Author Topic: New Member all the way from Zurich, Switzerland  (Read 1061 times)

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Offline Holdingfast

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New Member all the way from Zurich, Switzerland
« on: December 15, 2009, 03:41:04 PM »
Hi all!
I've been following what's going on here for a while, and now decided that it was time for me to step it up and sign on as a member.

I grew up in Switzerland then moved to New York City (High School, College) and then, long story short, ten years later, back to Switzerland.
Now I'm getting a Master in Fine Arts. (Too much information?)

Up until a few months ago I could have never imagined being this much into motorcycles - I've always been very much into bikes.. er.. with pedals... as in bicycles, but not so much into motorcycles. THAT changed after I got the chance to witness LUIGI TAVERI riding his (hand built) HONDA (replica of the machine he won 3 world champion titles with) on the local velodrome. Man. That was one of the most intense things I've witnessed and heard in my life. I was in a sort of positive shock. I was so incredibly impressed by that machine and all the other oldtimers that were on view that day...

Then I came upon MV Agusta and their incredibly beautiful bikes. Needless to say, I fell in love instantly.

Not knowing anything - and by that I mean NOTHING - I went to the library and got a great book on motorcyle engines and electronics. I guess you gotta start somewhere.  Realizing I could not afford an old MV for a while I started to look around for other options, which is when I found "Freezingprocess" cafe build thread. ( http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=38305.0 ) I was hooked on the CBs. Because I thought I'd have to start with a 125 ccm3 machine I almost bought my old roommate's Honda beater. But then luckily one day I walked into a motorcycle dealership near my house and even though they only have Italian bikes (by coincidence MV Agustas as well!) the guy was really helpful and told me not to be scared of "bigger" bikes. So immediately I went on the web and found a nice Honda CB550 K, which is sort of in my price range.

So now I'm about to go to check her out for the first time. Luckily my gf's dad knows a lot about motorcycles (He's got a bunch of Triumphs) and he agreed to come with me to check'er out. It sounds like a pretty decent deal, yet it's still a lot of money for me but what can I say.. the fire's been lit. It's not a barn-bike, that's for sure, so I'm hoping I wont have to open up the engine even though she's covered a LOT of kilometers. Though thanks to this Forum I really feel confident that I could get anything accomplished - besides spending cash, haha.

But of course there are other issues to be figured out. But one after the other.. right?

I hope to start my own rebuild/cafe post soon!

cheers, and I'm so excited to be part of this forum where there's so much to learn!

Offline j-conn

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Re: New Member all the way from Zurich, Switzerland
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2009, 03:56:33 PM »
welcome!!!

i will be in lauterbrunnen in the summer of 2010!!!
cannot wait.

of course you know you need to post pictures...
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Online SteveD CB500F

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Re: New Member all the way from Zurich, Switzerland
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2009, 01:42:31 PM »
Hi

Saw the original Taveri bike on display at Spa earlier this year - I was there with Phil Read (I do his website www.philread.org)

Phil and Ago are trying to launch a parade "team" with a couple of modern MV replicas (1000F4 dressed up as a 60's racer) - see site for details of European dates for 2010

Steve
« Last Edit: December 16, 2009, 11:34:33 PM by SteveD CB500F »
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: New Member all the way from Zurich, Switzerland
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2009, 04:10:33 PM »
Welcome from NY. Your addiction has begun. You came to the right place.
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But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

Offline Holdingfast

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Re: New Member all the way from Zurich, Switzerland
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2009, 10:18:56 AM »
welcome!!!

i will be in lauterbrunnen in the summer of 2010!!!
cannot wait.

of course you know you need to post pictures...

hey, yeah, i ll post pics, asap. tomorrow's the big day. Or at least the first encounter. But if all goes well i should get it first thing in the new year. stupid question. whats in lauterbrunnen? something motorcycle related or just you being in lauterbrunnen? either way: awesome!

Offline Holdingfast

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Re: New Member all the way from Zurich, Switzerland
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2009, 10:21:41 AM »
Phil and Ago are trying to launch a parade "team" with a couple of modern MV replicas (1000F4 dressed up as a 60's racer) - see site for details of European dates for 2010

ough, that  sounds über-intresting! I can't imagine what an f4 dressed up as a 60's racer would look like.

ps, hey SteveD do you by any chance know what's happening with MV now that HD is selling them? Sounds like some people are welcoming the split from HD..?

Online SteveD CB500F

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Re: New Member all the way from Zurich, Switzerland
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2009, 03:23:57 AM »
I didn't know that HD were selling MV  ??? They've only just bought them!

Mind you, what with casting Buell adrift, I guess it's the next step to saving their company from the crunch.

Would our American cousins let HD go to the wall? (now there's a question...)

The replicas are built by an ex-race team group - I don't know their connection with the MV factory, other than that they get the donor bikes from the of course!

I read this week that Ago is lining up to be part of Moto2 so maybe he won't have time for this parade stuff anyway (?)
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Offline Holdingfast

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Re: New Member all the way from Zurich, Switzerland
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2009, 09:22:31 AM »
Here, as quoted from www.thekneeslider.com

"The company plans to discontinue its Buell product line and sell its MV Agusta unit, essentially exiting the sport bike market. The fact is we must focus both our effort and our investment on the Harley-Davidson brand, as we believe this provides an optimal path to sustained, meaningful long-term growth," CEO Keith Wandell said in the release."

here's the whole story:  The Kneeslider

so thurr you go..

Can't wait to see those bikes! I'm sure those'll be very interesting.