200 Triumph Cub
250 Harley Sprint
1200 Harley Panhead
650 Matchless
305 Honda Scrambler
450 Honda
400 Suzuki Enduro
XS650 Yamaha
GL1000 Honda
(2) GL1100 Hondas
(2) XS1100 Yamahas
(2) R75/5 BMWs
Moto Guzzi Ambassador
K100LTBMW
R100R BMW (Soon)
and some others here and there that may not have run or were off road bikes. Loved 'em all(some more than others) and Apologies to any old bikes I forgot..
A rather short list for 29 years of riding:
'70 Kawasaki 100 cc. dual sport- bought new, spent 5 months waiting for parts during the 1 year warranty. I sold to a relative when warranty ran out, should check up and see what he did with it.
'76 Yamaha RD400- bought new in '78, rode to the west coast and back. Sold with 25,000 miles on it in the late '80s, didn't have any place to store it. Still have a spare key for it and watch for used ones for sale.
'84 BMW R65LS, bought new, rode 94,000 miles, 44,000 pulling a 'hack, and never had the heads off.
'92 BMW R100GS bought new, rode 60,000 miles, 36,000 'hack'd. A bad vintage for BMWs- transmission out 3 times; driveshaft, starter, and alternator replaced. Fortunately most repairs were covered by warranty.
'01 Buell M2L- Bought new, odo reads 42,000 miles but probably a couple thousand more unrecorded due to unreliable HOG speedo sensors. Usual HOG problems during HOG 30,000 mile design life- rocker box gaskets, speedo sensors, etc.. Since then the expensive stuff is going- motor mount, alternator stator, oil tank. Bike will resume it's tour of HOG service departments next year- HOG(NYSE) will be held to the terms of their extended warranty.
'83 BMW R80ST- bought used in '04 with 67,000 miles, currently at 87,000 and change, almost every mile 'hack'd. Did a valve job at 78,000 and has been dead reliable. Can do multiple parades in a day with 70 mph freeway cruises in between with out skipping a beat. Light weight and low center of gravity makes for good handling while engine is so smooth it can tractor along at 500 rpm idle in parades.
Do I really fit in? owned a BMW R2,aZundapp K 800,Zundapp KS 600 with 601 engine with Steib,An Imme,BMW R 61,R 51/2,Hecker 250 with Ilo with Steib sidecar,ex Army BMW R75,DKW RT125,BMW R 67.All this in Germany in the 1950's.In Canada earlier a Matchless 650 twin,Suzuki 500.The last couple years I aquired a Jawa TS 350 with old Velorex,an RD 350,a Yamaha XJ650
with Velorex and right now I have a 1984 Yamaha FJ1100 with Kenna sidecar
and a 1985 FJ1100 .And a Yamaha SR 250 for my wife.
Gary Storch
WOW you had the bikes I wanted and could not afordRon in Co
Owned at one time or another be either me or my charming wife...
'01 Harley Davidson FXRS-SP
'04 Harley Davidson Sportster 883
'06 Harley Davidson Dyna Convertible
'97 BMW R1100RS **
'86 BMW R80G/S
'86 BMW R100RS
'99 BMW R1100S
'99 BMW F650 (now with Sputnik sidecar) **
'99 Ducati 996
'82 BMW R80ST
'99 BMW R1100RT
'03 Triumph Daytona 955i
a 2nd '86 BMW R80G/S **
'03 Ducati Monster 900S **
'02 BMW R1100GS
'04 Honda CBR600F4i **
'**' -- indicates a bike we still have.
I don't forsee any additions or changes to this list for the next few years.
Obviously, I like the R80G/S, because after I sold my first one, I pined to have one back. I said, hey, an R80ST is just as good. (Not quite.) Had to finally get the 2nd R80G/S.
The R1100RT was too good. Too comfortable. It's raining in Seattle and I'm too warm and dry and toasty. I figured motorcycle riding is supposed to be at least slightly miserable, so I traded it for the Ducati Monster.
The only bike I didn't really care for was the BMW R1100S. Too uncomfortable, weasly engine sounds, too heavy, not all that fast. (My personal comments. YMMV.)
I guess one of us should mention that there's no shame in having a short list. If you hit the right combination with your first try, then I envy you. And if you are just starting out, look at all the fun you have waiting ahead.
Personally, I still want to one day own a Valkyrie Rune with a sidecar. And, of course, the Rocket 3. Or maybe a V-rod/Armec combo.
Originally written by SidecarMike on 11/3/2006 11:17 PM
I guess one of us should mention that there's no shame in having a short list. If you hit the right combination with your first try, then I envy you. And if you are just starting out, look at all the fun you have waiting ahead.
Personally, I still want to one day own a Valkyrie Rune with a sidecar. And, of course, the Rocket 3. Or maybe a V-rod/Armec combo.
I'm witcha on that!
My 'bike fantasy' is to build a Boss-Hog-like kit bike (do they even sell kits anymore?) with a small auto engine. Preferably a V6. It'll have to be after I retire though...
A good friend of mine built what he called the "Daytona 87" when he was a kid. It was a modified Harley frame with a V-6 Chevy mounted sideways in it. No gearbox, it ran a belt drive from the engine directly to the rear wheel, controled by a Toyota Landcruiser Hydraulic clutch. Very nice and very clean design. He was smart enough to document every detail and eventually sold the design to a company in Daytona in about 1990.
I started with a 305 Honda Superhawk, followed with a BMW R75 during my college years. Thought I'd live longer if I got rid of them. Now I have lived longer and at age 57 I'm starting up again with my Honda GL650/Dneper. It's a short list, but I've enjoyed them thouroughly.
it was mini bikes when I was thirteen in the mid sixties.stoped recording milage at 250k.this year will be my 32 cristmas day ride. the girls I still have,47 harley,56 harley,76 cb400f,58 vespa,74 ossa,74 ossa in champion ice racer,64 super hawk scrambler,66 bsa 650,67 bsa 650,69 bsa 650,71 cl350,68? kreidler super,bsa d7 trail bronk,67 /2 750 convertion with 58 duna sidecar,the girls I sold,belt drive swinn with cast iron briggs and sratton,50cc binnely bad speller,77 r100,76 r750,56 zundapp 250,79 fxe,71 mtd mini junk,69 cb350,71sx650,77 suzuk 125 dirt,83 honda 80 dirt,77 suzuk 400 dirt,84 r650ls,50somthing cushman, I know I have forgot some. oh I still have the r25 with stieb 250.now I am riding the cb400f boat tools in the vintage bates saddle bags.John
Originally written by Hungarian sidecar on 11/5/2006 1:16 AM
it was mini bikes when I was thirteen in the mid sixties.stoped recording milage at 250k.this year will be my 32 cristmas day ride. the girls I still have,47 harley,56 harley,76 cb400f,58 vespa,74 ossa,74 ossa in champion ice racer,John
I just sold an old Ossa Pioneer on eBay. I was shocked by what it brought. Guy paid $1500 for it, drove 700 miles to get here, and when he picked it up said if I hadn't given him a "Buy it now" option he was prepared to bid to $3200. The owner of the bike was hoping he could get $400! Later, I got a nice note from the buyer saying how happy he was with his purchase.
