That's fantastic.i had a friend, George Pittman who made his motorcycle out of a 10 speed bicycle and a lawn mower engine with a horizontal out put shaft. His bike used v belts and pullys to make it go. He and I both learned the fine are of brass brazzing or gas welding using clothes hangers for welding rods. He rode that bike everywhere, and as soon as his was running I had to have one too. I chose a old Western Auto Huffy bicycle for mine. I found a horizontal engine and ended up putting the thing together using a torque converter out of a Maytag washing machine as a clutch to get it going. It was not pretty but it ran very good right up to the point where I crashed in a curve on Arroyo Seca here in Austin and tried to knock a fire hydrant over with my unprotected head. The State Trooper whose house was on that corner took me home so my mother could take me to the hospital for stitches to my left eye brow.
A Sears Roebuck moped with shifter on the handlebars and using bicycle style pedals to get it started was my first real motor bike, quickly followed by a 1958 Harley Hummer 125cc two stroke. I rode the wheels off that old faithful motorcycle, and wish I had it back today. I rode Harleys for years and years mostly staying with the Sportster 883cc. When I went first semi-pro flat track racing and then pro racing for a short time I switched to Triumphs and BSA bikes set up in Champion and Track Master frames. I even bought a old Dick Mann 650 BSA full on flat tracker that I was quite successful on along the Virginia and North Carolina racing venues. I am only sad that I can not throw a leg over a flat tracker to day and go racing, at age 67 I suppose its best I not do that. All that's left of my racing days now is a genuine Ken Maley skid shoe out in the garage, its still in good shape with a long earned patina on it.
i had a friend, George Pittman who made his motorcycle out of a 10 speed bicycle and a lawn mower engine with a horizontal out put shaft. His bike used v belts and pullys to make it go. He and I both learned the fine are of brass brazzing or gas welding using clothes hangers for welding rods. He rode that bike everywhere, and as soon as his was running I had to have one too. I chose a old Western Auto Huffy bicycle for mine. I found a horizontal engine and ended up putting the thing together using a torque converter out of a Maytag washing machine as a clutch to get it going. It was not pretty but it ran very good right up to the point where I crashed in a curve on Arroyo Seca here in Austin and tried to knock a fire hydrant over with my unprotected head. The State Trooper whose house was on that corner took me home so my mother could take me to the hospital for stitches to my left eye brow.
A Sears Roebuck moped with shifter on the handlebars and using bicycle style pedals to get it started was my first real motor bike, quickly followed by a 1958 Harley Hummer 125cc two stroke. I rode the wheels off that old faithful motorcycle, and wish I had it back today. I rode Harleys for years and years mostly staying with the Sportster 883cc. When I went first semi-pro flat track racing and then pro racing for a short time I switched to Triumphs and BSA bikes set up in Champion and Track Master frames. I even bought a old Dick Mann 650 BSA full on flat tracker that I was quite successful on along the Virginia and North Carolina racing venues. I am only sad that I can not throw a leg over a flat tracker to day and go racing, at age 67 I suppose its best I not do that. All that's left of my racing days now is a genuine Ken Maley skid shoe out in the garage, its still in good shape with a long earned patina on it.
it's sad that the two stroke street legal bikes went away, I really miss them.
Morgan,
That's great storytelling.
This is the wonderful stories that help to interest more former riders to get back in the saddle. It seems that there are a bunch of us that rode a lot got away from it to raise kids then dove back into it head first. Once motorcycles get in your blood it is hard to eradicate. KP
That was the triple two-stroke, right? That's one of only two bikes that has surprised me. My cousin Ricky got one. I twisted the throttle and that dang thing almost came out from under me. Dead quiet, super quick.Who got me into motorcycles? I can't think of anybody in my family or friends who rode. So I guess it was the salesman in the local Kawasaki shop. Passed the shop twice a day to and from work. Stopped in one day and saw this 1974 H1/Mach III and it didn't take much talking to get me out the door with that bike. After that, as they say, the rest is history.
We were living in Rome, and my dad came home with a 50cc Garelli streetbike. He taught my brother and I how to ride it around the apartment driveway and he would ride it to the office during the week. After a few weekends of circling the apartment I got bored and headed off into the city traffic. I was 13 and exporing the city - from the Vatican to Via Veneto and eventually off piste on some great trails with my buddy Jean Scott. I've been riding ever since ... THANKS DAD!!!!
Who got me into motorcycles? I can't think of anybody in my family or friends who rode. So I guess it was the salesman in the local Kawasaki shop. Passed the shop twice a day to and from work. Stopped in one day and saw this 1974 H1/Mach III and it didn't take much talking to get me out the door with that bike. After that, as they say, the rest is history.
The State of Texas. In 1968, I was 14. Motorcycle license-yes. Car license-16.
The State of Texas. In 1968, I was 14. Motorcycle license-yes. Car license-16.