The caption for the photo at the head of the story: Me, detailing my ‘75 Saab 99 (bought as a companion to my Sonett) with my dad standing watch; circa 1983. He was likely thinking, “David is so smart, why does he buy these damn Saabs?”
Fun "fact": No US Surgeon General ever owned a Saab. I know this because, if one had, the cars would have been required to carry labels reading "WARNING: MAY BE HABIT-FORMING"
Good write-up. I am one of the readership who does not ride. What was the biggest difference in detailing in 1983 vs today? I only know this century's version.
“This century’s version”— that’s funny! Well, I’m trying to think of something I do differently in the current century, the only thing I can think of is sometimes using wipes with window cleaner, Armor All, etc. I still wash with a car wash concentrate (separate sponge for bodywork), liquid wax (by hand), dressing for rubber/plastic. I’ve used mainly Meguires stuff for decades. I use some S100 stuff for the bikes.
Me, too. I kept mine in the garage in the included photo; until my dad remarried and it was summarily dismissed. I had nowhere to put it, so it ended up behind my landlord’s house. Not long after it arrived, lighting hit a tree there and it came down on the Sonett— totaled. I would probably still have it today.
That Ducati 60 looks much like an old motorized bicycle contraption I often see being ridden where I work by a poorly groomed young man of uncertain means, affectations of homelessness without the full commitment. It is shockingly loud and unnaturally quick and I covet it greatly.
It’s a shame that story is now behind a paywall, so you could read about the genesis of those bikes. Started with the Cucciolo, a clip on engine for bicycles.
"“you never see a motorcycle parked in front of a psychiatrists office” (but I have seen some pretty crazy things done on a bike). I don’t know. It’s a skill. Like any skill the better you are at it the better it feels. Braking for a corner, altering your body position, dropping down a gear or two, hearing the growl of engine braking after matching the revs (especially on one of my Ducatis), tipping it in as you trail off the brakes, picking up the throttle as you continue to look through the corner, accelerating out as you pick the bike up…then repeat! What an unbelievable feast for the senses. I can tell you that it does free your mind of extraneous nonsense. It better, not paying attention is a recipe for disaster. Complete safety all the time saps the life out of you."
Plus being one with the machine as an extension of your mind, and there is also that unlimited acceleration, like warp speed. Also bikes are still such elemental machines, you can visuals see all the bits, and each one is so different from the in execution styler and operation. Each one being an expression of its culture and designer.
Ive been riding since age 7 when my 70s father thought it would be fun to put the kid on a 50cc something. By the time I was 10 my younger brother wiped out said scooter and there was parental fatwah against bikes.
Like you my parents said I could name very car since i could speak which they find curious as neiter of them is motivated by cars at all. Childhood was series of plain ford sedans, and my father found heaven with lexus rx somehitng, not least because the serice dept is so polite.
At age 19 after having saved from various endevours and being out the house bought my first road bike, a sued yamaha secca 650, with rusty pipes and which was stolen 6 months later. There's been a string of bikes since then, favorites were a GTz 550 and Gpz 1100, Honda 6 cyl cbx Honda VFR and back in 86 bought my first new machine a Yamaha radian which I still have. My parents knew of none of these bikes, although my mother when visiting recently noticed the harley and radian under a cover.
A freind in Miami has always been a bike nut so when i visit him we take a ride on his bikes. KTM super Duke Rr I think its 230 hp some oter KTM and an aircooled Ducati Hypomatrd. Of all of the the Hypomotard reminds me for just the sheer hooligan fun of riding as a kid, its an mazing machine. I was lent a new Moster recently and it seemd liek power overkill for what ti was. My neighbout let me try his suzuki B king and short of abig open road opening it up seems like an accident looking for a place to happen. Also tried a orig vmax years ago, rode it 4 blocks and got off, that acceleration was so addictive I though a few more blocks with this spagetti frame poor shocks shaft drive and my inability to self control twisting the right hand and wham.
maybe Its age or maturity but in Fl riding a bike seems a good way to be killed by merth head, and ive seen it. My bikes are in ct with glorious backroads but alas get to ride too little these days.
