Ah yes, believe it or not, it's for the reverse gear.

'82 Yamaha XJ-750J.

Honda moped that my brother left me when he moved to Atlanta in the mid-80's. Max. 30 mph but only 25 mph consistently without sounding like it was going to blow up. I still have the key.

He also left me a go-cart...lots of fun.

We used to make home made go-carts out of old spare lawn mower parts. Those things were a blast.

My first, my current:

First two wheeler, BrigsnStraton motor in 'RecLeasure' frame the neighbor kid and I bought from a divorced lady so far away, I had to ask permission to ride my bike that far from home. I threw the rod racing my cousin on his Z50. I had recently learned how to disable the governor. The friend who helped build it ended up with the broken hulk. It was the end of bikes on our block for a few years. Though, the "rich" kids a few blocks over had a KE100 we were allowed to ride now and again. That "rich" kid lives a few blocks from here. We chat when you are both in the local "party" store.

First motorcycle, 1967 Kawasaki 250 A1 SS. My parents were divorced by then. When I arrived at my fathers trailer for one summer visit, I was presented with it. A friend of my father had given it to him. The previous year, I had attended Michigan Tech's summer youth program for small engine repair (still hoist the diploma in my work area). I did not know until years later, but it had one coil that would break down when hot and the same cylinder had a restricted baffle that refused to come loose from the expansion chamber. One day, years later, I wrapped a chain around a tree and to the baffle. it finally came out. "OMYG, this thing has power."

I forget what I did with that bike when I bought my used T150, that is what I had in high school. I still have a usable cylinder in the loft of the shed for the A1SS. I could check which hand it is if anyone needs one.

EDIT:
On a side note, I am desperate for a set of air filters for a 1963 Yamaha YDS2. The owner also wants to be rid of this bike (long family drama). If anyone is interested in owning this bike, shout and I will give you my email via PM. Also, looking for a Voltage regulator for a Yamaha U7 or U5. I am not desperate for the regulator.

Suzuki SP370, I don't remember what year...

I remember a van pulling up beside my house and a couple of disreputable characters got out and asked me if I wanted to buy a SP370 they had in the back of the van, knowing of the persons by reputation I declined their offer Anyway I had a Yamaha IT465 at the time.

My first motorbike was a Honda CD175. A real workhorse of a machine.

Obtained,like my moped,as an insurance write-off (If I remember correctly,a stolen/recovered). My dad,although he worked in the trade,never gave me an easy ride.He made me do almost everything for myself. An important life-lesson that perhaps I didn't really appreciate at the time but stood me in good stead in later life.

I did all the work on this except the re-spray. It was acquired around early 1976 and needed to be ready by Sept 1976 as I was attending college to study motorcycle engineering and needed it for the 140 mile journey. I lost count how many times I came home for breaks etc but it never let me down once. Over the years I owned 2 more of these machines including the sports version,the CB175. It was finished in gold. This 'beast' had twin leading shoe front brakes,electric start,5 speed and twin carbs. Really wish I still had that one.

*Both bikes (not mine) but identical.

For 4 years, Monday to Friday, I did a 50mile return journey to work and back on my CD175 fill it up on a Monday ride all week and top it off on a Friday for the weekend, apart from that one occasion when I managed to seize it by running it on Castrol R40 and not realizing that the Castrol R needed much more frequent changes than ordinary oil, the bike was very reliable. I also had a 1964 CB77 (same as ridden by Elvis in the film Roustabout), I still swear that Laverda copied the design for the 750cc Jota

Looked a lot like this:
CB77


And the Jota:

Lambretta TV175 fully loaded with mirrors, screen and about 24 lamps in my Mod days.

First real motorcycle an ex-Post Office BSA Bantam like so many of my G-G-Generation.
Seeing the image of a 'Ural' above brings back unpleasant memories of an unreliable deathtrap (with the sidecar being on the wrong side for English roads) that brought part of Central London to a halt in the rush hour by catching fire and therefore closing off Edgware Road in 1969

Like Chucky, I had a CB175 which was a revelation after the poor quality and reliability of the products of the ailing British motorcycle industry.

Last bike was a HD FLHTCU.

Only bike I was ever scared on was a Kwacker 3-pot 2stroke, terrifying ghastly thing that seemed to small for it's rough power.

OMG, long, long ago there was a time when I was totally broke - busted - with no prospects. I scraped up enough money to go to Montana, knowing that there are always jobs for a willing mind and an able back there, and in short order had enough to live in a boarding house via "informal day labor." This was a long time ago, before other even more "informal" people than I was at the time became prevalent.

I needed wheels, though, if I was to seek better employment, and I found an old Honda 90 scooter stuck out with other junk at a yard sale. It ran! Fifty bucks was my entire reserve of cash, but she was mine, and I was now mobile. In Montana. In September. A very long winter would lay ahead of me.

Now, then, I had to get a motorcycle endorsement on the driver's license, so on the day I showed up in the parking lot where there was assembled not only a collection of cones and stuff to drive around, a State Trooper, but a motley collection of motorcycle enthusiasts, including this great big biker guy with this humongerous custom Harley. Hollywood could not cast a more stereotypical biker than this guy. He scared the hell out of most everyone.

