Like finding an El Greco or Goya in the attic
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
1967 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson Sprint H project update
Handlebars
Our bike came to us with a set of K&N bars. They looked cool but they are too wide and pull back too far for our style or ridings. The 1967 Harleys' used a rubber mount to isolate vibration. In adding this comfort feature for American riders Harley destroyed any road feel a sport rider might be looking for.
Cycle Magazine reviewed the 67 Sprint and Sportsters in the November 1966 issue. This is what they said about the rubber handlebar mounts "We would also respectfully suggest that their engineers do something about the handlebar mounting. The bars are rubber-mounted, which is a good thing, as this prevents vibration from making one's hands all numb during a long trip. But rubber mounting also allows the bars to move some considerable amount before anything happens at the forks, which introduces a rubbery feel into the steering that very nearly spoils the bike basically good handling."
With the long K&N bars and rubber mounts just pushing the bike around the garage was like wrestling with buttered spaghetti. We hopped over to the Yahoo Aermacchi Group and asked for suggestions. We got a recommendation to seek out OEM Part number 56157-62B. These are solid spacers that replace the rubber mounts. We found a pair on eBay and ordered them up.
Next was selecting the right handlebars. Our past off road riding experience influenced us greatly here. We prefer to be weighted more towards the bars for better control of the forks. We selected a set of Flanders style bars similar to those found on the BMW R90S. These bars provide the classic sport touring positioning we desired. Unfortunately these bars did not play well with the large Aermacchi Ala Verde fuel tanks found on the 67 & 68 H Models. These tanks are very tall and even the 3 inch raise on the Flanders bars was not enough to prevent contact between the bar ends and the side of the tank. Bar end mirrors would have been out of the question. We tried rolling the bars forward for a cafe racer look but the look did not work well on this bike at all. Finding the right balance with this bikes styling is critical.
We really like the look of the Sprints' Italian cousin the Ala Verde, but going to a full clip on bar like the Ala Verde would be a bit pricey.
We took some styling queues from other 1950's Italian Sport bikes and found a set of clubman style bars at Guzzino.com that would provide the low flat look we wanted. These are 7/8" chrome bars sounded like just the ticket for smaller Italian single Clubman bars at Guzzino.com not too wide like other Clubmans and just slightly dropping. The bars with shipping adds another $79.00 to the project balance sheet (see our prior post on Total Cost of Ownership).
Handlebars
Our bike came to us with a set of K&N bars. They looked cool but they are too wide and pull back too far for our style or ridings. The 1967 Harleys' used a rubber mount to isolate vibration. In adding this comfort feature for American riders Harley destroyed any road feel a sport rider might be looking for.
Cycle Magazine reviewed the 67 Sprint and Sportsters in the November 1966 issue. This is what they said about the rubber handlebar mounts "We would also respectfully suggest that their engineers do something about the handlebar mounting. The bars are rubber-mounted, which is a good thing, as this prevents vibration from making one's hands all numb during a long trip. But rubber mounting also allows the bars to move some considerable amount before anything happens at the forks, which introduces a rubbery feel into the steering that very nearly spoils the bike basically good handling."
With the long K&N bars and rubber mounts just pushing the bike around the garage was like wrestling with buttered spaghetti. We hopped over to the Yahoo Aermacchi Group and asked for suggestions. We got a recommendation to seek out OEM Part number 56157-62B. These are solid spacers that replace the rubber mounts. We found a pair on eBay and ordered them up.
Next was selecting the right handlebars. Our past off road riding experience influenced us greatly here. We prefer to be weighted more towards the bars for better control of the forks. We selected a set of Flanders style bars similar to those found on the BMW R90S. These bars provide the classic sport touring positioning we desired. Unfortunately these bars did not play well with the large Aermacchi Ala Verde fuel tanks found on the 67 & 68 H Models. These tanks are very tall and even the 3 inch raise on the Flanders bars was not enough to prevent contact between the bar ends and the side of the tank. Bar end mirrors would have been out of the question. We tried rolling the bars forward for a cafe racer look but the look did not work well on this bike at all. Finding the right balance with this bikes styling is critical.
We really like the look of the Sprints' Italian cousin the Ala Verde, but going to a full clip on bar like the Ala Verde would be a bit pricey.
We took some styling queues from other 1950's Italian Sport bikes and found a set of clubman style bars at Guzzino.com that would provide the low flat look we wanted. These are 7/8" chrome bars sounded like just the ticket for smaller Italian single Clubman bars at Guzzino.com not too wide like other Clubmans and just slightly dropping. The bars with shipping adds another $79.00 to the project balance sheet (see our prior post on Total Cost of Ownership).
Our bars arrive today with a thank you note from Paul at Guzzino.com and since it is snowing again we decided to fit them while trapped inside on a winters day.
