Motorcycles

[nztimb]

I posted this elsewhere and it was sugested that there may be interest in a motorcycle thread so who here rides motorcycles.

I have been riding for over 50 years with this being my 70th birthday present to myself which is added to by Lyne enjoying the rides we take as well.

 

[yumastepside]

The group of kids that I grew up with and I started racing dirt track and enduro's back in the '70s, some of us graduated to speedway, always had a shed full of old bikes, always rode, got into vintage enduro ( Vinduro ) when I started getting " too old " to be competitive.
Still ride, got a couple of old road bikes and about thirty vintage race bikes in the shed .

Roger

 

[Bonk]

I've had a motorcycle license since I was 18 (46 years and counting). Current bike is a BMW R18C.

 

[cagkt3]

My current bike is a 2010 Street Bob. Older pic from when she was new

 

[IvW]

Honda XL 185S
Honda XR200R
Honda XR500
Suzuki RM 250
Kawa KX495

Thankfully I never converted to road bikes.....I would have been pushing daisies a long time ago.....

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Mrs. Phx Phil on a ride in the high country of Arizona.

 

[Ravensview]

2007 Harley Davidson Street Bob, my wife rides an 883 low

 

[Boyd Brooks]

When I suggested a new thread, I was thinking the debate about the sign .
However motorcycles are a great topic as well. I don’t ride motorcycles as I had a bad experience before I was old enough to drive, and lost a couple friends in motorcycle accidents. I do ride ATV’s however, and really do appreciate a fine classic motorcycle.

 

[Huvius]

I roadraced back in the '90s and still have a Honda RS250, three RS125s and just last year bought an Aprilia RSR125 that was raced in the 125cc World Championship in 1997. Very much like the Aprilia Valentino Rossi won the Championship on that year.
I haven't been back on the track because I need to lose weight to fit in my leathers!!
The smaller two stroke race bikes are brilliant on the track. I turned significantly faster laps on the 250s than I could on a 600 four stroke back then.
My current road legal bikes now are a 1924 Indian Scout and a 1971 Triumph Tiger. Haven't been on either for over ten years though...

 

[Alistair]

No bike right now, but I rode a fair bit in the UK.

Funny story, I got into bikes as a way to guilt trip my mother into buying me a car. I couldn't afford a car myself at the time due to insurance costs which are astronomical in the UK, so I did my basic bike test and bought a little Yamaha YB125 on the assumption she'd worry about my safety and pay for my insurance if I offered to trade it for a cheap hatch back. My plan worked, but by the time she offered I actually liked my bike enough to turn her down and keep it. Many happy memories whizzing around the streets of Manchester, UK on that thing when I was a student. Did about 75mpg (68/us gallon), would do 60mph if you ragged it, dirt cheap maintenance and insurance. Happy times.

A couple years later I did my 'A2' license which allowed me to ride bigger bikes and bought a Yamaha MT07 (FZ07 in the US I think). I went everywhere on that thing, commuted to my first job, travelled up to the shooting range with a Marlin 1894 cunningly disguised in a rucksack, even pootled around Europe a bit and did a couple of track days. It wasn't quick for a bike, but compared to the little VW Golf I had by that time (or most any car honestly) it was a rocket ship.

After that I moved to the US and sold it. I'm toying with the idea of doing my tests again over here and picking up something for the summer, but considering how short my commute is, the weather for much of the year and all my other toys I haven't yet been able to justify it. Maybe next summer. I find myself browsing adds for liter sports bikes a lot, that's for sure.

 

[One Day...]

Over a quarter million documented miles on two wheels. Through the years Honda XL 250, Kawasaki KLR 650, Suzuki DR 650, Suzuki GS 750, Honda CB 1000, KTM 990 ADV, KTM 525 EXC, BMW 1200 GSA, BMW K1200RS, BMW K1300S, KTM 390 ADV... Lord, what do I forget?

With Mrs. One Day at the tip of Alaska, past the Arctic Circle, during a 10,000 miles, 30 day, adventure ride from Flagstaff, Arizona to the end of the world, and back, almost entirely off road north of the Canadian border.

With the boys, at home in Arizona...

My two current favorite rides: BMW K1300S, a monster! and BMW 1200 GSA, a beast!

Passing 100,000 miles on the K1300S one night coming back from a business meeting in the White Mountains of Arizona. Oooops, busted!, average speed 75.4 mph (emphasize average) might be a little self incriminating

 

[Pheroze]

I had a 500 Honda Interceptor which was a great bike. Also rode a friend's 888 Ducati which was too much fun. Life went a different direction for me. But I would have loved to have owned a Ducati. Those are great bikes.

