What is your motorcycle history?

[cruisin]

I first posted this a few days ago in the Campfire section and then had second thoughts about it being in the right place or if it should be under another thread already out there. After reviewing several other threads, I decided it was unique enough to try again.

With winter rapidly approaching for some and fully ensconced for others, I thought it might be interesting to do a little reminiscing with a bit of personal biking history.

I’ll start it off; first bike was a 1964 Honda 90 purchased in 1968 to get to and from work on a near-by farm. Two years and 10K miles later moved up to 1968 Honda CB350, wow a real road bike! (total mileage on the 350, 15K) Next came a 1972 Honda CB450 purchased new just prior to graduation from high school, traded the 350 and some cash for it. Five and a half years and 26K later, I bought a 1976 R75/6. This is where the story gets good. A college buddy and I were both riding our 450s together a lot, then one day he pulls up to my apartment on a R75/6 fully dressed with Luftmeister fairing, Krauser bags, the works. I had only seen a few other beemers up close at that time. I had even ridden an R90S at the Honda dealership where I worked right after high school. I asked my buddy, Dan, “why did you buy such a butt-ugly bike?” He just grinned and proceeded to educate me on the history and finer points of BMW motorcycles. I was pretty open minded about the whole thing but still not totally convinced that he was not losing his marbles. It just so happened that he was on his way to visit his parents for the weekend, about a 100 mile drive to Anton, TX. He then offered to let me drive this odd contraption to his folks' house while he drove my Honda. To shorten this part, by the time we got to his parents’ house, I wanted to keep his bike and give him mine. Of course that did not happen, but 3 months later, I had my ’76 R75/6 fully dressed and ready for touring. And I did some touring on that beauty, at least by my standards in 1977. Five years and 50K later I had to sell the R75 to pay some medical bills since I had no insurance.

Fast forward to November 1999, I had been without a bike for almost 20 years due to financial constraints. My new job was looking pretty secure after 5 years and all of the baby-boomer types I worked with were getting on the Harley kick. I would gig them once in a while about getting a real bike, a BMW. Then one evening while on an overtime shift a co-worker tossed me a BMW brochure that someone had discarded. I began to go through it and completely fell in love with the R1100RT. But alas, the lofty RT seemed entirely too tall for my 27” inseam. So I took a very serious look at the R1200C. After the holidays that year, I picked up that brochure again and started thinking about maybe getting another bike, just sort of dreaming from time to time. Then in late January, a very close friend and sailing buddy suddenly died from an aneurysm. He was only a few years older than I and probably in as good a physical condition as any 55 year old out there. I began to think about that and decided that I would not let life go by any further saying “I wish I had …” you fill in the blanks. By March of 2000 I had made a pretty good deal on a ’99 R1200C and was off and running to make up for lost time. (almost done). A year and half later I found out about some ways one could lower an RT so I managed to make a very sweet deal on a used one and now have logged up a little over 60K on the cruiser, 28K on the RT for a lifetime total at just over 189K (138K on beemers—Thank you Dan Caddell, where-ever you are for letting me ride your R75 that day back in 1977.)

If anyone happens to know Dan, (or if he is reading this), I would be honored to ride with him again.

Here is my current favorite ride, it is tough to decide between the C and the RT though.

Edit/update: I found said Dan Caddell not long after this first posted and we are riding nearly identical RTs together as frequently as possible while living 175 miles apart. That is, when I'm not on the R1200C. In fact when I first made contact with him again through our college alumni association he was bikeless and I had the priviledge of helping him find his next ride, a '98 RT very similar to mine.

Edit/update 10/15/06: Since I first posted this, my '99 was totalled and I am now riding nearly equal amounts on the RT and the 2000 R1200C that replaced the '99. :bikes

[Visian]

I gotta get to work, but couldn't resist replying to this. Just a list of models at this point, in order of purchase. Hopefully I'll get back later and fill in some details.

Honda Cub 50
Honda CL100
Honda SL100
Kawasaki Trail Boss 100
Yamaha DT250
Bultaco Pursang
Bultaco Matador
Husqvarna 250
Husqvarna 360WR
Maico 450
Husqvarna 400
CZ 250
Bultaco Matador Six-Day
BMW R90/6
BMW K100 RT
R80 G/SPD
BMW K100RS 16V
BMW R1100GS
Bultaco Alpina 350
BMW R1150GS
BMW R69S
Honda Trail 90
BMW R100RS
BMW K1200RS
BMW HP2 Enduro - totaled! :(
BMW HP2 Enduro #2 :thumb

Ian

[basketcase]

Started out on a Suzyki TC 90 while in high school. Went through several Hondas. Moved from a VT-700 Shadow to a K100 when I bought my first BMW. Am now on my third beemer.

No yammahoppers or harleys thus far ...

[dannyleo]

1st ride I ever took was on a Kawasaki Mach III, I convinced the guy that I knew how to ride just from all the magazines I had read.
Some mini-bike without a gear shift. To shift, I had to reach down and jerk the shaft in or out as I let off the gas. My grandpa made it disappear when he found out how crazy I was with it.
Honda 450 Double Overhead Cam (1971?) sold in 1 piece
Honda 750 SS (1977?) sold in 1 piece
Harley Davidson Electra-Glide (Not mine, my work bike)
Honda CBX (1979) sold in 1 piece
Honda Gold Wing (1981? had for 30 days but it woudln't corner) traded for below
Suzuki GS 1100EX (1982?) sold in 1 piece after going down at 100-120 mph (I lost 40% of my skin and was pronounced expectant, it suffered a broken signal lens and a worn ignition? cover on the right side. I guess I threw myself under it and protected it for a quarter mile of sliding at which point it flipped back onto its wheels and rolled to an eventual stop while I continued sliding to somewhere on the far side of the half-mile mark. Yes, I say prayers before every meal now.
BMW R100S (Bought and rode in Germany, year197?) sold in 1 piece
BMW K100RT (1985) sitting in the garage, pleading to be serviced and ridden
Yamaha FJ600 (unknown year, bought it while TDY) sold in 1 piece
Honda CL350 (197?) sitting in the garage....blah, blah
Harley-Davidson XL883R (2002) Looking good and Buelisized on the inside. 18K in one year, 11 months, parts vibrated off all along the road.
BMW R1100SBX (2002) Got it after a guy almost totalled me and the Sportster when he ran a stop sign. 20k in the last 17 mo even riding the Sportster too (avg 3k/mo when the Sportster was still in the shop). Vanderlinde, K&N, Metzler M1's, Carbon Fiber (did anyone realize that carbon fiber and money are mutually exclusive? you can only have one or the other at the same time, dunno, must be a law of physics or something.) I keep asking, if this is the perfect bike....then how come I keep pouring money into it? :)

[Cliffy777]

First ride was a mini-bike that burned my leg with its muffler. (What? Shorts are a bad idea on two wheels?)
Borrowed a buddies Kaw 350 for a few days when I was 18.
Week later I bought a Honda 750 w/Windjammer and toured the US of A from MI to AZ on the Southern route out, Northern back.
SOld that in Arizona a year or so later.
Next up was a Kawasaki dual sport (250 cc??). Great little commuter bike and I enjoyed riding out of town, getting on a trail for a while and coming home on the pavement. (Speaking of which my new screen saver is the KLR 650 'cuz I couldn't afford the Rockster AND a GS......well, maybe.)
Then I bought another Honda 750. (Hey they were bulletproof and I am not mechanically inclined.)
Didn't ride for a while. Bought the 2001 BMW R1100RL in July '01.
Took it in for the 12k service in July '03 and "test drove" the Rockster for 500 miles or so. Bought it.
Me n the Rockster got a thing going on - love it.

[dbrick]

1955 R50
1960 R50
1959 R69
1964 R69S
1983 R65
1986 FJ1200 (I just *hated* it, and sold it 13 days later)
1988 K75S
1996 R1100RSL

I should be a BMW commercial.

[knary]

Originally posted by dbrick
1955 R50
1960 R50
1964 R69
1966 R69S
1983 R65
1986 FJ1200 (I just *hated* it, and sold it 13 days later)
1988 K75S
1996 R1100RSL

I should be a BMW commercial.

You are a BMW commercial.
:)

[dbrick]

:D

[Rad]

1966 Honda S90
1968 Yamaha DT1 250
1970 Honda CB450
1974 Honda CB550 4
1970 Yamaha 650
1976 Honda 750 F
1980 Honda CX 500
1996 BMW R1100RS
1999 BMW R1100S
1994 Honda 750 VFR
1974 Norton Commando, still own
2001 BMW R1150GS, still own
2001 KTM 640 Adventure, still own

[DarrylRi]

1981 BMW R65
1985 BMW R80
1994 BMW R1100RS
1961 BMW R60/2
1975 BMW R90S
1941 BMW R12
1953 BMW R51/3
2002 BMW R1150RS

Not only am I a commercial, but I'm regressing, too.

[fish]

In order of purchase (as best I can remember, anyway):

196x Honda 50 step-through
1976 Puch Maxi
1972 Yamaha CS3 200
1973 Yamaha RD350
1975 Yamaha RD350
1977 Yamaha XS400
1976 Yamaha RD400
1981 Yamaha Seca 550
1982 Yamaha XJ650
1985 Yamaha FJ1100
1997 BMW R1100RT
1999 BMW R1100RT
2000 BMW R1150GS (still own)
1999 Triumph Speed Triple
2000 BMW K1200LT
2002 BMW R1150RT (still own)

[Ron_B]

In order: (roughly)

Yamaha 125 twin
My first bike in 1968. Like the "twin jet", but with a tube frame.

Honda CB160

Suzuki 250 X6 Hustler
Actually my brothers, but I rode it way more than he did. (sometimes with his permission:) )

Harley Davidson Sportster.
An early sixties model, it had the shift lever on the right.

Yamaha 125
A baby DT1, my introduction to dirt bikes.

Maico 250.
An antique, I think it was about a 1954 model.

Bultaco 125 "Sherpa S"
My introduction to moto-cross, a really fun bike. Gracias Senor Bulto!

Yamaha 250 MX
The first of two years between the DT1 and the YZ.

CZ 250
A nightmare to keep running, had more DNFs than finishes. (dang commie bike)

Honda 250 Elsinore.
Didn't corner like the CZ, but nicer in the whoopdies, and I finished every race I entered.

Honda XL 350 "thumper"

Honda 750 "four"

BMW R65, 1982

Honda Ace Tour
Thought I'd try something different, rode a short time then returned to conventional riding style. Nice bike, though.

BMW K1100LT, 1994

BMW R1100RT, 1999
Zoom!

[jgr451]

1970 Bonneville in 1971.Someone stole it.

1968(?) Honda Dream,305 twin;or was that called a Super Hawk?Very powerful and durable.It looked like a pony.

GF had a kawi 350 triple,ring a ding.Nice little bike.

kawi 650(borrowed).

Moved to BC,Honda CB 650 went like stink in a straight line but had an alrming shimmy in the curves.

Honda XL 250.Gave it to my son.Someone stole it from him!!

1971 R75/5,1994 to 2000.Had to make way for my present ride,1984 R100RT.

I also have a 1978 Kawi KZ 1000,intact but not running.

[JWH]

1966 Harley 65cc(looked like a girls bike)
1970 Yamaha mini enduro
1969 Kawasaki 90
1972 Kawasaki 90
1970 DKW 125
1975 Hodaka 125
1977 Honda 400
1979 Honda 750-4
1976 Triumph 750
1980 Yamaha YZ 125
1983 Suzuki PE 185
1995 Triumph 900
2002 Yamaha V-MAX
2003 BMW k1200 LTE

[MCMXCIVRS]

Geez, I feel like such an under achiever looking at those long lists of bikes some of you have owned. I've been riding street bikes for 21 years and have only owned three. My first was a 1975 Honda CB500T. I rode that one for about a year and a half. Then I got my first job that paid well, so the first thing I did was buy a brand new Honda V45 Sabre with the HondaLine Sport Fairing. I later added the hard cases to it. I rode that bike for 11 years totalling over 80,000 Km. Thats when my buddy decided to sell his 94 R1100RS which he bought new and had only ridden 6000 Km. I had always wanted to have a BMW, so I jumped at the opportunity. Prior to the new Oilhead engine, my favour had always fallen to the K bikes. I had really wanted a K75s, but had never had the funds to buy one. I had ridden this RS once the year before (I think he was trying to set the hook, knowing he wanted to sell it) so I new I liked it. It was just three years old then and just bairly still under warranty. I am still riding it and it now has 85,000 km. I don't plan to replace it any time soon either. I'm more of a buy and hold type.

Of course these are only the street bikes that I've owned. My youth was dedicated to several motorcyle like contraptions. I had a couple of those litlle kit mini bikes that used a Briggs & Scrap-iron engine. I graduated from those up to a Suzuki 50cc two stroke trail bike (can't recall the model now). It was a bad trade. I finally got it running, but soon discovered the oil injector was non functional. The motor stuck on my first ride:cry My next bike was actually a Honda ATV, back when they only had three wheels (amazing that I lived to tell about it riding such a dangerous thing). That was the last of the off road variety that I owned, but I put many hours in riding (crashing) my dad's Honda XL 80 as well.

[davelaverty]

I posted this to another list and got a request to repost it here. I was not aware of this forum, but am now... Anyway here are links to the pics of my current bikes:

450 Rebel http://home.mchsi.com/~heart_of_iowa_bmw/picpages/dsc00035.jpg

750 & Sidecar
http://home.mchsi.com/~heart_of_iowa_bmw/picpages/hondavel.jpg
Frog R100/7 http://home.mchsi.com/~heart_of_iowa_bmw/picpages/frog.jpg

K1100LT http://home.mchsi.com/~heart_of_iowa_bmw/picpages/k-bike.jpg

I don't have the pic of my 400 posted yet.

Dave L.
Iowa

[MarkF]

1981 Suzuki SP500 bought new in 1983
dual purpose bike with kick starter.

one year without a bike, got married.

1983 Suzuki GS450L bought new in 1985
cheap return to riding.

1984 Moto Guzzi V65SP bought new in 1986
my baby! loved this bike. rode it to rallies.
had BMW envy so I sold it. big mistake!

Year? BMW R75/6 bought, restored and sold
a basket case, sold the vetter fairing to pay
for the repaint and replace. rode it and hated it.
broke even when I sold it.

Year? Kawi KLR600 bought used
was my only ride while fixing up the BMW.
faulty rear shock with no aftermarket then.

several years with no bikes. was into fishing.
bought a boat. my sons were born.

1997 Suzuki GSF600 Bandit bought used in 1999
I was getting closer to 40 and my sons told me
to buy it after seeing it at the dealer. my test ride
was first time on a bike in over 5 years. OK!

2000 BMW R1100RL bought new in 2000 and
still riding! Ordered this bike and had to wait
for one to come it. non-ABS bikes sell fast.

Sold the Bandit a year later. Didn't need two bikes.

MarkF

[oldcarkook]

1968 Triumph 650 Bonneville (my 1st) 3 hrs of maintenance time = 1 hr riding time

1970 Honda CL350 Scrambler (my 2nd) Dirt, street, it did it all and never complained. I was bit hard on shift forks though.

1995 Suzuki DR350 (my 3rd) - Old faithful still going strong in the woods

1996 Honda XR70 (son 1st) - I look like a bear in a circus on this thing.

1996 BMW R 1100 RT (my 4th) - I look like a bear in a circus on this thing too! lol

2001 Honda XR200 (son 2nd bike) - Not enough snap for my needs.

Now if you want to consider four wheel closed cab rides, that's a horse of a different color.



NO QUADS EVER! I HATE QUADS!

[Spider]

Started on a 1952 Simplex Servi-cycle which I bought used for $90 in 1955. Rode it for about two years, and can't remember what happened to that bike.

Then there was a gap of almost 40 years until I took the MSF course in 1994 and bought a new 93 Honda Nighthawk 750. Progressed to a 96 Kawasaki GPZ-1100, a 98 BMW R1100RS which I sold in 2000 when I was transferred to the Middle East by my oil company employer. Returned home in 2001, and bought a R1100RL, but didn't have much time to ride, and sold it a year later. Took early retirement about a year ago (kicked myself for selling the Roadster!). Finally settled on a 94 Pearl Silver R1100RS which I took delivery on about a week ago.

[mthelmet]

1st bike 1961 NSU 250 CC new 1961
2nd bike 1939 HD purchased 1964
3rd bike R69S 600 CC purchased 1966
4th bike 1971 R75/5 purchased 1971 new Rode for 1013**miles
5th bike 1967 R27 purchased 1973 as a bike for wife to learn on
6th bike 1974 R90/6 purchased 1984 w/113000 +miles Rode until Sept. 1999 Retired with 192000 +mile being estored.
7th bike 2000 K1200 LTC Canyon Red. has 31000 + mile.

I started to ride a age 15 wike in High school. My main ride until I bought the NSU w/OPB's ( other peoples bikes).

As of today I have ridden over 250,000 mile on BMW 's.:clap :clap

[gary442]

OK..here's my list...started riding in 1978....during some years I have owned more than one bike at a time ( didn't make the wife too happy):

1974 Honda CB500
1978 HondaCB750
1980 HondaCBX
1981 Suzuki GS850
1982 HondaCBX
1982 Suzuki GS1000
1983 Suzuki GS750
1984 Yamaha Seca Turbo
1984 HondaInteceptor 500
1986 HondaCB1100
1984 Yamaha Seca Turbo ( yes, I did own two of these)
1989 Yamaha FJ1100
1993 BMW K1100RS ( Current Ride)

[davelaverty]

My wife is happier now that I'm down to 5 bikes...:brow

Dave L.
Iowa

[Cliffy777]

Gary, after owning multiple jap bikes what put you on a beemer?

[kbasa]

Originally posted by Dave L.
My wife is happier now that I'm down to 5 bikes...:brow

Dave L.
Iowa

'fess up, Dave.

Whaddyagot?

[BMWRider]

1973 Suzuki GT550
1976 Kawasaki KZ750 verticle twin
1980 Kawasaki KZ750 inline four
1993 Honda GL1500
1996 BMW R1100RT
1999 BMW K1200LT
2002 BMW R1150GS

[R100RS]

1968 Kawasaki A1SS (2-stroke)
1988 BMW R100RS

For all practical purposes, the BMW is my first and only bike. The Kaw was my dad's old bike that I rescues out of his garage after 20 years of sitting idle. I semi-restored it (got it to working order) and then bought the BMW. The Kaw had a tag for less than a month when I switched it to the BMW. I then let the Kaw sit for a few years and sold it.

