[jungkvist]

When I was a kid, if there was anything more beautiful than a candy-apple-red and chrome BSA, I can't remember what it was. And cafe' racers (Forget-About It!) I went nuts (Even the new Royal Enfields make me a little crazy).



They might not be much now, but back-in-the-day nothing (and I mean nothing) was more cool!



Enjoy the Kenny Dreer Norton, next year; they're beautiful, if you can afford the $20K!

 

[sliphorn]

Yeah, the Dreer Norton's sure are beautiful, but very dear. I love the looks of the Kawi W650 too. It's a shame Kawi quit bringin' 'em state side.

 

[Steven_Verschoor]

I was at the 7-11 off of Osborne waiting to meet up with a friend when all of these bikes went by.

Man, what a fantastic sound!

 

[longride]

Those old bikes bring back memories of the old Brit bikes I had. Sure, they could be a pain, but they sounded fantastic and looked like nothing else.

 

[35244]

From the looks of some in the pictures, they could not have even been a gleam in someone's eye when these bikes were new - and that is the best bike news I've seen in awhile!



I'll refrain from mentioning that the first bike bike I ever saw in person was an Ariel SQ 4 - owned by a GA Power ee that was boarding with my great-aunt OR that the first "big" bike I ever rode was a Triumph 650. Nope, I won't mention that at all....

 

[Buzz_Waloch]

Sean - should I start saving the cash to buy the Keeny Dreer or you think you can scam one for free?

 

[Buzz_Waloch]

Bringing 'em stateside doesn't pay the bills - selling 'em does.



I liked 'em too but they were dust collectors on the sales floor.

 

[nokneedragin]

Can't you just get a guv'ment grant to do a research project showing the effect of owning an American made British bike on the average citizen?

 

[sportbike_pilot]

Nice!

 

[Buzz_Waloch]

I think that's more Martin's realm. He's the college professor.



I might see if I can strong-arm a few British old ladies though.

 

[SeanAlexander]

Axe to Grind?

Hey... I had to pay to feed that pig of an MV Agusta for a couple different tests! I'm not touching your new Norton, unless it gets significantly better fuel mileage.

 

[sarnali]

What a blast, looks like a fun time was had by all. I like banner photo of the new Bonnie, BMW and Moto-Guzzi in proper Cafe` gear.

 

[jungkvist]

I gotta agree with both of you...

...I think everyone (like us) liked the W650 because we appreciated how authentic it really is. Unfortunately when enthusiasts looked around at retro-bikes, they probably saw the Kenny Roberts KZ and the Triumph Bonnie. And as a first bike, the W650 didn’t have enough showroom-appeal for the first-time buyers. So, in both cases, it ended up sucking-hind-tit.

 

[sportbike_pilot]

Not the right flavor of PC for the granting agencies this year. Now if we can figure out a way to say that it potentially disproves global warming, well, then we're on to something.

 

[sportbike_pilot]

Re: Axe to Grind?

And this worried you more than paying the bill to feed the testers?

-sbp

 

[Buzz_Waloch]

Re: Axe to Grind?

I'll disconnect one of the plug leads so it only runs on one cylinder.

A one cylinder Norton has got to be worth a free lunch at Texas Lil's.

 

[SeanAlexander]

How could anyone possibly disprove Global Warming? I mean to prove that there wasn't global warming, you'd have to prove that there wasn't an Ice Age. What ended the Ice Age?

Global Warming (and Cooling) has been around since long-before single celled organisms were a glint in the creator's eye.

 

[SeanAlexander]

Re: Axe to Grind?

Mmmm... Lil's Texas Girlies

 

[jungkvist]

Axe to Grind?

Yeah...But, you knew the right people, you could leave the Norton out-side a diner, and who knows...it might end-up back in your garage (for a nominal fee and (of course) your solomn-promise to post our next 5 articles LOL).

 

[sportbike_pilot]

Man I'm down with that, but tell it to the cats who are currently advising El Presidente.