And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Had a '67 Lightning (bought new) while stationed in Key West. Great bike, relatively fast (in those days), the worst brakes when it rained. Didn't like the red paint so I painted it Hurst GTO gold. Rode it home from Key West to Trenton NJ, when tour was done. 3 days. Lots of stories on that trip. Put it on my parents porch while I spent 18 months in Greece. Came home, put fresh gas in it and a new battery and it fired right up.
Only BSA I owned was a 1962 star twin TT scrambler (think that's right). It was fast but a bit heavy like the 250 Honda scrambler I had. The first real scrambler I owned was the first DT1 Yamaha that came in 1968. Great bike, I actually still have it. Bubbarust
Bought one new in 1969. 250cc one lunger. Blew the engine outside Watertown South Dakota on my way to Grand Forks to build the new anti ballistic missle system at the air base. Had the engine repaired and the bike shipped to me. Living in a flea bag train station hotel in Grand Forks with some of the other workers. Some bastard stole the bike the first night it was there. Sherrif found it in a ditch 5 miles out of town. Sold the bike and bought a 1963 Volvo B210 that had been rolled and hit by a truck... $250. Drove that car tilll I got married. Bought the new wife a 9 passenger station wagon... I got a Bonneville.
Forgot to include the fastest bike that was an actual TT and road racer. I restored it back to specs it raced last in Daytona in 1969. It was a factory Harley 750cc KR flathead road racer. So damn fast it was scary! Unfortunately had a brain freeze and sold it at the Daytona bike show to a collector. Still cry about that. Bubbarust
Dad had an early 60's 500 cc Star twin that was his fair weather transportation to work for a number of years. It was nothing special, an economical means of transportation to work. It had a luggage rack with a milk crate attached to it. He rode it until Harley put an electric starter on the Duo-Glide Pan Head in 65. He rode that bike into the 80's where he parked it in the barn. In 2015 I gave it to my uncle who is still restoring the bike.
that is the signature look of an engine designed by Edward Turner. He designed engines for BSA, Triumph, Norton, Ariel.
ReplyDeleteHad a '67 Lightning (bought new) while stationed in Key West. Great bike, relatively fast (in those days), the worst brakes when it rained. Didn't like the red paint so I painted it Hurst GTO gold. Rode it home from Key West to Trenton NJ, when tour was done. 3 days. Lots of stories on that trip. Put it on my parents porch while I spent 18 months in Greece. Came home, put fresh gas in it and a new battery and it fired right up.
ReplyDeleteOnly BSA I owned was a 1962 star twin TT scrambler (think that's right).
DeleteIt was fast but a bit heavy like the 250 Honda scrambler I had. The first
real scrambler I owned was the first DT1 Yamaha that came in 1968.
Great bike, I actually still have it.
Bubbarust
I had a roomdog that would ride his 2 cycle dirt bike home to Michigan from Warner Robins GA.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBought one new in 1969. 250cc one lunger. Blew the engine outside Watertown South Dakota on my way to Grand Forks to build the new anti ballistic missle system at the air base. Had the engine repaired and the bike shipped to me. Living in a flea bag train station hotel in Grand Forks with some of the other workers. Some bastard stole the bike the first night it was there. Sherrif found it in a ditch 5 miles out of town. Sold the bike and bought a 1963 Volvo B210 that had been rolled and hit by a truck... $250. Drove that car tilll I got married. Bought the new wife a 9 passenger station wagon... I got a Bonneville.
ReplyDeleteForgot to include the fastest bike that was an actual TT and road racer.
ReplyDeleteI restored it back to specs it raced last in Daytona in 1969. It was a factory
Harley 750cc KR flathead road racer. So damn fast it was scary! Unfortunately
had a brain freeze and sold it at the Daytona bike show to a collector.
Still cry about that.
Bubbarust
Dad had an early 60's 500 cc Star twin that was his fair weather transportation to work for a number of years. It was nothing special, an economical means of transportation to work. It had a luggage rack with a milk crate attached to it. He rode it until Harley put an electric starter on the Duo-Glide Pan Head in 65. He rode that bike into the 80's where he parked it in the barn. In 2015 I gave it to my uncle who is still restoring the bike.
ReplyDeleteStill have a '68 250 Starfire. Needs some parts and work (damn, don't they always!) Dunno why I've hung on to it for so long.
ReplyDelete