Cycle World Photo Concours '98

CYCLE WORLD Photo Concours '98

The Very Best of Readers' Rides

THE CALL FOR ENTRIES WENT OUT THIS PAST MARCH. Dust off your Brownies, we said, fire up those Instamatics, the inaugural Cycle World Photo Concours is on. Show us your bike, and if we like it, fame and glory will be yours-well, at least a nicely engraved plaque and some feature space in the magazine. More than 200 readers responded, avalanching the CW offices with more snapshots than a Kennedy family album. Some classes (Classic, Japanese Classic and Sportbike) were way oversubscribed, which made pick ing the top three a tough slog. Other classes (Veteran, Custom Cruiser and Touring).. .well, let's just say the judges didn't have much to quibble over. What, you guys were too busy riding to send in an entry? Maybe next year. In the meantime, here are 35 bikes that made the cut. Nice machines, all. Picture-perfect, in fact.

1949 Gilera Saturno Sport Guy Webster, Ojai, California

Best in Show

Here's a lesson for next year's Photo Concours entrants: Get yourself a rare Italian roadracer, polish lovingly, send in a calendar-quality photograph and you, too, can have a shot at the Cycle World Best-in-Show plaque. Collector Guy Webster did just that and walked away with top honors this year. His Saturno, a 500cc Single, started life as a "workhorse" streetbike and was converted into a privateer racer sometime in the Fifties. It ended its competition career in Argentina before making its way to the U.S. and into Webster's 70-bike fleet. "It's the most beautiful engine I've ever seen," says Webster, an art director by profession. "I go crazy every time I see one. I love it." We do, too.

Sportbike

After nearly a decade of persistence, frustration and plenty of cash outlay, Les Yoakum finally has his "ideal motorcycle." Fact is, Yoakum has owned this Martin-framed BMW K-series sportbike since purchasing it new in 1990. Yoakum says that the bike's original Luftmiester Stage Il-kitted '88 BMW K100 engine was never quite right; nor did the carbureted Stage IV treatment, which soon followed, satisfy his quest for a streetable performance package. In the end, Steve Lusofsky at Reno BMW put a stock K1 motor and rear-end assembly into the Martin chassis and treated the bike to a fresh paint scheme. "Nine years, $42,000, aaaahhhhh, perfection at last!" exclaims the satisfied owner.

First Place Martin BMW K1 Les Yoakum, Las Vegas, Nevada

Second Place 1992 Bimota Tesi Guy Webster, Ojai, California

Could an Italian sportbike collection possibly be considered complete without the inclusion of a Bimota Tesi? Not in Guy Webster's book-or bike barn, if you will. At the time Webster purchased the Tesi, he proclaimed that the Ducati-powered beauty would be the final addition to his Italian stable, then numbering nearly 50 bikes. But then you have to ask yourself, could such a collection be complete without a Bimota Vdue? Or an MV Agusta F4? Or...

Third Place 1992 Honda VFR750 Mike Hawthorn, Tampa, Florida

What can one possibly do to improve the bike Of has repeatedly voted "Best 750 Streetbike?" Perhaps a bit of attention to de-"tail" is a good place to start. Mike Hawthorn's '92 VFR750 sports an aftermarket CBR900RR seat section with hood vents from a Ford Mustang grafted into its top and a custom-made seat pad. A Kerker tailpipe re-routed to exit under the seat really highlights the VFR's mono swingarm.

Street Specials

First Place 1955 Triumph 650 Thunderbird John Nickerson, Cleveland, Ohio

John Nickerson bought this 1955 Triumph 650 Thunderbird for $90 in 1968. In the 1970s he replaced the U.S.-style fuel tank with a bigger, European tank (at the time, $35 from a Triumph dealer), a Bates seat and headlight, and lots of Webco accessories. Nickerson says he assembled the bike because he always liked roadracers, and the T-Bird was counter to the "chopper thing which was so big then." The engine was opened up with later Bonneville cams, a Joe Hunt Magneto, Amal concentric carbs and a rebalanced crank. Clean and green, this Britbike time machine. Nice work, John.

