 What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Following on from from my HD rant, what's been the most reliable bike you've ever owned?
For me it has to be any one of three BMW /6 machines I ran way back
R60/6 120k no problems other than occasional flooded carbs
R75/6 85k before some Vietnamese lady trashed it by turning into my path( big hospital job, that one)
R90/6 120k before I got stupid and traded it for a Harley.
Dumb, dumb, dumb.... diddy dum dum dum....
I took the Road Less Travelled.
Now where the ****** am I?
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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My Triumph America was the most reliable. 40 thousand plus miles and I never replaced anything but the plugs, oil and tires. Best bike ever!
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Sep 2015
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 797 Likes: 17 |
My 1985 Suzuki Madura 700 was one of the best bikes I ever owned. All I ever did to her was tires and oil changes.
My Triumphs have not let me down yet, but I have not had them long enough to say anything one way or the other.
Last edited by BillyIndiana; 08/12/2017 8:46 AM.
Road Rash Heals. Freckles Grow Back. Ride
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
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1983 Honda CB1000 Custom
2006 Victory Kingpin
2005 Triumph Bonneville America
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Adjunct
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My most reliable bike was a 1982 650 Maxim, rode it to work daily and very few issues with it, actually have had 3 maxims, 1980, 1982,1982. Second most reliable was a 1959 BSA Golden Flash 650 cc. Always started by the third kick, had a chair on it and had lots of fun with it. I had a 1955 G2 Matchless but it always kept loosening the clutch basket no matter what i did. Had a 125 Honda Benly and it was ok but had trouble with false neutrals.
CB 175 not too bad but didn't have it very long.
Didn't ride for approx 20 yrs then got the maxim's. Also had 3 Yamaha 650cc Seca Turbo's.
Still have one, a 1982 and it's been a pain sometimes but i love it. I used to go to a Yamaha dealer for parts and that's where i saw my 2009 Speedmaster. It's the only new bike i ever bought and was very disappointed in it as it kept stalling and it was so bad i wanted to get rid of it. After my accident in 2012 on it the dealer who repaired it for me reloaded the tune and that cured the problem but it was very frustrating while all this was going on. I don't think i'll buy another new bike.
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
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I have had lots of very dependable bikes, 77 DT100, 74 DT360, 76 Suzuki GT550, 66 Triumph 650 chopper (TR6C), 04 Speedmaster. All equally dependable along with many others I still have. The older bikes required more upkeep to keep them dependable except the 2 DTs, those just ran and ran and ran with no issues.
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jan 2014
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Never had a repair on any of my Sportsters or my Triumph America, I was always fooling around with my 2 stroke RD 350'S,mostly tuning issues. The only bike that left me on the side of the road was a 1976 Harley/Aermacchi SX 250 that sheared the bolts on the rear sprocket, and really that was my fault as I never checked the tightness of the bolts.
Tin Man 2
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jun 2009
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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I've got to say my My 600VLX Honda,TX650 Yamaha,and my America.The America let go the regulator/rectifier or some black magic electrical stuff but it got me right to my garage door before it gave up.It wouldn't re-start when I stopped and opened the garage.My local bike shop [3kms away]came and picked it up and 3 days later I had it back.My least dependable bike was my 1974 AMF ironhead XLH Sportster.
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
.My least dependable bike was my 1974 AMF ironhead XLH Sportster.
Didn't those come with a free trailer? 
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
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My '54 Velocette was problem free the 2 years I had it.
The '49 Triumph only had problems with the selenium rectifier, but that could be because I used the cheap ones from the radio/TV parts store.
The '39 ULH had no problems, but I was always working on it to try to get it as fast as the '49 Triumph.
In the 20 years I had it, my '76 XLCH only needed top end rebuilds every 90K miles or so, and the ignition advance wore out once.
So far, the only problems with my '03 America and '07 Nightrain have been batterys.
On the opposite end, I had a Honda scrambler for dirt riding and a small Suzuki twin for teaching people to ride. Neither of those engines could make it past 17K miles.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jan 2014
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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You know I forgot about my Ironhead Sporty, yes it was troublesome. I forgave it because it was old when I got it and I sold it 12 years ago. Still the Ironhead had the best sound of any bike I ever owned, when it would start.LOL
Tin Man 2
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jun 2009
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Quote:
.My least dependable bike was my 1974 AMF ironhead XLH Sportster.
Didn't those come with a free trailer?