[crvalley]

Couldn't resist this one either...Although not as lengthy as some, here is my motorcycle history:

The year indicated is the year of the bike...

1) Honda MR 50 '74? (Learned how to ride on this one, age 9)

2) Yamaha DT 100 '76? (Still learning, age 12)

3) Honda FT 500 '84 (First road bike)

4) Yamaha Seca 750 '82 (First fast road bike)

5) Suzuki GS500E '89 (Bought it on a whim)

6) Honda CB550K '77 (Sold it to a motorcycle messenger)

7) BMW R80S '86 (First BMW. Originally an RT, but the prior owner tipped it over in his garage, then had BMW reconfigure it into the "S" mode)

8) BMW K1200RS '98 (Current ride. Just purchased used)

[Hacksaw]

71 Honda SL70
72 Suzuki TC125 Prospector
74 Suzuki TS400 Apache (loved that bike)
81 Honda CB900 Custom
82 Honda XL185S (dad/sons bike)
00 Honda XR100R (sons bike)
98 BMW R1100GS (current ride)
01 Kawasaki 250 Ninja (sons current ride)

[kbasa]

1969 Honda SL90
1977 BMW R75/7
1982 CB750F
1983 R100RS
1988 K75C
1998 VFR800
1999 R1100S

Over on Tina's side of the house:

1975 CB400F
1990 K75S
1994 R1100RSL (slowly becoming mine)
2002 R1150R

We like Bikes.

[Greg]

Okie Dokie,
In order of ownership.

66 Honda Trail 90 (the one with the overlay sprocket)
74 SX 650 Yamaha (loved that bike)
7? Macio 400 AW (first of the long travel dirt bikes)
76 TT500 Yahama (actually raced this)
78 R100S (smoke red, the fast color)
7? CT70 Honda (Wish I still had it)
96 R1100GS (should have NEVER sold this bike)
00 H-D FXDX (Fun while it lasted)
02 R1150GS (Still have)
03 K1200RS (Still have)
04 KTM 950 Adv (Still have and the most fun in the stable)

Never owned an Italian bike, thinking about it :evil

Greg

[speed reed]

The first six bikes I owned between 1970 and I think 1978. The last two I've owned from 1998 to present.

First bike 250 Suzuki Savage 1970 painted it fluorecent lime green, on the can it said improved visibility 400 percent. Wow! Also had fluorecent orangre army boots. No excuse.

Second bike 650 Triumph Trophy my favorite until now. It reminds me of my GS in a way.

Third bike 1965 Triumph Bonneville restored it and later sold it. The guy that bought it chopped it. Man!

Fourth bike a Rickman with a nickel plated frame. Nice trail bike for the time.

Fifth bike was 250 Yamaha trail and street. So so.

Sixth bike 1971 Electra Glide trimmed it down stroked it to a eighty four cubic inch. Could lay a hell of a patch but was a piece of crap other wise.

In 1978 a guy had his right turn singal on and I passed him on the left well he turned left. I was on the Harley. To make it a short story I got about a third of my left foot ground off after it ground my work shoe off. My foot was wedged between the car tire and the pavement after I was nocked off the bike. Thirty seven days in the hospital, four operations, two hundred and ninety six shots of demoral (WOW!) I kept my foot and leg. Got married to the girl I was dating at the time. We had a kid raised him ( did get him a trail bike at thirteen) and did not ride for twenty two years on the street except on some borrowed friends bikes.

Seventh bike Honda 200 trail bike. Still have it and use it to get around the farm with the boy on his Honda 100 which he has out grown. I told him no need to upgrade while away at college.

Eighth bike r1150gs purchased in October 2003 after a quite warm discussion with my wife. Man! I've been having a great time on my new bike and my wife is now riding with me.



Reed:clap

[cruisin]

All right, Reed. Your response was just the thing I was hoping to see when I started this thread, a chance to sort-of get to know others through their history with bikes. I realize that not everyone has a story or maybe they do and just prefer not to tell them, but I think this type of thing makes the internet boards more of a close-knit community rather than a such sterile, and annoymous place.

touche'

[speed reed]

Hey Cruisin,

Worked on a off shore tug boat in Sabine Pass Texas in the mid seventies. Road the 650 Triumph Bonniville around there at that time.




Reed

[cruisin]

Not real familiar with Sabine Pass, the closest I have ever been to there is eastern Houston. Sabine Pass is about 700 miles from where I live now. I am thinking about driving the longest highway in Texas next summer sometime. It is State Highway 83 that is approx. 900 miles, runs north of Perryton and ends somewhere around Brownsville. Kinda puts in perspective the old saying, "the sun has ris, the sun has set and here I is in Texas yet." :bliss :dunno :bliss

[speed reed]

Well this is a picture of my first BMW took me forever to get it posted! Hell it took me forever to be able to afford my first BMW. Actually not a bad price these days. Yet everything costs to much these days.

Reed:clap

[speed reed]

:p Well since I showed you a picture of my first BMW heres one of me and my first wife (and only). A name with a face. I like to see who I'm talking to.

Reed:brow

[cruisin]

That's cool; here I am on August 1, 1971 in Questa, NM the day before climbing Pikes Peak in Colorado.

[cruisin]

And then 30 years later on August 1, on my way to the Colorado Beemers 100,000 foot ride.

[gary442]

After owning Jap Bikes for mucho years , I wanted something different...as I also own a BMW car...I started to look at BMW bikes and liked what I saw....most impressive is the resale value of a 10 year old BMW bike vs. Jap bike...huge difference...the market always knows best..lastly, I wanted something different than what the other 99% ride.

[rottenbiker]

in order but not sure of yrs earlier ones
70's Kawasaki 90 (1st bike)
70's Kawasaki KZ400 (was run over by tractor and manure speader)
70's Honda 400(couldn't get out of it's own way)
550 Kawasaki LTD (wasn't bad)
79 R65 (yeah my 1st Beemer finally)
75 R90s (rearend by lady on way to work in W. Va as i was about to ride Skyline Drive)
76 R90s (loved the 1st one so bought a second)
73 R75/5 ( rode for about 10,000 miles)
R90/6 ( bought, and then traded for car)
82 Goldwing (looked like a good deal)
1200 HD Sportster (BIG mistake)
1340 HD Dyna Lowrider (bigger mistake)
'99 R1100sa ( still riding, many miles, and lovin it still!!!!)
'98 Panzer Tourister ( love the bike but for sale for house downpayment money)

[cruisin]

Originally posted by Visian
I gotta get to work, but couldn't resist replying to this. Just a list of models at this point, in order of purchase. Hopefully I'll get back later and fill in some details.

Honda Cub 50
Honda CL100
Honda SL100. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
BMW K1200RS


Ian

I'd sorta like to hear some of the details from that long list, there has got to be a good story or two in there somewhere.

klc

[Ironhorsecowboy]

I'll try to list em all! Some of these go back a while.

196x Honda cub 90 (1st bike with step thru and banana seat- rode a 100 foot circle in our yard -- 11 years old

197x Triumph Trophy 250 (13 yrs old-- paid $350 fixed a lot of mechanical things with help of Dad--Painted it myself- PURPLE METALFLAKE it was cool!

197x PUCH 175 dirt bike (very fast 2 stroke) 14-15 years old

1971 HD Sportster XLCH ( chopper with 6" extended front end a real custom bike for a 16 year old. Sold the Triumph and PUCH for the money) Had a lot of fun on this one.

1974 HD Shovelhead FLH (rode it 8 years) worked on it 8 years

1988 HD Lowrider FXRC ( built this bike to 96cubic inch-very fast V-TWIN) don't twist it unless you are ready

1994 SUZUKI KATANA (now fast was getting faster) still had the hog but what a different kind of ride!

2000 HD Electraglide FLHTCI ( two tone blk/red ) I broke my back 2 weeks after I got this bike in a work accident and didn't get to ride for 8 long months. Sold it in 2002

2003 K1200 LTC (1st beamer-titan silver) What can I say! I love all the features and with my bad back I needed an upright riding position with smoothness to keep riding as a lifestyle choice.

I could name 8-10 more cycles my son and I have had for dirt riding 4 wheelers and trail bikes.

I've got to add his 2002 SUZUKI GSXR1000 to this list.
This bike has been race modified and is by far the fastest freakin thing I have ever straddled. Dyno at 186 HP--wheelies are just a twist of the grip even in 4th gear. This is a 200 mph bike. Totally bad!!

:wave

[cruisin]

I've seen a Panzer mentioned a couple of times recently here and on another site. I am curuious to see what one looks like. Do you have any pictures?

[rottenbiker]

this is my Panzer Tourister (which by the way is for sale)

[cb4017]

Jeez, I'll try and go back from the present.
03 R1150RS
01 Buell M2
02 Sportster 883R (converted to 1200)
02 Kawa KLR 650
01 R1100S
9? Suzuki VX800
95 R1100RS
8? Yamaha XS650
8? Yamaha SR500
7? R50/5
76 Honda CB750
Kawasaki 175
Honda 305 Scrambler
Honda 305 Superhawk
Suzuki 80

This is in about 35 years of riding.

[Cliffy777]

Interesting progression of bikes.
But then I never trust anyone named Cliff, Cliff.
Sincerely,
Cliff

[427Cobra]

1. 1972 100cc Yamaha
2. 1974 350cc Yamaha (Sporster eater):)
3. 1974 650cc Yamaha
4. 1974 XLCH Sporster
5. 1968 500 BSA
6. 1972 650 Triumph
7. 1977 Superglide (new!) $3640.00
8. 1971 XLH 900cc Sporster
9. 1973 XLCH Sporster
10. 1965 Panhead (semi-rat) Yes, I miss this one
11. 1977 XLCR #427 Harley Cafe Racer (only made 2 years)
12. 1985 K100
13. 19?? R60/5
14. 1974 R75/6 (still own)
15. 1976 R100s
16. 1981 R100RS
17. 1985 K100RT (still own)

Meee that's all I can think of. Naturally I owned several at any one time and I know I've owned almost a dozen Harleys. Some of the Japanese bikes I don't remember. Total miles... I'd say between 175,000 and 200k total. The '65 Panhead was sweet.

Mike

[kbasa]

Those XLCRs are cool. I liked them when they were new and still think they're pretty cool.

If I could find an XR750.......

[cruisin]

Eric, those pics took forever to download on my old slow dial-up system, (it's all that is available out in the boonies where i live), BUT well worth the wait. I especially love the shot of the K100. Really cool history, I would bet there are some good memories and stories that go along with each of those rides.

[Cliffy777]

The K-1 is still one hot looking bike IMHO. How did it ride?

[427Cobra]

Eric,
I like the "Guzzi"! Always wanted one (of some flavor). Humm... ebay? R100RT yes! Nice bikes and pictures.

Mike

[MarkF]

Originally posted by KBasa
Those XLCRs are cool. I liked them when they were new and still think they're pretty cool.

AGREED!

I love the XLCR and my first lusted for bike was the XR1000 I saw at the 85 or 86 Motorcycle Show.

As far as Moto Guzzis I have always loved the Lemans of the 70's and 80's. Would love to have one of all four models plus a V7 Sport.

DAMN! I wish I never sold my V65SP.

MarkF

[MarkF]

Originally posted by Eric Blume
Hey MarkF,
I have a Lady Friend who has a V65SP and due to having a recent child probably has no use for it. It has been sitting in their garage unused for a few years. Do you want me to inquire?

Do I get finders fee?:)

Are you kidding? My BMW is already killing my marriage. Another Guzzi would be the final straw!

MarkF

[lorazepam]

Hey Eric,
My G/F may be interested in the Guzzi. She wants to get started riding, and That would be a good bike for her to tour on, and I could ride it till she is ready for it:D

[Kenn45]

My first bike was a '64 Honda Dream 150. A friend bought a matching bike and we took them from Detroit through Ohio, Pennsylvania, up state New York, across the 1000 Islands bridge and back through Canada. Quite an adventure at that time with bikes that size. My second was supposed to be a '65 BSA Lightening. I went to the dealer with cash in hand and saw it sitting on the floor. It was beautiful with glossy paint, chrome, and a drip pan. Sitting in the back looking lonely was a R50/2. It was love at first sight and I rode her home. I sold her when I joined the AF and headed for Viet Nam. Next was a '70 Honda CB 350, which I sold in the fall of '71 when I headed for Germany the first time. Twenty-five years later it was my current '96 R1100R.

[cruisin]

Kenn, thank you for getting this thread back on track. I'll bet that long trek on the 150 was pretty exciting.

[Harv Read]

At age 15 (1958) I bought a 1947 Triumph 5TA ex-flat tracker, laying on it's side in the mud behind a barn, tran. all blown to Hell, for $42. My Dad only let me get it 'cause he knew I'd never get it running... Boy, was he wrong.
First BMW was a new 1963 R60, didn't keep it long 'cause I was too young for it. Came back to BMW in 1974 (R75/6) and the rest is history.
Aprox. 46 bikes of many brands, more than 400k BMW miles, plus 200k on brands BSA through Yamaha.:brow

[ScottM]

Have only owned two motorcycles:

First was a 1968 Honda sport 90. Bought it new with summer work money. Rode the wheels off it and passed it on to my younger brothers. I think it was still running is 1980.

Second is my present ride, 2002 R1150R.

In between rode anything and everything anyone would let me. Probably the scariest was a 250 Ossa back in the late '70s. Thing only had two speeds, on and off, and 6 gears that all sounded the same. :eek

Had a friend who drove a BMW to and from work years ago and swore I'd soon have one. Got to the point where I just had to do it. Heard of so many folks climbing past 50 and having a long list of regrets. I've eliminated one big one.:clap

[cruisin]

Originally posted by ScottM
Have only owned two motorcycles:

First was a 1968 Honda sport 90. Bought it new with summer work money. Rode the wheels off it and passed it on to my younger brothers. I think it was still running is 1980.

Second is my present ride, 2002 R1150R.

In between rode anything and everything anyone would let me. Probably the scariest was a 250 Ossa back in the late '70s. Thing only had two speeds, on and off, and 6 gears that all sounded the same. :eek

Had a friend who drove a BMW to and from work years ago and swore I'd soon have one. Got to the point where I just had to do it. Heard of so many folks climbing past 50 and having a long list of regrets. I've eliminated one big one.:clap

Chalk up one more guy who has one less thing on his "I wish I had done. . . " list. Good for you Scott.

[Motoclass]

'66 Ducati 160 Monza Jr.
'67 BSA Victor 441
'71 Honda SL350
'71 Suzuki TM250
'72 Honda CB450
'73 Suzuki TM400 <
'73 Suzuki GT750 Water-pumper <
'75 Kawasaki 900 Z-1 <
'74 Suzuki RM370
'80 BMW R100S <
'83 BMW R100RT <
'75 BMW R90/6*
'59 BMW R26
'68 BMW R50/2
'66 Triumph T100 500
'52 BMW R51/3
'78 BMW R80/7
'81 BMW R80GS
'88 BMW K100RS
'63 BSA A65 650*
'55 Matchless G9B 550 Twin*
'68 Gilera 124*
'55 BSA C11G 250*
'72 Honda CB450*
'68 Ducati 350SCR*
'88 BMW K75C
'66 Ducati 250*
'81 Honda XL350*
'67 Triumph T100 500*
'00 Ducati M900 Monster*
'92 BMW K75RTA*
'72 BMW R75/5*

I went through a period when I thought BMW's were the only motorcycles made, well... they aren't!
I will say though, that of all of them, the overall sweetest bike I ever owned was the '68 R50/2, and the one I've owned the longest is the '75 R90/6 purchased in 1985.
(* denotes still in possession of; < denotes purchased new)
:help

[kbasa]

Holy moly. Quite a collection you've got there, Chris. You riding them all to the rally?

:D

[ScottM]

Chris,

You still have twelve bikes? I can't imagine! I have heard these things tend to reproduce, I can see you haven't yet to find the cause.:D

[kbasa]

Chris,

Send pictures.

:D

dave

[knary]

Originally posted by speed reed
:p Well since I showed you a picture of my first BMW heres one of me and my first wife (and only). A name with a face. I like to see who I'm talking to.

Reed:brow

We need a "Best Beard" thread.

Nice to meet you Reed. :wave

[cruisin]

. . . when I first saw that list, I thought I was reading a dealer inventory sheet. I counted 32 in all--and you still own 12? I would love to see some pictures of the R90 and the CB450 Honda. My old '72 Honda 450 gave me a lot of great memories. Any good stories to along with any of those past and present rides?

[BMWRider]

I thought I'd replied to this already ... but maybe not.


1973 Suzuki GT550
1976 Kawasaki KZ750-Twin
1980 Kawasaki KZ750-Four
1993 Honda GL1500 Gold Wing Interstate
1996 BMW R1100RT
1999 BMW K1200LT
2002 BMW R1150GS

[deilenberger]

Somehow I missed this first pass - thanks to iRene for bringing it back to the surface..

Bikes:
------
1970? Hodaka 90cc (Red/Chrome)
1973 Hodaka 125 Wombat (Red/Chrome) (New)
196? Harley Davidson 250 Sprint (Silver/Black)
1970 Triumph 650 Tiger (Black)
???? Hodaka 100CC Ace (Red/Chrome)
and a number of other Hodaka's that came and went - loaners for friends.
1974 Norton Commando 850 Mk-III (white/red/blue) (New)
1979 BMW R65 (Brown, then black)
1985 BMW K100RT (Burgandy) The original FYK..
1987 BMW K75S (Black) "THE K75S"
2004 BMW R1150RS (Creme/Gray)
2007 BMW R1200R (Black w/white pinstripes) (New)

Now cars.. that's a much longer story..

http://www.eilenberger.net/CarList/Carlist.htm

[Gilly]

Short but sweet:
75 Kawasaki S3A 400 triple 2 stroke
75 Kawasaki H2C 750 triple 2 stroke (did an MSF ERC with it!)
87 BMW K75S
08 HD Fat Bob
07 K1200GT

All gone except the last one.

Gilly

[crazydrummerdude]

Never sold one:

'82 Yamaha XT125 - first bike we all learned to ride on. It's so slow and beat up it feels like riding a sponge. (It was running when we got it.)

'80 Honda XL125 - my brother traded a lawn mower for it. I remember thinking it was scary. It's my current project. (It was running when we got it.)

'74 BMW R75/6 - traded lawn care for it. it's been my daily rider for 5 years now. (It sat for 25 years before I got it.)

