My motorcycles listed...1966 to 2022

[stormsedge]

I have had three, counting a solid framed 3.5hp mini-bike that was the scourge of Honda 50s on the straights (up until it threw a rod...shouldn't have tampered with the governor ).

Later, an '79 Moto Guzzi SP1000...then an '01 Moto Guzzi Rossa Mandello. The swirl of distracted drivers convinced me to get a convertible.

 

[John Backlund]

Two on my list that were 'current' have now left the garage.

In the past week, I sold my '21 Kawasaki W800 back to the Rapid City Kawasaki dealer, and put my '18 Triumph Thruxton R on consignment at the Sturgis BMW/Yamaha/Suzuki dealership.

Out of the four bikes I had last week, I now have two, my '22 Royal Enfield Interceptor, and the '21 BMW R18.

Trixie still has her Triumph Speedmaster.

I may pick up a relatively inexpensive used bike of some sort in the next month or two, maybe something small and easy on gas. I've been eyeballing the new Royal Enfield 350 Classic.

 

[Mekhem]

Ohhh - This should be fun:

1985 Honda VF500 Interceptor - Truly a great beginner bike
1985 Honda VF1000R - Great concept but terrible execution
2002 Yamaha R6 - what a ripper... light, agile, great brakes, and surprisingly comfortable
2003 Honda VFR 800 Interceptor - the ultimate sporty tourer (and yah... i do like the V4...)
2004 Honda RC51 - the worst sportbike ever made under 30 mph.... one of the best over 30 mph. My worst ownership experience due to the previous owner.
2008 Honda CBR1000R - For a ripping super car killer - a very pleasant commuter and weekend warrior. You never felt like you were going fast.... but if you werent paying attention you were.
2012 Triumph Scrambler - great for passengers, errands, and relaxed exploring

I really miss the CBR1000R - but I was just not sport riding and my girlfriend at the time just hated being a passenger on it. I an supper happy with the scrambler but have been low level looking for something a little more sporty and the Yamaha MT10 seems like it may fit the bill. If i could find a deal on a GSXR 750 that didnt have its guts wrung out... I might jump on that as well.

 

[Telekarster]

Wow John! Ever thought of just owning a dealership and get it over with? LOL!!! Nice bikes man. The Zundapp is especially unique. I've only owned 3 in my life, all HD's. 74 FLH, 82 Roadster, 82 FXRS. The FXRS was the first HD when they bought it back from AMF, and the frame of that bike was designed by Eric Buell. Super fun HD to ride.

 

[SuprHtr]

I'm late to this thread. My list is short.Some of the photos are from the web as I didn't always get photographic evidence. In order, the Honda SL-90, sold in the US for one year; 1970 Sachs 125E with many neutrals; then a 29 year break; then the 1995 GPz1100, and 2003 ZR7S. I still have the last two.

 

[John Backlund]

I am known by some as a voracious 'consumer' of motorcycles, always have been, and I don't expect that to change much...until it does, of course, but as long as I'm sitting here on a bus in Custer, South Dakota until around 7:00 this evening, with little to do, I decided to make an updated list of the many and various machines I've owned over my lifetime....so far.

These are not in any precise chronological model year order, as many were purchased used well after their 'new' year.

I have almost certainly left out several at the 'first go', and will add them if I can find them in the mental dust piles of my brain.

#1.....1955 Zundapp 250
#2.....1966 Honda S90
#3.....1967 HD Sprint 250
#4.....1970 Bridgestone GTR350
#5.....1973 Yamaha TX750
#6.....1974 Suzuki GT750L
#7.....1976 Suzuki GT250
#8.....1977 Suzuki GS750
#9.....1979 Suzuki GS1000N
#10...1979 Suzuki GS1000E

#11...1974 Suzuki GT750L (#2)
#12...1979 Yamaha XS1100
#13...1976 Kawasaki KZ900
#14...1976 Kawasaki KZ750
#15...1977 Kawasaki KZ750
#16...1974 Suzuki GT750L (#3)
#17...1974 Suzuki GT750L (#4)
#18...1975 Suzuki GT750M (#5)
#19...1977 Suzuki GT750B (#6)
#20...1976 Suzuki GT750A (#7)

#21...1985 Suzuki 650 Tempter
#22...1989 Kawasaki ZX10
#23...1976 Honda GL1000
#24...1976 Honda GL1000 (#2)
#25...1985 Yamaha XT550
#26...1991 Kawasaki KLR 650
#27...1972 Yamaha XS2D 650
#28...1993 BMW R100GSPD Paris Dakar
#29...2003 Suzuki 650 Burgman
#30...1991 Yamaha VMAX

