Table of contents for Issue 43 in Retrobike

“Miguel Angel Galluzzi designed the 900SS just for me” FOR one reason or another, I didn’t ride a motorcycle for a year or so until recently. At least I had a job writing about them, so it wasn’t a total drought. But let me give you the tip, riding beats writing any day. So it felt pretty good to finally push the bike into the sunlight, give it a tub and prepare it for battle. Charge the battery, check the vitals, pump up the tyres. I’ve owned this bike for more than 25 years, the longest period I’ve ever owned anything. I know it better than I know my wife. It’s a 1992-model Ducati 900 Supersport, with the compliance plate stamped September, 1991. I paid top dollar secondhand for the…

ROYAL Enfield built its first motorcycle, powered by a proprietary 239cc single, in Redditch, Worcestershire, in 1901, and its first 350 single, using a Prestwich engine, in 1924. The first 350 Bullet debuted in 1932 with Enfield’s own inclined ‘sloper’ single-cylinder four-stroke engine with exposed valve springs, which was updated to a vertical engine style in 1936. After building both side-valve and OHV 350s for the British army and RAF during WWII, Enfield returned with the redesigned Bullet 350 in 1948 with hydraulic forks, a twin-shock swingarm and an alloy cylinder head. Among Enfield’s customers was the Indian government, which, in 1955, placed an order for 800 Bullet 350s for its police force and army. A joint venture company was established to assemble the bikes initially, then from 1957 to…

I TOOK the just-finished Ducati 175 Super Sport for an enjoyable spin around the quiet lanes of Pennsylvania’s Nockamixon State Park on a warm summer day, followed by a faster fling along the state highway outside. Despite the high compression, the little engine starts easily when warm, but won’t idle since you have to blip the throttle to above 3000rpm to ensure you’re pumping enough oil to lubricate the roller big end and top end of the motor. Having begun my racing career on a valve-spring Ducati 250 Mach 1S, sliding aboard Jeff’s 175 SS was a real trip down memory lane, except the SS felt much smaller. First gear is very low but driving hard in second, the torquey little motor came into its own, accompanied by a glorious…

ENGINE Liquid-cooled four-stroke inline triple; DOHC, four valves per cylinder; 78 x 53.4mm for 765cc; 12.5:1 comp; wet sump; EFI with five riding modes; Spark titanium muffl er on stock headers; wet multi-plate slipper clutch to six-speed gearbox with two-way quick shifter; chain final drive; 121hp at 11,750rpm (stock) CHASSIS Twin-spar aluminium beam chassis with die-cast sub-frame; fully-adjustable 41mm Showa USD forks, twin Brembo M50 four-piston radial Monobloc calipers on 310mm rotors, 17-inch alloy wheel; monoshock swingarm with fully-adjustable Öhlins STX40 piggyback shock, single sliding-piston Brembo caliper on 220mm rotor, 17-inch alloy wheel; ABS BODYWORK Modified Airtech Streamlining fairing and seat cowl; stock fuel tank; Evotech tail tidy; leather seat by Ben Barras; Koso headlight and Motogadget indicators; Porsche Brocade Red paint DIMENSIONS Wheelbase 1405mm; dry weight 152kg (est); fuel…

THE BMW R65 was released in 1978 and sold alongside the existing 600cc, 800cc and 1000cc /7 series twins. Still an OHV, two valves per cylinder, boxer twin, the R65 was otherwise a significant update on the airhead series introduced with the /5s in 1969. The engine was significantly oversquare at 82 x 61.5mm for 650cc, compared with 73.5 x 70.6mm for the 599cc R60/7. This was quite a departure for BMW, given that every other airhead from the 500cc R50/5 to the 1000cc R100RS had the same 70.6mm stroke. Compared with the R60/7, the R65 engine made more power (45hp vs 40hp) at more revs (7250rpm vs 6400rpm). Weight was similar at around 210kg full of fuel, but the R65 was much more nimble with smaller overall dimensions, a…

1620 The company that became Husqvarna is established in Jönköping by Sweden’s King Gustav II as a musket manufacturer 1867 Now privatised, Husqvarna relocates to Huskvarna (sic) on the shores of Lake Vättern to utilise hydroelectric power 1872 Diversifies into manufacture of sewing machines, stoves and other household appliances, and later bicycles 1903 Builds first powered bicycle utilising a 1.25hp 225cc Belgian FN engine, and later a 3.25hp German NSU motor 1910 First Husqvarna-branded motorcycle, the Model 65, released with a 298cc Swiss-built Moto-Rêve V-twin 1920 First in-house engine produced, a 550cc side-valve 50-degree V-twin. Enjoys early success in cross-country events and long-distance trials 1931 Enters GP competition with 500cc and 350cc OHV 50-degree V-twins 1935 Abandons GP racing to concentrate on the 98cc two-stroke Model 301 commuter 1939 Europe…

