Went to a motorcycle junk yard today, saw a sad sight.

[John Schmidt]

I was looking for a small fender to mount on my one-wheel trailer, so figured I'd just poke around this local yard. First of all, he just took delivery of about 100 saddle bags from both 1500 and 1800 Wings. Also has at least one setup where the two bags were mounted together with a filler in the middle. Used by a company called Tag-a-long I believe to mount on a frame to make either a one wheel trailer or an extra trunk to slip into your receiver type trailer hitch. Kinda neat looking actually. So, if anyone is looking for a set of Wing saddle bags(1500 or 1800), let me know and I'll get the phone number to you.

But I digress. The sad sight was a number of old Wings in various stages of disrepair and dismantle. All sizes from 1000cc up to 1200cc, appeared to have at least 4-5 of the 1200's. A number of the engines had parts removed, the loose pieces strung around on the ground. Some of the 1200's actually looked like they could be restored but would take some work though. I just got that little melancholy feeling seeing them all sitting there like that, knowing their heyday was over and having had a few of the different models myself in the past. A lot of the plastic was missing on most, but there was a few old style saddle bags and some trunks laying around that came off them. I saw one huge light rail that would go all the way around the bags...just laying there but appeared to be complete. Oh....if only I had the money and a large enough place to keep them work on them, I'll bet I could get some of them up and running again. I always wanted a 1200 Standard, last made in 1984. That striped down model was a screamer, actually held a speed record for a while.

[Big IV]

but never many...the bone yard I go to is mostly smaller machines, heavy on dirt bikes and mopeds.  They don't get many Gold Wings.


I do like strolling around the motorcycle graveyards looking at the different bikes and pieces. I too always get hit with a wave of "I can save it" when I take my stroll. So many projects, so little time.

[R J]

Son and I picked up a 125 Benelli, 65 to 67 vintage, that he mainly will be restoring.   Engine was stuck, got that undone and it is now rideable around the block.  We still have to get a new title and plates for it.

Have purchased a ton of items off of evil bay for it.

Fender, side panels, carb, exhaust pipe, handle bars, with all the controls and cables, seat, wheels, that we are taking apart and hainvg chromed out, then will relace them again, tail light, ignition switch, headlight, and then whatever we think we will need down the road.

The little Blue Arimatchi (Hardley Diversion made in Italy, is his last venture.  It is in the middle in this picture......



The mini chopper was my 1st entanglement in building something.   I built that thing about 35 years ago.  Son rode it and all of the grandkids ride it now..........    It must have close to 10,000 miles on it during it's life time......  Briggs engine that we have reworked several times and even had it on a go cart, before I stole it back and put the Chopper back together.

[Big IV]

One of the few HDs that I have wanted over the years is the HD sprint. I just like the little italian oddballs. I ran across one with a lost title for 500 recently.  I luckily didn't have the money, so I passed on the project. THEN I sold a truck or two on Craigslist this weekend.  It was tempting. Luckily the home owners insurance is tempting too and going to get paid first. At some point in the future I'm going to have to save a little italian Harley myself. They do look like fun, but then again, I always liked riding the pony when I was a kid.

Projects are fun. I've got several in mind, but I will be returning to them later, after a summer of studying in PA perhaps, but I will get to them sometime.