In order of purchase (the first three were bought new):
1995 Harley Sportster 1200
2005 Ducati Monster S2R 800
2009 Harley XR1200
2002 Ducati 998s Bostrom
1950 Ducati 60
I had been searching for an original (including paint) ‘57-‘61 Ducati 175 Sport. Needle in a haystack. I’ve largely given up. And frankly not sure I want to add another bike to maintain/register/insure. I don’t ride nearly as much as I used to, hard on the old bones.
Given unlimited space and someone to keep after them; there are countless bikes I would want. What sprung to mind reading your question? I always liked the second generation Ducati 900ss (‘90’s). If Ducati did a street version of the new 450 Supermoto— that would be intriguing. I also love old (non-CVT) Vespas. Original paint and shifting gears a must; ratty looking preferred.
Youre definitely a late bloomer, quite a collection.
Xr 1200 always seemed intresting.
I came this close to buying a Ducati 900ss (‘90’s) just didnt have the scratch and thats when I bought the VFR. Pretty sure if Id bought the Duc would still have it. In my more mellow older age woudl like to still have that VFR, these days it woudl be just the right mix of sport and comfort.
I keep looking at Triumph Rockets and street triples, very different bikes but like em both. have no idea what id do with either and the grupenfuher has a Fatwah on bikes.
Jack told me people complain when they get emails about guest posts; so no email. (Maybe he secretly wasn’t sure about using it.) He said he would mention it in his Wednesday missive.
An excellent article, Dave, thank you. I too struggle to fully understand what it is about bikes that make them so enjoyable, but I think it has something to do with the human scale. The movements are tiny; a gear change is half an inch, the clutch and brakes little more and the steering is a matter of pressure rather than movement and yet the results are so immediate. And, of course, little beats the sensation of being picked up by a giant hand and literally thrown at the horizon that is immediately available with any bike with north of 100 horsepower.
Nice article. I just spent a week with my dad, and as the father of two daughters find it an interesting perspective. My dad was never into cars at all. Just didn’t care. But he tolerated my endless babbling about cars the way I tolerate my daughters’ endless babbling about their interests which sometimes we share and sometimes I couldn’t care less about. At some point you’re just happy your kid has some passion about something and you try to nurture it as best you can. My sister and her husband were also on the trip, and I’m just glad I don’t have to feign interest in Pokemon cards like my nephew is currently obsessed with. “The wrong” kind of car or bike is absolutely preferable by comparison.
Thanks for this, Dave. These things are just artfully arranged piles of metal without the human stories behind them.
I didn't have a Dad who was into machines. I sort of wandered around and found my own way. But my Dad was more a force of morality in my life, so I found myself caught between the wild and intoxicating rock of testosterone encephalitic poisoning and the hard place of doing the right thing.
Very cool story, Dave. My father and I share a bond for cars but not for motorcycles. I have friends that have ridden bikes over the years and that always tempted me. I got my motorcycle license in my late 20s, at a time when I was raising a family of three little ones with very little disposable income. Bought a few cheap motorcycles, but never fully felt comfortable riding (not that I did much of it) and my wife never liked the idea. So I sold the bikes and stuck to cars.
Fast forward a dozen or so years and I got the itch to try motorcycles again. I'm older, more mature, the kids are almost grown and I now have the extra money for toys. Ended up buying a 1997 Honda PC800 a few months ago and I love it. It's not the fastest, loudest or coolest, but it fits me perfectly because it's such a unique bike. I try to ride it a few times a week and my confidence level continues to improve.
Take an MSF safety course (if you haven’t already). They are very basic, but give a good foundation. The most important part— keep your eyes up and look where you want to go.
Glad to see you riding. Former rider but encouraging my 20’s aged son to learn and will go take the safety class with him when we can schedule it.
