Doc’s Vintage & Classic Bike Show

WATERBURY, CT – Could it have been much hotter? Sweating spectators at Doc’s Vintage & Classic Bike Show found themselves searching for shade today as sunshine and a 90-degree temperature baked the annual event at Doc’s Motorcycle Parts, 1625 Thomaston Ave.

That didn’t stop motorcycle owners from bringing some interesting machines to display, notably a sparkling 1951 BMW R35, a cleverly-modded bobber built from a 1981 Yamaha XS650 and an original 1965 Vespa S.S.

The BMW belonged to Wojciech Kasperuk of Seymour, CT.  A transplant from Poland who came to this country in 1992, Kasperuk acquired the R35 with the help of a friend who had connections. “The bike originally came from Russia,” he said, reporting that it was in “rough shape” when it arrived more than five years ago.

“I had to redo everything. The restoring I’ve done myself, ” said Kasperuk, who estimated that he has somewhere between $10,000 and $12,000 invested in the bike. The Seymour, CT resident owns six motorcycles, including two BMW R4s and an R23.

It was an R35 that he had as a youth in his native country, and that’s what prompted him to buy another one. “It was exactly the same bike. I was like 18,” he said, lamenting that he sold his original R35. “I was young. I needed the money for something else.”

Wojciech Kasperuk with sons Alex, left, and Max

A less expensive creation was the bobber built by David Scott of Higgannum, CT. He got a stock bike – a 1981 Yamaha XS650 Heritage Special – for free. It had 10,000 original miles and had been sitting in a barn for 30 years. “I put 100 miles on it and took it apart,” Scott said.

He then went to work assembling a one-off bike. He started with a TC Brothers hardtail frame kit. “I added that and my mind just wandered. The suicide shifter is nice. It’s the best part of the bike. It’s easy to reach. Very comfortable. It shifts like a dream,” Scott said.

While Eddie Barrett Auto & Moto in Middlefield, CT did the sprung seat, Scott said he did the rest of the XS650 “all myself. I just got it done yesterday for the show. I was up until 2 in the morning,” he said. Actually, there are a few details yet to be finished.

Owning a Yamaha is a departure for Scott. “I’ve always been a Honda guy but I stumbled across this,” he said, reporting that he’s owned about 30 of Honda’s CB350 models in his life. As for the bobber, he said, “I’ve got $2,000 in it – exactly.”

David Scott and his bobber built from a Yamaha XS650

Having quite a back story was a 1965 Vespa S.S. owned by Chris Hinze of Middletown, CT. He bought it in 1987 and it eventually went into storage. In the early 2000s, someone entered the storage facility where it was kept and swiped it. About a year ago, Hinze got a call from a friend who was inquiring for someone else about how to register a vehicle without having any paperwork.

That raised a suspicion. Hinze pulled some records that proved ownership, got the police involved and recovered the scooter in Enfield where it was being held by an employee of the state correction’s department.

Chris Hinze and his 1965 Vespa S.S.

The 180cc Vespa with a four-speed transmission hasn’t been restored. It currently has 11,340 miles on the odometer. “I can do 65 (miles per hour on it),” Hinze said.

There were also some familiar faces at Doc’s show. Bob Ogonowski of Terryville, CT was back with his AMF-era 1977 Harley-Davidson Sportster.

Bob Ogonowski and his 1977 Harley-Davidson Sportster

There were also some other Harleys of the same vintage.

As always, Doc’s show attracted a variety of vintage machines and a cross-section of motorcycle enthusiasts as well.