Everything's going grand, and the biker guy is acing everything, showing real grace on that machine of his.

Until the weave-around-the-cones part. It wasn't a function of skill, mind you, but that custom bike with it's slightly longer forks simply wouldn't fit. On his second try he almost made it, but bumped the last cone. Three tries and you're out.

So I walk up to him after a quick question to the Trooper and offer my little scooter to use for the cones, as it didn't matter which motorcycle one used for it; one just had to complete the task. He laughed outright, said some very unprintable words to the effect of "why not?" and, after warning that it was to be a secret we would carry to our graves (or find ourselves in one), grabbed that little scooter and navigated the obstacle at about one mile an hour. Risking my life, I couldn't help but laugh outright at this huge biker dude with the leather colors, dangling chain, beard, and picklehaub helmet on that little scooter when he returned. We shook hands and he snorted back in what I assume was laughter in return.

[epilogue]

About a year later I found myself in a rather rough establishment outside of Browning - think the Pee Wee Herman scene - and was starting to get some trouble when a big booming voice comes from the back of the bar "leave that man alone!" and everyone just stops. Yep, it was that big biker dude, and suddenly I was a-okay to have a drink. Naturally I wouldn't say how it is we knew each other, which gave me an air of mystery and respect. While I didn't have to dance on a bar or wind up with colors, I got out of there much later than I had intended and a good time was had by all.

Great story Dart!

Yes indeed. That was a very entertaining post to read Dart!

Great stuff Dart!

Great story Dart!! A table full of Beer and we could exchange stories for hours.


My first bike
http://1966superhawk.com/history.htm

Current cycle

A very ragged out 1981 Honda XL80L in 1984
Bought it for 125 bucks with paper route money.

Montana... Banditos Northern Plains or Outlaws?

Little further east in to SD is definitely Banditos NP country.

Here's a picture I found of an identical scout.

[img]https://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/s...2017_Indian_Scout_Base.jpg?itok=q9owPdIj[/img]

It's a nice bike. It's small and light (at least compared to all the large cruisers and baggers around here). Won't break the bank. Fun to ride and has more than enough speed and acceleration.

The only complaint I have is the fuel tank only holds 3.3 gallons so I won't be making any cross country trips anytime soon on it.

I did not want to start a new thread, so I am posting to this old thread. I would like opinions from the older and Euro members we have here.

First a blah, blah story, then I will try to add a pic:

So, tonight, my future nightmare arrived. I have semi retired from motorcycle repairs, taking only long time customers and bikes with a good story. I should have taken pics of the 1974 Kawi Z1 I did this spring. All original and crated since late 70's or early 80's. One blued header and pitting under the fork leg clearcoat. Looks like 1978, well except where the deceased owner's brother started a minor fire with ether.

Back to this story, a 1967 Norton Commando 750. The original owner passed when the current owner's daughter in-law was 8 years old. Her father was the original owner and her parents dated and rode this bike in the original form. The current owner was given all the original manuals and paperwork. The original owner eventually 'Café' the bike. Not a bad job, but many original parts are replaced, including bars, fuel and oil tanks. Upon the original owners death, the bike was given to his best friend. The friend let it sit, inside, but not temp and humidity controlled by the looks of it. The last time it was plated was 1985. Either the second owner passed or he gave it back to the original family. In either case, the widow ended up with the bike. Despite mine and other's encouragement to refuse the gift of this bike, the current owner accepted it and the challenge to make it run again. Evidently there were a lot of womanly tears involved with his agreeing to take this bike.

I have told the current owner for over a year that "I am done with British bikes and I will NOT work on it. He has worn me down and I have agreed to "find out why the kickstarter is locked up and proceeded from there. I do not guarantee I will fix the bike, only tell you what is wrong". During the drop-off interview the current owner said he would like to remove the 'café'. I said he may be shocked by the cost. I mentioned to the current owner that the bike is most likely of greatest value as parts. That "is not possible, given the family history". So here I am facing a nightmare, from the mechanic point of view. The only saving grace is that the owner knows this will be a winter project along my bike and his buddies XS1100.

So now my question to those that I respect, and the general public:
What is the Norton Commando worth as a general collectible? Not money value, but emotional value. I need to seperate the family value from the general world value. I also have to gauge the life this thing will suck out of me, like the Guzzi Eldorado with a T4 motor did to me 2 years ago. The current owner is not poor, but I will never see recupe the value of my time. and the current owner is a pain. I have kicked him from my shop twice, but enough of a friend that I have let him back in. I am Soo on the fence to find a problem that makes it impossible to fix. but it would bring so much joy to the original owners family.

OG, honest, I am not trolling. I request opinions.
now the pic attempt
[img]https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/pedg/download/file.php?id=237[/img]
I guess I should have followed your guys threads better on how to make an image show in the thread.... Sorry. I uploaded the pic to the PEDG forum. I do not think I have any virus, but you should always practice safe internet.
Al (next to Oakland/Pontiac International)