Is there any registry of 6 Day motorcycles?

[Rob Thatcher]

All,
I found a nice 1975 (?) 250 Harescrambler project with paint dabs on the frame, triple trees, forks, hubs, backing plates etc. I will be getting the complete VIN shortly. The cylinder and head have holes drilled.

Is there any way to ID it as an authentic bike by VIN?

Is there anything else to look for? The engine is out of the frame, fully rebuilt.
Thanks

[Paul Danik]

Hi Rob. I don't think by vin # you can ID it as an ISDT machine, as to the best of my knowledge no such records exist.   See if it has dual coils or at least dual coil mounts. How about a center stand. The build date could rule it out as an ISDT machine as the ones I have known to be ISDT machines were built just before the event, maybe a month or 2 before. Hope this helps. Paul

[Carl Hill]

I've been searching for information as well about a Berkshire I have owned since the late 1970s, Also had paint marks on the cases and cylinder was drilled. Can't imagine any other reason for this to be done?

[Paul Danik]

Carl and Rob, the engine was wired to the frame as well, look for a little hole in one of the fins in the engine case. I have seen a few NOS cylinder heads still in the box that were drilled. Do your bikes have centerstands and dual coil mounts?

[Rob Thatcher]

I'm still waiting on delivery from Arizona for the 250, I will check those things. It also has an aluminum tank and ACEs expansion chamber.  My 125 rebuild in process (1974 1/2 Sachs D motor with tag, build date 9/1974 enduro, not MX) also has the hole drilled in the case for the cylinder to cases seal. It's pretty eccentric, as the steering head has been reinforced, later model leading axle forks installed, probable later model swing arm and conical rear wheel.  I will have both done by Mid Ohio.  I also have an option on a 19776/77 Husqvarna 360 Auto if anyone is interested.

[Bob Gilman]

I raced a Berkshire in 1974 qualifiers, the head was drilled and parts paint marked when it went into tech inspection, there are a lot of bikes out there like this.

[Daniel P. McEntee]

I raced a Berkshire in 1974 qualifiers, the head was drilled and parts paint marked when it went into tech inspection, there are a lot of bikes out there like this.

  I entered the Potosi 2-Day Qualifier in 1975 on my '75 250WR Husky and in the entrants pack was the instructions for preparing the bike for tech inspection and that included drill the cylinder and head with a specific size hole for the seal. They never did put the seal on the head/cylinder but did put a yellowish almost like zinc chromate paint on everything else. I still have the bike in unrestored, original condition and all of the paint has worn or washed off. The 250 Husky that belonged to my late little brother was also prepped for a Potosi Qualifier and it has led a more sheltered life and some of the paint markings remain, but the head and cylinder were drilled also on that bike. I'm sure that these are often claimed to be ^-days bikes but if that were true, the rider number would be etched into the paint markings also, wouldn't they?
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Carl Hill]

Thanks guys. This sort of confirms what I have thought for years. This machine was purchased used by me in 1978 at Avon Sportcycles, just outside of Lorain Ohio. Had lots of other mods as well. Would be cool to know who rode it before I did.

[Rob Thatcher]

That's what I would like to know too, if possible.  I did find an ISDT group on Facebook.  Once I get in further, I may have better info.  The paint marks on the 250 are all in pretty good shape, so it will just be a clean up and ride, not a restoration

[Michele Tomat]

Hi Rob. I don't think by vin # you can ID it as an ISDT machine, as to the best of my knowledge no such records exist.   See if it has dual coils or at least dual coil mounts. How about a center stand. The build date could rule it out as an ISDT machine as the ones I have known to be ISDT machines were built just before the event, maybe a month or 2 before. Hope this helps. Paul

My '73 250 HS has dual coil support and was built 2 months before the ISDT.

[Rob Thatcher]

It doesn't appear to have dual coil mounts.  It's a 1975 model frame with a centerstand, and I will be taking pictures of the markings.  The previousl owner also has pictures from prior to the engine rebuild and disassembly. It does  have a Japanese bike style tool box mounted to the front of the frame, has a loop of chain on the extra lower shock mounting holes and a custom switch for the lighting/wiring mounted on the left side just near the seat, of which part seems to have been run though fuel hose or something similar.