Every once in a while, you stumble across something of historic importance, something bigger than all of us. Something few of us have the opportunity to not only see, but touch.
Today, it happened. I got a call from Thump about a bike for sale, but not just any bike... rather a rare R&D prototype; a one-off. A machine so rare, we thought they had all long since been crushed, as is the practice with such top-secret bikes.
What we are about to see here is the father of today's MX bikes. In fact, it's safe to say much that was learned also found it's way into sport bikes, cruisers and standards now on the road. Of course the most obvious benefactor is Harley Davidson, the design cues that grew from this bike are most evident in the modern day "Hog".
Picture number 1.
I rolled-up and couldn't believe my eyes; there it was! Just sitting there? Surely the owner doesn't know what he's got. The price.. $295. "Unheard off I thought to myself". There's more than $295 in the custom cables on this baby. I take pause to collect myself. Yes! a one-of-a-kind, hand-made S&B 100 RR. (Rad Racer). S&B (Skull & Bones) was a skunk-works operation funded by all the major Japanese manufactures to secretly develop the "Euro Killer" dirtbike. Based on sales figures of MX bikes, it seems clear they were successful.
It was a good day.
Today, it happened. I got a call from Thump about a bike for sale, but not just any bike... rather a rare R&D prototype; a one-off. A machine so rare, we thought they had all long since been crushed, as is the practice with such top-secret bikes.
What we are about to see here is the father of today's MX bikes. In fact, it's safe to say much that was learned also found it's way into sport bikes, cruisers and standards now on the road. Of course the most obvious benefactor is Harley Davidson, the design cues that grew from this bike are most evident in the modern day "Hog".
Picture number 1.
I rolled-up and couldn't believe my eyes; there it was! Just sitting there? Surely the owner doesn't know what he's got. The price.. $295. "Unheard off I thought to myself". There's more than $295 in the custom cables on this baby. I take pause to collect myself. Yes! a one-of-a-kind, hand-made S&B 100 RR. (Rad Racer). S&B (Skull & Bones) was a skunk-works operation funded by all the major Japanese manufactures to secretly develop the "Euro Killer" dirtbike. Based on sales figures of MX bikes, it seems clear they were successful.
It was a good day.