DRPM

Great pic KW
It's all in the eyes !

RickBetterley

I remember in my early days instructing when asking my student about his track experience and hearing back 'only in bikes' and thinking I should update my will.
Turns out the bike (and ski) racers were darn good on 4 wheels.
Happy soon-to-be New Years to my Canadian friends.

Boxster dude

Yes, it's in the eyes..... Same look a cougar has, when it's hunting...explains a lot.
BTW, nice bike too

Joe Lapin

Phil, I remember a bike gang in San Francisco in the seventy's, the Pink Panthers!
They all wore ONE ZIPPER jackets. Sorta like the handkerchiefs placed 'just so' in the rear pockets!

Nice bike!

I remember riding a Z1000 across the Champlain Bridge. If I had been caught at that speed, I would just be getting out the can now!

Joe Lapin

In 1972, I went to England in search of Vincent motorcycles. Even then, they were rare and expensive.
I met an expert mechanic, who collected them, and raced sidecars.
I was a 'monkey' going around Brands Hatch at significant speed, my face inches from the pavement!

I acquired two Vincent 1000 cc bikes.
This is a C Rapide, with Black Shadow parts.
If I had it today, I could trade it for a 997.1 GT3 RS.

Joe Lapin

This was the better of the two bikes, with which I enjoyed an autumn season rolling around the Sussex countryside near Brighton. I lived out a fantasy of sorts, in my Lewis Leathers outfit, like the Black Knight of Douglas, a character from a Robert Louis Stephenson tale. I still have the Classics comic book of the story.

Both bikes ran, sorta, but they were quickly replaced with modern Japanese Yoshimura Hondas when I moved to Providence, for a Masters at Rhode Island School of Design..
I did double my money, but these bikes would be very valuable today.

Fortunately, I kept the chick, and Lona has proven to be far more valuable, appreciating immeasurably over 45 years!

Far more reliable too!

Joe Lapin

Ken certainly looks focused and intent on his Duc.
Clearly cranked over, and concentrating.

This doobie lovin' dude, living in California in 69, was anything but focused.

Far effin' out, man!

wildcat077

Joe,

Wish i still had pictures of my 67 Bonneville 650 , my first real bike before going full Japanese !
I had really long hair and was quite the rebel in those days, sure wish i still had the
bike now , it would be the ultimate classic !

And as far as zippers go , i rarely zipped up my leather jacket , always had my trusty faded Lee jean jacket underneath !
Best thing is i still have my old leather jacket, had it tailor made at the time.

Oh boy ... memories !

Joe Lapin

Phil,

Your photo got me thinking of daze gone past!

In 1987, after 20 years of moto obsession, I had an epiphany, and have never been on a motor bike since.

At the time I was becoming a serious bicycle racer, and decided to have a custom Marinoni made. One sunny day, riding to Lachenaie on the 640, throttle wide open at 134 mph, I glanced toward, and realized I was rolling along a very abrasive BELT SANDER!
Death was not a fear, but rather, mutilation and dismemberment would ruin my life. I would never ski, wind surf, ride my bicycle, walk, make love, the list was overpoweringly terrifying.

I arrived at Marinoni's shop, and the guys remarked that I was pale and spaced out. I rode home in 3rd gear at about 50 mph, parked the bike and put an ad in the Gazette. Two days later I sold my CB 900F, the leather jacket, boots, gloves and Bell Star helmet. I kept the shop manual for the exploded drawings!
A few months later I gave away the stacks of motorcycle magazines.

Though I keep aware of the current bikes, and could easily afford whatever I wanted, I have not been tempted. To ensure no irrational moments of folly, I deliberately let my licence expire!

I wonder if my current Porsche obsession will run its course as well. Certainly, I am not buying magazines any longer, and the stacks have been reduced.

Now, my memories are more about the time when I had hair on my head!