some motorbikes. . .

[Ted Hoppe]

That is lovely.

They are lovely small twins and a joy to putt around. 60 mpg and fun to wrench on. this would be my choice for a second bike parked besides the EV.

[Paul Pless]

this would be my choice for a second bike parked besides the EV.

which continent would you keep that bike on???

[StevenBauer]

I found an R60/5 at a yard sale in 2016. The guy wanted $2500 for it. It hadn’t been started in 10 years but had been put up properly. Stupidly, instead of buying it myself I told my brother about it and he bought it. He took it to the dealer for new tires and all new fluids. They told him it was ready for a trip around the world. We went on one ride together - up to Dave Perceval’s private BMW Airhead collection in Andover, Maine. I took my R65 outfit and he took the R60. It was a perfect summer day for riding, not too hot, hardly any other cars on the road(Western Maine), just perfect. A couple of weeks later I called him about going for another ride and he told me he had sold it! Without checking with me first! Doh! I definitely would have taken it. Oh, well.

Here it is:

8524B2A9-6C19-43B1-975C-3E3EFC785234.jpg


F9D911B4-99B1-4199-A7D3-B90EE3263650.jpg

I found one more photo:

9D27D3A1-6C5D-42A2-A6F5-3684962D0CB1.jpg

[timber_cruiser]

Nice old BMW. I like that cowling!

One other interesting feature of these older BMWs is the speedometer and tachometer, totally mechanical no electronics!

[Garret]

Nice old BMW. I like that cowling!

One other interesting feature of these older BMWs is the speedometer and tachometer, totally mechanical no electronics!

Not just Beemers...

[timber_cruiser]

Not just Beemers...

Classic! 150 mph max speed on factory speedo...

[Garret]

Classic! 150 mph max speed on factory speedo...

Well - I had my similar one (with a stock engine) a bit over 120 - though I'll admit the needle wasn't exactly rock steady.

[Stiletto]

Not just Beemers...

Of all the bikes I had when young I miss my Commandos the most.

[timber_cruiser]

Of all the bikes I had when young I miss my Commandos the most.

Thanks for the tip on the Norton Commando link to the pic just as I was about to dive into another Google image search, but please tell aficiandos in the know, what is the function of the large green dot in the bottom of both dials?

[Garret]

Of all the bikes I had when young I miss my Commandos the most.

I figured a Commando rider would recognize that shot. Gotta get mine back on the road.

Thanks for the tip on the Norton Commando link to the pic just as I was about to dive into another Google image search, but please tell aficiandos in the know, what is the function of the large green dot in the bottom of both dials?

I can't seem to find a good image, but Norton was Norton Villiers for a while & the green circle is actually finely striped & the logo of that short-lived company. I may be wrong, but I think the presence of that on the gauges means it' a 68 or 69.

You can sort see it here:



Bigger image here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NORTON-VILL...s&toolid=10049

[John B]

Pretty cool the headlight has its own amp gauge.

[Garret]

Pretty cool the headlight has its own amp gauge.

And it's tough to fit an aftermarket halogen headlight in with that gauge in the way - but it can be done.

There isn't much other current draw on a 60s/70s British bike - especially when you have the tail/brake light switched off so it's tougher for cops to see you when following at speed. I've just read about people doing that of course.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

....

There isn't much other current draw on a 60s/70s British bike - .....

Which is just as well - the electrical system on late sixties/Early seventies BritBikes - are some of the shonkiest things in chrisendom - designed by optimistic idiots.

[Jack Loudon]

Which is just as well - the electrical system on late sixties/Early seventies BritBikes - are some of the shonkiest things in chrisendom - designed by optimistic idiots.

I wish it was just Brit bikes, but my '01 BMW K1200 gave me no end of trouble. One time I was following a car at night on a dark 2-lane road. I passed him and switched on the high beams which blew a fuse and everything went black. Let me tell you it's no fun going 70 mph down a narrow road in complete darkness. I had to slow down to keep the car close behind me and use his headlights to see the road ahead.

There were other problems as well but that one sticks out. I loved the way the BMW rode and put over 40,000 miles on it but there were electrical glitches that even the dealership couldn't resolve. The only good thing about that bike being in the shop so often is I got lot of interesting loaners to ride. I finally traded the BMW for a Yamaha FZ1 and never had a single problem with that bike.

Thus ended my infatuation with German vehicles.

[Canoeyawl]

And it's tough to fit an aftermarket halogen headlight in with that gauge in the way - but it can be done.

There isn't much other current draw on a 60s/70s British bike - especially when you have the tail/brake light switched off so it's tougher for cops to see you when following at speed. I've just read about people doing that of course.

