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Your ThoughtsThe site has seen a lot of visitors recently, and some of you have provided great feedback. Here are some of the notes we've received: Alf is in Norway and recently purchased my 1968 DT1, thanks Alf!!
Hi Brad Glenn is a regular Client and Consigner, read about this bad experience and stay away from Chaparral To Mitch Boehm, Editor, Moto-Retro-Illustrated: Having been in the motorcycle community since 1956, you can say that I have been around for more than awhile and longer than I like to admit. This qualifies me to provide you with some info that should be published for your subscribers, which I am one. Please do all your readers a favor and publish this information that could save them lots of money and pain. Recently, I ordered a set of Continental GO tires, mail order from Chaparral Motor Sports in San Bernardino , California . Upon paying for installation at a local independent shop, they found that the front one was “out of round”. I confirmed this when I rode it home. When I contacted Chaparral, they said I would have to return the tire for them to send to Continental for evaluation. This would have to be done before they would issue me either a refund or send me another tire. This would force me to shell out another $100 and then wait for the evaluation result on the defective tire, before I could receive a refund. Also, I would get soaked for paying for another installation for the second tire. And, to top this off, I had to pay for the return of the defective tire at an outrageous cost of $24.60!! Chaparral WOULD NOT ISSUE A CALL TAG FOR PICK UP!! You would think that Chaparral would be responsible for these additional charges like the second installation of the tire and the return postage for the defective tire, but they WOULD NOT reimburse for these additional charges. So, when you order a tire mail order, you are at the mercy of the dealer if you get a defective tire. I will be out over $50 extra because the first front tire they sent me was defective!! Is this fair – not in any way is this right, fair or good business practice. What can I do about it? Not much. I contacted the California Consumer Protection and they are looking into it but really have no authority to make the dealer pay the extra money that I am soaked for. I also made a Better Business Bureau complaint .but they can’t do anything either. I wrote a letter to the owner of Chaparral, Dave Damron, and he is avoiding me like the plague and will NOT return any communications via phone or mail. I returned the tire Nov 16th and they received it Nov 23rd but I have not heard anything and do not have any type of refund to date (Dec 8th). This is one of your advertisers so I know you will probably not print this letter but you SHOULD PRINT this letter for your readers, even if you strip the name of the company. I would think that any dealer that would “stiff” a customer like this could be held accountable if there was public acknowledgement of his lack of ethics. As a subscriber of your magazine, I enlist your assistance in bringing this type of problem to the attention of all motorcyclists who read your publications. Maybe you can do what is right and support the average motorcycle enthusiast, your readers and put pressure on dishonest dealers like Chaparral. Sincerely,John Great Website Glenn!! brad
Hi Brad --Could you add me as a link .. www.vintageracingmotorcycle.com... Please check out my web site I collect and restore vintage dirk bikes ( not a bussines just a hobby ) about 80 or 90 at present.. If ever in Phoenix area give me a call and stop by 480-982-0351 for a beer and check out my bikes it will be worth you while. if you like old dirt bikes..... Apache Junction about 30 miles East of Phx. air port . -- Click on the type of bike -- Bultaco -- then click on specific bike to see more pictures and details..Thanks Coach McMinn--
I'm just a retired wrestling coach so don't have the mega buck collection but I have some pretty nice stuff. Most people are surprised to see what I have. I have six - yes six 501 MAICO - Yes that is a YZ 360 with matching #'s - A couple of my best bike are not in this picture .. Please do stop by some time ... Thanks Glenn
Another Satisfied Customer!
Hi Brad, Both the bike and paperwork were delivered today. I already took the bike Richard is my Barber Swapmeet neighbor, here's his thoughts on October 2010! Good talking to you earlier. I turned 60 on the way back From Barber. Big Deal. Really enjoyed the whole trip but the commerce part just wasn't there. Everything that sold was " Cheap Sold ", in my humble opinion. Like you I have been studying this stuff for a while. After Nov. hopefully things may change a bit . Getting back to bike stuff the parts and parts bike auction left old Joe Purshock ( of Cosmo fame ) reeling on what little he got for his " truckload of stuff " and there was definitely a buyer's market atmosphere. We brought 9 total , running bikes, 8 on a 10 scale , some with titles, and sold 3, cheap . At the bike auction there were some nice examples that sold for normal $ , some rare Italian tidlers that brought " rain " and quite a few no sale items with reserves priced 5 years ago . I would imagine if you came up there with an empty trailer, some cash, and could afford to hold the stuff awhile you could do well . Seemed like more Boat Anchor Harley stuff this year than last . The swap meet spaces were, for the most part , full until Sat p.m. then it thinned out a little . As usual, beautiful facilities, edible " track food " and , for the most part, nice folks . I ( we ) look forward to next year with cautious optimism . I'm sure Bator's site has the results posted by now or, will soon . Keep up the good work !
