Wow!!!!!

Time for a confession, folks.  Until today, I never rode a Mustang.

Until today, that is.

Yep, I talked the Boss into letting me ride that beautiful 1956 Mustang Pony…the one I showed you in the blog a day or two ago…

It’s been a dream for me to do this ride ever since I first got involved with the California Scooter Company.  I thought I was pretty cool dreaming up that “old and new” photo you’ve seen on the blog when Steve first started CSC.  It’s the bike that inspired Steve and started the whole CSC dream. You’ve read all about it and the start of this company in our catalog and on the blog.

Steve always said that ’53 Pony was a rough-running bike, but the ’56 Mustang we just took in is immaculate.  And today was the day!  Woo hoo!!! A ride on an original Mustang!!!

Hey, that’s enough preparatory stuff…take a look!

I loved it! 

The only thing I was a little disappointed in was the videography.  I gave my Flip video to Steve and he filmed me riding the Mustang and the CSC Classic.  I’ve got to teach him how to work that camera, though.  He made me look bald and just a little bit porky. Ah, well, maybe he’ll get better with practice…

After the ride, I got busy with my Nikon and I grabbed a bunch of comparo shots. It was fun, and in putting these together, I was impressed all over again seeing how Steve and the guys stayed true to the original Mustang concept while improving it in subtle ways. Like the original Mustang, the CSC Classic truly is a magnificent motorcycle…unlike anything available today.

Okay, I know, I’m talking too much and taking too long to get to the point. Here we go…my comparo shots…the Mustang is on the left, and the CSC Classic is on the right in each photo…

Hey, tanks a lot…the fuel tank is perhaps one of the most iconic features on the Mustang, and the CSC closely followed its inspirational lines…

Another key Mustang styling component is the seat, with those big chrome springs.  Ours looks just like the Mustang’s, but it’s definitely more comfortable…trust me on this one.  I rode one of these all the way down to Cabo and back!

Lights, camera, and plenty of action!

And speaking of action…wow!  The Mustang has a 300+ cc engine.  Ours is a 150cc engine.  Which is faster?   Hey, no matter what I say, no one’s going to change their mind.   But I know…

Two different approaches to solving the same problem…check out the carbs…one facing forward, and the other facing rearward…

Left and right side hand controls…there’s no front brake on the Mustang, and we’ve got all of the switchery required for turn signals, high beams, and electric starting…

Mufflers, both old and new…as you saw in the video above, the Mustang is definitely louder!

Rear brakes on display on both bikes.  Our rear disk brake is on the right side of the bike and it’s hydraulically actuated.   The Mustang’s drum is tucked in on the left…and it’s mechanically actuated.

The top triple tee and the risers.  Our parts are machined from billet aluminum.  The Mustang uses steel weldments…

Tail lights. Back in 1956, turn signals were not required…

Front ends, from the right…check out the suspension…

And the final comparo photo, the front end from the left.  Yep, we have a hydraulic disk brake, and when you grab a handful, the bike stops right now.  The Mustang didn’t have a front brake back in those days…

So that’s it, boys and girls. A dream realized…a day with rides on both the modern California Scooter and the classic Mustang Pony that inspired it. Both of these magnificent machines are true classics in every sense of the word!