Memories made and miles to go
I was fortunate and honored to be asked to display my 1953 Sunbeam S7 Deluxe in the Motorcycles with Car Names class at this year’s Amelia Island Concours. The bike was purchased by my father in 1972 and is original and unrestored. I learned to ride motorcycles on this bike when I was 15 (I’m now 64). My dad also owned a 1939 Sunbeam B24 and was very active in the Florida Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club. We rode to many events and shows throughout Central Florida. It’s now been passed down to my son, making him the third-generation owner. It still runs great, and we’re both looking forward to many more miles together.
–Gordon Erd via email
The words “original and unrestored” are music to my ears. It’s so fortunate that your father instilled in you respect for the Sunbeam, and now this family heirloom will be in the stewardship of, ummm, your father’s grandson. –Ed.
More black chrome!
Longtime reader (subscriber from the beginning), and friend of the magazine (helped Richard get his AHRMA racing license). I wanted to reach out and let you know how much I enjoy the magazine. While I enjoy every article and bike featured, I am particularly fond of the articles about the bikes from the “black chrome” era of the ’80s. The article about the FJ1100 is a perfect example. I worked in the industry during this era and have a real soft spot for these bikes.
My real love is for the incredible 250 and 500 “repli-racers” that the Japanese manufacturers released in the ’80s. For a young man infatuated with GP racing, these bikes were the ultimate prize for any serious canyon racer! As a now 63-year-old “responsible” adult, my love for these little screamers has not waned. I currently own a 1987 Yamaha TZR250, a 1987 Suzuki RG250 Gamma, a 1990 Honda CBR250RR (I know, not a 2-stroke, but 19,000rpm! Oh, the sirens scream!), and my favorite, a 1988 Kawasaki KR-1B.
I have attached some glamour shots of the KR-1. It is as close to OEM original as I could get it. The bike very much represents what would have been found on a Kawasaki showroom floor in Tokyo circa 1988. I would love to see some articles in your publication about the forbidden fruit of the 1980s JDM replica 250s and 500s.
Thank you for keeping the memories alive!
–Tim O’Mahony, Port Orchard, Washington
Quarter-mile questions
Thanks for another enjoyable issue of Motorcycle Classics. Your “Transatlantic Rivals: British Steel vs. American Iron” is an interesting article. But I think there might an inaccuracy in your comparison table on page 7 of the article where you reference Cycle World period tests. Under the Norton Commando/Fastback column, you indicate a 13.47 quarter mile. I wonder if the Commando tested by Cycle World was a Mk. III? In the March 1970 issue of Cycle, testers had a “shootout” between “Big 7 Superbikes” at that time, the Honda CB750, Kawasaki H1, HD Sportster, BSA Rocket 3, Triumph Trident, Suzuki Titan, and Norton Commando.
Unlike Cycle World‘s Norton 13.47 quarter mile, Cycle‘s Norton cracked a 12.69 quarter mile, to the Triumph’s 12.78 and BSA’s 13.14. In fact, that article convinced me to buy a 1970 Commando Roadster. I wasn’t disappointed.
I never took my Commando to the track, but even with my amateur tuning efforts, I have no doubt I would have broken the 13-second mark.
–Joe Boehler via email
I completely concur, Joe, with your 12.69 quarter mile time as published for the 1970 Commando, and still have that Big 7 issue of Cycle. As they say, results may vary. In the September 1968 issue of Cycle World, what we now call a Fastback, the first Commando, ran 13.47, and since we are comparing these original, first edition machines, that’s why the bike’s statistics read as they do in our story. In May of 1972, Cycle World managed a 12.93 E.T. and cited the K81s were lacking in straight-line traction, but that was the ill-fated Combat version. Was Cycle‘s 1970 Commando completely stock? –Ed.
