I had one of these in the early 80's, l traded in my gsx750 for one. I rode home from the dealers in the pouring rain thinking wtf have I done. But I grew to love this bike. I'm in my 60's now and have had probably 15 bikes since and the xl500 is one I really miss. I sold mine because I was constantly getting pulled for doing wheelies by the police!
I do so hope that I’ll still be able to ride when I get to that amazing gentleman’s age! Way to go Sir! Much respect. I started riding when I was 8, am 55 now and love it more each week.
If you watch closely the first thing that he does is pull the bike hard back while its in gear, this puts the piston at TDC which is the perfect place to start it from, when he hops on board the piston gets to go through inlet and compression stages before firing so its running as fast as it needs to do in order to start easily
I’m 58 and currently ride an ‘08 xr650l. Fast forward 27 years (God willing) and this will be me still riding my 650. Long live Hondas and us, of course!
Good to know you have a backup starting method if your e-start fails. I was going to say you have an inverted age to Martin Walker (58/85) but he's 87 now, as this video was shot 2 years ago. Martin is South Africa's equivalent to Chuck Norris (LOL)
@@DaveZee01 that’s pretty cool you picked up on the age transposition 58/85. I didn’t notice that. Haha! I do have electric start but could still push start if I had to but hope I’m able if I make 85. I’ve owned tons of big bore bikes, ‘80 Honda xl500, ‘89 Kawasaki kx500, ‘88 Honda cr500, ‘90 Yamaha xt250, ‘93 Suzuki dr350, ‘02 Yamaha Raptor 660r quad,etc but Honda bikes are my favorites.
@@evanwalker9298 Wow! You've owned just about all of the ultimate 2T beasts! I've almost come full circle from a 'mid 70's Honda XL125, to my current daily ride/weekend adventure/main learner rider, lesson bike, i.e. a 2015 Honda XR150 - with an almost unable to memo amount of bigger dual-purpose bikes in-between ; )
@@DaveZee01 @Evan Walker Both of you are great and admirable! I was driving in the 70s a Honda SL 125, my brother taught me to drive on a BMW R 75/5 and I was able to kick the boxer. A friend of mine let me ride his Kawasaki 900ccm. - Nowadays I need an electric wheel chair because of my lungs although I never smoked. I am 65 and decided to have a Honda Z 125 Monkey, too, with an electric starter and enjoy every ride so much. Honda are my favorites, too.
Thanks for asking! I'd love to do so. I believe he pioneered motorcycle riding to the "Gamkaskloof/Die Hel" in South Africa (Google it), on BMW Boxers several decades ago. I hope to get more details from him. Kindly Subscribe if you haven't yet as I have quite a few super-amateurish videos lurking on my YT channel, e.g. try "On any Saturday" if you love Cafe Racers, to name one. th-cam.com/video/QOml_cM9odc/w-d-xo.html
Guess who popped in for a cuppa yesterday. I managed to squeeze a bit more info out of him via this very rough video. He says he'll be 87 in November. He showed me a photo of the new BMW R69S that he bought back in '65, that he used to pioneer the remote area in South Africa, known as "Die Hel". th-cam.com/users/shortsklRoaDNpthg?feature=share
Lol. Thanks for your comment Carol-Anne. I'll have to invite him to tea for his 87th birthday coming up soon. Watch this space for a follow-up, "87 year-old Englishman wheelies his Honda XL500!"
The old boy's still as strong as an ox. I've started practicing his moves, we'll sort of, now as well ; ) th-cam.com/users/shorts34B0TjEayPE?feature=share
@@gabberpietor no need to be rude, these can easily be used as adventure bikes, I use my xr600r as an adventure bike which has shorter service intervals and all you need is to take a small amount oil and filter for oil changes along the way and bigger fuel tank. They are actually great for it as they are basic strong bikes.
I had an XL600 in early 80s. I was young, so kick starting a 600 cc single was no big deal (until kick starter broke shank in my right boot, or the time bike back fired and put my foot next to my ear). He has that bump start down to a science!
