OCTOBER 2010 • BACKROADS

Page 54

C YCLE S IDEBAR

THE STORY Dennis W. Lid

It all ends here - in the junk yard and then the recycle bin. The motorcycle graveyard is the final destination for most bikes. It’s a sad affair, the death of a motorcycle, but a few of the steel steeds manage to escape this fate and are resurrected through a total restoration. Instead of being dismantled, crushed and melted down to create new commercial products, their restorers give them a second life and honorary titles as motorcycle classics. This transformation is usually a time-consuming, expensive and tedious

process for each restorer. Yet each has his or her own reasons for undertaking such a rigorous and demanding task. The project is a labor of love for some restorers, for others it is an artistic impulse to create or salvage something, and for still others it is motivated by commercial considerations or to satisfy the need for a challenging and constructive project. Truly, for most owner/restorers, it is a combination of these motivations that drives them.

Colors in the

Catskills 3 At Hunter Mountain

sponsored by MAX BMW FREE All-Brand Motorcycle Rally

OF A

RESTORATION

What follows is a rendition of one such resurrection. It is the story of one man’s motorcycle restoration from beginning to end. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from Phoenix, Arizona by the name of Ken Dusseau; his bike is a 1975 Norton 850cc Commando Mark III Roadster. It is now a fully restored prize-winning classic motorcycle. Ken made it so by his meticulous rebuild and restoration of the Norton Commando.

Ken has been an avid car and motorcycle enthusiast all his life and was looking for a worthwhile project to work on during his days off. Time was especially heavy on his hands after his divorce. He mentioned this desire for a new task to a client who knew of Ken’s expertise in rebuilding old automobiles. The client offered Ken a challenging project in the form of an old, classic motorcycle in pieces for $1000. The bike’s pieces were literally contained in several boxes. The parts had all the earmarks of a classic,

October 1-3, 2010 FREE all-brand gathering featuring off-road riding, sport riding and sport touring, along with the Hunter Mountain OktoberFest! Come join us to see the finest show Mother Nature can offer, enjoy the unspoiled roads the weekend before Columbus Day, and also enjoy the company of your fellow riders of all types. Visit motorcycle vendors, attend interesting seminars, nightly entertainment, and an opportunity to participate in off-road schools led by Team MAX. Hunter Mountain's 30th Annual Oktoberfest features fantastic live entertainment surrounded by the autumn beauty of the Catskills. The modern celebration of the harvest features a farmers market, plenty of vendors, free crafts, pumpkin painting for the kids, and much more. Free Admission! Entertainer Highlights: Direct from Munich: Allgäu-Wind The Austrian Boys • The Sugarbees • Lex Grey & the Urban Pioneers On-site lodging is available at the Kaatskill Mountain Club or Liftside Village Condominiums and camping is also on-site. Call 800-486-8376 for details. Lodging reservations at 518-263-5580.

www.Huntermtn.com

ging n-Site Lod O d te n u o able Disc ping Avail m a C e it and On-S