Suzuki 2 Strokes

Just got back from the annual Gilmore Vintage Bike Show and Ride this past weekend so I though I would post some pictures! They had a great turnout this year and it was an overall great weekend. Registration for the Saturday ride ended at 10am which meant I had to leave the house at about 7 to make it the 130 miles to Gilmore in time. There I met up with about 120 other riders followed by a 70 mile tour of the scenic area that ended with lunch at the local diner where I met some really great guys. One of them was Steve Searles who I learned has nearly 70 vintage Japanese motorcycles! After the ride I headed North 75 miles to my Dad's place where I spent the night. I got up early Sunday morning (again) and rode back down to the museum for the show, this time along side my dad and little sister on his Indian Chief. At the show (by some miracle) I filed in along side the only other Water Buffalo there. It was owned by Mike and his son Nick who had just found the bike at an auction for $500 a week earlier and had spent the entire week getting it rideable for the show. If by some chance anyone got bored with all the bikes there were about a dozen old barns filled with classic cars. One of the show highlights had to be the scooter races though. All the racers had their own starting style. Some would Flintstone it with their feet while the winner propped his bike up on the center stand and got the back tire going about as fast as it would run. When the announcer yelled go he would pivot the bike forward and the tire would hit the pavement followed by an almost indiscernible squeak. There were even a couple good crashes, or as good as they could be for 20 mph.

After the show I rode back home to Detroit and my whole body is still aching from the ride but like I said it was a great weekend and all worth it. The Madbuffalo even managed to take home a third place trophy in it's class (Japanese 600cc and over) which cought me completely off guard. In all I rode the old bike about 500 miles over the course of the weekend. Next year's show will be the second weekend in June and I'm hoping a few more of us can make it. We need some better representation for the old Suzuki 2-strokes!

Josh

Thats good news Josh and thanks for posting up the pics. You got in some good riding and won a place too for attending, thats great. Where on earth do you find those $500.00 dollar Buffalos in that sort of general condition, I wish I could find a 76 or 77 that looks like that 74 does.
However those mini ape hangars look so silly on there, its an abomination, .
Just one thing to take issue with you, you didn't post one photo of your dads Indian.

Looks like a great way to spend a weekend.

Wow, a rideable GT750 in that good shape for the cost of $500 & a weekend of work. Did they ride it on the the 70 mile tour?

And double wow for a 70 vintage bike collection. My tiny collection of 7 vintage bikes + 1 new bike fills half of my garage and is about all I can handle.

Suzsmokeyallan wrote:Just one thing to take issue with you, you didn't post one photo of your dads Indian.

I know, thought of that after the fact but it would have been really nice to get a picture of me, my dad, and sister along with our bikes. Next time for sure. Those two really did get a steal of a deal on that bike, although the gauges need your attention. Rusty! They said it wasn't quite ready for the show and the bike was noticable rich when they rode it onto the field. Still, it's great to see these bikes coming back to life with new enthusiasts. In my opinion anybody who has 70 bikes is a little crazy. He does have a nice website, just go to Google and type in VJMOG. Thanks guys.

Anyone going this weekend (June 9, 2013)? If I hadn't checked my calendar yesterday I would have forgotten all about it. Show starts at 9am. There's also a vintage ride Saturday (June 8 ) but I can't make that one.

I'm planning on going, but not too sure what the weather will be like..... The weather forecast has been rain, so I'll just have to see Sunday morning. Just tuned the GT a little better today, runs perfect now, so it should make the round trip no problem....or the Katana if I ride alone.

Hard to describe with words...so here's a pic.....

Other than a few creations like this, the show was filled with some impressive bikes...
I'm going every year from now on.

no comment

busa1300 wrote:Hard to describe with words...so here's a pic.....

Oh no!!! That looks like Easy Rider had a cheap one night stand with the Magical Mystery Tour.

We couldn't have had better weather Sunday. And I'd have to agree, I haven't experienced that combination of motor 'eye candy' anywhere else.

This is an overall of the display area. Trophies were awarded based on Country, engine size, custom & competition.


The only other GT in the place (come on guys ). The owner of this pristine unrestored 550, Craig, bought it with less than 6,000 miles just a week ago for $2,000. Is that a deal or what?


One of two Kawa strokers. this H1 belongs to Ray who's clearly done a lot of work.


Overall just 4 2-stroke street bikes there, other than a large assortment of scooters and endures. Like these:


The 'Hardley Dangerous' twin-twin BSA


Some Americans:


I actually spent more time in the old barns looking at Gilmore's classic car collection. The All Cadillac building:


A very nice 1933 Lincoln Phaeton:


No idea:



Hope some more can make it next year,
Josh

Madbuffalo wrote: No idea:

3rd generation Forcasta, built by Darryl Starbird. Built from a 1960 Chevy Monza Corvair.

The Forcasta

ConnerVT wrote:3rd generation Forcasta, built by Darryl Starbird. Built from a 1960 Chevy Monza Corvair.

The Forcasta

Well aren't you a know it all. Just kidding and thanks for the link. It was just sitting there in a back corner of the museum with no information plate or anything so I really had 'no idea'.

Madbuffalo wrote:Well aren't you a know it all. Just kidding and thanks for the link. It was just sitting there in a back corner of the museum with no information plate or anything so I really had 'no idea'.

Well, I know a bunch of car nuts, that together, know (just about) it all.

Kinda like this place.

The owner of that H1 should be shot for putting those bars on! OUCH I say

MikeH1A wrote:The owner of that H1 should be shot for putting those bars on! OUCH I say

You meet some characters at these shows. The owner of that bike was a textbook 'good ole boy'. Scruffy hair, blue jeans, no shirt (by his sun tan that's the norm). Very good guy. Somebody came up to us asking to see the electrical for a H1 they were restoring so the 3 of us spent some time pulling the wiring out to show the guy. Picture 50 vintage bikes in a row with one H1: seat up, cover off, and 3 guys yanking wires out. I can only imagine what the spectators were thinking.