Actually, that quote attributed to me, was not from me, don't know where it came from, but was probably a reply to what I had written earlier about the CMC
James Franklin
2411 Pine Summit DR. E
Jacksonville, Florida 32211
808-225-0994 (cell)
From: "john gary simpson" <eustisgary@...>
Reply-To: W650riders@...
To: W650riders@...
Subject: [W650riders] Re: 95, 295, 495 Highways, all.... nwc
Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 21:42:43 -0000
Excelsior-Henderson bit the dust when the dotcoms took off. They
needed money to ramp up production, and most of their investors
pulled out and started putting their money in dotcoms instead. Too
bad. My 11 second EH was one of the most satisfying bikes I ever
owned!--- In W650riders@..., "James Franklin"
<jimw650@...> wrote:
The Excelsior/Henderson people screwed that up even though they
had huge
backing money. Indian (California Motorcycle Company version, not
the
Springfield company original) sold really poor quality motorcycles
in the
beginning, some of it was bad suppliers...the bike was a
composite, and some
of it of course, was trying to build too many, too soon. In their
last
couple of years the product was better quality, but the bike had a
limited
market, and those really interested probably bought the original
bikes and
got burned.
James Franklin
P.O. Box 289
Waimanalo, HI 96795-0289
USA
808-225-0994 (cell)
----Original Message Follows----
From: "kevin_cooklin" <kcooklin@...>
Reply-To: W650riders@...
To: W650riders@...
Subject: [W650riders] Re: 95, 295, 495 Highways, all.... nwc
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 02:00:38 -0000
Hey, Den--
If I remember our goodly Gene had a GB? They are not cheap
anymore.
Distant memories
tell me my own papa (I'm not Italian but am using this for
literary effect
only) bought one,
then lost it in a poker game. The dog. He could have waited for
me to take
it for a spin.
But it's a gorgeous bike. To. Be. Sure.
Ninja. I probably just need to hop on one sometime and go crazy.
In all
honesty, I've had
this anti-crotch-rocket mentality all my life, and I don't know
why.
There's no reason for
it. I graduated from high school in 1980. There's absolutely no
sense to
it. So I need to
overcome the prejudice and give it a go. Come on out and let me
take yours
for a spin. I
still would sell off my house for a 750 Norton Roadster, though.
It be in
the blood.
Don't completely rule out the new Norton, although all bets are
most likely
on failure.
Huge undertaking, and underfunding is always the killer. [The
attempt to
bring back the
Indian is an architypal model on the subject, and they had BIG
funding].
Still, I like a guy
or gal who is so passionate about what he does that he/she f____s
up the
funding, doesn't
get it right, and yet..... had to do it. Artists, creative folk,
so rarely
get the accounting, but
they get everything else. Let's hope he gets through it.
Did you sell the W because you were tired of it or because you
wanted to
gain a couple of
other cool bikes?
kev
--- In W650riders@..., "Dennis J. Guggemos"
<djguggms@>
wrote:
>
> Kev
>
> The GB is buckets of fun, and a sure conversation starter just
like the
W. The Ninja isn't
a 114hp 600 four, just a lowly 65 hp twin. Tops out around 130 I
hear but
I'll never find
out for myself. It does get to the ton in a hurry though. It has a
pretty
fair power band,
kind of like a super W, useable low end, comes on the cam about 6k
and pulls
like a m-f-
r. Red line at 11k but max power at around 8800. They cheaped out
on the
suspension,
the only adjustment is rear spring preload. The forks are just
beefier W
forks. However
that frame is super stiff, the racers love it.
>
> Sold the W to a guy that walked into the local dealer where I
had left
word. Seems like a
nice kid, said that's they way he would have wanted to fix it up
so I saved
him a lot of
trouble. He does a lot of 2-up with his gf and they like it.
They're not
really near here so
not likely I'll see it again.
>
> I read a bike tabloid a month or so ago that told of the demise
of the
Norton. I suppose
if they can find another bunch of money it could still be a go. I
don't
trust everything I read
on their website now as the $ meltdown happened months ago but the
website
didn't say
anything about it.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: kevin_cooklin
> To: W650riders@...
> Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 5:29 AM
> Subject: [W650riders] Re: 95, 295, 495 Highways, all....
>
>
> Dennis--
>
> Wow, two other bikes.... and sold your W. Hey, the GB500 has
to be a
blast, as does the
> Ninja. I'm pretty sure I'd kill myself with a Ninja. Of
course, now
that you've sold the W,
> you must resign your office! Kidding, of course. Did you sell
the W to
a pal, or on Ebay,
> or.... just curious.
>
> Did the new Norton just call it quits recently? I was
checking them as
recently as a
month
> ago; at that time they indicated they'd quit their factory
and were in
search for another.
> They were also seeking more money, of course. But they had
not formally
thrown in
the
> towel. What a shame. But heck, that new Ducati Sport Classic,
the GT,
sure looks nice.
> Haven't seen one for real yet.
>
> Yes, need to get out there more on the bike. It's already
feeling like
fall here in PA.
>
> Best,
>
> kev
> Recent Activity
> a.. 16New Members
> b.. 1New Files
> Visit Your Group
> SPONSORED LINKS
> a.. Kawasaki motorcycles
> b.. Kawasaki vulcan
> c.. Kawasaki motorcycle accessory
> d.. Kawasaki motorcycle exhaust
> e.. Kawasaki motorcycle part
> Yahoo! News
> Space News
>
> Get the latest
>
> space related news
>
> Y! Toolbar
> Get it Free!
>
> easy 1-click access
>
> to your groups.
>
> Yahoo! Groups
> Start a group
>
> in 3 easy steps.
>
> Connect with others.
> .
>
_________________________________________________________________