'01 Yamaha WR400 - essentially the most perfect motorcycle. Ever. I love it. Some guy tried to steal it from our shed by cutting the locks off with a concrete saw. (It was running when we got it.)

'78 Suzuki DS100 - I responded to an ad on craigslist for a free lawnmower. This was propped up against the shed. It needed a new gas tank, and still needs a new carb, but I've ridden it around a bit regardless. (It sat for a few decades before we got it.)

'74 BMW R90/6 - bought straight-up from the previous lawncare customers. (It sat for about 25 years before I got it.)

'78 Suzuki GS750 - I am the caretaker of this bike for my friend while she learns to get comfortable with riding. She got a heck of a deal on it and it's in near mint condition. I've ridden it about 150 miles. (It was running when we got it.)

'86 Yamaha BW80 - Some guy drove up to our shop and asked if we worked on motorcycles. We said yes, so he invited us to his house a block away. We left with the motorcycle. It had obviously been under water/mud for a long time, and the crankcase was full of mud. $7 and some work later, and we were riding it around. It could use a new carburetor. (It had been in a flood and not running when we got it.)

[jforgo]

1966 Honda S90
1974 Honda CB550K
1973 Honda CB500K
1974 Honda CB550K
1979 Yamaha XS750F
1980 Yamaha XS1100G
1982 Suzuki GS450EZ
1982 Yamaha XJ650RJ Seca
1976 Honda CB400F
1984 BMW R65
1980 BMW R100RT
1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport
1982 BMW R100RT
1982 BMW R100RS

Only the Germans remain...

[32232]

"Extra" bikes: (not including parts bikes)
1934 BSA B34-2
1956 Ariel Huntmaster
1956 Ariel Colt
1956 BMW R50
1968 Triumph TR25W trials special
1969 BSA Lightning
1972 Ducati 750GT
1972 BMW R75 with Avon fairing and Craven bags
2005 Honda CRF230F with Dakar dual sport kit

"Primary" bikes
1975 Honda CB200T
1977 Suzuki GS400B
1981 Suzuki GS650G
1984 BMW R100
1986 BMW K75C
1997 BMW F650
2001 BMW R1150R

Current bikes:
2009 Moto Guzzi V7 Classic
2007 BMW F800ST
2006 Triumph Scrambler
1972 DKW 125MC

[98098]

Also short but sweet;

1982 Kawasaki KZ550, supertrapp and koni's (sold)

1988 Honda NX650 (sold)

1973 BMW R75/5 Toaster in Curry Orange

1990 BMW k75t paint code 666

[Weasel]

1964 Suzuki M31 55 cc
1975 BMW R60/6
2003 BMW R1200 CLC

I'd love to find a used M31, but they all seem to have gone to Suzuki heaven...

[kgadley01]

Hope I don't forget any...
1967 Honda S90
1965 Harley M50
1970 Honda 350 (new)
1971 Honda 175 Scrambler
1972 Yamaha 650
1972 Kawasaki H2 750 :bolt
1974 Yamaha 250 Enduro
1977 Yamaha IT 250
1981 Yamaha XS 650 (new)
1982 Yamaha Seca 750 (new)
1982 Honda CBX (new)
1986 Harley Super Glide (new)
1988 Harley 883 Sportster
2004 Harley Electra Glide
1988 BMW R100RS
1999 BMW R1100RT

[Greenwald]

1981 Suzuki GS550L

1989 Honda PC800 Pacific Coast

2000 Harley-Davidson RoadKing (Motor Officer Duty) *

2001 Suzuki Marauder 800

2001 Harley-Davidson RoadKing (Motor Officer Duty)

2002 Suzuki Volusia 800

2002 Harley-Davidson RoadKing (Motor Officer Duty)

2003 Honda VTX 1800R

2003 Harley-Davidson RoadKing (Motor Officer Duty)

2004 Harley Davidson RoadKing (Motor Officer Duty)

2005 BMW R1200RT (44,000 miles so far!)

2005 Harley-Davidson RoadKing (Motor Officer Duty)

2006 Harley-Davidson RoadKing (Motor Officer Duty)


* The police department I worked for leased a brand new H-D every year, which as senior motor officer, I had the 'honor' of breaking in; each year, I road the H-D's about 3 - 4,000 miles on patrol duty as well, putting in about 25,000+ miles on seven different Harleys.

[jdmetzger]

1978 R80/7
1993 R100GSPD

Wow, that took a while. :p

[kgadley01]

1978 R80/7
1993 R100GSPD

Wow, that took a while. :p

You eather got a late start, are very young, or keep your bikes a long, long time.:laugh

[AKBeemer]

Two Hondas.
One each Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Triumph.
Currently have BMWs 5 and 6 of the 6 I've owned.

[cgragg]

My 1st bike was a honda trail 90 in 1969 Then a SL 70 & XL250 Honda
Can-am 175
Can-am 250
Can-am 400
CR 250 Honda x 4
CR 500 Honda X 3
IT 175 Yamaha
350 Honda 3-wheeler
350 Honda 4-wheeler
Suzuki Quad-Racer 250
V-65 Honda
500 Suzuki-? Street Bike
Harley Heritage Soft Tail
R6 Yamaha
4oo Husaberg
Harley Road King (Screaming Eagle)
650 BMW Dakar 03:laugh:laugh:laugh
04 1150 RT
Harley Street Glide
05 K 1200 LT
07 R 1200 GS ( Still have)


No wonder I work 5 Jobs:drink:drink:drink:drink:drink

[AnnapolisAirhead]

1981 Honda CB750K (Candy Apple Red)
1976 BMW R90/6 (Monza Blue with white Krausers code #038)
1983 BMW R100 w/cargo trailer (Schwarz/Classic black code #162 )
1972 BMW R60/5 SWB Toaster (Feather White code #084)
2000 Ural Bavarian Classic sidecar (Black)

[Rebgen]

1972 Honda SL 70....mustard yellow
1974 Honda CB 360...forest green
1998 BMW R1200C....canyon red / current bike and lots and lots of miles left in it.

[ladyBmer]

in 1982- a Honda CB350, then on to...
Kawasaki 440LTD
Kawaski 750 LTD
Honda Silverwing
Honda Goldwing 1100
Honda Goldwing 1200
transferred to Germany and rode my first
BMW K100RT
back to the states ...
Triumph Trophy 1200
Suzuki 1500LC
Harley Road King, Triumph Thunderbird and Suzuki SV650
Harley Road Glide, Suzuki DL 650 (great bike!):nod
currently own and ride ...
08 R1200RT and DR650:dance

[35634]

1972 Honda SL 70....mustard yellow
1974 Honda CB 360...forest green
1998 BMW R1200C....canyon red / current bike and lots and lots of miles left in it.

HEY! I had a green CB360T too. When it ate it's cam chain tensioner I rebuilt the engine in our apartment bedroom. Blew the doors off a 911 up to 60 then he smoked me. God, what a pos bike with great memories. The guy I sold it to eventually pushed
it off a cliff into the Pacific.

[68820]

First bike I ever rode was a friend's new 1973 Yamaha 100. Stalled it in a field since I had no clue how the brakes or clutch worked. I was 11-years-old.

1980 Vespa P200E < first bike (1985-1987)
1985 Vespa P150X < bought new, but not as good as the P200E (1987-1989)
1985 Suzuki Savage (LS 650) < first real motorcycle (1991-1993)
1984 BMW R100 < 30K in 3 years (1993-1996)
1972 Yamaha XS-2 (XS 650) < given to me by a friend (did more wrenching than riding)
1995 R1100GS < totalled by cager, 18K in 18 months (1996-1997)
1996 R1100R < 67K in 4 years (1998-2002) Oktoberfest bike
2001 K1200RS < 57K in 7 years (2002-2009) great Brick, reliable as a stone
2009 R1200GS < 5K+ in five months (2009- Test-rides are dangerous :)

I've had fewer cars in about twice the time:

1965 Plymouth Fury III convertible < sold before college (1978-1980)
1985 Saab 900 < truly a sob-story, glad ex-wife kept it (1985-1990)
1967 VW Beetle < bought when I sold the P150X (1989-1992)
1992 Toyota Corolla < great, simple transportation (1992-2003)
1994 Honda Civic < bought from sister-in-law (2003-2005)
2003 Acura TL < bought from parents (2005-

[wezul]

1973 Yamaha 125 Enduro
2000 Vespa ET4
2007 BMW R12RT
2007 BMW F800ST

Please note the slight gap between first and second bike. This is what happens when one listens to Mumsy. ("Those things are dangerous!!")

Feh!

[Rebgen]

HEY! I had a green CB360T too. When it ate it's cam chain tensioner I rebuilt the engine in our apartment bedroom. Blew the doors off a 911 up to 60 then he smoked me. God, what a pos bike with great memories. The guy I sold it to eventually pushed
it off a cliff into the Pacific.

Wow...my CB 360 had a watery death as well. I was 17 when it was stolen from my driveway and was eventually found my a county sheriff partially submerged in a river. Apparently it had been thrown off a bridge. With meager $$$ I was able to get it running again but it was never the same.

Like you...lot's of good memories.

[535is]

Real short ownership list:

1986 Honda Shadow 500 from June 1, 1990 to April 1997
1995 Honda Shadow 600 VLX April 1997 to June 2007
1978 BMW R100RS Motorsport Edition June 2007 to now

Pretty short regular ridership list, too:

1982 Honda MB5 (temp period and rider's test; coupla' months in 1986)
1985 Honda Rebel (owned by wife & ridden by me since new in 1986)

A few 'swap' rides on brothers' bikes, including a Kawasaki KLR 650, a Suzuki 650 single (one brother has a weak spot for thumpers), a couple Honda CBRs, a 500 Interceptor, and a Bultaco 250 Metralla (!)

[88bmwJeff]

mid 70's Honda XL 70
mid 70's Honda XL 175
late 70's Vespa Moped (Ok not a true motorcycle, but it is a two wheeler)
1981± Honda 450 Nighthawk
1988 BMW R100 RT

I only have the RT in the stable

[tghsmith]

stars and stripes 3.5hp chopper mini-bike that my father bought me(mom didn't talk to him for a week)
1978 yamaha dt250, bought as soon as the snow melted when I left home
1975 honda cb400f when I learned a little more
198- kaw 440 traded something for it traded it off
1978 R100RS 3years 100k miles
19-- bultaco 250 someone gave me
1977 honda cb400f shoudn't have sold the first one(or this one)
1983 R100RS, hobbes, current ride don;t plan on getting rid of....

[BubbaZanetti]

1963 Vespa 90 - 1996/97
1980 Honda CB750 - 2004
1984 BMW R100 - 2004/05
1999 BMW R1100S - 2005-2009
1984 BMW R80ST - 2009

[Beemer01]

Honda Brown CB550 4 Cylinder (Sold)
1975 Black Honda 750SS 4 cylinder (Sold)
1985 Silver BMW K100RS
2003 Yellow R1150GS (Sold)

[Crow18]

1979 Kawasaki KZ440 LTD (1990-1994)

---hiatus---

1987 BMW K75 T (2005-present)
2007 BMW F650 GS (2007-present)

[mitch123]

Triumph bonneville '68 (my dads really)
'73 Yamaha 750 (orange, 2 cylinder)
xs400 Yamaha
Yamaha Virago
Yamaha xj650 Seca
Bmw '73 R750/5 (long wheel base)
Bmw '83 R800st
Triumph 800 bonneville '06 (current)
Bmw GS1100R '99 (current)

Loved them all...well..not the 73 yamaha..it was a PITA.

[PHMarvin]

196? NSU 250 - friend's who let me ride it in school
1969 450 Honda - while working for Uncle Sam
1970 750 Norton Commando
1972 Dunstall-Norton 810 Mk.II - great bike when I finally got it running well
1973 850 Norton
1976 R90/6 with dual discs and "S" fairing - never should have sold it!
1981 R100RT
1981 R65 - wife's
1984 R100RS - next-to-last USA spec bike before "no more R100 bikes"
1984 R100RS - wife wanted to ride previous bike, so I found this one
1977 R75/7 - rebuilt from basket case
1995 R100RT - wife's
1996 K1100LT
1995 K75RT - wife's - sold to her brother - bought it back in 2008
1995 K75 - wife's - now owned by Paul Glaves
1994 K75A/3 - wife's favorite - keeping for daughter now that wife is gone
1995 K1100LT - downed by a forest rat
1995 K75RTP

[PGlaves]

OK! Voni and I will play.

Hers:
1973 Yamaha RD250
2000 Yamaha TW200 *
BMWs:
1973 R60/5 **
1979 R65
1978 R80/7
1988 K75C
1988 K75C (not a typo - different bike)
1983 R80ST
1994 R1100RS *
1994 R1100RSL
1987 K75S
1991 K75S *
1997 F650 *
2000 R1100S *

His:
1958 Sears Allstate (Puch) 50cc Moped
1964 Yamaha 250 Scrambler
1973 Yamaha RD250
1977 Yamaha XS7502D
2003 Kawasaki KL250 Super Sherpa *
BMWs:
1966 R27 *
1973 R60/5 **
1975 R75/6
1984 R80 G/S
1988 R100GS
1985 K100
1995 K1100LT
1986 K75T
1997 F650 *
1995 K75/2 *
1995 K75RTP *
2003 R1150R *

* = still own

** = only bike we both have owned so on both lists (R60/5)

[DARRYL CAINEY]

Well let's see how and if the brain cells are working:

1965 Honda Supercub "Nifty Fifty"
1968 BSA Starfire 250 High pipe, orange
1970 Kawasaki 500 Triple Mach III red
1971 Honda CB750 red
1972 Honda CB750 Converted to Full Dunstall kit 810cc red
1974 Rickman Honda CR750 stock at first, full house Yoshimura later, orange
1979 Honda CBX with Euro spec low bar kit red
1980 Suzuki GS1000S blue / white
1982 Honda FT500 Ascott red
1979 Honda CB750F black
1984 Yamaha FJ1100 red / white
1977 BMW R100RS bought with 68,000 miles, now has 471,000 miles and counting! Blue then black then red!

Darryl

[RevWillie]

The Bikes
1971-73 1972 Yamaha CS-5(200cc) POS: crankshaft ended up looking like a twisted Tootsie Roll :banghead
1974-83 1973 R/75/5 LWB RIP "Gertie" .. great first BMW-I can't find her bones.:violin
1983-86 1983 R80RT "Enterprise"...a parts bike second-time around-FOR SALE see Ambassador Bobby Pearson :thumb
1986-91 1986 K75T "Max" ..frame is a K75RS in FL and parts from it are in many Beemers:gerg
1991-99 1986 K75T "Sam"..now restored in the Triad Area (NC):bliss
1999-07 1996 R1100RT "Valdez"... now just itty-bitty parts all over Beemerland:bluduh
2007-09 2004 R1150RT "Ghost" ....the current ride:rofl

The Sidecars:
1964 R75/2 w/ '54 Steib LS200 (broke up by Bob's BMW:s/c to RI, mc to CO)
1977 R75/7 w/ '64 Watsonian ("Queen Mary" FOR SALE see Tom@Rennsport Motorrad):groovy

[35634]

Not so many.....

Honda 360T - cheap, buzzy, good 1st bike
Triumph 650 Bonnie - never got it to run right
BMW R65LS - slow SLOW SLOW
K75S - keeper

[azduc]

Lets see if I can remember all the bikes in my ocmd (obsessive compulsive motorcycle disorder).
I'll start with the current inventory;
2003 Aprilia Tuono
2007 BMW G650X Challenge
1965 Honda CB160-daily driver
1968 Honda CB175 sloper-Bonneville Salt Flats Racer
1966 Honda CB160-being restored
2005 Honda CRF70-kids
2003 Honda XR70-kids

The past-beginning in 1961;
Montgomery Wards mini bike
Ducati 350 Scrambler
1956 Harley Sportster-sold to friend when drafted, he still has it
1960 something Honda 305 Dream
1965 Triumph Bonneville
1966 Triumph TT
1968 Greeves 250 dirt bike
197? BSA 441 Victor
Hodaka Dirt bike
Honda CL350
1982 Yamaha Virago-put a lot of miles on this one
1962 HD FLH-tried to put a lot of miles on this one
198? Honda VFR500 Intercepter
1988 Honda Hurricane 600
Suzuki DR350
Honda XR250R
Kawasaki of one sort or another-go fast, get tickets type of bike
1973 1/2 BMW R75-Owned for 10 yrs, the one I wish I hadn't sold
1988 BMW K75S
1990 Suzuki Katana 750
1993 BMW GS/PD-kept for a number of years
1999 Ducati 996
1995 BMW R1100R, lot of miles added to this one
2000 Ducati Monster 750
1995 BMW R1100RS
2001 BMW F650GS
1993 HD Electra Glide
1999 HD Dyna FXRS-gained intimate knowledge of twin cam engine
2005 Suzuki V Strom 1000
2005 Triumph Bonneville T120
2007 BMW R1200GS
2000 Suzuki Bandit 600
1977 BMW R100RS

There have been others in the mix but these are the ones I recall. This has been a lifelong addiction and I hope to continue with the madness until my atoms disperse into the mix again. :brad

[wezul]

Wow! So many impressive lists.

Once again, so very late to the party.

[TBonesR1100]

As best I can remember in chrono order:

Suzuki TS90
Kaw KX250
Suz TS185
Yam XS400
Kaw GPz550
Hon CB750k
Hon VF500r Interceptor
Hon NT650 Hawk GT
Kaw ZRX1100

Current
Suz DRZ 125 (kids)
Hon XR70 (kids)
Hon CRF250x
BMW R1100s
HD XL1200s
Buell City X

[thompsonr]

5hp mini
19?? Brigstone 175
19?? Zundapp 250
1970 Honda SL350
1970 Honda CB 550
19?? Bultaco 175
1976 Honda 750F
1980 Honda Goldwing
19?? YZ 125
19?? YZ250
19?? IT 175
2 Honda Express
Honda Express II
Honda Urban Express
Yamaha Zuma
1985 K100RT
2000 R1100RT
2003 Kaw KLR 250
2009 GL1800
1983 R80RT

[iRene]

I'll dive in too, since I asked:

1982 R65- (1994) My learning bike. I wanted a K75S but was too smart to buy a new bike to make mistakes on.
After three years, sold it to another woman learning to ride, she now has her racing license.

1994 K75S- (1998) This was the bike I had wanted to buy new, a Dakar yellow one. BlackFly also had a
K75S, so we realized Garage Harmony, coordinating tire and parts purchases.
This was the bike I learned L-D touring on.