#31...1997 Honda PC800 Pacific Coast
#32...2017 Moto-Guzzi V7III Special
#33...1983 Yamaha Venture
#34...2004 HD Sportster Roadster 1200
#35...2007 Kawasaki ZX14
#36...2000 Suzuki Hayabusa
#37...2020 BMW S1000R
#38...Honda S90 (#2)
#39...2007 Suzuki Burgman 650
#40...2013 Suzuki Burgman 650

#41...2002 Triumph Bonneville T100
#42...1997 Suzuki XV800
#43...2003 Honda VTX1800R
#44...1999 Honda Shadow Aero 1100
#45...2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000
#46...1999 Honda Valkyrie
#47...2015 Indian Chief Classic
#48...2016 Indian Chief Vintage
#49...2015 HD Sportster 1200
#50...2021 BMW R18

#51...2018 Triumph Thruxton R
#52...2017 Honda CB1100EX
#53...2015 Yamaha SR400
#54...2021 Kawasaki W800
#55...2016 Royal Enfield C500
#56...2011 Kawasaki KLR 650
#57...1966 Honda CB72 305 Super hawk
#58...1981 Yamaha 920RH
#59...2022 Royal Enfield 650 INT.
#60...1973(?) Kawasaki 90

And!.......a 1974 Jawa Velorex 560 sidecar.

I have not included a list of my wife, 'Trixie's' motorcycles, which would add an additional twenty or so.

Better add the latest one.

#61...2022 Triumph Rocket 3.

 

[Old Plank]

I am known by some as a voracious 'consumer' of motorcycles, always have been, and I don't expect that to change much...until it does, of course, but as long as I'm sitting here on a bus in Custer, South Dakota until around 7:00 this evening, with little to do, I decided to make an updated list of the many and various machines I've owned over my lifetime....so far.

These are not in any precise chronological model year order, as many were purchased used well after their 'new' year.

I have almost certainly left out several at the 'first go', and will add them if I can find them in the mental dust piles of my brain.

#1.....1955 Zundapp 250
#2.....1966 Honda S90
#3.....1967 HD Sprint 250
#4.....1970 Bridgestone GTR350
#5.....1973 Yamaha TX750
#6.....1974 Suzuki GT750L
#7.....1976 Suzuki GT250
#8.....1977 Suzuki GS750
#9.....1979 Suzuki GS1000N
#10...1979 Suzuki GS1000E

#11...1974 Suzuki GT750L (#2)
#12...1979 Yamaha XS1100
#13...1976 Kawasaki KZ900
#14...1976 Kawasaki KZ750
#15...1977 Kawasaki KZ750
#16...1974 Suzuki GT750L (#3)
#17...1974 Suzuki GT750L (#4)
#18...1975 Suzuki GT750M (#5)
#19...1977 Suzuki GT750B (#6)
#20...1976 Suzuki GT750A (#7)

#21...1985 Suzuki 650 Tempter
#22...1989 Kawasaki ZX10
#23...1976 Honda GL1000
#24...1976 Honda GL1000 (#2)
#25...1985 Yamaha XT550
#26...1991 Kawasaki KLR 650
#27...1972 Yamaha XS2D 650
#28...1993 BMW R100GSPD Paris Dakar
#29...2003 Suzuki 650 Burgman
#30...1991 Yamaha VMAX

#31...1997 Honda PC800 Pacific Coast
#32...2017 Moto-Guzzi V7III Special
#33...1983 Yamaha Venture
#34...2004 HD Sportster Roadster 1200
#35...2007 Kawasaki ZX14
#36...2000 Suzuki Hayabusa
#37...2020 BMW S1000R
#38...Honda S90 (#2)
#39...2007 Suzuki Burgman 650
#40...2013 Suzuki Burgman 650

#41...2002 Triumph Bonneville T100
#42...1997 Suzuki XV800
#43...2003 Honda VTX1800R
#44...1999 Honda Shadow Aero 1100
#45...2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000
#46...1999 Honda Valkyrie
#47...2015 Indian Chief Classic
#48...2016 Indian Chief Vintage
#49...2015 HD Sportster 1200
#50...2021 BMW R18

#51...2018 Triumph Thruxton R
#52...2017 Honda CB1100EX
#53...2015 Yamaha SR400
#54...2021 Kawasaki W800
#55...2016 Royal Enfield C500
#56...2011 Kawasaki KLR 650
#57...1966 Honda CB72 305 Super hawk
#58...1981 Yamaha 920RH
#59...2022 Royal Enfield 650 INT.
#60...1973(?) Kawasaki 90

And!.......a 1974 Jawa Velorex 560 sidecar.

I have not included a list of my wife, 'Trixie's' motorcycles, which would add an additional twenty or so.

Wow that's a heck of a list John! Mine is:

1971 Yamaha 250 DT1F

Hoping to get to the nearest Enfield dealer this week or next, that new 350 looks interesting. Here's one for sale not far from me, that could be a nice addition to your collection ...

