Your favorite Cruiser Motorcycle?

In 1966, there was a re-skinning, and the 1965 Belvedere I Super Stock ($4671) was dropped. As a consolation, the top-of-the-line Satellite model got an optional Street Hemi -- for $1105 extra, with quarter miles in 14.5 seconds and 0-60 in 7. The Street Hemi ihad two Carter AFBs (4 barrels each) with 10.25:1 compression. Styling for the 66 was clean, and sleek. The rear bumper was smooth, with no cut outs for lights (just for the license plate). Taillights were sectioned horizontally. The front end grill work was softened a bit, with the 4 section grill changed to that of horizontal slats (tiered from the middle out). The 66 Satellite hardtop coupe lists for $2695.


426ci, 365hp off the floor.
 
I envy all of you who lived through the muscle car era. I was there, but didn't know.

munk
 
As with current firearms, we're really in another "Golden Age" if we recognize it. :)

Current models outperform that with better gas mileage.

John
 
Weren,t some Vincents nicknamed Black Widows or Widow makers ?

My Norton had no such claim to fame . The man who designed the charging system was called the "Prince of Darkness " Some of these bikes had smaller daytime running lights so you could charge your battery to run your main headlight at night . There was good reason there was no electric start as the charging system couldn,t handle a battery big enough to run the electric starter .
Another little nasty habit this ride had was a kicker that would catapult you through the air to land in front of your motorcyle if you short stroked it . Yes sir we are talking a two cylinder biker launcher . It was also something called positive ground which would smoke your wires if you put an external charger on it the wrong way .
On the plus side this motorcycle could almost stay upright by itself . I once took a curve way too fast when I was eluding the competition . That rear wheel started skidding big time and I was just starting to say Oh S--- when that bike righted itself . We can say it is because I didn,t panic and freeze up . It just didn,t feel that way . That bike just pulled itself out of the skid and started tracking like it should .; I was told it may be due to the type of frame it had . "Feather bed"
 
Kismet said:
In 1966, there was a re-skinning, and the 1965 Belvedere I Super Stock ($4671) was dropped. As a consolation, the top-of-the-line Satellite model got an optional Street Hemi -- for $1105 extra, with quarter miles in 14.5 seconds and 0-60 in 7. The Street Hemi ihad two Carter AFBs (4 barrels each) with 10.25:1 compression. Styling for the 66 was clean, and sleek. The rear bumper was smooth, with no cut outs for lights (just for the license plate). Taillights were sectioned horizontally. The front end grill work was softened a bit, with the 4 section grill changed to that of horizontal slats (tiered from the middle out). The 66 Satellite hardtop coupe lists for $2695.


426ci, 365hp off the floor.
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Lets see.......$2695 plus $1105 = $3800. In todays dollars that would be $23,316. Still a bargain, me thinks. Of course if you figure in the gas mileage it would cost you $114,125 for the first year of ownership. :D
 
Kevin the grey said:
Weren,t some Vincents nicknamed Black Widows or Widow makers ?
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There were more colorful and worse names fro the "Vin."

Kevin the grey said:
Another little nasty habit this ride had was a kicker that would catapult you through the air to land in front of your motorcyle if you short stroked it . Yes sir we are talking a two cylinder biker launcher.
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Same with the Vincent. It did have a compression release for its 998cc's. But stroke it wrong and you were laying on the ground on the other side. Evil! I used to keep it in my basement, but then it would loft me into the low ceiling. I ALWAYS put on my helmet BEFORE trying to start it.

Also had the nasty habit (anyone else experienced this?) of being harder to start the more people watching.

One day at "Al Rodi's Motorcycle Shop" it took 78, SEVENTY-Freaking-EIGHT kicks to start it. I know because my "friends" counted (in unison) while I tried to start it!

EVIL!

BTW since the Black Shadow did not come with aircleaners (just little bell mouths leading into the carbs) getting grit in the carb slides was a given. It just plain WAS going to stick open sometimes. Usually under full acceleration!

I came up with a new kill swtch that was VERY effective after finding out that the little button kill switch did not work at high revs. The switch I put on it killed the power to the coil, not just a momentary short like the dammned button.

EVIL!

Now I want a Brough SS100 Superior.

http://www.carrickdesign.co.uk/Brough/Main.htm

Yeah, right.
 
Somehow those old designs just look more like motorcycles . When I was a kid a neighbor had a Norton 850 . It was the local alarm clock as this guy left early in the morning . Most people complained about the noise . Somehow that roar dragged me outa bed . I had my nose pressed to the window as the bike rumbled . I would watch in appreciation as the guy zippered up the old jacket and strapped on his helmet .

