Planet Minis

CrawlerD

So Makatoson's build has been inspirational. If you have a classic big bike what is it? If it's not classic share your current big bikes. If you don't currently have one but want one, post what you want. Dirt or street.

I will begin.

I currently have a KTM 530 XC-W as far as desert racing goes it is my dream machine. but.....

-Dirt
I would love an on old Bultaco or a Hodaka superRat. Neat little machine. Also an old yamaha TT (had a tt500) could be awesome.

-Street

I must admit I have a hankering for a late 80's Honda 750 interceptor. Brother had one and and always like it. If I could find a clean one I would have to try to sell a kidney.


On the dream side. An old BSA ---Awesome.

Lets here what you got or want?

FastMC

I'd like to have some of my old bikes back. The ones I miss most are my old 150 Benley (CA95), CB1100F,CB550K, SL350 to name a few. I still have my 72 XL250 (strictly ice bike) and a BSA 441 Victor that I plan on doing a full resto on once all my minis are complete. I still get to work on a lot of classics at the shop, and of course riding them after is a big perk.

makotosun

I appreciate the kudos, but I am wondering which "classic" build you are referring to?

nielspbr

I had a honda GL650DII (sold...)

Dreambike: Honda GB500TT, but no room for it so i just keep it by my mini's

mexicanyella

I just sold a '72 Honda CB450 dohc twin I'd had for years. Does that count? Now I just have a running hardtail Z50, and a softtail Z50 and a Z50R, the latter two of which should be running before the summer's over. 'Course I've said things like THAT before...

Did you mean a Hodaka Super Rat? I didn't know Bultaco made a bike called that...

CrawlerD

Sorry missed the "or" in there, meant hodaka. I know selling the CB was a difficult choice. Its hard to let go of the ones we love.

But Ben, if you were to have the wish to replace it, what would that be?

mexicanyella

Good question, D. I've asked myself that a lot, and I really don't know. One thought is that I'd like a late 70s-early 80s big XR, XL, SP...something like that, preferably marginally street legal and stock. A big simple torquey tractor of a bike that could go off-road a little.

Hmmm, I liked my old XS650 an awful lot...

I've had a vague vision for a few years now of finding an early virago and making sort of a V-twin dirt rat, sort of trying to get somewhere in the universe of a Steve McQueen-style desert twin and a Harley XR750 in looks, only rattier. Red oxide primer, rust, dented tank and dinged-up homemade loud one high/one low exhaust, MX bars, little solo seat...the funky early-80s mag wheels would be a visual downer in that scenario though (most people reading this might be thinking the whole idea is a pretty heavy visual downer, but what can I say?). I don't know if any Viragos had spoked wheels back then. Also with the shaft drive the gear ratios might be a little high and I'd be stuck with them.

It would be a stupidly personal thing to do to a Virago, and I know next to nothing about Viragos, other than taking a brief spin on a 700cc one years ago and I think they have a 75-degree V angle. Sheeeew, I'm nearly an expert already.

In the short term, I'm thinking Z50 frame with XR80 swingarm and go from there...a little more realistic with my current fiscal/time budget.

mexicanyella

I don't know which one D was referring to, but I think looking at your big yella enduro and thinking about you riding an H1 up the coast...that's pretty inspirational. I hope you realize the bike-story bench-racing mojo potential you have at hand there.

Your kid's Z is pretty inspirational too.

makotosun

I forgot I had posted a pic of that bike in the Little Guy's thread! That big yella enduro was put together for one purpose, to ride it coast to coast on the Trans America Trail. I and 5 other vintage Yamaha addicts are a good chunk of the way through the project, and will be riding the old bikes from Kitty Hawk, NC to Broken Arrow, OK (next to Tulsa) in October. More details on that project are HERE For a detailed, blow by blow, of the western section, with lots of pics, go to THIS THREAD and start reading the recap which begins at post number 341. Get a cup of Joe, as it is a long read.

I have a couple of other Yamaha builds that I have done, but they were on other forums.

The others at the moment . .



1970 Yamaha AT1. 125cc with a ported 175 top end, electric start. Vintage tagged rider. This is the same year and model of bike I got my motorcycle endorsement on. Found it (in far worse shape) on night on E-bay. It has a NOS 26mm MX carb and I have a NOS Torque Engineering expansion chamber that is destined for it. It is kind of a mini . . .



I have a second DT400 Yamaha enduro that is primed for a restoreation build, and then a 1978 DT400E (Last year of the two stroke monoshock DT400 which I just completed a few months ago.





After taking my son to attend the Bad Rock Trail Ride in Athena, OR a couple of weekends ago at Hodaka Days, I am now yearning for an old Hodaka 125 to restore. The sickness never seems to end.