Ahh, to regain one’s youth.  I took a trip down memory lane on the Internet today as I found pictures of the little Benelli motorcycles that were sold in the 70s.  I remember when my dad completely went out of character one day and brought home not one, but two motorcycles!  I was knee-high to a grasshopper so I thought they were pretty cool.  My older brother, who was probably about 14, was less impressed than I was.  The little one was a 50cc Benelli about the size of a minibike (but with a horrifying top speed!).  The slightly larger one was a 65cc dirt bike like the one in the picture.  My brother used it very avidly, to the point of basically driving it into the ground.  It probably wasn’t quite the 125 he wanted, but it got him around on his rural paper route.

These little motorcycles (and other Benellis) have their own little niche on the internet at www.mybenellis.com

I kind of miss my little 50 (and seeing my father ride it around–a scene typical of an America’s Funniest Home Videos clip!).  It was the last motorcycle I owned or rode.

We had family friends who were into the little Honda motorcycles in the 70s.  They had the ubiquitous Honda 50 and a Trail 90, probably the coolest outdoorsman motorcyle around.  I confess to dreaming about one day restoring a Trail 90, but others have already had the same idea, so it doesn’t seem as original as it once did.  I see that Honda has reintroduced the Honda “Monkey” 50cc in Japan.  Maybe they will offer one over here if the child toy lead ban doesn’t shut them down here.  As a side note, if you haven’t heard about that debacle, read this article: Lead Ban Stops Youth ATV and Motorcycle Sales). I like the Polaris solution–put warning labels on them and sell them anyway.

For your viewing pleasure, a Honda Monkey from their corporate website and a very mint Trail 90 that is no longer for sale over at www.hondamotorcycles-used motorcycles.com:

Probably influenced by his attraction to such things as the Trail 90, my brother recently picked up what has been a very good (and practical) motorcyle for an outdoorsy guy.  I envy his Kawasaki Super Sherpa 250 (which is a 2006 model he picked up with very few miles).  I am happy to see that Kawasaki has reintroduced the Super Sherpa, which went away, at least from the U.S., for a couple of years.  I like the lower seat.  I’m not much for motocross style bikes.  I’m not much for motorcycles at all, but I think I could get used to tooling around on a Sherpa in the summer.  Go to Motorcylistonline.com’s breakdown of specifications for more info.

Kawasaki Super Sherpa 250

Finally, I don’t think motorcycles get any more interesting for outdoor applications than the Rokon Ranger, which is still in production.  Ever since seeing a couple of early Rokons in a guy’s storage garage, I have been semi-obsessed with them.  The pictures of them traversing snowy trails, desert dunes, and basically any terrain one can imagine, captures the imagination.  These are power tools, not motorcycles in the traditional sense.  Two wheel drive makes them very unique, although it’s not an idea that’s been lost on inventors over the years.  

What would I buy if I had unlimited quantities of money and an understanding wife who wouldn’t ask questions about why I need another set of wheels beyond my Arctic Cat 400 four wheeler?

I’d probably have to swallow my pride and copy my older brother, who would undoubtedly be pleased to set the example for me yet again in our lives.  The Super Sherpa would have to be the first choice.  Although I could re-enact and capture some of my fathers joeie de vivre on a Honda Monkey.  I’m sure my daughters would enjoy taking video and sending it in to America’s Funniest Home Videos.  It’s almost as fun of an image as the clown car at the circus.