They’re only original once. My good ol’ days
I WENT TO A SMALL BIKE SHOW IN A LOCAL pub car park at the weekend. Billed as an ‘Interesting Bike Show’, there were some superb classics and customs. These included a few immaculate Italians, including a gorgeous round case Ducati 750 and a rare Laverda SFO 750 twin. There was a spotless Dresda Triton, and a few lovely 1970s AMF Harley-Davidsons. I parked my somewhat dog-eared T140 Bonneville in the corner, feeling a little embarrassed at the state of the thing in such illustrious company.
Yet, to my surprise, the old Bonneville attracted attention as it sat there marking its territory with the odd drip of 20-50 multigrade, much of that attention being appreciative. Many of the visitors started their conversations with “I used to have one of those”, a common opening statement when I’m out and about on the Bonnie. I muttered a few self-deprecating words about the state of the thing and explained that the unpolished casings, oil streaks and brown stains from the use of the carb ticklers aside, it would start second kick
