Hoarding and the frisson of excitement (longish)

So, as some people know, I've been up to Carlisle to collect a "failed
restoration project" Honda 400 Four.

Details too long to relate here, but suffice to say that well over a
grand had been thrown at this money pit, with at least as much again
needing to be thrown, but in the course of said throwing, certain of the
items acquired or refurbished by the would-be restorer have taken on
*unbelievable* value.

Anyway, one thing I'd doing is building up a store of service and other
components to ensure that the 400 Four in the sig can be kept running
for many, many years to come. It's a matter of grabbing them where I
can, sometimes greasing them up, and then stashing them in old biscuit
tins (or bigger containers) in the garage.

We're talking OE points, filters, consumables, cosmetic items (I bought
one of the last brand new rear mudguards Dave Silver had), silly small
things that are now unobtainable - anything that will keep it running or
would be impossible to replace or refurbish if it got destroyed. Try
finding a brand new Honda front brake light switch, for example. Or a
left-hand switchgear set.

So it's been with this one. I've stashed away what I want. Ben Blaney Of
This Parish has laid claim to the refurbished-as-new tank and side
panels that came with this one, plus the brand new still-wrapped seat,
and the excellent chrome guards (rear one nearly new). And the rest is
going on Ebay - some of it's up there now.

The thing is, when I find something like this, I get an incredibly
adrenaline rush. I imagine that antique fiends finding an unknown
Chippendale or Clarice (sp?) Cliffe item must feel the same. Some items
I actually want to put in a display case.

At kempton, the ShiteOldBrit Instrument Man has, in his glass-fronted
case, a Vincent Black Shadow speedometer: that massive black-faced
chronometric dial, reading up to 150mph. I desperately want one. For me,
it's just a fabulous artefact.

I was fondling the gear lever and linkage from this 400 Four on Sunday:
OK, so it needs chroming, but it's the most beautifully engineered
component. Adjustable rose joints at either end of the rearset linkage,
as a time when BMW (if you peeled back the gaiters) were using
heavy-gauge bent wire. I just played with it.

Is this ineffably sad or does anyone else start to gibber when they come
across something rare, exotic, and beautiful - and related to bikes? And
if so, what?

 

The Older Gentleman wrote:
[snip 400/4 pron]

Yes.

HTH

--
Martin:
"For a minute there, you bored me to death."
VTR1000 Firestorm
TDR250 http://ukrm.net/BIKES/Yamaha/tdr250.html
martin dot smith nine zero three at ntlworld dot com

 

["Followup-To:" header set to uk.rec.motorcycles.classic.]
The Older Gentleman was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

MMmmmmmm. Vincent Speedo...

Engineering for engineering's sake has a certain appeal and it *does*
make it even nicer if the result is functional as well.

Have you ever wondered why I don't go on holidays in Italy, although
my Italian is (a) good enough to survive there and (b) I can decipher
their SOB mags?

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Heh.

 

One of my many motorcycle regrets is not buying a new 400 four in 1976 when
I chopped in a 250 G5. As I looked at the 400 four (£650) the nice man in
Brownhills pointed out that he had a CB500 for £700 and a new CB550 four for
£750.

Thankfully I bought the 550 four rather than the CB500 - I did own one of
these (CB500) later, it was a trade in at my brother's car garage and it
broke a friend's leg - I eventually swapped it for a big coat.

Myself and friends lusted after the 400 four but spun off in a welter of
750F1/F2 and BMW R800s. (I forbear to mention the CX500 - Honda let me down
on this one).

Now for a cold hearted question.

Does a 400 four do anything better than an ER5? No - don't discuss
style/history or the shape of the petrol tank. Does it go , turn or stop any
better?

John

 

Ah, yes, I understand perfectly.

Did you know, though, that Italy has a law prohibiting the export of
classified "historic vehicles"? Just as well, really.

 

Indeed not. Worse, in every case.

 

The Older Gentleman was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

Quite a lot of countries do, AFAIK. I vaguely remember that NZ, Oz and
SA have similar laws; even the US may have, but in the latter case
you're talking super-rare vehicles.

Mind you, with Berlusconi trying to either sell off or rent out
national treasures I'm wondering how long that law will still exist.

 

*Horrified*

BURN THE HERETIC!

<Makes Sign of the Holy Four-Into-One Exhaust>

--
<8P Wizard
Suzuki GS550 "I like that. Nicely shite" - TOG
Golf GTi 16v
ANORAK#17b BOMB#19 BOTAFOT#138 BREast#5 COFF#24
COSOC#8 DFV#11 STG#1
Remove location from email address to reply

 

Indeed not. Worse, in every case.[/QUOTE]

Really? Never ridden the ER5 - isn't it a just a crappy twin?

 

Yes, it is. But, objectively it goes faster, brakes better, and has
better suspension. Not nearly as 'nice', tho.

 

Well, so did I, seeing as it was definitely a quality paint job, not
the usual halfords botch. But in original colours it's definitely more
desirable. I reckon he could flog the existing tasnk and panels for a
reasonable sum, though.

It is, but think. He spends (for the sake of argument) ukp140 on a
brand new seat. His existing one goes on Fleabay for (if it's in very
good nick, as I remember it was) ukp80-90. Someone's got a used seat
for 80-90 sovs, but he's got a brand new one for 50.

I'd forgotten that! Yes, I liked that stainless steel one as well. In
fact, in practical terms it's better than OE. If you're reading this,
Ben, don't sell that front guard. Just tuck it away for a rainy day.
You can still get brand new fronts off Dave Silver for ukp79, plus VAT,
plus the two stays (so well over 120 quid, then). But rears, as you
know, are in the rocking-horse shit category. I saw an NOS one go for
over ukp200 recently, and one that had been rechromed (and the seller
admitted that the surface, due to corrosion, was still a bit rough) for
150.

 

I dream of finding a hornet that will do more than eighty miles before
reserve.

 

TOG@toil, ,

I'll keep them in case I need them.want them.

Sounds like a lot of hassle. I'll just keep both.

It is nice, that.

Will do!

blimey.

 

Champ said...

I'd describe the ER-5 as capable, but unrewarding. Sure they do things
better than the Honda, but they are utterly soul-less. If I had a
choice between an ER-5 and a restored or very nice 400 Four, I'd take
the Honda every time. 400 fours are one of the few Hondas ever made
with real character.

 

I remember, at that soggy Bol at Magny-Cours - 2000, was it? - chasing
you on your Turbo[1] when we swapped bikes....

[1] Before it broke down.

 

Your mention of the speedo above put me in mind of this one,
which is fantastically gorgous...

http://www.theleasparents.org.uk/Majestic_Moto/majestic_instruments.jpg

and the rest of the bike is rather special as well, very
Bugatti-ish in the curves etc. Obviously the colour helps
this feeling also...

http://www.theleasparents.org.uk/Majestic_Moto/majestic_ls_view.jpg

Nick

 

Frinton Boy says...

When I sold all my SORD bits I kept back an immaculate 13K mile set of
RD250D clocks/idiot lights. One day I'll be mounting them on a plinth as
an ornament.

 

You keep on telling us this... when will you get a round tuit?

--

jeremy
['75 RD250A ] | ['02 Fazer 600 in blue]
_______________________________________
jeremy at hireserve dot com

 

Jeremy says...

When Mr Eaton:

a) Has a spare 15 minutes.
b) A suitable chunk of aluminium.
c) Owes me enough favours to warrant asking him.

So, possibly never.