Member of the Month

Moe Herbert

by Chopper Charlie

When Moe was 15 he got his first bike. OK, so what he really wanted was a Norton Commando, who didn’t back then. But that was way out of his price range.  So he saved up his money and while a Jr. in High School, he found it. A used ‘72 Suzuki TS 50 Gaucho!  His folks would never have let him have anything bigger.  He repainted, and polished every inch of that bike.  Added a hop-up kit, etc.  The little bugger would do 50 mph+, really impressed the girls. Whenever he hopped on that bike he rode it until the tank was dry, hated to get off it.

As he grew older he was attracted to racing, motocross mostly. He began racing ever since he was stationed in Germany in 1979. While serving with the Army there, he was informed they needed an officer to head up a Motocross club on the Mainz-Finthen air base.  Turns out that the local German MX club had raced there for many years and it was allowed for good NATO relations.   Needless to say he volunteered and bought a German Maico in keeping with the NATO spirit.  However he was a beginner. His German friends would always make fun of him on the PA system, “there goes the crazy American, crashed again!”  He says he’s improved only slightly since then, but has never lost his love for the racing.

He still races quite a few vintage events with an occasional modern MX race to keep his chops up. Recently he has found time to start restoring his many motorcycles.  At the recent MX of nations two of his bikes were selected for the event display seen by over 40,000 spectators, quite an accomplishment!

His present bikes include a BSA B441 (set up for trials), a Triumph 500 Metisse Scrambler, a ‘73 Bultaco Sherpa-T trials, a ‘72 Honda CT 90, an ‘80 Maico 440 MX, an ‘82 Suzuki RM250 (with UDX 60 forks), a 2006 KLX 300R, a 2006 RMZ 450 MX.  (and a few in parts).

His favorite make is Triumph, especially a Rickman.  If money were no object the bike of his dreams would be a Maico 501, The Beast. Your Member of the Month editor (Chopper Charlie) had the occasion to ride a new one back in the early 70’s, and it was every bit of a beast. One ride and I was scared to death, raw power and the front wheel was always in the air !  I told my friend that I would stick to my Rickman-Zundapp 125 and he could have his Beast back.

So if you ever are out in the dirt and are being passed by a vintage motocross rider, just wave to Moe as he goes by !  Well, until next month keep the rubber side down and the bike pointed forward, it works better that way !