We installed the bars with the solid spacers so that the profile of the bike would show them as laying flat when viewed from the side or while in motion just like the Ala Verde. I think we nailed the Italian Sportivi La Moto look
Monday, February 10, 2014
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Tips for Shipping your Vintage Motorcycle
We purchase our 1967 Aermacchi Harley Davidson Sprint H on EBay. We negotiated a Buy It Now price of $2600 with the seller. The bike was in northern Georgia and we needed to budget for shipping. The EBay listing includes a shipping tab that allows potential purchasers the opportunity to get a shipping quote from multiple shippers by simply entering the destination. We received via email several quotes ranging from $310 to $700. We assumed the quote was backed by the shippers reputations and backed by EBay. We couldn't be more wrong. We assumed the $310 was what we would be charged and we went forward with the transaction. You know what happens when you ASS U ME. After the purchase we called the shipper that offered the $310 fee and were told they would not honor it. They said "we've been having a lot of low quotes on EBay and we can't figure it out...". Classic bait and switch. They stated the actual charge would be $675 - more than double the original figure. We moved forward with the contract and they took a deposit from me and told me they would call back with date for pickup at the sellers location. After several days I had not heard back so I called the shipper. I was transferred around, put on hold, and disconnected. Classic. After three attempts I was finally connected to a nice gal who assured me she would see me thru the process. I got her name and direct phone number and was not letting her go until I got a date (to pick up). The pick up was a range within three days. No exact date could be determine as they needed to negotiate with other shippers. Apparently these companies just broker the work to freight carriers. I was told my bike would be crated at time of pickup. Well a crate is really just a wood pallet with a ramp notched into it and four eye hooks screwed in. I have heard horror stories of shippers taking bikes off the trucks and out for joy rides. To prevent this I instructed the seller to send me the keys and title separately via priority mail. When dealing with vintage motorcycles, keys can be a challenge. The bike had one ignition key and if it was lost it would mean delays in our project. So keep those keys well guarded. The shipping company was provided the sellers contact info and they called him with a final pick up date. I asked the seller to bubble wrap the ends of the handle bars to prevent anything from getting snagged on the levers and as a precaution in case the bike fell or the bars came in contact with the fuel tank. Once the bike was in transit it would take two weeks to travel the 700 miles to New England. Why so long? Well it is not a direct trip. The carriers make several other stops picking up other items before departing and while traveling. When the bike finally arrived it was delivered by a local freight company who was the third carrier to handle the bike. They told me the bike had been take off its pallet and moved around at their facility days before it was reloaded for final delivery. Sure glad I had those keys sent separately.
Before signing for the Motorcycle I had to examine it for damage much like a rental car agreement. I noticed the leading edge of the from fender had some damage that I did not see in the photos on EBay and was not described in the listing. The invoice had a sketch of the bike with various notations and initials of the seller noting the damage was present before pickup. I rechecked the EBay listing and upon close examination could be seen the damage but it could have been pointed out in the listing. So lesson learned. Be sure to communicate with the seller and ask ask ask about everything in advance.
After I had possession of the motorcycle I called EBay customer service to discuss the misleading shipping quotes. EBay offered no buyer protection for shipping. They said they simply offered it in the listing as a service but did not get involved in disputes between buyers and shippers.
Our Project Bike Arrives
Bikes are moved around by freight company employees as needed
Damage not clearly shown in EBay listing but documented on shipping invoice
We purchase our 1967 Aermacchi Harley Davidson Sprint H on EBay. We negotiated a Buy It Now price of $2600 with the seller. The bike was in northern Georgia and we needed to budget for shipping. The EBay listing includes a shipping tab that allows potential purchasers the opportunity to get a shipping quote from multiple shippers by simply entering the destination. We received via email several quotes ranging from $310 to $700. We assumed the quote was backed by the shippers reputations and backed by EBay. We couldn't be more wrong. We assumed the $310 was what we would be charged and we went forward with the transaction. You know what happens when you ASS U ME. After the purchase we called the shipper that offered the $310 fee and were told they would not honor it. They said "we've been having a lot of low quotes on EBay and we can't figure it out...". Classic bait and switch. They stated the actual charge would be $675 - more than double the original figure. We moved forward with the contract and they took a deposit from me and told me they would call back with date for pickup at the sellers location. After several days I had not heard back so I called the shipper. I was transferred around, put on hold, and disconnected. Classic. After three attempts I was finally connected to a nice gal who assured me she would see me thru the process. I got her name and direct phone number and was not letting her go until I got a date (to pick up). The pick up was a range within three days. No exact date could be determine as they needed to negotiate with other shippers. Apparently these companies just broker the work to freight carriers. I was told my bike would be crated at time of pickup. Well a crate is really just a wood pallet with a ramp notched into it and four eye hooks screwed in. I have heard horror stories of shippers taking bikes off the trucks and out for joy rides. To prevent this I instructed the seller to send me the keys and title separately via priority mail. When dealing with vintage motorcycles, keys can be a challenge. The bike had one ignition key and if it was lost it would mean delays in our project. So keep those keys well guarded. The shipping company was provided the sellers contact info and they called him with a final pick up date. I asked the seller to bubble wrap the ends of the handle bars to prevent anything from getting snagged on the levers and as a precaution in case the bike fell or the bars came in contact with the fuel tank. Once the bike was in transit it would take two weeks to travel the 700 miles to New England. Why so long? Well it is not a direct trip. The carriers make several other stops picking up other items before departing and while traveling. When the bike finally arrived it was delivered by a local freight company who was the third carrier to handle the bike. They told me the bike had been take off its pallet and moved around at their facility days before it was reloaded for final delivery. Sure glad I had those keys sent separately.
