Hi guys. My bike is a 1973 Kawasaki s2A 350 triple 2 stroke which I bought in 2021 to rebuild and keep me busy instead of moping about worrying about my PCa. Well it was quite a bit worse than I expected and last registered in Vermont in 1979 and looked like it had been kept in a pond since then. But I managed it eventually and it starts and runs but needs fettling now to finish off hence the new coils and better quality throttle cable. Wish I could share some photos.
I started with bikes at 15 with a Tiger Cub then a slightly tuned BSA 250 . Then my first rebuild a 1958 Ariel 350 when I was 17 as we’d had one as a field bike. It was a real bitza with a Honda 750 seat and BSA tank and wheels. Styled like a US flat tracker. Also polished and smoothed everything inside the engine and fitted an MGA piston with domed head, Amal concentric carb and straight through Goldie silencer . Increased performance significantly but busted a con rod at 80 😬…
Favourite bike 🤔, either my DT400 enduro (‘76) or my Ducati Desmo SS 500 (‘78). But most awesome bike was a ‘79 GS1000 with special seat , lower bars and bikini fairing. Was almost new when I got it. Went like stink and would wheelie so easy with my girly on the back. She was only 15 and very petite so hardly noticed her on the back till her feet started to lift off the pedals. Sold to go on our first holiday together. Been married 43 years this year.
I never was in a bike club but used to frequent the biker pubs then. Was in a sailing club though. I had a very fast 16ft racing dinghy which I capsized so many times I wrecked it and so that needed a rebuild too. Luckily the design is ‘open’ so I rebuilt the whole interior differently. I was pretty pleased with myself as it looked and worked really well. Unfortunately the missus wasn’t as keen on the boat so it went …!
Craig, I was very close to buying a T500 cobra once and also remember the GT380 well. My mates had new Jap stuff but I couldn’t afford anything better than my BSA at the time.
What SV have you got? They get really good reviews.
Barry , I think I could’ve liked an Xj900 a few years ago. I had a Bandit 600 which was ok but never got me going… ok if you wound it up but rather boring. I also had a DR350 enduro which was fun on the roads and a 250 trials Yamaha for messing about with my son on his TY80 ( which I also rebuilt 🤣).
Anyway, I need a cup of tea and gotta see how the guys doing laying laminate in the conservatory.
Take care chaps.
One thing to remember is at least we had our time with the bikes. Some people never have the inclination or even the guts to try ….👍 They missed out. There’s nothing like having your girlfriend hanging onto you.
Phil