WHAT....A....BRILLIANT .....COLLECTION ....OF....CLASSIC....MOTORCYCLES !!! I absolutely love the bikes....and I sincerely admire the owner of these classic motorcycles. This man really is a MASTER of motorcycle craftsmen and collectors ! gah (australia)
Got to absolutely love and respect this man, not afraid to ride the bikes like they were built to do. Collectors now let them sit and collect dust out of fear
They were meant to ride. How fun is it taking an H2 750 to redline vs gazing at it whilst scratching your chin. You decide. Thanks for the nice comment. William the owner.
I used to sock my toys away in the dark for nobody to see, worried about their value dropping. But now, I enjoy regularly using all six two strokes in my collection. Much more enjoyable! Honda NH125, Suzuki GT185, GT550, Yamaha DT175, RD350 and RD400.
I remember the Cycle World's write up about about the Z1 at Daytona when it first came out. They actually ran the bike over 100 mph for 24 hours at Daytona then they dissembled the engine and showed photos of a pristine engine. All of us riders were very excited to see this. All my bikes were 2 strokes and were tuned to burn up the streets and some pistons before I got the timing and jetting right. Your collection of bikes is something to behold.
I ride a Kawasaki Ninja now, but I have such a soft spot for the GT750 I put up many thousands of kilometres on. The lack of severe engine braking, the power band coupled with leaving vehicles in your wake covered in blue smoke, made it such a joy to ride. I loved the two strokes, and had a suite of them. Maybe again one day, but beautifully restores two strokes down under are a small fortune to buy. Great to see such passion.
Happened on your video this morning and Thank You!! The motorcycle collection, knowledge and shared enthusiasm of these beautiful, rare bikes just brought so much needed joy to me today. I can't thank you both enough!
I have a Honda CB750 K7 '79 and a Suzuki GT750 '76. I started with a Suzuki GT550 '76 and sold it after 1 year for the Honda. Later I bought also the GT750.
I've just sold my 1980 Benelli 900 Sei after 38 years of ownership, it is a non runner but it has some good updates, six 22mm Dellorto carbs, Tomasselli clip on bars and Q/A throttle, Tarozzi rear sets and six-into-six Silentium exhaust and modern switchgear and modern Brembo hand controls. I let it go for £1500.00 to a guy I've known for 45 years, I know he will look after it and return it to it's former glory.
Excuse me Sir, what are you doing in my head. This is my alltime wishlist of bikes, beautifully prepared and not afraid to step away from originality for efficiency. Bootiful, just bootiful
I was a tune up guy had like 20 bikes, a guy came in with a water Buffalo in a Norton frame for 900 bucks like new all in glossy Battle ship grey and I missed getting it.1989 , we had several of your bikes..at Venice CA
Wonderful collection, I'm in England and had the Suzuki gt750 , here we called it the KETTLE not the water buffalo , it was a legendary bike and sounded amazing, mine had microns 😁 thanks for the look around
Superb collection- I started riding in 64 in the UK and have owned nearly 50 bikes, usually 1 at a time. First new bike was a 68 Honda CB450 followed by a 72 Kawasaki H1. I still have my 2005 Z1000 but at the age of 76 I'm not stopping yet. 2 strokes weren't banned here so I was lucky enough to have a couple of RD350's and an 86 RG500. Seeing that line of H2s was a treat.
What a fantastic collection, as an owner of multiple bikes in not near this condition i can appreciate the work to keep these running in this condition, love the ducktail H2 and the purple 75, explosive power delivery, i would say the best superbike of the 70's would be the KZ900 or 1000, Kawasaki was instrumental in design of this time period, good luck in the auction im sure you will do well, not a sports bike guy anymore but wish i would of bought a RG500 gamma before the prices rose
Had a mint 1980 RD400 from '84 to '86 with 4000kms (2500 miles) I bought off my cousin. Only old it when a dad offered to buy it as a "starter" bike for his daughter as they used to see me polishing it up in the office of the gas station I worked at when not busy pumping gas. Wasn't sure what I wanted but bought brand new '85 Kawi 900 Eliminator. Was regretting not keeping the RD about 2 weeks after as I loved it, but the offer WAS the catalyst for buying the Kawi. Well, about a month after I bought it, I heard she dumped ithe RD, hitting gravel, going slow turning into a business. Her brother then flipped it over doing wheelies a week later! I saw it after the wheelie incident and nearly cried! Swore I'd never sell the next bike I got to anyone in the area! Hence, I still have the Eliminator 38 years later. Didn't know what I wanted, but had they made an RZ750, i would have bought one! I'd now love to have an RZ500, a 500 Gamma and a Honda NS400. I get a chubb on whenever I hear an old two stroke start up!
