Tag: vintage motorcycles

Harley-Davidson Sportster Ironhead Perfect For A Knucklehead

jimmymac

This Running When Parked is unique because the owner removed the gearbox from a bike that “ran great when parked.” If it was running great, why did the owner disassemble the gearbox? Maybe it was running great, but I’ll bet it wasn’t shifting great. And it pays to read the ad carefully. The seller is “asking $2000” but the headline lists the price as $1500. The buyer already saved $500. Does that make it a good price? Nope. The bike is missing the battery, an exhaust pipe and probably a…

An Unmolested 1972 Maico 501 Barn Find For A Skilled Negotiator

jimmymac

This seller gets an A+ in collectable Maicos, a D-minus in salesmanship and an F in motorcycle appraisal. Although missing the front fender, this 1972 Maico 501 appears to have few hours of operation (a rider’s knees rubbed the paint off the fiberglass tank after the 10-hour mark) and chances are it was never raced (aside from a total lack of aftermarket parts, there are no number plates). The bike doesn’t appear to be missing components (except for that fender). The seller should have given more history and additional photos…

Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction Reveals Volatility And Opportunities

jimmymac

Mecum holds two motorcycle auctions in Las Vegas every year. The January auction (read about it here) is the big daddy and the June auction, while smaller than January, still packs in a lot of amazing bikes and, some would say, much better values for buyers. While I didn’t make the fear and loathing road trip for the June auction, watching the action on the live stream provided by Mecum and browsing the results gives a pretty good idea of what went down before the gavel hit the wood.

Start A Business With This Moto Scoot Delivery Motorcycle

jimmymac

Looking to pick up a little spare change? Why not grab this 1946 Moto Scoot delivery scooter? You could be the coolest pizza delivery business in your neighborhood. It was “Running When Parked” so it shouldn’t take too much effort to get it delivery ready, right? No, not right. This old workhorse needs a total rebuild from the frame out and replacement parts will not be easy to find even in this day and age of eBay. The best home for this neat little scooter will be somebody’s private collection.…

Hanford Vintage Motorcycle Rally Faces Tough Competition

jimmymac

The Hanford Vintage Motorcycle Rally celebrated its 50th anniversary this year so I figured it was time to check it out. But first, you have to find Hanford. It is unlikely that you’ve ever passed through Hanford on your way to anywhere else because it is off the beaten path. The town sits in the south central portion of California’s San Joaquin Valley, 28 miles south-southeast of Fresno and 18 miles west of Visalia. This location could actually work in favor of vendors because the riders who attend are serious…

Two Running When Parked Yamahas For $575 Still Overpriced

jimmymac

This ad shouldn’t have used the phrase “running when parked.” It should have read, “buried when parked.” These two little Yamahas appear to have been left under a tree in the backyard since the last time they fired up (and who knows how long that has been?). I guess somebody who has a thing for these models could buy them for parts, but if your goal is to get them running, I’d tell you to keep looking. These two have a long journey before arriving at ride-able. The phrase “running…

Three-Wheeled Running When Parked Perfect For Collectors Only

jimmymac

The Honda atc 70 was a cute little all-terrain vehicle (ATV) that was marketed in the early 80’s as a fun vehicle for the entire family. Unfortunately, the ATV was a tricky vehicle to operate and anything but “family friendly.” It was easy for an inexperienced rider to experienced a rollover going uphill, downhill or on flat terrain. The saddle encouraged taking a passenger and the ATV used a fixed axle instead of a differential. And the vehicles were ankle biters. If the ATV did start a rollover, the natural…

Old Bikes, Older Racers And Fast Laps At The 2018 Corsa Motoclassica

jimmymac

Has it really been 12 years since I last attended the Corsa Motoclassica at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California? A lot of things have changed and a lot of things have stayed the same. Willow Springs still feels (and looks) like the place I raced a box stock Suzuki GS550 in 1978. There are new attractions around the main road circuit (the Walt James Stadium, a kart track, skid pad, the Streets of Willow) but Big Willow is still the raceway’s heart and little has changed. It is at…

Manco Minibike Hits The Road

jimmymac

A buddy (thanks, Byron) found me an old Manco mini with a seized engine and some missing pieces but it had potential. A Harbor Freight 6.5 HP, 212 cc Predator engine fit in the frame nicely (once the fuel tank was removed) and a call to AZ USA Parts (thanks, Horton) got me all the little pieces needed (clutch, throttle and chain) plus they were really helpful people. I still need to find a gas cap that fits (my gas cap is cracked), but this thing is a torquey beast…

’65 Honda Scrambler Comes Back To Life

jimmymac

This is a Running When Parked (RWP) that I’ve been watching for a long time. It shows up on Craigslist every few months and has been doing so for years. The asking price ($5,000) might be putting off some riders, but wait, the latest ad is updated. Although it says the bike is a Running When Parked, it contradicts that statement by saying the owner has got the bike running. The $5000 asking price isn’t too far off if you have an emotional attachment to Honda Scramblers and are not…