This personal touch to our conversation is exactly what i hope to see ! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH !
Ash, i had no idea you were from the British Isles, the beauty of computers (as much as i disdain them) is we get to talk to people we never otherwise could/would have. Anybody remember the "penpal" days of yesteryear ?
The internet gives us a fine opporrtunity to get to know each other and let me say without the computer, it is entirely probable not all the people who attended 2009 VMD would have been present. Meeting everyone in person was a pleasure and a privilege.
So, having a first name, we can get to know each other just a little bit better, it gives familiarity to a quite otherwise sterile communication medium.
Wow, Ashimoto, i cannot imagne living in Great Britain in the 60's and 70's and riding a Japanese motorcycle *and* living to tell about it !
In the day, here in the US, many new young riders could only afford the Japanese offerings. Or, Dad's buying their son their first bike, did not want to spend the money a "real motorcycle" cost. And, most Japanese bikes were smaller, did not go as fast and had a 'safety' factor.
Here, in the US, during the 50's and 60's, the culture was, "real men rode real motorcycles." You were either a Harley man or you were still grieving Indian had died. Many US Indian riders moved over to a British machine after Indian died in 1953 because they would not switch to Harley and the displaced Indian-now British riders were held in nearly as much disdain as some Japanese rider/owners later experienced. But, being there is always new blood a comin' and new products usually mean improved product, the rise and success of the Japanese motorcycle industry is now history.
I grew up on Yamaha's, had a BSA in between and then went to to CB750-4779. After 4779 was stolen Aug.1971, tender age of 19, i was crushed for a month. No CB750's available to buy - new or used. I went without a bike til April 72, when i got a new Sunflake Orange K2 and it was out of the box, immediately different and not all in a good way. The K2 lacked the visceral nature of the 69, the exhaust was so quiet, the sounds of the engine operating were louder than the exhaust.
I had purchased in high school a 1960 BSA Gold Star, which had seen it's better days and in 1972, at the Univ, i rode up on my XL250 and there was a 1959 Goldie parked, engine still warm ! WOW, was i stoked, somebody who not only owned a GS, but maybe could help me get mine together........ ! I read every magazine i could get and here in US, Sammy Tanner and Dick Mann raced Gold Stars and G50's, they were my heros, and any older motorcyclist one talked to was more than skeptical of the "Jap crap." So after, my blue-green 4779 was stolen, and the pipes almost immediately rotted out on the K2 and it was not as quick and handled not quite as well, my friend with the 59 Gold Star showed me his 'other' motorcycle - a 71 Combat Commando. I was smitten. I had a replacement to my stolen 4779. I remember the Norton dealer would not take the K2 in on trade, i had to sell it outright, which was very easy and so soon became the proud new owner of a Livery Black Commando 850, April 1974 ! And i will say, i rode my Commando 6 years, 20,000 very nearly trouble free miles. Nothing went wrong, i could not attend to. Of course, teh Commando required regular maintainence - that was what all "real" motorcycle owners did. Who in their right mind would own a fairly maintainence free Japanese bike ?
And, Ash........ my dear old Dad and Mom managed their way through the Great Depression, so everything was repaired, time and again.
Nice to learn the story behind the computer name you use !
Now, i of all people should know this forum is for sandcast/k0 only........ so i shan't say any more. But, nice to hear a little bit about you, none the less !
And, in closing, i will have to disagree with my good mate, KP about his statement "no Brit bike of the day has held it's value like our sandies............" A 69 or 70 Velo Thruxton fetches a very pretty penny, if you can find one !
