It's in excellent condition, but not as we know it, Jim.

[Grip Fast]

What part of "excellent condition" don't I understand? This might be worth a bit to a very good motorcycle restoration engineer, but it misses me completely. I was browsing for runner that I can maintain rather than restore. It won't be this one then.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1923-Ariel-Vi ... 43bcfa2ecc

[Dai wiskers]

I was thinking about a classic when my Ann gave me the go ahead on another bike i looked hard for what i fancied M21 B33 G11 or 12 even looked at the janpot Matchless AJS my reaction was sort of like HOW MUCH
Then i started thinking of a jap classic I thought about the bikes i had ridden and liked in the past thought about a Z1 realised with my back that was out of the question I then thought about the widow maker i sometimes used to swap for my hustler when dispatching if it's owner had town work and i had distance we would swap for the day
Again HOW MUCH
Ann said how about a Harley how i laughed then realised i had liked every one i had ridden except for a 1200 sportster
However i have never ridden a stock Harley
We started looking for a sorted 1340evo £6500~£8000 bloody hell a lot of money but it's going to hold it's value looked at a few almost bought one
Then found the bike i bought 2008 street bob lots of goodies including stage 2 motor with big bore and lumpy cams etc etc etc
£7200 no contest saw the bike test rode it in the snow i had to have it
Best part of 1800 CC grunty as hell v twin
I did just over 100 miles on the R11 Tuesday and just over 130 Wednesday on the Harley
Tuesday i was hurting (degenerative disc disorder ) Wednesday no pain and i could have done the same mileage again with no problem

Hell I'm way of topic what I'm trying to say is could you honestly live with a classic or would something modern do as Ann so well pointed out to me could you ride a classic bike for a hundred miles then kickstart the dam thing then ride it home again

Sorry would i buy the bike in the add no I would never buy a basket case again no way no how accident damaged no problem but basket case no

[Grip Fast]

Re. living with an old classic. I'm not certain, but I have been looking at more recent potential classics, such as the Triumph T595. There are some good clean low mileage examples for less than half the price of a BSA A10 (what I'm considering).

I'm certainly not looking for a basket case but a ride & restore might be interesting. I love working on bikes, providing they are not too high tech. I'd be nervous stripping the BMW apart, but my old BSA, I pretty much stripped it apart after every run just for fun.

You have my sympathy with the back problem. I have only dabbled with the odd 'slipped' disk and that is quite bad enough thanks. Oddly enough, I had pretty distracting back ache riding my first bike when I came back to biking, and that was a Jap Harley clone. I've had sports tourers since (VFR750, Aprilia Falco, and now the R12S), and never a twinge. But I guess it depends on how the riding position strains puts a strain on the weak area.

[Dai wiskers]

I thought the Harley would give me grief due to the forward controls but it has a sundowner seat fitted which is like sitting in a sofa it also gives lots of lumber support

Looking for a new to you bike is always difficult even more so when you have been riding a pokey twin everything other than twins seem to smooth and bland

I'm happy with the choice i made but i did start out looking for a old brit and bought a modern Harley

Think I'm going senile Dai

[Grip Fast]

"I'm happy with the choice i made but i did start out looking for a old brit and bought a modern Harley"

I recognise that form of senility. I decided I was going to own my first Triumph, went to Pure Triumph in Woburn, and they sold me a BMW R1200S. I'm still not sure how that happened. I didn't even try a Triumph. The Beemer won me over when they let me take it out for a spin.

[Dai wiskers]

To be honest i don't think you'll get a better future classic than you have now I can hear what you're saying about modern bikes being complicated things i hate the way they are full of electronics just waiting to go wrong but there all like that now and have been for quite some time