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44 messages,  Last post on Dec 04, 2012 at 3:35 PM

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Messages Page 3 of 5

#15 of 44 Re: ONE OF MANY [geo9] by railroadjames

Apr 18, 2007 (8:46 am)

Replying to: geo9 (Apr 17, 2007 8:02 pm)
I too have owned several bikes (even a Cushman Eagle). One correction to your Kawasaki......It was an "H-2" 750 cc but what was amazing was, and still is, it held the record for 0-60mph 2.9 seconds. The bike was a monster. It was the most powerfull bike ever made (power to weight ratio). It ran consistantly in the low 11's at the strip. No electric start(bummer!) I used synthetic oil "Klotz" to avoid the embarassing trail of blue smoke. I've never owned a Hog. Every time a test road one I found too many thing I didn't like about them. Great lookers but lacking the refinements of Hondas & the like. My favorite bike is my last one of 20 yrs. Honda Magna '87. How many bikes are worth more after 20 yrs than what they cost new?

#16 of 44 How many bikes are worth more after 20 yrs than what they cost new? by wtd44

Apr 23, 2007 (8:49 am)

Replying to: railroadjames (Apr 18, 2007 8:46 am)
Most Harleys! I ride a 2006 Suzuki VZR1800 I bought new. I love the performance.

#17 of 44 Re: How many bikes are worth more after 20 yrs than what they cost new? [wtd44] by railroadjames

Apr 23, 2007 (7:25 pm)

Replying to: wtd44 (Apr 23, 2007 8:49 am)
Yrs ago I moonlited as a salesman a Kawasaki Shop in N.W. Indiana. I built a Rickman cafe racer with a Z-1 Kaw engine Bored it out to 1196 cc's...smoothbore carbs, H.D. clutch, (Barnett if I remember right)Dunlop Tires. Bike topped out 170 mph and ran low low 11's. In my crazy days I never found any bike that could beat it (not that it was important). Our shop raced it "Nelson/Ledges in Warren, Ohio back in the mid 70's. It was quite a race! Started noon on Saturday and ended 24 hrs later noon Sunday. Usually 3 riders per bike. I can still remember the scary thrill of competing with 50 plus bikes. Oh! To be young again. One other thing that I experienced was learning that Ducati bikes ruled back then. Harleys were nonexistant back then except for one yr. They placed next to last as I recall. Mostly Suzukis, Kaws, Hondas, Yamahas & Ducatis with a sprinkling of BMWs and Triumphs and I think Guzzis.

#18 of 44 Re: How many bikes are worth more after 20 yrs than what they cost new? [ra by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 23, 2007 (8:34 pm)

Replying to: railroadjames (Apr 23, 2007 7:25 pm)
I had a Ducati Dharma and have owned a whole range of big road bikes at one time or another. I never liked Harleys, either then or even now. They feel very primitive by world standards. Very clumsy bikes.
 
My favorites were the Triumph Bonneville, the Dharma, a Moto Guzzi V50 (for zipping around town), a Honda 400/4, the very early Honda 750, a Ducati Desmo (I think it was 350). I didn't care so much for Norton Interstate oddly enough. I had two BMWs, an R67/2 and an R90, and they were great tourers. I even used to take them off road a lot because they had such long fork travel and were relatively light.
 
Probably the worst ride of my life was an Indian Scout with a foot clutch and suicide shifter. Yikes!
 
Oh I had a stripped down Yamaha 650cc I really like, too. Not exciting but a good bike for San Francisco.

#19 of 44 Rides of the past... [Mr_Shiftright] by wtd44

Apr 24, 2007 (6:30 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 23, 2007 8:34 pm)
I started out with a nonimport model of Vespa at 13 that a friend of my father had carried back from Italy. I got a little Harley soon after, and then a BSA 250cc that saw me through high school. It's been Triumph, Harley, and Japanese big four since then. More Harleys owned than anything else, but I seem to like 'em all.

#20 of 44 Re: Rides of the past... [wtd44] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 25, 2007 (8:20 am)

Replying to: wtd44 (Apr 24, 2007 6:30 pm)
I think scooters are the most dangerous of any two wheeler.
 
I don't like Harleys mostly because they don't handle and are overweight. The looks are okay, especially the stripped down models. I hopped on a friend's 2005 last November and about killed myself on the first turn. I thought maybe someone had welded the handlebars. That thing plowed through the turn like a bus. I can't imagine touring with one. It's a bike that just beats you up.
 
Some time ago I drove a Harley that had been stripped down to a kind of cafe racer---it was an extremely minimalist bike and with the modified suspension and brakes I really liked it. The guy did a fabulous job! But it was hardly a Harley anymore in terms of OEM equipment.
 
Well to each his own. My style is (or used to be...sigh) to drive fast on twisties or to take really long, long trips, neither of which is a Harley's strong points IMO. For someone who likes short day trips two-up on club days, on two lane roads at more or less legal speeds, it might be the perfect bike indeed.
 
Not a big fan of overpowered Japanese screamers either...the styling is too freaky and there's just more power than you can possibly put on the road.
 
For all their faults, one thing I liked about British bikes is that they had BALANCE, in handling, braking and power...it was all in harmony.

#21 of 44 Re: Rides of the past... [Mr_Shiftright] by toomanyfumes

Apr 25, 2007 (2:26 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 25, 2007 8:20 am)
I ride a '91 Goldwing 1500 myself. Bulletproof reliability, great bike for trips/touring. Good for commuting to work and back with lots of storage space and double the mileage of my car. (About 38 MPG.) It's a heavy beast, though they try to keep the weight down low. The gas tank is under the seat and the engine is a flat six. I'm taking about a 2000 mile trip in June from here in Wisconsin to the Smokey mountains.

#22 of 44 Re: Rides of the past... [toomanyfumes] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 26, 2007 (11:44 am)

Replying to: toomanyfumes (Apr 25, 2007 2:26 pm)
The Goldwing is a nice reliable touring bike, although as you say very heavy. Not a sport bike definitely and I'd hate to have to pick one up by myself.
 
do you remember another 6 cylinder bike called the Benelli Sei? I believe they made a 750 and a 900. It was an upright 6. I think a flat 6 makes more sense in a motorcycle.

#23 of 44 Re: Rides of the past... [Mr_Shiftright] by toomanyfumes

Apr 26, 2007 (4:37 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 26, 2007 11:44 am)
I've heard of Benelli but don't know that model. A Goldwing isn't as hard to pick up as you would think. The crash bars keep it from tipping all the way over. You kind of lean down and use your legs to push it back up.
 
I found out the hard way trying to get to my friend's cabin on a sand/gravel road. Off road vehicles these are not!

#24 of 44 Re: Rides of the past... [Mr_Shiftright] by elroy5

Apr 26, 2007 (7:59 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 26, 2007 11:44 am)
Had a 750 Honda Shadow for 6 years. Fun for cruising around town, and 500 or less mile trips. Saved a lot of $$$ on gas taking the bike instead of the car or truck to work. I want to get an 1100, but the wife always has other ideas.

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