Posts
22485
Joined
6/15/2010
Location
Bowie, MD
US
Edited Date/Time
1/31/2016 1:22pm
I know alota satellite teams sell their bikes at the end of the year, but what do the factories do with their bikes?(Dungeys RV, Etc) Are they used for practice bikes for the following year or destroyed, used for parts. I ve seen alota past champions have kept them. Is there a clause in their contracts that prevent them from selling the bikes for some quick cash.
The Shop
For 1983, Howerton was racing SR500 watercooled works bikes. For practice bikes Kawasaki gave him air cooled production bikes that were in no way similar. He told them it was basically impossible to practice on junk during the week and be expected to show up and compete on the works bikes. They ended up getting two additional SR's to rotate out for him as practice bikes. End of the season, the two "practice" bikes were not asked to be returned. Fast forward 25 years and he sold me his last factory ride. Really trick work of art. Just needs a little TLC, future project.
I used to sit and dig through this area, it was right in his living room, and every time i would dig around i could find something i had not seen before.
What's happened to all Magoo's stuff after his death. Hope someone can get it into a museum?
Pit Row
I've heard more than one story about unused works race motors getting driven off the loading docks with sledgehammers, golf style! Either destroy it or claim it as inventory and pay the tax man for a couple million worth of unusable and unsaleable stuff. I think Ozzy mentioned that was one of his first jobs. Didn't see anyone claiming he was making that up.
Chamionship bikes that are given to the riders wont have any moving parts inside the engine, just a shell so nobody cantake it apart.
Here's another cool storym as reported by Swedish internetsite, Racelife.
A swedish guy bought one of Billy Mac's ex-CAS Honda CRF450.
Translation by google:
"Imagine owning something no one else has. Imagine owning something that really can not be bought for money. Imagine doing that Johan Westermark, that is, take something that nobody else has, something that you really can not buy with money.
In a large garage one mil south of Stockholm, namely in Västerhaninge, is his treasure - a CAS Honda from 2009 to the factory components that we ordinary mortals can not buy with money.
- When I tell what I have to bike in the garage, many people do not think the factory components remain attached to the bike, "says Johan Westermark.
The origins of the purchase, he explains as follows;
- I wanted to have the worst stuff, not just super-hot stuff that you see in ads in the U.S. motocross magazines, but the really worst things. In short, I wanted to buy it you can not buy.
The ball was thus in motion and at first was John looking for the white magnesium fork that sat on the CAS Honda. Through the help of Henry "Hulk" Romlin he made contact with the CAS Honda team manager Neil Prince who set the price tag of 150 000 kronor for the fork. A bid by John turned down.
- After about half the World Cup season, we went down to Lierop, the Netherlands and I asked the question directly to Neil how much he would pay for an entire bike. Suddenly, the price was now the same as for only the front fork when the team was tangled for a financial. I myself had two Honda 450 Fours that I sold and then do business with Neil, "says John.
He shows off the bike in the garage and explains further what is not original and there is a voluminous list, titanium screws everywhere, Showa suspension, new brake calipers, magnesium components, controls crown in two different aluminum, second hand and foot pegs, reinforced wheels, white motor cover, FMF pipe and a lot of other kind of frippery.
- The bike belonged to Billy MacKenzie and it is thought that everything should be cleaned up and then I'll glazing in the bike and put it in your living room, "says John as he reveals the next project.
- During the World Cup in Uddevalla, I was in contact with Paublo Martin, who heads the Martin Honda. I bought a tank from him for 700 euros and told him that I had previously bought a cycle of CAS Honda, something even Cedric Melotte had become snobs do. So now I am invited to his work shop and we'll see if that makes a deal, but quite clearly it would be "porn" if I could get to it and be able to buy a Martin Honda, too, "says John, adding half in jest, half seriously - I recognize that this has gone off the rails, I'm out of control!"
Link: CAS Honda
Post a reply to: Leftover Factory Bikes.