If I only had the budget I would probably go for a Moto Guzzi V7 or a Triumph Thruxton.
The Guzzi comes in a 70's look, is well balanced and has a shaft drive, while the Thrux offers more of a classic 60's cafe racer look.
Friday, July 31, 2009
You can't always get what you want
I am a big fan of classic naked bikes of the 60's and 70's, and also fancy cafe racers. Some nice pics of this adorable motorcycle species can be found here.
If I only had the budget I would probably go for a Moto Guzzi V7 or a Triumph Thruxton.
The Guzzi comes in a 70's look, is well balanced and has a shaft drive, while the Thrux offers more of a classic 60's cafe racer look.
If I only had the budget I would probably go for a Moto Guzzi V7 or a Triumph Thruxton.
The Guzzi comes in a 70's look, is well balanced and has a shaft drive, while the Thrux offers more of a classic 60's cafe racer look.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Shopping for a bike
What do I want from a beginner bike? It would have to be cheap, and ready to ride, between 400 and 800cc, and an electric starter would be a nice plus. It doesn't have to be a beauty. So I browsed the usual suspects (Craigslist, Kijiji, Buy and Sell) to see what's out there for 2,000 to 3,000 bucks.
I came across a 1979 Honda CB400 for 2,000$. The owner kept her in a shack, and although he claimed to be working in a repair shop the bike was rather in an average shape. Nevertheless, I got her kick-started on the first try, and the bike sounded healthy. But too much investment would have to be made before she would be street-safe. Hence I checked out another bike in Olds, a 1982 Honda CB650. She looked o.k., was even equipped with an electric starter, but she was leaking oil, and certainly not worth the asking price of 2,500$. Next I had a look at a 2002 Suzuki GS500E, which seemed to have been stored outdoors for the better part of her life. The poor thing was rusty and looked twice her age. Well, that certainly explains the asking price of only 2,200$.
I came across a 1979 Honda CB400 for 2,000$. The owner kept her in a shack, and although he claimed to be working in a repair shop the bike was rather in an average shape. Nevertheless, I got her kick-started on the first try, and the bike sounded healthy. But too much investment would have to be made before she would be street-safe. Hence I checked out another bike in Olds, a 1982 Honda CB650. She looked o.k., was even equipped with an electric starter, but she was leaking oil, and certainly not worth the asking price of 2,500$. Next I had a look at a 2002 Suzuki GS500E, which seemed to have been stored outdoors for the better part of her life. The poor thing was rusty and looked twice her age. Well, that certainly explains the asking price of only 2,200$.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome!
I am a German Expat, currently residing in Alberta (moved to BC in spring 2010), Canada, and not a native speaker. Let this be my advance excuse for improper use of the English language, any awkward grammar, wrong punctuation and typos.
I shop for a living (a profession commonly known as purchasing management), or so I did before I got pink-slipped. My new found freedom (a.k.a. unemployment) gave me a lot to think about. I spent some time traveling, picked up canoeing and read a lot. Yet, I had the feeling that something was missing in my life, but I could not put a finger on it, until I suddenly noticed that every passing motorcycle would cause a certain twitch in my right hand like pulling a virtual throttle. Friends of mine who only recently picked up motorcycling themselves fueled my desire, and now, after eleven years of motorcycle abstinence, I am back on the road on two wheels.
This is my diary dedicated to motorcycle memories, endeavors and encounters, misfortunes and adventures, oh... and two-wheelers, of course.
I shop for a living (a profession commonly known as purchasing management), or so I did before I got pink-slipped. My new found freedom (a.k.a. unemployment) gave me a lot to think about. I spent some time traveling, picked up canoeing and read a lot. Yet, I had the feeling that something was missing in my life, but I could not put a finger on it, until I suddenly noticed that every passing motorcycle would cause a certain twitch in my right hand like pulling a virtual throttle. Friends of mine who only recently picked up motorcycling themselves fueled my desire, and now, after eleven years of motorcycle abstinence, I am back on the road on two wheels.
This is my diary dedicated to motorcycle memories, endeavors and encounters, misfortunes and adventures, oh... and two-wheelers, of course.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)