Vintage Japanese motorcycles....

[Chips_Mahoy]

....And by vintage I mean 60's & 70's......

British and other bikes too.

Who's into them? Post some pics please. I'm driving a couple hours south in the morning to get an almost identical pair of project bikes; 1 '74 & 1 '76 Suzuki GT550's (2-stroke 3-cylinder "triple" for those that don't know) for my 17 y/o son and I. I just picked up a set of modern sportbike wheels that I think he wants to lay claim to already. Ever since I heard someone's "triple" run w/ a nice set of pipes on it I was hooked! I loved the cackle and the sound of angry chainsaw on crack!!

 

[SCHWINNRAY69]

I'll upload some pics of my Bonneville later...

 

[Chips_Mahoy]

I'll upload some pics of my Bonneville later...

Triumph, right....not Pontiac?

 

[SCHWINNRAY69]

Yeah, haha

 

[Chips_Mahoy]

Here's what I'm getting.



I know they don't look like much now, but neither do some of my bikes when I get them.

 

[mikeeebikey]

Cool bikes!
If you like the big bore 2 strokes, you love changing clutches!

 

[Gold Street Customs]

I have been slowly trying to buy a 72 250 triple like this one, the owner is slow to sell, I just bug him every couple months.

 

[Bicycle808]

Who's into them? Post some pics please. I'm driving a couple hours south in the morning to get an almost identical pair of project bikes; 1 '74 & 1 '76 Suzuki GT550's (2-stroke 3-cylinder "triple" for those that don't know) for my 17 y/o son and I. I just picked up a set of modern sportbike wheels that I think he wants to lay claim to already. Ever since I heard someone's "triple" run w/ a nice set of pipes on it I was hooked! I loved the cackle and the sound of angry chainsaw on crack!!

I love old motorcycles, but I consider the 70s and early 80s to be the "golden age", at least as far as the Japanese bikes go. My first bike was a '74 (might've been a 73?) Honda CB125S thumper. I loved that little thing. SYM, a Taiwanese firm that built the CB125 and CG125 under-contract for Honda during the final decades of that model, is still producing/selling the SYM Wolf Classic 150, which is essentially an overbored clone of the CB125s, complete with kickstarter and fork gators....I might end up buying one.

My wife's uncle used to rock a Suzuki GT550 "water buffalo", so named b/c it was among the first water-cooled Japanese motorbikes. You're right; it's tough to beat the sound of those things. His sounded pissed off, all the time.

 

[Chips_Mahoy]

Got them home.

The one will end up as a parts bike so only one will be restored. We ended up picking up a third while we were picking up the Suzukis.

Picked up a nice 'lil Kawasaki KDX80 for a nice deal for all 3 of us boys. My cousin brought over his 4 wheeler and we all had fun.

 

[Crassly]

Somewhere I have a photo from about 15 years ago of 13 Honda Dreams parked in my driveway. I picked them from various places for a buyer in the Twin Cities.

 

[Chips_Mahoy]

Somewhere I have a photo from about 15 years ago of 13 Honda Dreams parked in my driveway. I picked them from various places for a buyer in the Twin Cities.

Definitely would like to see that!

Been stripping both bikes today.

The '74 is down to a bare rolling frame:

We've already learned some differences in the two production years and see some minor alterations/mods done by a previous owner. Thankfully it's nothing structural at this point.

 

[Chips_Mahoy]

The '76 had a lot removed from it. What can be salvaged and used will be.

We've already come up with a design plan and have a goal of it being done in a year so he can ride it to his high school graduation.

My oldest and I have never sat down this long and/or this intently on any project before.....EVER. I'm enjoying every moment if it even tho my aching back is telling me otherwise!!

 

[Crassly]

Can't find my photo with the 13 Honda Dreams, but found one with 9. Also a few 50's and 90's in the background.

 

[Chips_Mahoy]

That's still cool!!