OT: Do you dig Thumpers?

[David Tollefson]

I started riding before wife-the-current (and last, thank you) came into the picture. I made it clear she had no say in whether I did or did not ride my motorcycle, but I conceded the life insurance policy as a compromise.

[NHAero]

Of all the two and four wheeled vehicles I have owned, powered and unpowered, the one I wish I kept was the thumper I had in high school, a 1966 Ducati Scrambler. Bright yellow, great sound, a bit of a trick for a 135 pound kid to start...photo from the web attached, mine was not as refined

[simplemind]

Originally Posted by NHAero

Of all the two and four wheeled vehicles I have owned, powered and unpowered, the one I wish I kept was the thumper I had in high school, a 1966 Ducati Scrambler. Bright yellow, great sound, a bit of a trick for a 135 pound kid to start...photo from the web attached, mine was not as refined

You were a lucky kid!

[gasman]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

Ah, A BSA 441 "Victim". Really fun when they ran. If I remember correctly these were developed by putting a bigger cylinder on their 250cc bottom end so that may explain their fragility.

Beat the heck out of you riding it and yes Ken it seemed we were always fixing something on it.

[gemship]

I was watching Jay Leno's garage Sunday night and first saw these new offerings. The 701 is sharp and I wouldn't turn it down but I kinda like the KTM 690 Duke. I think it's cheaper in price too.

[Ken Robb]

Originally Posted by NHAero

Of all the two and four wheeled vehicles I have owned, powered and unpowered, the one I wish I kept was the thumper I had in high school, a 1966 Ducati Scrambler. Bright yellow, great sound, a bit of a trick for a 135 pound kid to start...photo from the web attached, mine was not as refined

I had one very much like this in 1965. I think mine was a 1963 or 1964 250cc Scrambler. I bought it from a guy who had raced it. I don't know what he might have done to it but I had no trouble keeping up with a pal who had a Triumph Bonneville TT that should have been much faster. The Ducati had no speedo or muffler when I got it. I added a Racket Buster to the end of the straight pipe to make it a LITTLE quieter without noticeably reducing the performance.

[NHAero]

Didn't they make an awesome sound? I wonder, if you found one, how hard it would be to keep it running - parts, etc.?

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

I had one very much like this in 1965. I think mine was a 1963 or 1964 250cc Scrambler. I bought it from a guy who had raced it. I don't know what he might have done to it but I had no trouble keeping up with a pal who had a Triumph Bonneville TT that should have been much faster. The Ducati had no speedo or muffler when I got it. I added a Racket Buster to the end of the straight pipe to make it a LITTLE quieter without noticeably reducing the performance.

[William]

Originally Posted by gemship

I was watching Jay Leno's garage Sunday night and first saw these new offerings. The 701 is sharp and I wouldn't turn it down but I kinda like the KTM 690 Duke. I think it's cheaper in price too.

Those look pretty nice as well!



William

[zzy]

I'm really intrigued by this simply because they handle so much like a bike and would be great as a city commuter. As a non car owner a small bike would be nice for running errands or just getting out of town. That said, maybe not so much fun in snow or rain, and no cargo capability.

[William]

Originally Posted by zzy

I'm really intrigued by this simply because they handle so much like a bike and would be great as a city commuter. As a non car owner a small bike would be nice for running errands or just getting out of town. That said, maybe not so much fun in snow or rain, and no cargo capability.

According to the rep in the video they have bags and other accessories for carrying...so there is that.




William

[Tony]

Originally Posted by mistermo

I'd rather hit the deck at 50mph wearing full moto gear, than hit the deck at 20 wearing lycra.

Maybe on a race track. It's whats waiting at the end of "the deck" that concerns me. I've lost friends who didn't have that opportunity.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by David Tollefson

When it comes to interacting with traffic, it's speed differential that is dangerous, not so much the actual moving speed.

True. A common type of motorcycle accident is cars making left-hand turns in front of riders. The car driver often comes in contact with the rider while the motorcycle is going through an intersection at a much higher speed.

[dogrange]

Drool, that 701 would be perfect for my reentry into motorcycling, but 3 little kids and traffic everywhere here in Chicagoland = unlikely for daddy right now.


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[mcteague]

My first motorcycle, back in the late 70's, was a thumper. Still have fond memories of that one even though I now ride a BMW S1000R, about as far from that bike as you could get.

Tim

[PaMtbRider]

I have an adventurized Suzuki DR650 but would love to have a 701 Husky enduro