“ DUCATI ’ S I ’ VE OWNED ” 15 YEARS OF KR CLASSICS
Above : Peter Williams IOM victor on John Player Norton . Left : Mike Hailwood , IOM victor on the 250cc Honda-6
Soichiro Honda became the first foreigner to be awarded a place in the American Motorcycling Hall of Fame . The original C100 was built until 1967 . It was followed by the C50 , a similar model with several engineering refinements . More than
15 million were sold until the 21st century . It is interesting to note that the first motorcycle arrived in New Zealand during the last year of the 19th century , in 1899 . Some will say it wasn ’ t really a motorcycle because it had three wheels . But it did have a motor , a bicycle type seat , and handlebar steering , which qualifies it as the first motor driven tricycle , or motorcycle brought into the country . Many believed the third wheel was simply for riders who couldn ’ t stay upright on two wheels . The third wheel quickly disappeared , and the 20th century became the century of the classic motorcycle . Some , however , think what we believe to be the true classic era didn ’ t begin until after the First World War , and some say the Second World War . It ’ s open for debate .
80 KIWI RIDER