Anyone have a favorite story about the WidowMaker?

[Stig / Major Tom]

Mine:
Saw a buddy with his brand new Mach III, like the one on the brochure, give it the beans for us in a parking lot at Ft Sam Houston Texas.
It reared up on its hind leg with an almightly howl - and he hit that parked car with the underside of the frame and pipes.
Don't remember much after that....as he and the bike went airborne over the car.
I knew 2-strokes were could be a little peaky....but that thing was crazy.

We heard not long after that dealers in San Antonio were advised by the American distributor to give close instructions to any new buyer of this thing.
Do you have a WidowMaker story?

Stig

[Viper254]

In the UK that's what we refer to the Suzuki TL1000S as

[CROSSBOLT]

That was one of the first bikes, I think, to have capacitive discharge ignition - CDI which would fire a plug in saltwater, figureatively. Tried to adapt it to my Yamaha YM-1 but could not.

[dan v.]

A few guys around town had them.  The sound of them getting "on the pipe" is unforgettable.  Almost 50 years later I still can remember that distinctive exhaust note.....

[Stig / Major Tom]

A few guys around town had them.  The sound of them getting "on the pipe" is unforgettable.  Almost 50 years later I still can remember that distinctive exhaust note.....

An old Scottish bike guy told me that when he went to pick up his new Yamaha 350 there were about 5 of these wrecked Mach III's leaning again the shop wall.

Stig

[Iahawk]

no stories about the bike...but, man, what a great looking bike!!  Since all our American bike magazines seem to be folding I started subscribing to a British magazine, Classic Motorcycle Mechanics. It focuses on bikes from the 60's through the 2000's. Lots of stories on the the Japanese 2 strokes from the 70's. Would love a chance to ride one of those someday.

[leomagnus]

I always thought the original Porsche 911 turbo was called the Widowmaker....It had some serious handling issues.

Dean

[Stig / Major Tom]

I always thought the original Porsche 911 turbo was called the Widowmaker....It had some serious handling issues.

Dean

Early Porsches liked to leave the road backwards....a thrillingly new experience for Americans!
Stig