Second Place 1970 Triumph TR6C Dick Norman, Modesto, California

Double trouble? Dick Norman calls his twinengined Trumpet, "80 cubic inches the hard way." The two 650cc mills were siamesed by cutting the transmission off the front motor, then welding the left sidecases together. The frame, swingarm and tank are hand-built, and Norman says the machine has involved "special machine work by many good friends. In all, about a million hours of labor." Time well spent, we'd say.

Third Place 1963 Norton Featherbed Jerry Kaplan, Davis, California

Jerry Kaplan wrote that his 650cc Norton Special is state of the art, 1963. "I meant to take it apart again to do the cosmetic stuff, but I can't stop riding the damn thing. The thing is pure Manx. Ideal for record racing at the Ace Cafe. I can hear Gene Vincent singing kBe Bop a Lula' as I race down the motorway and through the roundabout, walking coolly back to the cafe before the music stops."

American Vintage

First Place 1947 Indian Chief Philip Johnson, Leesburg, Virginia

There are few existing motorcycles that embody the elegance and nostalgia of days gone by like the Indian. Take, for example, Philip Johnson's award-winning 1947 Chief. Like others of its ilk, the bike sports stylish period pieces such as skirted fenders, fringe saddlebags and ornate seat. It's aesthetic touches such as these that inspire Johnson to say, "I just think it's a beautiful bike. It's like eating chocolate to look at." Like any enthusiast, of course, Johnson takes pride in his machine. But he's particularly proud of this one-not only because of its pristine appearance, but because of its reliability as a regular ride. "This is a riding bike," he emphasizes, "not a show jewel." Nice boots, too, Phil.

Second Place 1944 Harley-Davidson UL 74 Greg Damkoehler, St. Francis, Wisconsin

When it comes to motorcycle collecting, persistence pays off. It took years before Greg Damkoehler finally got this tastefully bobbed 1944 UL. Then, its restoration required two more years. Damkoehler has since kept the bike in shipshape, and manages to ride it on a semi-regular basis. "I'm partial to Harleys," he says, "and this is a fathead 74, which is kind of rare."

Third Place 1948 HarleyDavidson Servi-Car Rod Feyk, Spokane, Washington

Here's a bike for those who prefer the road much less traveled: Rod Feyk's 1948 Model G Servi-Car. Originally a cemetery maintenance rig, it was rescued by Feyk in 1994. "When I got it, it was in awful shape," he remembers. "So I tore it down to every nut and bolt and started over." The result is spiffy, albeit different, and Feyk claims that he still gets strange looks when he rides around town. Ask not for whom the Servi-Car tolls...?

Japanese Classic

First Place 1969 Honda CB750K0 J.R. Morgan, Riverside, California

Progenitor of the ubiquitous Japanese inline-Four, Honda's CB750 was truly a watershed motorcycle. The bike's smooth-running, air-cooled jewel of an engine, disc front brake, tire-scorching acceleration and 123-mph top speed put Honda on the map with mainstreamers. Early first-year models, like J.R. Morgan's Candy Ruby Red '69 KO, had sand-cast crankcases. Today, similarly equipped examples are among the most desirable. That doesn't mean Morgan's machine serves only as a museum piece. Having owned the bike since 1976, Morgan is responsible for accumulating most of the Four's nearly 30,000 miles. "It's in great shape," he says. "And it runs so good. I don't ride it a whole lot, but it sure is fun."

Second Place 1976 Honda CB400F Paul Olson, Albany, New Hampshire

Growing up in a motorcycle shop during the late Seventies, Paul Olson had always admired Honda's racy, four-cylinder CB400F. "It's a classic Japanese caferacer," he opines.

Olson's cherry '76 model is in the same condition as when he bought it 10 years ago, minus the backrest and aftermarket exhaust pipe installed by the previous owner. "I always liked the styling," he adds. "Plus, my wife needed a bike." Sure, Paul...

Third Place 1973 Kawasaki Z-1 Bob Earthal, Brentwood, Missouri

Bob Earthal purchased his Z-1 900 at a garage sale in 1986 for $450. The previous owner had equipped the bike with a Vetter fairing and saddlebags, king-and-queen seat, chrome crashbars and a sissybar. Earthal disassembled the entire bike, then re-finished it piece by piece. "When I was in college, all of the cool guys rode Z-ls with Hooker, Jardine or Kerker headers," Earthal remembers. "The exhaust howl was unmistakable!"

