Praise the Lord and Pass the Hubbless Chopper...

[Snortin Norton]

I think that choppers have been done to death, and this is just one more take on the theme.

The mini-choppers are far more exciting IMO. NO, Really! Johny Pag (the US brand, not sure what name they sell under in other countries) has that 300cc chopper, which is a much cooler concept to me. Kind of like compact firearms in a way to put it in perspective.

The two Hi-Birds with 250 twins are cool bikes (we already have the chopper version in the US) and seem far more useful to me. Choppers are pose machines that people have been trying to make more original than the last guy's bike. Hell, the TV show American Chopper had to add in family fighting and yelling between the lazy dad, Paul, and his overworked sons just to add interest, and there is not much interest!! The finished bike might be original, but it still looks stupider than the last stupid one they designed!!

Harley has stayed away from the chopper market for the most part, and I think their V-Rod was a step in the right direction. I would love to see more bikes like this (arguably, Yamaha did the muscle bike thing first with the VMax, and I am sure there were bikes even before that, but you get my point ), but choppers are tired and boring and making spokeless wheels only adds slight interest to an already boring niche!

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Yeh but, did you get any side covers for your bike yet ???
That's all that matters in the world today Culcune , is if "YOU" got any side covers .

As far as spokeless wheels , front wheel drives , all that other BULLSHIT , keep it at the EXPOS , it aint worth a crap on the street , or at the dealers , its pointless dribble just like ALL my posts .
What really bugs me is these new ideas poeple think they came up with when they have been done so many times over and over , and the people actually think they thought of them ???
Inovation is a good thing , but at least make it useful , rideable , and not done before . Keep it real, or do your homework before comming up with shit that's been done already . Read a freekin book man !!!
The nicest riding machines are the ones that actualy look like motorcycles from the 60's and 70's . Can't re-invent the wheel , you should have stopped when you created the World BEST ROAD HANDLER , the Norton Commando .

Blah blah blah , stick your spokeless wheels where the sun don't shine ...

Snortin kiss my ass Norton

[ZMC888]

Snortin', I have an idea for a bike that's not a cruiser!

A shaft-driven 250cc-400cc V4, 4 valves a cylinder, liquid cooled, with regular foot pegs (under your armpits), six gears, bikini fairing or screen and fuel injection (but don't mind Carb) has this been done before? 'Cos that's what I want.........in China! Not a cruiser, but then again, not a race bike (a road bike......dammit!) .

Sort of like a Honda ST1300 Junior!



But a Kwaka Ninja 250 is the closest I can find to what I like (but not available here)

[CrazyCarl]

The bike you seek is a 1986 Honda VF500...





11.0:1 compression ratio cranking out 70hp at 11krpm and 6speed tranny. Total weight with all liquids is ~450lbs. I know people whop have toured on this bike and in the right hands can take corners better than squids on ultra modern 600's.

They are found in China but very rarely and almost never in good condition. I could, however, definitely see you on this bike having a lot of fun! I've secretly been keeping an eye out for one myself!

CC

[Snortin Norton]

Snortin', I have an idea for a bike that's not a cruiser!

A shaft-driven 250cc-400cc V4, 4 valves a cylinder, liquid cooled, with regular foot pegs (under your armpits), six gears, bikini fairing or screen and fuel injection (but don't mind Carb) has this been done before? 'Cos that's what I want.........in China! Not a cruiser, but then again, not a race bike (a road bike......dammit!) .

Sort of like a Honda ST1300 Junior!



But a Kwaka Ninja 250 is the closest I can find to what I like (but not available here)

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The Kawi is bad ass for sure , no wonder China can't compete . The Kawi goes for $4,000 in the States , so why would you buy anything else ???
You wouldn't , if you want parts .

Later , Kelly

[ZMC888]

The bike you seek is a 1986 Honda VF500...

Well, 80's Honda's are like bike porn to me Well if Honda made a modern 250 version say 140KG or a 400cc 150-160KG that would be a bike

I think the old VF500 is a tad heavy for Chinese roads.

There is something very similar down the road, decomposing outside the front of a local mechanic's shop. Question is..are these bikes worthy of our time to restore, and source my parts back home in the UK..or do we just accept that the bike has gone to bike heaven?

The Kawi is bad ass for sure , no wonder China can't compete . The Kawi goes for $4,000 in the States , so why would you buy anything else ??? You wouldn't , if you want parts .

So right, the Ninja is perfect for the roads here in China, small enough to be nimble in the traffic, and on super tight mountain twisty roads, powerful enough to keep you entertained, and cheap on fuel if you choose to ride it carefully. I'd prefer it with a bikini fairing, as the clumsy Chinese cyclists and scooter riders will scratch up the full fairing too damn quick! Never gonna be a question though, will I ever see the bike here?

[Snortin Norton]

Well, 80's Honda's are like bike porn to me Well if Honda made a modern 250 version say 140KG or a 400cc 150-160KG that would be a bike

I think the old VF500 is a tad heavy for Chinese roads.

There is something very similar down the road, decomposing outside the front of a local mechanic's shop. Question is..are these bikes worthy of our time to restore, and source my parts back home in the UK..or do we just accept that the bike has gone to bike heaven?



