Motorbikes

[Corradobrit]

1983 , UK to Australia on my XS 750 Yamaha …… many adventures on the way including arrest by Iranian Sharia Guard at gunpoint & blindfold….. eventually made it to Aus … still here … love it!View attachment 140935

Sounds like there's a book and a movie in that little adventure.

 

[Polobear1959]

Sounds like there's a book and a movie in that little adventure.

Definitely, I kept very comprehensive diaries… was 23 years old , did it solo using a few old maps & school atlas … certainly life changing… nearly didn’t make it, however met my wife to be in Aus & now have a wonderful family here!
( have watched Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boormans films … in comparison I thought they were tame… backup crews , 4 W drives)

 

[sidepod]

Definitely, I kept very comprehensive diaries… was 23 years old , did it solo using a few old maps & school atlas … certainly life changing… nearly didn’t make it, however met my wife to be in Aus & now have a wonderful family here!
( have watched Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boormans films … in comparison I thought they were tame… backup crews , 4 W drives)

Excellent. Much respect

 

[Corradobrit]

Travelling through Iran in the early '80's has to have been one of the most foolhardy things to attempt, what with the American hostages, poor opinion of Brits in general thanks to our involvement in the region and Iran in particular, after WW1. You had to have been second guessing that decision after the hood went on. What a story to tell the grandkids.....

 

[Polobear1959]

Travelling through Iran in the early '80's has to have been one of the most foolhardy things to attempt, what with the American hostages, poor opinion of Brits in general thanks to our involvement in the region and Iran in particular, after WW1. You had to have been second guessing that decision after the hood went on. What a story to tell the grandkids.....

Yes, you are quite correct … first thing I had to do at the Turkish / Iranian border was to wipe my feet on the US flag… no choice. Then confronted by images of Bobby Sands and pro IRA posters … Britain was viewed as an imperialistic despotic nation…. I think I only got through because they realised I was an “ immature & innocent “ young man genuinely only wanting to transit through to Pakistan.
Iran was deeply affected by its war with Iraq…. millions dead, much mental trauma within the population. However, I met several Iranian families who provided the most amazing hospitality and friendship…. I vowed to never judge a nation on the minority violent extremists….

 

[Polobear1959]

Anyway… heres my present 3 cylinder bike , a T160 Triumph…. not reliable enough for a UK to Aus trip though

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Yes, you are quite correct … first thing I had to do at the Turkish / Iranian border was to wipe my feet on the US flag… no choice. Then confronted by images of Bobby Sands and pro IRA posters … Britain was viewed as an imperialistic despotic nation…. I think I only got through because they realised I was an “ immature & innocent “ young man genuinely only wanting to transit through to Pakistan.
Iran was deeply affected by its war with Iraq…. millions dead, much mental trauma within the population. However, I met several Iranian families who provided the most amazing hospitality and friendship…. I vowed to never judge a nation on the minority violent extremists….

I can’t believe what I’ve just been reading. Nothing as frightening as that ever happened to Ted Simon.
So many questions, what happened to the bike ?
Was Ted’s book the inspiration for you ? Or did it just seem like a better way to get to Australia than by Quantas ?
A film definitely. Timothee Chalamet for you and Margot Robbie waiting for you at the other end.
You are a legend, and you even like Triples.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Norton Commando
View attachment 140929

It could be worth more than you think !

 

[Polobear1959]

I can’t believe what I’ve just been reading. Nothing as frightening as that ever happened to Ted Simon.
So many questions, what happened to the bike ?
Was Ted’s book the inspiration for you ? Or did it just seem like a better way to get to Australia than by Quantas ?
A film definitely. Timothee Chalamet for you and Margot Robbie waiting for you at the other end.
You are a legend, and you even like Triples.

Thanks for your comments…. no, I didn’t read Ted Simon’s book till years later….. he’s a legend. No, my dad had a Vincent Rapide, I rode pillion as a kid.He told me how Phil Irving rode a Vincent from Aus to UK in the 1950’s…. that inspired me plus a desire to work in Aus for a year and escape the “ ordinariness “ of daily work in my home town ….. think the lyrics of Pink Floyd , Time, “ Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day”………etc.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

The steed I still want to resurrect RGV250

Or the Gamma 500. Two stroke screamers.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Thanks for your comments…. no, I didn’t read Ted Simon’s book till years later….. he’s a legend. No, my dad had a Vincent Rapide, I rode pillion as a kid.He told me how Phil Irving rode a Vincent from Aus to UK in the 1950’s…. that inspired me plus a desire to work in Aus for a year and escape the “ ordinariness “ of daily work in my home town ….. think the lyrics of Pink Floyd , Time, “ Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day”………etc.
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No, thank you. It’s been like the Antiques Roadshow when something rare and precious turns up totally out of the blue.
An old school atlas ! People get lost without Satnav and a mobile phone now.

