Hi
I don't get much chance to get my bikes out these days.
When they found out that I used to be a serious biker, two of my bosses invited me out for an after work ride. I was a little apprehensive about this because they both ride modern machines, a brand new BMW K1200 and a Triumph 955i ST, and my most modern machine is a, somewhat modified, 1980 Guzzi La Mans (I cant make the business case with the domestic authorities for a modern bike). My other road going bike is a 1948, Royal Enfield, Model G.
Being generally a solo rider these days, I was pleasantly surprised that the old Guzzi was able to hold its own in a rather quick ride around Warwickshire
. When push came to shove, the Guzzi was no match for the BMW, no surprises there, but I was able to out perform the Triumph, much to the surprise and disgruntlement of its owner
.
Why am I harping on about a Guzzi on a Honda site
? Well... I have been working on the family to justify a new bike for next summer. My argument was failing, as it does every year. So, I thought, what about making the argument for restoring the bits of bike that have been in the garage since we moved into the house in 1994. Perhaps old bikes aren't as bad as I thought they were compared to the new stuff. I'm still settling from the shock of the answer - "That'll be a good idea to put that old junk to some good use."
The old bits of bike is my old 1972 CB750K2. My pride and joy when I passed my bike test in 1976. It was of course a modern bike back then. It was the best I could afford at £625, only out performed by a few bikes, such as the Z1.
The bike deteriorated with age. It was last run in 1985, by that time a bit of a rat and not worth much. I dismantled it when I moved house in 1994. I don't know why I kept the heap of junk. It was my first propper bike and it never let me down when I used it.
I've inspected the bike and its well worth restoring to its former glory. I'm short of a few bits; some of which; like exhausts, seat and mud guards, which were replaced by non standard, performance, items, when that seemed good at the time; appear to be available new. Other bits, like the missing top Yolk, appear to be as rare as rocking horse manure. What happened to all of those bikes? There were thousands of them about in their day. Surely they all have not all ended up stored in the back of garrages? Its easier to find bits for my old Enfield.
No doubt, I'm going to need a few bits and pieces over the restoration, hopefully I may find a few through this forum.
