The Bikeshite Thread

[Psycho Charlie Knobcheese]

Stickers on side panels not my doing- was just after I picked it up

[Guest Hooli]

It's a Boyer powerbox Hooli- it's still running points.

 

Its a 500

 

I'd be looking for about 1800 quid.

 

Ahh powerboxes are good. I've got one on my Bonnie.

 

If I thought I could scrape the cash I'd fight over it with Fat Pirate, I don't think I could fund a purchase this year though

[Psycho Charlie Knobcheese]

Ahh powerboxes are good. I've got one on my Bonnie.

 

If I thought I could scrape the cash I'd fight over it with Fat Pirate, I don't think I could fund a purchase this year though

That's fair enough mate. It was a bit of an extravagant purchase by my standards- I've always had shonky old Japanese stuff up until now.

[gtd2000]

They will get there.

 

They can do quality control, but you just don't get it in a £400 crated moped.

 

People still buy the 4-500 new stuff and act surprised when it's less reliable than something that is 1200 and already had all the margin squeezed out of it.

 

Thing is, the bike that was sold as a Rider's Super Cub only cost US$298 (at the time £200ish) in China via Alibaba/TaoBao etc. and that retailed for around £1200.

 

You can buy an Atlas Honda CD70 for around £460, brand new, in Pakistan with a two year warranty, no idea how reliable that bike is but it's certainly cheap!

[Guest Hooli]

That's fair enough mate. It was a bit of an extravagant purchase by my standards- I've always had shonky old Japanese stuff up until now.

 

Whoever gets it, it's a damn cool bike.

[warren t claim]

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Benelli-1976-750-Sei-SIX-CYLINDER-MASTERPIECE/201730798768?hash=item2ef817b4b0:g:Aj0AAOSwh5hZnUif

 

This is insane money, they weren't even that good back in the day.

[strangeangel]

b1.PNG

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Benelli-1976-750-Sei-SIX-CYLINDER-MASTERPIECE/201730798768?hash=item2ef817b4b0:g:Aj0AAOSwh5hZnUif

 

This is insane money, they weren't even that good back in the day.

 

Indeed not, but it's not only managed to grow old but it's also unusual, and people frequently mistake the combination of those two attributes for classic status.

 

FWIW I think it's cool, but it is worth that much? Get in the sea.

[Guest Hooli]

b1.PNG

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Benelli-1976-750-Sei-SIX-CYLINDER-MASTERPIECE/201730798768?hash=item2ef817b4b0:g:Aj0AAOSwh5hZnUif

 

This is insane money, they weren't even that good back in the day.

 

The decimal needs moving to where the comma is, bloody ugly old things.

[Psycho Charlie Knobcheese]

b1.PNG

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Benelli-1976-750-Sei-SIX-CYLINDER-MASTERPIECE/201730798768?hash=item2ef817b4b0:g:Aj0AAOSwh5hZnUif

 

This is insane money, they weren't even that good back in the day.

 

*Masterpiece

 

Weren't they supposed to be pretty much a copy of the old Honda 500/4 engine with a couple of extra cylinders cobbled on?

[strangeangel]

The decimal needs moving to where the comma is, bloody ugly old things.

 

Oh come on now, it might not be fast enough for a highway hero like you, but it's certainly not ugly.

[warren t claim]

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KAWASAKI-KH-250-APPRECIATING-CLASSIC/182925273528?hash=item2a973229b8:g:gpAAAOSwzppaGYqV

 

It comes to something when a 1970s learner bike at five large starts to look like good value.

[Guest Hooli]

Oh come on now, it might not be fast enough for a highway hero like you, but it's certainly not ugly.

 

I'm sure it's fast enough but it IS ugly. Never seen the attraction in 70s bikes really, most of them are ugly.

 

Yes I've got a '76 Bonnie, but it is really (& looks like) a 50s bike at best. Hence everything old sold them.

[strangeangel]

I'm sure it's fast enough but it IS ugly. Never seen the attraction in 70s bikes really, most of them are ugly.

 

Yes I've got a '76 Bonnie, but it is really (& looks like) a 50s bike at best. Hence everything old sold them.

 

No sorry, that's better looking that any old Brit iron.

[Guest Hooli]

No sorry, that's better looking that any old Brit iron.

 

Let's just agree you're wrong & not mention it again

[warren t claim]

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawasaki-H1-F-500-TRIPLE/282578297804?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D49130%26meid%3D61444d67a3694480875995f1ddc276fa%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D282461753872&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

<checks euromillions numbers>

[warren t claim]

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-RE5-RE-5-M-Rotary-Super-Rare-Firemist-Orange-Runs-and-Rides-A-MUST-SEE/322860290675?hash=item4b2bf91273:g:5xEAAOSwZW5Z-wxP

 

This is probably a shrewd investment. Apparently if the wankel fucks up a Ford V4 out of a Corsair slots right in.

[strangeangel]

Let's just agree you're wrong & not mention it again

 

Oh, if only it were that simple. Why do people feel the need to celebrate the abject failure that was the British bike industry anyway?

