Tag: vintage motorcycles

Rokform Mount And Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max A Bad Combo

jimmymac

I’ve run into a big problem with the combination of my iPhone 11 Pro Max and the Rokform Rugged Case mounted to my Suzuki DR-Z400 with the Rokform motorcycle bar mount. I installed the bar mount on my Suzuki DR-Z400. I was careful that the mount (and the phone) had clearance between the mount and the handlebar’s crossbar. I believed if there was any contact, that could increase vibration passed from the motorcycle to the iPhone. The first time I used the combo was on a 100-mile dirt road ride.…

The Diluted David Mann Chopper Fest 2019

jimmymac

Take the annual David Mann Chopper Fest, add an inch or two of rain, and you’ve got the diluted 2019 David Mann Chopper Fest. I was going to blow it off after waking up to a deluge but the doppler showed the storm would move through Ventura around 10. I hit the gate at 10:30 and the clouds cleared, opening up a crystal-clear blue sky. But the damage was done. The rainfall turned the normally grassy judging area into a slippery, muddy mess. Some vendors sat twiddling their thumbs, separated…

Guzzi “Running When Parked” A Tough Call

jimmymac

This one has me stumped. This ’82 Moto Guzzi V50 Monza looks like it is all there and the asking price isn’t crazy high. So why do I hesitate? While the ad doesn’t state it, this bike appears to have been used for racing (there is a vintage racing organization sticker on the fork). Anyone who has road raced a motorcycle knows that everything on the bike is stressed way beyond what happens on the streets. While road racing a motorcycle the engine spends a lot of time at redline,…

Italian Harley-Davidson Needs More Than “Very Little” To Get Running Again

jimmymac

This is a cool old bike that looks like a fun project. The owner claims it will require “very little” to get the bike running. Technically, that may be true. Still, a running motor is only part of the equation. The bike still needs to shift through the gears, stop when the brakes are applied and move forward when the throttle is twisted. Looking closely reveals this little Italian stallion will take some serious elbow grease and a few bloody knuckles to get it ridable. The saddle is sure cool…

Steal This ’76 Yamaha TT500 Running When Parked

jimmymac

Kelly Blue Book lists the value of a good-running TT500 of this vintage at $3,990. While that seems like a lot of money for a 44-year-old motorcycle, the TTs have proven to be reliable off-road workhorses and a model that has never faded from popularity. The photos show a clean bike that doesn’t appear to need much work to get it on the trail. A sweet RWP’ed motorcycle for the TT fanatic at a reasonable price. Go for it! The phrase “Running When Parked” (RWP) is code for a once…

1975 Honda CL360 Survivor Perfect For Honda Fanatic

jimmymac

Kudos to the seller for not saying that all this CL360 needs is a new battery and a carb cleaning (ever notice how many RWP’ed ads claim that?). That’s because this burnt-orange scrambler is going to need some serious hours to get it running (and shifting) properly and I think the seller is upfront about that. What I see here is a very complete bike that hasn’t been modified with weird aftermarket parts. It needs a lot of attention, but that attention should pay off. The price seems fair too.…

A Motorcycle Pilgrimage To Honor And Celebrate The Memory Of Tom White

jimmymac

There are people who like motorcycles and then there are people who think, dream and breath motorcycles. These people don’t have a passing interest in motorcycles, motorcycle riding and motorcycle racing. They immerse themselves in the hardware, riding techniques and the culture of motorcycling. Motorcycles become part of their DNA. The late Tom White fell into this zealot category as a connoisseur, aficionado and supporter of everything motorcycles. Another rider who falls into the motorcycle zealot category is J. Mark Donaldson. He is in Europe on an extended motorcycle adventure…

1965 Honda S90 Brings Back Fond Memories

jimmymac

There were minibikes and Honda step-through, automatic-clutch Passports that came before, but I remember the Honda S90 as the first real motorcycle I ever rode. By “real” I mean it had a gas tank between the knees and a real clutch that required the operator to possess the skill and coordination to twist a throttle and ease out the clutch lever. I accomplished this without stalling the engine or sending the front wheel skyward and friends, a lifelong love of motorcycles followed. So I’m looking at this S90 with a…

British Battle Between Triumph & BSA Running When Parked

jimmymac

I’m out of my league on this one. Did Triumph and BSA share an engine in the mid 70’s? I ask because the tank on this Running When Parked says Triumph but the engine looks like a BSA. The seller’s headline doesn’t help matters because it sort of says this bike is both. Either way, the offering appears to be in nice shape. The price is on the high side once you figure in new tires, saddle cover and going through the engine. Still, the giant exhaust pipes are sure…