There is nothing like riding. Was more fun with less people on the road.
Another skill as you say and my father insisted we all, my five brothers and two sisters, learn to ride a motorcycle and drive a manual car before we could get our license. Didn’t want us stuck and unable to extract ourself from a situation.
This was a wonderful story and would hope to find a way to read your original article as this really was a great piece. I do hope your father was able to hear you. He would have been proud.
Really appreciate the kind words. Your dad sounds like someone I would have wanted to have a drink with.
Really stinks Motorcycle Classics put everything behind a pay wall. I wanted the real story of the beginning of Ducati motorcycle production out there— to counter a lot of the BS circulating. Spent a lot of time and money on the research— even had noted motorcycle historian Ian Falloon validate it before it went to print.
Then write another story using the prior work as a basis.
Like Taylor Swift re recording all of her songs.
Can correct anything and add to bring it up to date.
Would love to read it. Truthfully, a lot of the times those early motorcycles from Italy look more like mopeds but are absolutely beautiful.
That is one of the things that would get me back to riding. I don’t need to ride the TransAmerican trail or out on the highway, but just for fun.
I’ve even thought about getting a two-stroke Vespa just a cruise around the neighborhood and spread some blue smoke. All to the consternation of the HOA.
Dad was a force of nature. I really enjoyed my childhood. Because he was a doctor with five different offices and basically an administrator with other doctors working for him. We did what our parents wanted to do on the weekend. None of the schedules revolving around the kids lives, we had to keep up with the adults. Boating, water, skiing, fishing, motorcycles, shooting, scuba diving, and flying.
I should ask them to get it out from behind the paywall. I also did a report on the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Motorcycle Show for them. I do have pdf versions of both.
I just answered a question about what I own and what I would want, above. Mentioned an old ratty original paint non-CVT Vespa. I’ve ridden a modern Vespa; they are a lot of fun— but I have to be able to shift gears!
I have watched the Saab Sonett that races in the Pittsburgh Vintage run by Stephan Vapa (spelling may be off). Beautiful.
Also agree on the Vespa.
Well see what you can do. I never mind Jack sending emails about others writings. Have him update us if you are successful or write more. Appreciate your time. I am going to push my son to schedule the rider safety course but he is more focused on shooting and a little flying before he gets out of college in December.
Glad Crab Spirits is back and we were introduced to you as well.
Touching story with the inclusion of your father. Life is always ironic in the worst ways. I also liked the unspoken analogy of flying when the vehicle of choice was “born from jets.”
I’m on team not allowed. It’s kept me off of them. I suppose I’ll never really know how much it saved me versus how much joy has been robbed. The older you get, the more you realize the possibility of experience goes away. Eventually leading to things you’ll never do.
I’m always amazed at the crazy twists and turns life hits you with.
There are plenty of people who will tell you if you haven’t done (whatever they’ve done), you haven’t lived. Bull shit! Life experience is personal; all things are not for all folks. The important thing is to find stuff that you find fun and do that.
Your last two sentences are so true; and everyone should heed them. Excellent. Profound.
The caption for the photo at the head of the story: Me, detailing my ‘75 Saab 99 (bought as a companion to my Sonett) with my dad standing watch; circa 1983. He was likely thinking, “David is so smart, why does he buy these damn Saabs?”
Lovely photo: what city?
Fun "fact": No US Surgeon General ever owned a Saab. I know this because, if one had, the cars would have been required to carry labels reading "WARNING: MAY BE HABIT-FORMING"
Elizabeth, Pa. Near Pittsburgh.
And the pre-GM Saabs were indeed habit forming. The Saabaru (WRX) wagon was cool, though.
Good write-up. I am one of the readership who does not ride. What was the biggest difference in detailing in 1983 vs today? I only know this century's version.
Thanks.
