These days, it is considered ''dicey'', ''impractical'' and ''uncomfortable'' to ride.
But owner Andrew Roxburgh loves his 1910 Triumph all the same.
He said it had a top speed of about 50kmh and one of the joys of riding the 500cc, single-cylinder, single-speed bike was it attracted a lot of attention from onlookers.
But really, it was a very impractical vehicle to travel on.
''I only ride it two or three times a year.
''It has no clutch and no gearbox. You basically push-start it - it's a run and a jump and away you go.
''It's a bit dicey.
''When you come up to a give way or stop sign, you have to stop, get off, walk it around the corner and then push-start it again.''
''You've also got to remember to manually pump oil into the engine every mile or two, otherwise you stop in a hurry, which is not good.
''It's not overly comfortable in the seating area either - not with my big butt.
''It's not much fun.''
Mr Roxburgh said the bike had been floating around different Dunedin owners for about 50 years.
It was in pieces when the previous owner bought it, and he managed to make it look like a bike again, but it did not run, he said.
''A friend and I got it finished off and running again.
''It took us a year or so.''
He said the motorcycle was just one of ''a few'' he had in his vintage motorcycle collection, which included Ariels, Silks and Indians.
The Triumph is one of about 30 entrants in the 64th Brighton Veteran Car Rally which will set off from the Octagon on Saturday.
The event is open to vehicles built before 1919 and has attracted five motorcycles, two trucks, and more than 20 cars.
They will be parked in the Octagon from 9.45am on Saturday and will begin their journey to Brighton at 11am.