2002 R1150R- (2002) The Kbike hit the dreaded 80k mark, and my mechanic warned me the splines
were fixin' to blow. I had a big trip planned to Spokane, and so I moved on to my first showroom new
bike. With a low Staintune pipe and full size RT bags, it was a great touring machine.
It was blown out from under me by a stooopit soccer mom in 2006. It performed quietly, reliably and
competently, and I don't think I fully appreciated it.

2008 R1200GS- (2008) I have been thrilled with this bike. I have been discovering snowmobile trails here in Maine
and enjoying backroad access few will ever experience. All that, and it is a strong all-day highway
mile eater. And again, we have achieved Garage Harmony.

[glenfiddich]

Not so many here...

1970? Honda CT70 Mini Trail
1970s Hodaka Wombat -- wild ride!
1974 Honda XL350 -- my first venture onto pavement
1976 Honda CX-500
1978 Honda Hawk 400
1980? Yamaha DT175 -- light and fun
1970s Honda CB-750 -- I liked the old bikes until I test rode a
2007 Triumph Tiger 1050 -- Holy cow I didn't know it could be like this!
2007 BMW R1200GS (nicely farkled) -- My first grown up bike and, according to my accountant wife, the last bike I'm ever going to own

At least she had the grace to wait till I found the perfect bike before drawing the line! :thumb

[henzilla]

I think I posted some time back... decent list for 40 ish years of seat time...some on my butt time as well:banghead

I was going to add a Buell...guess I better hurry:nyah

[johnborsellino]

I started riding in 1984, and have owned the following bikes one at a time,

1973 Triumph Daytona
1979 Triumph Bonneville
1979 Honda CB750F
1980 Honda CBX
1979 Honda CB750K Police
1991 BMW R100R

[mark from maine]

1973 Yamaha DT 125 puchased as a leftover in early spring of 74. I was 15. I got my MC license on that bike that summer. That bike turned out to be some kind of social engagement tool, I got to meet all the local police officers that first riding season!

Next was a 1975 Honda MR 175 Elsinore enduro.
Next was a year unknown DT yamaha 175 Highly modified for slow technical riding.

Purchased a new 1976 Suzuki RM 125 motocross bike for $900 and raced it locally a few times that one season. I was a senior in high school and was able to get part of my high school physical ed credit by racing motocross.

Next year was a used Can Am 175 enduro that I kept several years.
The next few years I did not do a lot of riding. I was busy failing the 'Just say no to Drugs" campaign.

In 1982 when I was twenty four my buddies were buying road bikes. I wanted something different from everybody else so I purchased a used 1978 BMW R80/7. Spent the next several years continuing to fail the above mentioned campaign and did not ride much. In 1987 I started getting my life back together.Fixed up the neglected R-80 and started riding a lot. Joined the MOA. Inspired by what I had been reading in the MOA I decided in May of '89 to pack up my gear and headed west. And south. And north. Put on 17,100 miles in six weeks. Fell in love with this piece of real estate we call "The United States of America".

On Valentine's day of February in '89 I was feeling a little lonely and picked up a local weekly for sale-swap-trade magizine. Listed was an old BMW R-60/2. I had never seen one except in magazines. Made the call and went to look. Turned out it was an R-60,pre slash 2. She was sorely neglected but all there. I could tell she needed me. I lovingly spent the rest of that winter and spring restoring her. What a beauty. A joy to work on and a pleasure to ride.

Kept the R-80 til '93 when I purchase a used '90 GSPD from a member of MOA. Drove to New Jersey to to pick it up.

Could not keep away from the local sell-swap-trade magazine. Many bikes (mostly Hondas) passed thru my garage over the next few years.

Chronic back injury forced me to sell all the bikes in the late '90,s. The proceeds purchased the land I now live on.

Shortly after I found a wonderful Doctor that was able to help me with my back pain. Left her office one afternoon feelin good. Stopped by the local BMW dealer on the way home. Owned my first K bike an hour later. A '91 K-75S. Sold a year later and purchased a 90 K-75 RT. Bought from a MOA member near Pittsburg,PA. Drove out in the pickup. Stopped for the night on the way out at a PA state park. A nice family next site over invited me for supper. Started talking. Asked where I was going and why. Told them. They replied''FOR A MOTORCYCLE!??" I guess a fifteen hundred mile shopping trip seemed like a bit much to them. Oh well the home made pie was good.

After eleven years I still have the K-75RT. It has 87k miles. Due in large part to the tech help on this forum It has only been to the dealer once since I have owned it. I have taken it to the Rinebec,NY. Redmond, OR. Midland, MI. Huntington? WV and the Vermont MOA rallys.

I have loved motorcylces for as far back as my memory goes. In additon to being fun and exciting they are a form of therapy for me. Both riding and wrenching. They are a much needed diversion from work and all the responsibilities I have taken on in life. I think I could be happy with another brand but I would surely miss the MOA and RA people. For me the club members are the best part of the BMW experience. It is my privaledge to point to you folks and say" Aya, I'm with them.

I think it may have been Lawrence of Arabia who said it:
I thank you for your lives.

Mark from Maine

[gdwbeemer]

It's amazing how just lists of bikes owned by others can be so interesting. My list is smaller than most.

1963 Vespa 150
1964 Honda 150 Dream
1978 Honda CX 500
1982 Honda GL 500 I Silverwing - still own (I love that bike, owned since new)
2000 BMW R1100RT - still own (I love this bike too)

[Zygmund]

1967-Lil Indian (3HP B&S and a hot cam! Broke it in half!)
1972 CZ 250
1973 YZ 250
1975 MX 250B
1977 YZ 400
1978 Bultaco MK11 370 Pursang
1979 Bultaco MK12 250 Pursang (Still Have)
1980 RM400
1982 650 maxim
1983 750 maxim
1984 YZ490
1985 V65 Sabre
Children
2002 BMW R1150RT (Sold in '04 for some cabin cash)
2002 BMW R1150RT (Still had the goodies from the first one)
:hungover

[bunkyone]

Hey all; interesting post, lots of bikes, lots of experiance!! My first bike, bought while still in High school, was a '48 Harley panhead, well chopped, which tried to kill me on a regular basis for the year that I had it. The the Navy interfered with my riding. When I got out, I began a long and passionate affair with British bikes. Owned (by actual count) 30 of the buggers between '76 when I got out of the Navy until '89 when my ex-wife took the last four in the settlement. Rode a couple of Jap touring bikes for a few years, (CB900, GL1100, Valerie trike) and then bought the Beemer. Since then, I have added a BSA 250 and a Yamaha 750 with a sidecar. I guess that adds up to something like 37 bikes over a span of 30 years. Loved every one of them too!! Vaya con Dios, Dutch

[jamesdunn]

1964 Yamaha 55cc. (bought new)
1965 Yamaha Santa Barbara 125 cc. (new)
1966 Honda CB160. (new)
1967 Honda 350 Scrambler. (I am a little unsure of year, model AND displacement.) (used)
1973 Yamaha RD350. Bought this new during my service years. Pop goes the wheelie! (A fun midsize, midsize for 1973 anyway; crotch rocket.)

I did not own a motorcycle from 1973 until 2003. A thirty year break, but I never really quit riding, just rode on friends bikes when they'd allow it; I spent a huge amount of these years in the mountains skiing! Then I owned/own the following:
1987 K75T (used)
1992 K75S (used)
1994 R1100RSL (used)
1978 R100RS. (used)

Stay on the vertical, or some reasonable angle..
J. Dunn

[iRene]

Now that I see the lists, it is also interesting to me to see the "intermissions"
where some of us were
between bikes for long periods.
So as part of your lists of bikes If you don't mind us knowing...
Do tell why you were "bike unencumbered." Was it family responsibilities or budget constraints?
And again, if you don't mind saying, What brought you back?

[jamesdunn]

Now that I see the lists, it is also interesting to me to see the "intermisisons"
where some of us were
between bikes for long periods.
So as part of your lists of bikes If you don't mind us knowing...
Do tell why you were "bike unencumbered." Was it family responsibilities or budget constraints?
And again, if you don't mind saying, What brought you back?
Well, as I stated in my post I skied a lot during my thirty year absence. I still rode intermittantly on friends motorcycles and bicycled a bunch too. I became a rock climber and hiker, peak scaler, etcetera. I let other interests rule. Still, I always enjoyed a good ride aboard a motorcycle when I could scrounge a ride or borrow one for the infrequent long trip. (Yes, I had some trusting motorcycle owning friends.)
Upon moving to Iowa in 2003 to be near my young daughter, I was lookin' around for something to do and rediscovered motorcycling, one of my youthful passions. Six years and four bikes later ( two of 'em still reside in my garage) I am still two wheelin' it on a motorbike! A lot of miles and smiles since '03.

[mthelmet]

1. 1961 NSU Super Max 6000 miles
2. 1937/39 mixed parts HD 900 miles
3. 1962 R69S 35000 miles
4. 1971 R75/5 103000 miles
5. 1967 R27 500 miles
6. 1974 R90/6 95000 miles
7. 2000 K1200LTC 51000 miles only bike left.

The K bike is now 91/2 yrears old with only 51000, here is the problem is should have 90000, I guess I have to ride more.

But, with health problems and into my7 decade I will settle for what I can get.

:clap

[MWIECK]

My first encounter with a motorcycle was when I was about 10. My older brother borrowed a 250 BMW single (R26?) from a friend and he gave me a ride. Loved it! ( A cousin of mine later bought this bike and I did get to ride it). The first two motorized wheels I actually rode was a Doodle Bug that my same older brother had gotten from an uncle. The original mini bike. No suspension, small tires, little bit of brake,easily layed over on gravel, but it beat walking. For Christmas 1965, I talked my Dad into getting me a barely used 1965 Yamaha YA6 125. I rode it on road and off road. Not a bad bike but would sieze a piston if ridden hard.( still have it out in the shed).In 1976, I bought A 1971 yAMAHA R5 350. Gave it a good cleaning and a new chain and put about 20,000 miles on it.(In my opinion, one of the prettiest cycle engines built). In 1980, I found a very nice low miles 1974 Yamaha RD 350 (Purple). Put about 20,000 on it. In 1985, I bought a repo 1981 Yamaha XJ 550 Seca at an auction. I now have 99,675 mi. on this bike and still runs good. About 3 years ago, I decided I wanted something a little larger and with shaft drive. I had always admired the BMW, but didn't think it would fit my limited budget. I had read articles about the K75 and it seemed to be what I wanted, but in the Texas Panhandle, Beemers are rarer than honest politicians. My son did find one on E-Bay in the Dallas area and bid on it and got it. A 1987 K75c. I added a few things to it and have put about 15,000 mi. on it. (I rode about 230 mi. today). I love the smoothness and power of the engine and the handling. I have lowered it a little but wish it were just a little lower. It is a very clean looking bike and most people have no idea what it is and can't believe it is 22 yrs. old. It's not perfect. The clutch and transmission are not as smooth as a Yamaha, but it is a joy to ride. It is probably a keeper also.

I have also acquired and still own:
1971 Yamaha DT1 250
1980 Yamaha XT 500
1980 Yamaha Towny 50
2 1970's Honda Z50 Mini Trail

I have always been partial to Yamaha, but I noticed that quite a few of you started out on them.

:bikes

"Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down"

[k75karol]

My first encounter with a motorcycle was when I was about 10.

Growing up in a family with no Motorcycles, didn't start riding until 1981. (already had 3 kids. Some painful learning experiences led me to the purchase of an automatic in 1981


1981 Honda CM400A bought new & traded for:
1982 Honda SilverWing Interstate bought new & traded for:
1983 BMW R65 new/traded for:
1985 R80RT - sold with 136k, and purchased:
1986 R80RT sold
1988 K75C (still own)
1964 Yamaha YDS250 - purchased from collector - still own
1984 R65LS purchased used & sold

1994 K75RTP - Purchased new in 1997 - sold in 2007 :cry
1990 Honda NX250 - Purchased used - Still own
1999 F650 - sold
2000 R1100RTP- purchased New in 2004 Still own
2007 R1200 GS - purchased new - Still own

[CanadianSteve]

I started riding in 1976 ...
76 yamaha 650 twin
79 suzuki gs 750
81 honda cb900f
84 honda vf1000 interceptor
85 suzuki rg500 gamma
87 bmw r80
92 bmw r100rs ... still ridin !

steve

[bmwgsrider]

I've had dirt bikes growing up...

First bike 02' F650 GS until it was burned in a wild fire.
Second bike 06' F650 GS

[Motor31]

The very first motorcycle experience I had was on the back of a Police Harley. A friend of the family was a Motor Sergeant and he decided to give me a ride around a few blocks where we lived. I was about 9 at the time and I still recall it.

The first bike I drove was my Uncles Honda trail 90 that he had at the ranch for his kids.

My first bike was a Honda CB 350 then
Honda 500 - 4
BMW R75/6
BMWr100/6
BMW K75RT
BMW R1150RT

In the middle of those bikes was extensive training (3 weeks of 45 hours) on a Moto Guzzi Police bike and more than a decade of working riding Kawasaki K1000P bikes.

[dpryan]

So as part of your lists of bikes If you don't mind us knowing...
Do tell why you were "bike unencumbered."
And again, if you don't mind saying, What brought you back?

Mine's a short list with a lot of years in between.

I moved from NYC to SW Florida in '78 (22 yrs. old at the time) and was car-less. A guy my Dad knew had a KZ400 he wasn't using, and my Dad suggested I sort of rent it from him. This surprised me since, to my knowledge, no one in our family had ever had anything to do with bikes. I really enjoyed riding it, so after a year or so I ended up buying a new Suzuki GS850; the first time I'd ever seen a drive shaft on a motorcycle :brow

I rode that for a couple of years and eventually sold it and bought a pickup. The Kawi and Suzuki had been my sole means of transportation until then and, while fun, I pretty much thought of riding as just a way of getting around.

Fast forward to 2003 when my wife and I were in Hamilton, Ontario for the World Road Cycling Championships. I found myself enjoying the sights and sounds of the (mostly) Triumph pace bikes, as much as those of the cyclists. I'd thought of motorcycles off and on over the years, but that weekend really got me thinking.

I took the MSF course when we got home and started reading, shopping around, etc. A buddy and long time BMW owner suggested the MOA because of the magazine, classifieds and touring/riding tips, so I joined. I got sidetracked by a clean, barely used Kawasaki Concours which I bought in Jan. '04. It was joined by a K75 in the spring of '08 and they now happily share garage space.

That's my story :bikes

[gdwbeemer]

It's amazing how just lists of bikes owned by others can be so interesting. My list is smaller than most.

1963 Vespa 150
1964 Honda 150 Dream
1978 Honda CX 500
1982 Honda GL 500 I Silverwing - still own (I love that bike, owned since new)
2000 BMW R1100RT - still own (I love this bike too)

My list begs the question posed by iRene concerning intermissions. My first two bikes, the Vespa and Honda Dream were owned during college and early in my marriage. My intermission was from 1967 to 1979 during which I was focusing on my wife 3 kids and my career. The reason I got back into motorcycling was a friend of my cousin came by in 1977 with a Bicentennial edition 1976 Harley. He let me drive it and I was hooked again. It took 2 years before I bought the CX 500 and I've been riding ever since.

[85138]

Doing things in reverse, i.e. from cruisers to sport bikes (isn't it supposed to be the other war around for the middle aged?). In chronological order:

1987 Suzuki Intruder (My 1st bike in 1992)
1993 HD Sportster
1998 BMW R1200C
1995 DUC 900SSCR in 2002
2000 BMW R1200C Euro in 2002
2004 DUC 749S
2007 BMW F800ST

What's next?? Not sure. If my job situation stabilizes maybe a used DUC Monster S2R1000 or some other lightweight Sportyish-Standard twin.

[Brettendress]

Coleman Sachs 50 from age nine to twelve wore out
Honda CR 125 Sold
Suzuki Rm 125 Sold
3 other junkie dirt project bikes
Suzuki GS L 550 Sold 12,000 miles
CBR 600 F2 Sold 14,000 miles
Honda Magna 750 Sold 6,000 miles
1996 Honda VFR 750 in Garage 13,000 miles
1971 Honda Scrambler CL 350 in Garage 4,100 miles
2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 8,000 Miles in Garage
2004 BMW R1150GS 73,000 miles in garage
1970 BMW R60/5 41,000 miles in Garage

Five in current stable, sorry about every bike i sold, so that will not happen again

Brett Endress
Altoona PA

[NavyCWO]

My Two-wheeled History:

Lambretta scooter (125cc??) Painted it haze gray and deck gray
Yamaha (125cc)
Yamaha R5D 350 (350cc)
Triumph Daytona (500cc)
Honda (175cc??)
1972 BSA Goldstar (500cc)
Benelli (175cc) Montgomery-Ward I think (rewired, got running & sold)
1961 BSA Gold Star Clubman (500cc)
1977 Kawasaki KZ400 (440cc)
1967 BSA B44 Victor Enduro (441cc)
1982 Honda GL500 Silverwing
1991 BMW R100GS (997cc) (current steed)

[dwestly]

My turn:
1972 Yamaha 200 twin
1973 Kawasaki 100 enduro
1975 Honda XL350 (rode it from Tampa FL to San Antonio, TX)
1978 Honda CB750 (bought after I crashed the XL350)
1981 Honda CB750F (bought it in Alaska!)
1986 Honda GL1200
1992 Honda GL1500
1999 Suzuki Intruder 1400
2002 Honda VTX1800
2003 Honda GL1800
1972 Honda CB750K2
1983 Honda CB1100F
1990 Honda GB500 TT (still have this one...)
2006 Honda VFR 800 Interceptor
2007 BMW R1200GS
2007 Honda ST1300
2000 Honda SuperHawk 996
2007 Honda CRF230F
2008 Honda CRF230L
2008 BMW R1200GS Adventure
2008 Ducati 1098 (current sport bike)
2007 Honda CBR600RR (current track bike)
2009 BMW K1300GT (current touring bike)
2007 Honda CBR600RR (another one, wife took the first one for her track bike...!)

