What bike do you ride?

ec9

ec9

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Jul 25, 2010
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I want to hear from the Motorcycle lovers out there. Show us your 2 wheel ride! I want to hear some background on your bike and why you love it or hate it :)

I just picked up my childhood dream 2 weeks ago.... A Ducati Superbike. I love it. Sure I can't get it out of 3rd gear on the street and maintenance is going to cost an arm and a leg but hell you only live once. Before that I kicked around on a R1 and several CBRs. I miss riding in the mountains though I can tell you that. Riding around flat FL is a bore.
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I've been ridin' since I was 5, (I'm 51 now) had my first motorcycle at 8, (it was a 150 cc Suzuki 2 stroke street bike), next a Honda CB500T, 2 Norton Commandos, a '69 and a '71, then a '76 AMF Harley Liberty Edition Sportster, What a POS, had to work on it everytime before I went ridin'

Next up a '78 Kawasaki KZ1000, I had set up for 1/4 mile races, (that one caught fire and burned to the ground in under 8 minutes, damn I miss that bike, it was fast) but not as fast as the Z!R Turbo I had after, went through the Honda CBs, Suzuki GSX R1100, even ventured into Motocross with a Suzuki RM 370, an old jawa CZ I rebuilt and an old Honda XL350, (great trailbike).

Rode some old BMWs and than I discovered comfort for long distance ridin' had a daughter in the early 90s and tabled the bikes for a few years to spend time with my daughter while she was still young, fast forward to early 2000s and i went lookin' for another ride, I stumbled on an old '83 Yamaha Venture, I took it for a test ride and immediately fell in love.

The full dress bike clocked in at a little over 800 lbs loaded but it was as agile as leopard, quick as all hell and as comfortable as my recliner, I discovered the advantages of a comfortable ride, I could put 400 miles on like I was goin' 'round the block, the goal was to get there as comfortable and rested as possible the Yamaha was the ticket.

Unfortunately I had to sell it in '06 to finance a trip to Europe but in '09 I found a vintage '85 Yamaha Venture Royale with 17,000 miles on it, I bought it and have been drivin' it year 'round since, it's my favorite mode of transportation and I'll climb on the bike before I climb in the truck on most days, Live to ride, ride to live is my religion and after 30 years of tryin' to go as fast as I can, I'm now enjoyin' the ride, I still like to kick up past 120 once in a while but I'm more apt to putter around at a comfortable crusin' speed, about 75 mph on the hiways.

Always glad to swap stories with anyone who rides, no matter what they ride, no prejudice here, I've ridden most of 'em anyway.

Here's a pic of my '85 Venture:

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after a 30+ year hiatus, got back on a 1200R Sportster (tuned by Wes Brown at Cycle Rama in Largo... 82 ft lb on the dyno) in 04, a V Strom DL1000 that I planted and ended up with a collapsed lung, and currently an 07 Yamaha FJR 1300....just turned 64... you've probably passed me on US19... have a couple of reflective "^" on the back of the Shoei, slow down and give a nod...
 
That 1198 is a sweet lookin' bike, I'd love a Monster but I don't see one in my immediate future.
 
I've always liked the springer frontends and couldn't pass this '08 Crossbones up. Recently put over 3500 miles on it with some family and friends when we went to South Dakota territory back in August. It's my ED rider back and forth to work and knock on wood, no problems yet.
 
At the moment have an old Vmax and a Sportster. Use to ride sport bikes, but since my riding is mostly 2-up, i felt there was no reason to torture my passenger (wife) like that.
We have ridden though almost all of the US and parts of Canada on the Vmax, except for a couple of states.:)
 
Love the vmax man. What a great bike. I used to ride my buddies all the time but never owned one. Thanks all for sharing it's always interesting to check out everyone's bikes :)
 
That's a beautiful 1198! On my “someday” list for sure.

I ride a V-Strom; nowhere near as pretty, but it's served me well. I'm looking around for something that's either sportier (Monster, perhaps) or more suited to long rides (Beemer RT?); the Strom's suspension just isn't suited for carving up back roads, it's pretty big, and the wind and engine noise make a 5-hour ride something of an endurance test. Worked great as a commuter bike, though.

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My current bike is a 2006 Harley Davidson Dyna Low Rider. I bought in new in 2006: a multiple decades dream that came true. While this bike excels in its designed use, cruising, I would love to have a dresser someday (for longer trips).

It has the Factory Custom paint scheme (Red Ghost Flame) - number 56/150 - and a Stage 1 kit with Screaming Eagle pipes. I've also added forward controls, braided lines and a Mustang seat (the stock seat sucked). In keeping with the "flame" theme, I went with flame pegs and grips. My wife insisted on a backrest, so I added a removable backrest/luggage rack and the removable bag.

I love the way this bike feels while riding it and I'd be lying if I didn't admit to liking all the looks received and comments about the bike.






 
Very nice dana. I almost bought a wide glide when I picked up the Ducati. I just wan't ready for a cruiser yet but when I am I'm pretty sure it will be a wide glide.
 
2008 Electra Glide. Wanted one for 40 years, but the kids/university etc. came first. I rode a 650 Yamaha for 20+ years before getting the Harley. Love the torque; my wife and I rode over the Beartooth Pass and down to Yellowstone last year, and are planning on riding Hwy. 1 down the California coast next year.
 
2004 Suzuki Volusia, bought new in '04 and it's the only motorcycle I've ever owned.

Pros: Very inexpensive. Super-cheap insurance. Reliable. Comfortable. Feels much larger than it's engine size and weight would indicate. Pretty. Nice features including shaft drive, water cooling, speedometer. Good ride on packed dirt/rock roads. Large tank.
Cons: Not much extra 'oomph' at high elevation. Cold-blooded (carborated). Plastic fenders. Infamous "hump of death" on the rear of seat.

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1100cc Yamaha. In the US it's marketed as the V-Star. It's my everyday commuter as well as my weekend toy. Nice riding everywhere except the extreme twisties.

I added a 'ButtyBuddy' to the pillion seat so we can make long rides comfortable for both of us. Best money I spent on a bike as now my wife always is up for a weekend tour!


Stitchawl
 
I ride a 2003 Kawasaki Concours and a 2005 Russian Ural with sidecar.

The Concours is a competent long distance machine, but the Ural rig is more fun and interesting by far. It is especially fun on the logging trails and in the snow.

I take both of them on multiday moto-camping trips whenever I can, in addition to commuting and local riding.
 
I ride two H.D. 's Both are 98 models, both are 95 th aniversary models and get this both are the same color. One is a heritage springer { this one is for sale with 19,000 mi.} the other is a ultra. I love both of them. I live in the north ga mountains where there is some good roads to check out. Hope you enjoy looking at them.
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Love those Harley cruisers! My favorites in recent history have been the Softail Deluxe and the Springer Classic.
 
All these cool backdrops are making me jelious! It makes me want to start planning my deals gap trip for next spring now :)
 
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