Actually it did Ian Mine crapped itself outside the first KFC that opened in Brisbane and the Dealer, and his son came out at night and got me with a trailer!Did the same a few weeks later when it crapped out again on the first piece of freeway to be built in Brisbane.Excellent service!It was a different country back then.They were an expensive bike compared to the average Triumph/BSA but mine,and my friends XLCH were lemons.
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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I have owned many bikes in my life some good some not so good but in the spring of 73 I ended up buying a 72 500 Daytona that had been " the Triumph guy" in my town and had been used by his wife and as a demo bike . It had less hen 300 mi on the OD and was like brand new . I still have that bike , she now has 112k mi on the OD and has never cost me anything more then maint money . She don't run in the rain so there have been times when I've had to wait it out lol . But all n all the most loyal bike I've ever had ( hence the still having her . She carried me on the trip of a lifetime around the United States , from Mi to Cali to Dallas to lauderdale to Virginia to buffalo and back to Michigan without any major failures . Several trips from Mi to Kentucky without failure . She has a lot to do with why I ride a new breed Troumph today . She has been resting for the last few yrs but I know if I gassed her up and readied her she would take me anywhere I wanted to go even today . By far the best !!!! funny thing is I thought I was just buying her for something to ride for that season until I could find another HD lmao . 2nd best would have to be the knucklehead I owned befor that and the worst would be a toss up between a 53 pan head or a 73 sportster ? Both were very problematic !!!
ENJOY!!!!! NEWT!!!!!
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
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Put 32,000 miles on my 1978 Honda CX500 I purchased new the two years I owned it and before it was stolen...no problems at all with it. Put 85,000 miles on my 1980 Yamaha XS1100 I bought new...no problems at with it the 15 years I owned it. Have put 46,000 miles on my 2002 Triumph Bonneville America I purchased new...not a problem at with it...nope, not even with the CDI unit nor the speedometer nor the starter idler brace, which has seemed to be bugaboos with some owners around here over the years. And now on the flip-side... My 1966 BSA 650 Lightning which I purchased used in 1968 suffered the classic "Prince of Darkness" blues in 1970...yep, as they say "the smoke escaped from the wiring loom". My 1971 BSA 750 Rocket-3 purchased new suffered a sheered valve lifter and which ended up going through the bottom end and fragging the engine's cylinder barrel bottoms and piston skirts just a little over a year after I purchased it and thus after its warranty period was over...ended up rebuilding the engine myself. Thank goodness for that Haynes workshop manual I bought...  (...OOPS, almost forgot...when Triumph first arrived back into the states in '95, I purchased a new 900 Sprint...in 2009 the starter's sprag clutch gave up the ghost, and thus the bike wouldn't start...it sat in my garage until about 5 months ago and when I sold it for a song to a guy I've met here in Sedona who owned a '96 Trident when he lived in Germany and who still has a soft spot in his heart for those early Hinckley triples...he presently owns a 1999 Moto Guzzi Centauro, and tours with his wife on a Victory Vision)
Last edited by Dwight; 08/13/2017 12:36 AM.
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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I'm just amazed that someone STOLE a CX500.
Did they, by any chance, leave behind their white stick and sunglasses?
I took the Road Less Travelled.
Now where the ****** am I?
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
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Quote:
I'm just amazed that someone STOLE a CX500.
Did they, by any chance, leave behind their white stick and sunglasses?
No, but their guide dog was tied up to the lamppost right where I had parked the thing.
Actually Alan, I have to say while those old water-cooled Moto Guzzi-esque motorcycles were never the prettiest machines ever, they were known to be fairly bulletproof and well engineered little suckers, ya know.
(...in fact and as you know, they were the preferred ride of many a superfluous-u user courier on that little island of yours back in the day, and because of their reputation for reliability and shaft-driven low maintenance)
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: May 2007
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Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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Quote:
Quote:
I'm just amazed that someone STOLE a CX500.
Did they, by any chance, leave behind their white stick and sunglasses?
No, but their guide dog was tied up to the lamppost right where I had parked the thing.
Actually Alan, I have to say while those old water-cooled Moto Guzzi-esque motorcycles were never the prettiest machines ever, they were known to be fairly bulletproof and well engineered little suckers, ya know.
(...in fact and as you know, they were the preferred ride of many a superfluous-u user courier on that little island of yours back in the day, and because of their reputation for reliability and shaft-driven low maintenance)
Confession time.
