Left to right: Robert and Kennie Buchanan outside their shop in Azusa, Calif., with a couple of the family steeds.

Editor's note: Here's a bit of an intro to our upcoming story on Buchanan’s Spoke & Rim, Inc. from contributor Joe Berk.

A few years ago, while detailing my motorcycle after a long ride through Mexico, I noticed a broken rear wheel spoke. The dealer I subsequently visited told me that I had to buy a complete set of spokes, and that I most likely had two broken spokes (the one I noticed and one, the parts guy said, opposite it on the other side of the wheel). I was more than a little annoyed that I couldn’t buy a single spoke (I won’t mention the dealership, but I will tell you that the motorcycle sported a bar and shield). When I got home examined the wheel closely, and it did indeed have two broken spokes. I checked a couple of independent shops and heard the same thing: I needed to get the entire wheel relaced.  I asked the shops if they did the work; all said they sent the wheel to a specialist. They all mentioned Buchanan’s Spoke & Rim.

I found Buchanan online (www.BuchananSpokes.com) and learned they were only a few miles from my home, so I took my wheel into them, thus beginning my exposure to the world’s premier wire wheel specialists. Robert Buchanan explained that if one spoke failed, the opposite one quickly followed, and the fact that two failed indicated the rest were not far behind.  He also recommended going with slightly larger-diameter spokes (especially on the rear wheel) for better durability. His manner and obvious expertise convinced me. There was no hard selling. It was just the soft voice of an expert who knew what he was talking about that convinced me it made sense to relace the entire wheel.

A week later, as promised, my wheel was ready. When I returned, I asked about their equipment and Robert offered a plant tour. I was blown away by what I saw.  The production machinery ranged from the 1920s to a modern CNC-controlled lathe. I looked at one machine and Robert told me that the wheel on it was from a 1927 Norton, and he casually mentioned the spoke angles. I asked how he knew. He smiled. “We just know,” he said.

Well, the world is a small place, and it is getting smaller. A few years later, I wrote a “Destinations” piece for Motorcycle Classics on Newcomb’s Ranch up on the Angeles Crest Highway (a classic southern California motorcycle ride). One of the photos in it showed a rider working on an early 70s BSA 650 in the Newcomb’s Ranch parking lot. I received an e-mail a few days later from Kennie Buchanan – the fellow working on the BSA. One thing led to another, and they all led to the upcoming article in the May/June 2009 issue of Motorcycle Classics. I hope you enjoy it! --  Joe Berk

Another Guzzi? Maybe we’re just in a Guzzi mood. Yes we featured a Guzzi last week, and yes, we’re featuring another this week. Next week we promise to feature something completely different. Like maybe a Honda CX500. (Is anyone getting this joke?)

Though eBay can be one of the most fun places to go window-shopping for bikes, we’re sometimes a little wary when it comes down to the process of actually buying a bike. Like any deal, if the people are honest, straightforward and helpful, it can work out just fine. If they’re liars, cheats and a pain to deal with, the transaction can be a real bummer. But that can happen with eBay, with a bike found on Craigslist, a bike found in your local newspaper, or even from a friend-of-a-friend. It happens. But somehow it seems to happen more on eBay.

So, from time to time, when we bump into something cool for sale somewhere other than eBay, we’ll feature it here, and that’s exactly what happened this week.

Dubbed “The Perfect Vehicle” by it’s current owner, this 1984 Moto Guzzi V65SP has just 9,200 original miles and appears to be in great overall condition. It features stock Guzzi hard bags, front crash bars, a Dyna ignition, K&N air filters and new Avon tires. Located in Scottsdale, Ariz., the bike can be seen online in the Moto Guzzi National Owners Club website classifieds here.

This week we decided to look for bike that's ready to ride. We didn't want a project or a bike that's ready for display in some concours show. We wanted to look for a bike that we'd like to bid on, buy and ride. What did we find? A hot rod Moto Guzzi 850T.

This 1975 Moto Guzzi started life as a stock 850T before it was rebuilt with a host of high-performance upgrades. According to the auction, this matching-numbers bike was rebuilt with new pistons and rings, a LeMans flywheel and final drive, lifetime fork seals and more at 17,000 miles. The bike now shows 48,000 miles and wears an unusual "preying mantis"-style fairing along with a Sargent seat and twin-disc front Brembos. The frame has been powdercoated, while the bodywork carries the original brown and gold paint.

