 Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 898
3/4 Throttle
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OP
3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 898 |
Similar to the rank the bikes you ride thread, I'd like to start one where everyone can list the bikes they have owned, with a short synopsis about the bike, for people like me who are always looking for the Holy Grail of bikes this would be very helpful, although I'm happy for now, lol 1973 Kawasaki ke100 enduro: first bike, 2 stroke, I was hooked, was 15 2002 Suzuki Drz 400s: bought it to get back into riding when I was 42! Ended up being more fun on the street than the trails, fun, light, loved the dirt bike riding position, sold it for America 2004 Triumph America: first real pure street bike, green and silver, all that chrome, beautiful! Did the freak and re-jetted myself, miss it, sold it for Warrior 2006 Yamaha Warrior: 1700cc power cruiser! Wow, all that torque, first vtwin, sublime, sold it for M109 2008 Suzuki M109: great power, looked great in Orange! Did not handle as well as the Warrior, officially in my power cruiser phase......., sold it for Raider 2008 Yamaha Raider: 113 ci v-twin! handled very well, great cruiser, tons of power, looks are too funky for me...... Sold it to buy a house 2008 Harley Fatbob: absolutely love it! Handles amazing, more soul and character than all the other bikes put together except for the America of course! Still own it 2008 Kawasaki Versy: my first sport bike, amazing twin, love the power band, may get another 1 someday! 2008 Buell XBSTT: awesome 1200cc engine, best handling bike period, way too much heat output from motor in the summer, there are supposed to be fixes for this however. May get another 1 someday! 2007 Triumph Speedmaster: brilliant bike, put alot of miles on it, best bike ever along with the Fatbob, but lighter! Never should have sold it!! 2010 Honda Fury: chopper! Great engine, sublime, great sound with cobra swept exhaust, handles amazing for a chopper, plastic fenders, sold it for Speedmaster, may get another someday  2011 Triumph Speedmaster: fuel injected, love the red color, love the wheels, dropped to a 16 tooth front sprocket, so happy to have a Triumph again, I vow not to sell this one, lol Currently own: the 2011 Speedy and the 2008 Fatbob, keepers Future: scrambler, do y'all think it's too much like the speedy tho? I want it for the riding position Possibly another Buell Lightning or a Honda Fury or a Kawasaki Versys or the new 2012 Suzuki Vstrom 650 or Harley sportster 48
Triumph Scrambler Diablo Red & Silver (2014), Arrow Exhaust, FI remapped with TTP #4, 16 tooth sprocket, Triumph Gel Solo seat & Rack, Progressive 440 1" lowered Shocks, SAI & O2 Removal, Airbox Restrictor Plate removed.
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10 |
1967 BSA bantam 125,bored to 150cc.Stripped down for "Bush bashing"I was 14
1969 T110 Triumph.Built a chopper/bobber.finished it at the same time I got my licsense at 17.
1971 Triumph Tiger 650cc.Leg mangled by a car
1973 Yamaha TX 650,Eletric start.Bullet proof.
1974 Harley XLX 1000cc sportster.
1978 750cc Triumph Bonneville.
2002 Honda 1995 VLX 600cc
2009 865cc Triumph America 2007
Last edited by findlay13; 11/16/2011 11:31 PM.
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531 |
Well had a Hinckley Trophy 3 in the past and really am looking forward to th e new Trophy incarnation.....if it ever shows up  But can honestly say I miss every bike I've ever had/sold........ 
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,465 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,465 Likes: 2 |
Probably not as many as most, but;
Those remembered:
Sears 106SS (street freedom)
SL125 (dirt)
Trail 70 (to fit on back of parent's RV)
CB350 (freedom to go farther)
CB750 (damn carbs)
RD350 (scary fast)
CX500C (my first "cruiser")
GL1200 (let's travel!)
Volkswagen Cabrio (the "I'll be OK without a bike if I've got a convertible" years)
Current:
Triumph America
Schwinn Graduate 150 scooter
PS 250 Big Ruckus
Still have enough room in the garage for one more; KLR 650, WeeStrom or Honda Crosstourer
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,207 Likes: 58
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,207 Likes: 58 |
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,207 Likes: 58
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,207 Likes: 58 |
Quote:
Similar to the rank the bikes you ride thread, I'd like to start one where everyone can list the bikes they have owned, with a short synopsis about the bike, for people like me who are always looking for the Holy Grail of bikes this would be very helpful, although I'm happy for now, lol