 

[R.M.C.]

Had a lot of dirt bikes growing up, KX 125 , XR 100 and XR 200, RMX 250. Then I got a Honda CBR 600 for the road and it didn't take long to break my leg, hand, and peel handfuls of skin off my arms and shoulders lol. I learned you can't ride road bikes like you would a dirt bike hahaha . Good times though .

 

[nztimb]

My current bike is a 2010 Street Bob. Older pic from when she was new

View attachment 501124

The V&H big Shots are about the best looking aftermarket pipe and they add some low end as well. I have been thinking about them for my bike although hard to justify the price of them here (NZ$1900) when the stock pipes are working well but the visual is grating for me as I dislike the half of the rear pipe being behind the axel nut.

 

[geoff rath]

Honda CB500, Kwaka Z1, Bmw r90S, Bmw R1100RS and a few smaller stuff. Not riding now, but have my eyes on one of the Triumph 1200 triples ...Did quite a few long-distance trips...

 

[ActionBob]

Bought my first bike when I was 9 years old. A 100 cc Honda 4 stroke Enduro. Little local shop had it for sale for $250. My dad woukd never give me a quarter. But he always gave me a means to get what I wanted. I'm sure that is what made me an Entrepreneur. He planted a few rows of sweet corn and us kids would get up at first light to pick it then sit roadside and sell it. Fed the leftover to the cows every night and picked fresh everyday. First full season my share was $100 after splitting with cousins and siblings. I talked the guy down to $200 on that Honda and dad took me to the bank to borrow the other $100. The next year I had to pay the bank back $112 with interest

I've had 5 others but totalled the 5th when I veered around a dog coming into a curve pretty hot. Smashed 3 vertebrae also. Bought a replacement bike but only put a few hundred miles on that one. My back just gets too stiff....

 

[CoElkHunter]

The group of kids that I grew up with and I started racing dirt track and enduro's back in the '70s, some of us graduated to speedway, always had a shed full of old bikes, always rode, got into vintage enduro ( Vinduro ) when I started getting " too old " to be competitive.
Still ride, got a couple of old road bikes and about thirty vintage race bikes in the shed .

Roger

LOVE watching the speedway bikes and flat track racing! Have only owned a couple of Yamaha street bikes ('79 XS1100 and two banger '79 650 Special) but still have and ride my TTR 250.

 

[nztimb]

It was the old brits for me with a C15 as a starter bike with a couple of japanese bikesin between then and now/ The Honda 750 F1 Supersport (first road race bike afer the K modles) was a fast one for its day and I saw its clock toped out at 220km (136mph) which was probably not sensible with no helmet or jacket but it sure was fun.
Did over 90k km on a Z750 Kawasaki twin before reverting back to the brits with 650 Thunderbolt and built one for myself in the (sort of) 1930's style and put a worked BSA 650 Spitfire in the frame. Was a full build where I made the frame and the forks, tank, guards and just about everything else apart from the wheels, wiring head light and the mirror. Changed it from right side foot shift to left side hand shift and suicide clutch which was real fun when I ran it in the 1/4 mile here one year. I went to a night school to make the forks and risers but farmed out all welding to a certified engineer so I could get a vin number after inspection when it was finished. Made a few different tank shapes and ended up going witu a 5 gallon one to make for longer rides without having to cntinually stop for gas. The seat was a lot of wall board bog on a board, a plastic bag on top and sat in it to get the shape of my behind then fiberglassing that same as the tank and the guards. You can see the rear guard form in the mock up on the frame jig.

Made new pipes and and new axel rocker for the springer to lift it slightly and lower handle bars for next iteration

Then droped thebars down to drag bar height

You cab see the hand shifter under the seat. I had to put the back bar on the seat for the drag strip as I was getting pushed back against the guard on hard exceleration. The rear brake is worked through the right side foot peadle through a transfer system similar to the gear shifter and is worked throguh the chain guard to the rear brake arm.

I had my van cut and joined to another to make it 4 ft longer, added a 350 chevy diesel and a 9 inch ford diff to make it run a bit quicker and harder with a few bikes in when needed

This is one of the BSA's a 67 Thunderbolt that I restored

 

[Safari Dave]

I like small unintimidating bikes.



Got a Suzuki DR200SE for street/trail and a Yamaha TTR 125 for playing in the woods.

 

[Brent in Az]

I've never been a street bike guy, but back in the day, did a lot of desert riding, and motocross racing.
Gave up the racing after a trip to the Casa Grande emergency room, via ambulance.

Lots of go fast goodies on that bike, as well as cylinder head work performed by Pro Circuit. She was fast. ...