Craigslist Curiosities

[Fatfatboy]

The guy I bought the two Springers from took me into his garage tonight to get me some parts he had laying around.

He had a beautiful 2010 Softail Deluxe very customized, a very nice NYC Fireman’s bike with 911 tributes on it, a ver decked out custom Bagger with serious money spent on paint and body work and dressed to the nine’s and another Bagger with a Milwaukee 8 pumping out 200+ horsepower all with almost no miles on them.
He even had some special quad runner sitting next to them that only had nine hours on it.
I asked how he could possibly not take these poor caged up beast out in this wonderful Florida sunshine.
“I take them out for shows”.

I’m glad I uncaged the Springers.

[hacksaw]

springers are horrible maintenance.  but glad you saved them from this idiot baggerklown.  

[hacksaw]

actually the norton wasnt a horrible price.
i sold mine to 6th street cycles in new york. Hugh Mackie . for about half that and it wasnt even stock.
if it has the metal gas tank all the better. they dont come up often, and when they do they are often over restored and 10 grand. or more.

[hacksaw]

there are a lot more XS yamahas out there . some decent ones in Ct as i type.
but the tracy body is likely worth more than that bike is. i say likely because the thread is expired.
the plain xs model looks decent. not the Special. but the all alum motor still sounds like cheap imitations.
cast iron barrels are the only way to go.

[Fatfatboy]

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcd/d/union-1995-moto-guzzi-california-1100i/7457503450.html

More research required.

[oldironnow]

What's to look up?

[Fatfatboy]

 Mixed reports on these old MG's. Motor is stone reliable. From what I've read it's electrics that are issues but nothing major. The odometers are notorious losers.
Quirky with character is what a lot of folks say. I find that interesting.

"People under 5'7" will have problems flat footing it." Looking at that sofa of a seat I can believe it.
All and all it sounds like a lot of fun for not a lot of money.

I replied to his email. Waiting for a call. It's worth at least a conversation.

[Fatfatboy]

The Gutzie is gone.  or maybe  

[hacksaw]

Imho you are better off . Good price but not a very exciting machine.
If you want a guzzi there are 2 reasonable choices.
An old one like from 60s-80s . Or a new one . I lobe the blue EV .

[oldironnow]

hacksaw wrote

Imho you are better off . Good price but not a very exciting machine.
If you want a guzzi there are 2 reasonable choices.
An old one like from 60s-80s . Or a new one . I lobe the blue EV .

Totally agree.

All I wanted to do with this one is change it.

[Fatfatboy]

That goose ended up at my local Ural/vintage Bmw shop.
I went by Saturday to get a tire for the Road Glide and it was in his showroom on consignment.
As suspected it’s way to tall and wide for this stump. My feet dangled like a kindergartner on a bar stool.

[motogrady]

Here's one that if I had the coin, I would.  

[Fatfatboy]

I've never been a big fan of the Hurricane fiber-body but I love those pipes.

[hacksaw]

I disagree. Clean lines . Nicely integrated graphics.
I would build a Tracey body bike if I wasn’t so old and lazy . Lol

[motogrady]

I'm pretty sure I sat on that one a few years back.

Went with a friend to pick up 3 of those Honda Trail 70s, or are they 90s, whatever.
The mini bikes.

It was cold and rainy, they were in a crappy storage unit somewhere outside of Pittsburg.
Almost had to use a crowbar to get the door up.  One single 60 w light bulb hanging from the ceiling, could hardly see.  Place is chock full of old bikes and parts. No Effin order, just little piles of stuff with a few little paths going thru it all.

Apparently my buddy had been there, he starts digging the minibikes out.  They are kind of together, just half buried under a pile of wheels and parts.  

Looking around, my eyes adjusted to the dim light.  It's like an old body shop, everything has a healthy dose of fine powder like dirt on it.  About half way back there sits an old rollback tow truck.  Even it is almost half buried in stuff.  Then I notice there's a bike on the back of the only flat open space in there, the back of the rollback.  
Even tho it was almost too dark to see, immediately I recognized it was a Hurricane strapped down.  Was like something you'd see in one of those "Raiders of the Lost Ark" movies.  On a platform or kind of stage, above everything else, it just commanded my attention.  

Hell, I had never even seen one outside a magazine, but always thought they looked killer.
"Holy crap!" I half yelled to my friend, who was there to make money, selling these stupid mini bikes to some guy in Baltimore.  He couldn't be bothered almost with it, confirming what it was as he pulled one of those CT 70s loose.

Even tho I was there to help, I felt screw it, I'm gonna at least sit on that thing.
Half crawled thru and over 10 yards of stuff, everything dirty, I made it to the rollback.  Then climbed up the side of the cab, swung around and there it was.  Even in the dim light, coated in dust, it was really a good looking bike.  All there, a survivor from maybe 4 decades back. The striking orange bodywork couldn't be subdued with the lack of light or dirt.  The 3 chrome pipes, ditto.  Even the seat, no tears or holes in it.

The cold, dark setting, the sea of junk, standing on a kind of stage, above everything,
just being next to that thing bordered on the surreal.

It's a small bike when you sit on it. Yeah, the front is kinda high feeling, but nothing like some I've been on. No apehangeritis. Even the fiberglass tank and bodywork felt thin between my legs. It really reminded me of a 70s 883.  Or a 500cc dirt bike.  
Small, simple, and as much I could feel, light, for a street bike.

The mind drifted to days long past.....


Lol.....my buddy brought me back to reality when he yelled, "Hey Peter Fonda, these are ready to load.  If you've had enough of 1969, how about we make some money!"

Effin reality.......

[Fatfatboy]

Don't see these come up often.





Was once owned by CW editor Allan Girdler. Pour thing hasn't been ridden since 2015.

 
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1948-indian-1948-indian-chief/

https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1997/6/1/hail-to-the-chief

[hacksaw]

there was one on craigs list local to me but its gone today. black and i think with similar seat.

i should have bought ernies. but i was still home with a baby and money was tight. he wanted 10k.
but it did need work .

[oldironnow]

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcy/d/milwaukee-1999-mt-500-mint/7629175127.html

[hacksaw]

Not worth that money .
But if you got cash to burn it would be an interesting pick up  

[motogrady]

oldironnow wrote

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcy/d/milwaukee-1999-mt-500-mint/7629175127.html

There was a guy that used to bring a WW2
Military bike to the vintage meets we held.
Was one of the most popular exhibits.

I wonder, that’s a 500 twin.
Was that motor made in the HD factory here in the States.
🤔