1973 Kawasaki ke100 enduro: first bike, 2 stroke, I was hooked, was 15
2002 Suzuki Drz 400s: bought it to get back into riding when I was 42!
Ended up being more fun on the street than the trails, fun, light, loved the dirt bike riding position, sold it for America
2004 Triumph America: first real pure street bike, green and silver, all that chrome, beautiful! Did the freak and re-jetted myself, miss it, sold it for Warrior
2006 Yamaha Warrior: 1700cc power cruiser! Wow, all that torque, first vtwin, sublime, sold it for M109
2008 Suzuki M109: great power, looked great in Orange! Did not handle as well as the Warrior, officially in my power cruiser phase......., sold it for Raider
2008 Yamaha Raider: 113 ci v-twin! handled very well, great cruiser, tons of power, looks are too funky for me......
Sold it to buy a house
2008 Harley Fatbob: absolutely love it! Handles amazing, more soul and character than all the other bikes put together except for the America of course! Still own it
2008 Kawasaki Versy: my first sport bike, amazing twin, love the power band, may get another 1 someday!
2008 Buell XBSTT: awesome 1200cc engine, best handling bike period, way too much heat output from motor in the summer, there are supposed to be fixes for this however. May get another 1 someday!
2007 Triumph Speedmaster: brilliant bike, put alot of miles on it, best bike ever along with the Fatbob, but lighter! Never should have sold it!!
2010 Honda Fury: chopper! Great engine, sublime, great sound with cobra swept exhaust, handles amazing for a chopper, plastic fenders, sold it for Speedmaster, may get another someday
2011 Triumph Speedmaster: fuel injected, love the red color, love the wheels, dropped to a 16 tooth front sprocket, so happy to have a Triumph again, I vow not to sell this one, lol
Currently own: the 2011 Speedy and the 2008 Fatbob, keepers
Future: scrambler, do y'all think it's too much like the speedy tho?
I want it for the riding position
Possibly another Buell Lightning or a Honda Fury or a Kawasaki Versys or the new 2012 Suzuki Vstrom 650 or Harley sportster 48
My best friend when I was growing up had a 70s KE125 with the carb on the side instead of behind the cyl. That was a fast bike. I had a DT100 at the time and couldn't come close to keeping up. Then we both had DT360s.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 874
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 874 |
73 Suzuki TS 50
75 Suzuki TS 250
73 Kaw Z1 KZ900.Never ever should I have sold this!
70s
Hodaka Wombat,Super Rat,Combat Wombat,Ace 90,these bikes always had something going wrong, more wrenching than riding..
73 Yamaha YZ 125....fast bike
82 Honda XR 200
85 Honda XR 350 One of Hondas best 4 strokes.
83 Honda V65 Magna...Rocket on 2 wheels
2001 Kaw KLR 250...worst bike I ever owned.
2002 Triumph TBA ...sure miss this bike.
1998 Triumph T-Bird Sport...riding it killed my knees.
2005 HD Super Glide Sport..traded for a softail..bad idea
2006 HD Softail Deluxe..Nice finish but sucked on twisties..
2005 HD Super Glide Sport..Last HD for me keeping it forever.
1985 Honda V65 Magna..I feel the need for speed!
Hopefully I will add the Trophy if it ever comes out!
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
All three are in my garage right now. 
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 490
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 490 |
Hodaka Ace 90
Yamaha 175
Bultaco 350 Sherpa
Jawa CZ 500 dirt
47' Panhead
KZ 1000 ltd
Virago 750
Suzuki 800 Boulevard
Triumph America
45 year span, competitive dirt, daily commuters and pleasure rides.
Ride like you mean it.
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
'54 Velocette 500 thumper
'49 Triumph Trophy upgraded to a twin carb 650
'39 HD ULH 80 inch flathead. Took a stroker crank (easy to do on these), bigger bore, cams and big carb to go as fast as the 650 Triumph.
Bummer R75/5
Bummer R90/S
'76 HD XLCH. This was the minimum weight street competition version.
'57 Panhead. I built this one from 3 milk crates of parts.
'84 882 Sportster, upgraded to 1200, dual ignition, cams, S&S carb etc. Couldn't keep up with the America.
'03 America. Good bike, good on dirt roads.
'07 Night Train. Good bike, better on pavement than dirt.
Don't plan on any more unless I win the lottery or something. Well, maybe I might put together something to ride around the pastures some day.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
1972 Kawasaki H1 500, I rode all over Oahu on my only transportation and never knew it handled so poorly :-)
196something Triumph Daytona, never finished rebuilding it because I came back to the mainland without it.
1973 Kawasaki H2 750
70's Yamaha 125cc dirt bike traded with my brother, never ran just sat in the living room for a few years, okay maybe a lot of years...
