Subject: Welcome all
Author: Scott Larson
Date: May 30, 2000, 9:13 AM
Post ID: 1700836192
Hello Loopframers,
I forgot to introduce myself. I live in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on the edge
of the bluffs overlooking Nebraska across the Missouri river. I joke to my
co-workers that I can see Colorado from my house because Nebraska is so flat
and barren. :-)
I was raised in the motorcycling world and my dad bought my first bike for me
when I was 6 yrs old. (Indian boy racer 50cc). My dad was a real enthusiast.
Back in the 60's, a person would buy a street bike, strip the lights off,
drill the fenders, change the sprockets, put some knobby tires on it and race
it. Racing meant, motocross, hare scrambles, enduros, ice racing and hill
climbing. He raced a 67 Honda 305cc that still rings in my ears, as I can
pick out the sound of an unmuffled Honda twin a mile away. (Maybe thats why I
love twins so much!)
While in the Navy, around 15 yrs ago, I got into the classic bike world with
a 70 BSA Lightning I bought from a friend for 150$. I then repaired and rode
numerous British and Japanese classic bikes for the next 10 years. All my
coworkers thought I was half nuts riding those old bikes.
One day a friend of mine offered me a bike sitting against a tree in his back
yard. It was a 65 Moto Parilla 250cc Tourist and I bought it for 10$. This
was my initiation into Italian bikes and I restored most of it but never rode
it. The thing was so rare, nobody would sell me any parts. What a beatiful
exotic machine that was.I got tired of that business, because I enjoy riding
too much, so I sold it for 1500$ and looked for a Moto Guzzi Eldorado. I
remembered them from my British days and was impressed with the people that
rode them. These werent ordinary motorcyclists, these were classic bikers and
they RODE them for extremely long distances. So I tracked a 72 Eldo down with
a blown tranny and repaired it and restored it. I sold that one but have
accumulated 3 others. My baby is a 69 Ambassador, "rare bird model" described
in the last newsletter, by Ian Adkins, and I am presently riding it and
restoring it at the same time. I traded my old worn out 66 Chevy pickup for
it and 3 other wrecked jap bikes that were languishing in a salvage yard.
The second bike is a 72 Eldorado I found last spring, just rotting in
someones back yard for the last 20 yrs. I have not gotten this one running
yet, but MGNOC writer (and rider) John Boettcher sent me a spare used pair
of pistons and cylinders for it for the cost of shipping! I will try to pass
that generosity on, John . I also have a non-loop frame bike, a 81 CX100
Lemans, that is a very dependable daily rider, for foul weather and higher
speed riding.
I have a few spares, but most are from a 76 Convert I parted out a while
ago. I look forward to reading and participating in this list, great idea!
Scott Larson
69 early Ambo
72 Eldo
81 Lemo