[Brettendress]

I just posted all my bikes and stated that I would never sell one ever again but I rode my 1971 CL 350 Scrambler to the Honda shop for a Gerbings plug for my heated jacket and left without the bike on a new Honda 650 XRL street and trail for only $3,500.00. The dealer wanted my 4000 mile CL for display. What a deal and what a great new bike. This will take the pressure off my GS as a daily commuter bike, (Like I needed a reason) Look out dirt trails! There's a old guy back in the woods

Brett Endress
Altoona Pa

[KGT1200]

A home made 80cc minibike with harley front end and paddle brakes circa1965

Honda 70 mini bike circa 1970

Honda Trail 90 circa 1971

Honda SL 125 circa 1973

Yamaha 650 Maxim circa 1980

Yamaha 750 Virago circa 1982

BMW R65LS circa 1984

Kawasaki 250 Super Sherpa circa 2003

BMWR1200 GS circa 2005

With exception to the homemade mini bike and the Sherpa, All were new when bought, and I traded them off as the years went by. The 125 is still in a box in my garage with a froze engine, and my precious GS and Sherpa are still my main squeezes today.

[henzilla]

I just posted all my bikes and stated that I would never sell one ever again but I rode my 1971 CL 350 Scrambler to the Honda shop for a Gerbings plug for my heated jacket and left without the bike on a new Honda 650 XRL street and trail for only $3,500.00. The dealer wanted my 4000 mile CL for display. What a deal and what a great new bike. This will take the pressure off my GS as a daily commuter bike, (Like I needed a reason) Look out dirt trails! There's a old guy back in the woods

Brett Endress
Altoona Pa

Wow...great purchase but a 4000 mile 71 Scrambler? Loved that bike in it's day...Red.blue or gold? At least you can go to the shop and say "hi"

[cjack]

/5, /5, s, s, s, rs, rs, rs, s, s, s

[Catman]

Thanks for reminding me of how old I'm getting, you guys. I remember the bikes well, but the model years are a little hazy. No intermissions here: I've been addicted since 1966.

Bridgestone 50 (probably a 1966, anyone else remember the rotary shift pattern?)

Honda 160 (also a 1966, it was a "street scrambler")

Yamaha 250 (probably a 1968, a candy red, street two-stroke)

Honda 350 (definitely a 1970)

Honda 400 Hawk (late 1970s)

Kawasaki 750 twin (perhaps 1982)

Harley-Davidson XLS (1984, a 1000cc "Roadster")

Harley-Davidson FXRC (1986, Low Rider Custom)

Harley-Davidson (1990, an 883 Sportster)

Triumph Legend TT (1999, a 900cc triple)

BMW R1200C (2004)

:cat

[35634]

Not so many.....

Honda 360T - cheap, buzzy, good 1st bike
Triumph 650 Bonnie - never got it to run right
BMW R65LS - slow SLOW SLOW
K75S - keeper

I forgot i had really nice a 65 R60/2. How the heck did i forget that, only had 5 bikes!?:stick

[dpilot]

1939 Harley 74 flathead
Bridgestone 90
1934 Indian 4
Indian TT Warrior
Matchless G80
Norton model 18, 30, and others
Velocette
Vincent Black shadow
Indian Papoose
1976 Honda GL1000 (3 of) LTD (still got)
1989 Honda 1500 (truck!)
BMW K75
BMW R1100RTP (still got)
Rocketa 260 (hehheh) (still got)
Sidecar on Honda (still got)

JimV

[torinokuchi]

1970 Honda ATC 90-eight years old in the woods of northern michigan bouncing off trees.
Kawasaki KD100-same as above, but more like twelve years old, and I wasn't bouncing off trees at this point, not so often anyway.
1973 Triumph Bonneville (First road bike) 1982 at 16yrs-bought with money from grocery store job
1970 Harley Sportster (second road bike) at 18yrs: Many good memories of fall rides on back roads clad in wool and leather, before I knew what a rainsuit was.
1959 Harley FL-number 3: few is the man who rides the righteous pan, or so I was led to believe. Really a great, reliable bike, in a 1959 sort of way: Took me to colorado and points in-between. Never let me down. A rugged ride.
1977 BMW R90/7-owned concurrent with below no.4, only for about a year-truthfully I don't really remember the details of this bike, because I only owned it briefly:smooth and fast for sure.
1962 Harley Custom Pan/shovel-number 4. Fun bike. Johnny Cash would have appreciated the one piece at a time nature of this beast.
1988 Harley FLH (two of those)-one in the mid nineties, one 1998 through 2005 (quantum leap from the fifties into the modern age of the "plasti-glide")
1999 Honda Africa Twin-in Japan from 2002-2003. Too much fun. Honda should have brought this here. What were they thinking?
2000 Yamaha XJR 1300-before the AT, in Japan. crashed this one racing my buddy on a Hailwood replica on the way to Fuji. Switched to AT for personal safetyy/enjoyment after.
1995 Triumph Trophy III-from about 96 on to 2005: great all arounder. Commuted well, toured well, sounded like a diesel truck at idle-had no problem with dirt roads, many of which there are in michigan.
1995 Triumph T-Bird-96. fun bike rode it 17k in one season, cross country, on road, off road then traded it in for the trophy. Very durable ride, not much of a suspension though.
2000 Cagiva Gran Canyon- 2003 until 2005: ferraci CF pipes, chip and filter. Lightened pulleys, kevlar belts. Wahoo.
2004 BMW GSA-2005 until present-goes anywhere (almost) does everything.
TNK

[mpswelsh]

Short list with an intermission:

Started riding in 1970 with
1. 1970 Honda CB750K(gold)
2. 1974 Honda CB450 (brown)
Intermission from 1985 to 2005
2005 HD Roadking Classic (Black/Red)
Bought in 2009, 2008 K1200GT (Silver)

Hers/his:
1. 2005 Honda Shadow 750(black)
2. 2008 HD 1200 Sporster (105th Anniversary)
3. 2009 HD Softail Deluxe (Red & lowered for the inseam challenged)

Intermission came from family, deployments, and finally the tragic death of a daughter at age 10 in 2004. When something like that happens, you just get back on, because you have been to the worst, and anything from there needs to be because you want to. Life can be gone tomorrow and you wouldn't have wanted to miss it. Our daughter lived every day like it was her last, and that was our lesson learned. Blessings to any and all who have been a part of the unnatural circumstances of being preceded by your child.

[Nonskid]

I guess I'm not so crazy after all!

1971 BSA 250
1971 Honda 350 (On Off road)
1968 Triumph Bonneville 650
1970 Honda 500 4cyl (handled lousy)
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
1979 Yamaha 650 Special
1979 Yamaha 850 (handled lousy too)
1978 Harley Davidson Sportster 1000 Anniversary Edition

Stopped riding for a few years. Then after a friend let me take his BMW R100RT for a day I bought a.....

1988 Honda Shadow 1100
1993 BMW K75 RT
1995 Harley Davidson Heritage Soft Tail Classic
1996 Harley Davidson Electraglide Classic
1997 BMW R1100 RS

Stopped riding again due to back surgery. Back got better so I bought a....

2004 BMW R1150 RT
2001 BMW R1150 R (This one could be the last one)

(Only had one at a time)

[streetdoc]

Growing up in the late 60's and early 70's, the fist bike that I ever drove was a Honda Trail 70 that belonged to a friend. I went off to Marine Corps Boot Camp in 1975, I tried to buy a Dodge Challenger when I finished Boot Camp but nobody would finance a 17 year old Marine Private. That really started my motorcycle history, I bought a Honda CB500/4, I had it six months and 12,000 miles and traded it for a CB750. Nine months and 20,000 miles latter I got transferred overseas. My dad sold the 750 for me while I was gone. When I returned I ran through a series of street/dirt bikes, Yamaha 400, Honda XL500, PE400 then I stopped riding for about 25 years. Not quite two years ago I got back into riding again again and bought my first BMW a 99 R1100RS, a year and a half and 27,000 miles later it was traded for my current R1200RT.

List:
1975 Honda CB500/4 traded for-
1976 Honda CB750 sold in 77 while overseas
1978 Yamaha Enduro 400 sold in 79
1982 Honda XL 500 sold in 84
1985 Suzuki PE 400 sold in 89
1989 - 2008 no motorcycle
2008 BMW 99 R1100RS traded for-
2009 BMW 07 R1200RT

Next, I would like to add a Goldwing Trike while keeping the RT

[DADODIRT]

OK, here goes.
1989-First bike was a 1973 Honda CL350
1993-early '80's suzuki 4 stroke 250 dirt bike(POS)
1994-1982 Honda XL500R(the big red one)
1998-My dad gave me my first BMW which I still have 1975 R60/6
2000-realizing I need dual sport capabilities-1997 F650
2005-sold the F650 and bought the current ride 2001 R1150GS

What's next? I will always want the ability to ride off highway. I like the 800GS, but cost wise I can get a used KTM950 for a lot less.

[woodwind]

I won't be able to remember the model years of all of them:
Yamaha Mini Enduro (first bike)
Yamaha DT-175
Yamaha DT-250
Kawasaki KZ400
'73 Honda CB350
'84 Honda 450 Nighthawk (only new bike I've ever had)
'73 Triumph Tiger 750
'69 Triumph Tiger 650
'67 Triumph Bonneville
'78 Triumph Bonneville
'04 Suzuki V-Strom 650
'70 Triumph Daytona
'93 BMW R100R

[jamesdunn]

"Intermission came from family, deployments, and finally the tragic death of a daughter at age 10 in 2004. When something like that happens, you just get back on, because you have been to the worst, and anything from there needs to be because you want to. Life can be gone tomorrow and you wouldn't have wanted to miss it. Our daughter lived every day like it was her last, and that was our lesson learned. Blessings to any and all who have been a part of the unnatural circumstances of being preceded by your child."(quote)

The greatest fear of a parent is the loss of a child. Maybe the riding is therapy. I wish you well.

[jcappelletti]

Let's see, I've had a bunch:
Suzuki GT 250
Honda CB 550
Kawasaki KZ 750
Yamaha RZ 350
Honda V45 Sabre
Yamaha TZR 250 and YSR 50 (race series)
Suzuki GS 650
Kawasaki GPZ 750
Piaggio MP3 250 (My wifes ride)
BMW R1150R:bow
My 1150 is by far the best bike I have ever owned!!
JC

[angysdad]

Raleigh 49cc moped
90cc Kawasaki
'81 KZ440
'72 Norton Comando 750cc
'82 KZ1000
'86 R65
'92 R100 GS/PD
Suzuki DR750
Yamaha 225 'serrow'
K100/Hannigan (ugly as sin)
'76 Ducati 860
'91 R100 GS/PD
'77 GL1000/California sidecar
'85 K100/EML sidecar

Each and everyone was the best bike I ever had...at the time!!!

[777AIA]

This is going to make me feel old...

1977 Suzuki GS 550 (Black)
1980 Triumph Bonneville 750 (Gold/Red)
Honda Moped and a Honda Passport (not sure of years)
1984 Honda VT 500 Ascot (Blue.Silver)
1983 BMW R65LS (Silver)
1985 BMW K100RS (Green)
1997 BMW R850R (Lt. Green)
1999 Yamaha VMax (Black/Silver)
2005 BMW R1200GS (Red)
2007 BMW R1200R (Silver)

Never more than four in the garage at a time...

[redsky49]

Learned on a 106 Gilera. Following that:

1963(?) Benelli 125 Barracuda
1967 Honda CL450
Yamaha AT-2 MX
Yamaha R5-350
Yamaha RD-400
1995 Husqvarna 250 WXE
1996 Ducati 900 SS
2002 BMW R1150RS
2007 Aprilia Tuono

Kawasaki 238 "Green Streak" Scrambler, owned with my brother.

I think that is the whole list :wave

[LCBIKEMAN]

I am wowed by the number and diversity of the bikes owned.
Mine:
Yamaha Big Bear Scrambler (250 if memory serves me), old - bought sight unseen from another Lt. in 1969
relocation courtesy of Uncle Sam
Honda 350 Scrambler - 1971? Brand new and a stunning blue, high pipes, I was invincible and could fly when I wasn't flying for Uncle
Son.....
More son......
various relocations....
Daughter......
children grown, always had thought BMWs were IT!
2000 R1100RT, opal blue, my mental health on wheels - can you see the smile from where you're reading this?
all the best, safe riding...in rainy VA.

[tcragg154044]

1984 Yamaha Riva 180 Scooter (rode it in high school, good way to get your licence)
2007 Suzuki GS500F: after 18 years of not riding, this was my "entry-level" buke, but I really wanted a BMW
2009 Suzuki Bandit GSF1250 SEA: the next step up, lots of power, full touring package with ABS and top case and panniers. I put 5000 km on it in three months, but I really wanted a BMW
2002 BMW R1150 RT: the right deal came along, and now I have my BMW!

[martinPH]

"Intermission came from family, deployments, and finally the tragic death of a daughter at age 10 in 2004. When something like that happens, you just get back on, because you have been to the worst, and anything from there needs to be because you want to. Life can be gone tomorrow and you wouldn't have wanted to miss it. Our daughter lived every day like it was her last, and that was our lesson learned. Blessings to any and all who have been a part of the unnatural circumstances of being preceded by your child."(quote)

The greatest fear of a parent is the loss of a child. Maybe the riding is therapy. I wish you well.

When I lost my son aged 19, getting on the bike was my therapy, it kept me some-what sane. It also taught me what is really important.
Martin.

[Taxguy]

I recently got my first Beemer, but there have been a few others:

1971 Suzuki Trailhopper 50
1979 Yamaha XS400
1981 Yamaha Seca 750
1986 Yamaha FJ1200
1984 Yamaha Maxim 400
1989 Honda PC800
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
2003 Kawasaki ZX900
2003 Honda VFR800
1972 Honda CB500-4
2005 Suzuki V-Strom 650
2002 Suzuki DR650
2003 Yamaha TTR-225
2003 Kawasaki KLX400
2005 Yamaha FJ1300
2004 Honda VTR1000
2006 KTM 950 Adventure
2005 Suzuki DR650
2005 Kawasaki KDX220
2008 KTM XC530
2005 Sherco 2.9
2008 Husqvarna TE250
2003 Yamaha VMax
2009 BMW R1200GSA
2010 Buell XB12Ss

[jireynolds67]

In 1960 or 61, not sure which, while stationed in Germany, I bought a used two cycle 250cc, I am not sure what brand. I had trouble with it just dying and refusing to start again until it cooled off some I guess. Never did find the problem.
Next was a BMW 500, don't know the year or model number. I gave the 250cc away. I shipped the BMW to the states when I returned in 1961.
1964 Sold the BMW to my stepfather as I was going overseas again.
1972 Bought a new1972 BMW R75/5 while stationed in Germany.
1975 Bought a used BMW 650 with Earls Fork, don't know the year or model number.
1979 Bought a new Honda CX500 then sold it to someone at work a few years later.
Mid 80's Bought a used Gold Wing with sidecar. After riding it home, I took the sidecar off and never did put it back on, Sold both Gold Wing and sidecar about a year and a half later.
1988 Sold both BMW's to a guy at work. I should have given up the woman instead, she didn't like motorcycles, and kept the BMW's
I currently have the following:
1983 Honda CX650C, bought 5/5/2000. It is in my garage but is not running at this time.
2006 Suzuki C50T bought 4/8/08. In my garage and runs good.
2003 BMW R1150RT-P bought 10/22/09. In my garage and runs good

[Herr_Eugen]

I returned to bike riding w/ a '07 Ninja 250. A great little bike indeed!!! Plenty of oomph around town and 70+ mpg's!!! But certainly not a "big guys" ride... and it certainly wasn't up to the interstate's I've been travelling lately... tough to beat my R1200RT for that duty!!:thumb:thumb

[super8mm]

I started ridding in the late 50's on the neighbors 40's era scooter, then in 65 started ridding 150 Hondas them moved to a Honda 305 scrambler. Then stopped for about 10 years and then got a divorce and a Suzuki 550GT, got married again 3 years latter and sold that bike. bought a V-Star 1100 in 05 and just traded it in on a 06 K1200GT :dance

[toooldtocare]

1. 64 Ducati 250 MKIV Scrambler (new)
2. 67 Honda 305 Scrambler (new)
3. 73 Yamaha TX 650 (new)
4. 74 BMW R90S (used)
5. 75 Moto Guzzi 850T (new)
6. 78 Honda 750F (new)
7. 78 BMW R100RS Motorsport (used and still have)
8. 79 Triumph 750 Bonneville (new)
9. 86 R80RT BMW (new)
10. 87 BMW K100LT (new)
11. 89 BMW R100RS (used)
12. 95 BMW R100RT (used)
13. 97 BMW R1100RT (new)
14. 2001 BMW R1100RT (used)
15. 2001 Ducati 750 Monster (new)
16. 2001 Ducati 900 Monster (new)
17. 2004 BMW R1100S (new)
18. 2005 Harley 1200 Sportster (new)
19. 2007 BMW F800S (new)
20. 2007 Triumph Scrambler (used and still have)

[mchammer717]

I am a new rider of about 5 yrs. 2 bikes for me so far.

2000 Kawasaki Nomad 1500
2005 K1200 LT

[wayneswan]

First ride ever (as a driver) was a 'zuki RM80.

I took my test on my old man's 1973 R75/5 in 1986. I pretty much learned "how" to ride on it.

The first bike I ever bought was a 1985 V65 Sabre purchased in 1991....loved that bike. Sold her, bought another one, then sold her deciding to get a Beemer.

The R75 became mine in 1993, which I still have.

Bought a 1999 K1200RS in 2005...totaled her in 2006.....great bike. I still have guilt for killing her.

Bought a 2002 R1100S in 2007 that I ride year-around.

Now I'm just a few months away from taking delivery of a S1000RR.

So the garage will be filled with BMW's,
R75/5
R1100S
S1000RR

Now I just need a dual-sport!

[Bullet]

First bike: 1978 Kawasaki KZ650B2. I still have it.
Second: 1982 Honda GL1100 Aspencade. It was too big.
Third: 1987 Kawasaki ZG1000 Concours. Loved that bike!
Fourth: 1997 Kawasaki ZG1000 Concours. It had its niggly little troubles.
Fifth: 1998 BMW R1100RT. Very smooth and a lot of fun to ride.
Sixth: 2002 BMW R1150RT. Just when I thought the '98 couldn't get any better.
Seventh and current bike: 2009 BMW K1300GT. It's a rocket on 2 wheels!

I figure I've ridden over a 1/2 a million miles and in all that time. I've had one bodily injury accident that I think wasn't altogether my fault. Yes, speed was an issue but it wasn't excessive. A road covered with stone, gravel and rocks a week after a storm in Pennsylvania and the road crew that never put up any signs warning of the debris, in my opinion, were to blame.

Anyway, after that little incident that broke a collar bone, a sub-orbital floor in my left eye socket and messed up my face a bit, I went out and bought the '97 Concours. I was back in the saddle within a month, maybe 6 weeks, just as soon as the collar bone was capable of handling the stresses of steering inputs, hauling the bike onto the centerstand etc.

