You know you're getting Old(er)

In "making my rounds" of this and other online old bike forums, I find myself running across photos of bikes I have always wanted to own. In no particular order, and this is a VERY short part of a list that used to read more like a museum inventory...

Britten V1000


Triumph Blackbird


BSA Rocket III


Scott Flying Squirrel


Norton P11


Sunbeam S7


Vincent Black Lightning


Honda 250 6-cyl Hailwood replica


Maico 400


Yamaha YZ250



Anyway, as to the title of this thread, Lately I run across photos of some of these bikes, and while I still love and appreciate the bikes on my former "wish list", I just can't see spending the money it would take to acquire MOST of these, and I don't know how much actual seat time I'd get on one or all of them if I DID buy one or more...

I'll never be able to afford one, and it's probably THE MOST impractical of all of them, but the Britten will remain on my list till I die.

I believe I'd get the most seat time on a Triumph Blackbird.

I DEFINITELY want and am actually in a position to buy an Indian FTR, and would ride it regularly.

The rest are just memories that would be impractical at this stage...

grandpaul said:

In "making my rounds" of this and other online old bike forums, I find myself running across photos of bikes I have always wanted to own. In no particular order, and this is a VERY short part of a list that used to read more like a museum inventory...

Britten V1000
View attachment 115885

Triumph Blackbird
View attachment 115886

BSA Rocket III
View attachment 115887

Scott Flying Squirrel
View attachment 115888

Norton P11
View attachment 115889

Sunbeam S7
View attachment 115890

Vincent Black Lightning
View attachment 115891

Honda 250 6-cyl Hailwood replica
View attachment 115892

Maico 400
View attachment 115893

Yamaha YZ250
View attachment 115894


Anyway, as to the title of this thread, Lately I run across photos of some of these bikes, and while I still love and appreciate the bikes on my former "wish list", I just can't see spending the money it would take to acquire MOST of these, and I don't know how much actual seat time I'd get on one or all of them if I DID buy one or more...

I'll never be able to afford one, and it's probably THE MOST impractical of all of them, but the Britten will remain on my list till I die.

I believe I'd get the most seat time on a Triumph Blackbird.

I DEFINITELY want and am actually in a position to buy an Indian FTR, and would ride it regularly.

The rest are just memories that would be impractical at this stage...

Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with dreaming...

I’ve never heard of a Triumph Blackbird - I wonder what my Blackbird forum will make of it?

Nice list.

The Britten is one of the ALL TIME great looking motorcycles..
Saw one at Guggenheim when it was in Vegas.

More than the motorcycle itself to me is the Britten’s story . If I understand it correctly it was largely designed and built from scratch- including the engine, by one man and he beat the factory teams .
Top of my list is a Norton Featherbed International followed by a Vincent Rapide or Shadow . The Honda RC 166 is , to me , the most amazing motorcycle ever built so one of the authentic replicas would be nice .

MichaelB said:

Nice list.
The Britten is one of the ALL TIME great looking motorcycles..
Saw one at Guggenheim when it was in Vegas.

Click to expand...

I heard, watched, and FELT one doing a few parade laps in 2008 at the Sandia Classic in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2008.

THE ENTIRE PROPERTY woke up when the engine fired up in the pits. The rider's parade laps were faster than anything on the track that weekend (AHRMA vintage stuff).

I was between my practice and race, and got a decent seat in the stands about 3 rows back; my chest was shaking violently as it flew past. AMAZING machine; yes, HAND CAST cases, and totally "bespoke" (as the kids like to say). Hand-built World-Beater.

RIP John Britten, passed WAY too young...

A75 and P11 please.

As a spotty yoof on a C15, (1974ish) I did the RAC/ACU rider training on Sunday mornings. One of the instructors had a new 850 Commando and another had an A75. At the end of the road riding part, and on the way back to the training base in the centre of an industrial estate, they would let rip. Most impressive. Confirmed my desire for a Norton. Succeeded in that acquisition a few years on, and still want an A75.

Flatspot said:

I’ve never heard of a Triumph Blackbird - I wonder what my Blackbird forum will make of it?

Click to expand...

Out one day many years ago me on my mk2a and my mate on a t140
An old boy walks up and tells us he used to have a "triumph bluebird "
We both said no you mean a thunderbird
No he said it was a bluebird ,you 2 are too young to know about it but I had a triumph bluebird!!

baz said:

Out one day many years ago me on my mk2a and my mate on a t140
An old boy walks up and tells us he used to have a "triumph bluebird "
We both said no you mean a thunderbird
No he said it was a bluebird ,you 2 are too young to know about it but I had a triumph bluebird!!

Click to expand...

One of the popular color options was Shell Blue (I believe), later was Kingfisher Blue (darker).
So, entirely likely.

And a little bit more about the Blackbird

You know when you getting old(er) when you stop riding and only dream about being on the bike, but I am happy I still have my dream bike and built my way for me, my Norton and happy with my last new bike my 2016 Thruxton 1200S and hopefully they keep me amused till its time to drop off the planet.
My 2006 Honda CRF450X is the best dirt bike I have had in the 50 + years of riding dirt bikes, makes me feel young when trashing through the bush and climbing big hilly trails.

Ashley

grandpaul said:

In "making my rounds" of this and other online old bike forums, I find myself running across photos of bikes I have always wanted to own. In no particular order, and this is a VERY short part of a list that used to read more like a museum inventory...

Britten V1000
View attachment 115885

Triumph Blackbird
View attachment 115886

BSA Rocket III
View attachment 115887

Scott Flying Squirrel
View attachment 115888

Norton P11
View attachment 115889

Sunbeam S7
View attachment 115890

Vincent Black Lightning
View attachment 115891

Honda 250 6-cyl Hailwood replica
View attachment 115892

Maico 400
View attachment 115893

Yamaha YZ250
View attachment 115894


Anyway, as to the title of this thread, Lately I run across photos of some of these bikes, and while I still love and appreciate the bikes on my former "wish list", I just can't see spending the money it would take to acquire MOST of these, and I don't know how much actual seat time I'd get on one or all of them if I DID buy one or more...

I'll never be able to afford one, and it's probably THE MOST impractical of all of them, but the Britten will remain on my list till I die.

I believe I'd get the most seat time on a Triumph Blackbird.

I DEFINITELY want and am actually in a position to buy an Indian FTR, and would ride it regularly.

The rest are just memories that would be impractical at this stage...

Click to expand...

I'll deliver it at Thanksgiving.

concours said:

View attachment 116276

Click to expand...

I want the dirt track racer replica with high scrambler pipes on one side.

I am in no position to buy a $10K motorcycle though, so that rules out almost everything out there...

I have never owned a new motorcycle, only ever old ones. If I bought a new one, a few minutes later it would be old.

UPDATE!!!!

While it's not a classic air-cooled 70s bike, it IS a Yamaha YZ250, and it IS yellow! It was a deal I couldn't refuse, and the seller drove up from the valley to deliver it to me!



So now we have three 250cc+ dirt bikes, all 3 with lights (available, in boxes) and titles to be street legal for hooliganisms...

This thing is a wild beast and wants to hurt you if you aren't careful with your right hand!