Bill’s Bike Barn
Great to see Joe Berk’s excellent article on Bill’s Old Bike Barn and his “stuff”. I’ve been four times and am constantly finding new things to gawk at. One of my favorites used to be the centerpiece in the main hall before he bought the carousel about four years back … a 1948 Rolls-Royce chopped into a pickup truck, painted white and ready for a wedding party. The Gatling gun in front of it I always thought was a nice touch. I haven’t had the good fortune to meet Bill, although the last time I was there I did meet his (long-suffering!) wife, a lovely lady. When I asked about the carousel she just rolled her eyes, and said, “Bill was over in Europe recently, and … ” Fabulous place. Even if you have no interest in motorcycles it’s a gem of a place to visit.
Larry Tate/via email
The perfect motorcycle
I’m not sure what it was that drew me to motorcycles from a very young age back in the ’60s, but I was always fascinated with the sound of motorcycles as they passed by and the looks of the engines.
My first recollection of motorcycles was seeing one of the next door neighbor’s boyfriends pull up on various bikes when I was approximately 10 years old. The first I recall was probably a ’65 or thereabout Ducati, possibly a 250. The other bike I can first recall was a black Yamaha 100 2-cylinder “Twin Jet” possibly 1965-1967 or so, owned by the daughter of one of our neighbors.
My first two-wheel motorized experience was a Stella model A mini bike with a 2.5 horsepower Tecumseh lawn mower engine with a max speed of approximately 20mph. $99 off the showroom floor. My first real motorcycle was a well-used 1966 Bridgestone 90 Sport for $90. My next 10 bikes were a 1968 Kawasaki 175 Bushwacker, followed by a 1971 BSA 250 Gold Star, 1970 BSA 441 Victor Special, 1970 Kawasaki 500 Mach III, 1972 Suzuki 400 Cyclone motocrosser, 1972 Harley Davidson Sportster 1000 XLCH, 1974 Kawasaki 900 Z1A, 1975 Kawasaki 900 Z1B, 1976 Suzuki RM250A motocrosser, then finally the 1978 Kawasaki Z1R pictured with me at age 23.
All of these bikes are Classics to me and a few were significant when they were produced. The obvious standout is the 1970 Kawasaki Mach III which I had in Pearl Gray. What a rush when the tachometer hit 5,500rpm and the power came on. Below that, the bike didn’t have much of a power band at all which necessitated constant downshifting on the freeway when you wanted to pass a car or make quick work of a steep hill.
Contrast that to the 1972 Sportster 1000 which had humongous amounts of mid-range torque which meant almost never having to downshift for any road conditions, as power was plentiful throughout the limited rpm range. Unfortunately this V-twin engine vibrated so much over 4,000rpm that the bike was not very comfortable over 65mph, which limited its usability for me.
The next step for me was of course the 4-cylinder Kawasakis I owned. What a change from the Sportster. On the Kawasakis, the engine was happy at virtually any rpm up to the 9,000rpm redline. The engines on these bikes were so smooth that I constantly found myself cruising at 80 to 85mph on the freeways at about 5,000rpm, leaving another 4,000rpm to redline. Fastest I’ve ever gone on a bike was 132mph on my 1974 Z1A. Even at that speed the bike was smooth and rock-solid.
Ultimately, my last bike, the 1978 Z1R, was perfect for me. The quarter fairing kept almost all wind away from my upper body, with only a little buffeting around the top of my head. The engine had more horsepower than the older Z1s, and the bike had plenty of power even with the stock 4-into-1 exhaust. I put a Kereker 4-into-1 on it anyway which lightened things up a bit and may have added a few horsepower. I used to ride that bike on the Sunken Meadow Parkway and Southern State Parkway going back and forth to work on Long Island and the handling and power made short work of all the freeway traffic. I often cruised between 80 and 90mph on the less congested areas of the freeways. What a great bike. If I see one of these on a Mecum Auction I may have to pick it up. You can never go back, and memories are frequently more friendly to us than our actual experiences at the time. But I’m confident the Z1R1 would still be a great around town bike and freeway cruiser. Sort of wish I had held onto mine from new, but hey, what can you do?
David E. Crow/Huntington Beach, California
On collecting
My strong admiration for those who could amass a sizable motorcycle collection started in 1969 when I saw the just released Honda CB750 at the World’s Fair in Budapest, Hungary. I was an avid rider in my twenties, and owning one Pannonia, a Hungarian made 250cc 2-stroke motorcycle, made me very happy. As I was looking at that bike, I realized that owning that Honda, was an impossible dream. Just one year later, I escaped communist Hungary, and immigrated to the United States. For several years, I was dreaming and hoping to own that Honda or something similar or equal. It took a long time when finally I was able to buy a used Kawasaki Z1. I had arrived at motorcycle heaven.
Over the years I have owned 45 motorcycles, but lacking the space and sufficient funds, I needed to sell many of my prized possessions. With my son, we could only maintain about a dozen vintage and modern bikes. I visited and know only a few museum style collections, but there is one I admire the most. It belongs to a dear friend of mine, Daniel Schoenewald, who I met at the Rock Store in Southern California 25 years ago. Not only does he have more than 150 extremely rare and valuable bikes, but he rides them regularly. His collection covers the years between 1930 and 2021. I treasure this picture, my friend Daniel and I, with his 1930 Brough Superior, which was taken during the 2005 Hansen Dam ride in Southern California.
Attila Gyarmati, Sun Valley, California
Recognize this Indian?
Some years ago I found the attached photo among my father’s collection. He passed away in 1978. I believe it was likely taken before 1938 (in the Boston, Massachusetts, area), the year my dad and mother were married. I identify the rider as Bill Hood, their mutual good friend from their “gang,” as my mother would refer to their group of chums. The passenger is unknown to me. Perhaps they were set to be riding in a 4th of July parade? It is interesting to note that American flag appears to have 42 stars. Google it!
Any insights on this Indian motorcycle would be appreciated.
Jerry Harting/Framingham, Massachusetts
Reader Bruce Perry from Montana called in to share some info with us. He believes the bike to be an Indian Big Chief, probably from 1923 or 1924. It appears to be the 74 cubic-inch (1,200cc) Powerplus engine. The unusual front wheel points to the bike being a military model from World War I, as the solid disc wheels were used during the war rather than spokes, which broke easier. The bike also appears to be set up for a sidecar and wears a companion seat, or pillion pad, on the back. His guess is that they were getting ready for a Fourth of July parade. Bruce, thanks for the feedback! — Ed.
Originally published in the March/April 2023 issue of Motorcycle Classics magazine.
