When they were new I reckon I had the very first 414 VE that Lyall O'brien imported. I remember uncrating it and thinking:
"
What were they thinking" when they designed the side covers, mudgaurds, muffler and tank colour. I had a 78 250 VB with a 360 head, barrel, pipe and carb fitted from new and that was a nice looking bike that went and handled very well.
Anyway after running the 414 in I found it to be an excellent bike apart from feeling it was shorter in the wheelbase as it tried to wheelie everywhere. I can't remember checking the difference but thats how it felt. We made sidecovers for the VB to comply with the rear mounted number plate law at the time so I had a set made in white for the 414. Trimmed up the rear gaurd length, fitted a stadium front gaurd and I think they suited the bike much better but it was hard to do anything about the tank colour.
This one for sale seems to be a bit on the high side for a bike that will need a fair bit of work, but who knows maybe the
Ugly duckling has become a rare collector?The pic below is my 414 VE.
Stan
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