 

[sidepod]

The steed I still want to resurrect RGV250

Or the Gamma 500. Two stroke screamers.

I have a full original Suzuki race kitted RGV sat in the garage. Lovely.

 

[Polobear1959]

No, thank you. It’s been like the Antiques Roadshow when something rare and precious turns up totally out of the blue.
An old school atlas ! People get lost without Satnav and a mobile phone now.

True, I can laugh now however it did cause unexpected detours & adventures! Stopped in one busy Iranian town to ask a policeman directions… big mistake… he leaned over , switched the ignition off & walked off with the key leaving me stranded!
( not enough room here to describe the outcome… suffice to say , it wasn’t pretty)!

 

[Moose]

This is my bike, unfortunately not used as much as it should be due to various reasons, but very reluctant to move it on.

 

[calikev]

loved mine as well great fun to ride

 

[Polobear1959]

Would be interesting to see bikes owned by members years ago…… this is my Yamaha XS 650B taken in 1978 …. a great bike…

 

[SanderR72]

Would be interesting to see bikes owned by members years ago…… this is my Yamaha XS 650B taken in 1978 …. a great bike…View attachment 141099

In 1978 I was 6 years old, no motor bike yet and don’t remember even which bicycle I had ;-)

 

[sidepod]

Would be interesting to see bikes owned by members years ago…… this is my Yamaha XS 650B taken in 1978 …. a great bike…View attachment 141099

And a “Soup Dragon “ next to it. Classic

 

[sidepod]

Early self build. RM 250 rolling chassis with a XL250 motor jammed in. Couldn’t quite mimic the angle that Honda did so it used to eat camshafts due to oil starvation.

Replaced by a 1980 XR200.

Good times.

Top of the Walna Scar road above Coniston.

 

[Polobear1959]

Early self build. RM 250 rolling chassis with a XL250 motor jammed in. Couldn’t quite mimic the angle that Honda did so it used to eat camshafts due to oil starvation.

Replaced by a 1980 XR200.

Good times.

Top of the Walna Scar road above Coniston.

View attachment 141100View attachment 141101View attachment 141102

Guess you had lots of fun on that! Like the period Range Rover too

 

[Polobear1959]

And a “Soup Dragon “ next to it. Classic

Haven’t heard that name before… like it though! First impressions riding my mates CX500 was how smooth, comfortable & very rideable it was…… thought the future of bike design had really arrived!

 

[sidepod]

It’s what we used to call them. I think it was because they made a noise similar to the Soup Dragon on The Clangers, apparently.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

I don’t remember ever owning a camera back then but my wife ( girlfriend then ) must have had one hence her behind a Suzuki GT500 we went to Portugal on. Had it at same time as 350LC which was KCS80W so I guess 1980.

 

[sidepod]

I don’t remember ever owning a camera back then but my wife ( girlfriend then ) must have had one hence her behind a Suzuki GT500 we went to Portugal on. Had it at same time as 350LC which was KCS80W so I guess 1980.

View attachment 141105

Big soft spot for 70s oil burners. The front page of MCN announcing the LC is burned into my memory. Almost immediately a guy at college rocked up with a 350, clip-ins, rear sets, the lot.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

Big soft spot for 70s oil burners. The front page of MCN announcing the LC is burned into my memory. Almost immediately a guy at college rocked up with a 350, clip-ins, rear sets, the lot.

Well funny you should say that. I remember the MCN coming through the letterbox and couldn’t believe it - a TZ for the road ( it wasn’t ! ) and it looked stunning. I had to have one, beg borrow or steal. Ordered one next day from Coopers of Troon, famous Ayrshire bike shop.
From memory I think it was £1130.
Then we got married 1982, both bikes had to go for a deposit for house.
My fortunes must have improved because got the Flying Brick 1984 ( I think ) B630 AGE.
I can remember bike regs from 50 years go but no cars even when they are sitting on the drive.