Yea I do remember the HD-Aero stroker trail bikes of the day but don't remember them being too popular es'pesh when there were DT's , TS's and KE's around at same time .. 

250 trail '75 I think .. 

Beautiful 350 Aermacchi caff racer .. 

Yea I do remember the HD-Aero stroker trail bikes of the day but don't remember them being too popular es'pesh when there were DT's , TS's and KE's around at same time .. 
250 trail '75 I think .. 
Beautiful 350 Aermacchi caff racer .. 

Everyone talks sh*t about AMF, but they saved Harley.

https://raresportbikesforsale.com/featured-listing-2004-moto-guzzi-mgs-01-corsa/

3 hours ago, mogandave said:

Everyone talks sh*t about AMF, but they saved Harley.

And raped them.

Their early to mid 70's bikes made the worst of British production look stunning in comparison.

Rusting, peeling paintwork, leaking oil, and that's before leaving a showroom floor.......

12 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

250 trail '75 I think .. 

With a sloppy wishy washy kick start return spring....

 

With a sloppy wishy washy kick start return spring....
 

Only ever saw one in a showroom in Tooting but never on the road. Not impressed!



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With a sloppy wishy washy kick start return spring....
 

Contrary to popular belief, quality turned to crap and they were going broke before AMF took over.

They pumped in the capital and and turned the quality around before the restructuring. They just got spread too thin.

Bike porn, or a Big Mama in a bikini.

A Munch Mammoth TTS, a bike with an NSU 1200 cc car engine, a frame was based on the Norton Featherbed, it weighed 650lb.

Built in 1968, it could do 100 mph.

Remember seeing, I think it was  the BMF bike rally at Peterborough, a Sarb 96 a, 3 cylinder 2 stroke engine, in a Norton Featherbed frame the guy made a good job of it a one off,

 

Have seen a Relient, aka plastic pig engine in a Featherbed frame.   

1 hour ago, mogandave said:

 

Contrary to popular belief, quality turned to crap and they were going broke before AMF took over.

They pumped in the capital and and turned the quality around before the restructuring. They just got spread too thin.

 

No.

I have studied the history. I have the books here to prove it.

Hardback industry tomes by the engineers and designers and family directors.

You are correct in they were going broke and AMF bought them out and saved their bacon.

You are incorrect that quality was crap before AMF took over.

They were still made to a high standard, as good as could be, on antiquated machine tools and jigs & fixtures (very much like the British industry at the time), and had a small highly dedicated, skillful, proud workforce.

When AMF came in it corresponded with the advent of Union Power, outside purchasing,  and we all know how that went in the 70's in the West.

You are also incorrect that they pumped in the capital. Yes to save the company in the beginning, but no, to massive investment for the future.

Buying Aermacchi does'nt count.

2 hours ago, mogandave said:

Contrary to popular belief, quality turned to crap and they were going broke before AMF took over.
They pumped in the capital and and turned the quality around before the restructuring. They just got spread too thin.

 

You still see Harleys - Flatheads, Knucks, Pans, Shovels everywhere in N. America.

I highly doubt that you will see Japanese bikes of the same age still riding around.

They were built to last, and when the time came, to be rebuilt. All without needing much specialized tooling. Micrometer with stand, feeler gauges, torque wrench.

And last they did ...

Here is a round the world 1972 Shovel - with over 150,000 MILES

https://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/inspiring-story-dave-barr-an-amputee-motorcyclist-who-rides-around-world

 

4 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

With a sloppy wishy washy kick start return spring....

Well spotted Guzz' I hadn't noticed that .. Have a Morini Balbiero 250 racer complete with gear driven cam' for spotting that ..

2 hours ago, kickstart said:

Bike porn, or a Big Mama in a bikini.

A Munch Mammoth TTS, a bike with an NSU 1200 cc car engine, a frame was based on the Norton Featherbed, it weighed 650lb.

Built in 1968, it could do 100 mph

Yes Sir I remember the MM early 70's with that bolt upright engine .. It might well have been the most powerful and fastest bike you could buy at the time but t'was a long time ago .. Functional is maybe best how the styling is described .. 

Or a 1962 Pan

https://advrider.com/f/threads/the-wrong-way-round-on-a-chopper.462017/

PS - no girls riding CRF's were injured in the posting of these RTW HD's

 

 

No.
I have studied the history. I have the books here to prove it.
Hardback industry tomes by the engineers and designers and family directors.
You are correct in they were going broke and AMF bought them out and saved their bacon.
You are incorrect that quality was crap before AMF took over.
They were still made to a high standard, as good as could be, on antiquated machine tools and jigs & fixtures (very much like the British industry at the time), and had a small highly dedicated, skillful, proud workforce.
When AMF came in it corresponded with the advent of Union Power, outside purchasing,  and we all know how that went in the 70's in the West.
You are also incorrect that they pumped in the capital. Yes to save the company in the beginning, but no, to massive investment for the future.
Buying Aermacchi does'nt count.

As good as could be on antiquated equipment indeed. By the early ‘60s the dealers had to wipe the oil up from under the bikes every morning.

They did have dedicated, high-skilled work force, but it was highly paid, and anything but small.

