money talks, bs walks

84ok said:

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23600/#/w0=list&m0=0&aa0=29&MR0_length=10

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I have courted a few Bruffs at different times. Each time I either couldn't quite afford it, or justify it, or both. I don't have to worry about it these days though as they are FIRMLY out of reach !!

I look at those collector bikes with glancing interest knowing most of them will never be used. The last Vincent rally I attended was a bit of an eye opener. Along with two friends also on Vincents, we rode 1100 miles to the Rally. There were 22 Vincents at the Rally, many of them from close by the Rally, perhaps 100-300 miles away.
On the morning of departure, 19 Vincents were loaded into trailers for the trip home. The only bikes ridden home were our 3.
At least some of the bikes trailered in did get ridden on the short Rally rides, though many ran like crap even though they looked like a million bucks compared to our grimy bikes.
It seems that many of these expensive collector bikes such as the Broughs and Series A twin Vincents don't even get used for short Rally rides. They just sit unused year after year in a Museum or collectors show room somewhere. Kind of like a cemetery for motorcycles.
On top of that, I can't imagine parking a $440,000 motorcycle outside a coffee shop or motel room while out on a big tour.

There, we don't have to feel bad that they are unaffordable!

Those Broughs look like rusted, rotted piles of junk to me
but there are obviously others who can see value in them.

I do recommend clicking on the "VIEW E-CATALOGUE" link , there are a lot of
cool old bikes listed and some really good information on them.

noo record
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23600/lot/296/

My brother has been restoring an old speedway sidecar outfit that has a 1000cc JAP engine. He has also built several Vincent outfits. The JAP engined outfit is faster than any of the Vincents, however it is twice the trouble. I cannot believe that a 20s engine is faster than a 50s engine of the same type and capacity - that is how it is.

Mark said:

Those Broughs look like rusted, rotted piles of junk to me
but there are obviously others who can see value in them.

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I've turned rusted piles of junk into fairly decent running bikes plenty of times.

grandpaul
if you can make that tank hold fuel, you are not just the greatest motorcycle mechanic ever........ you are a miracle worker.

Mark said:

if you can make that tank hold fuel, you are not just the greatest motorcycle mechanic ever........ you are a miracle worker.

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I can't, but I know some people who can.

84ok said:

noo record
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23600/lot/296/

Click to expand...

try;

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23600/# ... _length=10

There are a few old guys who get around our area in a group - all riding beautiful classic bikes. I was in Glenrowan a few years ago and they were there. I watched one of those old snoozers walk up to a concours SS100 Brough Superior and kick-start it. To a disinterested onlooker, it might have looked like just another old bike. They are still out there.

I had to laugh. Four of those fellas were at an historic meeting at Winton with their beautiful bikes a few years ago and I was talking to them. They told me they'd had a look at the historic racers and were horrified. Frankly, I don't blame them.