Subject: RE: How did you come by your Loop and why? (long)
Author: Zink, Rich, ITD
Date: Dec 1, 2003, 8:14 AM
Post ID: 1715371653
| Thanks, Richard Zink ITD Tech Services 510-271-5134 |
-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Adkins [mailto:ianad-@linkamerica.net]
Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2003 4:21 PM
To: Loopframe
Subject: How did you come by your Loop and why?
I grew up on dirt bikes in the 60's graduating to more sporty bikes in the
70's. Went from RD350 Yamahas to Norton Commandoes to a Ducati Darmah in
1980. Around that time I was sitting in a rest area on one of mountain
sportbike hangouts and I heard the most beautiful soulful noise coming up
the hill from a far. In pulls a guy I had known from around the mountain on
a highly modified Lemans I. Open stacks, open megaphones, my jaw dropped.
The Conti's on my Darmah sounded sweet but this was plain nasty. Up till
then I had not paid much attention to Guzzi's as to me they were big touring
bikes. I had to sell the Ducati and move from the SF Bay Area that year.
When I moved back a couple of years later I bought a new Cagiva Alazzurra
(which I still own). The 90's came along and I bought a house, got married,
remodeled the house, had a daughter and slowly fell out of sportbike
interests. I started noticing old Ambo's and Eldo's with some interest.
There was a year or two there where I was close to falling into the Harley
trap. I think it was the continuing visits to Cycle Garden's website that
finally nailed it for me and after changing jobs and getting the OK from the
boss (SWMBO) I spent a year looking at a lot of junk and watching prices
climb on these old beasts. Along the way I decided that I liked the early
Ambos with the single speedo and small side covers best. Well I lost a few
locally and on Ebay, when a white one appeared on Ebay and not very far
away. Not exactly what I wanted but it looked clean (from the pics), had
Wixom bags, Windjammer fairing, air horn, driving lights and was a two owner
bike. I had some conversations with the owner and felt good about it.
Starting bid was $2,900 which was more than I wanted to pay for it but put
the bid in anyway and went on vacation for a week not thinking I would end
up with it. I come back to find I am the only bidder on it so I make the 3
hour trek with my wife to ride it home. Well when I get there and check it
out I was a little disappointed, The tires were more worn than advertised, I
was covered with an oily film and was very weird to drive (I had never
driven one before). Than as fate would have it the bike refused to start
after I took it for a ride. We had booked a hotel to stay in so my wife
could go Antique shopping while we were there and so the owner said he would
work on it and see why it would not start and give me a call later.
Well it turned out to be a loose wire on the starter button and he called to
say it was fixed but if I didn't want to buy it that it would be OK. I was
having severe buyers remorse and regretfully told him that I no longer
wanted the bike. We drove home. About a month later I was still looking and
prices and bikes were not getting much better and feeling like I should have
bought it I called the guy up again. Did he still have the bike? Yes. Would
he take $2200 for it? No, but he said I reminded him of himself and would
let me have it for $2500. I just said I would be up the next weekend to pick
it up. So now three years later it is cleaned up, lots of little things
fixed, the starter is acting up but it still brings a smile when I see it in
the garage with it's stablemates. Someday it might even get restored
although some of my non-biking friends have mentioned that it has a nice old
patina on it that I should keep.
Who's next?,
Rich
Hey All,
Not sure where I want to go with this but I have thought about compiling the
anecdotes into an article. Heck...maybe a documentary on Loops and their
keeper's passions???
Thanks for all inputs in advance...Ian
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