I only discovered why he handles his XL500 so well at his age - yesterday, when he visited for tea. He won the South African 500cc MX/Street Scrambler title back in '71! 51years later he's still commuting on a 500cc street scrambler!
Love the way he pulls it back in gear to get a full swing on that big ole compression ready to bump, you guys with singles will know this ! . . Good on him 👍
Could you explain the technique to me, please? At the beginning the bike seems to be in neutral and at no point does he put it in gear but then he also grips the clutch.... It makes no sense to me.
That's a bike that will never get old. It suits that old gentleman very fine. Smart way to start it, that kickstart has its temper some times. I love the sound of that engine.
Legendary! These bikes thump forever if treated right! I have a 1982 XL500 that I have been working on since last winter. It has less than 10k Miles on it (16093 KM) and it runs super well! I have tuned it up a bit with a new exhaust and richer carb mixture and it super fun. Ive posted a few videos of it and its so cool seeing how many people still love these old bikes!
51 years after winning the SA 500cc Trail Bike Championship. He was the first motorcyclist to visit a place called "Die Hel" (The Hell, in the Southern Cape in South Africa) on a BMW R69S back in '65.
@@RayfordRaySiegel I got this info off Google but have a poster of Yamaha's wins back in '71 from the Yamaha dealership in Port Elizabeth. th-cam.com/users/shortsklRoaDNpthg?feature=share
In the shop we had an XR500 kit of piston, cam and carb. My mates brother brought a new silver model and fitted the kit. He was a trials rider and would overtake you on the back wheel.
Yikes! I've started practising this old dude's bump-starting techniques. He's a very experienced, qualified BMW Motorrad mechanic so won't be surprised if his bike is not substantially faster than standard with the Wiseco piston kit etc, he's fitted.
@@DaveZee01 I'll guess he's smart and fitted a low comp piston. Standard they would do 150 kmh or more, I don't think too many guys are flogging their old singles that hard these days.
They sure were! I test rode the XR version the same year but decided against it due to the distance of about 700km that I would need to travel while doing my national service. I then went to buy an IT175 that was great but even worse for long distance and barely street legal.
Thats my dream bike. This was my first bike, I got it from my uncle in 2011 and I loved it, but I blew the engine shortly after getting it and I wish I still had it.
@@fredkeller3813 Fred, I'm 68 and have had SEVERE leg cramps since I was 12. Most cramps happened in the middle of the night. But once in a m/c showroom, just from trying to sit on a bike. For the past 2 years I have had only a few very minor cramps. My solution is 250 mg/day of magnesium. There are different forms of magnesium tablets. Mg-oxide, Mg-citrate, etc. I've heard that calcium tablets might work as well. Hope this information helps you or anyone else who happens to see it.
My first bike at 12 was a beaten up old XT 500. I was too small to kick start it so I did this instead. Worked every time, except when I forgot the fuel tap!🤣
I had the ultimate scrambler back in the day, I had an XL500 donk jammed into a KX125A rolling chasis, damn that thing went hard, but it did not want to stop that well. Everyone who rode it bought it back with a look of fear in their eyes, and a statement of, "Never Again!, it tried to kill me!"
Hats off to this gentleman, wish I could move like he does & I’m only 68 lol. I’m still riding but every time I move I’ve got sound effects. Both my bike’s aren’t fitted with electronic aids, so I’m absolutely amazed that I can still ride 🤓🙈
Exactly right, if it fails to start you just might fall over the other way. That motor is probably pretty worn out, but tuned well. Try that on my Bultaco Pursang 350 at that speed and you will be on your back. Good luck, keep riding.
Thanks David. I was just chatting to my friend, who "narrated" in this video, yesterday. Apparently Martin has fitted some performance mods to the engine. I also know that he was one of the first BMW Motorrad Mechanic's in our city many moons ago and has worked on bikes ever since.