“This century’s version”— that’s funny! Well, I’m trying to think of something I do differently in the current century, the only thing I can think of is sometimes using wipes with window cleaner, Armor All, etc. I still wash with a car wash concentrate (separate sponge for bodywork), liquid wax (by hand), dressing for rubber/plastic. I’ve used mainly Meguires stuff for decades. I use some S100 stuff for the bikes.
You bought the Saabs because of your brilliance! They are habit forming. The 99 and Sonett are great cars.
I sure thought so.
That they were great cars.
And I was brilliant.
At least the world can agree on your brilliance!
Hope to see more when you have time. This was really enjoyable.
Sorry about losing your father. It’s horrible.
The world begs to differ.
I have time for more and plenty of stuff rattling around in my cranium— but no outlet.
It’s never easy losing someone, whether you see it coming or not.
Thanks
No, it is never easy.
this was a treasure to read. thank you.
Wow. Glad you liked it.
Dave, thanks for sharing a great story.
Much appreciated
Enjoyed the read, Dave. I miss my Sonett.
Thanks.
Me, too. I kept mine in the garage in the included photo; until my dad remarried and it was summarily dismissed. I had nowhere to put it, so it ended up behind my landlord’s house. Not long after it arrived, lighting hit a tree there and it came down on the Sonett— totaled. I would probably still have it today.
That Ducati 60 looks much like an old motorized bicycle contraption I often see being ridden where I work by a poorly groomed young man of uncertain means, affectations of homelessness without the full commitment. It is shockingly loud and unnaturally quick and I covet it greatly.
It’s a shame that story is now behind a paywall, so you could read about the genesis of those bikes. Started with the Cucciolo, a clip on engine for bicycles.
Great story, Dave, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Great article.
I think you captured a lot here.
"“you never see a motorcycle parked in front of a psychiatrists office” (but I have seen some pretty crazy things done on a bike). I don’t know. It’s a skill. Like any skill the better you are at it the better it feels. Braking for a corner, altering your body position, dropping down a gear or two, hearing the growl of engine braking after matching the revs (especially on one of my Ducatis), tipping it in as you trail off the brakes, picking up the throttle as you continue to look through the corner, accelerating out as you pick the bike up…then repeat! What an unbelievable feast for the senses. I can tell you that it does free your mind of extraneous nonsense. It better, not paying attention is a recipe for disaster. Complete safety all the time saps the life out of you."
Plus being one with the machine as an extension of your mind, and there is also that unlimited acceleration, like warp speed. Also bikes are still such elemental machines, you can visuals see all the bits, and each one is so different from the in execution styler and operation. Each one being an expression of its culture and designer.
Thank you. And your paragraph added a lot I left out.
Ive been riding since age 7 when my 70s father thought it would be fun to put the kid on a 50cc something. By the time I was 10 my younger brother wiped out said scooter and there was parental fatwah against bikes.
Like you my parents said I could name very car since i could speak which they find curious as neiter of them is motivated by cars at all. Childhood was series of plain ford sedans, and my father found heaven with lexus rx somehitng, not least because the serice dept is so polite.
At age 19 after having saved from various endevours and being out the house bought my first road bike, a sued yamaha secca 650, with rusty pipes and which was stolen 6 months later. There's been a string of bikes since then, favorites were a GTz 550 and Gpz 1100, Honda 6 cyl cbx Honda VFR and back in 86 bought my first new machine a Yamaha radian which I still have. My parents knew of none of these bikes, although my mother when visiting recently noticed the harley and radian under a cover.
A freind in Miami has always been a bike nut so when i visit him we take a ride on his bikes. KTM super Duke Rr I think its 230 hp some oter KTM and an aircooled Ducati Hypomatrd. Of all of the the Hypomotard reminds me for just the sheer hooligan fun of riding as a kid, its an mazing machine. I was lent a new Moster recently and it seemd liek power overkill for what ti was. My neighbout let me try his suzuki B king and short of abig open road opening it up seems like an accident looking for a place to happen. Also tried a orig vmax years ago, rode it 4 blocks and got off, that acceleration was so addictive I though a few more blocks with this spagetti frame poor shocks shaft drive and my inability to self control twisting the right hand and wham.
maybe Its age or maturity but in Fl riding a bike seems a good way to be killed by merth head, and ive seen it. My bikes are in ct with glorious backroads but alas get to ride too little these days.
