Was just looking on Craigslist last night for Honda XR600’s to convert into a simple surf-check ride and around-town commuter.
Wanted an air-cooled, kick-started single for simplicity and reliability. Not to mention you can pick up used ones for less than $1K if you are patient. A bit of fab and welding and you’ve got a solid reliable bike that’s cheap to own and maintain. Easy to put some board racks on too 
lawless - that thing is pretty sweet.
Icc - Those BMWs are nice. - I used to do a lot of work on their russian clones (the Ural) boy where those things trash.
I found a couple more pics of some other bikes I had.
The matching sx650 to the RD200 - I am not sure why everyone gets so into those SXs. - I found it to be pretty sluggish for a 650, but then again it has 2 too many strokes for me. I am used to riding highly tunes 2 stroke racers.
Also found a pic of a little cb350 racer I had. It was a pretty fun around town bike - used to cruise PCH at night on it.really run.
Lawless, that tracker is sweet! Thumpers rule!
WideAwake, having never owned one but after ogling a ton of them, imo, the xs650 draw is all about the lines and build potential. Doesnt matter how fast or not.
Never been a fan of cafe bikes but, i can appreciate the build. That cb350 is sweet!
That’s a rad CB350, wideawake.
I used to have a '79 CB750, but low-sided it and wrapped it around a tree. Luckily, I got away with some minor road-rash, but it’s been a long time since I’ve had a bike after that. Looking for a practical around-time commuter and surf-check bike now.
Some cool bikes there!
Great project Josh! You certainly have your work cut out for you, but that’s half the fun 
I’ve built a couple of basket case trumpy’s which was fun, I don’t yet have the room for any projects (my next bit of room will be taken up for shaping) but one day I’ll buy another ‘basket’.
Just tuned my Italian beast for the up coming summer. Capable of 0-100 kph in 4.5 secs.
Not that I will ever need that acceleration to get to the beach that’s about 200 metres away, but its nice to know you can blast a 911 off at the lights.
Ive mellowed from manual cars and bikes to auto versions as they are simpler and often quicker.
Top speed 160 kph or 100 mph.
sweet scooter Surffoils!
i just missed out on a free XS650 locally…
this is the kind of thing that has me checking craigslist like a fiend for weeks after!
hahaha
Ive been looking at the Can Am Spyer. Looks like you could rig a rack on it. I wish that Honda would start making the Trail 110 again. It was fun little bike for around twon and getting on logging roards. Lots of fun. Never used it for surf transportation
Free is the best isn’t it ! The scooter was on for $7500 and they’re cool to look at, but not worth that amount in a million years. In the end I paid 4000 which is a bit over market value but it is exactly what I wanted, low kms and in great condition. With vehicles I’d rather get a better quality one than a wreck and try to build it up.
Not to jack this thread but take a look at this. A honda FL400, last in a lineup of the FL350 and FL250. Theres a guy around here who make a rack for the top and side. Could be cool for winter when bikes arent as good anymore or for much harder to get to areas. He brings it everywhere to all the hidden harder to get spots. Beaches, parks, over a jetty!!! (yes a full length jetty) dunes, through wooded trails, even snow. Its pretty impressive how well the little thing goes.
Just thought all these 2 wheeled death-traps needed a 4 wheel death trap too offset them haha
Angus-
Loving this thread on bikes Surffoils. I bought my first bike in 1967 when I was still at school. It was a Velocette 1959 Viper; one of these:
Paid $350 for it! Went on to become bike mad. Even worked as a mechanic in a bike shop for 12 months, and road raced a Bultaco 2-stroke modified by a mate, Chris Dowd, who went on to become Dowd Racing. In a like vein is this late Indian made Royal Enfield, I snapped this pick on the main street of Pokhara in Nepal 
As for searching; a mate has been making his way up the coast of Java on a scooter. He’s been at it since March this year. He’s found a few good breaks, nothing spectacular, but some good, cheap places to stay, and pleasant, uncrowded waves. He’s about to return to Bali and ship his scooter to Sumatra, then continue his explorations along the coast. He’s been trying to entice me into accompanying him. I should do it, but I’m too lazy. Maybe next year.
Anyone here had any experience with the Vincent Black Shadow?
Back in the early 70’s when I was still riding, swapped my BMW R60 with my friend for his early 50’s Black Shadow during a Hwy #1 run in NorCal, absolutely terrified me how fast it was and how lousy the brakes were…the bastard just wouldn’t stop, and if you really cranked down on the brakes, the bike just wanted to slide…he was laughing his ass off when I begged him to pull over and give me my BMW back…a few months later, that damn bike almost killed him, spent a month in the hospital, and a year fully recovering. When he finally got healed up enough to ride again, he sold the Vincent and bought a BMW.
that bike was pure evil…
Yeah Icc, the Vincent Black Shadow must be about the most revered bike in history, I at least, would rather own one of them than any other bike. That engine just looks insane
I had the pleasure of checking out a Vincent at a rally - What’s amazing is how there could not possibly be any more engine stuffed into that space.
Loving the thread - something to life other than surfboards!
If you owned one you would have to recalibrate the time to assign to various activities in life as there would be a near continuous discussion with random members of the public about the bike; even non afficionados would give you a WTF.
There is one of each of these in my parent’s garage. Both are in good shape but neither has been touched in over 20 years. Someday…
I helped a guy with a restoration of a 40s vespa. He turned our to be one of Jay Leno’s full time mechanics. He gave us a tour, not old does Jay have cars but bikes too of which 2 were Vincents. One was completely original, the other in need of restoration.
It was a pretty cool day!
most of my friends had bikes, so got to ride a handful. Memorable ones;
BSA 441 victor - the torque on that single lung beast. Pull a wheelie for a block just feathering the throttle. Didn’t even have to take a run to get up a steep hill on the dirt, just twist it and hang on.
Honda 250 Scrambler - maybe one of the funnest inexpensive bikes ever built.
Triumph Bonnieville 650 - only never actually rode it, lol. Older neighbor owned it, kept pestering him to ride it, one day said ok if i could kick it over , only not enough strength in my scrawny 15 year old frame to do so…probably for the best. that bike made it’s owner a fair amount of green drag racing hot rods on BrotherHood Way in S.F.
Loved bikes…the idiots on the road that finally got me off them? not so much…
Triumph TR-6 best bike I ever owned - perfect gear ratios - great handling - beat Bonnevilles off the line - miss it.
Here are my two bikes.
First one is a 1955 Motoconfort U46C (4 stroke 125cc) :
The other one is a 1971 honda CB twin that I’m currently restoring :