ENGINE Liquid-cooled four-stroke 90-degree V-twin; belt-driven desmodromic DOHC, four valves per cylinder; 98 x 66mm for 996cc; 11.5:1 comp; wet sump; Marelli fuel injection; custom exhausts; gear primary drive to hydraulic dry clutch and six-speed gearbox; chain final drive; 112hp at 8500rpm (stock) CHASSIS: PROJECT X Tubular-steel trestle frame with fabricated sub-frame; fully-adjustable 43mm Öhlins USD forks in Scotts (top) and 998R (lower) triple clamps, twin four-piston Brembo Monobloc calipers on 330mm full-floating Braketech rotors, 3.5 x 17in Kineo spoked wheel; single-sided swingarm with Öhlins monoshock, single Brembo twin-piston caliper on 220mm Braketech full-floating rotor, 6 x 17in Kineo spoked wheel CHASSIS: PROJECT Y Tubular-steel trestle frame with fabricated sub-frame; fully-adjustable 43mm Showa USD forks with twin Brembo 320mm/four-piston disc brakes on 3.5 x 17in Marchesini alloy wheel; single-side swingarm…

ENGINE Air-cooled four-stroke vertical single; OHV, just the two; 70 x 90mm for 346cc; 8.5:1 comp; 29mm CV carburettor; transistorised coil ignition; wet sump; Carberry engine plate; custom high-mount exhaust; wet multi-plate clutch to five-speed gearbox; chain final drive; 19.8hp at 5250rpm (stock) CHASSIS Single downtube chassis with engine as stressed member; 35mm conventional forks (shrouded) with single twin-piston caliper on 280mm rotor, laced 19-inch wheel; twin-shock swingarm extended by 75mm, with single-leading-shoe drum brake, laced 19-inch wheel; 4.00 x 19 Shinko E270 tyres BODYWORK Norton replica tank; custom mudguards; solo leather seat; paint and pin-striping by Glen Stevens WANT ONE? Go to midlifecycles.com.au BEST Standout bobber style; soulful engine; new bike warranty NOT SO GREAT Racetracks; long-distance touring…

AS WELL as housing one of the world’s finest collections of historic motorcycles, the Haas Moto Museum also looks to the future by commissioning electric-powered bikes from legendary custom builders like Walt Siegl, Bryan Fuller and, you guessed it, Jay Donovan. Most electric bikes fall into a few broad categories, according to Jay; something futuristic and abstract, or something trying to mimic a classic café racer or modern sports bike. In every case the problem is the same, how to build something cool around a powerplant with the visual appeal of a house brick. “It is enormously challenging to infuse an e-bike with the aesthetics and romance of an internal combustion cycle,” Jay told BikeEXIF on the release of ‘Stingray’ in 2019. “You are deprived of most of the iconic…

SUZUKI’s first 250 debuted as the Colleda twin in the mid-1950s, but was rarely seen outside Japan. The long-stroke 18hp Colleda engine ran on premix fuel and was contained within a pressed-steel chassis typical of the period. The similar T10 followed in the early 1960s, but it was the T20 released in 1965 that set the course for what was to follow. With square 54 x 54mm dimensions for 247cc, the T20’s all-new aluminium-alloy two-stroke vertical twin made 29hp at 7500rpm. Packing a close-ratio six-speed gearbox when most bikes only had four, and weighing in at around 135kg dry, its top speed was an astonishing 150km/h. Making life easy for owners was Suzuki’s Posi-Force lubrication system (later renamed Crankcase Cylinder Injection, or CCI), which negated the need for pre-mixing fuel…

ENGINE Air-cooled four-stroke inline four; DOHC, two valves per cylinder; 70 x 66mm for 1015cc; wet sump; 4 x 26mm Mikunis; electronic ignition; custom four-into-one straight-through exhaust (loud); gear primary to wet clutch and five-speed gearbox; chain final drive CHASSIS Twin-loop cradle frame in tubular steel with welded-on sub-frame; 36mm conventional forks, 2 x twin-piston calipers on 296mm rotors, laced 19-inch wheel; twin-shock swingarm, sls drum brake, laced 18-inch wheel SEE THE BURNOUT www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ooD1YomnCE BEST Famous past; quality resto; the real McCoy, not a replica NOT SO GREAT Beware cops in blown Falcon hardtops…

ENGINE Air-cooled four-stroke vertical single; bevel gear-driven SOHC, two valves; 64 x 57.8mm for 186cc (stock 62 x 57.8mm for 175cc); 11:1 comp (stock 9.5:1); wet sump; single 25mm SS25A Dell’Orto carb (stock 22.5mm); 6V coil ignition; helical-gear primary drive to wet clutch and four-speed gearbox; chain final drive; 19rwhp at 9700rpm CHASSIS Tubular-steel single-loop open-cradle frame; 35mm Marzocchi forks with 180mm SLS drum brake laced to 1.6 x 18-inch Akront aluminium rim; tubular-steel swingarm with twin Ceriani shocks, 160mm SLS drum brake laced to 1.85 x 18-inch Akront rim; Avon Roadrunner tyres DIMENSIONS Wheelbase 1320mm; dry weight 98kg BEST First-ever Ducati Super Sport; pocket rocket performance; that sound! NOT SO GREAT Small riders only…