Riding is too much fun to let something like that keep my off of 2 wheels.

[TheRoss]

MSF Basic rider course at the age of 20, in 1996. I grew up a city boy who played baseball..... never any dirt bikes or ATVs.

First came a black Kawasaki Concours (sold).

Followed by a red Ducati ST2 (traded).

Then a dark blue R1100RT (killed in a crash that involved me flying over a hood and fracturing my spine on the landing :doh).

Then an opal blue R1100RT (one month after the crash - I have logged over 116,000 miles and 22 states on this bike now :yum).

A silver R1150GS for a few months (I wanted a off road camping bike, but lived in the middle of a big city :dunno).

For one year I had an affair with a silver and blue K1200RS (killed by a Suburban in the parking lot of the school I teach at - I still miss this bike greatly :mad - we left our wedding on this bike, tux and dress and all).

And a white checkered F650GS Dakar (bought for an upcoming trip - Prudoe Bay to Key West :thumb).

The last 4 wheeler I had (Toyota Tacoma) I sold in 2005. I have been a daily rider since, currently on the RT and Dakar :bikes.

[jonny_b]

In order of ownership:

1980's
197? Kawasaki KS125
1979 Honda CB400T TYpe II
1981 Honda CB400T Type II

1990's
198? Yamaha XV920
1993 Kawasaki KLR650
1994 BMW R1100GS

2000's
1982 Honda GL500 Silverwing
1985 Honda VF500F Interceptor
1987 BMW K100RS
1989 Yamaha FZR400

Currently only the K100RS is operational. The VF500F and FZR400 have expired, need to call the knacker to pick them up. All the others are under different ownership.

In the mid-to-late 90's, people really didn't know what to make of the R1100GS when they saw it. The red tank/yellow seat combo made sure that it was noticed if not understood.

[SiReese]

Many interesting choices and quite a variety of bikes.
My personal list started at age 14 when I rode a friends Honda 90 with an automatic clutch.

1957 Honda 65cc and kept it two years
1953 Tornax 244cc for a year
1964 Honda CB77 305cc also for a year, first bike on the road
1970 Kawasaki H1 500cc for 6 years
1971 Kawasaki H1 500cc for 3 years
1974 BMW R90S 900cc bought used in 1974 and still have going into 2010!
1965 Yamaha MG1-Y 80cc for a year
1972 Honda CL200 200cc for a year
1975 Honda CB360 360cc for a year, got it as a pick up full of loos parts and no title.
1976 Yamaha XT500R 500cc for 3 years, had no title also, later sold it to my son
1983 Honda XL600R 600cc bought 1997 and still have
1977 BMW R100S 1000cc bought in 1997 and traded to son in 2005
1981 Kawasaki CSR305 305cc from son for a year
1974 Honda CB750 750cc was stored for 12 year and to a summer to get it road
worthy. Bought in 2007 and still have
1980 Yamaha SX850CG 859cc Bought from son as a 'project' bike in 2009, still have
2010 BMW K1300S on order for April 2010 delivery

Plan to sell the Yamaha 'project; bike and the Honda CB750 this spring to make room for the K1300S.

[Astir]

Wow, a lot of great stories!

Here is mine... since the bike list is short I added a lot of words... :whistle

I started riding dirt bikes in 1983, introduced to riding by my step-dad. Found a 1980 (1981?) Suzuki RM125 with a worn out engine, worn out back tire and he helped me put it back in the dirt. Rode the plastic off that bike (two more rebuilds and I can't remember how many back tires) until 1987 when I went to college. Good thing too because it was getting difficult to find back routes where I wanted to go. The LEO's were getting wise to my back street shortcuts on the dirt bike. :nyah

In 1988 a guy came into the 7/11 I worked at that had to get out of town NOW and sold me his not running Honda CB550 for $80. It took me a few months to get it cleaned up and running but when I did WOW what a great bike! Never did have the money to get the electric start working, and learned a few things about carrying foil when those darn fuses would blow for some unknown reason. :dunno (I also use to set off car alarms riding around the college campus :D) I rode the tires off the Honda until 1992 when my now X said it had a bad knocking and I should sell it. We bought a Suzuki 4XX something, I rode it regularly but it simply wasn't my CB. X traded the Suzuki for some car related thing (I haven't a clue how he talked me out of a motorcycle) within the year and that was it for bikes until around 2002. I finally wore him down :evil and we bought a Yamaha Roadstar Warrior. (We meaning he, and I could 'ride it when ever I wanted'.) The bike was really nice, but WAY to big for me. Feet forward, arms too wide, heavy, ergonomically it was quite intimidating to ride ~ but man would it run! I rode it regularly to work and weekend rides to the gliderport. When things went south with the marriage in 2005 a friend sold me his Sportster. I rode it one weekend and asked for my money back. Something was seriously wrong with that bike. After 260 miles I wanted to kill myself before getting back on it. He was mad and didn't understand why I couldn't iron butt that bike like he could, but seriously my arms were tired from keeping the damn thing on the road (relax a bit and it would dive left), the seat was so uncomfortable I didn't think I would make it back from a run I did nearly every weekend on the Warrior with no effort. (I wish I could get him on my BMW, but he is a HD diehard.) I went without again until summer 2007 when another friend sold me '97 F650. One spin around the block and I knew :heart. Last year I parted with the 650 after buying an R1200GS. I anticipate keeping this GS for a very very long time!

[DashRiprock]

2003 k1200 gt

[rreynold6]

1965 Honda S90 (new)
1965 Harley (Aermacchi) 250 Sprint (nurtured my love of thumpers)
1959 Harley FLH Panhead (keep a handy supply of generators and oil on hand)
1965 Honda 150
1971 Honda CB350
197? Suzuki 100
1971 Yamaha Twin Jet 100
1976 BMW R90/6 (2 , 1 new, one used)
1961 BMW R60 (Earles forks are greatly overrated)
1979 Yamaha XS1100 Special (torque monster)
1982 BMW R100 ( new,Wobbly Goblin)
1976 Moto Guzzi V100 Convert (great comfort and handling, poor fuel mileage)
1983 BMW R80ST (Ties with current F650GS for most liked BMW owned)
1986 BMW K100RS (finest year)
1986 Honda 650
1998 F650 Classic
1999 R1100RT (great bike but too tall for stiff knee days)
2002 F650GS (still here and loving it)
1992 Yamaha XT225 Serow (kinda still here)

[Motodan]

Not sure which I'm most amazed about: the fact that this list isn't all the bikes (can't remember them all) or that I still have the same wife after 41 years of marriage.

1. 1959 Cushman Black - Illinois
1974 Honda 360 Orange/Black - Iowa
1975 Honda 550 Brown - Iowa
1976 Honda 550 Met Blue - Iowa
5. 1976 Yamaha 650 Burgundy - Iowa
1977 Honda 750 Maroon - Iowa
1978 Yamaha 1100XS Maroon - Texas
1979 Kawasaki 650 Red - Indiana
1980 Kawasaki 1000 Black - Indiana
10. 1981 Kawasaki 1000 Black - Indiana
1982 Yamaha 750 Black - Indiana
1983 Honda V45 Maroon - Indiana
1984 Honda V65 Maroon - Indiana
1984 Honda 700 Red/Black - Illinois
15. 1985 Harley Sportster Grey/Maroon - Indiana
1985 Harley Low Glide Brown - Indiana
1985 Honda V65 (#2) Maroon - Georgia
1986 Suzuki 700 Intruder Black - Indiana
1986 Kawasaki Connie Red - Indiana
20. 1987 Harley Low Rider Brandy Wine Red - Indiana
1988 BMW K75S Red - Illinois
1988 BMW R100RS White - Georgia
1989 BMW R100RS (#2) White - Illinois
1989 BMW K75S (#2) Red - Indiana
25. 1990 Honda VFR Red - Indiana
1992 R100 (converted to RS by dealer - #3) Black - Indiana
1993 Honda VFR Red (#2) - Illinois
1994 BMW R1100RS Red
1992 BMW R100RT Green - Illinois
30. 1996 BMW R1100RS (#2) Black - Ohio
1996 BMW R1100RT German Maroon - Ohio
1996 BMW K1200RS Dolphin Blue - Virginia
2000 BMW K1200RS (#2) Red - Indiana
2000 Harley Electra Glide Classic Blue - Indiana
35. 1989 BMW R100RS (#3) Blue/Silver - Illinois
2000 Harley Low Rider (#2) Maroon - Ohio
2001 BMW K1200RS Red (#4) - Indiana
2001 BMW K1200RS Blue/Silver (#5) - Indiana
2002 BMW R1150RT Silver - Illinois
40. 2002 Harley Road King Custom Paint - Birch White/Patriot Red - Indiana
2003 BMW K1200GT Blue - Indiana
2004 BMW R1150RT (#2) Silver - Iowa
2005 Harley Road King (#2) Maroon - Ohio
2005 Harley Road King (#3) Maroon - Ohio
45. 2005 Harley Electra Glide Classic (#2) Maroon - Ohio
2008 BMW R1200RT Blue - Indiana
2008 BMW R1200GS Silver - Indiana
2008 BMW R1200GSA Red - Indiana
2009 BMW R1200RT (w/o radio - #2) Blue - Indiana
50. 2009 BMW R1200RT (radio - #3) Blue - Indiana
51. 2009 R1200GS (#2) Silver - Indiana

[Maplebliss]

Honda Twinstar (200 or 250?) (70mph wide open; 1st bike)
Suzuki 650 Thumper (woods or street)
Suzuki GS750 (fully attired; 1st distance bike)
BMW K75 (always felt top heavy)
BMW R1100R (1st Beemer; got hooked; Hannigan Fairing, bags, etc.)
Honda GL1800A (still have; will probably sell; great machine, but boring)
Kawasaki KLR650 (panniers, etc. absolute fun bike; tough on interstate though)
Honda CB750 (had only short time, but good bike)
BMW R1150RT (still have; keeper; had about a month; can't stay off of it)

deVere Williams, Florence, SC
"What's mind? Never matter? What's matter? Never mind."
God is love!

[godzilla]

1985 BMW K100RS
1971 BMW R75/5

And that's it.

[robsryder]

Here is my list as I remember the bikes -

1971 Honda SL-100
1972 Honda CB-350
1976 Honda CB-200
1993 Harley Dyna Low Rider
1988 BMW R100GS
1994 Harley Electra Glide Ultra
1994 BMW R1100RS
1993 BMW R100GS/PD
1975 Honda CB-350 4 cyl
1978 Honda CB-550 4 cyl
1964 Triumph Bonneville
1975 BMW R60/6
1987 Cagiva Elefant 650
1988 Kawasaki KLR-650
1977 BMW R100RS
1995 Ducati Monster 900
1996 Triumph Thunderbird 900
1999 Triumph Tiger 885
1971 BMW R75/5
1965 Honda CB-77 SuperHawk
1992 BMW K75S

I'm a little fuzzy on the exact order of purchase. The vast majority of bikes were purchased used - some very used. There isn't a one that I'm sorry that I bought. I'm sorry that I got rid of any of them - alas, I'd have no room for them even if circumstances had allowed me to keep them all.

[Manfred]

9 bikes since 1970. 6 Yamahas, 1 Honda, 1 Suzuki, 1 BMW. Pix here (http://brogdensmuse.menofhonorministry.org/Bikes/Brogdens_Bikes.htm).

[jrl]

From my start with this passion:

Home made motorbike with 3.5 hp Clinton motor
Honda 160
Honda CB 350
Kawasaki KZ 650
Honda 300 fourtrax (a 4 wheeler)
BMW R100RT
BMW R1150RT

[BubbaZanetti]

Not sure which I'm most amazed about: the fact that this list isn't all the bikes (can't remember them all) or that I still have the same wife after 41 years of marriage.

1. 1959 Cushman Black - Illinois
1974 Honda 360 Orange/Black - Iowa
1975 Honda 550 Brown - Iowa
1976 Honda 550 Met Blue - Iowa
5. 1976 Yamaha 650 Burgundy - Iowa
1977 Honda 750 Maroon - Iowa
1978 Yamaha 1100XS Maroon - Texas
1979 Kawasaki 650 Red - Indiana
1980 Kawasaki 1000 Black - Indiana
10. 1981 Kawasaki 1000 Black - Indiana
1982 Yamaha 750 Black - Indiana
1983 Honda V45 Maroon - Indiana
1984 Honda V65 Maroon - Indiana
1984 Honda 700 Red/Black - Illinois
15. 1985 Harley Sportster Grey/Maroon - Indiana
1985 Harley Low Glide Brown - Indiana
1985 Honda V65 (#2) Maroon - Georgia
1986 Suzuki 700 Intruder Black - Indiana
1986 Kawasaki Connie Red - Indiana
20. 1987 Harley Low Rider Brandy Wine Red - Indiana
1988 BMW K75S Red - Illinois
1988 BMW R100RS White - Georgia
1989 BMW R100RS (#2) White - Illinois
1989 BMW K75S (#2) Red - Indiana
25. 1990 Honda VFR Red - Indiana
1992 R100 (converted to RS by dealer - #3) Black - Indiana
1993 Honda VFR Red (#2) - Illinois
1994 BMW R1100RS Red
1992 BMW R100RT Green - Illinois
30. 1996 BMW R1100RS (#2) Black - Ohio
1996 BMW R1100RT German Maroon - Ohio
1996 BMW K1200RS Dolphin Blue - Virginia
2000 BMW K1200RS (#2) Red - Indiana
2000 Harley Electra Glide Classic Blue - Indiana
35. 1989 BMW R100RS (#3) Blue/Silver - Illinois
2000 Harley Low Rider (#2) Maroon - Ohio
2001 BMW K1200RS Red (#4) - Indiana
2001 BMW K1200RS Blue/Silver (#5) - Indiana
2002 BMW R1150RT Silver - Illinois
40. 2002 Harley Road King Custom Paint - Birch White/Patriot Red - Indiana
2003 BMW K1200GT Blue - Indiana
2004 BMW R1150RT (#2) Silver - Iowa
2005 Harley Road King (#2) Maroon - Ohio
2005 Harley Road King (#3) Maroon - Ohio
45. 2005 Harley Electra Glide Classic (#2) Maroon - Ohio
2008 BMW R1200RT Blue - Indiana
2008 BMW R1200GS Silver - Indiana
2008 BMW R1200GSA Red - Indiana
2009 BMW R1200RT (w/o radio - #2) Blue - Indiana
50. 2009 BMW R1200RT (radio - #3) Blue - Indiana
51. 2009 R1200GS (#2) Silver - Indiana


interesting list, but i gotta ask, what's with all the doubles and triples in such short time spans? riding partner?

[haughty]

1982 XV750 Virago- estimated 80k miles on that one as the odometer quit after 65k..... Starter and diode problems were the only reason I got rid of her. I once rode in 6-8 inches of fresh snow from Dallas to Fairfield one winter day.. And it was A hoot too... Not a misstep along the way.. I hit bats, birds, BEES, small animals, Had a rear tire blowout at 55 because I was too poor to buy that Bridgstone tire once.. DO you have any idea what a rear feel like when its jumping about 5 feet in each direction? At 50, I was ready to get off- NO GEAR other than a thin jacket and helmet and gloves.... at 25 I was begging to just fall off.. eyes were too blurry to even see ahead... I made it tho...

Never made that mistake again.. Spend the bucks for quality..

1980 Suzuki 1000 GS AKA the mankiller.. Bike required lots of attention to as it was just way too fast and wicked. Would pull a wheelie on a light twist of the wrist in third gear and just hold it...Bought it with both side cases just about ground down.....Only bike I ever rode that did an indicated 165 ( we know how off those speedos were- but still too dang fast.....) decided to get off of her when I was luckily not taken out due to rider stupidity... THank God I was given another chance on that one.. 25k on her?

1980 XJ650 Maxim
THis was a quick bike... It handled ok, never as light as the virago tho.. Ended selling it... it died as well as my best friend.....

2001 BMW K1200LT SAlly as shes called, cause its RIDEEEEE SAlllyy Rideeeee..
22K on this big girl... SHe will surprise ya..
2004 BMW R1150RT BLew Bayou-- Sweet kinda lady she spit out a FD at 12k, and shes going again 15k on her now..
2007 BMW R1200GS not many miles onher yet - only about 1.4K had all the stuff done to it.. Big dirty fun.. she has this ability to just RUNNNN like the dickens if ya let her...

[Gravity]

1998 BMW R1100R
2004 BMW K1200GT
2006 BMW R1150R GSA Anniversary Edition
2007 BMW K1200R Sport
2007 Ninja 250 (for the teen daughter)
2009 BMW K1300S

There will be more,

Gravity

[KGT1200]

I think I posted awhile ago on this thread, with my list of bikes you could easily list on ten fingers; so when I see these long lists I feel a bit like...:bow I'm definitely no worthy and out of my league...:bow Wow!


For me, 51 years old, and I could sum up at least 30 years running knobbies and dirt

15 years of wearing out two Yamahas and one BMW riding pavement.

5 years riding my GS, a new dirt bike or two all over the place.


The only thing I wish I could have got every one to comment on that responded to this thread is this:

What, if anything do each of you attribute your motorcycle skills, your ability to stay safe after all these bikes and all the years?

For me, it came from riding in the dirt, and it comes from falling off bikes a few times, and by the miracle of G@D I am still in the world after falling off. It hurts! By taking some risks, pushing up to the line and a few times failing made me remember exactly when to say when with my own abilities.

Those two things for me. You?

(Sorry for the hijack. Carry on now!)

Red

[beemermyke]

Ummmm... got my license back around the late 70s at the tender age of 16 when I lived up in Connecticut. The examiner said something like "See that older guy sitting on a motorcycle over there? He's going for his license too. I'm going to observe how you leave the parking lot. If I don't see any obvious problems when you leave, and you come back alive and in one piece, I'll give you your license." As well as I can remember for bikes:

1974 Suzuki TS 185
Some mid-70s two cylinder Yamaha street bike (brown, don't remember the model)
1978 Suzuki GS 550E
1982 Honda CB750F
1986? Honda Nighthawk 650
1988 Kawasaki 454LTD
Honda Magna (year?)

Then, took a break for about five years (kids came along), then got back into it with...

