SCOOPERMAN!

The sunny side of the classic world, with the VJMC’S Steve Cooper

Many of us are serial fettlers/restorers – regardless of space or cash, we often ruminate over what bikes we’d like in our stable next. Everyone has a dream garage that contains all manner of glamorous stuff, but I’m not going there, well, not too far anyway.

Aside from the exotica, i.e. MV

Agusta America, the round-case bevel-drive 750 Ducati, the Suzuki GT750K, Honda CBX 1000, Benelli Sei, Yamaha GL750, etc., what would you go for?

I’ve long held a desire for another trail bike, preferably over 250cc, but which one? Yamaha’s DT400 with either twin or monoshock appeals, but I know they’re really not the weapon of choice off-road simply due to their mass. An IT465 from the same stable is undoubtedly lighter, but I doubt I have the skill to ride one fast without serious injury. Honda’s XL350 ought to be an obvious choice, but apparently they’re rather on the heavy side and arguably not as good as the XL250. So how about a compromise? Why not take a punt on the gorgeous XL250 Motosport from 1973? Well, yes, nice idea, but have you seen what money decent ones are making now? Staying with The Big Aitch, I have to admit I was smitten by the subtle charms of the SL350 I rode the other year for CMM, so perhaps that’s a possibility? The earliest ones are arguably the prettiest but are frankly pants on the dirt, but then do I actually want to be riding off-road on classic Japanese iron anyway?

Hang on, what about all those Spanish singles of the 70s? Surely I could find something amongst the likes of Bultaco, Montessa or Ossa that would suit? Sadly, once again the price of any of these is on the rise unless I want a basket case. No, I’ll pass thanks; far too many shims inside their transmissions for my addled old brain.

We’re whittling down the list PDQ and perhaps it’s the look rather than the intent that appeals, so why not opt for a street scrambler? I like the looks of them and have one at least 75% sorted, so perhaps it’d like a friend to keep it company? In which case I’ll have a Kawasaki A7SS please and preferably the A7SSA please in yellow and white: yeah, right, who am I kidding? I simply don’t have that sort of money unfortunately.

For most of us such ruminations are little more than pipe dreams, but at least by considering your options you’ll know what machine you really want and, crucially, afford. My aspirations to home a Suzuki TS400 came to fruition so I don’t need or want another bike. However, the Apache did come with a spare motor so I’m wondering whether I could use it to make a special? Oh dear God, here we go again!