ENGINE Air-cooled four-stroke horizontally-opposed twin; OHV, two per cylinder; 82 x 61.5mm for 650cc; 9.2:1 comp; wet sump; 2 x Bing carbs; Bosch electronic ignition; stock headers with Akrapovic cans; car-type dry clutch to five-speed gearbox; shaft final drive; 50hp at 7250rpm (stock) CHASSIS Twin-loop chassis in tubular steel with fabricated seat hoop; conventional forks with dual twin-piston calipers on 260mm rotors; shaft-drive swingarm with dual YSS shocks and drum brake; 18-inch wheels with Shinko tyres SPECIAL THANKS Kincrome tools; Norton abrasives; Flexovit WANT MORE Go to www.butlerscustoms.com.au BEST Customised not accessorised; rear-end style; paint that pops NOT SO GREAT Some may prefer conventional tyres…

ENGINE Air-cooled four-stroke 50-degree V-twin; OHV, two per cylinder; 64.9 x 57mm for 496cc; dry sump; 7.3:1 comp; 2 x one-inch Amal 276 carbs; Bosch magneto ignition; chain primary drive to multi-plate dry clutch and four-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox; chain final drive CHASSIS Single-loop tubular-steel rigid frame; girder-style fork with single seven-inch central spring; seven-inch single-leading-shoe drum brakes; laced 1.6 x 21-inch front wheel, 1.6 x 19-inch rear DIMENSIONS & PERFORMANCE Dry weight 177kg; wheelbase 1420mm; 40rwhp at 6800rpm; top speed 170km/h BEST Style for miles; innovative engineering NOT SO GREAT Lousy brakes…

ENGINE Liquid-cooled four-stroke inline four; DOHC, two valves per cylinder; 67 x 70mm for 987cc; 10.2:1 comp; wet sump; Bosch LE-Jetronic engine management; stock headers/Twisted Bros collector/Comp Werkes muffler; dry single-plate Sachs clutch to five-speed gearbox; shaft final drive; 90hp at 8000rpm (stock) CHASSIS Tubular-steel spaceframe with fabricated seat sub-frame; 43mm USD forks in R1 clamps, twin six-piston calipers on 310mm Metalgear rotors, 3.5 x 17in alloy wheel; single-sided swingarm with YSS G-series mono-shock, single twin-piston rear caliper on 285mm Brembo rotor, 5 x 17in alloy wheel; Metzeler Sportec tyres BODYWORK Stock K100 fuel tank, repositioned; Twisted Brothers seat unit; paint and graphics by The Paint Doctor; upholstery by MB’Z Auto Trimming WANT MORE? Instagram @danscustommotos BEST Eye-catching appearance; exceptional workmanship; flawless finish NOT SO GREAT Not cheap!…

ENGINE Air-cooled four-stroke 180-degree twin; OHV, two per cylinder; 72 x 73mm for 594cc; 7.5:1 comp; wet sump; 2 x 24mm Bing carbs; magneto ignition; single-plate car-style dry clutch to four-speed gearbox and shaft final drive; 30hp at 5800rpm (stock) CHASSIS Custom trellis frame in stainless-steel; custom bodywork in stainless-steel and aluminium; all work by Jay Donovan, Baresteel Design SPECIAL THANKS Bobby Haas, Haas Moto Museum BEST Clean sheet design; impeccable metalcraft; daring to go where no man has gone before NOT SO GREAT May be too out-there for some…

ENGINE Air-cooled two-stroke parallel twin; 54 x 54mm for 247cc; dry sump; CCI auto lubrication; 7.5:1 comp; 2 x 28mm Mikunis with pod filters; points and condenser ignition; custom stainless-steel headers and expansion chambers; gear primary drive to wet clutch and six-speed gearbox; chain final drive; 33hp at 8000rpm (stock) CHASSIS Twin-cradle chassis in tubular steel; 34mm conventional forks with modified TLS drum brake laced to 1.85 x 18-inch rim; tubular-steel swingarm with twin coil-over shocks, SLS drum brake laced to 2.15 x 18-inch rim DIMENSIONS Wheelbase 1290mm; dry weight 145kg (stock) BEST Classic 1960s racer style; handcrafted alloy bodywork; ton-up performance; sound NOT SO GREAT Likes a drink!…

THEY are asking too much,” a familiar voice said down the phone. “I’m going in at 90 thousand, tops.” "Mate, you can afford it. You've always wanted one, now's your chance. Is it any good?" "Oh yeah …" I've known Terry since we went chasing old motorcycles together back in the 1970s. There were still sheds with dusty relics sitting around then, in the days before the public got excited about old stuff and prices flew up like tickets on a Jeff Bezos moon shot. The big mission was to chase down a Vincent rumoured to be sitting on a back verandah in the old soldier settlement of Kentucky in New England. We'd gone out twice already and even found a DJP sidecar adapted to fit a Norton – probably…