The first street bike I bought was a 73 RD350 in about 83, that thing was a wheelie king after starting out in the dirt in the 70's, still have multiple bikes both street and dirt but spend most of my time on the pavement now but would still like to get another older CR500
@@hardtail-gy8dk Had a gutless '74 MT125 Honda 2 stroke enduro as my first dirt bike when I was 14. Saved up all my odd job money for it as Mom and Dad said the only way I was getting a dirt bike was to buy it myself as I might respect it more. Bought my mint '80 RD400 with 2500miles off my cousin when I was 16 and then put a down payment on a '77 RM370 that my uncle and his buddy had only put 30hrs time on in 8 years. Rode it twice then realized a barely broken in 370 was WAY too much for a 120lb kid! Got rid of that and bought a still wicked YZ125 which was pretty fast too. With that RD, you talk about wheelie machines! Stock, I could do some great clutch wheelies and go a couple hundred feet. But I put expansion chambers, K&N air filters and Boyessen reeds into and removed the old steel fender. I dropped about 30lbs, if not more between the mufflers and fender/taillight bracket and boosted it probably 15-20hp(I'm no expert) and that bike became scary! My favorite thing I discovered was burying the throttle at about 1500-2000 rpm, where i would bog, but once it hit the powerband, it would lift the front wheel sky high without clutching OR snapping the throttle! Felt so cool to have a bike that would do that! Didn't have it very long like that as a friends father offered to buy it for his daughter "without the loud pipes" and I bought a brand new Kawi 900 Eliminator which I still have today.
Back in the late 80s a d early 99s, I had a GT750. Absolutely reliable, and hadled amazingly well. No trouble keeping up on the highway, and, even without a fan, wouldn't overheat on the hottest days. It would idle itself out of gas, and still stay well within operating temperature. Mine was a 73, and at a few months short of 80, I'd give a month's pension to ride one again.
I have got a couple of bikes and rd 350 LC completely re built tuned a full stage 3 race tuned all speeds racing reeds oversized pistons full crank re build spend most of the time looking at the clouds it’s rapid and I have a zx6 r ninja in fuel injection green it’s quick to.
Wunderschöne Sammlung. Was noch fehlt, ist eine `76 Honda Goldwing und eine frühe Kawasaki Six mit Flachtank und Vergaser und vielleicht noch die Kawasaki Z1R und Yamaha XS 1100? Ebenfalls ikonische Motorräder!
What a fantastic collection of bikes. These are all the bikes I wish I had so very very envious. Your knowledge of the bikes is also fantastic. I did have a Kawasaki KH250 which was fab. Just wish I had the money and space for all these bikes now. Really glad you enjoy them and long may it continue. Many thanks for sharing these with us.
Bennelli 750 6 Cylinder, yea that was one hot rocket ship right there............. That damn 80 MPH speedometer on the CBX from 80-82 truly was a POS Law in place. That CBX will bury that in second gear or was it third, forgot it was more than 40 years ago. Sure wished I never got rid of it for sure. I LOVE LOVE LOVED that bike. And that F1 Exhaust Note was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo SWEET. I remember my 79 having the 6 into 6 exhaust on it. HOLY SHEET, I HAD A 74 H1 in '78 AS MY FIRST BIKE AND OH BOYEEE was it fun. I had no business riding it as my first bike, but jeez it was fun. A year later I got a Suzuki GT550 triple 2 stroke and it was even MORE Fun. Dude you must be my soul twin cause everyone one of these bikes I have had or do have EXCEPT the H2, never owned one. Current family is An 83 GL1100 Interstate, A K1300GT, a ZX11, a Katana 750 Gen 2, a Katana 600 Gen 3 for them twisty days so it runs the gamit from Touring to Twisty roads to flat out superbike that is FTF and dangerous cause I cannot stay outta the triples on it. Really Would love to ride out with ya some day and you pick the rides........ WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTT, You're selling??? Ok Would LOVE to own the H1 and any of the H2's. If ya got any left (dangit missed the dang auction) hit me up. I will work with ya on the communication.
I purchased a new Kawasaki H2 in feb of 1972, I learned to ride the bike like a unicyle, of all these bikes only the norton combat commando could even comr closr to catching the H2, but the Kawasaki was still ahead in yhe quarter mile. The H2 even shut down an A12 six pak Super Bee, but not by much, no doubt the most thrilling machine I ever owned!
I bet on your Suzuki GT750 you will find the crankshaft seals are going south for you, especially on the right side (transmission side). When this seal goes bad, they will suck oil from the transmission and smoke like yours is doing. Check and see if your trasmission oil level is getting lower. That is a telltale sign. The GT750 was noted as being the cleanest running of two strokes in their day. God Bless You, Beautiful collecton. John B. (I still have my original 1974).