[Guest Hooli]

Oh, if only it were that simple. Why do people feel the need to celebrate the abject failure that was the British bike industry anyway?

 

Because when the design of mine was current the bike industry wasn't a failure. Note when the design was current, not when it was sold. Besides this might* be the wrong forum to ask why people like stuff that was crap when it was new.

[strangeangel]

Because when the design of mine was current the bike industry wasn't a failure.

 

Good point, but 1930 was a very long time ago, wasn't it?

 

Anyway, I thought a windup merchant like you might be as good at taking it as he is at handing it out? Clearly not

[warren t claim]

I really need to own at least one British bike before I die. Sadly even though I've got no problem whatsoever with driving a LHD car a bike with the back brake on the left and gears on the right scares me shitless after a bad experience with a Morini three and a half.

[strangeangel]

b4.PNG

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-RE5-RE-5-M-Rotary-Super-Rare-Firemist-Orange-Runs-and-Rides-A-MUST-SEE/322860290675?hash=item4b2bf91273:g:5xEAAOSwZW5Z-wxP

 

This is probably a shrewd investment. Apparently if the wankel fucks up a Ford V4 out of a Corsair slots right in.

 

My MOT chap had one of those until a few years ago, always liked them... from the look of it, it must have had quite a lot in common with that 2T triple they made, the GT750?

[Guest Hooli]

Good point, but 1930 was a very long time ago, wasn't it?

 

Anyway, I thought a windup merchant like you might be as good at taking it as he is at handing it out? Clearly not

 

Sorry I was being sensible for a change, it won't happen again.

 

 

1930 was great anyway, we ruled the waves with HMS Hood, had an empire, the EU didn't exist and NSL still had it's correct meaning.

[warren t claim]

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IMMACULATE-SHOW-CONDITION-SUZUKI-GT-185-FROM-THE-1970S-RARE-IN-THIS-CONDITION/273023465840?hash=item3f91777970:g:FssAAOSw38BaWej4

 

This is identical to my first ever bike. Mine was RCA509P and cost thirty quid. Inflation sucks.

[strangeangel]

b5.PNG

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IMMACULATE-SHOW-CONDITION-SUZUKI-GT-185-FROM-THE-1970S-RARE-IN-THIS-CONDITION/273023465840?hash=item3f91777970:g:FssAAOSw38BaWej4

 

This is identical to my first ever bike. Mine was RCA509P and cost thirty quid. Inflation sucks.

 

I'm sorry, but as pretty as it is, there is no justification for any GT185 to cost SIX GRAND. Worlds gone mad innit.

 

That is a classic (pun intended) example of something that's managed to get old and suddenly OLD = CLASSIC. Wrong. Have a look at the UMG if you want to know how crap the GT185 was.

[warren t claim]

I'm sorry, but as pretty as it is, there is no justification for any GT185 to cost SIX GRAND. Worlds gone mad innit.

 

That is a classic (put intended) example of something that's just got old and suddenly OLD = CLASSIC. Wrong. Have a look at the UMG if you want to know how crap the GT185 was.

 

http://yewemmgee.blogspot.co.uk/p/suzuki.html

[strangeangel]

Although, perversely, if I saw one parked up somewhere it would definitely raise a smile. Especially if it hadn't been restored to within an inch of its life and there was the slightest chance the owner actually used it as transport.

[gtd2000]

I probably shouldn't have sold that S plate KH250 I bought at 16 for £30. Then again it only cost me £10 and I got plenty of use out of it at night on the back roads. Bikes were so cheap back in the early 80's. One of my pals bought a virtually new Yamaha XS250 US Custom for £70. It only had the delivery mileage on it!!!

[martc]

I'm sure it's fast enough but it IS ugly. Never seen the attraction in 70s bikes really, most of them are ugly.

I beg to differ, the 70's and to some extent the 80's was a high level mark when it came to bike design - most had a simple, fluid look with a consistancy of style from stem to stern. Most bikes made in this centuary are a combination of random angles and appaling graphics. A couple of examples follow ...

 

KTM 250 from 1975 and 2017

 

 

 

 

Ducati 900 1975 and 2017

 

 

[Guest Hooli]

Agreed on the KTM but both Ducatis are ugly & lumpy. I'm just not generally a fan of Italian bike designs.

[John F]

martc, on 17 Jan 2018 - 12:38 PM, said:

I beg to differ, the 70's and to some extent the 80's was a high level mark when it came to bike design - most had a simple, fluid look with a consistancy of style from stem to stern. Most bikes made in this centuary are a combination of random angles and appaling graphics. A couple of examples follow ...

 

 

I absolutely agree. And even the industry has recognised this to some extent, as many 'modern' (i.e. 1990s onwards) 'naked' bikes are essentially homages to models released in the 70s and 80s.

 

On occasion I've considered buying a moderm bike as I'm sure fuel injection would be a bonus on a bike, but the overall styling and especially the revolting headlight designs of current & recent models utterly repels me.