Bikes I'd like to still have....

[SeabeckS]

Sort of inspired by another thread where there's been a little OT chat about Ducati's, got me to thinking about bikes I've had in the past. Be interesting (for me) to have a few in the garage.

First would be a CL72 - Honda 250 Scrambler, first bike I owned. (My mom wouldn't let me buy a bike, so it was kept in a good friend's garage...lol. Sorry mom!)

Next would be the Suzuki GS1000S. Owned a couple of street Suzi's before this one. Mine started as the shop race bike for one of the local dealers. Mikuni flat slides, braced fork/swing arm, Akront rims, Webco cams. A bullet (in those days) in a straight line.

A third selection would be my '96 Ducati 900 SS/SP. This bike replaced a '94 CR that got totalled by a Subaru on the 405 commute. While waiting for the insurance check, had my eye on this bike, but didn't really care much for the full fairing of the SP. The sales manager suggested that they change the body work with a '97 half-faired yellow bike they had on the floor. My SP was a bit different than most, thanks Dave Roosevelt. One of the big regrets is selling that machine...it was a really great back roads bike....

But...I love my '04 R1100S. Best bike I've ever had.

Your choices?

[Psychopath]

Honda Hawk GT! (NT650)

Spent LOTS of time on the track and never completely mastered it. Regrets regrets.

I'm seriously considering picking up a nice example in MN.

[Chris Canning]

The only bike I've ever regretted selling is my 500H1A part exchanged it for 750H2 the 750 never struck me as being all that fast where as the 500 would hold its own against any 750 BSA/Triumph triple or 750 Honda,to cover any regrets I haven't sold a bike in 16 years just buy e'm.

[tic105]

Every single one in my signature - other than the F800S (OK bike but sort of boring).

[RBMann]

Originally Posted by Chris Canning

The only bike I've ever regretted selling is my 500H1A .......

Hated my H1. Used it for a 15k miles tour of the USA. Wrong bike for the job, my fault. Disliked my first bike a Honda 150 Dream even more.

[twitchy]

I've been riding since 1970. For the miles I've riden 700,000 I haven't owned that many bikes. I really learned how to ride on a Honda 750. It was my 3rd bike after 2 Triumphs. I put 180,000 miles on that bike. It was like an old friend. Even after all those miles it was still in pretty good shape as far as the way it looked. When I see pictures of it, I wish I still had it.

My 1992 Ducati 900ss I wanted to never sell. I bought it new in 1992 and only sold it late in 2014 because I had too.

Those are the only 2 bikes I wish I had been able to keep.

Like SeabeckS I feel the R1100s is the best bike I ever owned. I love the R1100s like I used to love my Honda 750. I never thought I would feel that way about a bike again. The BMW is not the best at most things, but it sure is really good at most. It makes me smile when I ride it.

It feels good between my legs. The tank is the perfect width for me and if I need to squeeze it, it couldn't be any better. The peg height works for me, as does the height of the bars mounted under the triple clamp. The reach to the bars works great for me as well.

[Chris Canning]

I've had my 1100s 16 years and probably spent more on it than what I paid for it all those years ago and it's part of the family furniture but the best bike I have ever owned it ain't.

[bradzdotcom]

me too chris.
i've had mine for 13 years, but if it were gone, it wouldn't make my "wish i still had" list (which i've been working on since yesterday....fun but hard!).
it's a sport/touring machine, which is a dual purpose bike, which also means it doesn't sport or tour exceptionally well, but can do an okay (but not brilliant) job of doing both.
knew that when i bought it.

i'd miss it, but wouldn't be grieving for it.
I've had better. And worse. it's in the middle.

(still working on my "wish i still had" list, trying to narrow it to a handful).

[Mitch1100]

My 76 Daytona Orange R90s

[Tirefriar]

I'd say I really miss my '04 Rockster Edition 80. It just felt good nod I thought it had one of the best paint jobs out there. Sold it because I bought a BCR and after a while it didn't seem to make sense to keep the both... Took me 6months of pondering and a lot of canyon riding to pull the trigger on the Rock...

Thats one of the better colour schemes for a Rockster - there are some pretty unusual ones out there..

[rodmcm]

My 1974 silver smoke R90S.
Unfortunately, my wife collided with a horse on her first ride on it. The horse came off best, my wife was next best and the 90S was worst.

[Lublin]

I love the green and orange Rocksters.

I'd also love a Ducati 748 or 998.

[hellfishtat]

'75 R90s, daytona orange
'99 R1100s, mandarin

both would look really good parked next to my '07 R1200s, shine yellow

[ckcarr]

I think back on all the bikes I've owned and although I have nice memories, when I think about them, the reality of how rough, or basic mechanically they were, sort of gives me a reality check...

[Chris Canning]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

I think back on all the bikes I've owned and although I have nice memories, when I think about them, the reality of how rough, or basic mechanically they were, sort of gives me a reality check...

Absolutely

But with interest being close on zero with your money in the bank old Brit and Jap stuff over here is fetching big bucks hence why we are seeing so many American imports because the States hasn't caught on yet,you will pay 15000 US for a good R90s and the same for a Kawasaki 750H2 you are even having to pay 7/8000 for a good Cobra even more for the likes of my old H1A.

So they may not ride too well but it's a nice thought riding around on a bike that is making money

[ckcarr]

Nostalgia wise, it was my two early dual sports. Honda Elsinore 250, and Honda XL600r. But, again, those were much more a reflection of the time and the place (early 70's through early 80's Colorado)... And you can't go home again...

[twitchy]

I agree if I was to ride the bikes I wish I still had, I would be very disappointed if left the way they were when I sold them.

What I miss is not the way they were then, but to have the ability to restore them with some of the modern technology available now. I know they would not work like something current, but having them and working to make them better and restoring everything, is calming for me.

Chris, you did a boatload of work to your R1100s and spent a lot of money in doing so. You did get some enjoyment from that, right? I think you would be great to talk to over a beer and talk about motorcycling. Sometimes I forget the things I know until I talk to someone who has been around for a long time.

Some of the bikes I still find beautiful to this day, are a 1970 BSA Lightning or a 1971 Norton Commando S. If I got the chance to ride one in stock form I would probably be disappointed, but I think they truly are mechanically beautiful.

That's all. So many times you remember something in a certain way and if you get the chance to experience it again, it isn't like you remember. Life changes perspective. If it didn't we would all wish we had a VW beetle and love it!

[SeabeckS]

Originally Posted by twitchy

I agree if I was to ride the bikes I wish I still had, I would be very disappointed if left the way they were when I sold them.

What I miss is not the way they were then, but to have the ability to restore them with some of the modern technology available now. I know they would not work like something current, but having them and working to make them better and restoring everything, is calming for me.

Chris, you did a boatload of work to your R1100s and spent a lot of money in doing so. You did get some enjoyment from that, right? I think you would be great to talk to over a beer and talk about motorcycling. Sometimes I forget the things I know until I talk to someone who has been around for a long time.

Some of the bikes I still find beautiful to this day, are a 1970 BSA Lightning or a 1971 Norton Commando S. If I got the chance to ride one in stock form I would probably be disappointed, but I think they truly are mechanically beautiful.

That's all. So many times you remember something in a certain way and if you get the chance to experience it again, it isn't like you remember. Life changed perspective. If it didn't we would all wish we had a VW beetle and love it!

Please, let's not get started on beetles.

[bradzdotcom]

Originally Posted by twitchy

If it didn't we would all wish we had a VW beetle and love it!

hey watch it there pal.
i have a '79 vw beetle and love it.
still the best chick magnet car i've ever owned.
dogs love it too (it's a convertible).