I owned one once...with a sidecar! When my daughter was born we needed something to be able to continue riding...so I hitched a Canterbury double adult sidecar( look it up..like a giant Easter egg) to a plastic Maggot, as the CX was known here, and away we went.
All was well till my brother in law borrowed it forgot about the sidecar and overtook a milk float...write off all round.
I took the Road Less Travelled.
Now where the ****** am I?
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I have one out back that has a windjammer and hard bags on it that was junked to me. It ran when I put it there, who knows now.
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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Quote:
I have one out back that has a windjammer and hard bags on it that was junked to me. It ran when I put it there, who knows now.
Keeping it there, and therefore off the public roads, ought to get you some sort of public service award
I took the Road Less Travelled.
Now where the ****** am I?
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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i really must say that my honda CX 500 (custom) was totally reliable. it never left me stranded and I never actually did anything to it other than minimum maintainence.
it was not sporty by any means, no power, and did not like to turn left.
i bought for $500 rode the heck out (mostly for work and got paid mileage!) of it and sold it for $650.
05 speedmaster - 1100cc, 11:1 racing pistons, Carillo rods, thunderbike cams, ported and polished head, 2mm over intake and exhaust valves, Barnett kevlar clutch, scepter pipes, oversize manifolds, 45mm HSR's, TTP stage 4 firestarter
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Learned Hand
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OP
Learned Hand
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Top heavy too....mine was much improved by being hitched to a sidecar
I took the Road Less Travelled.
Now where the ****** am I?
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Sep 2016
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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My 2004 America has been extremely reliable. Needed an ignitor at 51,000 miles , outside of that, just routine maintainance.
2004 TA/19'slash cuts/150/45/N3RF TBS needles,no shims/2 1/2 turns out/FZ1 springs/clean balanced carbs/pods/18/44/EK chain/TBS cush drive/Commander IIs/Armstrong GG pads/TTP firestarter/TTP safe start/green springs/Pretech 6 pot/Ricors
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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My 1973 CB350 (bought new) never missed a beat. Neither did the 1980 CX500 (also new) that I rode for 12+ years. Even the Gold Wing was stone reliable - as long as I kept riding it. It did not like being ignored. Can't complain about the America either, but my ride time has decreased dramatically since the early days (as he hangs his head in shame that he still hasn't crossed the 10K mark on the '06).
These were my long-term bikes and I've been fortunate. There were others that were less reliable, but they all had previous owners and for one reason or another, they didn't stick around for long.
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Had 78 Bonneville 750 for 6 years. Bought new and always started second kick even after sitting for 1-1/2 years. Miss that Bike!
I was so much older then, I am younger than that now (Wrote By Dylan Sung by the BYRDS,)
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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2012 Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 (wife's bike). 5 years old now and zero problems.
I had my Triumph America 4 years and it to was reliable with the only issues being the side stand spur breaking off and the chrome finish on a couple of items which the dealer warrantied. But factor in the expense of the required valve adjustment and the hassle of chain maintenance on the Triumph both of which are not needed on the Sportster and the Harley wins. My Dyna had an electrical issue which was traced to one loose wire in a multi-pin connector on the wire harness and a seeping valve cover gasket both under warranty, so it didn't beat the Sportster either.
The Honda 750s we had were good bikes to with just minor issues like shock bushings and such. We have been fortunate to have never had any serious mechanical problems with any of our motorcycles regardless of brand.
2011 Triumph America (10/2011 to 07/2014)
2012 Harley Davidson 1200C Sportster
2014 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Chain maitenence? I never touch mine, no lube no cleaning and last one went about 24,000 miles and was still OK but changed it anyway. I have not had any other problem with my 04 SM. My chain can be repaired along the road in about 5 minutes in the event of a failure and I can ride for weeks on that repair, or longer.
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Well I simply follow the maintenance recommendations in the manual, you know the ones written by the people who designed and built the motorcycle. Come to think of it maybe that's the reason all of my motorcycles have been so reliable!
2011 Triumph America (10/2011 to 07/2014)
2012 Harley Davidson 1200C Sportster
2014 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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That is why yours are so labor intensive. From what you have said mine have been more reliable than yours so how do you explain that? I suppose you disconnect the battery when you change tires or check your air filter too.
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Quote:
That is why yours are so labor intensive. From what you have said mine have been more reliable than yours so how do you explain that? I suppose you disconnect the battery when you change tires or check your air filter too.
How can you get more reliable than the zero failures my Sportster has had? Now settle down and get back on your medication, or at least go work on one of those old junk bikes you talk about.