As for air cleaners ? My Norton had those two trumpet bell mouths as well . I never thought about a lack of air filters . I am convinced though that those bell mouths made the bike sound all the better . Did you ever notice that a Norton had a bit sweeter sound than some rides ? I think that those funnels acted like a trumpet in reverse . Kind of like a giant taking a huge breath before blowing down the three little pigs house ! !
I know , I know I,m mixing up my fairy tales . I,ve gotta stop drinking imported and domestic beer out of the same glass ! L:O:L
 
Kevin the grey said:
Somehow those old designs just look more like motorcycles .
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Yeah, they did.

Kevin the grey said:
As for air cleaners ? My Norton had those two trumpet bell mouths as well . I never thought about a lack of air filters . I am convinced though that those bell mouths made the bike sound all the better . Did you ever notice that a Norton had a bit sweeter sound than some rides ? I think that those funnels acted like a trumpet in reverse . Kind of like a giant taking a huge breath before blowing down the three little pigs house ! ! L:O:L
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I think that you are right about the sound as well. And I liked the look of those bell mouths. As I romanticize the old scoots, I still remember the hassles.

Well, am now working on getting the Mad Max Cossack titled. Just picked it up at the seaport in Brunswick Ga on Monday. Weird and "unspoilt by progress." The Brits have a real fondness for old technology and rat bikes.

This Monster Cossack is one of the weirdest examples I have ever seen. Ebay link below, my pictures and road report to come.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4567703079&indexURL=3#ebayphotohosting0
 
Kismet said:
How did you get it shipped?

Is it as neat as it appears in the pictures?
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I had it shipped by Wallenius & Wilhelmsen shipping line. They carry thousands of cars. The type shipping is called, "RoRo" for "roll on -- roll off."

The Monster spent two weeks in the hold of the Vessel Honor amongst brand new Jaguars and Minis. I am sure they had a lot to talk about.

Cost me $1050. Which seems fair. Other prices were as much as three times that amount.

It IS really neat! Big and heavy, but the Reliant auto engine has a lot of power. Got to be careful with the stopping distance. The sidecar brake needs adjusting.

The sidecar is covered with naugahyde or something like it. The seller is getting in touch with the previous owner and promises to also get in touch with the guy who put this together.

I am very happy with this. Looks like it could be reliable, as much as any British old technology can be.

"UNSPOILT BY PROGRESS"
 
You know we could see the sidecar a lot better if that tank wasn,t in the way . That looks to be a ten gallon tank ! That thing would need a kick start for the kick start ! Sounds like a reasonable price for a unique motorcycle like that . If it broke the bank you could always live in the sidecar . That looks like its big enough to have an address all its own ! I think we all eagerly await your road report .
 
Live in the sidecar! Yeah. It does have a skylight under the luggage rack, in front of the spare tyre ("tar" as we say in the South).

Been riding around in it today. Anne and I have our Romanian Tanker/Paratrooper cloth helmets.... Really!

Somewhat of a disadvantage in having poor brakes and the horn doesn't work. Should have one or the other in operation! Need one of those bumper stickers that says, "Horn Broke Watch for Finger."

Actually I am a very careful driver/rider. "There are old motorcycle riders and there are bold motorcycle riders, but there are no BOLD, OLD motorcycle riders."

I will get the brakes working VERY well before I do much more riding. And the horn.
 
Tell us about the Reliant engine Bill. Is it air cooled, water cooled? How many cylinders etc?

Were the engines used in a small car or strictly for cycles?
Would a Volvo 4 cylinder fit on the frame with room enough for a tranny?:thumbup: :D :cool:
 
Yvsa said:
Tell us about the Reliant engine Bill. Is it air cooled, water cooled? How many cylinders etc?

Were the engines used in a small car or strictly for cycles?
Would a Volvo 4 cylinder fit on the frame with room enough for a tranny?:thumbup: :D :cool:
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The engine is a watercooled (radiator in the front of the sidecar); four cylinder inline. Overhead valves, single carb.

Probably came from a Reliant Robin three wheel automobile, these engines were not designed for motorcycles. The seller, who is incredibly helpful, says that this engine was rebuilt before installing. It starts easily (manual choke), and runs very smoothly. Should be quite reliable. (I hope).

There are aftermarket parts that will boost the engine to over 100hp. Don't know what it outs out now, but it is quite powerful. Burns no oil. Good enough for me. Will easily keep up with traffic though I have not taken it on an expressway and probably won't until I get the brakes working better.

Seller says it will criuse all day at 70mph. He had just taken it on a 250 mile trip before I bought it. No problems. He loads the car with camping gear. The rig is well known by the campers.

I think that it has an aluminum block. Looks about the size of a Volvo engine. Volvo would probably fit.
 
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