Optimistic sellers

[Banditbandit]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-979175780.htm


Naaa .. Nice .. but not at that price ...

[Mike.Gayner]

Yet another knob who doesn't understand the LAMS system.

[OddDuck]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-979175780.htm


Naaa .. Nice .. but not at that price ...

Agreed. It's purdy but at that price a buyer has a lot of options... and admitting to oil leaks won't help.

[jasonu]

yeah .. there are reasons we don't ride those bikes any more ... nice show/museum pieces ... but no longer a good ride ...

The only thing that caught me out when I commuted on a Japper and rode old British at the weekends was (not the gear/brake swap) The lack of brakes .. I got caugh several times braking too late for corners on the Brits - at a point where I'd simply squeeze the jap brakes gently, but completely late on useless British brakes - and hitting the corners way to hot on old british iron ..

A good way to end up with a little blood in the adrenalin stream ..

Old japer brakes will give you the same uneasy feeling. A couple of years ago I chanced across a 1976 RD400. The motor easily outclassed the brakes.

[husaberg]

Heh. Yesterday evening I rode a Norton 750 Commando, 40 years after I first wanted one; remember seeing one for sale (of course completely unaffordable) when I was transitioning from a RV125 to a water-buffalo Suzuki.

The seller wasn't unduly optimistic in the pricing, but I think I was unduly optimistic about the overall construction and performance; I'd forgotten how bad the brakes especially are on 40-year-old bikes. Let alone what would happen after dark when the ?Lucas electrics come out to play... not called the Prince of Darkness for nothing.

Am quite happy with my assortment of 8-12 year old bikes at present, and passed on the Norton.

Still looking for a single-banger Matchless G80cs should one come up for sale... complete with the performance and reliability constraints which were the reason I passed on the Norton - but for a 60-year-old bike I think I'll be more accepting thereof!

Nortons styling always leaves me a little cold ESP the Commando (other than the Fastback)
That said all the brakes and the electrics are all able to be remedied with modern stuff from Todd Hemmings etc.
I have very found memories from the 90's of long rides on BSA unit and pre unit twins (just not at night)

Old japer brakes will give you the same uneasy feeling. A couple of years ago I chanced across a 1976 RD400. The motor easily outclassed the brakes.

The earlier ones have better brakes they changed from the opposed piston calipers with the 400's. To avoid paying Lookheed and or Girling a patent fee

[RDJ]

Oh crikey. Just rode a GT750 for the first time since my Uni daze... I thought I remembered the starting, seating position, handling, turning circle, signals, brakes, ergonomics and performance were all so much better! and this is a good looking well maintained example.

I see a common denominator here; it's not the 70s' bikes, it's the 50s' me

[awa355]

Oh crikey. Just rode a GT750 for the first time since my Uni daze... I thought I remembered the starting, seating position, handling, turning circle, signals, brakes, ergonomics and performance were all so much better! and this is a good looking well maintained example.

I see a common denominator here; it's not the 70s' bikes, it's the 50s' me

A bit like meeting an old girlfriend after 40 years . Unfortunately, time does not stand still.

[RDJ]

A bit like meeting an old girlfriend after 40 years . Unfortunately, time does not stand still.

So true. Fortunately, I have been smart enough (so far) not to look up replicants of old GFs. Just of old bikes. I am also certain the bikes require/required much less maintenance both then and now

[Tazz]

So true. Fortunately, I have been smart enough (so far) not to look up replicants of old GFs. Just of old bikes. I am also certain the bikes would be much less maintenance both then and now

Don't be daft. All those electrics, reliability and long service intervals will get you.....


/sarcasm

[RDJ]

Oh no. I'm not going there Tazz!

[jasonu]

So true. Fortunately, I have been smart enough (so far) not to look up replicants of old GFs. Just of old bikes. I am also certain the bikes require/required much less maintenance both then and now

maybe you should be looking up old girlfriends daughters...

[Ender EnZed]

A bit like meeting an old girlfriend after 40 years . Unfortunately, time does not stand still.

Something about the sands of time being more corrosive than the fog of memory.

[F5 Dave]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-979175780.htm


Naaa .. Nice .. but not at that price ...

Good find BB.

Another person who struggles with the concept of what makes an old bike valuable.
1. Std condition to remind the old fart of how they were.
2. Iconic status; Game changer. Stunner. Evil. Quirky. Rare.

So it fails on every count. On top of being poxy

and poorly tuned (no air box will ensure that and I bet there's been no air corrector jets fitted).

[husaberg]

Good find BB.

Another person who struggles with the concept of what makes an old bike valuable.
1. Std condition to remind the old fart of how they were.
2. Iconic status; Game changer. Stunner. Evil. Quirky. Rare.

So it fails on every count. On top of being poxy

and poorly tuned (no air box will ensure that and I bet there's been no air corrector jets fitted).

Not the ugliest modified bike I have seen but not a $7500 bike either. But is inidualility the new sign of being special and hip, hence the price tags on some of these bikes.
Is this a throw back to the American chopper and ipod generation?

[jasonu]

Good find BB.

Another person who struggles with the concept of what makes an old bike valuable.
1. Std condition to remind the old fart of how they were.
2. Iconic status; Game changer. Stunner. Evil. Quirky. Rare.
3. GSX400 twins were shit when they were new. If it was the 4 cylinder model it MIGHT be SLIGHTLTY less undesirable.
So it fails on every count. On top of being poxy

and poorly tuned (no air box will ensure that and I bet there's been no air corrector jets fitted).

Added some shit.