Understood. Good stuff.
Beyond what I own; I’ve only ridden a late 90’s rental Electra Glide and the brother-in-law’s ‘80 FXB Sturgis shovelhead. Oh, and a friend’s Vespa.
What bikes do you own?
And for fun and based on your experience what bikes would you like to own
In order of purchase (the first three were bought new):
1995 Harley Sportster 1200
2005 Ducati Monster S2R 800
2009 Harley XR1200
2002 Ducati 998s Bostrom
1950 Ducati 60
I had been searching for an original (including paint) ‘57-‘61 Ducati 175 Sport. Needle in a haystack. I’ve largely given up. And frankly not sure I want to add another bike to maintain/register/insure. I don’t ride nearly as much as I used to, hard on the old bones.
Given unlimited space and someone to keep after them; there are countless bikes I would want. What sprung to mind reading your question? I always liked the second generation Ducati 900ss (‘90’s). If Ducati did a street version of the new 450 Supermoto— that would be intriguing. I also love old (non-CVT) Vespas. Original paint and shifting gears a must; ratty looking preferred.
I’ll bet you’re sorry you asked!
Youre definitely a late bloomer, quite a collection.
Xr 1200 always seemed intresting.
I came this close to buying a Ducati 900ss (‘90’s) just didnt have the scratch and thats when I bought the VFR. Pretty sure if Id bought the Duc would still have it. In my more mellow older age woudl like to still have that VFR, these days it woudl be just the right mix of sport and comfort.
I keep looking at Triumph Rockets and street triples, very different bikes but like em both. have no idea what id do with either and the grupenfuher has a Fatwah on bikes.
I didn't get a notification this was published. I hope more people read it.
Jack told me people complain when they get emails about guest posts; so no email. (Maybe he secretly wasn’t sure about using it.) He said he would mention it in his Wednesday missive.
And thank you, by the way.
An excellent article, Dave, thank you. I too struggle to fully understand what it is about bikes that make them so enjoyable, but I think it has something to do with the human scale. The movements are tiny; a gear change is half an inch, the clutch and brakes little more and the steering is a matter of pressure rather than movement and yet the results are so immediate. And, of course, little beats the sensation of being picked up by a giant hand and literally thrown at the horizon that is immediately available with any bike with north of 100 horsepower.
Thanks.
Excellent analysis.
Great write-up. Thanks for doing this.
Thanks. Amazing how life turns out isn’t it?
Nice article. I just spent a week with my dad, and as the father of two daughters find it an interesting perspective. My dad was never into cars at all. Just didn’t care. But he tolerated my endless babbling about cars the way I tolerate my daughters’ endless babbling about their interests which sometimes we share and sometimes I couldn’t care less about. At some point you’re just happy your kid has some passion about something and you try to nurture it as best you can. My sister and her husband were also on the trip, and I’m just glad I don’t have to feign interest in Pokemon cards like my nephew is currently obsessed with. “The wrong” kind of car or bike is absolutely preferable by comparison.
Thanks. Perspective is everything.
And you’re correct, passion is extremely important.
Thanks for this, Dave. These things are just artfully arranged piles of metal without the human stories behind them.
I didn't have a Dad who was into machines. I sort of wandered around and found my own way. But my Dad was more a force of morality in my life, so I found myself caught between the wild and intoxicating rock of testosterone encephalitic poisoning and the hard place of doing the right thing.
This was a great read. I hope you'll do more.
We all find our own way in one sense or another. Tempering urges is necessary for civilized society. Finding good outlets is necessary for sanity.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Very cool story, Dave. My father and I share a bond for cars but not for motorcycles. I have friends that have ridden bikes over the years and that always tempted me. I got my motorcycle license in my late 20s, at a time when I was raising a family of three little ones with very little disposable income. Bought a few cheap motorcycles, but never fully felt comfortable riding (not that I did much of it) and my wife never liked the idea. So I sold the bikes and stuck to cars.