The brake light switched off is often enough to plant your follower in the ditch.
I bought a 40 Ford Coupe (in Virginia) with a switch under the dash for that

[LeeG]

I have to admit that it has been quite some time since a wore holes in the sides of my jeans at the knees...

But the memory of the thrill is not very deeply buried.

Your comment makes me think of favorite sweeping downhill turns on my bike in California. Lincoln Blvd. going south from the Golden Gate with a view of the ocean on the right, clean road and angling over way too far just for the fun of it.

[Hugh MacD]

I ruined a couple of pair of boots by grinding the toes off...but whatta lotta fun!

[Canoeyawl]

Boots, jeans, feet, legs, necks ... mere consumables in the quest for thrills.

(ftfy)

[Hugh MacD]

Everything that you do for thrills is either illegal, immoral, or dangerous. Combinations of these risks merely multiplies the fun.

So far, the most thrilling thing I can think of is nude tandem skydiving with a minor.

Over a cactus patch?

[Canoeyawl]

Maybe over a catholic patch

[Tom from Rubicon]

Miners with a pick axe. Shovel for the timid parachutist's.

[Nicholas Carey]

The brake light switched off is often enough to plant your follower in the ditch.
I bought a 40 Ford Coupe (in Virginia) with a switch under the dash for that

Old bootlegger or moonshiner's runner most likely.

[Garret]

The brake light switched off is often enough to plant your follower in the ditch.
I bought a 40 Ford Coupe (in Virginia) with a switch under the dash for that

Just disconnecting the brake light can definitely do that - especially if the chaser doesn't know the road. Turning off the taillight(s) as well makes it even more difficult for the chaser - as it's surprisingly hard to follow just headlights. Of course this is yet another thing I've just read about - even though I grew up right near a state line where cops didn't know the roads well on the other side of the border.

[Canoeyawl]

Old bootlegger or moonshiner's runner most likely.

Yes, I'm sure it was, those 40 Ford Coupes had a significant trunk...
It had a 48 Mercury engine w/3 Strombergs a torquey thing. Cadillac V8 was a popular swap for the same application.
(Back then you could buy a 40 Ford coupe in real good shape for $200, they were always black)
I have heard of a switch for one bumper mounted fog light that shined in the ditch, and that combined with the brakelight off switch is pretty effective.
Not that I ever did that, but I understand it takes some cajones to drive flat out with only one light shining in the ditch and a red neck cop chasing you through the back roads of say Honaker, Va.

[Nicholas Carey]

Yes, I'm sure it was, those 40 Ford Coupes had a significant trunk...
It had a 48 Mercury engine w/3 Strombergs a torquey thing. Cadillac V8 was a popular swap for the same application.
(Back then you could buy a 40 Ford coupe in real good shape for $200, they were always black)
I have heard of a switch for one bumper mounted fog light that shined in the ditch, and that combined with the brakelight off switch is pretty effective.
Not that I ever did that, but I understand it takes some cajones to drive flat out with only one light shining in the ditch and a red neck cop chasing you through the back roads of say Honaker, Va.

And imagine doing that while the car was overloaded with booze and the weight distribution was all cattywampus.

That was the origins of NASCAR.

Them moonshine runners were hellacious drivers.

[StevenBauer]

Good news and bad news here on the motorbike front. The good news - the 41 year old BMW started right up and ran great. After a Maine winter stored outside under a bike cover. The bad news - I broke the Velorex windscreen on a branch bringing it out from next to the garage. I’ve sourced a new one but it’s shipping from Europe. At least I’ve found some suppliers that will ship to the US.

9188100F-0EB2-402B-AAC1-2FCE8853FE8A.jpg

[Ted Hoppe]

^ Bummer. Trevor will have to wait.

[Canoeyawl]

^ Bummer. Trevor will have to wait.

Trevor has googles, he'll be fine

[StevenBauer]

Doggles! And I wish he was better about keeping them on.

B8AF5FFA-BC61-4919-BA30-C6462F2F551C.jpg

[John B]

A piece of 3 mm Lexan would take that bend cold I suspect.

[StevenBauer]

A piece of 3 mm Lexan would take that bend cold I suspect.

I have made windscreens before - I made the one on the R65 in the pic. But I needed a few other things so I just made the order from the Czech Republic.

[LeeG]

41 is the new 25

[Paul Pless]

td1b

M6Z6IOURSNCXBP4SVKMVDSX344.jpg

[Tom from Rubicon]

Silver Bear, Aug. 2011. Dog unknown.

[Ted Hoppe]

This bike is pretty intriguing. 0 to 60 in 3.6, charge time to 0 to 80% in 50mins, range 120 miles, top end of 120. AI and early warning system included. 24k

70713F7D-371C-43A6-9FE6-A57A02106474.jpg

interesting Forbes article on the bike and move to sustainability by its creators.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/afdhela...h=74ffcb8945bf