What wins on Sunday sells on Monday is about people (sheeple), not the motorcycles specifically. Didn't mean to confuse the issue.There are lots of fallacies. The best motor in the best frame does not necessarily create the best bike. You never know what will be good until you try it.
I have that magazine too. The Commando is closer to the H2 in accelleration than the Honda is to the Norton. Bob Braverman normally put fuel economy data in his road tests, but not that one. My neighbor, first name of Norton, who was also our Scoutmaster, for some reason let me ride his brand new early H2 when he got it. He was a really nice guy, but I've always questioned his judgement on that one. I was a Junior in High school, and didn't have a licence yet. At the time, some some of the local strawberry fields were being turned into an industrial park. The streets were in but not used on weekends. It stood up in the turn when I turned back on to our street. It stayed on track and unicycled through. That was luck not skill. His son was among the kids playing street baseball (when did you last see that?) who had to scatter, and ran to tell the tale. I wonder if Nort is still alive. Nort had a Bridgstone 350 and two smaller Bridgstone rotary twins. All "Scramblers".
I had one then, and now.I have that magazine too. The Commando is closer to the H2 in accelleration than the Honda is to the Norton. Bob Braverman normally put fuel economy data in his road tests, but not that one. My neighbor, first name of Norton, who was also our Scoutmaster, for some reason let me ride his brand new early H2 when he got it. He was a really nice guy, but I've always questioned his judgement on that one. I was a Junior in High school, and didn't have a licence yet. At the time, some some of the local strawberry fields were being turned into an industrial park. The streets were in but not used on weekends. It stood up in the turn when I turned back on to our street. It stayed on track and unicycled through. That was luck not skill. His son was among the kids playing street baseball (when did you last see that?) who had to scatter, and ran to tell the tale. I wonder if Nort is still alive. Nort had a Bridgstone 350 and two smaller Bridgstone rotary twins. All "Scramblers".
The TX750 in that test was a complete turd in performance. Who knew they would also be oil foaming counterbalancer strikes crankshaft exploding lemons.
In Australia, historic racing is run by sidecar guys. They write the rules. Some of them do not like trick frames. But to me trick frames are what road racing is all about. To me that Harris-framed Royal Enfield looks excellent. And the XR69 replica Suzukis are just lovely. If I was going to race seriously in classic events, I would buy one of those frames. The original XR69 which Graeme Crosby rode had a 6 speed close box, genuine race cams and a two-valve cylinder head. These days they have Katana engines and probably standard gearboxes and I don't know what cams. But there is opportunity there.
Converted road bikes don't make good race bikes.
Last time I watched sidecars live at Laguna Seca I didn't need glasses, and Wayne Rainey was still on the starting grid.
Race bikes with license plates don't make good street bikes either.
After riding a few modern bikes with decent stiff frames in the olden 80's and 90's days, my poor old P11 felt like riding a wet noodle. Now I don't notice it, but I'm not trying to impress myself with how cool I am anymore. I'm not cool. Mosty just grumpy and annoying.
Never raced on a circuit. My subconscious told me that was a ticket to an expensive divorce and a black hole to pour money into.
My brother registered this Yamaha TR2B in CA in the 70s or 80s. It didn't even have a hole in the case for a kick starter to stick out of. Push only. It was built and raced by Dan Hanebrink, we think. He definitely made the 16" magnesium wheels, disc brakes, etc. My brother bought it with a holed piston, got parts from the local dealer, and rode it some. It still had a tech sticker on it from some big race or other.
I think his oldest son put an RD350 engine in it and rode it to high school.
Nobody remembers what happened to it. It wasn't an ideal street bike. My brother used to say: "I think my 350 Yamaha can take your Z1. Maybe not out of the hole... Let me go get it" Truth is it was mostly frightening. It seized on hip out by El Toro Marine Air Station back when that area was all agricultural there were long straight roads where we would speed in a straight line. Long skid before he got the clutch in.
Looked at a GS1150 based dragster in that area last week for a friend. Hadn't been out there since probably 1983. The avocados have been banished and beige houses planted in their places.
I bought a trackmaster framed Trident and loved it on the street. I was going to change it to look like a tracker, but a pregnant wife along with a broken back changed my plans. It was sold for part of the roof and food.
The frame was kind of like a Featherbed. I had an Atlas at the time. Surprisingly the limited production Yamaha had a much more crude looking frame overall.Don't see that everyday. Nice looking fairing on those.
Picture reminded me that I had a mullet in the late 80's.
Kind of getting off track, but your smaller Bridgestone scrambler comment got my interest. Bought this one new in spring 1969 a 175 Hurricane Scrambler. Photo is a poloroid from that year. I was 16 and this was my third motorcycle. Cost $495 at the Two Cycle Shop in Spokane.Nort had a Bridgstone 350 and two smaller Bridgstone rotary twins. All "Scramblers".
My first bike was the Bridgestone 175 street version. Maybe '68.Kind of getting off track, but your smaller Bridgestone scrambler comment got my interest. Bought this one new in spring 1969 a 175 Hurricane Scrambler. Photo is a poloroid from that year. I was 16 and this was my third motorcycle. Cost $495 at the Two Cycle Shop in Spokane.
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The Bridgestone could walk away from a CL250 Honda. It had a strange rotary gearbox along with rotary valves. It could be a normal shifting 5 speed or a 4 speed that shifted from 4th to 1st by moving a lever on the engine case, not very useful.My first bike was the Bridgestone 175 street version. Maybe '68.
Fun bike. Rotary valves baby!
Superbike came later in the form of new '70 Commando!