Touring

1984 Yamaha RD350B K.S. Rao, Karnataka, India

Yamaha RD350s are revered in many circles-drag racing, roadracing and sport riding to name a few. But touring? Not a chance. Questionable reliability has always precluded long forays away from home. Just don't tell K.S. Rao of Karnataka, India, okay? Rao rigged his 1984 RD350 (RDs continued to be sold overseas long after their 1979 U.S. extinction) for off-road use, and has since taken adventure touring to new heights. (If you don't know what we mean, check out the elevation on the sign in the photo.) Rao says he routinely tours the Himalayas on the RD, and has covered more than 25,000 kilometers since 1991. Apparently, the rarefied atmosphere at 18,000 feet prevents seizures...

Second Place 1951 M72-N1 Ihor Krotchak, Ukraine

"Me and my friend, Petro Kolodij, bought this sidecar in 1996, near completely destroyed," writes Ihor Krotchak, who now travels in style. "Motorbikes are not so popular in Ukraine. It is luxury stuff for us." Like most Soviet streetbikes, the pair's 1951 M72-N1 is a copy of a WWIIvintage BMW Twin, and carries the first letter of its place of origin, "M" for Moscow. Today, these machines are built in the Ural Mountains.

Third Place 1976 Moto Guzzi 850-T3 Jerry Jones, Mill Valley, California

"Why should a touring motorcycle look like some freaky offspring of a car and a scooter?" asks the owner of this well-preserved 1976 Guzzi. Northern Californian Jerry Jones claims his 850-T3 is all-day comfortable, good-handling, easy to work on and reliable. And because the 22year-old machine isn't that different from the '98 EVI 1, many parts are interchangeable and most factory upgrades will fit. A 1000-T3, anyone?

Competition

First Place 1975 RR-250 Harley-Davidson Jim Oldiges, Erie, Michigan

A ring-ding Harley-Davidson roadracer? You can bet your pushrods it is. Decked out in H-D corporate colors, Jim Oldiges' RR-250 lends physical evidence that even the famed Milwaukee Motor Company is not immune to catching Grand Prix fever. A product of Harley's 1960s/'70s alliance with the Italian Aermacchi factory, the liquidcooled, twin-cylinder two-stroke was a limited-production racer that was sold, at the time, to Joe Privateer. This completely original, unrestored example is number 14 of 25 such bikes imported in '75. The works bike that the RR-250 was based on enjoyed grand success, scoring three consecutive 250cc World Championships (1974, '75 and '76) in the very capable hands of Walter Villa.

Second Place 1979 Yamaha TZ750 Gene Holliker, Canal Winchester, Ohio

Back before Superbike hit the big-time in the mid-'80s, the AMA's premier roadrace class was Formula One and Yamaha's TZ750 was the bike of choice among top privateers.

This particular 1979 TZ was restored to its former glory from a basketcase in '97. Featuring '70s chassis technology, the 320-pound, 140-horsepower, four-cylinder two-stroke is what its owner, Gene Holliker, considers "an exciting, if not exactly confidence-inspiring ride."

Third Place 1995 Pro Stock Harley Dan Powell, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

If thundering through the quarter-mile is your passion, why not do it with style? Dan Powell's lay-down Harley is not only quick in a straight line, but also possesses all the flash and shine of a qualified showstopper. The bike is powered by a heavily breathed-upon, de-stroked, big-inch motor. Not your average, run-of-the-mill quick-spend, the project took five years to complete with over $30,000 invested.

Custom Cruiser

First Place 1960 Harley-Davidson FL Larry Conner, Harriman, Tennessee

Larry Conner has tagged this mean-mutha cruiser "Panacea," and says it's been an ongoing labor of love since 1976. According to Harriman, the "outlaw" bike is officially titled as a '60 FL. Though the front half of the frame is from the original Duo-Glide, he's unsure of the hardtail rear's origin. The slightly over-74-inch engine bellows through 2-inch, metal/ceramic-coated, mufflerless pipes. Conner designed the bike's graphics, has done all the assembly work himself, and says in terms of cost, the bike is priceless to him. An amalgam of parts and pieces from different bikes, this cruiser's a winner because it stomps its own line between blacked-out tough and overchromed glitter.Z

Second Place 1996 Honda Shadow ACE Ted Pettus, New York, New York

Ted Pettus sums this cruiser up best when he says he wanted to create something "without garish chrome, plastic or other gratuitous design elements." The bike started life as a new 1996 Honda Shadow ACE, but was completely disassembled. From the super-classy saddle-leather seat to the powdercoated frame, custom inlaid enamel badges, vintage body pieces and flat-black exhaust, this is an impressive "return to basics."