 

[John Backlund]

Wow that's a heck of a list John! Mine is:

1971 Yamaha 250 DT1F

Hoping to get to the nearest Enfield dealer this week or next, that new 350 looks interesting. Here's one for sale not far from me, that could be a nice addition to your collection ...

The 350 Royal Enfield does look interesting, but if a 430 pound bike that has an engine that puts out 20.2 hp can hold your interest, I'm envious of you.


I wanted one.....until I test rode a 350 Meteor.

 

[7171551]

Wow, it’s not just every day you get encounter someone who owned a SP370. Those were kind of thin on the ground. I came thiiiiiiiissssss close to getting one as a kid.

Probably not an easy bike to find parts for these days.

I had one too.

When we were teenagers, a bunch of us used to do a lot of off-road riding, practice jumping, stunts, and racing each other within the local abandoned coal mine's grounds... mainly up and down the near vertical sides of the massive spoil heaps of rock and shale. (I'm writing to be understood here: in that time and place we called it "scrambling on the pit bings.") This was West Lothian, Scotland, an area and landscape littered with old coal and shale mines, the last of which closed in the '80's.

I also had one of the original Yam XT500's around the same time, which I managed to sink up to its top yoke in an old slurry pond. (long story!)

I ended up replacing them with a stripped down 2-stroke Suzuki TS250 which could run circles around the 4-strokes.

Looking back, I'm amazed none of us died or sustained serious injury -off road. Unfortunately, our luck didn't last when we graduated to road bikes, but those early days were fun.

 

[Ricky D.]

Honda CB 160
1954 Matchless 350 G3LS
Rickman Triumph TR6 from Gary Nixon.
1957 BMW R69s

 

[mexicanyella]

I had one too.

When we were teenagers, a bunch of us used to do a lot of off-road riding, practice jumping, stunts, and racing each other within the local abandoned coal mine's grounds... mainly up and down the near vertical sides of the massive spoil heaps of rock and shale. (I'm writing to be understood here: in that time and place we called it "scrambling on the pit bings.") This was West Lothian, Scotland, an area and landscape littered with old coal and shale mines, the last of which closed in the '80's.

I also had one of the original Yam XT500's around the same time, which I managed to sink up to its top yoke in an old slurry pond. (long story!)

I ended up replacing them with a stripped down 2-stroke Suzuki TS250 which could run circles around the 4-strokes.

Looking back, I'm amazed none of us died or sustained serious injury -off road. Unfortunately, our luck didn't last when we graduated to road bikes, but those early days were fun.

Was your TS250 one of the early ones with the upswept low exhaust and a rotary valve (not 100% sure the 250s ever had rotary valves, but the smaller TS models did for awhile in the 1970s) or a later high-pipe one?

I had a friend in high school that went from an early rotary valve TS100 fitted with RM100 forks, swing arm and wheels (that bike was actually over suspended for its power level) to a ratty but terrifying TM400. The TM broke a lot but was a murderous unpredictable thrill machine for short bursts. That TS100 that preceded seemed utterly unbreakable, but leisurely in acceleration.

 

[SuprHtr]

The TM broke a lot but was a murderous unpredictable thrill machine for short bursts.

I never rode one but I recall that the most popular modification for the TM was a much heavier flywheel…

 

[mexicanyella]

I never rode one but I recall that the most popular modification for the TM was a much heavier flywheel…

I think (from reading about it later) there was a trend toward swapping on the magneto from the milder TS400, for two reasons: the external-rotor flywheel added mass to tame it a little through inertia, and also to make use of the TS model’s points ignition, which was a step backwards from the TM’s CDI but which solved the problem of the TM’s unpredictable, temperature-affected electronic advance curve. From what I’ve read, you’d think you had it all dialed in ripping around in practice, then at actual race conditions and higher engine temps the spark advance would come in at some new exciting speed range, like in the apex of a turn while you were setting up for the jump right after, causing you to high side or wheelie or end up on the moon.

I doubt we ever pushed that thing hard enough to encounter much of that. I just remember it seemed like a giant deafening vibrating monster, a combination of LOUD big-bore two-stroke bark plus the sound of a metal 5-gallon bucket of random screws, nuts, washers and nails in a paint shaker. You’d just be getting acclimated to that sensory overload and thinkin, Right, I can do this, gearing’s kinda high, gotta hang on and then WHAMMO all 40+ hp would hit at about 4000-4500 (?) rpm, it would be sideways or wheelying depending on the surface, you’d be vacuuming the seat upholstery and foam into your...pants, trying not to blow through the neighbor’s artfully rustic zigzagged split rail fence...and then you’d be past the oddly abrupt focused midrange and the power would just kind of sign off. If you dared shift up and drop the rpm back down into the crazy range the cycle would start all over again.