Awesome! My dad had one of these when I was a kid, I can’t remember what year but it had a huge front wheel like 24 inch or something like that, I was riding it when I was 13 ( I use to start it leaning of big wood logs) I drop it in our paddock crushing my ankle in 3 spots, man that bike was heavy and heaps of grunt
Bought mine in 1981 and sold it in 2011. Honda's answer to the BSA B50, but better in most ways. Torque like a dump truck (until 1983!), but points lost for that stupid 23" front wheel. While props to this guy for being able to do that, is there some reason why he doesn't just use the kickstarter?
Was the loss of torque due to the introduction of the RFVC engines? I think Martin swopped out the crazy 23" wheel for a 21 as soon as he got his one. Very good question re his reason for bump-starting it vs kick-starting. I believe he mentioned it's the amount of work (& expense?) in replacing the kickstarter spring, that he's had to do in the past.
I’m 59 need a new hip and shoulder and was wondering , do the make them in a step thought elec start model ? Once I’m in the saddle I feel great I’ll get the hole shot every time ! Lol 😂
In America where I live a lot of older people stop riding at that age. Most of the ones I know can’t handle the big cruisers preferred over here. Most would be fine on a smaller bike, but refuses to be seen in a “crotch rocket”.
I'm 25 years younger than Martin but already started practising ... th-cam.com/users/shorts34B0TjEayPE?feature=share Don't be shy to Subscribe. It's free!
He tu rns 87 in November and was still doing when he came to visit last week. He's got me practicing now as well (lol) th-cam.com/users/shorts34B0TjEayPE?feature=share
I had one of these in the early 80's, l traded in my gsx750 for one. I rode home from the dealers in the pouring rain thinking wtf have I done. But I grew to love this bike. I'm in my 60's now and have had probably 15 bikes since and the xl500 is one I really miss. I sold mine because I was constantly getting pulled for doing wheelies by the police!
Way da go Andy! My friend who was "narrating" during this video has 2 x nicely restored '81 XL500s. Both in original gunmetal grey.
@@DaveZee01 thanks for your comments.
Thanks for posting this video too it made my day.
You rogue 👍
Stop telling lies lad
That's not a good enough reason for selling your bike.
Immense respect for my elder here. One cool bloke!- 👍👍👍
I do so hope that I’ll still be able to ride when I get to that amazing gentleman’s age! Way to go Sir! Much respect.
I started riding when I was 8, am 55 now and love it more each week.
If you watch closely the first thing that he does is pull the bike hard back while its in gear, this puts the piston at TDC which is the perfect place to start it from, when he hops on board the piston gets to go through inlet and compression stages before firing so its running as fast as it needs to do in order to start easily
Herewith copy/paste of Martin's reply to zzzak666:
"One of the few people who understands the technical aspects of bump starting a motor cycle."
I’m 58 and currently ride an ‘08 xr650l. Fast forward 27 years (God willing) and this will be me still riding my 650. Long live Hondas and us, of course!
Good to know you have a backup starting method if your e-start fails. I was going to say you have an inverted age to Martin Walker (58/85) but he's 87 now, as this video was shot 2 years ago. Martin is South Africa's equivalent to Chuck Norris (LOL)
@@DaveZee01 that’s pretty cool you picked up on the age transposition 58/85. I didn’t notice that. Haha! I do have electric start but could still push start if I had to but hope I’m able if I make 85. I’ve owned tons of big bore bikes, ‘80 Honda xl500, ‘89 Kawasaki kx500, ‘88 Honda cr500, ‘90 Yamaha xt250, ‘93 Suzuki dr350, ‘02 Yamaha Raptor 660r quad,etc but Honda bikes are my favorites.
@@evanwalker9298 Wow! You've owned just about all of the ultimate 2T beasts! I've almost come full circle from a 'mid 70's Honda XL125, to my current daily ride/weekend adventure/main learner rider, lesson bike, i.e. a 2015 Honda XR150 - with an almost unable to memo amount of bigger dual-purpose bikes in-between ; )
@@DaveZee01 @Evan Walker Both of you are great and admirable! I was driving in the 70s a Honda SL 125, my brother taught me to drive on a BMW R 75/5 and I was able to kick the boxer. A friend of mine let me ride his Kawasaki 900ccm. - Nowadays I need an electric wheel chair because of my lungs although I never smoked. I am 65 and decided to have a Honda Z 125 Monkey, too, with an electric starter and enjoy every ride so much. Honda are my favorites, too.
