Author Topic: 60's Desert Sleds  (Read 10272 times)

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Tony T

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60's Desert Sleds
« on: December 13, 2013, 06:06:05 pm »
« Last Edit: December 13, 2013, 06:48:57 pm by Tony T »

Offline kenny5000

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2013, 07:08:23 pm »
It's a pretty good watch!!

Offline jimson

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2013, 07:41:25 pm »
That's what Hannibal is for  ;) and yes I love it aswell. Jimson
Just a balless freak having a go

Tony T

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2013, 08:13:45 pm »
That's right. How is ol' Hannibal?  ;)

Gotta love that there's no Camelbaks, no poofy underwear to stop Monkey Butt, no suspension to speak of and best of all....... not a Greenie in sight!  ;D

oldfart

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2013, 08:56:13 pm »
800 starters  of which only 200 finished   with 600 bikes out there some place  ;D       .... watch at 19 minutes  old mate comes in gets his  fuel tank filled while he's handed a ciggy  :o

Tony ... I loved every bit of it 

Offline PEZBerq

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2013, 10:29:26 pm »
Absolutely brilliant. JN Robert is so cool on the Husky 360! The BSA B441 Victor was a heap of pooh in the desert apparently  ;D Ah tell it like it is I say  8)
Husqvarnas: 78 390AMX, 82 430XC, 84 240WR, 84 500AE, 84 510TE, 87 510TE

Offline firko

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2013, 10:56:14 pm »
Nothing spells big balls better than hammering a 300lb Trumpy desert sled across the tundra at 100+mph with a thousand or so close mates. I'd love to set my Triumph up in desert trim for the street. That thirty minutes and fifty seconds of delight has reminded me why I love old bikes and the culture that goes with 'em.   
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
'68 Yamaha DT1 enduro, '69 Yamaha 'DT1 from Hell' '69 DT1'Dunger from Hell, '69 Cheney Yamaha 360, 70 Maico 350 (2 off), '68 Hindall Ducati 250, Hindall RT2MX, Hindall YZ250a , Cycle Factory RT2MX flat tracker, Yamaha 1T250J, Maico 250 trials, '71, Boyd and Stellings TM400, Shell OW72,750 Yamaha

Offline FourstrokeForever

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2013, 11:06:18 am »
How cool was that video. Highly recommended viewing. I would of loved to have been around then, racing in the deserts on cool bikes and driving home in a cool old pick up truck. Don't know about the lack of water while riding though. Those boys were tough! Not just on themselves, but the bikes too. Not a tiedown in sight for the drive home. Just lean the bike on the side.... No wonder we have a hard time restoring our bikes seeing what they went through.
And the mix of bikes at the finish....Husqvarna, Triumph, BSA, Greeves... Bloody 2 strokes!
Arrogance.....A way of life for the those that having nothing further to learn.

Offline firko

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2013, 11:34:42 am »
I think this movie was made by Bruce Brown, creator of On Any Sunday and the Endless Summer. He certainly had the feel for his subject matter. When living in California I often rode out in the Mojave desert and it's no picnic. Those little clumps of bush (Pucker Bush) the racers seem to weave in and out of in the film are like rocks if you hit them and if you aren't watching from when the hard packed dirt turns to a sand wash, often  without any visible warning there's a good chance you'll end up doing the 'Flying W' over the bars. I've ridden as fast as I felt safe (slow by serious racing standards) on what I thought was a heavyweight Rokon and it sucked the energy out of me in half an hour so imagine how tough you'd have to be to ride a 350 lb Triumph Bonneville at full bore all day!
http://thebannerisup.district37ama.org/primer.shtml 
« Last Edit: December 14, 2013, 01:10:23 pm by firko »
'68 Yamaha DT1 enduro, '69 Yamaha 'DT1 from Hell' '69 DT1'Dunger from Hell, '69 Cheney Yamaha 360, 70 Maico 350 (2 off), '68 Hindall Ducati 250, Hindall RT2MX, Hindall YZ250a , Cycle Factory RT2MX flat tracker, Yamaha 1T250J, Maico 250 trials, '71, Boyd and Stellings TM400, Shell OW72,750 Yamaha

Tony T

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2013, 12:00:53 pm »
Sorry, I probably should have clarified that.
Yep, definitely one of his and available on DVD.
Most of the footage was in On Any Sunday as well.

http://www.montereymedia.com/sports/hare_and_hound_classic.html

http://www.montereymedia.com/sports/bruce_brown_moto_classics.html
« Last Edit: December 14, 2013, 04:50:35 pm by Tony T »

Offline FourstrokeForever

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #10 on: December 14, 2013, 07:40:33 pm »
You've certainly had some of life's experiences Firko.... even if it was on one of those pull start pigs  :o I would've thought a man of your calibre could of organised a better ride than one of those things....

I know that Pucker Bush would hurt, even though I've never ridden in the deserts of California.... They'd be much the same as hitting "Black Boys" on the east coast of OZ... They look green and something that would have some give, but the base of them is like a boulder. My big toe on my left foot has never been the same since hitting one of those suckers at full pelt. And I had modern "best you can buy" boots on.

Yep, those guys had some kahoonas about them alright. Bugger all protective gear. Dud tyres. No suspension. No tools. No water. No back up vehicles. Nothing but your own ability and your bike..... UNREAL
Arrogance.....A way of life for the those that having nothing further to learn.

Offline firko

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #11 on: December 14, 2013, 09:41:01 pm »
Quote
You've certainly had some of life's experiences Firko.... even if it was on one of those pull start pigs  :o I would've thought a man of your calibre could of organised a better ride than one of those things....
My ex's first husband gave it to me. It's a long story ::). I actually didn't mind the bike,  even though it was way past its use by date it was still fun to ride.

http://www.ridingvintage.com/2012/12/1960-big-bear-motorcycle-run.html
http://www.ridingvintage.com/2012/12/1955-national-motorcycle-race.html
http://www.ridingvintage.com/2012/12/1950s-catalina-grand-prix.html
« Last Edit: December 14, 2013, 11:00:35 pm by firko »
'68 Yamaha DT1 enduro, '69 Yamaha 'DT1 from Hell' '69 DT1'Dunger from Hell, '69 Cheney Yamaha 360, 70 Maico 350 (2 off), '68 Hindall Ducati 250, Hindall RT2MX, Hindall YZ250a , Cycle Factory RT2MX flat tracker, Yamaha 1T250J, Maico 250 trials, '71, Boyd and Stellings TM400, Shell OW72,750 Yamaha

Offline FourstrokeForever

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #12 on: December 15, 2013, 11:14:57 am »
Reads like the old hubbie was in it for the revenge.... :o
Arrogance.....A way of life for the those that having nothing further to learn.

Offline r4brightred

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2013, 01:47:43 pm »
I really enjoyed that. Those guys were the real deal Holyfield. Thanks for sharing Tony T

Offline Tim754

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Re: 60's Desert Sleds
« Reply #14 on: December 23, 2013, 11:31:07 pm »
Damn ya's Tony T, Firko and Jimson..... Some spare CB500and 550 four engines, exhausts, wheels , frames etc etc literally hanging around the shed walls. Now they are on the concrete floor and sort of heading towards early 70's "Desert Sled"  as I said bugger you ya trouble makers. ;) cheers Tim754

( or else it was remake of my old burnt out SL125 with a 500/4 engine again.... ::)
« Last Edit: December 23, 2013, 11:34:33 pm by Tim754 »
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