Before signing for the Motorcycle I had to examine it for damage much like a rental car agreement. I noticed the leading edge of the from fender had some damage that I did not see in the photos on EBay and was not described in the listing. The invoice had a sketch of the bike with various notations and initials of the seller noting the damage was present before pickup. I rechecked the EBay listing and upon close examination could be seen the damage but it could have been pointed out in the listing. So lesson learned. Be sure to communicate with the seller and ask ask ask about everything in advance.
After I had possession of the motorcycle I called EBay customer service to discuss the misleading shipping quotes. EBay offered no buyer protection for shipping. They said they simply offered it in the listing as a service but did not get involved in disputes between buyers and shippers.
Our Project Bike Arrives
Damage not clearly shown in EBay listing but documented on shipping invoice
Saturday, February 8, 2014
TCO - Total Cost of Ownership 1967 Aermacchi Harley Davidson Sprint H Project
What does it cost to own a classic or vintage bike and keep it on the road?
In the spirit of full disclosure and transparency we'll be tracking the expenses involved in purchasing and maintaining a vintage motorcycle. We are doing this to educate those that think they are going to buy a bike and get it running for next to nothing. Remember, we started with a solid running bike. We haven't even gotten into a engine or transmission rebuild which can add significant dollars to any projects cost.
Purchase Cost 2600.00
Shipping 675.00
Spare Key blanks (2) 22.58
Bag of used nut & bolts 26.00
Handlebar Mounts 42.75
Low Rise Handlebars 45.15
Battery 25.00
Petcock Handle 20.80
Petcock Seal 8.07
Petcock Spring Washer 1.29
Condenser 12.00
Points 35.00
Spark Plug Wire 25.98
Wheel Bearing Spacer 6.50
Spoke Nipple 8.00
Spoke 6.00
Front Tire 81.00
Rear Tire 98.00
Tubes 30.00
Engine Gasket Set 69.00
Owners Manual 11.85
Service & Parts Manual 45.95
Service to install tires
& balance 110.56
Generator Warning Lens 16.95
Warning Lamp Bulb (2) 9.90
Speedometer Lamp Bulb 9.95
Fork Oil 10.00
Carb Rebuild Kit 45.00
Rubber Throttle Cable Boot 8.00
Foam Air Filter 12.00
Speedometer Cable 45.00
Clubman Bars 79.00
___________________________
Cost To Date 4245.28
What does it cost to own a classic or vintage bike and keep it on the road?
In the spirit of full disclosure and transparency we'll be tracking the expenses involved in purchasing and maintaining a vintage motorcycle. We are doing this to educate those that think they are going to buy a bike and get it running for next to nothing. Remember, we started with a solid running bike. We haven't even gotten into a engine or transmission rebuild which can add significant dollars to any projects cost.
Purchase Cost 2600.00
Shipping 675.00
Spare Key blanks (2) 22.58
Bag of used nut & bolts 26.00
Handlebar Mounts 42.75
Low Rise Handlebars 45.15
Battery 25.00
Petcock Handle 20.80
Petcock Seal 8.07
Petcock Spring Washer 1.29
Condenser 12.00
Points 35.00
Spark Plug Wire 25.98
Wheel Bearing Spacer 6.50
Spoke Nipple 8.00
Spoke 6.00
Front Tire 81.00
Rear Tire 98.00
Tubes 30.00
Engine Gasket Set 69.00
Owners Manual 11.85
Service & Parts Manual 45.95
Service to install tires
& balance 110.56
Generator Warning Lens 16.95
Warning Lamp Bulb (2) 9.90
Speedometer Lamp Bulb 9.95
Fork Oil 10.00
Carb Rebuild Kit 45.00
Rubber Throttle Cable Boot 8.00
Foam Air Filter 12.00
Speedometer Cable 45.00
Clubman Bars 79.00
___________________________
Cost To Date 4245.28
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
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| 1965 Moto Guzzi Stornello Sport America |
To learn more about MotoGiro USA events go to http://motogiro-usa.com
Monday, February 3, 2014
When you were a kid did you ever visit an old cemetery and take rubbings of the tombstones?
I was parting ways with a 1968 Ducati 250 Wide Case Scrambler and wanted something to remember it by. I used water soluable printing ink and heavy weight water color paper and went to work taking random samples off the engine case. The water based ink sponges right off so the aluminum and is easy to clean up.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
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