Touring on an antique: which bike? Where to?

[davidji]

If you were going to travel on an antique when the stay at home stuff is over, which bike, and where would you ride it?

Something you own, owned, want to own, whatever.

Of if you've done it, what bikes and where? It's OK if it wasn't an antique then, but is now.

 

[auntiebling]

CBX, or 1975 goldwing. I'd go till I found the end of the long white line

If you're talking actual antiques. Brough superior. Same destination

 

[295566]

I have a fully faired 78 XS1100 I rebuilt for my dad sitting in my garage right now that is begging for an adventure.

 

[SFMCjohn]

pic on the way to Death Valley in years gone by ... would like to try to ride my '73 Tiger down to Baja, someday. have been semi-joking about it with the BARF Baja guys the last couple seasons ... meet up with them in BoLA in 2021, maybe ... :ride:blah

 

[bobl]

My present ride is a 1986 Yamaha Fazer 700. Very pleasant and comfortable to cruise on, and am anticipating some overnighters this summer. The GSXR is for sale. I've hung up my spurs. :afm199:laughing

 

[1962siia]

My first vintage tour was the MotoMelee last year. It was a blast! I was on a 1968 Aermacchi Sprint 250 ss. Was the wrong bike but was so much fun. The thing about the group ride is having all the support. The bike made it through the weekend just fine but it’s nice to have support with vintage bikes.

Oh and SFMCJohn I started working on the xl350 project again this week. Vintage Baja May happen!

 

[gixxerjeff]

CBX,

Another vote for a CBX, a blue one please.
As to the 'Where to' portion of the question: I think it would be right at home on Hwy 101 up north, where it's just 2 lanes.

 

[buellistic]

My present ride is a 1986 Yamaha Fazer 700. Very pleasant and comfortable to cruise on, and am anticipating some overnighters this summer. The GSXR is for sale. I've hung up my spurs. :afm199:laughing

I also have a 1986 Yamaha Phazer....
But I wont be riding in the Desert any time soon...:laughing

 

[bpw]

My 1965 BMW r60/2 is my go-to touring rig. Modern enough to keep up with highway traffic while still being vintage. Simple, reliable and works well everywhere from the highway to dirt roads.

I prefer it enough over my more modern R100GS Paris Dakar that I am selling the GS.

 

[Hlenoble]

I owned a few early model GoldWings so that’s a good choice, but my ‘79 Suzuki GS-850g (I owned 2 at different times) would be my choice. Handled much better than the Wings and the stock seat was great.

 

[CDONA]

I caught the first Cannonball as it hit Kingman, got to ride over Sitgraves pass and into Laughlin with these "chuffers"(what I call the sound of low compression)
I want one, but no room for it.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Oh and SFMCJohn I started working on the xl350 project again this week. Vintage Baja May happen!

:thumbup

should get a Sprint, myself, and set that up for Baja:

Kalle and I are talking about a streetbike antique/vintage ride down to Baja ... he says his days of riding his old Chiefs off-road is over, we kinda almost wrecked his '46 last time we did Titus Canyon, kicked up a stone and broke an oil-fitting ... :laughing

want to see your Triumph down there or on the Sheetiron, none of this cheater race-frame-vintage-dirt-bikes for me ...

keeping an eye out for an early SL350, myself ... twin cylinder powah!

:ride

 

[SFMCjohn]

I caught the first Cannonball as it hit Kingman, got to ride over Sitgraves pass and into Laughlin with these "chuffers"(what I call the sound of low compression)
I want one, but no room for it.

:thumbup

our friend, Alex Trepanier, finished the 2016 Cannonball, unsupported, on the 1912 Indian Single he inherited from his father.
kinda cool because Alex is a millennial, or gen-x ... young guy anyway:

he is a member of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, and has a bunch of cool old Indians, along with the 1912. Jay Leno did a show on Alex's race bike:


youtu.be/O2IC9i9QZS4

one of my very favorite episodes of Mr Leno's show ...

would love to do the Cannonball, but think the 1928 Indian 101 is more my speed: :laughing

:ride

 

[Pushrod]

Easy.

1976 BMW R100/RS with a Luftmeister big bore kit, sport cam, BUB exhaust, Koni shocks, shimmed up forks w/heavier fluid, hard bags and a soft tank bag.

Fewer moving parts than an anvil, 40 ish milage, perfect ergos, and stellar wind protection.

Good luck finding one for sale.

 

[guycole]

I had a 1982 Gold Wing that I rode 125K miles and sea to shining sea, before selling to a friend. Needed nothing but oil changes and tires. Not always a fun ride, but is difficult to beat that kind of reliability.

 

[ratpick]

Easy.

1976 BMW R100/RS with a Luftmeister big bore kit, sport cam, BUB exhaust, Koni shocks, shimmed up forks w/heavier fluid, hard bags and a soft tank bag.

Fewer moving parts than an anvil, 40 ish milage, perfect ergos, and stellar wind protection.

Good luck finding one for sale.

As I was scrolling down reading the choices the R100RS came to mind just before I was about to read your post . :thumbup
Excellent choice of mods!

 

[davidji]

Good to see the pics of people doing it.

As far as the moto cannonball, it boggles my mind that people today would ride across the country on old bikes that don't have recirculating engine oil (the two F-heads in the group pic and I think the Indian too).

I remember Across America by Motor-Cycle, CK Shepherd's post-WW1 account of riding across the US on a Henderson. It seemed like he had to replace all the moving parts along the way. Including IIRC cutting a branch to replace a failed wrist pin.

 

[gixxerjeff]

:thumbup


youtu.be/O2IC9i9QZS4

one of my very favorite episodes of Mr Leno's show ...

That video was awesome....made my day.
Alex seems super cool. :thumbup

 

[davidji]

he is a member of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, and has a bunch of cool old Indians, along with the 1912. Jay Leno did a show on Alex's race bike:


youtu.be/O2IC9i9QZS4

It's sobering to see what it took to get that bike across the country.

 

[gixxerjeff]

It's sobering to see what it took to get that bike across the country.

Agreed, but don't go by Jay's difficulties. Alex seems to have that thing dialed.