I remember once seeing my friend go around this berm on a vacant lot and get this killer roost—it would have been a great photo—and apparently the split-rail-fence neighbor was going past in his baby blue Golf or Cabriolet or whatever on the other side of the berm, and got showered with powdery dry red clay soil.

Possibly also a great missed photo op.

 

[Old Plank]

The 350 Royal Enfield does look interesting, but if a 430 pound bike that has an engine that puts out 20.2 hp can hold your interest, I'm envious of you.


I wanted one.....until I test rode a 350 Meteor.

Ahhh ... good to know, thnx. I do like keeping things on the slower side around here.

 

[7171551]

Was your TS250 one of the early ones with the upswept low exhaust and a rotary valve (not 100% sure the 250s ever had rotary valves, but the smaller TS models did for awhile in the 1970s) or a later high-pipe one?

I had a friend in high school that went from an early rotary valve TS100 fitted with RM100 forks, swing arm and wheels (that bike was actually over suspended for its power level) to a ratty but terrifying TM400. The TM broke a lot but was a murderous unpredictable thrill machine for short bursts. That TS100 that preceded seemed utterly unbreakable, but leisurely in acceleration.

It was the later high-pipe one, probably a 77-78. I can't honestly remember. It started out looking like the stock photo below- before I stripped off all the un-needed crap like lights and indicators etc and fitted a full off-road rear tyre.

 

[mexicanyella]

It was the later high-pipe one, probably a 77-78. I can't honestly remember. It started out looking like the stock photo below- before I stripped off all the un-needed crap like lights and indicators etc and fitted a full off-road rear tyre.

View attachment 993313

Yeah, I remember seeing a few of those around when I was a dirt bike kid in the 80s. Cool.

Google image research tells me the 250 never had the rotary valve or upswept low exhaust like the 100s and 125s did for awhile:

In fact by zooming in I see that this 125 was not rotary valve either...piston port, carb in the noal
Place behind the cylinder and those engine castings look just like the ones on another high-school friend’s fat-tired RV125:

 

[pdmartin]

Yamaha 100 Twin Jet
Yamaha RD 250
Yamaha RD 350
Kawasaki 350 triple two stroke
Honda 750A/4
Yamaha XS400
Yamaha XS650
Yamaha 750 triple
Honda 750 Shadow
Honda GL1500 Aspencade
Yamaha 400 Majesty
Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer

I’m sure I’ve forgotten a couple but now that I have the Guzzi all the past bikes seem less memorable. Then again at 71 I’m happy to remember where I parked it.

 

[7171551]

I got into bikes as a young teen and later, from say the mid eighties thru to the mid nineties, was buying, selling, repairing and trading them on a regular basis. By the time I stopped, well over a hundred had passed through my hands. (Admittedly, many of them were just run of the mill flips and I often had multiple examples of the same models -if the price was right!) The following list is all that springs to mind as I think back...

I haven't been on a motorcycle for at least 20 years and have no plans to ever own another- but they still have a fascination.

77 Honda XL125
78 Honda CB550/4K3
79 Honda CB550/4
78 Honda CB550/4F1
77 Honda CB750/4K
-- Honda CB750/4F
82 Honda CB750/4F
– Honda CB250N Superdream
77 Honda CB400/4F
77 Honda CB400/4F
80 Honda CB250RS
82 Honda FT500
79 Honda CB100N
76 Suzuki T500
77 Suzuki GT500
77 Suzuki GT500
74 Suzuki GT750
78 Suzuki TS250
74 Suzuki GT380
-- Suzuki GSX250
-- Suzuki GS550
-- Suzuki GS550
-- Suzuki GT250
79 Suzuki SP370
-- Yamaha XS650 Twin (chopped)
-- Yamaha XT500
-- Yamaha XS850
-- Yamaha XJ900
78 Yamaha RD400
74 Kawasaki Z900
-- Kawasaki Z650
-- Kawasaki Z650
-- Kawasaki Z650
58 Triumph T110 Tiger
-- Triumph 3TA
-- Triumph 250?
-- BSA M21
-- BSA 250?
-- Velocette LE160

 

[Oxidao]

Mobilette 49
Bultaco Lobito 74
Vespa 75 Primavera
Montesa Enduro 250 H6

Then there was a non riding gap, from mid 80's till my divorce in 2000. First thing I did was getting a bike.

BMW K75
Honda Africa Twin 750
Honda XL600 LM
Yamaha FZR1000 EXUP
Honda CBR1000 RR
2 Vespa 200 dn

Now I only keep the Vespa and the XL600.

 

[oatsoda]

#59...2022 Royal Enfield 650 INT.

So…after having owned and ridden so many bikes, what’s your opinion on the RE?