Third Place 1968/72 Triumph 650 John Evans, Sandown, New Hampshire

John Evans assembled this bike with one purpose: "the incredible Laconia Bike Week traffic." Built and painted entirely by Evans, the bike weighs under 300 pounds, and is motivated by a '72 Triumph 650 engine mated to a '68 hardtail frame. We love the skeletal simplicity, the dirt-track look of its spoked, satin-anodized rims and details such as the spiderweb-stitched seat.

Off-Road

First Place 1967 Maico GS360 Scrambler Clyde Williams, San Diego, California

For $995 bucks you could'a had one of these in 1967, a Maico GS 360 Scrambler. Clyde Williams has this unrestored example that he bought from the original owner at a vintage motocross race. Though the bike's intended purpose was as an enduro and ISDT mount, this example served its life as transportation around an airport hanger in Los Angeles, hence its excellent condition. With 10:1 compression and a claimed 29 horsepower at 6200 rpm, the round-barreled two-stroke Single with four-speed wide-ratio gearbox was all you needed to get to a top speed of 75 mph. And 31 years later, the Maico still starts up in two to three kicks and runs "just fine," which is more than can be said for most other Maicos of our acquaintance.

Second Place 1971 AJS Stormer Blake Conway, Vista, California

he uses for competition in AHRMA racing. It uses the 370cc AJS Y4 two-stroke motor first released in the spring of 1969 with hopes of becoming a reliable, week-after-week racer just like the Ajay Thumpers were. Did not happen, and the proud old British firm went under not long after. Pretty bike, though, and quite rare these days, most owners having turned theirs into boat anchors long ago. Blake Conway owns this AJS Stormer, which

Third Place 1970 Bultaco 250 Pursang Duane Anderson, Grover Beach, California

Duane Anderson restored this 1970 Bultaco 250cc Pursang to race in AHRMA's 50-Plus motocross class, though "remanufactured" might be a better description. He basically fabricated the entire bike. The gas tank is the only original fiberglass part left; the rest, including the seat base, he built molds for, all made ultra-thin for light weight, many with hand-fabbed aluminum brackets.

American Classic

First Place 1967 Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster Stan Holmberg, Marshall, Minnesota

At the tender age of 14, Stan Holmberg attended the Sturgis Rally for the first time. On his trusty Honda CB400F, he was accompanied by his father and brother on their respective Harley-Davidsons. "After riding the hills for a week surrounded by the rumble of Harleys, it started to get to me," he recalls. "I told Dad that the Honda just wasn't cutting it." As serendipity would have it, the trio encountered a dealer who had a 1967 Sportster available for $1400. And the rest, as they say, is history. Holmberg still owns his Sportster, only it's been painstakingly restored. About his erstwhile bargain bike, he now says, "I have yet to add up all my restoration receipts, and hope I never have to!"

Second Place 1967 HarleyDavidson Sprint 250 Doug Mason, Linwood, New Jersey

For Doug Mason, money was no object when he set about restoring his 1967 Sprint 250. After all, it had come courtesy of his brother-in-law, free of charge. Furthermore, because he'd worked for years in a motorcycle shop. Mason did most of the work himself. "It's all original parts, except for the front fender, which is from an earlier model," he says.

Third Place 1972 HarleyDavidson XLCH Larry Mears, Redding, California

And then there's Larry Mears' 1972 XLCH, which is about as patriotic as they come. Wearing a paint scheme called "Sparkling America" (plucked from a '71 sales brochure), it is also endowed with subtle, translucent flames. "I bought it and restored it because it was identical to the bike I had when I was 21," reminisces Mears. "It wasn't the best bike in the world, but I wanted it so badly." So much for misspent youth...