1994 Kawasaki ZX11 Ninja
2003 Kawasaki Councors
2004 BMW R1150RS (my current ride)

[jchellgren]

Bike list
1964 Harley 50 cc ...good for getting to class on campus
1966 Honda 160 cc Scrambler ...difficult to tune carbs
1970 Kawaski 360 cc Bighorn ...great until the motor blew
1992 Suzuki 250 cc Dirt bike ..south florida built homes over the good trails
1995 Yamaha 1100 cc Virago.. first real street bike... still have
1999 Yamaha 1600 cc Roadstar.. traded for 2004 Roadstar
2002 Yamaha 1600 cc Roadstar..bought at charity auction
1999 Yamaha 1600 cc Roadstar show bike..Yamaha calender.. still have
2004 Yamaha 1700 cc Roadstar..could not resist engine upgrade ..still have
2005 Yamaha 1300 cc FJR ...a rocket ..still have
2009 BMW K1200LT ...great for long trips..still have

[LouieSkretas]

1976 Kawasaki 100
1979 Yamaha XS 500
1982 Kawasaki KZ 650 amazing bike!!
1984 Suzuki GS1000 lot's of power, smooth, quiet
1981 Honda CB900Fwith CBX fairing
1994 Honda St1100abs ride all day...and night...and day...so smooth
1977 R100RS alaska blue original still got it, tons of character!!!
1996 R1100RT Sienna red new to me only ridden it once.

[althotos]

Let's see. My first bike was back in 1975. Brand new, Suzuki 125 Enduro.
Then sometime in late 1976 or early 1977 I got a small Yamaha.

Fast forward to 2007 and here is the new list of bikes:
1993 HD Sportster 883 low-rider (2007)
2000 BMW R1100RT (2008)
1985 Kawasaki GPZ900 Z1 Ninja (2008)
1994 Honda CBR1000F (2009)
2002 BMW R1150RS (2010)

I just bought the R1150RS on March 6, in Jacksonville, FL. Flew up there and drove it back home to Fort Lauderdale. It was the last day of Daytona bike week and there were a lot of bikers on I-95.

[SiReese]

Any advice on the BMW K1300S? I bought one and will be picking it up this Saturday if the weather permits.

[henzilla]

Any advice on the BMW K1300S? I bought one and will be picking it up this Saturday if the weather permits.

respect that throttle response:thumb Not sure what you have been riding, but this bike goes to warp drive quickly.

[bandman]

From 16 years old in 1964:
1964 Honda trail 90 sold
Honda 305 superhawk - sold
Triumph trophy 500 - College days -sadly sold
Honda CB750 sold
Kawasaki 1100 Spectre happily sold
1987 BMWK75 C sadly sold

Currently:
2000 K1200RS
2000 K1200LT

I love and have loved all my BMW's. What personality and character.

[robertklee]

In order from 1962 to present

1950 Whizzer Sportsman
1963 Sears Moped
1965 Sears Sport 60
1958 Triumph Thunderbird
1973 Honda 450
1978 Triumph Bonn
1967 Triumph Tiger
1973 BMW 60/5 (Still ride regularly)

Bought and sold bunches more, but these are the ones I rode.

:usa

[Brown71]

I have a small list, but have enjoyed them all.

First - 1970 Honda Trail 70 - I was fifteen years old and bartered some hard labor for it. Great little bike to learn on
Second - 1989 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 - Purchased it in 1992 as a young Airman. Traveled all over Texas with it while stationed in San Antonio, Texas
Third - 2003 Ducati Monster 620 - Traveled all over the South East with this one. Sold it because it really hurt my back.
Fourth - 1997 BMW R1100RT - 2nd owner- traveled all over Europe with it. Great fun!
Fifth - 2009 BMW F650GS - Purchased for my wife, but I have put on all of the miles what a great bike. Will travel across Europe with it this summer.

S

[Anyname]

I started out riding when my best friend's dad bought a couple of Honda Trail 90s in 65 or 66.

My first bike was a 1966 Honda 450, known then as the ugly duckling. Now known as "black bombers"

I sold that for a car when by second year in college. I corrected that mistake and bought a 1969 or 79 Suzuki T500. A great bike, cheap and reliable. I turned the T500 into a cafe racer (expansion chambers, GT 550 disk brake front end, S&W shocks).

The Suzuki was sold for a 1975 Kawasaki Z1. Today the Z1 would be nothing special, but in 75, it delivered like nothing else.

I also had a 69 BSA Lightning for a while. Terrible brakes, but it was lovely to ride back roads on. I dunno how anyone ever rode those things fast though, whenever I cranked it up, it would shake so hard I couldn't see the road. It did have the advantage of making the Z1 seem civilized.

I sold the Z1 for a Suzuki GS1000S. White with a blue stripe and a "S" type faring right from the factory. They had a big reputation but mine handled like crap. I always suspected that the heavy framework in the fairing was responsible for that.

The Suzuki was sold for a 1985 K100 standard. I kept that bike for 22 years. It was buzzy at 55mph, but 55 is kind of slow isn't it. Reliable as a rock and the best low end torque of anything I have owned. An endearingly quirky design.

I bought my current R1200GS as a leftover in 2006. I kept the K100 for a while but sold it because I was moving and could not store two bikes.

Last year I added an 86 R80 figuring it would be more suitable for the local roads. It is, but I am keeping the GS for highway travel. The R80 is small and light and I am going to keep it that way.

[bubbagazoo]

1977 Kawasaki KZ400 (stolen 3 days after renewing the registration)
1978 Honda CB500T (sold)
1979 Yamaha XS650 (sold)
All of the above were 5 years old when I got them. After selling the Yamaha, there was a 20 year break without riding.

2000 BMW R1100RT
2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD
These two were traded in spring 2007 for

2003 BMW R1200CL (traded after 3 years)

2008 Suzuki Boulevard C50T

[IAMBOB]

I have list envy..

My first bike I bought in 1984, was a factory leftover from 1982.. something about tarriffs and trade embargo's that Honda and Suzuki put all their stock in warehouses in 1982 and when it was lifted they flooded the market with brand new motorcycles that were 2 years old.

Paid $1200 for a brand new two year Honda Silver Wing, and sold it for about $600 two years later when I got orders for Germany.

Skip ahead 4 kids and 20 years and my brother sends me a picture of a silver 2002 RS that was only 100 miles away at Bob's BMW. I bought that bike used in 2004 for a little more than $1200.

Sold it last year and picked up my brand new (Morton's emailed my pictures of it arriving in the crate!!) 09 R1200RT. Not having much luck in the riding department this year between traveling and the weather, so have only put 6000 miles on it since June.. but EVERY mile has been extraordinary.

[DocZ]

07 R1200 RT & 07 Suzi SV1000S - both current
98 Honda ST1100
93 R100RT
88 Guzzi Le Mans
81 Kawasaki GPZ 1100
79 Kawasaki KZ1300
76 Maico 250 WR
75 Kawasaki Z1-B
71 Yamaha DT-1

Plenty of saddle time on friends (fiends?) - Penton, CZ, Yamaha 750 Triple, Honda CX-500, Meridian generation Trumpet Trophy 500.

Brief rides on BSA 500 single & Ossa Pioneer.
Not as brief rides on Triumph Tiger triple & Ducati ST3S abs.

Several nice LONG rides on current gen Le Mans Guzzi.

The least favs are a dead heat between the Maico 250 WR (fast for the day but a pain in the wazoo to keep in full operating condition - even when Barry Higgins had his shop in his house in Oakdale - aka South Smyrna - and was a Maico wrench & stockist. The other dog was that bud's 1970 or so Triumph Trophy 500 - a pretty bike with a tranny as cooperative as a 50's era dump truck with a twin stick. If you have ANY idea to what I refer, you are a good man, woman or neither/nor. :dance

[rfkneller]

High School
1964 Honda 90
Triumph Tiger Cub (year unknown bought in 1966)

College
1966 Honda 150
1967 Honda CB 160

Motocross years
1978 Suzuki RM 125
1979 Suzuki RM 250

Back to the Road Bikes
1982 Kawasaki KZ550
1983 BMW R80
2003 BMW R1150R

[PMonk]

Kawa 350
Kawa 500
Yamaha 650
BMW R75/6 1975 Wish I still owned this one
Honda Goldwing 1983 (Leadwing)
BMW K75 hated it (whiney, almost as bad as the 07 wing)
HD Electra Glide 1986
HD Electra Glide 1989 dropped and broke Wife's leg, sold and quit riding
BMW R110RT first bike after 2 years
HD Electra Glide 1994 Wish I still owned this one too.
HD Electra Glide 2000 Too dang hot for Texas weather!
BMW K1200LT Great touring bike, just wasn't a boxer.
BMW R1150RT Great touring bike, just not big enough for 2 up touring
bikes I now own
Honda Gold Wing 2007 sold the RT and Bought the Wing to make wife happy
BMW R90/6 1974. couldn't stand not having a Boxer.
Doing a ride as I restore, now at MPH getting new rings to go with my rebuilt heads.

Next bike? Planning a trip to Alaska in 2011 for our 40th anniversary, Thinking a GS would be the perfect bike for that kind of trip! But I never will part with my /6.
Won't make that mistake again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mfifer]

Age 15 Benelli 50cc Minibike
Suzuki 50 street bike
Suzuki 90 Trail Bike
Yamaha 125 MX and Flat Track
Yamaha 250 MX and Flat Track
Honda XL100
Honda CL450
BSA Victor flat track 600 kit , big carb and Sifton Cam (My moment in the sun was on this bike beating a 750 harley on a half mile once)
Yamaha 125 twin Street
Suzuki 500 titan
Kawasaki 400 triple
Kawasaki 500 triple Street Drag 12500 RPM red line ( got in a lot of trouble on this one)
Kawasaki 750 4 stroke twin
Honda ST1300 (hated it)
Restored several CT90 Honda trail bikes
Suzuki C50 (vastly under rated bike , another almost perfect bike)
R1100RT
Yamaha RD400
2002 R1150RT

[SeabeckS]

Honda CL 72
Honda CL 77
Hodaka SuperRat
Honda CB750F
Suzuki GS850G
Suzuki GS1000G
Suzuki GS1100G
(see a trend?)
Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley Rep please can I have it back?
Suzuki 1100 Katana
Ducati 900 SS/CR ("Subaru'd on the 405, totalled)
Ducati 900 SS/SP (compliments of the Subaru's insurance)
BMW R1150R (aka "QuickSilver")

and finally, the best of the bunch...an '04 BMW R1100S in Gray/Mandarin. (It's a keeper!)

It's been a long road, but worth every mile and every smile....

Cheers, Bill J

[skychs]

Besides an assorted group of mini bikes my first motorcycle was a Honda 305 Superhawk. I sure wish I still had it today. After that. .....
Suzuki GT380
Honda SL350
Honda 500 Four
Honda CB750 Custom
Kawasaki 500
Suzuki 1200 Bandit
VTX 1800R
BMW K1200RS
BMW R1200GS

[Motodan]

interesting list, but i gotta ask, what's with all the doubles and triples in such short time spans? riding partner?


I guess I'd say I kept changing my mind about what I wanted. Went back and forth on model, colors or whatever. No riding partner, most times there was only one bike in the garage at a time.

And you can add another to the list...2009 R1200RT from Max BMW in Albany, NY.

[brewmeister]

Started with a,
!977 R100/7,ran it up to 97000+,Nice first bike Had a american eagle hack on this for 3 1/2 years
sold- 1984 R100RS,New,Traded in the /7-Ran it to 87000+ alaska blue,lots of goodies .
* 1981 R100RT,Smoked Imperial Green all stock& original with saftey goodies
sold- 1988 K100 LT,S#*t Brown(started a S#*t brown club but only 2 joined)
last 2 bikes drag 2 different trailers,I'm currently still enjoying both
* 1996 R1100RTL With 7800 originals in 5/2010 new to me. I Installed a hitch for bush tec trailer duties 4-2011

of them. :wave:thumb

* I still own these
Since june of 2010 I got a 1996 r1100rtl
Total so far I just passed my 300,000 miles I just need to send art (mischlers bmw, beaverdam wis.) the paper work.
A little history on my r100rt-1981 This bike i got in 2002, the bike was an executive driven bike( from southeast sales corp,now milwaukee bmw)
The guy i got it from bought it as new with 4600 miles on it,this was wards take it for a test ride to see how you like it bike. Ward and em drove this bike to the bmw national at hurricane mills ten. at the loretta lynn dude ranch.
I also was there on my 1977 r100/7 with american eagle sidecar on it. we camped
next to ward. upon checking my photos of old low and behold there was my green rt parkwed not to far from my /7. So this bike sure came around for me.
Since then I have talked with Em about it and she does rember the rally and trip.
I kept this all original less new consumables for safety reasons. this bike sat in bobs garage for 22 years at the time i bought it. there was a latent image of it delved in the concrete floor where it sat. this has amazed me since i uncovered this trivia.
Back to work for now but I have fun stories on all 5 of my bmw's.

The 1996R1100RTL

[Rapid_Roy]

Scotty look in regionals!
:type

a battered Yamaha 80 that blew up after 2 weeks, and I still own 3 Beemers
1955 R50
1977 R100/7
1984 R100RT
and Hog Ty the minibike

[Xilimmns]

Ok, my turn:

Started with this... in Brazil. Thanks to my dad :clap
Honda Xl 125 S, 1988
http://xilimmns.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Honda-Shadow/Shadow/XLX125S/729879004_biRay-M.jpg (http://xilimmns.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Honda-Shadow/Shadow/9697431_rxyiC#729879004_biRay-A-LB)

Then this
Honda XLX 350 R, 1991
http://xilimmns.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Honda-Shadow/Shadow/XLX350-i/729879006_axZiN-M.jpg (http://xilimmns.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Honda-Shadow/Shadow/9697431_rxyiC#729879006_axZiN-A-LB)

A little change of stile, in the U.S.
Honda Shadow Spirit 750, 2004
http://xilimmns.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Honda-Shadow/Shadow/DSC02709/655348231_4k8vA-S.jpg (http://xilimmns.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Honda-Shadow/Shadow/9697431_rxyiC#655348231_4k8vA-A-LB)

And now this
BMW R1200GS Adv, 2008
http://xilimmns.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/R1200GS-Adventure/01/796784641_ypwpb-S.jpg (http://xilimmns.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/R1200GS-Adventure/11345223_BmkcF#796784641_ypwpb-A-LB)

[bobzeliff]

Current: F650GS, Triumph Bonniville Black, XLCR
Going back in time;
R1100RT
KLR 650
CB400F
R100RT
Honda CX500
R26
Honda 90
numerous Ducati sigles, 250, 160, 350 few ran briefly
Kawa H250 triple
Honda 550 four
Bultaco Alpina 250
Bridgestone 175 Huricane
Honda 160 Dream
Suzuki 80
Rockford Silver Pidgeon

[JohnM]

Going back in time ...

Current: 1992 BMW K75RTA
1999: Suzuki GSX1100F Katana "The Big Kat"
1990: Yamaha FJ1200
1988: Yamaha XV920J Virago
1979: Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special
1977: Yamaha RD350B (AAMRR & WERA club racer)
1976: Honda CB400F
1972: Yamaha R5C

and, this Saturday ...

2009 BMW R1200R!

[Mark II]

Here they are, in the order in which they were obtained:

1982 Yamaha XT250 (same as in "Rambo") given to my by my stepfather in 1993. Had to give it up when I went to boarding school less than a year later.

2007 BMW F650GS. Love that bike, still own it.

1997 Triumph Tiger 900. I cannot say enough bad things about it. Sold it in less than 6 months.

[rockbottom]

I didn't begin riding until I was 52, so my current 2008 F800ST was my first. I'm trading it on a 2010 R1200R Special Edition in a few days.

[Motodan]

interesting list, but i gotta ask, what's with all the doubles and triples in such short time spans? riding partner?

No...couldn't decide which I liked best and went back and forth....crazy I know.

[36691]

1964 64 250 C72 Honda Dream New sold 1965
1965 65 305 CB77 Honda Hawk New sold 1967
1967 65 BMW R69s used sold 1970
1970 Got Married
1971 60 BMW R60 Died of broken crankshaft
1971 63 BMW R69s Sold 1972
Kids move to US Houses etc
!984 73 Honda CB450 kids growing up
1985 64 R60 Sold 1990
1987 80 Suzuki 650gs Sold 1990
1990 90 BMW K75s Sold 2002 168000 miles
1993 92 K1100rs Sold 2000 97000 miles
1998 97 Kawasaki Concours 30000 miles
2000 00 BMW R1150gs 203256 miles
2002 92 BMW K75s 90000 miles
2010 02 BMW R1150gs 3000 miles

Lots of miles Lots of Fun Lots of Rallies
My first Rally was in 1967 and my last one was last weekend
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/images/smilies/ilikebikes.png

[6659]

Hard to keep count so I had to keep a list. This does'nt mention the non BMW's.

1951 R51/3 1982
1954 R68 1979-97
1963 R60/2 1985-86
1965 R60/2 1981-82
1966 R69S 1989
1968 R69S 1979-84
1969 R69S 1981
1973 R75/5 1981
1973 R75/5 1992
1974 R90S 1981
1974 R90/6 1975-76
1975 R90/6 1976-81
1975 R90/6 1981-86
1975 R90/6 2006-7
1975 R90S 1988
1976 R90S 1987-88
1977 R100/7 1981
1978 R100/7 2005-
1982 R65LS 2003
1983 R80ST 1987-88
1983 R80ST 1991
1984 R100LE 1998
1984 R100TIC1986-87
1985 K100 1986-87
1986 K75 1987-94
1986 R80 1988
1986 R80 1989-91
1987 R80 1992-93
1988 R100GS
1992 K75 1993-
1993 R100R
1995 R100M
1972 R60/5

[troyboy]

Batavus moped @ 14. 1st motorcycle 75 honda cb360t. 1980 honda cx500 deluxe.1982 kawa 650 csr (rough shape,ran fine).1985 honda shadow 500.1983 honda gl1100 interstate.1995 gl1500 aspencade(first new bike). 1978 honda cb750k. a mid-70's suzuki dual sport(ts or tl500 ?).1991 harley fxrs-sp (looked good,handled poorly).2000 royal enfield bullet 500(2nd new bike).2002 honda gl1800(bright yellow/new). Later,I had a csc trike conversion done. Summer of 09 saw a 78bmw 100/7 that needed a new home. Currently,I have my trike and /7.

[Bigbird]

I noticed this thread was just lists of bikes folks had. Heck, how about some pictures! Here's my "Illustrated List" :usa

My first bike was a 1959 Zundapp Super Sabre that I bought for @ $250 in the fall of 1965.
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/1959-Zundapp-Super-Sabre-250/101726063_CMvZc-S.jpgDon't hace a pic of my Zundapp, but it was the same model. Rode that thing all thru the winter in Southern Illinois .

