Thinking of selling!!!!

[Moto63]

Evening all, I'm seriously thinking of selling my Harris/ikuzawa. Having thought long and hard since the Stafford show I think it's just to extreme (the riding position) for my arm and my knee since my accident. I was approached down at Stafford by a guy who wanted for the TT next year. Just thought I'd see if anyone on here would be interested first??....cheers, Michael

[timbo]

That's a shame Michael, but I totally get why you feel you need to sell it. Good luck with the sale 

[Moto63]

Yes mate, I've had to think long an hard over it and I'm still not 100% certain that I'd be doing the right thing but there's no way my arm would be able to stand the strain of those bas .....we'll see tho, I'm certainly not rushing in to getting rid....

[SteveC#222]

It's such a rare beasty I don't think you'd have any trouble getting a good price if you did decide to sell. It's a bike i'd love to have a go on but as you say it's probably a bit extreme for daily use.  It would be nice to see it go to someone who is going to use it at the TT that is was made for rather into someones private 'collection'.

[timbo]

I agree, it would be amazing if it got to race at the TT, or classic TT 

[Moto63]

Yes I couldn't agree more, I wouldn't hesitate to sell it to the chap I was talking to down at Stafford as he did assure me that it was going to be raced at the TT. I'd rather sell it for a few quid less knowing it would be used as it was intended to be. Just thought I'd see if anyone on here was interested first. I've even considered getting a new top yoke made so I could flat bar it, still might. It brings a smile to my face every time I go in the garage, just seems a shame it's just sat there doing nothing tho....shud I sell or keep it???......cheers, Michael

[spooky]

I haven`t a clue what it is but it sounds fit...

[Moto63]

Hi spooky, it's a very rare (number 8 of only 20 ever made) Harris performance framed heavily tuned xbr engined race bike. There's a couple of pics in the project section under the heading of "xbr street tracker" scroll thro and you'll come to them. Cheers, Michael

[mthee]

Tricky one for sure! Keep it just because it guarantees that smile on your face and/or as an investment. Sell it if you can't ride it and want to know it's being used as designed. Glad it's not my dilemma, but I'd be selling because it would do my head in having to see it, knowing I could never get on it. Good luck, Michael and hats off for offering to take a lower price if it means she'll be tearing round the TT 

[SteveC#222]

Hi spooky, it's a very rare (number 8 of only 20 ever made) Harris performance framed heavily tuned xbr engined race bike. There's a couple of pics in the project section under the heading of "xbr street tracker" scroll thro and you'll come to them. Cheers, Michael

I seem to remember being told that only 3 were sold in the UK - not sure if thats true but it wouldn't suprise me. Has it still got the original tuned engine? I seem to remember GC being made an offer of the motor but I don't know if he actually sold it.

[Moto63]

Evening Steve (and Matt) I got in touch with Harris and they told me that they made no more than 20 frames for mr ikuzawa (more than likely 18) and they were all sent over to Japan to mr ikuzawa where he supplied and tuned the engines, with some help from Honda. Including the use of a genuine HRC cam. The vast majority of the 18/20 bikes were sold on as pure race bikes (like mine) and a few approx 5 they think were sold on as high end road bikes. Mine has been authenticated by Harris as number 8 of the batch, having HP/IK 8 stamped into the headstock. It truly is a tuff decision to make and I'm up and down like a yoyo. It's one of those times in life when you really do wish you had a crystal ball....hard life ain't it  ...cheers, Michael

[SteveC#222]

Evening Steve (and Matt) I got in touch with Harris and they told me that they made no more than 20 frames for mr ikuzawa (more than likely 18) and they were all sent over to Japan to mr ikuzawa where he supplied and tuned the engines, with some help from Honda. Including the use of a genuine HRC cam. The vast majority of the 18/20 bikes were sold on as pure race bikes (like mine) and a few approx 5 they think were sold on as high end road bikes. Mine has been authenticated by Harris as number 8 of the batch, having HP/IK 8 stamped into the headstock. It truly is a tuff decision to make and I'm up and down like a yoyo. It's one of those times in life when you really do wish you had a crystal ball....hard life ain't it  ...cheers, Michael

I have an article from Bike Magazine (July 1986) with an test of the Ikazawa/Harris road bike. The plan originally was to sell the bike as a kit much like the Harris Magnum was to the 4 cyclinder bikes.  There were to be 2 main options, the first a frame /bodywork/exhaust that you transplanted your donor XBR's wheels, brakes, forks etc and a full on rolling chassis with Marzocchi forks, Lockheed brakes and Dymag wheels + other options. Cost was estimated at £1400 for the budget option and 'at least' and additional £1200 for the full version + the donor XBR.......suprisingly few were sold.

[Moto63]

Good grief £1400....I bought my first xbr in 1986, a brand new one and I think if memory serves me correct I paid £1500 for it. So if you had to add another £1400 on to that cost I'm not surprised they didn't sell many (if any) The information I was given was supposedly passed on from Lester Harris himself so I assumed it to be correct but who knows eh. Oh in answer to your question Steve, yes it still has the original tuned engine in it (well again as far as I know that is) the more this thread develops the more you're making me think I'll keep it and pop some flat bars on it and go ride round the Yorkshire dales. It would just mean my street tracker project being put on hold for some time but hey one can only ride one bike at a time eh  ...like I say, Hard life ain't it
.cheers, Michael

[themoudie]

Aye Michael,

Flat bars and across the Border hills around the "Beef Tub", or venture further north, you know it makes sense!    Flat track XBR's are two a penny when compared to an 'Ikky'.

I'm off to the workshop having now interupted  the sale of two peoples bikes, when it is none of my business. I will try to refrain from further Pinocchio like behaviour! 

Keep mending yursel'.

My regards, Bill

[Moto63]

Yes you're right Bill, it does make total sense. Flat bars it is, now where did I put that hacksaw and bastard file ....cheers, Michael