Thank you for your comment. I have rebuilt many of these GT750’s and very familiar with the right side outer seal weep. The engine will smoke on all 3 cylinders if it has not been started in a while. Oil collects in the bottom of the cases and gets burned off upon initial startup. The smoke clears up pretty quick and the SRIS, (Suzuki Recycle injection system) takes effect and scavenges the oil from the bottom of each cylinder crankcase. The bike is virtually smoke free after 5 minutes. *If you have a right side seal fail, then you will see very white smoke from the right pipe only. If you have an outer main left seal fail, it will run lean by virtue of sucking in ear air from the "Dry side” crank case.” Here is a video of this GT750 & another one I restored. *Note calm smoke. i hope this helps. Cheers: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--Or_6fDa7yc.html
Greeaatt collection. I had a GT 550 and sold it 15 years ago. Now I've finally my license and would love to drive it. But, I cannot afford one these days ;-) So, I bought a 1999 Beemer R1100S, also not bad but ... :-) Good luck to the owner and the film maker. Regards. Ps, think next bike will be a XJR1300, from about 2015. They look great, like an old cafe racer. Or a Beemer K1200R. Or both ;-)
A dream of a collection. I would say that EVERYONE loves the shape and sound of these bikes. I was lucky and a few weeks ago I got a Kawasaki KH250 B2 out of a barn and am currently restoring it. For me, it's the best and coolest bike to start with. But first I have to make my driver's license ;)
Yes an awesome collection and agree with many here including the owner, the Norton is the star and quite a beast. Interesting to me that it was built in collaboration with Matt Rambow at Colorado Norton Works. I say that because I’ve just bought one of his builds, #101, the one owned by Bill Greene as seen on RU-vid by over 300k viewers. Currently on its way to the U.K. and I can’t bloody wait. Hearing this one fired up just got my juices flowin’ again so thanks guys.
Great collection of seventies Superbikes. Beautiful work on resto and useful mods on that commando. Owned a silver CBX and my mate upgraded forks brakes n swing arm to make it a decent handler. Six into one pipe too. Yep F1 car soundtrack.
Damals ok, aber aus heutiger Sicht hätte er alles so lassen sollen, wie es war. Mein Vater sagte immer wieder, warum etwas verändern? Die Ingenieure wissen, was sie tun. Und ich denke, er hatte recht.
On the purple H2C you need to move the right exhaust mounting to the inside edge of the rear foot peg mounting. The two plates also bolt together to mimic the single hanging plate used on the brown H2B
The GT750 doesn’t routinely smoke particularly badly, unless as here, the crankcase has accumulated excess two stroke oil, usually through leak-by of the oil pump and oil lines. If used regularly and given the beans, you’ll get rid of that excess & the smoke falls off almost completely. Owner of a 1977 GT750A and a GT380B.
Such a great collection,i understand downsizing a lil to keep the balance of Rideing happy,(impossible to appriate each and every one to there full potential with so many)your bikes will be aquired respected loved 👍your a good man for giving others the chance to appreciate those bikes as you have, they are practically and entitie of their own like an animal
My buddy, who had a motorcycle shop, and was asked to develop and teach a motorcycle mechanics course at our local technical college, bought an RZ500 years ago and has installed R1 bodywork on it. Didn't have it on the road the last time I saw him 4 years ago, but it looked pretty cool sitting in his garage!
Beautiful collection and the owner seemed really down to earth and very knowledgeable! Loved all of them, and as much as I am a two stroke lover, the Norton was just over the top beautiful! Wonder if there is a list of what he got for each of these?
I rode my brother's used Mach III 500 (blue 1970?) just after he got it- it was a total dog until 4,000, then the hard pull nearly took me back off the seat. Scared me to death- I later got a '72 orange Mach III- nearly as fast, with a few small improvements.
Why these people will never understand the obvious: A classic has to remain ORIGINAL! The so called "upgrades" and "mods" simply detract and make the end product a hybrid piece of cr*p. Anyone who desires a faster, more modern, electronically managed contraption should simply go out and buy one, instead of spending his money trying to convert a classic in the process utterly ruining it.
I think it is up to the owner/collector. For a museum-quality collector piece that will be displayed or ridden sporadically, everything might be best kept stock. However, for a daily rider/driver, restomod might be the way to go. This often takes place in the 4 wheel world where modern or more recent brake, suspension, and air conditioning are transplanted to older vehicles.
Sir, Yamaha RD350 cc, double cylinder 2stroke bike was available for sale in India during 1980, is it now available anywhere in the world? Plz.inform me.thanking you sir 😅
What an enjoyable video! Great taste in bikes, I can say that because I own about half of those models. What is it that you like more about the 75 Z1 900 than the 73? Did you sell the 73 yet? If so, can I ask how much it went for?
In the U.K. it was really the change to the riding license that really killed the British bikes. New riders could only have a 250 or below and the performance two strokes absolutely dominated the market. When riders grew out of the 250 and smaller bikes, they naturally graduated to bigger Japanese bikes.
Absolutely beautiful collection👏 Just one question: Isn't that brake hose on the Norton Commando to short, it looks like it is in tension even without the front fork is fully extended?
