Take two 40s and go right to the 70s.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1974-Honda-750-four-in-line-four-cylinder-chopper-/221004254426?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3374e14cda

2 hrs from me... but I ain't that retro

Those 'long bikes' were really hard to ride. The last one I rode was BSA A65 powered, it had no front brake and a 'springer' fork that flexed like it was made of chewing gum. The bike in the picture has a 'girder' fork.

Velvet-ride frame too. At least he kept the hand clutch/foot shift. Last one like that I rode was a true hardtail, extended & raked tube shock front (which means no suspension), no front brake, sucide foot clutch (spring return, like a car) and hand shift under the leg (jockey-shift). Yeah, not easy to ride. Especially stopping with only rear brakes while holding the clutch in. Had to time it just right to put your right foot down at the moment of stopping or you dropped it. Trans wouldn't go into neutral while moving. It was also a Harley.

About a year ago I was following some guy on a Harley bobber or whatever they are called, that's where it gets a hardtail, lowered forks and apehangers plus a little bitty solo seat with springs. If I had to guess, he was also running the rear tire with very low air pressure to soften the ride.

He hit an asphalt patch that went all the way across the road, like when they have to dig up cables or etc and the rear of the thing just went batE36 M3, gyrating all over the place. It hopped side to side several times and he managed to get it back straight somehow, he then pulled off into a gas station. No helmet (of course) and it was easy to see his face, he was scared E36 M3less. I guess that's the price you have to pay for being 'cool'.

... along with the huge underwear bill.

The Hellaflush of the biker crowd.

At one bike show, I saw a Sportster where the owner had tried to make it into a hardtail by replacing the shock / spring assemblies with bar stock. I didn't get it - the result was the look of a sprung swingarm with the ride quality and handling of a hardtail, worst of both worlds.

Somehow it looks right parked next to a mobile home.

MadScientistMatt wrote: At one bike show, I saw a Sportster where the owner had tried to make it into a hardtail by replacing the shock / spring assemblies with bar stock. I didn't get it - the result was the look of a sprung swingarm with the ride quality and handling of a hardtail, worst of both worlds.

We used to sell those at my dad's speed shop way back when, they were called struts. Like these:

Cool for what it is, but no way in Hell would I ride that.