Special Sub-Topic: Motorcycles 1955-1985 Authored by: Scattergood Sub-topic of: Motorcycles

From what brand did Harley-Davidson get the blueprint for the design of their small, two-stroke, American-built singles?

DKW. H-D acquired the rights to use the German brand's blueprints to begin production of their Hummer model when WWII ended.

What model was legendary for its speed above all else in the Fifties?

Vincent Black Lightning. Both the Black Lightning and the Black Shadow were equally famous for their performance.

Well before the Suzuki X-6 Hustler of 1966, what two-stroke sportbike left the early Hondas in a cloud of blue smoke?

Yamaha YDS-2. The YDS-2 was the first of a long line of Yamaha 250cc street hotrods imported into the U.S. The YD-1 was imported in tiny numbers, if at all.

What movie could, in a bizarre sort of way, be considered the predecessor of 'Easy Rider'?

'The Wild Angels'. 'The Wild Angels' began Peter Fonda's career as a bad boy working for Roger Corman. 'The Trip' (not a motorcycle movie) was Fonda's leading role released between 'The Wild Angels' and 'Easy Rider'.

What motorcyles used to be 'Black and white and rode all over'?

BMW's. Back in the good old days, BMW's came in black or white only, and their ad campaign was about as clever as that of another German company, Volkswagen.

What company built the 1962 Super Lassie?

Pointer. The Super Lassie of '62 would be Pointer's last model in the U.S. It was a 90cc two-stroke with electric-start only, a gas tank integral with the pressed steel frame, and styling obviously copied from the Honda 50 Sport.

What girl's name is also the name of a legendary Ducati model?

Diana. The Diana was the sportiest 250cc Ducati of the early '60's. It was succeeded by the Mach I model.

Which of these would not be found on the motorcycle farm?

horses. Harleys, Ducatis, and Kawasakis have their own nicknames.

What 1969 motorcycle was introduced wearing the same American racing team colors as the 1965 Shelby Mustang?

Kawasaki Mach III. The Superglide's colors were close, but the Mach III shared the Shelby's all white with blue racing stripes almost exactly.

What brand offered the Catria model in the early '60's?

Motobi. Motobi built a small line of Italian four-stroke singles.

What company built the 250cc Metralla sportbike?

Bultaco. The Metralla was one of the few street-only Bultacos.

In what model year did Honda introduce the street-scrambler CL models?

1962. The 1962 250cc Scrambler was an instant hit in the U.S.

What TV show featured a Triumph motorcyle in its weekly intro?

Marcus Welby. Marcus Welby's second banana drove a Triumph, a Bonneville I believe.

What was the first mass-produced motorcycle with a disc brake?

1969 Honda 750 Four. Yes, the Honda 750 was first with this, too.

In what model year did Honda offer more different engine designs and models than any other time in the company's history?

1983. The choice was astounding: inline fours, transverse V-twins, inline twins, longitudinal V-twins, V-fours, singles, etc.

What company offered the Atlas and the Electra simultaneously?

Norton. Norton offered its raging bull, the 750cc Atlas, alongside its mellower 400cc Electra in the early '60's.

Which one of these was not a Hodaka?

Hairy Hare. It does sort of fit the mold, doesn't it?

Name the two consecutive countries that built motorcycles you could order from the Sears catalog.

Austria - Italy. The early Allstates were all built by Puch in Austria, but a few Italian models were marketed under the Sears brand in later years.

What model so obviously inspired Yamaha to build its long-running XS-1?

Triumph Bonneville. The Bonnie had remained a success story, no matter how troublesome its electrics might have been. Although of similar design, the Bonneville outsold the Spitfire and Commander by a wide margin. Yamaha wanted to build a consistently reliable 650cc twin.

What model is generally considered the collector's holy grail of Hondas?

125 Benly Super Sport. The early 750's with sandcast engine cases are collectible. I made the other two up.