Stop telling lies lad
Old dude is a freak. Couldn't teach some 20 somethings to do that trick. He moves like a young adult. Respect.
Probably isn't 85 it's just made up be.
CLASSIC XL500 I have not seen one that year in a long time!!
We need more videos on this legend and his legendary bike please
Thanks for asking! I'd love to do so. I believe he pioneered motorcycle riding to the "Gamkaskloof/Die Hel" in South Africa (Google it), on BMW Boxers several decades ago. I hope to get more details from him. Kindly Subscribe if you haven't yet as I have quite a few super-amateurish videos lurking on my YT channel, e.g. try "On any Saturday" if you love Cafe Racers, to name one.
th-cam.com/video/QOml_cM9odc/w-d-xo.html
Guess who popped in for a cuppa yesterday. I managed to squeeze a bit more info out of him via this very rough video. He says he'll be 87 in November. He showed me a photo of the new BMW R69S that he bought back in '65, that he used to pioneer the remote area in South Africa, known as "Die Hel".
th-cam.com/users/shortsklRoaDNpthg?feature=share
Awe what a legend. Ride forever brother!
I just got into motorcycling at age 40. I bought and fixed a '76 XL250. I love it! I can't imagine ever selling it either.
Just done the same but a 1980 Xl250s
Good one, just the thing for me with my 70 year old bad knees and ankles.My bike's like yours but an 82 500 xlr (Belgian model).Thanks for your video.
Even better if you live at the top of a hill!
Yes we all Bump started our bikes- it was a way of showing skill and balance-- well done young Man !!
That's my dad! And yes, a living legend for sure. He said if he knew that Dave was taking a video of him he would have popped a wheelie!
Lol. Thanks for your comment Carol-Anne. I'll have to invite him to tea for his 87th birthday coming up soon. Watch this space for a follow-up, "87 year-old Englishman wheelies his Honda XL500!"
@@DaveZee01 lol
A real man and a real bike.💪🏍
Safe rides 👍🙏
That is great I hope I still ride my XT500 when I am 85 .
Best bike I had was my old XT. Back in the day XLs were like bellybuttons. Everyone had one.
Amazing ! I got a XL500s from 1980 as my first bike and I'm enjoying it so much ! If hope it will last as long as his 😅 well done !
Thanks!
His bike has done over 200000km and he only uses 20W50 multi grade oil.
@@DaveZee01 Great ! These bikes are so tough ! For the moment, mine has 50 000km on it but for now not any problem in sight 👌
@@DaveZee01 That's the oil that was recommended. I used to put in in my XT500.
@@nicolasfimbel9368 As long as the cam chain is properly tensioned.
Stop telling lies lad
Just like riding a bicycle, you never forget, hope I’m that spry
at 85 ! Hell I’ll be happy to make it to 75. 👍
I've been riding bicycle since '64 & motorcycles since '74 but I still can't SIDE-SADDLE bump-start a motorcycle ; )
Proper man, proper bike.
That's the most energetic 85 yrs old, I've ever seen. Amazing legs too..lol
The old boy's still as strong as an ox. I've started practicing his moves, we'll sort of, now as well ; )
th-cam.com/users/shorts34B0TjEayPE?feature=share
I'm bound and determined to still be riding at that age! Oh yeah, that's one of the greatest bikes of all time : )
Like a boss, brings back memories....
That's all you need to enjoy as an "adventure bike" Simple and effective and 70 smiles per gallon.
thats a dirt bike fool. adventure bikes are made for doing long haul rallys like the dakar
@@gabberpietor no need to be rude, these can easily be used as adventure bikes, I use my xr600r as an adventure bike which has shorter service intervals and all you need is to take a small amount oil and filter for oil changes along the way and bigger fuel tank. They are actually great for it as they are basic strong bikes.