Fast forward a dozen or so years and I got the itch to try motorcycles again. I'm older, more mature, the kids are almost grown and I now have the extra money for toys. Ended up buying a 1997 Honda PC800 a few months ago and I love it. It's not the fastest, loudest or coolest, but it fits me perfectly because it's such a unique bike. I try to ride it a few times a week and my confidence level continues to improve.
Thank you.
Take an MSF safety course (if you haven’t already). They are very basic, but give a good foundation. The most important part— keep your eyes up and look where you want to go.
Have fun!
Glad to see you riding. Former rider but encouraging my 20’s aged son to learn and will go take the safety class with him when we can schedule it.
There is nothing like riding. Was more fun with less people on the road.
Another skill as you say and my father insisted we all, my five brothers and two sisters, learn to ride a motorcycle and drive a manual car before we could get our license. Didn’t want us stuck and unable to extract ourself from a situation.
This was a wonderful story and would hope to find a way to read your original article as this really was a great piece. I do hope your father was able to hear you. He would have been proud.
Really appreciate the kind words. Your dad sounds like someone I would have wanted to have a drink with.
Really stinks Motorcycle Classics put everything behind a pay wall. I wanted the real story of the beginning of Ducati motorcycle production out there— to counter a lot of the BS circulating. Spent a lot of time and money on the research— even had noted motorcycle historian Ian Falloon validate it before it went to print.
Then write another story using the prior work as a basis.
Like Taylor Swift re recording all of her songs.
Can correct anything and add to bring it up to date.
Would love to read it. Truthfully, a lot of the times those early motorcycles from Italy look more like mopeds but are absolutely beautiful.
That is one of the things that would get me back to riding. I don’t need to ride the TransAmerican trail or out on the highway, but just for fun.
I’ve even thought about getting a two-stroke Vespa just a cruise around the neighborhood and spread some blue smoke. All to the consternation of the HOA.
Dad was a force of nature. I really enjoyed my childhood. Because he was a doctor with five different offices and basically an administrator with other doctors working for him. We did what our parents wanted to do on the weekend. None of the schedules revolving around the kids lives, we had to keep up with the adults. Boating, water, skiing, fishing, motorcycles, shooting, scuba diving, and flying.
I should ask them to get it out from behind the paywall. I also did a report on the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Motorcycle Show for them. I do have pdf versions of both.
I just answered a question about what I own and what I would want, above. Mentioned an old ratty original paint non-CVT Vespa. I’ve ridden a modern Vespa; they are a lot of fun— but I have to be able to shift gears!
I totally agree with that parenting style.
I have watched the Saab Sonett that races in the Pittsburgh Vintage run by Stephan Vapa (spelling may be off). Beautiful.
Also agree on the Vespa.
Well see what you can do. I never mind Jack sending emails about others writings. Have him update us if you are successful or write more. Appreciate your time. I am going to push my son to schedule the rider safety course but he is more focused on shooting and a little flying before he gets out of college in December.
Glad Crab Spirits is back and we were introduced to you as well.
Touching story with the inclusion of your father. Life is always ironic in the worst ways. I also liked the unspoken analogy of flying when the vehicle of choice was “born from jets.”
I’m on team not allowed. It’s kept me off of them. I suppose I’ll never really know how much it saved me versus how much joy has been robbed. The older you get, the more you realize the possibility of experience goes away. Eventually leading to things you’ll never do.
I’m always amazed at the crazy twists and turns life hits you with.
There are plenty of people who will tell you if you haven’t done (whatever they’ve done), you haven’t lived. Bull shit! Life experience is personal; all things are not for all folks. The important thing is to find stuff that you find fun and do that.
Your last two sentences are so true; and everyone should heed them. Excellent. Profound.