So right, the Ninja is perfect for the roads here in China, small enough to be nimble in the traffic, and on super tight mountain twisty roads, powerful enough to keep you entertained, and cheap on fuel if you choose to ride it carefully. I'd prefer it with a bikini fairing, as the clumsy Chinese cyclists and scooter riders will scratch up the full fairing too damn quick! Never gonna be a question though, will I ever see the bike here?

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You know ZMC888 ,

I can pretty much guarantee they would never have that bike there . That would be allot like Harey Karri , or Russian Roullette with a fully loaded gun .
That is in a few words a NO win situation for them . Won't happen . I also feel there is still some hostility from Japan to China and China to Japan from the Wars in thier past too which doesn't help things either . Japan was terrible to China in the Wars , ruthless murderers , terrible tactics , and very cruel . China won't forget there past , they sure are not going to re-live it in Bike Sales too , LOL !!

The question is about your dream bike gathering dust in China your talking about , and it being worthy of restorations ??? One hell of allot of people here , there , ( never in the UK though ) would consider the Norton or Triumphs or Beazers un-worthy of resoration at all . So , is that bike worth restoring that you see gathiering dust in China ? It is if you want to . Who are you living for , you , or them ???
When I bought my Norton is was a pile of Norton crap sitting in the rain not getting rode but by the rust . It ran , barely when I bought it , prior to full blown restoration . I paid $3,000 American money . I then emmediately ate beans and rice for three years to afford the rebuild at another $10,000 ....
Point is, it was worth it to me to keep a Legacy alive and to be able to ride the WORLDS GREATEST ROAD HANDLER .....And it is one fo the best of those even for a 70's bike .
Restoration is a love affair, and how often do you know of anyone that is normal or has common sence when in love ??? Not me !!!
Its all about the Motorcycle man , its a love affair . Money has nothing to do with it and neither do others opinions of what you want to restore and ride .
JMHO ................

Good luck to you today and have some fun today , Snortin Norton

[CrazyCarl]

Restoration is a love affair, and how often do you know of anyone that is normal or has common sence when in love ??? Not me !!!

CC

[ZMC888]

Snortin, checked out that bike today, it's an old VT250F mid 80's (86?). Man everything is screwed up on that thing.

Looked like this when it was new (same colors too)



Actually I think I shouldn't even try to touch it unless I can find someone with connections, like an important cop mate who could register it (it is possible because it's a 250cc so possibly legal). If I got the green light on that first, I might have a go. 32KW (43hp) and only 143 KG dry is worth working for when you live in China!

This bike now has classic status in my view, and meets my weight and size criteria for these roads, plus double the power of a YBR250!

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I can pretty much guarantee they would never have that bike there . That would be allot like Harey Karri , or Russian Roullette with a fully loaded gun .
That is in a few words a NO win situation for them . Won't happen . I also feel there is still some hostility from Japan to China and China to Japan from the Wars in thier past too which doesn't help things either . Japan was terrible to China in the Wars , ruthless murderers , terrible tactics , and very cruel . China won't forget there past , they sure are not going to re-live it in Bike Sales too , LOL !!

True, chances of imported Kawasaki's is pretty small. (It was rumored they got involved with Zongshen years ago then pulled out!) Yamaha reckon that they can import R1's here, same as BMW and Harley import theirs. Plus Honda and Toyota cars are massively popular. Maybe you can like the taste of Sushi without liking the chef!
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Post some pics of your bike, I'm British so I get all warm and fuzzy when I see pics of Triumphs and Nortons.

[Snortin Norton]

Snortin, checked out that bike today, it's an old VT250F mid 80's (86?). Man everything is screwed up on that thing.

Looked like this when it was new (same colors too)



Actually I think I shouldn't even try to touch it unless I can find someone with connections, like an important cop mate who could register it (it is possible because it's a 250cc so possibly legal). If I got the green light on that first, I might have a go. 32KW (43hp) and only 143 KG dry is worth working for when you live in China!

This bike now has classic status in my view, and meets my weight and size criteria for these roads, plus double the power of a YBR250!

__________________________________________________ ____________



True, chances of imported Kawasaki's is pretty small. (It was rumored they got involved with Zongshen years ago then pulled out!) Yamaha reckon that they can import R1's here, same as BMW and Harley import theirs. Plus Honda and Toyota cars are massively popular. Maybe you can like the taste of Sushi without liking the chef!
__________________________________________________ ____________

Post some pics of your bike, I'm British so I get all warm and fuzzy when I see pics of Triumphs and Nortons.

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Howdee , No new current pics, but heres a few of the Snortin , and GUNS !!!








Here's the Harley, its torn down for re-build as we speak ...Fat Bobs tank and all new TINS , and tons of Billet and Chrome , all new . The only thing Harley now is the motor and frame , and the Motor is slowly going over to aftermarket race parts too . I like speed, obviously ...






Cheers , Good luck with whatever you decide , and when your done deciding , BUY A NORTON instead !! LOL !!! All thsoe story'sa bout LUCAS and the nightmares of electricity are a bunch of crap. This is by far the most reliable bike I have ever owned ,e ven over the Harley and that is as simple a bike as it gets . Once a Nortons right, tis right as rain ...

Later, Snortin Norton

[ZMC888]

Love the Harley, simple, basic, bobed down, nice bars no silly crome, very sweet, you have taste!

Norton is a real beauty, what year is she?

Hey I'll race you on a Bonneville of the same year!