I recall about this time in 1974, the shop truck pulled into the back lot, the shop owner excitedly jumped out exclaiming "We got the first one!". Of the crated bikes loaded on there, was one that was significantly larger than the others.
The shop owner wanted me to assemble that beast now, tonight, have it ready for tomorrow.
Had no forewarning, didn't know what this thing was. I wasn't part of the 'sales' loop.
Cold cocked by a large box.
So, I spent most of the night assembling that thing, scratching my head over how unusual and different it was. The gas tank was a storage area, and the real gas tank was under the seat??? Four cylinder, opposed, liquid-cooled, like a V-dub/Subaru engine. We don't stock coolant here?!?? Shaft drive??? Overall big, heavy, and really different.
Test ride time, it started and ran with no difficulty, unlike other bikes that needed some twiddly to get them to run right. Took off down the street, the sensation was unbelieveably different. So quiet, so smooth, felt like I was being pulled by a tow rope, instead of being pushed by a vibrating growler. Like riding a two-wheel car. As unusual and different as it was, it was just too strange to get to like it at first. I wonder if these things will catch on?
The shop owner wanted me to assemble that beast now, tonight, have it ready for tomorrow.
Had no forewarning, didn't know what this thing was. I wasn't part of the 'sales' loop.
Cold cocked by a large box.
So, I spent most of the night assembling that thing, scratching my head over how unusual and different it was. The gas tank was a storage area, and the real gas tank was under the seat??? Four cylinder, opposed, liquid-cooled, like a V-dub/Subaru engine. We don't stock coolant here?!?? Shaft drive??? Overall big, heavy, and really different.
Test ride time, it started and ran with no difficulty, unlike other bikes that needed some twiddly to get them to run right. Took off down the street, the sensation was unbelieveably different. So quiet, so smooth, felt like I was being pulled by a tow rope, instead of being pushed by a vibrating growler. Like riding a two-wheel car. As unusual and different as it was, it was just too strange to get to like it at first. I wonder if these things will catch on?