L8TR,
Hi Brad, I brought Suzuki GT 750 J 1972 Water Buffalo ,one month ago, on your web site, this bike is beautiful. I appreciate you help , your very professional, and may be buying from you in future an other vintage motorcycle . Thanks again and regards. Chris
Brad,
Brad, You have a really COOL website. Are any of your pictured machines for sale and/or is there a way to put out a request for a certain bike? I have entertained the idea of trying to get a hold of a 1967 Bridgestone 100 Sport/My 1rst bike, or a 1968 Yamaha Twin Jet 100, or a 1968 Kawasaki 350 SS Avenger , or a 1971 Kawasaki H-1 500. Anyway, Thanks for showing such a neat bunch of bikes, all of these bikes bring back much of my past. Bob Rapciak
We do consigns the old fashioned way on bradsbikes, honestly and no charge unless it sells-$100 per $3000 of selling price!! Thanks for your thoughts, Tom!
Brad:
I've heard negative rumblings in the past regarding "Chrome Classics". I think this was a pretty slick way to get me to give him a photo and perhaps rights to the sale if it happened. As a practicing cynic I asked "the question" which gave me the information about what the "website" was about that he so gracefully overlooked giving an address to in the first place. Since a lot of people are giving items away I don't expect to sell this one and that's fine. I get the impression from a friend who will be judging at Pebble Beach nest week that a lot of inventory is showing up and he expects it to be a buyers market. I think he's right. Best regards,Tom
Any thoughts out there, Readers?? See pics in my Photo Gallery-Brad
Hey Brad, its Paul up here in Charlotte. I still own the KTM 520 and its still beautiful and fast. Today I write in an effort to get an idea what this HD 250 is worth. The bikes sold to the public are going for around $8500 in excellent shape. This bike was given to Ted Boody when he raced for HD and has obviously a factory aluminum swingarm. In checking into this I was told that Crossed up made the swing arm, and all the frames were sublet to Champion. The bike has the original dellorto but Ted was sponsored by Lectron so thats what he run. I bought this bike from him shortly after he went to OK to develope the Honda RS750. He was a great friend. I bought the bike back and put new Pirellis on it and painted the tank and fenders plus took the HD orange off the swingarm. Hard for me to be objective so I ask your experinced opinion on the price. Sol in Fla says put a stock swing-arm on it before listing it but I think thats a mistake as the only other one I have seen is in photos of Rex Statens bike in action.
If ya get in the Concord area hollar and I'll buy lunch. Thanks Paul Hi Brad, thanks for the great site. I am 48 and I remember the bikes of yesterday with great fondness. As a youth, my folks were cool enough and i had enough odd jobs to buy a Suzuki Trailhopper when i was 10 years old. The day my Dad and i picked it up is truly the highlight of my life [don't tell my wife]. My buddies had YZ's, JT60's, XR75,s any number of CT70's as well as a rare Steen with a 100cc Hodaka engine and another buddy had a Bonanza, i can hear the clutch chattering to this very day-oh the revelry. I have been fortunate enough to have owned and ridden a 1974 MT125 Elsinore, a 1976 Suzuki TC125 Prospector as well as a 1977 Triumph Tiger750, a 1976 Honda MT250 Elsinore [god was it fast] a 1981GPz550 Kaw and my current bike, a 1997 Yamaha XT350J. As you can see, I have a penchant for enduros. Friends and neighbors find it curious that I do not own a Harley or Goldwing but my heart remains true to my youth and I cannot turn my back on the best times of my life. I frequently describe the sensation of riding the XT as "the most fun you can have with your clothes on". Best wishes, your friend Lars
Hi, Brad,