Bullet proof bike and a bulldt proof rider. Respect.
I was waiting for him to pop a wheelie.
Zeken I thought the same once he started it and turned around it was like he was lining it up and getting ready to pop the wheel lol
Rather try this one and please Subscribe to my channel. It's free!
th-cam.com/video/QOml_cM9odc/w-d-xo.html
Great job- balance and tightturn and he wasn’t even thinking about it
Quite so! I spotted him doing his thing through my rear-view mirror in a shopping centre recently.
Hell yeah you go brother ride it like ya stole it to stay young my man
I had an XL600 in early 80s. I was young, so kick starting a 600 cc single was no big deal (until kick starter broke shank in my right boot, or the time bike back fired and put my foot next to my ear).
He has that bump start down to a science!
Same. The XL600 was fairly mild. Mine was the twin carb version so always started easily.
My goodness! This dude will live for another 30 years!
I only discovered why he handles his XL500 so well at his age - yesterday, when he visited for tea. He won the South African 500cc MX/Street Scrambler title back in '71! 51years later he's still commuting on a 500cc street scrambler!
Souhaitons lui encore de nombreuses années a moto !!!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Indeed!
Martin turns 89 later this year!
Love the way he pulls it back in gear to get a full swing on that big ole compression ready to bump, you guys with singles will know this ! . . Good on him 👍
You'll be surprised how many guys don't : )
Even one of my friend's who is an auto engineer and has an XT500!
Could you explain the technique to me, please? At the beginning the bike seems to be in neutral and at no point does he put it in gear but then he also grips the clutch.... It makes no sense to me.
@@amjan I hope this helps ...
th-cam.com/users/shorts34B0TjEayPE?feature=share
Don't hesitate to ask any more Q's ... or Subscribe ; )
That's a bike that will never get old. It suits that old gentleman very fine.
Smart way to start it, that kickstart has its temper some times. I love the sound of that engine.
It's a Honda. It will always start! Ta da, and cheerio mate
Honda XL’s gotta love em! My top two bikes were my 1980 xl500 and my 1986 xl350r. Wish I had them both now!
Man, what a man.
Legendary! These bikes thump forever if treated right! I have a 1982 XL500 that I have been working on since last winter. It has less than 10k Miles on it (16093 KM) and it runs super well! I have tuned it up a bit with a new exhaust and richer carb mixture and it super fun. Ive posted a few videos of it and its so cool seeing how many people still love these old bikes!
Send some links of your XL500 videos please
Ich liebe das! 🤩 Und ich hoffe, ich mache das mit meiner XL auch noch, wenn ich 85 bin. 💪😊👍
Nice one sir! 😎
I had a 82 xl 500 ,the thing was bad ass.
I hope he stays healthy so he can ride for the rest of his life. Enjoy life, it's short.
Get guns off the streets while we’re at it.
@@Porsche996driver What?
Wow he seems in pretty good shape for his age, and the bike as well at 215,000 Km.
Good for him, for still riding
51 years after winning the SA 500cc Trail Bike Championship. He was the first motorcyclist to visit a place called "Die Hel" (The Hell, in the Southern Cape in South Africa) on a BMW R69S back in '65.
@@DaveZee01,
Wow! That's cool. What title did he win?
@@RayfordRaySiegel I got this info off Google but have a poster of Yamaha's wins back in '71 from the Yamaha dealership in Port Elizabeth.
th-cam.com/users/shortsklRoaDNpthg?feature=share
Love those old XL's they run forever
Respect!! I hope that I am still able to Ride when I get his age..... or at least breathe!!
Trying to kickstart one of those bikes had me limping for about 6 weeks one time. I would bump it as well.