Veteran

First Place 1938 Harley-Davidson ULH William Delaune, Amarillo, Texas

Okay, all you owners of pre-1940 iron, shame on you! While you were busy saddle-soaping your Chum-Me seats or adjusting your belt drives, William Delaune skunked you all as the only entrant in the class. This despite photographic skills that surely have Ansel Adams spinning in his sepulcher (can that cheesy panoramic camera, Bill, we don't care what your neighbor's azalea bush looks like). Pretty cool scoot, despite the photo faux pas, though. Delaune bought the '38 flathead ULH 26 years ago for the princely sum of $600. "It's been black, it's been orange with a Harley-Davidson sidecar, it's been olive drab with red trim," he says. Black-and-white for the past 11 years, this iteration appears to be a keeper.

Vintage

First Place 1950 Moto Guzzi Astore 500 Gian Aliprandi, New Canaan, Connecticut

Authentic down to the Italian license plate, that's what this 1950 Moto Guzzi Astore 500 is. Owner Gian Aliprandi bought the restored bike in Italy in 1997, and had it shipped to his home in Connecticut. Resplendent in red paint and chrome, the horizontal-Single apparently isn't as lovely in motion. "It's not fast," states the owner, "but it climbs easily and handles relatively well. And it idles like a steam locomotive!" Like the racier Falcone, the 1949-53 Astore was a development of the original 1920 GP prototype-the letters in this case referring not to Grand Prix, but to Guzzi & Parodi, the firm's founders. Guzzi Singles had one of the longest production runs in history, surviving from 1934-76.

Second Place 1952 Triumph Thunderbird Roger Clare, Alger, Michigan

Roger Clare's Triumph is a rare bird, the proverbial bike-in-a-bam. Unfortunately, it also was the quintessential basketcase when Roger discovered it, completely disassembled and nearly rusted away. The odometer showed 40,000 miles, and the license tags indicated that it had been ridden from 1952-66. A three-and-a-half-year restoration using 90 percent of the original parts brought it to its current, prize-winning state.

Third place 1952 Zundapp KS601 Norm Buck, Naples, Florida

Zundapp, while never popular in the U.S., is best remembered for building twostroke dirtbikes. That's what makes Norm Buck's 1952 Zundapp KS601 so special-it's a four-stroke streetbike, and a 597cc opposed-Twin at that! The German machine underwent a five-year restoration using NOS parts from around the world. "It is a shame that this fine motorcycle company went the same direction as Indian," laments the owner.

Classic

First Place 1974 John Player Norton Larry Rowe, Durango, Colorado

Larry Rowe's home in the popular ski town of Durango, Colorado, figures favorably into the ownership of his eye-catching 1974 John Player Nortons (foreground and middle). "I love to ride in the mountains," he says. "We don't have a long riding season, but what we do have is great." Rowe bought the limited-edition British Twins about five years ago for $7000 each. One is completely original, while the other had its engine rebuilt by SuperTwins in Hollywood, California. "It runs really strong," Rowe says. Today, the bikes share space with another JPN, eight other Nortons and a BSA Gold Star. "Styling," Rowe reflects, "that's the reason I bought 'em. Even today, people look at 'em, grin and give you a thumbs-up."

Second Place 1969 Triumph Bonneville Vic Schultz, Clinton Township, Michigan

'69 Bonnie. Indeed, the Britbike faithfully replicates the original, down to the decals and Lucas fuse (!). All it needs, the Michigan resident says, is gas, oil and a firm kick. "I'm waiting for the weather to warm up before I head out on the maiden voyage," he adds. "I'm really looking forward to riding and enjoying this classic all summer." "Mine is a true 100point bike," Vic Schultz says proudly of his recently restored

Third Place 1973 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport James King, Las Vegas, Nevada

This V7 Sport is owned by Las Vegas attorney James King, who discovered the bike 25 years ago at a San Francisco Harley-Davidson dealership. The shop was elated to part with the Italian "white elephant," and King bought the bike-with only 200 miles showing on the odometer-for $700. "To this day, everything I know about riding motorcycles, I learned on the Sport," King says. "It's the standard against which I judge all other bikes." Í