I'm 49 years old and live in Brazil, and I found your website while looking for a classic trial bike to buy, here in my country (which is almost impossible, by the way).In your wonderful gallery I found one Yamaha DT 125, very similar to my first all-terrain bike, the DT-E 125, back in 1975.I think the only differences are that the DT-E had an electric starter, and the low front wheel mudguard.Thank you so much for the sudden rush of good memories.I which I was in the US, to buy the DT 400 you have forsale. It's a beautiful machine, at a good price.Best regards, Ricardo So everyone know, my buddy Vern in Vancouver got ripped off by this guy in Chicago on some Triumph parts, too typical on ebay. Stay with the good guys like Baxter and Walridge!! Brad Hi Brad Here are some shots of the new Ducati. The guy from Chicago goes by vintagemotorts ( yes it is spelled incorrectly) on ebay and his name is Colin. Best Regards...Vern Brad thanks for the memories, a great site, brought a tear to my eye. I've just started doing up my 1976 TY175, and then the Hodaka Combat Wombat. I had a Cooper 250 and a heap of spares which I sold to a kid who probably thrashed it to death and dumped it. Shame, but it is a little hard to put folks through too much of an inquest when they are the ones buying. Living in the land of OZ ( Australia) it gets fairly difficult to get some spares, thank god for the Internets( got to love the nerds for makin it for us old farts) Cheers and all the best Mark O'Connell Beaudesert, Australia I just saw my first Kaw '69 90 cc, my 2nd 1971 Kaw 350T Avenger, 72 Kaw 500 (rode the 1st 69 Model). Thanks for the memories. This has been great. Ray (Oklahoma)
Thanks, John, tell all your friends in Merry Old England about bradsbikes! Well brad the DT, has arrived. thanks very much it is a super example. they are scarce over here i will be proud to ride it. thanks again
Hello Brad, My next door neighbor just purchased an Enduro that was listed on your site from the owner in Modesto, CA this week. He gave me your site so I just finished dreaming about the 'ol days. My first motorcycle was a white Honda 305 Dream with a while saddle and I installed a 350 kit which was back in 1964 on my first tour with the USAF and my roommate had a Triumph Bonneville. I later upgraded to a Royal Enfield and a BMW R50 in the 70's when I was in college. I rode it for several years and later an R75/5. In the 80's I looked at the R90 but BMW had raised the saddle height and being vertically challenged with a 28" inseam that ended my riding days, bummer. A few years ago after I retired from the USAF, I was a loadmaster on the C-5 cargo aircraft for 25 years, I found a 1989 Honda Pacific Coast. It belonged to one of the flight engineers in the squadron and his wife told him that he had to many toys, i.e motorcycles so he sold me the Honda, he was the original owner and it only had 10k on the odo. Anyway, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reviewing your photo gallery and the Red Honda Dream that was pictured. It certainly brought back memories. Regards, CMS Robert T, USAF Ret
YES! SCAMMED! I FOUND MY 1975 HONDA CB400F ON E-BAY AND LOST A LOT OF MONEY! JUST A WARNING! BE CAREFUL! I WAS BIDDING UP UNTIL CLOSING OF THE AUCTION AND E-BAY SENT ME A MESSAGE THAT I LOST AT THE LAST MINUTE! O.K. NO PROBLEM...MAYBE NEXT TIME. THEN, THE NEXT MORNING I GOT A MESSAGE THAT LOOKED JUST LIKE IT CAME FROM E-BAY! SAYING THAT THE BUYER COULD NOT PURCHASE AND SINCE I BID THE NEXT BEST AMOUNT I HAD A SECOND CHANCE TO WIN IT! I SURE WAS HAPPY AND SAID YES I WANTED IT! THEY SAID THEY WOULD E-MAIL SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS FOR PAYMENT, ETC. AND I FOLLOWED THEM TO THE LETTER! I NOW KNOW THAT SOMEHOW MY E-MAIL TO E-BAY WAS HAACKED! I REALLY DON'T BLAME E-BAY EXCEPT THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARNING ON THE MESSAGE THAT I DID NOT WIN AND SHOULD REALLY BE LEARY OF GETTING A SECOND CHANCE OFFER! MAYBE E-BAY SHOULD HAVE A SPECIAL PERSON TO CHECK WITH IF YOU GET A SECOND CHANCE OFFER? I HAVE REPORTED THE FRAUD TO EVERY OFFICIAL SOURCE AND WILL NOT GET MY MONEY BACK! I REALLY FEEL BAD BECAUSE ANOTHER LADY HERE IN RABUN COUNTY LOST ALMOST AS MUCH AS I DID WHEN BIDDING ON ANOTHER MOTORCYCLE FROM E-BAY AND LOST IT IN THE SAME WAY! THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE IN RABUN COUNTY SAID THAT THEY GET ABOUT 2 A WEEK REPORTED! AND THIS IS JUST IN ONE COUNTY OF ONE STATE! I AM SURE YOU ARE SMARTER THAN ME, HOWEVER, PLEASE ALWAYS BE CAREFUL! MOST SINCERELY, MARIA Brad, How could I have been on the net all these years and not found your site until today. Thanks for bringing back some great memories from my early years (I'm 47 now). And blast you for planting a seed that's likely to grow wild, regardless of what my wife says! Just when I was becoming respectible... what a shame! Terry
