Scriv 168 Posted February 13, 2009 Report Share Posted February 13, 2009 But they lost their shirts with H-D and American Motors! About the best thing they made were pin-setters for bowling alleys! H-D was re-purchased by Davidson, who reformed the business into a profitable organisation. There are a lot of "urban myths" doing the rounds about the Aermacchi-HD connection. It is assumed by some people that any AMF-era H-D will still be unreliable and badly made, even though the chances are that it has been rebuilt. The general consensus now is that if AMF had not purchased H-D, then Harleys would be as much past history today as Indian are. I take the view that many of the problems (poor build quality and reliability coupled with a lack of R&D and an ageing model line-up) were a symptom of the times, parallel to those in the American and British motor industries of that era; think British Leyland in the 70's and you'll understand where I'm coming from. Harley timed the buy-back to perfection with the advent of the "Evo" engine, which ironically has proved far more durable than the later "Twin-Cam" design. For the record, most of the Harleys I've owned have been AMF era; logical perhaps because that's when I got into them. Not had a bad one yet, and I've still got one (the XLCH Sporty) in the garage. I don't care if they are a bit temperamental; they've got soul! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Val 11 Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Hi Ashley Walking into Beeston this morning who should we bump into John Greenfield and his wife Elaine, Re - your photo on the 10th Feb. Have told him about the forum. He has still got a couple of bikes one of which is a Harley. He went down to the White Hart last week. Val Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted February 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 not THE Val is it? (puts on tin helmet) ex Ruddington? lol Haven't seen John and Elaine since White Hart reunion I organised at The Beechdale (sounds odd I know but at time not welcome at the Hart) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Val 11 Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Hi Ashley No sorry not the same Val!!! Val Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted February 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 did you in fact go down white hart? remember a couple of Val's Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mgread1200 141 Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 question for ashley, you have survived being a biker since the sixties but there must have been hairy moments, close misses ect, which ones do you remember. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 You want him to talk about his hairy bits ???? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mgread1200 141 Posted February 15, 2009 Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 absolutely Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Val 11 Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Hi Ashley No didn't go to the White Hart but did know a few lads that had motorbikes - Alan Watson, Malc Warrington, Ron Buckley, Stu Spenlove, do you know any of them. My boyfriend at the time(now my husband) couldn't afford a motorbike only a Lambretta. Val Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted February 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Crash's! Nothing serious, ran out of road on 250 AJS on way to skeg and fell off, clip on trapped thumb against tank, best of it was about half hour before a car had done same, it was upside down in a dyke and police and ambulance crews watched me crash! luckily fell off before the dyke, ran into a kid once but didn't fall off, landed on a car roof after the prat did 3 point turn in front of me, just shook up, ran into roadworks after night in log cabin, on 500cc Norton with push bike lights! no helmets, I cut my head on 8ft high pile of chippings girlfriend cleared it but actually went head first down open manhole other side! I kid you not, 6" either way she'd have hit rim of chamber, got her out ok, no injuries but covered in ****! slid off same norton going round dunkirk island in rain , gravel rash etc, gave away 500cc norton! came off back of 500cc matchless actually in grounds of mapperley hosp! no, not a patient! working there, mate skidded on wet leaves, kept in general overnight observation, on pillion again another mate ran into parked lorry I landed in back of such hitting knee on tailgate on the way, gave up riding pillion! have suffered ever since, not just knee problem but next day had agree'd to meet ex, am sure I'd have got back with her but couldn't make it, boo hoo, F******** motorbikes! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mgread1200 141 Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 aint it incedible when yer bikes on the ground and your picking yer self up and checking for breaks to haer the car driver say "didn,t yer see me indicate" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mgread1200 141 Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 my sons bonneville america, ex pat lives in houston texas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted February 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 "LDV here, Houston we have a problem"! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike_a 0 Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 In chronological order: Tiger Cub 200 Franny Barnet 225 Norton Dommi 99 cafe racer style (bought from Les Wilkinson's place on Union Road?) BSA Bantam 125 Norton Commando 750. Nice to be reminded of the White Hart, used to go there quite a bit. We also used to go to some youth club in Beeston where they had groups on regularly. Anyone remember this? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 Would that be 'The Shed' ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted April 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 Probably, mentioned elsewhere on Nottstalgia, didn't get down there much, was more Jack's cafe and The Hart Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulus 541 Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 Any of you bikers recall the 41 club? they used to meet at the Pelican pub in Bilborough, also a guy called 'Beau', he rode a Norton Dominator?? and also Mick Pinder, no bike but very flash leather jacket!!! Both used to frequent the Aspley boys club behind the church on Aspley lane............ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted April 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 would that be bolsteridge or similar name? used to live on heathfield and later western boulevard? re aspley lane youth club, was that at church corner of melbourne rd? yours truely went through fence outside there one night doing a "demo"! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,872 Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 I remember a chap called Tom Carr who used to run a club, i think it was the 31 club. He used to organise the rallies and i remember going to the Goose fair rally early seventies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Limey 242 Posted April 15, 2009 Report Share Posted April 15, 2009 Mary and I went to the Ace Cafe in London on the Saturday we arrived! What a great place - and even on a day with not much going on, there were about 200 bikes in the lot! Now I need to figure out a way to beg, steal or borrow a bike next time we are over there! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted April 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2009 Tom Carr was member of 41 club, at one time he had an MZ combo with chair "on the wrong side" sold it in his words "before it killed him"! never heard of a 31 club Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,872 Posted April 15, 2009 Report Share Posted April 15, 2009 It could have been 41 club Ashley, did you go on any of the rallies? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted April 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2009 They used to run The Robin Hood Rally, went on a few, others Ive been to are the Aegir, The Seven, Goose Fair, Stag (3 times) Heather, Peak, Heart of England, Clover, and of course The Dragon, others too who's names I can't recall Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulus 541 Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 Ashley, The church club was behind the church between Melbourne Road & Amersham Rise..........There was also a Scooter(Lambrettas/vespas etc) club called 'The Outlaws'....................not many members ! recall!!! !! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted April 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 the one I was thinking of was at corner of melbourne rd and aspley lane, was bike club there called the 77? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.