Did you use this method I only just discovered from the old dude in this video?
th-cam.com/users/shorts34B0TjEayPE?feature=share
In the shop we had an XR500 kit of piston, cam and carb. My mates brother brought a new silver model and fitted the kit. He was a trials rider and would overtake you on the back wheel.
Yikes! I've started practising this old dude's bump-starting techniques. He's a very experienced, qualified BMW Motorrad mechanic so won't be surprised if his bike is not substantially faster than standard with the Wiseco piston kit etc, he's fitted.
@@DaveZee01 I'll guess he's smart and fitted a low comp piston. Standard they would do 150 kmh or more, I don't think too many guys are flogging their old singles that hard these days.
That was my first street legal bike. It was a wheelie machine, with its 23 inch front tire in 1980.
Good job ! Aged 55 and riding the same 600 XLR since 1988 i'm not sure to be able to do the same with my thumper in 2052 🙄
Interesting perspective - 2052 : )
85 yrs Old?, Damn he's mighty chipper, he fires up that thumper with style.and grace!🤓👍
This video was taken in April last year when he was 85, he turned 86 in November and will be 87 later this year.
I remember riding mine home from bike shop , they really were something special at the time my bush bike was a 250 Yamaha It
They sure were! I test rode the XR version the same year but decided against it due to the distance of about 700km that I would need to travel while doing my national service. I then went to buy an IT175 that was great but even worse for long distance and barely street legal.
First bike 79 XL75. The following year a 79 XL125. Good times
love that sound
Wonderful memories of a great bike. One I most miss. 👍
My dad was still pedeling a steel frame mountain bike at 82. I hope to stay as able someday.
I'm 72 and still riding my Road King regularly!
Same age, but I’ve got a Kawasaki Z900RS, it’s a quick bike.
Thats my dream bike. This was my first bike, I got it from my uncle in 2011 and I loved it, but I blew the engine shortly after getting it and I wish I still had it.
I don't blame him. Mine was a bear to kick start.
Who else was expecting him to pop a wheelie?
God bless him! I am incredibly impressed. I'm 61 and get leg cramps just throwing my leg over the seat.
Join the club Fred. I'll be 61 later this year, as well : ) and suffer from sciatica. I have to mount & dismount via the footpegs.
@@DaveZee01 how about getting a scooter? Isn't it Yamaha that makes a 650 scooter? And who makes the burgman?
@@fredkeller3813
Yes, there are quite a few "Maxi"
Continued from above ... even BMW has a 400 & 650 but they're rather heavy!
@@fredkeller3813 Fred, I'm 68 and have had SEVERE leg cramps since I was 12. Most cramps happened in the middle of the night.
But once in a m/c showroom, just from trying to sit on a bike.
For the past 2 years I have had only a few very minor cramps. My solution is 250 mg/day of magnesium. There are different forms of magnesium tablets. Mg-oxide, Mg-citrate, etc.
I've heard that calcium tablets might work as well.
Hope this information helps you or anyone else who happens to see it.
What a legend! I hope I can be that spry when I turn 85!
Amazing agility for that age.
There ya go! Never stop!
That's a lifetime of riding for you.
My first bike at 12 was a beaten up old XT 500. I was too small to kick start it so I did this instead. Worked every time, except when I forgot the fuel tap!🤣
Way2be, brother!👍
Ha ha ha I still start my xl 250s that I bought in 1980 that way. 60 years young in April this year and it is still my favourite motorbike.
Congratulations for holding onto it for SO long Gavin! I'm also 60 years old and been riding since I got my bike license on my 16th birthday.
I had the ultimate scrambler back in the day, I had an XL500 donk jammed into a KX125A rolling chasis, damn that thing went hard, but it did not want to stop that well. Everyone who rode it bought it back with a look of fear in their eyes, and a statement of,
"Never Again!, it tried to kill me!"
I saw a cl 175 twin , stuffed in to a ct70 frame on here
That's my uncle!
He's a biking legend!