Dear Brad, As I'm about to turn 50 years of age, with grand children older than they should be, the bikes you display have a direct connection for me. The 60's and 70's were a truly unique time in motor cycling. I was lucky enough to have supportive parents and enough "summer jobs" to have owned, rode or sat on a lot of bikes from that era. (Pop bought the first bike, a 50cc Suzuki, in 1963 and it was love at first sight). I decided this morning to tell you how much your web site is appreciated by this writer, but after reading the various comments sent to you, there isn't much to add other than .. THANK YOU. Jim, a rider since 1963. Brad, how can you sleep at night from having so much fun? I am a Vintage 'rebuilder', not a restorer. I build mostly Vintage race bikes for AHRMA racing. I build street bikes like we did when they were new. No body left them stock. I am attaching a sample of my work for your enjoyment. I just completed a 1965 C15S for a customer to race in AHRMA. Enjoy! Very best regards, Chuck Herron 'Chuck's Vintage Motorcycles' We can all relate, Jon!! Brad Brad, Thanks for your web-site. I love seeing what's out there and may be buying from you in the future.At 45, I am in your "demographic". In the early 70's I used to go to thedealers every spring to sit on the new bikes. They only let us sit on the small ones (70's thru 125's)....so I think that's why I got hooked on smallbikes. My favorite was an RD80 (if I remember right it was dark purple)....though later I decided I liked 4-strokes better. My first bike was an XL100 in 1976...MANY miles on the fire trails in theUP of Michigan and country roads of Ohio. In 1981 I got a CB125 for commuting to college. Now I have a Trail 90 for buzzing around the neighborhood on errands (with the requisite oversized milk crate on the luggage rack). Though I need to check again, my first read on gas mileage was 115 mpg, better than the new scooters out there. I currently have my eye on getting a C70 Passport or an S90. The couple of S90's on your site and an article in Cycle World by Peter Egan got me going along that vein. However, a low mileage 1975 CB125 showed up on CraigsList the other day.......decisions, decisions, indecision!! Thanks again and regards,Jon Don't we all wish we'd worked at such a dealership!! Brad Hello Brad, Looks like your living the dream I had 30 years ago. I allowed business to get in the way of having fun though, and though I have a few great bikes, nothing to compare with what you have. I have seen you ad regularly in Walnecks, and just today looked at your web site for the first time. Have you ever been to the Barber Museum in Alabama? I was there last year, and they have an incredible collection. Do you have yours on display? I saw my first Yankee in Topeka, KS., about 1973 or 74. What a great machine. The dealer also handled Ossa, Montessa, Ducati. Bikes I had only seen in magazines. I have a Benelli 650 Tornado, a Gilera 124, both I bought and restored, and an original Kawasaki Z1R that I bought new in 78. I have a Rickman that I bought just the rolling chassis, and have a Gilera 98 engine on it. My first bike was a Gilera, so somewhat partial to them. I have a Harley as a daily ride, but it has no personality like the others have. Thanks for putting up your site. It was great to view, and glad to see that someone follows their dreams. I think they will be just like Muscle Cars--Brad What's Up Brad, I love your site. Wondering if you might have some advise for a Newbie. I got intomotorcycles a few years ago and purchased a new bonneville which has sparkedmy interest in classic rides. I would love to purchase a 60's bonnie or a Norton commando. Unfortunely, these bikes are a little out of my price range at the moment. I'll keep saving I guess. I can see the problem,these bikes were built before I was born. So the baby boomers want them and have alittle more disposable income than myself(getting married, school loans), can't blame em, it's what they use to ride back in the day. However, what do you see in the future as far as pricing. Will they become more valueable or less. Should I pay the inflated price now because they could go dramaticallyup or look for an alternative and wait for prices to fall a little. Look what happened to muscle cars! Prices went through the roof. Maybe we will see a $30,000 66' Bonneville in the future. However, as the baby boomers get older you would think that prices would fall as they stop riding and less shops available to work on classics. Mike is the Editor of DealerNews - Brad
Hi Brad,
