Don Jordan Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 I just got back from an antique motorcycle auction in Las Vegas. I managed to sell my bike. People talk about the economy and how bad it is but I've got to tell you there were a lot of old white guys with lots of money buying lots of bikes. A 53 Vincent Black Shadow went for $73,000. Somebody has money. There were about 400 bikes for auction. I couldn't believe all the buyers there were. People buying bikes they would never ride. 1909 Thor (never heard of it) - they were selling. I sold my bike, which I've had for 38 years, for enough to pay for the final touches on my 48 Plymouth. There is money out there - Quote
Normspeed Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 Beautiful bike Don. Must be sad to part with it but at least the proceeds are going to a good cause. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 everytime I think about my Norton 850 Commando I kick myself in the but for selling it..oh well..can't kepp it all I guess...The Vinents..was a guy in Goose Creek where I used to live that had a whole bunch of them ..nice looking bikes..I have not riddeen my bikes but about 20 miles this past year..just about lost interest..not the same as it used to be..in SC we toured everyweekend for breakfast somewhere and was usually home by noon..here..nobody does that and if they do go..they want to race at breakne k speed and grab a beer only..not my style.. Quote
Don Jordan Posted January 18, 2009 Author Report Posted January 18, 2009 That's why I sold the bike. I did a lot of canyon riding - just used to putt along. Now with all the young kids on rice rockets it takes a lot of fun out of it. Plus I don't have anyone to ride with. I did love the Norton - but the Triumph had it's qualities and I thought it aged well. If there was a brand new Honda parked next to my 40 year old bike people walking by would look at the Triumph. Of course we all know that feeling - If you park your Plymouth next to a new Toyota people will stop to look at the Plymouth. For me that's part of the joy. Quote
Flatie46 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 Good lookin' Triumph If you've owned it for 38 years I'd say parting is bittersweet.I had a 57 sportster I restored and owned for several years, it was hard to let go but on to other things I guess. I'm guessing you're pretty good with Amal carbs and Lucas electrics. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 Lucas wiring and Amals were not a prob with the Norton..as is the nature of most English bikes, there is a sequence for starting them...on my Norton it was tickle the carb, one kick full choke ignition off...set to half choke, ignition on and one kick to start...any other sequence could have you kicking for a spell...they are a tad contrary..every time I took this puppy out the Harley riders all wanted to trade bikes for a spell... Quote
Don Coatney Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 everytime I think about my Norton 850 Commando I kick myself in the but for selling it.... My first "big" bike was a 1964 snortin Norton. Like you I had to learn the starting routine. Once started it would run like gang-busters until the head gasket failed. Replace the head gasket, re-learn the starting drill and it would run great again until the head gasked failed again. After 4-5 gasket replacements including a re-surface job on the head, new bolts, and every other whitworth trick I could offer up I parted company with my Norton. All my buddies were on Triumph's or BSA's at the time. Quote
Olddaddy Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 I've owned bikes all my life, every size and brand, but Triumph has always been my favorite of them all. My current and most likely last bike is a 66 Triumph Trophy 650. My wife says I can ride it as long as I can start it, and without electric start that might not be too very long. The pic is at a pub in England when I picked it up from the restorers a couple of years ago. A friend who builds Brit bikes in London did the work for me. Quote
busycoupe Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 I have a Yamaha Vstar, a Victory, and a Triumph. I got the 71 Triumph Tiger in 2005 and refurbished it. Back in the day, I had a Honda CB77 and an SL125. Of all my bikes the Triumph is the most fun to take out for short blast through the countryside. The pictures are from the Larz Anderson Museum of Transportation European Motorcycle Day last fall in Brookline Mass. It is a good sized gathering of vintage and newer bikes, several hundred. If they have a Mopar Day I will have to bring the Dodge., Quote
Don Coatney Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 Try posting the pictures below each one instead of next to each other. Great pictures! Quote
Flatie46 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 Hey Busycoupe, what about the Victory have you had any problems? which model do you have? Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted January 19, 2009 Report Posted January 19, 2009 Those are some nice looking bikes. However......... As everyone probably knows we have the big Harley shows here sponsored by Harley now. That said, we've had Harley meets in Milwaukee since I've been here back in the 70's put on by Harley clubs. Back then they would take at least one or more of those bikes you posted and drop them from either cranes or off the roof of a tall building at the show. :D Quote
