Prairiehammer

Kick it back and find this.

Neil, I think Steve was playing around with the photo. Here's a more likely pic. http://www.fedrotriple.it/agg_2009_01/1969-bsa-rocket3.jpg

1954 Honda 220cc GP Isle of Mann wanna be http://www.hondatwins.net/forums/attachments/21684d1361850813-motorcycle-story-golden-years-1.jpg

Close enough, I suppose. This was a spy shot of the Rocket III prototype: http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/prototype-spy-concept/Triumph-RocketIII2200ccCruiserPrototype.jpg

What is it?

1991 Merlin 4500 cc Rolls-Royce prototype motorcycle [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgxDwbDXCBw]Lucky Keizer's Rolls Royce Merlin 5L V-Twin Resurrected - YouTube[/ame]

I'll bet you nobody here knew about this bike. LOL

Mike Hailwood on the Honda 250 Six http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tHkx2afavDg/UR-5C9bEvbI/AAAAAAAA2WU/Z1TBq-5HYXA/s1600/Mike+Hailwood+@+Honda+250-6+Hockenheim+1967.jpg

1966 Honda RC166 - 250cc 6 cylinder 4-stroke http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d58/RD350b/yoshida_rc166.jpg

OK, I'll give you that excessive aluminum anti-seize might manifest itself on the electrode, but I personally do not see any anti-seize on the spark plug threads.

Good show, old chap! I really like your concise and yet complete write-up of what has transpired. By chance, could you elaborate on the pilot screw settings that are current? I agree that it seems as if one cylinder is dropping in and out (the surge) at low speeds, but a couple things I noted when I see the spark plugs: Number 3 looks significantly richer than the rest; perhaps that is the cylinder that is flaky? Number 2 appears to have melted aluminum bits on the electrode. That can't be good.

Well it seems Richard is AWOL with his new guess, and where the hell are you, hell yea? So, because I am an impatient sort, I am going to submit a new 'guess'. And it is an easy one, just to keep this game moving smoothly along. Just remember: Make, Model, Year.

It seems you liked the 'wagons, Jeff. My old man (with nine kids) had a station wagon during all my 'formative' years. When I got a license, I didn't have my own car, so I had to drive the family 'wagon (1956 Chevy, 1959 Plymouth, 1960 Ford, 1962 Chevy (two of them), 1967 Mercury Monterey (with a 390), 1972 Ford (with the woodgrain sides). All wagons.) I remember my first, ummm, girl/car experience was in the back of that Mercury; with the seats folded down, it was plenty comfortable for two in the supine position.

None of the three Ventures I've owned would start without some "choke" when the engine is dead cold. The "choke" (actually an enrichener) can be maladjusted, allowing fuel to flow through the enrichening circuit, even when not intended for a cold start. Have you checked the spark plugs for a rich burn? There will be no harm in adjusting the pilot screws, but make sure that the enricheners are fully closed/off before messing with the pilot screws. When you do check or adjust the pilot screws, keep track and record how many turns it takes to lightly seat the needle on the end of the pilot screw.

My first new car was a 1978 SAAB 99 Turbo. Fairly rare car in the States. I still have it.

That is correct. Do you have a bike for us to guess?

Need a hint? Here's a magazine write-up:

My first car: 1966 Fairlane 2 door hardtop with a 390 2bbl and three on the tree. Paid $400 for it in 1971. Before a year had passed, I had dropped almost $2000 into it. Blueprinted the 390, installed 12:1 pistons, Hooker headers, Holley 780, then a Holley three bbl, big .500" lift with 300° duration cam, extra heavy valve springs and push rods, aluminum high rise manifold, Accel ignition, a very stiff competition clutch and a Super T-10 Borg-Warner four speed transmission. Installed air shocks and spring shackles to raise the rear enough to fit L60-15 Goodyear PolyGlass tires on American Racing aluminum 'mags'. Retained the 3.00:1 open rear end because I never had enough money to get a lower ratio, but boy, could I light up that right rear tire! And I did a calculated (rpm, overall gear ratio, tire diameter) 138 mph! Scary fast! I could turn that old FE 390 to 8000 rpm. Swapped out the bench seat for black buckets from a Dodge Charger, swapped the back seat for black seat from a Dart, changed the interior color from tan to black, installed a Sun tach on the column, Hurst T-handle shifter, full Stewart-Warner gauge set into the dash, new black carpeting, eight track tape player. Boy, oh boy, did I have some fun with that car during the Summer of '72! Worked on it a lot (head gaskets were prone to blow, and the starter wasn't very long lived. In order to change the starter, one had to remove the header; in order to remove the header, one had to remove the starter! Got pretty good at changing starters, even changed it out without jacks. I drove up on a snow bank once and dug out the snow to get under the car to chang the starter.) Ah, yes! The memories of the young and dumb. Thanks for reviving them.

Funny, that's what Debbie says.

A Blue Louvered One.

Betty would appreciate the pun. 1937 Crocker http://fotozup.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/motorcycle-19-1937_crocker-400x494.jpg

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have winner! Now, as a newby to this game, Neil, you may not know that YOU have to now submit a motorcycle for us to guess. And BTW, the winner is asked to post a pic of the unedited picture as submitted by the original poster; just adds a bit of difficulty and is more fun. Go find my original pic. Welcome to the hottest thread on VRO!

Still no winner? Hmmm. OK, here's a hint: Carroll Shelby might not like it. Then again, he might think it was cool. You'll have to ask him. Oh, wait...you can't.

Purple wheels?!

1968 Triumph 350 Bandit prototype. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uC_w_989vH4/TVXiVIl_-nI/AAAAAAAANKs/QISMnSaEjQY/s1600/Triumph+350+P-type%255BChris+Pearson%255D1.jpg