I’m not sure what you consider significant capital, but AMF opened the York plant and filled it with all new state of the art equipment and tooling, cut direct labor by almost 50% while increasing production. Unfortunately, labor cuts did generate a lot of animosity and quality issues, but the company was pretty much turned around by the time of the takeover.

It is worth noting that some of the most popular models of the ‘80s & & ‘90s were designed using AMF funding.

It is also worth noting a year or two after the takeover huge tariffs were imposed on bikes over 400 cc imported into the US.

I don’t doubt Willy G. tells the story differently, and to be fair, his design work had a lot to do with the turnaround, but much of that was done during the AMF era.

I love manufacturing, and would really be interested in the titles you have read.

Incidentally I worked for one of the largest employers in Milwaukee (JCI) for over 20 years and have met engineers from both HD & AMF.

 

Well spotted Guzz' I hadn't noticed that .. Have a Morini Balbiero 250 racer complete with gear driven cam' for spotting that ..

Magnificent!

Just imagine today, bean counters having a fit seeing that.

"For the love of God man, we could fit a chain and sprockets in there for a 20th of the price, nay a 50th. Are you stark raving mad Mr Engineer?".........

 

 

 

 

and would really be interested in the titles you have read.

Will have a look for you.

 

It is worth noting that some of the most popular models of the ‘80s & & ‘90s were designed using AMF funding

Will double check on that one.

I thought by the time the Evo was released in 84, THE BIKE or rather THE ENGINE that changed HD's fortunes, the HD management buy out had already happened. Could be wrong. Will check when i have some time.

 

Busy as hell at the mo, preparing for visitors for the New Year, fixing gardening equipment (gosh Chinese 4.5hp 4 stroke engines are so much fun.....), prepping my Yamaha trials bikes for me and my son (one month behind schedule) and working on my Triumph - giving her some love, new petrol tank, new paint job, different this, different that, re-magnetizing the magneto, a few machined brass parts - becoming a bit of a brass tart.... all for her 40th birthday/anniversary next April....

 

Speed costs money.

How fast can i go?

How much money have you got?

 

 

 

Magnificent!

Just imagine today, bean counters having a fit seeing that.

"For the love of God man, we could fit a chain and sprockets in there for a 20th of the price, nay a 50th. Are you stark raving mad Mr Engineer?".........

 

 

 

Hahahaha yeah gear driven cam drives are pretty much bullet proof though do require a lot of precision engineering over chain's and sprockets before the toothed belt became the most cost effective method of OHC drive which is ultimately dictated by the accountants .. Ettore Bugatti was maybe one of the most extreme exponents of the art of fantastic over engineering against what the bank were telling him and ultimately went bust refusing to compromise his principles ( if you never seen a 30's Bugatti lump they are worth a look as they could pass as a work of art .. 1930 type 46 a good example ) .. In the auto world they are still used Honda S2000 and some Ferrari V8's being 2 that come to mind and in the autosport world the Cosworth DFV V8 which was as bullet proof a racing engine you will find used them .. 

Ducardi's mega buck Desmosedici from the mid 2000's .. 

A gorgeous little 125 Benelli ..

Cosworth V8 ..

50's NSU double bevel shaft .. 

30's Italian Fusi .. Check out the depth of paint on the oil tank .. 

 

6 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Ducardi's mega buck Desmosedici from the mid 2000's ..

(Ducati)

Note the micro adjustment vernier adjustment for each individual cam/cam wheel....

 

A bit more mundane,

my Triumph T140.........

 

 

6 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Ducardi's mega buck Desmosedici from the mid 2000's ..

(Ducati)

Note the micro adjustment vernier adjustment for each individual cam/cam wheel....

 

A bit more mundane,

my Triumph T140.........

 

Edit - double post.

Moto Morini 500 .. Proddie racer is neat ..

I never realized there were so many v-twins around...

Odd exhaust valve set up exiting at the side on the Kohler .. 

Magnificent Motosacoche V twin competition bike .. Love the front pipes on that .. 

1914 Peugeot DOHC 8 valve twin .. 

A Johngi , NSU and Excelsior and 30's ish .. and all with their own takes on the OHC .. 

Ah, you guys and your fancy old bike pics.  This is what it was all about.  ( JS Sykes and W Pinner at Wimbledon in 1931)  From:  http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/pictures/1931-speedway-at-wimbledon/#.XAb5ejFOmHs

 

 

Ah, you guys and your fancy old bike pics.  This is what it was all about.  ( JS Sykes and W Pinner at Wimbledon in 1931)  From:  http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/pictures/1931-speedway-at-wimbledon/#.XAb5ejFOmHs
 

 

Its now a high class housing estate (& the pubs gone too)!!!


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TR6C campaigned 1969 / 70

 

Board track racer -

"We don't need no Stinkin' Brakes"

Board track racer -
"We don't need no Stinkin' Brakes"

Is there no chain or am I missing something?

7 minutes ago, mogandave said:

... Is there no chain or am I missing something?

I think you've been cheated. Board track racing, I can't imagine what it is like when it's slick.  I'd imagine that a seat position above the rear wheel would keep one on his toes ....

Motosacoche 500 .. Look at the petrol tank on it ..