hahnda I wasn't inferring the Express wouldn't start without a battery although it might sound like I did sorry. Plus the monkey mechanic did all sorts of weird things to the Express so the battery wasn't the main problem.
1980 isn't old in motorcycle years to us. On another note in relation to motorcycle vintage I asked the California DMV how old a motorcycle would have to be to get a "historic vehicle" license plate and they said 1945 or something in the 40's. I was shocked because cars don't have to be that old to have those plates! At least I have seen newer cars with historic plates on them >:-|