Motorcycles and Pictures

A lovely day out on 2 wheels for a change.

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You don’t see many CX500s around these days. Good bike in its day though.

I’ve just spent 3 years carrying out a full nut and bolt restoration on that one. It’s now as it came out of the factory 43 years ago. It even has the original number plate fitted when first sold! Nice bike to ride actually.

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Almost bought one of these back in 1978 but ended up trading my CB400F for a Kawasaki Z650 instead. In those days, getting a test ride was pretty difficult so I guess I stuck with the more accepted 4 cylinder format. I did stray onto a BMW flat twin for a while but this didn’t gel with me (hated it in fact) and also a 3 cylinder Laverda Jota 120 which was beautiful, if somewhat raucous and temperamental.

I never fancied a 400 four. I was more in to RD400’s. I had 3 of them and raced one in the early 80’s. Fantastic bikes. Also had a Z650 which i did a lot of rallys on.


My friends 180 Jota back in the day. What a beast!!

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I Untill a few years ago had my CB500 four dusnstall cafferacer I bought it from my mate who was getting married and needed the cash I was serving in Northern Ireland at the time … I put almost 195.000 miles on it over the years Sold it once then bought it back and sold it on again when it had spent 5 years in lock up I could no longer Ride it …now its in Spain …!

Pic,s from St Angelo camp Northern Ireland I was almost 18 years old at the time……!

The bike was a hand full but once on and going was more fun than any other motorised transport I been on tanks included :joy:

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Much respect to you for going down the racing route. I never owned a two stroke though I did have a go on a friend’s liquid cooled RD250 when it first came out - at that time I did a lot of long distance UK/Europe rides so not really suitable. Later on, when I used bikes more for shorter blasts, I I did fancy the Kawasaki KR1 but wasn’t sure if it would be a good fit for me at 6ft1 - lovely little bike though. I put this little collection of pics together a while ago of some of my bikes (quite a few missing such as a CBR600, FZR1000 and a couple of VFR750s). Thinking back, my overall favourites were the blue/white Honda CB1000F (just a great long distance sports/tourer) and the black/purple/pink Kawasaki ZXR750 L1 (Heavy compared to the Fireblade but just as quick and the front end feel and braking were superior - to me anyway).

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I did a fair few miles on a 500four in 1975. I currently own 2 Hondas and one Suzuki.
A 1974 CB550 K0 American import, (all Japanese bikes are imported aren’t they?) which i have sourced an original set of pipes for, and a 1973 CB450 K6, also American import. The Suzuki is an ACC 100 which i am currently restoring and was the first bike i ever owned, (not the actual one)…The good old days!

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Keeping the motorcycling theme going, last Thursday I took a walk down to a local bike meet. I was surprised by the numbers in attendance and there were some lovely machines on display, both young and old.

My two-wheeled peak was a 1985 Kawasaki GT550.

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That Z1R would be worth a few bob now. Also the ZXR!

A few of my past bikes. I owned the Gpz 900 for 18 years and really miss it. Its up for sale again and I’m so tempted to buy it back. Still got the 1100 Zephyr.

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Couple more.
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I had a 550 GPZ in the 80s.
Here are a couple of bikes i sold a couple of years ago…

…To buy this

Did i do the right thing?

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Love that 550 Honda!

It was in lovely condition! as were the others.

I had an 550 F1with the 4 into 1 pipe. Nice bike.

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Here’s a half photo of my ZX6R G2 many moons ago.
Only one I had at hand :roll_eyes:

Started out on a Yamaha TZR125 , a screeming two stroker that seemed well fast at the time :rofl:.

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Have seen fully restored Z1Rs on the internet from about £12k and well beyond.

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Not surprised. Any of the early Z’s can go for good money now. Although I do think some people push their luck a bit. Same with a lot of 1970’s Jap bikes. My first bike was a Yamaha FS1E in 1974. Cost me £199 new. Now you see them fully restored pushing £ 10k!! Laughable really.

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Just thinking we should start a bike thread!! :rofl:

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