Topic: Hardcore riding back in the day

[CoachDoc]

I found this picture yesterday, and it brought a smile to my face. In the Summer of 1975 my 550 (same one I still have) was a year old and I had waited impatiently through the LONG winter in the Finger Lakes region of N.Y. state to be able to get back on the bike. Come May, the weather was warming up but I tore up a knee and had to have the old school ACL surgery, which back then meant 8 weeks post-op in an ankle to groin plaster cast. Man, I was PISSED and determined to find a way to ride with that cast on. My solution was to use electrical tape to connect the blade of a putter to the shift lever. I would start up in 2nd gear and upshift without using the clutch with my left hand. Not wanting to ruin my transmission I avoided no clutch downshifts, but I was able to take long rides in the beauty of that gorgeous area without coming out of 5th gear. When I stopped I used the putter with my right hand to get down to 2nd again. I did about 2000 miles that way, and my tank still has some little scratches where the top of the cast chewed it up a bit.

HOW ABOUT THAT HELMET??? They don't make 'em like that anymore, and it's probably a good thing....lol

[ekpent]

That brings back some good old memories.I also had knee surgery back in the mid 70's when I was was in High School and riding was a big deal for me.Had the same cast. My Mother crapped her pants when she heard me fire up my Suzuki 125 dirt bike and proceeded to drive out of the driveway to hit the trails. Had to ride standing up most of the time but was used to that anyway.Lost some paint on the side of the gas tank but the good times continued to roll with my friends.  Those were some great times back then to grow up.

[Dimitri13]

I bet that was one helluva sight.

[nancy]

Yep - had a snappy helmet just like that one...and even back then, I thought I looked a dork in it! I guess you are kitted out in standard safety-approved riding garb of the day? I used to wear levis, T-shirt and mocassins...and cos I thought I looked a dork in the lid,...I swapped it off when the olds weren't around for a woollen "beanie"...which I figured made me more of a chick magnet. Wrong.

[CoachDoc]

Yep - had a snappy helmet just like that one...and even back then, I thought I looked a dork in it! I guess you are kitted out in standard safety-approved riding garb of the day? I used to wear levis, T-shirt and mocassins...and cos I thought I looked a dork in the lid,...I swapped it off when the olds weren't around for a woollen "beanie"...which I figured made me more of a chick magnet. Wrong.

Yeah, "safety garb" back then was often tee shirt and shorts with flip flops. It's amazing I'm still in possession of all of my hide. Ah, youth!

[754]

 Bet I did at least 100 passes in the 1/8 mile with a cast from my knee down... good times..

[Dimitri13]

Bet I did at least 100 passes in the 1/8 mile with a cast from my knee down... good times..

Hahaha. Say bye to your aerodynamics.

[FuZZie]

Glad you saved that pic CoachDoc, what a great story too have!   

[fishslayeryo]

The story is as cool as the picture! Very cool...good stuff thanks for sharing!

[Frostyboy]

'75 hey? Did you buy that bike new Coach? Interesting topic for a thread, to find out who among us has had the same machine for the longest time. I've had my 550 for 22 years I think.
[Edit] I just found this so I'll shut up now  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=99872.0
How did you manage to keep your foot off the ground with that cast I wonder.
My ride in the 70s was this 500 Silver Bullet, I thought I might have to have surgery when it kicked back on me, my knee hit my chin, if I'd had my tongue out I would've bitten it off! 
This pic was before helmets were compulsory here. Looks a bit like I'm trying to impersonate Peter Fonda 

[mrjack55]

HOW ABOUT THAT HELMET??? They don't make 'em like that anymore, and it's probably a good thing....lol

Oh yes they do!  I think you need to get one for old time sake.  After all you still have the old girl, you really should have the helmet too.
http://www.lowbrowcustoms.com/index.php?pg=1&l=product_list&c=21

[ekpent]

Bell is making them again also in many colors etc. Old is new,Retro is in.  http://www.bellsports.com/powersports/helmets/street/open-face/custom-500

[Blueridgerunner]

Sad to read of the passing of Gary Nixon. If my old memory serves me right way back when, " He was racing for the AMA plate # 1 and was only something like a few points off taking the championship. Well I believe he was riding Triumphs on flat track and had a bad accident, the result was a broken back and an arm or two plus other bits.,

The story then is, he was placed in a pretty much full body cast (plaster) which was how it was apparently done then, obviously a long recovery period was ahead of him. To win the championship in a few weeks from then he had to race, so after a couple of weeks in plaster and the final race coming up a decision was made and no doctors were involved.

His team placed him in a bath to soak off the plaster, removed all the bits, took him to the track, sat him on the bike, taped his hand to the throttle which was wound round to full. All he had was an ignition kill button, push started him ready for his event, I can't remember if he placed or won but I do know he won the plate". That would have to be nearly 38-40 years ago and it has always stuck with me.

[754]

 OK, Gary win..!!

[bjatwood]

Bell is making them again also in many colors etc. Old is new,Retro is in.  http://www.bellsports.com/powersports/helmets/street/open-face/custom-500

I actually bought one of these helmets last summer. A Orange flake one to match my K3's color!
The shop owner came out to meet me when he saw me ride up on my K3. He says, I got jsut the helmet for you.
he showed it to me, and I bought it on the spot! 

[CoachDoc]

That's truly amazing to me about those helmets coming back- also funny because I was still using that helmet a decade or so ago and took all kinds of $hit about it back then. What goes around comes around, I guess.

Frosty, I just had to keep the leg out in front of me and then the rigidity of the cast kept my foot off the ground. They bent those casts about 20 degrees or so, and that shortened the distance a bit also. Looks like you and I shared the same hairstylist back in the day!