1982 Honda Magna V45, my commuter bike from NC to AL every week for most of 1982 until I moved
198something Yamaha Venture with sidecar
1995 Harley Dyna Convertible FXDSC
1999 Honda Shadow ACE
2001 Triumph Bonneville, now in FL with my nephew
Current inventory:
2004 Triumph America, the keeper :-)
1964 Triumph Trophy, new top end in progress as I seized the rebuilt top end by being to eager during running it in period.
1972 BMW R75/5 in pieces being refurbed as a Scrambler-esque runner
On the horizon: newish Triumph Scrambler, that 270° motor combined with that frame seemed so right to me I almost want to swap my America for one. That and a Buell Ulysses for long range stuff might be all I'd ever need...but I want them all :-)
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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 Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626 |
1971 Fox Banshee 125- 3hp Techumseh lawn mower engine. What a 9 y.o.'s dreams are made of. 1973 Honda CT70- Freedom! Got me out of riding in the yard & into the woods. Could also sneak out on the road. 1975 Honda CB125S- Name: #3. The Escape Vehicle. Rode all over Southern Wisconsin & Northern Illinois - illegal, but had a license plate. 1982 Kawasaki GPz550- Name: Gypsy. First full-size bike. Fastest midsize bike in the world at the time. Felt invincible on that bike. Handled great and embarrassed bikes twice it's size. (1985)1980 Suzuki GS850G- Name: Black Angus. Vetter Windjammer, Krauser bags, top trunk. Most comfortable bike ever. Great for passengers. Loved it for touring. Buddy of mine tried it & came back saying, "Man, this thing's like a Cadillac." (1989)1983 Kawasaki KZ1100D2 Spectre. Name- Beetlejuice. Fastest bike ever owned. Tore engine down, put in 3mm over pistons, milled head, pod filters, rejet. Absolute missile. Powerband started at idle. (1995) 1986 Honda Interceptor VFR700. Rejet, V&H 4into1, sounded like F1 racer. Great bike over 90mph, completely boring at legal speeds. Weight on wrists put hands to sleep below 90. (1996) 1981 Yamaha XV920RJ- Too many problems. (1999) 1992 Yamaha Seca II 600. Nice bike, like a miniature Suzuki Bandit. Smooth, fast enough, VERY light, starter clutch went out. Repair procedure read: Remove engine. Split cases. Remove transmission. Replace $10 part. Reassemble. Traded it in instead. 2003- Kawasaki ZR-7S. Name: ZRock. New bike again!!! Bike is basically old GPz750 w/updated suspension/brakes. Absolutely loved this bike. Ride like a hooligan, tour, two-up, did it all. Sold it to try something different.... (2006) 2003 TRIUMPH SPEEDMASTER!!! Name: Steelheart. First British bike/First Cruiser. Modified: 16" shorty mufflers, rejet, drilled airbox, Procom CDI(oldest one still installed). Love it! You all know why. (2010) 1993 Kawasaki ZG1200 Voyager. Name: The Boat. Decided to add a full dress tourer to the garage. Results: Fast, but a 900lb wallowing pig. Sold to an African that took it home to Kenya. It's now a Bus. (no joke) Future: Old air-cooled Bandit 1200. Have a soft spot for muscle bikes. Big Trailie. Probably Suzuki DR650S. Want to have a two wheel Jeep. If I Win The Lottery!!! Britten V1000 or even rarer: Britten V1100.   Name: The Holy Grail. Even if it never got ridden, it's the most magnificent bike ever made. But I WOULD ride it. Probably buy a GSXR track bike first to learn the roadracing way(never been on a track) but I would ride it. If only.....
Steelheart- '03 Speedmaster Black/Yellow
The Hayabusa Killa
16" Shorties/140 mains/Airbox drilled
Procom CDI
"There is no cure for Celibacy. But we can treat the symptoms."
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,160
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,160 |
1985 Honda nighthawk 450: My first bike I bought it for $1000 and sold it 2 years later for $1000 not to bad.
1990 Suzuki Katana 750: Bought it off a kid that layed it down with a little damage for $1000 put a few hundred dollars in to it and road it for a year and sold it for $1500. I now wish i had keep it because it was a great cold weather bike and could have been turned in to a sport tourer.
Current
2008 Triumph speedmaster: The best bike ever and gets better every year.
Future thoughts
Thunderbird storm
Thruxton
Classic bobber
Life need a little Triumph!
2008 Triumph Speedmaster, Single baffle drag pipes, lots of black powder coatin,K&N pods, AI removed, TBS needles and a procom cdi.
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 237
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 237 |
73 Kaw 900 WOW
68 triumph chop built while in service .mmmmm
61 triumph pre-unit ..too too cool was my ladys bike chop!