Tell him we all send much respect! Would love to watch an interview with him about his motorcycling career
Fair play to him! 🙂👍
Hats off to this gentleman, wish I could move like he does & I’m only 68 lol. I’m still riding but every time I move I’ve got sound effects. Both my bike’s aren’t fitted with electronic aids, so I’m absolutely amazed that I can still ride 🤓🙈
I'm 57 and I'm not sure I'd be able to do that now, it's the knees!
Exactly right, if it fails to start you just might fall over the other way. That motor is probably pretty worn out, but tuned well. Try that on my Bultaco Pursang 350 at that speed and you will be on your back. Good luck, keep riding.
Thanks David. I was just chatting to my friend, who "narrated" in this video, yesterday. Apparently Martin has fitted some performance mods to the engine. I also know that he was one of the first BMW Motorrad Mechanic's in our city many moons ago and has worked on bikes ever since.
Awesome! My dad had one of these when I was a kid, I can’t remember what year but it had a huge front wheel like 24 inch or something like that, I was riding it when I was 13 ( I use to start it leaning of big wood logs) I drop it in our paddock crushing my ankle in 3 spots, man that bike was heavy and heaps of grunt
23 inches they were. Only one company, Cheng
Shin, made tyres for them.
Amazing. Wow.
Had one in the late 80's loved it, unfortunately sold it and like we all do regret it to this day😤
Makes me wonder how well do modern bikes bump start ?
XR 500 R was a Legend in Africa and XT 500
What a boss
I was waiting for him to crack a wheelstand
I wouldn't kick it over either. Especially with a cold engine.
Que maravilha, estou com 66 espero chegar aos 85 com a minha Yamaha 660 nessa disposição.
Bought mine in 1981 and sold it in 2011. Honda's answer to the BSA B50, but better in most ways. Torque like a dump truck (until 1983!), but points lost for that stupid 23" front wheel.
While props to this guy for being able to do that, is there some reason why he doesn't just use the kickstarter?
Was the loss of torque due to the introduction of the RFVC engines?
I think Martin swopped out the crazy 23" wheel for a 21 as soon as he got his one.
Very good question re his reason for bump-starting it vs kick-starting. I believe he mentioned it's the amount of work (& expense?) in replacing the kickstarter spring, that he's had to do in the past.
RESPECT 👍
Two legends!
brilliant-hope Im still riding at 85- hope Im still breathing too
I’m 59 need a new hip and shoulder and was wondering , do the make them in a step thought elec start model ? Once I’m in the saddle I feel great I’ll get the hole shot every time !
Lol 😂
I wonder how many miles he has on that old steed. I’d sure love to cruise with a guy like that.
It's clocked over twice plus 16 thou, so 216000km. He replaced the piston & rings with a rebore @200K. He only uses hypermarket 20W40 multigrade oil.
In America where I live a lot of older people stop riding at that age. Most of the ones I know can’t handle the big cruisers preferred over here. Most would be fine on a smaller bike, but refuses to be seen in a “crotch rocket”.
Like a pro. 😊💪👊
Respect!!!
Then put puts away like it's a fifty. 😃But cool moves man.
Smart....the kick back on those can be harsh
I hear that South african accent 😂 I have lived in the UK for nearly 20 years so when I hear the SA accent it sounds so foreign to me now.
and then flips the slow speed right hand U-ey. awesome.
I sure hope God allows me that much energy at that age.
I'm 25 years younger than Martin but already started practising ...
th-cam.com/users/shorts34B0TjEayPE?feature=share
Don't be shy to Subscribe. It's free!
I think the ole boy deserves an elec. start.
I ride a KLR650, it has electric start only, I treat it like a Honda mini-trail bike, love it so much! I suspect he would too.
He doesnt move like an 85 yr old , impressive ,
85 ?????? No way
Yup, believe it or not. He turns 87 this year! He's as strong as an ox!
Absolutely love it!
What a dude!
Good on you buddy keep on biking 👍
85 and no problemo!
He tu
rns 87 in November and was still doing when he came to visit last week. He's got me practicing now as well (lol)
th-cam.com/users/shorts34B0TjEayPE?feature=share