Have you ever discovered something that has you asking yourself, “Why hasn’t anyone ever done this before? It seems so obvious, and yet…” (The ‘and yet’ is usually the reason why not, but still…..)
Well, that was my reaction when I first came across Joel Samick and his Northeast USA-based Retro Tours operation HYPERLINK “http://www.retrotours.com” www. retrotours.com a couple of years ago – and I’m still asking that very same question after spending two days visiting Joel and his wife Lynn in their spacious home on the Pennsylvania/Delaware border, and riding a selection of their motorcycles. For this lovely semi-rural house comes complete with a large garage and workshop space to house the 23 twin-cylinder motorcycles, plus two fours, a 1976 Honda Gold Wing and a 1983 Suzuki GS550 ES - all except that one built during the 1970s – which comprise both Joel’s collection of 1970s Big Twins, and the Retro Tours rental fleet. They run from 1970 examples of Bonneville 650 and T100C Triumphs, via a 1971 Rickman Interceptor, 1973 Norton Commando Fastback 750, a hens-teeth (well, in running order) 1973 Yamaha TX750, 1975 Suzuki T500 Titan – there’s other two-strokes besides that one – a 1976 Moto Guzzi 850T3, 1977 Harley Davidson XLCR etc. etc. on up to that GS550. It’s a veritable time warp collection that Joel has available for customers to choose from in making their way to Kennett Square, Pa., the mushroom capital of the world (google it to see why!) and gateway to some wonderful riding country, in order to go touring the Classic way, on an authentic period motorcycle.
This story is from the December 2020 edition of Bike SA.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2020 edition of Bike SA.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Ladies Perspective What a Surprise Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX
I’m sure as everyone knows by now there is little that compares to my BMW K1200S and out of the 13 different bikes I’ve been lucky enough to ride over the 18 months I’ve been riding, I finally came across one that I’m almost certain I’d swap my bike for…
Goodwood's 79th Members Meeting - Hunting, Shooting and - Racing
For that’s what marked the 79th Goodwood Members Meeting aka 79MM, held this year on April 9-10, which this time included two thrilling motorcycle races, each with a blanket finish which in Race 1 saw less than a second covering the first four bikes home.
MIDWEIGHT PUNCH - TRIUMPH TIGER SPORT 660
The Triumph brand seems to be going from strength to strength worldwide. New models are seeing the light of day in various sectors, and here in South Africa there is a carefully planned dealer expansion program in action.
NORTON ROTARY RACERS HISTORY - Rotary Race Record
For eight successive seasons the world’s first - and so far only - Rotary-engined racebikes swept to serial success on British racetracks. Here’s a timeline on their ebb and flow.
DRYSDALE HISTORY PART 4/5: 25 YEARS ON FROM CREATION OF FIRST 750-V8
2002 1000-V8 Bruiser mega-Monster was a Naked roadster with added muscle - the answer to the question of how to out-max a Yamaha V-Max!
Unnecessarily Fast, or Unnecessarily Dangerous?
“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” This truism comes from boxing, but applies to all walks of life. Innovative MotoGP superstar Marc Marquez, however, adds a new twist.
Wet Weather Riding
Wet roads can make you faster and smoother. They also open up a whole new world of riding possibilities.
The Perfect Surprise
Anniversary Getaway
International Female Ride Day 7 May 2022
It is that time of the year again and the ladies are coming together to promote female riders and ladies in biking. This international event is celebrated globally and in SA we are not shy to participate. Last year’s event brought together about 300 ladies on various motorbikes and we are aiming for 400 participants this year.
MotoGP Springtime for Aprilia
Don’t ask me how that happened. Aprilia, I mean. From bottom of the class to the top of the podium, in one easy move. Well, perhaps not one … it’s actually taken seven years of dogged persistence in the face of serial humiliation. But it still seems to have elements of all-of-a-sudden.
