I speak to a lot of people that are interested in vintage motorcycles, and it's always amazed me at the vast differences of opinion about them. Many years ago, I originally would have thought that other like minded enthusiasts, would share my same purist point of view when it comes to preserving these old bikes. I should start by saying that my opinion, is simply that... my opinion. I make plenty of room for others to feel differently about their motorbikes, than I do about mine. After all, we all sort of get a personal experience from these old bikes. Some just want to ride, some just want to wrench and others are somewhere in between.
The general argument starts at some point when guys are either building, restoring or preparing a vintage bike for racing. I've seen countless strange and interesting choices that people make when doing these tasks. There seems to be a lot of so called "upgrades" that guys bolt on to their beloved machines. And when I enquire about these things, the answers tend to be the same. I always get this argument that they're "continuing the development process", and I shake my head in disgust and inability to understand that. Basically, the facts are simple; the real development of these bikes that was done when the bikes were new, is that they eventually became obsolete and were replaced. So their development stopped there. Their initial designs were developed to the max and then as more modern technology came into play, other designs and methods of manufacture, proved to be better. So quite simply, it was out with the old and in with the new. So in my opinion, any thoughts of continuing the development, are purely speculative, and tend to be distorted thoughts and endless justification for such modifications.
In general, I use Norton motorcycles for the basis of my comparison. Mainly because these are the bikes that I'm obsessed with, and also because I know them intimately and can therefore make my point by calling out certain features. Nothing disgusts me more, than to see a vintage Norton that has been modified and "developed" to the point of no return. To the point where the original machine and it's design, is barely even recognizable. It does the bike, it's history and it's future chance at being preserved, a total injustice. You'll see them with Japanese made Mikuni carbs, electronic ignition boxes from a go cart, 6 speed gearboxes with modern internals, wide profile 18" wheels, cush drive rear hubs, billet yokes and the list goes on and on. A lot of these things are done to cosmetically "replicate" original parts. Things such as the TTI gearbox, are used and bare an exterior appearance that looks like the original Norton / AMC gearbox. Basically, what's happening is that individuals are creating these Frankenstein like machines that have stretched the original bike that they supposedly love, to the point of being unrecognizable. And here's the catch to all this never ending upgrading; at it's core, it's still an old bike. It has all it's original limitations, and therefore can never function anywhere close to even a moderate road going machine of the current decade. Guys are trying to squeeze just a few more horsepower out of bikes from the 1960's, destroying them in the process and still not being able to achieve anywhere near what a modern bike could do. So what's the point then?
All this got me to thinking, and I had a sort of epiphany as to why this is happening. It seems to me that we're cursed with the fact that we live in the future. Or at least the future, as seen from these old bike's point of view. We've all had the experience of riding a modern bike, of seeing motor sports develop at a rapid pace and to see modern day motorcycle racers, ride in a way that is continually progressive. So I believe that we subconsciously project these thoughts and experiences on to old machines. I suppose it's natural to do so, but it's also destructive at the same time. The fact is that a Manx Norton from the 1950's was never intended or designed to be ridden in the way that Valentino Rossi and other great racers, ride today. Racers of those old times didn't drag their knees thru every corner, they didn't hang off the bike and they rode the machines to their limits, in the way that the times in which they lived, permitted.
I think we should stop trying to make an old bike into something that it's not, and start simply enjoying it for what it is. There are very few talented and skilled craftsman that can customize a vintage bike and make it look great, and in some cases, even better than the original. The percentage of those people are very small. I completely understand the individual experience that guys are having with their bikes. And I celebrate it. But I would also hope that we can all modify bikes in a way that allows them to be returned to stock. We should preserve them while we enjoy them. We should keep all their original parts with the bike even if we customize them. So that a future owner can still revert the machine back to original. We should ride and race these machines responsibly and not build the motors into hand grenades that get blown to pieces for our own personal enjoyment over a race weekend. There's only so many of them out there, and they can't just be replaced. I also think we should replicate old bikes in a way that's faithful to the original, rather than using our own personal judgement as to what's ok. If we're going to race these old bikes, then we should realize what they are and treat them as such. Meaning that we should take care not to throw them down the track or destroy their beating hearts.
Vintage racing isn't contemporary and competitive racing. I certainly understand the competitive nature of racing, but these organizations are supposed to be set up so that the bikes are represented in a genuine way. If you fancy yourself a talented motorbike pilot, then perhaps you should buy yourself a modern 600cc track bike and have at it, rather than destroy the soul of an old machine that can never be replaced. Let's keep some perspective in regards to what we're all doing.
Lastly, I encourage anyone that agrees or disagrees, to comment or to email me. I think it's a healthy debate that we can have. This blog has always been intended for me to share my experiences and opinions, and to hopefully generate interest in others, so I encourage responses.
On a final note, I will point out the fact that I make every concession in regards to safety when racing and riding. While I'm a purist, I also ride and enjoy my bikes, so I don't use 50 year old tires and I don't wear a puddin basin helmet. I believe that things like belt drive primaries and modern tires are a safety issue, so I always make room for those, as safety is far more important than originality on a bike that's being raced or ridden.