73 norton 850 interstate ..coolest bike ever rode for 17yrs
68 Norton N15/CS (putting back together to sell) damnit ..
61 Matchless G-3 military .. only bike I'll be able to kick in a few years...
07 Speedy totaled march 1st w/ my right shoulder ... still out of work ..bikes gone the way of pinwall I would guess
it was a blast ..had it for 2yrs and put 4K on it ..once I straightened out the boo boo's from the orig owner ..
would have another .. just a matter of time and money.
loved loved the 07 beautiful wheels..tank .it was a beauty!
07 SPEEDMASTER ..SLASHCUT BUBS..
NOLOGY COILS/WIRES ..PHANTOM BLACK ..CHROME COVERS...K&N PODS..
BEAUTIFULL WHEN SHE RUNS RIGHT..SHE WAS ..
.. I LIKE HER>> ALOT ~~
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Quote:
If I Win The Lottery!!! Britten V1000 or even rarer: Britten V1100.
I had to look that one up, and I'm glad I did. John Britten was quite the innovator and world record breaker!! How unfortunate that he died at such an early age.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Yep Keith. It's quite a story, and was quite an innovative design. Since the mid-90s, I too have had this same dream as Brian if I'd ever win the lottery. I have seen a Bitten twice "in the flesh". The first time was back in 2002 at "The Art of the Motorcycle" traveling museum when it was at The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. I was so mesmerized by it that I spent 15 to 20 minutes studying all the innovative touches that John Britten had designed into it. The second time I saw one(and I understand it was the very same bike) was about 6 years later while attending the annual vintage motorcycle races at Willow Springs Raceway in the high desert of SoCal. The bike had been purchased by Dr. Virgil Elings for his Solvang California motorcycle museum... http://www.motosolvang.com/bike_pages/1995_Briiten_V1000.htm...and his son Jeff rode three "exhibition" laps on the Britten there that day. I was standing right next to it when they got the rear wheel bump-starter motor out and fired the Britten up in the paddock area just before Jeff took off for those three laps. What a glorious sound it made. Kind of like a cross between a Harley XR750 Flat Track racer and a Ducati 916. Jeff didn't baby it that day, either. He must have come down the straightaway at 150MPH all three times. Considering the Britten is worth about a quarter million bucks or more, I thought that was pretty ballsy and pretty cool of his father to allow that.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
That's quite a story, Dwight! Now that I know a bit about the bike, it must have been absolutely thrilling to be there to hear and see it running... especially at 150 MPH!
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 114
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 114 |
2004 Triumph Speedmaster 36k miles, with no problems. Best bike. Class
looks, reliable, nostalgic, simple, great ridability.
1991 BMW K75RT too hot for summer riding in Virginia, but is what
I ride the other months. Great functional bike, I call the "Appliance"
I'm not a big BMW fan, but this bike just fit so well. Doubt I'll add any
beemers to the experience. really would like to have a rocket
touring.
1983 Kaw GPZ 550 a classic KAW. quick, nimble, reliable, excellent mpg
the seat was awful. great memories. Would like it's later bigger
brother the zrex 1200 someday.
1973 Honda CB350. loved that bike and did everything from go to school,
work, and deliver newspapers on that bike. run the piss out of it and
she wouldn't quit.
1973 Honda 750. wow was she fast for her day back then. but was top
heavy and I never felt as confident as I did on the little CB350, which
was a big reason why I bought the twin triumph. The one bike that
I was ever really totally stupid on at age 25. Sold it and took a
25 year hiatus from bikes.
1971 Harley 125 Rapido. my first and only dirt bike.
1966 Honda CB160. my first bike, rode that two years till I bought the only
new vehicle in my life a cb350.
1973 Honda CB350 four. piece of crap.
1966 Allstate 250. a junker I never got on the road. just beat it up on
trails around the house.
cbeacher
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 257
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 257 |
Circa 1975 Rupp Scrambler. Lawnmower engine that rarely started.
Circa 1980 Puch moped.
2008 Triumph America. First real motorcycle at age 43.
2008 Triumph Rocket III Touring. (Current ride)
Future possibilities:
Suzuki VStrom 650 (as a daily commuter and with the option of touring and going offroad - I like the versatility and would like to have one in the stable.)
Triumph Explorer 1200 or Yamaha Super Tenere.
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Re: Bikes! Past, present and future...........
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626 |
Quote:
Yep Keith. It's quite a story, and was quite an innovative design. Since the mid-90s, I too have had this same dream as Brian if I'd ever win the lottery.
Dwight, I too saw the Britten at the "Art of The Motorcycle"
when it was in Orlando. When the staff wasn't looking, I got to 'touch' The Holy Grail!
Steelheart- '03 Speedmaster Black/Yellow
The Hayabusa Killa
16" Shorties/140 mains/Airbox drilled
Procom CDI
"There is no cure for Celibacy. But we can treat the symptoms."
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