Tag: vintage motorcycles

Rokform Mount And Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max A Bad Combo – UPDATED

jimmymac

Update September 11, 2021: It may have taken over a year for The Verge to catch up to me, but I reported on the iPhone/motorcycle compatibility issues way back in December of 2019. It appears the problem is not limited to the use of the Rokform motorcycle bar mount. The Verge article and another article from Gizmodo points to issues with mounting the iPhone to any motorcycle. This is one of those times I wish Jimmy Mac On Two Wheels reached more riders. I could have saved a lot of…

Montgomery Wards Riverside 175cc Running When Parked

jimmymac

Here is a cool ’69 find just waiting for you to pick it up in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lightweight-motorcycles were all the rage (like e-bikes are today) in the late 1960s. Even mail-order/department store giant Montgomery Wards got into the game. Branded the “Riverside” and made in Italy by Benelli, this 175cc two-stroke motorcycle still looks cool today. While the real Montgomery Wards is gone, Benelli is still in business (that should be a hint for people thinking about buying an e-bike from a non-cycling company). Good luck finding parts…

The Trailblazers Motorcycle Club Banquet Under The Big Top

jimmymac

After a delay of over a year (due to a pesky virus), the 76th Trailblazers Banquet took place on Saturday August 28th under the big top tent of the Phoenix Club in Anaheim, California. The Trailblazers Motorcycle Club is 40 years old and their banquet/Trailblazers Hall of Fame induction attracts motorcycle racing legends (active and retired), motorcycle industry dignitaries (active and retired) and racing fans (always active). The event is overwhelming for me because so many long-time friends attend, it is impossible to say hello to everyone. It would not…

Luca and Alberto Would Love This RWP’ed Vespa

jimmymac

Have you seen the movie Luca? You should if only to marvel at the mind-bending animation. The two main characters, Luca and Alberto, plot a way to afford the motorcycle of their dreams, a Vespa scooter. Well, this RWP’ed is way better than the Vespa the boys tried to build on their own from scratch. Is it worth the $500? I have no idea. The price is attractive for the mechanic who knows how to massage a Vespa. Sure, it has a sizable ding up front and a missing Vespa…

Running When Parked ’84 Yamaha XT Fetches $1,550 At Auction

jimmymac

The days of snatching up a motorcycle at auction for dimes on a dollar are over. Proof in point, this very nice Yamaha. While the winning bid of $1,550 isn’t too far out of the ballpark, it is still a home run for the seller. Why? The description doesn’t give you a lot to go on. It is listed as a “project/parts bike.” That’s not super encouraging. Even with a two-inch hole through the piston, the “engine turns.” And “will need fuel system cleaned” is code for cracked fuel lines,…

Does Sex Still Sell? Get More Than A ’68 Yamaha From This Ebay Auction – UPDATED

jimmymac

I’ve got a compulsion for scanning Craigslist, Ebay and Bring A Trailer for vintage motorcycles from 1963 to 1972. I may actually buy another one someday (I’ve already got a shed filled with running-when-parked bikes) but it is the chase I enjoy.  On a recent hunt I uncovered a very nice 1968 Yamaha YG5T 80cc classic. The image of an attractive young lady with the bike wasn’t a big surprise although this gimmick is seen used more often for choppers. It was in the product description that I saw something I’ve…

A Pair Of Kawasaki Running When Parked Ready For Restoration

jimmymac

These two little beauties fit the “barn find” description perfectly. The photos reveal two unmolested and very complete Kawasakis of the 1971 and 1967 vintage. Are they worth $2700? There are a lot of ’71 and ’67 bikes that are running listed at very similar prices. If the owner will work on the price, that would make this package deal nice. A fine find: Sure there is rust and who knows what is going on inside the crankcase? Still, this 1967 Kawasaki appears to be all there. A nice find…

Suzuki Running When Parked Comes With A Boatload Of Spares

jimmymac

I’ve never seen a Running When Parked offered with as many spare parts and so much love already invested. It is kinda crazy that it is an actual Running When Parked. There are a couple of red flags. Why invest so much time, money and sweat into a cute little Suzuki and then offer it as a non-runner? The other problem is the asking price of $2500 with the claim the bike will be worth $5000 when completed. That seems like a stretch. Still, Suzuki fans should be attracted to…

Remembering John “Alabama Flash” Walker’s 1920 Speed Record of 115.79 Miles Per Hour

jimmymac

Wacky Explorer, a fascinating and fun website created by Samuel McCall, posted a story about John Eugene Walker, a motorcycle racer who survived a brutal childhood to become a nationally celebrated motorcycle racer and went on to set a motorcycle land-speed record. You can read the story here. If you enjoy the story on the Alabama Flash, you will love The Speed Kings book by Don Emde. John Eugene Walker, who went by Gene, is number 18, on the far left.