View his Katana in my Photo Gallery - Brad Brad, Glad to hear your hobby continues to grow and you have an appreciation for old bikes. Just wanted thank you for a nice web site and also pass on one of my classic bikes for your pleasure. You may know the history, but this is an 82 Katana gsx1000s, designed by Hanz Muth, Target Design. During the 1980 Köln motorcycle show held in then We all live in the past, Paul!! No relation to me--Brad Brad, I just had to drop a short line to tell you what an absolutely great site you have set up, I have spent so much time looking through it tonight, it took me awhile to remember what I typed into the search to find you! I was looking for anything Suzuki 250 scrambler and immediately found that you have just sold exactly the same bike I had bought new in 68 and sold it only to buy 2 Kawasaki 500 triple basket cases in early 70. I still have the 69, with most all the original goodies but can't decide what I want to do with it. It needs a restore (the tank and side covers are root beer brown and the engine is in a desert three wheeler. I am very experienced with all of the working details of the bike and know I could make it a real head turner but wanted to get your opinion about whether a restored bike would be worth anything in the real world as I know it would take at least $2500.00 to do it right. What I would really like to do is find somebody that has a 68 Suzuki scrambler (preferably blue) that would like to do a little horse trading for the H1 as it is. PS, was a member of California AFM 68 to 72 and got to know some great riders of the era, Ron Grant, Art Bowman and such. Also drag raced the 250 Suzuki (AHRA street stock record 1969) and then drag raced the 500 until a Buick wagon hit me head on in Sacramento. A year in the hospital cured me of riding on the highways. Sorry for the long winded e-mail but your site put me in a place I truly miss!!! My wife tells me sometimes I live in the past, maybe she's right but I can't help it. Thanks again for what you do (and obviously have fun at) Paul Powell San Diego, CA Thanks, Paul, see you at the races! -- Brad BRAD, MY NAME IS PAUL PARKER.....AKA......ROHO.......ANYWAY I MET YOUR DAUGHTER TODAY AT THE GYM.........SHE WAS BEING TRAINED BY A PERSONAL TRAINER WHO I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH.....I WAS CHATTING WITH HER PERSONAL TRAINER AND WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT MOTOX AND YOUR DAUGHTER SAID "MY DAD USED TO RACE MOTOX".....THEN SHE TOLD ME ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE SO I DECIDED TO CHECK IT OUT AND WOW!!!!!!!!........COULD NOT BELIEVE YOUR GALLERY.......MY FIRST MOTOX BIKE WAS A HODAKA SUPER-RAT 100CC........I AM 46 YRS OLD AND NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW OF THESE BIKES .....I WAS EXCITED TO SEE YOUR BIKES......I AM CURRENTLY TRAINING TO START RACING IN THE WINTER IN THE GA. AREA.....I HAVE AN O3 YAMAHA 450 4-STROKER.........MY DAD IS ALSO AN AVID MOTORCYCLIST AS WELL........HE STARTED IN THE MID 60S AND ALSO RACED MOTOX ON AN OSSA 250.......AND FLAT-TRACKED AS WELL........ANYWAY JUST WANTED TO SAY AWSOME........SEE YA........PAUL Hi Brad... Love your site and your attitude! Great bikes!!! I've just recently relocated to the Atlanta area, and I am looking for employment in the business! I'm a certified Yamaha, Honda, Bombardier, AMI tecnician, and I worked for Harper's Moto Guzzi doing restorations and general tech work when their main tech, David, was going through surgery for hand damage (Guzzi's don't have the ground clearance on corners he expected them to have!!). I also roadrace, formerly on an RD, and then on an RZ, and now on a bike of my own creation, an RGV frame with an XL600 engine. I've also worked for GMD Computrack, so I have training in suspension work, and I'm working on a kit to replace damping rods in forks with a cartridge assembly. If it works, I think it could be a great benefit to racers and street riders! Let me know if you can use a smiling helpful skilled hand, and thanks for your time!!! Good Luck with your endevors, Kurt Hey Brad Iv'e just got a site going for the Cooper, it's not much at the moment but I'll build it up as I go. I have a heap of stuff to get on there, some brochures, more photos and I'll also do a restoration n my MX and Enduro shortly. The site is http://www.cooper-250.com/ Cheers Robert
Great to hear from you Dick--stay warm in Chicago!! Brad, |
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