Who remembers Back In The Day

[montmil]

I'm definitely old enough to have stuffed motorcycles in anything that might have gotten us to a track, trail or any place where we could ride before getting chased off.

It's German,
It's air-cooled,
It's horizontally opposed,
It's our 4-wheeled cousin.



I even had a few of these now vintage DT and MX Yamahammers.

[skippyc]

Those were the days when practicality was all the go. My second bike was a DT250.

[Tony Smith]

Versatile as Beetles were, there is no way you could carry motorcycles like that and not cause a lot of damage.

[Warbucks]

Ahh, the painful memories of the DT250. Mine was painted with purple house paint by brush. Sure it was ghastly, but it wreaked lots of character. I couldn't complain because I bought it for $20.00 AUD with a cardboard box full of spare parts included.

I'd love a dollar for each time I jarred my foot or sprained my ankle trying to kick start the beast. It used to kick like a mule so in the end I had to execute it. I think it bit everyone who tried to start it at least once. The most painless solution was to clutch start it, but I never told anyone that. LOL

[montmil]

Versatile as Beetles were, there is no way you could carry motorcycles like that and not cause a lot of damage.

You're completely missing the point, Tony. Getting there is important. Getting home is less importanter. [smiley=mad.gif]

[Tony Smith]

Versatile as Beetles were, there is no way you could carry motorcycles like that and not cause a lot of damage.

You're completely missing the point, Tony. Getting there is important. Getting home is less importanter. [smiley=mad.gif]

Sorry - I guess i liked my beetles but recognized that they were somewhat "storage challenged" I modified my tow hitch with a front wheel clamp and used to tow my trail bike with the chain off.

[skippyc]

Back in the 50s in primary schools our teacher would fit 10 kids in his beetle, whenever we went somewhere.

[montmil]

Back in the 60s, a buddy and I took high school Driver's Ed in a sweet running Beetle. We both had experience in driving stick shift cars from "opportunities" on Boy Scout camp outs.
     Noting our skills, the instructor told us, "Just drive around" and promptly went to sleep. We both passed the week-long course and received our licenses. Finally... Legal drivers!

I've since built and flown two FAA-certified aircraft that were powered by VW engines. Reliable as a stone axe, those engines.

[Tony Smith]

I've since built and flown two FAA-certified aircraft that were powered by VW engines. Reliable as a stone axe, those engines.

I actually agree in spite of the fact that the only aircraft i ever bent was powered by a VW. The thing was a Revmaster  conversion with a single (yes that is correct) Scintilla magneto.

The engine was fitted to a Corby Starlet that was beautifully built over 10 years by a guy who demanded perfection of himself when it came to woodwork. turned out he didn't like flying much, in fact in the time I knew him he never achieved the removal of the area restriction from his licence. But he did like seeing his plane flown and I, as an hour hungry private pilot working towards a commercial licence, was more than happy to oblige.

I was responsible for some modifications as when it was first built the aircraft had only a basic UHF radio run by a total loss motorcycle battery. The rules changes and flights in controlled airspace required an SSR transponder. as the aircraft was based in a major regional city that was a shared civil/military airbase, non-compliance was not an option. I adapted a small "universal" motor (previously powering a sewing machine) into a generator and mounted it in the spot that once held a distributor.

I also bought (but foolishly never fitted) a hall effect conventional ignition system. The heads were fitted for duel plugs but in view of the single standard magneto the lower plug holes were plugged. I intended to mount a plate behind the prop to trigger the hall effect, but, as I said, never got around to it.

I have always said that the presence of two magnetos on certified engines is a statement of faith in their product by magneto manufacturers.


Sure enough, the blasted thing failed on me causing an untidy arrival in a farmer's field. The soft soil damaged the U/C somewhat and the cane stalks wreaked havoc on the fabric covering but otherwise no real harm - aside of course from the medical procedure to remove the seat cushion from between my butt cheeks.


The owner was very understanding, especially seeing as extended testing of the magneto could not identify a fault (I resolved to never fly behind that magneto again, but in any event it was moot, the owner repaired the plane and then hung it over his bar. He died some years later and i made a token effort to buy the plane but the wife had a very unrealistic price in mind and that was that.

[suecanada]

Great picture Monte!! Thanks! To relate to me: I owned a 1957 VW, the last one with the small oval back window with the "Amazing Volkswagen" sticker on that back window. Also, I rode, as my 3rd motorcycle, a Yamaha RT1 360 that really did a number on my leg trying to kick it over. My boyfriend owned the DT1 250 so that is why I was motivated to have a similar bike...I should have just traded with him as he could start the 360!
I took to wearing a hockey shin pad on my right inner leg for starting that thing!

[Motu]

Back in the Day...1972, this was our bike hauler, a 1958 International AS110.  Trail bikes were the new in thing back in the early '70's, but my brother and I hated coming home on broken bikes, hurting bodies, muddy bikes and soaked through, so we got the Inter.  Tough truck, more serious than make believe trucks like an F100 or JO Bedford. With my 18 year old foot on the pedal it did 4 mpg, hard to feed on apprentice wages....but a 4 gallon tin and a bit of hose got me through the week.

[Motu]

I had VW's too, this is my first one, a '54.  Gave it a very hard time, learned how to get very sideways on gravel roads.  It's been lowered to stop jackup. After too much side stepping the clutch it lost reverse. One day doing a handbrake 180 the back of my seat broke...spinning down the road flat on my back, but parked it perfectly against the curb.  Trying to restart it was spinning over fast but not catching - a sound 20 years later I would instantly recognise as a broken cambelt. Pulling the engine down I found the camshaft rivets sheared.

Parked up here end of life after the cops put it off the road....and took my license for the summer of '74.

[montmil]

I had VW's too, this is my first one, a '54... Parked up here end of life after the cops put it off the road....and took my license for the summer of '74.

Another great campfire story! Pass 'round that bottle of bourbon, boys.  [smiley=beer.gif]

[Motu]

I passed a mufty cop in the wet, then took a corner sideways, going on the wrong side of the road (no cars, I was  always safe in my bad driving) The cop took one look at it, bald tyres, A pillars rotten so the doors needed holding up when you opened them, it was gutted inside, just a drivers seat. He told me to take it home and not use it again.

So, the next day he was waiting at the end of my street....

[montmil]

So, the next day he was waiting at the end of my street....

And...?