While it may not fit everyone's taste, the bike is an unusual example of a workhorse of a bike with thoughtful performance upgrades and a bit of hooligan styling. It's bold (and brown and gold), but we like it.

To check out the auction for this custom 850T, go here.

Perusing bikes for sale on eBay is always an interesting experience. What we end up looking at clearly depends on our mood at the time. Some days, we find ourselves stuck on Ducatis, looking for an elusive Mike Hailwood Replica or maybe a cool little Ducati single we could turn into a neat little retro-rat bike. On others, we’re drawn to the Orient, thinking about how cool it’d be to have an early Yamaha 2-stroker. 

Today it was Triumph, and the bike that caught our attention was this very rare and somewhat odd 1982 Bonneville “Royal Wedding.” Only the British would market a limited edition bike like this, of which only 250 were made. Half of those came to the U.S., and who knows how many of those have survived in original condition as many of them were converted to standard trim.

And in fact, this bike isn’t in standard trim, having been heavily modified by its owner with a Manx-style gas tank, a custom seat and tail fairing and drilled front brake rotors. The engine’s likewise been lightly customized, but the owners has most of the original parts and hardware to take the bike back to stock.

A daily rider, it could make a nice cross-country machine for anyone interested in the very last of the Triumph to come out of the old plant in Meriden, England. To see the auction for the 1982 Triumph Bonneville Royal Wedding, go here. To learn more about the bike’s modifications, go here. 

This week's cruise through eBay resulted in a few finds that got us a little hot under the collar. First there was a little 250cc MV Agusta we could see ourselves riding in the next Giro. Then there was 1964 Honda CB77 Superhawk bobber that caught our eye as something delightfully different. But in the end, we settled on a bike that's not flashy, not particulary fast and one that appears to be very near stock. Yes, it's a 1976 BMW R90/6.

Here at MC we're big fans of the airhead BMW's. Editor Backus rode a bitsa R75/5 for years, ad guy Rod Peterson rides his R60/6 almost every day, and editor Hall just picked up a R75/5 that's slowly getting freshened. Editor Backus also spent a couple of weeks riding a nicely-kept R90/6 a couple years back, and lucky for you, he even wrote about it. To read the Motorcycle Classics review of 10 Days riding a BMW R90/6, go here. 

The eBay R90/6 doesn't appear to need any freshening. In fact, all it really seems to need is a new owner. All original with the addition of side cases and a backrest, the /6 was just serviced, and can be seen at Max BMW in North Hampton, N.H.To see the auction for this slick BMW R90/6, go here. 

Kawasaki has made a wide variety of motorcycles over the years. Last week we featured a 1973 Kawasaki H2 750, a fun (if slightly impractical) bike we've always loved. So, another week and another Kawasaki, but this time one that's just as happy carving canyons as it is carrying groceries on its handy luggage rack — a 1981 Kawasaki GPz550.

We've always respected Kawi's lovable line of GPzs, from the approachable 550 to the powerful 1100. Editor Backus is the proud and happy owner of a 1982 GPz750 (even if it happens to be apart this winter while it receives a new set of rings) and it's a bike that helped him remember how fun and good Eighties Japanes four-cylinder can be.

The GPz550 was recipient of many accolades when it debuted back in 1981, as reviewers found the bike to work well on twisty roads and longer hauls, thanks to comfortable ergonomics, 51mpg highway fuel consumption, a 3.8 gallon tank and a reasonably wid and supportive seat. To read more, go here to read our article on the Kawasaki GPz550 from the November/December 2005 issue of Motorcycle Classics.

According to the seller, this bike is in fine fettle and is 99 percent original, with the only modifications being aftermarket loud horns and a Dyno-Jet Stage 1 jet kit with cone air filters. With just over 7,000 miles, this bike has seen just three owners, has new tires, a newly-sealed fuel tank, and runs and rides great.

Go here to visit the auction for this sweet little GPz, and remember, this is a practical motorcycle. At least that's what I plan to tell my wife when I try to explain to her why I need it. -- Landon Hall