busycoupe Posted January 19, 2009 Report Posted January 19, 2009 I have a 2004 Victory Kingpin. I don't ride it as much as I would like to, but retirement is coming! It is a great bike, comfortable, powerful, reliable. I recommend Victory motorcycles to anyone who is looking for a big bike. Norm, There are Harley shows around here too. The Larz Anderson Museum had American Motorcycle Day on a Saturday in 2006, followed by a European Motorcycle Day on Sunday. There were hundreds of beautiful bikes on both days, some owned by the same people. Japanese Motorcycle Day was held earlier, in August. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 19, 2009 Report Posted January 19, 2009 Wow...a contented owner of a Victory street bike...!!! Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted January 19, 2009 Report Posted January 19, 2009 I have a 2004 Victory Kingpin. I don't ride it as much as I would like to, but retirement is coming! It is a great bike, comfortable, powerful, reliable. I recommend Victory motorcycles to anyone who is looking for a big bike. Norm, There are Harley shows around here too. The Larz Anderson Museum had American Motorcycle Day on a Saturday in 2006, followed by a European Motorcycle Day on Sunday. There were hundreds of beautiful bikes on both days, some owned by the same people. Japanese Motorcycle Day was held earlier, in August. Well, to be honest, I've never owned a Harley myself. When I use to ride I had Yamaha's. Also when I did ride I always thought it would be nice to own a Honda Gold Wing with full dress. I was just stating what the Harley guys use to do years ago with the foreign bikes for fun at the shows here. Quote
Don Jordan Posted January 19, 2009 Author Report Posted January 19, 2009 I also owned a 68 Triumph TR 250 - that was a one year model - it had a TR 4 body and a TR 6 engine. I loved that car. That's when I learned about Lucus - The Prince of Darkness Quote
Tony WestOZ Posted January 19, 2009 Report Posted January 19, 2009 Nice bike there Don. Always liked British bikes but never owned one, just rode my mates.. Always a bit sad to sell something you have owned for so long, but times move on. Well thats what I told myself a couple of years ago when I sold off a couple of bikes (Ducati`s) I`d had for 25 years. I did keep one bike, my trusty steed of 28 years and so many miles. It has not turned a wheel in nearly 4 years now but I will finish the resto one day and ride it again. Even if that ride is only around the block. Quote
David Maxwell Posted January 19, 2009 Report Posted January 19, 2009 Here's my still unfinished vector graphic image I'm working on of my Harley with the new tank paint scheme I designed to include Lydia's pic. It matches my tattoo of Lydia resting on my Plymouth tire except she's resting on the Harley Willie G skull logo instead. A woman in Los Angeles is going to airbrush it for me. You can see the vector work in the second image and a closeup of the new tank design in the third image. Quote
Normspeed Posted January 19, 2009 Report Posted January 19, 2009 Back then they would take at least one or more of those bikes you posted and drop them from either cranes or off the roof of a tall building at the show. :D Something about the innate hostility of Harley riders. We used to say, the reason they don't wave back at other riders is, they are afraid to take one hand off the handlebars.. Just kidding, there are some decent folks on Harleys. Don C, the side by side photos work out nicely on a widescreen monitor. My first 2 wheeler was a Vespa 90, followed a couple years later by a 47 BSA 500 single, set up for dirt. Been through several Hondas since, including my little 1988 600 Shadow, a great bike for blasting around town. Recently I went to a big dealership in El Paso, looked at em all, and the two that I would but if I were buying would be the Honda Rune (outrageous) and one of the new Triumphs. They are beautiful. One of the Triumphs, the America, is a perfect blend of classic looks and modern tech. Also went to the big Harley dealer to get a close up look at the new Harley Rocker. Looked better on T.V. though. Quote
FMSPEED49 Posted January 19, 2009 Report Posted January 19, 2009 A 53 Vincent Black Shadow went for $73,000. Somebody has money. - 73 k for a 53 Black shadow is actually cheap. Quote
Don Coatney Posted January 19, 2009 Report Posted January 19, 2009 Don C, the side by side photos work out nicely on a widescreen monitor. Buy me one. Now for some questions. How many here know that motorcycles steer backwards? If you are riding down the road at 50 MPH and want to turn right what way do you turn the handlebars? Quote
Tony WestOZ Posted January 19, 2009 Report Posted January 19, 2009 If you are riding down the road at 50 MPH and want to turn right what way do you turn the handlebars? Left. Its called counter steering. Quote
IronMike Posted January 19, 2009 Report Posted January 19, 2009 I also owned a 68 Triumph TR 250 - that was a one year model - it had a TR 4 body and a TR 6 engine. I loved that car.That's when I learned about Lucus - The Prince of Darkness ahhh....Lucas electronics I used to own a TR6 and got my electrical education and learned the following saying: Do you know why the Brits drink warm beer? Because they have Lucas refridgerators...... Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted January 20, 2009 Report Posted January 20, 2009 ahhh....Lucas electronicsI used to own a TR6 and got my electrical education and learned the following saying: Do you know why the Brits drink warm beer? Because they have Lucas refridgerators...... There's even some American's who drink warm beer. My first wife and I were married about a year or two. One night after visiting her parents she said her father thought I didn't like him. Said I would never drink a beer with him. First of all I'm not a big drinker anyway and can take it or leave it. Leave it 99% of the time. However, I told her the reason I didn't drink a beer with him is because he never had any cold beer. Never kept it in the fridge as he liked it at room temperature. So........after that he would always take a coupe out his case and put them in the fridge, so they would be cold when we visited. Quote
Normspeed Posted January 20, 2009 Report Posted January 20, 2009 http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/nhcarter1/misc/?action=view¤t=LucasElectrics003Large-1.jpg Quote
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