripple but space won't allow. Peanut, when he gets to having spent 35 years in the workforce or building up his own business, sireing half a dozen sprogs and educating them and shunting them out the bloody front door, might decide that the NSR250 he had when he was young was just the bees'nees or he might decide that as he couldn't afford a GSXR-1000 in 2007 that in the year 2037 he might just decide to track one down and find the best example he can. It's not the quickest bike on the block any more but by God it's the prettiest and sweetest sounding (to him) so Gud-Damn boah, if it costs him $680,000 (2037 dollars), that is what it's going to cost him.

Sadly I find it hard to believe that a GSXR will still be running and serviceable in 2037. There's just too much techno-wizardry which can go wrong.

[JimBob]

Sadly I find it hard to believe that a GSXR will still be running and serviceable in 2037. There's just too much techno-wizardry which can go wrong.
Probably not because of techno wizardry going wrong, but because the bikes get worn out. The main reason there were so many European and British "classics" available in good condition is because so many of them never got the chance to wear out. Finding bikes in the states that were still in excellent condition with low mileage simply because they had broken down one time too many. Easily fixed, hole in a piston, keeps blowing the fuse, clutch is kaput, oil leaks. but the yanks couldnt be bothered, they were more interested in riding bikes than fixing them. Interestingly we saw very few low mileage Japanese bikes.
So when someone waffles on how great British bikes are because they are still running after 30yrs and 30yr old Japanese bikes are all in the wreckers yard, ask them how come it took 30yrs to clock up the measly 5-10,000 miles they have on them. And how much it has cost to do that measly mileage. Probably been rebuilt and restored half a dozen times.

[Paul in NZ]

Probably not because of techno wizardry going wrong, but because the bikes get worn out. The main reason there were so many European and British "classics" available in good condition is because so many of them never got the chance to wear out. Finding bikes in the states that were still in excellent condition with low mileage simply because they had broken down one time too many. Easily fixed, hole in a piston, keeps blowing the fuse, clutch is kaput, oil leaks. but the yanks couldnt be bothered, they were more interested in riding bikes than fixing them. Interestingly we saw very few low mileage Japanese bikes.
So when someone waffles on how great British bikes are because they are still running after 30yrs and 30yr old Japanese bikes are all in the wreckers yard, ask them how come it took 30yrs to clock up the measly 5-10,000 miles they have on them. And how much it has cost to do that measly mileage. Probably been rebuilt and restored half a dozen times.

Yes and no

My 64 norton Atlas had 250,000 miles on it when i sold it and i put around 75,000 of those on it. I'd hate to think how many my triumph has on it now. Its been generally reliable but by and large the brits never really understood 'motorway travel' in their bikes OR cars so all their vehicles do need a fair amount of looking after if you want lots of high speed running.

There are a lot of low mileage vehicles in the us - particularly bikes as a lot of them we purchased as high school graduation presents, left behind by soldiers etc etc - thousands of reasons. People even built custom bikes out of brand new units which to us was un believable - we just could not get a loan to buy the megre supplies that made it here.

The whole car / bike culture is very different in the USA

[Far canal]

Firstly, to all in sundry whom regardless of age,race,religion,status or lack of it and finally whatever you may ride.
Thankyou to all of you for your kind thoughts re my purchase.One may reflect further and I consider your views considered.Whether you like the x75 or not.
Personally I think Mr peanut is uninformed,he may well be academic,a scholar,a father a brother and possibly someones son.
Mr Peanut what really strikes me about your comments is how you gracefully backed down refering to geriatrics etc etc and having nothing positive to say
This must have been as easier way one could find without admitting to behaving like an uninformed idiot.
I have ridden bikes for 30 years or more,my first a TS 185 and that to me is a great bike, I have a saint and now the X75
Never have I ever spoken about others bikes in the PEANUT WAY as only A PEANUT could.
A rider is a rider in my book,sure I have opinions some I voice but there is always a modicom of commonsense in my opinions.

RATHER THAN BACK AWAY DISGRACEFULLY WHY DONT YOU DO THE DECENT THING AND ADMIT YOU HAD NO IDEA WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT YOU SHOWED TOTAL DISREGARD FOR PEOPLE THAT YOU COULD LEARN FROM MR PEANUT.

I thank all pureists inclusive,you guys whether you like the paint or not have something informed to say,I value that,

The moral of the story is if you pay attention to PEANUTS you get GEORGE BUSH??????.:rockon:

far canal

[xknuts]

And who wants George Bush? NOBODY. He can't dance and I'm confident he can't ride a motorcycle!!!
With all this Hurricane talk going on I have just discovered that a friends Rocket 3 has a complete unstamped hurricane engine in it!!! Can anyone shed light on the fact that 17 Hurricane engines only were exported???

[Paul in NZ]

And who wants George Bush? NOBODY. He can't dance and I'm confident he can't ride a motorcycle!!!
With all this Hurricane talk going on I have just discovered that a friends Rocket 3 has a complete unstamped hurricane engine in it!!! Can anyone shed light on the fact that 17 Hurricane engines only were exported???

Correct me if I'm wrong but it's just the head thats different and then it's just bigger fins? Could be a made up engine (left over bits) to complete a bike for export - bad times for the company back then

[riffer]

Never have I ever spoken about others bikes in the PEANUT WAY as only A PEANUT could.

You know, far canal, I think I'm going to enjoy you being here on KB.

Some people don't, and never will, get it.

Your new bike is stunning. :yes:

[xknuts]

Correct me if I'm wrong but it's just the head thats different and then it's just bigger fins? Could be a made up engine (left over bits) to complete a bike for export - bad times for the company back then

Of course thats possible BUT why is the engine number area BLANK???

[Motu]

Replacment cases,they will be un numbered so the original numbers can be transfered.

[Paul in NZ]

Replacment cases,they will be un numbered so the original numbers can be transfered.

It could be the bike was faulty or a warrenty repair etc or even smuggled out of the factory part at a time by a disgruntled employee or even a prototype. best bet is to make up a cool story like it's an ex travelleng marshals bike from the TT that year that was rebuilt in the special secret dept and then sent to NZ for evaluation by the SIS - it will be worth squillions by the time I'm done mate - trust me - I'm in marketing...

[more_fasterer]

trust me - I'm in marketing...

:killingme :rofl:


Sorry couldn't resist :dodge:

[Paul in NZ]

:killingme :rofl:


Sorry couldn't resist :dodge:

If I had any integrity left I'd probably be offended...