2011 Triumph America (10/2011 to 07/2014)
2012 Harley Davidson 1200C Sportster
2014 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Jun 2009
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Apart from regular scheduled services, my America's chain has been adjusted twice in 40,000 Kms and one of those was not really needed.
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Never had a problem with the chain on my America, except it's dirty. I'd rather have a belt.
Tin Man 2
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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The Triumph had the original chain when I traded it but like you said it's dirty and requires maintenance that a belt doesn't especially if you ride in the rain. The Thunderbird gets a belt so I thought by now Triumph would have switched the Bonnevilles to belts.
2011 Triumph America (10/2011 to 07/2014)
2012 Harley Davidson 1200C Sportster
2014 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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You wish you had old bikes like some of the ones I have. My chain is not dirty at all, there is nothing on it to fling off. Yous was only dirty because you put lube on it to fling off all over everything, sounds like you are the one that needs meds. as a matter of fact a friend of mine was here with another guy and the other guy asked me if I would take $18,000 for my 54 T-110. I said no, it's worth more than that to me. It's 1954 only. They didn't make it in 53 and 56 was different and it's matching numbers. My 64 BMW is also worth a decent buck in it's unrestored condition and I still ride it. If they are junk they are the kind of junk I want not like those junk Hardleys that I have both seen riding with people and the junk Pan I couldn't get rid of fast enough.
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Thanks for calling my antiques junk, got me motivated and I just got done taking my old BMW for a spin! Fun little bike. Never fails to start, as reliable as my Speedmaster, great old bike! Pulled a muscle in my leg starting it though, I over extended my calf muscle.
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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My TA, has 94,000 miles on it and is still going strong. Some problems. Needed electronic brain, coils and had some frayed wires that caused it not to turn over. But in all a great motorcycle. Still has lots of pep, mostly change oil 6K miles. and of course brakes and tires.
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Quote:
You wish you had old bikes like some of the ones I have. My chain is not dirty at all, there is nothing on it to fling off. Yous was only dirty because you put lube on it to fling off all over everything, sounds like you are the one that needs meds. as a matter of fact a friend of mine was here with another guy and the other guy asked me if I would take $18,000 for my 54 T-110. I said no, it's worth more than that to me. It's 1954 only. They didn't make it in 53 and 56 was different and it's matching numbers. My 64 BMW is also worth a decent buck in it's unrestored condition and I still ride it. If they are junk they are the kind of junk I want not like those junk Hardleys that I have both seen riding with people and the junk Pan I couldn't get rid of fast enough.
A 1954 T110! Very cool, I threw one right across the plate and you didn't hit it. Don't tell us about your antiques we want to see pictures of those beautiful bikes! Your actual bikes.
2011 Triumph America (10/2011 to 07/2014)
2012 Harley Davidson 1200C Sportster
2014 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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I can honestly say that with the exception of one, I have never had an unreliable bike. And, I must say that the unreliable one - my first one, a Yamaha 350 R5C, was only unreliable because I was young, dumb, and eager to tinker. Even still, as long as I kept an ample supply of plugs and points, it never really let me down for long. When I sold it 9 years later, covered with lumps, bumps, nicks, dings, and dents. she sold for $100 less than I paid. So, even she wasn't such a bad bike after all. Since those days I've kept to a minimum on mods and tinkering and stayed pretty regular with the maintenance schedules with those that followed and (knock on wood) all have been a breeze to own and ride.
2004 Triumph Speedmaster (J Lo) 2006 Yamaha Stratoliner (Adele)
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Re: What's your most reliable bike?
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Some of them are on the photobucket page in my signature. I think my 58 T-110, 72 Bonnie, 64 BMW, 70 BSA Lightning, and my TR6C chopper are on there if not a couple more.
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: What's your most reliable bike?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,133 Likes: 52
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,133 Likes: 52 |
yep just looked, my 67 bonnie hard tail is on there not quite finished in the pictures but there. It is at the stage to be ripped down and made look pretty. Some shots of my 72 bonnie chopper frame with the long girder on it. I haven't finished that one yet, has fat bob tanks on it now and an early sportster skirted rear fender. My Triumph Trail Blazer 250 is on there too. There is even a shot of my 54 T-110 frame after sand blasting and powdercoat with the rebuilt engine and rebuilt tranny on the kitchen floor next to it.
If you had been paying attention over the years you wouldn't have put your foot in your mouth. I have posted many of those pictures over the years.
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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