Sidecar Flip
Living Legend
Maybe you are right....
Jamie:
You may be right. '69 was a loooooong time ago. Many bikes (and wives) have slipped through my fingers (and wallet) since then. Some should have stayed and others, I'm glad they left (especially the wives).
Honestly, I can't remember if they were advertised as Marlon Brando copies. They look like the one he wore in the "Wild One". I remember that I paid somewhere around 80 bucks for each jacket and around 60 each for the drawers and I never thought they'd be around as long as they have, especially in the condition they are in (I wish I smelled as new as they do). The jackets still fit, albeit a little tight, the drawers, well, maybe in the future. The Brooks look more at home on the T100/sidecar than the R3 anyway. I'm considering a leather beanie and aviator goggles to complete the vintage look.
I bought the jackets and drawers at a bike shop on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio sometime in '69 to go with my '68 T120 Bonneville. I remember exactly what I paid for the Bonnie, $1325.00, tax, title and setup. I still have the bill of sale in the Meriden Workshop Manual. In late '69 I also bought a '68 Norton P11A Scrambler. It was $300 bucks or so more which I thought was a little high. After that I had a string of non-descriptive bikes until the New Bonnie in 2003 and now the R3. Being young and stupid I'd never guessed that the Meriden and especially Norton would become so collectible. P11's are extremely rare and worth a ton.
The Brooks leathers outlasted them all. That's a testament to fine American craftsmanship, something this country lost years ago. Of course they (Brooks) aren't Water Buffalo hide or Kangaroo hide, they are good quality Top Grain Leather. When I finally pass, I wonder if I can get "shown" in my Brooks leathers??
Since I own 2 sets, one set can go with me and the other set can go in the estate sale.:bch:
Jamie:
You may be right. '69 was a loooooong time ago. Many bikes (and wives) have slipped through my fingers (and wallet) since then. Some should have stayed and others, I'm glad they left (especially the wives).
Honestly, I can't remember if they were advertised as Marlon Brando copies. They look like the one he wore in the "Wild One". I remember that I paid somewhere around 80 bucks for each jacket and around 60 each for the drawers and I never thought they'd be around as long as they have, especially in the condition they are in (I wish I smelled as new as they do). The jackets still fit, albeit a little tight, the drawers, well, maybe in the future. The Brooks look more at home on the T100/sidecar than the R3 anyway. I'm considering a leather beanie and aviator goggles to complete the vintage look.
I bought the jackets and drawers at a bike shop on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio sometime in '69 to go with my '68 T120 Bonneville. I remember exactly what I paid for the Bonnie, $1325.00, tax, title and setup. I still have the bill of sale in the Meriden Workshop Manual. In late '69 I also bought a '68 Norton P11A Scrambler. It was $300 bucks or so more which I thought was a little high. After that I had a string of non-descriptive bikes until the New Bonnie in 2003 and now the R3. Being young and stupid I'd never guessed that the Meriden and especially Norton would become so collectible. P11's are extremely rare and worth a ton.
The Brooks leathers outlasted them all. That's a testament to fine American craftsmanship, something this country lost years ago. Of course they (Brooks) aren't Water Buffalo hide or Kangaroo hide, they are good quality Top Grain Leather. When I finally pass, I wonder if I can get "shown" in my Brooks leathers??
Since I own 2 sets, one set can go with me and the other set can go in the estate sale.:bch: