May issue closing date -> March 17
Obese – column
What struck me while watching a Bert Haanstra film? You didn't see any overweight people on the beach. No gym-goers or Botox-treated ones either, for that matter. Or people with tattoos. That's surprisingly different these days.
A little later, it wasn't a Bert Haanstra film, but a Super-8 film presentation from someone's youth. What was most striking was that everyone used to ride classic motorcycles. Well, anyway. What we mainly noticed was how small the motorcycles from the sixties were. That might have seemed different back then, because the average height of people was also shorter back then, but still.
Recently we were at a motorcycle shop that sells (fairly) recent motorcycles. A little later, an old acquaintance showed up to show off his new motorcycle: a Triumph Bonneville. It was to his credit that he was simply riding a new bike, even though the snow had just been cleared away by a lot of salting, but that's beside the point.
What stood out in the motorcycle shop and on the still-snowy garage driveway? It was how sleek the once-heavy 600cc BMW R60/2 was, and what a surprisingly clumsy machine the Bobbie was. The slender athlete had grown into a sociable, portly man.
If it is a matter of comparison, then a Triumph Bonneville T120: A Bonneville from the 1960s weighs 165,5 kg. A new one apparently weighs 236 kg. And it shows. The 2025 model is 1200 cc instead of 650 cc and produces about 80 hp. The fat one should be around 190 km/h (118 mph). The original T20 was listed as having a top speed of over 180 km/h (112 mph). That should have been its top speed. History has shown that those who tried to see how long such an old Bonnie could maintain its top speed usually had disconcerting and expensive experiences.
The BMW R60 was listed at 30 hp and weighed 195 kilograms. The BMW was said to reach a top speed of about 145 km/h (90 mph).
Another major difference between today's top-tier bikes and those of the past? The seat height. For us, as generally older classic bike enthusiasts, it's a bit of an issue. It came up several times during a reunion of old-time motorcycle enthusiasts: mounting those modern machines by swinging your leg smoothly over the seat is often challenging to impossible. The fact that you can rest your feet flat on the floor when stationary is also a significant advantage.
Here in the shed is a sidecar combination with a footrest as a step, and a once-impressive 1967 V7. I can keep climbing on that until I need a walker. It also has a very senior-friendly center of gravity.
We were talking about the then and now.
But what if we look at how small motorcycles used to be? Just look at the picture below this story! It brings back a smiling memory of Misha/Mike Buttinger, when he and I were younger.
An old man's view: There isn't a current motorcycle I'd want in my garage right now.
Good thing, too.
Because the garage is full
That Honda C110 Super Cub Sport was a 50cc motorcycle my father owned and later sold. In 1989, I bought a Honda SS50 for our daughter from a Ducati dealer, along with a similar C110, for a very reasonable price. A yellow badge on the front fender made it a pedal-less moped! It was rarely used, and unfortunately, I sold it, along with the SS50. Prices have changed a bit since then!
Your findings are correct, Dolf. But the second photo isn't Oil In Frame Bonnie.
An OIF really looks different. Uglier and with poorly functioning, conical brake hubs.
A taller seatpost and square airboxes. I had a similar bike (a '71) and rode it for 16 years.
According to the RDW (Dutch Vehicle Authority), it still exists. The VR 40-30. Gold-colored tank and fenders. A real character bike.
The block itself was reliable, but the rest could not cope with the vibrations above 5.000 rpm.
Years ago, I did a track day. 10 laps of the national circuit in Assen. That's 40 km in total. As fast as possible.
I accelerated to about 6800 rpm and then accelerated full throttle across the Veenslang. Then I discovered that a turn signal bar was broken, the speedometer was broken, the license plate was half-torn, and the underbody of the seat was torn.
And yet it was a fantastic bike! I'm still the original owner (!) and ride my Honda CB650Z, purchased new in 1979, in good weather. It's a 1951 build and still quite original, with a good amount of patina!
Everyone, have fun on your motorcycle this year.
Hi Sybe. Thanks for the correction/addition and your story. I think those conical hubs are gorgeous, and I'd love to have everything around them. And I could live with 4500 rpm.