Comments on: Vintage Motorcycle Days 2007 Review

By: Michael Pandzik

Michael Pandzik — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:47:55 +0000

I’m the builder and owner of the “Classified” Harley-Davidson Sportster shown at the 2007 Vintage M/C Days at Mid-Ohio. The donor bike is a 1993 1200 cc Sportster, which I bought with 300 miles on it — and promptly disassembled to install the kit!

Once I had the kit installed along with a large number of other replacement pieces (such as Performance Machine brakes, stainless hoses and cables, GoldTech cartridge emulators in the forks, etc.), the only Sportster parts remaining were the engine, frame, wiring loom and forks! I still love this bike after 15 years, and will never sell it.

Before I ordered the kit from Dan Wilson, I visited his shop in Carmel Valley, Calif. He’s a precision machinist by trade, and his welding skills show up in the parcel rack he provided with the kit.

The kit sold for $2,995, and included spoked/hubbed/tired wheels, hand-built aluminum gas tank, Vincent seat, 2-into-1 exhaust, fenders & stays, parcel rack, larger diameter headlight, drag (handle) bars, and taillight assembly. This winter I’m going to replace the stock turn signals with smaller/sleeker versions.

Dan’s original plan was to make & sell 25 kits, use the profits to make & sell 25 more, etc. As far as I know he only made the first 25 kits — mine is #22. I’m sure there are others out there (I imagine a few are still in the original wooden crate!), but mine is the only one I’ve ever seen in person.

Glad you liked my bike! MLP

By: Xavier Molina Marí

Xavier Molina Marí — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:11:30 +0000

Hello,
I would like to contact Mr. Dan Wilson of Carmel Valley. I am an admirer of his motorcycle for many years. I would appreciate a website, or e-mail, or address for mail.

Thanks,
Xavi

By: jeff in ohio

jeff in ohio — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:08:06 +0000

did you see the Maico triple? some dude in the swap meet had 3 Maico 490 motors bolted into a straight triple configuration across the frame. That sucker was WIDE. I took some camera phone pics since stupid me left the real deal at home…

By: Earl

Earl — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:26:57 +0000

The Kawabusa’s pretty damn cool. As you point out, it’s built by an Englishman, so the engine swap is a natural idea, and it’d be good to see more of it. Tho I figure there’s be a lot more fabrication involved in swapping engines on modern bikes, where the engine is often a stressed member and mounting points are very different, than a Triton. Great idea tho, and I’m glad someone’s done it.

By: Bryce

Bryce — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 03:49:09 +0000

That CB750 Cafe is too gorgeous for words. It’s clean, simple, and smooth, but it doesn’t look at all overdone. Nor does it look like it’s been stripped down beyond being usable on the street.

If Honda’s CB750 revival bike every comes to fruition, it could be their answer to the contemporary Bonneville. If they came out with something like this cafe racer, it could be the Honda answer to the Thruxton.