Next was my first, and , to date only "brand new" bike - a 1966 Ducati Scrambler bought it in March 1966..
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/Tom-Pete-Schmitz-Carbondale/345213782_gXNpC-M.jpg

It was a great bike to tear around on the cinder and gravel back roads - you could broadslide the baby just like Freddy Nix -OK, on one of his off days :). Even did a local Hill Climb and an Observed Trials on it.

Kept it all thru college then sold it to my brother when I went into the Air Force. He beat the crap out of it and I got it back again 4 years later in 1975 - in a basket spray painted lemon yellow!
I renovated the Duke thru several forms - Finally into a road bike - modeled after the Diana, complete w/ authentic Ducati Racing megaphone exhuast(Whaat! I can't hear you!), 11,000 rpm Veglia tach (it'd turn 10,000), giant Del Orto carb and low sport bars.
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/Toms-Ducati-250-Diana-summer/101726086_kt7pP-M.jpgManaged to "do the ton" as the Brits say. That doesn't seem like much now, but for a 250 single and my 225 lbs+, that was pretty hot stuff "back in the day". I kept the Duke til @ 1984 then sold it.

There were a number of bikes after that - most were of the "needs work" variety.
A 1965 Honda CB160 -THink I paid 50 bucks for it in @ 1980. Here it is before restoring it - no "after pics the:dunno
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/Pict4999/129847148_3exNd-M.jpg
That little bike hauled my big butt around pretty nicely & having an electric starter was real luxury!

I got a 1965 Greeves model 24TFS Enduro @ 1981 - it was my first real Dual Sport.
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/Greeves-1965-Woods-Enduro-250/101726072_U6hxo-M.jpg
It would putt-putt-putt up any trail or incline and the leading link front forks were great.

Let's see, had a "free, just get it out of here" Vespa Scoter for a while - a 1958 model I think @ 1981. http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/1959-Vespa-150/965527100_yNakP-M.jpg
Here's a pic of the same model - mine never looked this good!

Then there was a period of @ 14 years with no bike at all - too busy raising - and paying for - kids.

Finally got back on 2 wheels in 1999 - a 1987 BMW K75.
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/FirstRideOf-The/101726070_rtYRU-M.jpg
First ride of the season, in late Aprilhttp://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Motorcycling-States-Provinces/ID/421077545_4Ysv8-M.jpg
This is Idaho on the way back from the 2001 Remond Rally
Bought it w/ 45K on it, kept it 4 years, rode 40K miles, thru 29 states and 5 provinces before selling it.

Had a couple of "restoration project" bikes also.
A 1983 Yamaha YZ125 - in 2002
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/the-YZ-125-as-of-aug-23-2006sc/101726076_Zfg2y-M.jpgran like blazes, but I'm not into racing, so after I got it together I sold it to a young guy who was.

Next was an "it's all there" 1969 Bultaco Matador 250 project, in 2006. Here's the "after"...
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/5-matador-right2-july-2007/341466455_9C62j-M.jpg
Took me almost 2 years, but it turned out beatifully. Ran nicely too. Got my money back out of it in a sale to a co-worker.

Meanwhile, in 2001 , bought my main ride a 1998 BMW 1100GS .
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/my-98-BMW-1100GS-oct-18-2004sb/101726073_w5Ev9-M.jpg
[http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/CroMag-Campout-2006/CroMag06-sep-9-2006-Saturday/94672778_4nGgE-M.jpg
It was a great road bike but a bit much in the soft stuff, at least for me. Kept it 4 years, 30K miles and then went...

to my first Kawasaki, a 2003 KLR 650. in 2006.
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/CroMag2007-july-27-2007/229624421_RCCBd-M.jpg
It was a 2003 and had lots of mods. I loved it. But after just over a year I sold it :( . I gave in to temptation....

and got another BMW - a gorgeous 1982 R100RS in 2008
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/Tom-the-new-BMW-june-22/335976479_Tyta7-M.jpg
It was a wonderful bike but ...

I missed Dual-Sporting and my old KLR. I was able to negotiate an even-up trade of the R100RS for another KLR - this one a 2006
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Toms-Motorcycles-Past-and/CIMG2542/368428185_k4Fuz-M.jpg

I've had the KLR now 2 years but wanting to get more of a road bike, so I took up an offer to trade the KLR for this...
http://bigbird.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/The-New-BMW-a-1999-R1100S/1999-BMW-R1100Sl/945607946_wT3XK-M.jpg
A 1999 BMW R1100S! Vrooom! Vrooom! So I'm back in the BMW fold Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. Cheers,

[robert.bantly]

1982 Kawasaki GPZ-550 while in the Bay Area (1 year, wrecked by room-mate :violin I was 19 years old and did pretty well, even though it wasn't much of a starter ride. very fast for it's time.

1981 Yamaha Seca 650 while in the Bay Area - stolen at a concert even with locks - probably a victim of the evil Tommy Lift Gang! :violin
This was a great bike, not super fast but shaft drive, windshield and bags - rode it to the top of Mt. Lassen.


1986 Yamaha FZ-750 in Camarillo / North LA - 5 years and traded in for the ZX-11. Good ride, not very comfortable though. Did PCH from LA - Carmel, the Santa Monica's, and surrounding good roads. MSF back then, so lots of riding improvements.

1993 Kawasaki ZX-11C San Diego and Louisville (10 years) Kept this one for a long time and got some great canyon and mountain riding out of this one. Added riser blocks to the handlebars for a little more rider endurance. Sold in 2003. More comfort than a full-on sportbike and enough horses for anyone. I actually commuted on it to work every day. At 10 years, I started having fairly regular problems with it, so time to sell.

2010 R1200GS Adventure - love at first sight 3 weeks ago and nearing break-in maintenance. Most comfortable motorcycle I have ever had - should have got one years ago! My transition out of the sport bike community.

Cheers / Robert

[mrtnfischer]

Allstate vespa 125
Vespa GS 150 (hid it in the woods so Mom wouldn't find it):nyah
Triumph Tiger cub 200 (wow a real bike)
Norton Twin 600 with Siamise pipe high (track bike)
Ducati 250 desmo twin (now in a swamp in Florida)(tried to kill me):hungover
Matchless 600 Twin (or 650) (ate its pistons near lake Okeechobee)
Yamahaha 250 Big Bear Scrambler
Bsa Lightning 650
1954 BSA 500 Single (B33) (ran over a german shepard with this):banghead
(2)Triumph T100C 500 high pipe (30 years apart):brow
BMW 900/something with Vetter and bags
BMW R900RT/
Yamahaha 125 endo
1000 GL Honda
1000 GL Honda(2 years apart):brow
1100 GL Honda
1200 Gl Honda
1200GL Honda (10 years apart)
Harley 1988 FLHTC
Moto Guzzi G7 1000 (leaked oil)
Harley 1999 FLHTC (got tired of the repairs)
1200 LT 2004 BMW
Honda GL1500 (lotsa Buffeting)
Kawasaki 650 single
Kawasaki 650 SE
Kawasaki 650 4 cyl (awful bike, would not corner):nyah
Kawasaki 650 single (2nd and about 8 years apart)
BMW1150 GS
BMW 900 GS airhead bumbelbee
BMW r1200rt (current and best of the lot)
(6) Honda ct90 (trails) still have them and some are for sale

I might have missed a few :wow But I cant remember them all, I started when I was 15 and I am now 67. Not that anyone really gives a toot. buit it sure is fun.

[2bikemike]

No pix, but

Honda CL 70
Yamaha 80
Honda SL 125 ( Most memories )
Yamaha DT 250
Long, long break
Honda VT 1100 ACE
BMW R1150 RT
Honda CB 650 Custom

[ZekeZeller]

1965 Honda Super 90 and took my 1 year old on many short trips
1967 Honda CB 160, took a friend over 60 mph and that was the last ride for him.
About 1970 Yamaha 350, felt like a rocket but 2 cycle plugs fouled often
other bikes but don't remember order or year
Harley single, what terrible vibrations, didn't keep it long
Suzuki 450 6 speed, nice bike
Honda 500 Four, I really liked this bike and kept it a long time but got a bit crazy with it and took a few years off.
Kawasaki 500 twin
Kawasaki Vulcan 750 twin
Honda Shadow 750 twin
Yamaha 500 twin
1990 Kawasaki Voyageur
1995 Honda Goldwing
My 1st BMW R1200C Montana - Wish I still had it
2005 BMW K1200LT Fantastic for long distance touring. Did 7500 mile trip with my wife across Canada (see 2009 BMWON for story)
2006 R1200RT - REALLY love this bike and have ridden it to several rallys including Wyoming and TN international rallys.

I think that is it - oh yes along the way there was a Honda 50 scooter type and a CT 70, these were mainly for wife and kids.

I turn 73 in a few weeks and LOVE riding BMWs!!

[26667]

When I was four or five Tommy Davidson and I would go down the alley about fifty yards to Saar's Harley shop, a one-man operation in my home town, Ottawa, IL. We'd go in and gawk at the two black and orange bikes leaning against the walls, and then after a time the owner would come out of the shop area and shoo us away. Every few days we'd play the game all over again. Nothing really hooks you like the thing you can't have. Tommy's dad had a red and white Harley, too, with a big windshield, and a giant solo (read; big enuf for two!) saddle, and he'd never give me a ride. The bastard. Of course, now I'd never give the neighbors' kids a ride either! Flash forward about twenty-five years and I stumbled on "Rider" magazine and Pirsig just about simultaneously. That winter I registered for the MSF course taught by Marjorie Jennings and Dale McCormick...February in Chicago inside a Nat'l Guard armory waaaay out on the South side, Margie and Dale rode his 75 ( vanity plate: 44mpg) most nights. I bought an Eclipse tank bag and a Nava helmet because from what I could see in the magazines I was buying, the BMW guys were the 'real' riders. And waited. That spring I bought a Honda CX 500, partly because I thought it was somehow similar to the R65 I couldn't afford, and drove it to GCNP, Yellowstone and back home again with my friend on her CB400! We met two BMW riders from FLA, Dennis Williams and Mary Franchi, in Zion, and then hooked up with them again in Yellowstone. I was sold on BMW's by Dennis' Black R80 and his smooth, fast riding style. Friend Deems from Iowa told me about a dealership in Davenport getting out of the BMW biz, so I rode over and bought the R100 I eventually rode for twenty years. We always called it "The Black Bitch,'' but I loved that bike. The gal at West Valley Cycle talked me out of it because it needed a Hall's sensor. Worst moto advice I ever got. Only 85K on the clock! We got rid of the R80 oilhead she sold us, because nobody liked it, and replaced it with an R11RT which I rode back to Chicago when we moved from LA. But the Kennedy was too much for me. I'm really one of the nation's stellar slow riders. I don't need that much more practice. So I traded for a 75S, but didn't really really love it. So I sold it to a guy in WI who loved it. Couple years later I really need to own a bike and I found a '78 R100RS, bike o' my dreeemz with only 18 K on the clock. Paid his ask and then spent three years on Seymour's lift. It might be perfect now, but I worried, so I sold it for exactly what I'd paid. You know what I spent restoring it. But I found a nice used R11RT at Cycle Werks of Barrington...and finally made it to The Dragon about a month ago. Can't wait to see what's next!:dance:bikes

[beemrtim]

I learned to ride in the Black Hills of SD in the mid-50's. My dad and I flew out to Rapid City in his 1947 Cessna 140 to visit my mother, who was spending the summer with her three sisters. After about three days listening to "girl talk", we borrowed a car from my uncle and set out to explore Rapid City.

We found a Triumph Motorcycle dealer willing to rent us a 250 Tiger Cub and a 500Tiger, and headed for the Hillls.
About 10 years latter dad opened a camper sales outlet and was offered the excusive sales rights to Bridgestone Motorcycles in our area. First bike: 250 Bridgestone, to be shared with little Brother!

Little Brother crashed it!

Fast foreward many many years (2000). A friend and I are sitting on the patio of a beachside bar in Orange Beach, AL when we see a group of Harley's rumble past.

My friend turns to me and says: "Thats what we need to do, get us a motorcycle! Its obvious we will never be worth a s..t at golf, we need another hobby."

My reply: "Yeah sure Lewis, when you get yours, just call me, and I will buy one too!"

Within 2-3 weeks he did just that, calling my bluff, I started looking around.

Being a basic tightwad, and reluctant to sink a small fortune into a new machine, risking loss of the first years depreciation, I started looking at the pre-owned bikes. Since I drove a BMW, I decided to look into BMW bikes. I can honestly say, I knew nothing about BMW motorcycles, their history, or the MOA. I was starting from scratch!

My next first bike: 1987 K100LT
2) 1993 k1* (purchased from original owner with 1600 miles on the clock)
3) 1999 R1100S**
4) 99) R1100GS*
5) 76) R90/6**
6) 76 Moto Guzzi 850T
7) 75) R90S*
8) 99) Triumph Thunderbird**
9) 02) R1150RT**
10) 1970 Triumph T100C (as new)*
11) 06) Ducati Multistrada*

10 years, 11 bikes and 200,000+ miles, I have to admit that I am hooked.
* Still have these!
** Wish I still had them
Tim

[bmwrider88]

1st bike
1972 Triumph T120C
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii42/ricochetrider/bonneville%20pix/P1060376.jpg
(the one i'm holding up)
- 250.00! boy it always seemed bit *loose*. when it MELTED (as it sat beside my house when it burned down), i found it'd been badly wrecked and cobbled back together- all the putty popped out of the welds in the frame! there was actually a bow of about an inch in the frame... and i rode that bike like i stole it! WFO everywhere i went... ah the joys of *youth*.
it'd rattle the eyeballs right out of your head @ 65 MPH.

2nd bike
1979 Triumph T140E Bonneville,
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii42/ricochetrider/bonneville%20pix/sundaybimble023.jpg

still got it! great bike, but i'd like to sell it if anyone's into it, lemme know.

3rd Bike, a
1988 K100.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii42/ricochetrider/Bryan%20and%20Marie%20visit%20June%202010/P1010370.jpg
i probably have more money in paint alone than the thing is worth, let alone all the other work that's gone into this one...
still got it, heck can't AFFORD to sell it. note the Ohlins shock, very sweet.

4th bike,
1974 Norton 850 Commando.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii42/ricochetrider/norton%20pix/e015acfd.jpg
rebuilt with first quality USA, English, and Canadian motor parts... hot-rodded to the hilt.
still got it

5th bike,
a custom, one-off Triumph bobber made out of all old Triumph parts... except the back wheel, a H/D 16" wheel. 1973 Tiger 750, 5 speed motor, single carb, titled on a '69 frame with bolt-on hard-tail rear section... definitely a hot rod with open pipes- not too *subtle*.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii42/ricochetrider/bobber%20pix/Picture1050.jpg
still got it

6th bike,
1988 BMW R100RT
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii42/ricochetrider/bmw%20pix/964edc1b.jpg
sold it

7th bike,
1993 BMW R100RS-
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii42/ricochetrider/BMW%20R100RS%201993/CopyofP1010455.jpg
last of the Airhead RS series, limited production numbers, something like 250 made, only 38 imported. also has an Ohlins shock! what a fun ride.
still got it.

can you tell i'm KINDA into Vintage motorcycles? well, i am considering getting something a bit newer? late model Hinckley Triumph, maybe a T100? and/or a 2006/2007 K1200GT.....

[Kikallez]

1970 Honda 90 "Fonzi" bike. I was 8 years old
Honda 90 3 wheeler don't know year
Honda Magna 1984? Was hubby's
1984 Honda moped
2006 Honda VLX Deluxe
2006 Harley Davidson Street Bob
2006 Suzuki GSXR600
2007 Harley Davidson Street Glide
2007 Honda CRF 230L
2007 Ninja 500

And what I am convinced is my forever bike....my BMW F 650 GS!

[mfifer]

1970 Honda 90 "Fonzi" bike. I was 8 years old
Honda 90 3 wheeler don't know year
Honda Magna 1984? Was hubby's
1984 Honda moped
2006 Honda VLX Deluxe
2006 Harley Davidson Street Bob
2006 Suzuki GSXR600
2007 Harley Davidson Street Glide
2007 Honda CRF 230L
2007 Ninja 500

And what I am convinced is my forever bike....my BMW F 650 GS!

Go Girl !!!!
and WELCOME !!!! :usa

Mike

[Rad]

Updated for the visual learner, some are stock photos or sister bikes

Honda 90
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/38118593_JPays-M.jpg

Yamaha DT-1 250
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/194556359_uP2JX-L.jpg

Honda CB450
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/267898128_Gm9nK-M.jpg

Honda CB550K
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/117610506_SUbK3-M-1.jpg

Honda CB750F
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/194560403_PGYih-M.jpg

Yamaha 650
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/126911366_SYSQJ-M.jpg

Honda CX500
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/194556314_hj9os-M.jpg

Honda 1994 VFR
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/176129096_weNno-M-1.jpg

BMW R1100RS
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/38118625_N8USg-M.jpg

BMWR1100S
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/106659140_8fAKH-M.jpg

1974 Norton
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/91988206_z3zmK-M.jpg

BMW R1150GS
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/38118587_CVj5F-M.jpg

KTM 640 Adventure
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/38174234_HgBUe-M.jpg

05’ Honda VFR
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/52720533_YuQfq-M.jpg

03' BMW R1150RT
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/938241344_aCRMG-M-1.jpg

04' BMW R1100S
http://rad.smugmug.com/photos/i-qDBcw9V/0/M/i-qDBcw9V-M.jpg

[JohnRyan]

1971 Honda CB350
1977 Honda CB750F
1984 Honda VF1000F Interceptor
1985 Yamaha FJ1100
1987 Yamaha FZR1000
1989 Kawasaki EX500
1994 Yamaha FZR1000
1995 BMW K75
2005 Yamaha FJR1300

John

"There's Absolutely No Excuse for the Way I'm About to Act"
http://www.longerfasterstronger.wordpress.com

[Brisco]

Honda CT 70
1970 Honda SL 125 (Got my first driver's permit on this one. 14yrs old)
1971 Triumph 750 Tiger
1971 HD Sportster
1975 HD Superglide
1980 HD Tourglide
1991 HD Tourglide Classic
1996 HD FLHS
2008 Kawasaki Versys
2002 BMW R1150RT

Been riding street bikes since I got my Driving Permit in 1973 on that Honda SL 125.

[Rod Sheridan]

1973 Triumph T120R Bonneville (gone)

1974 BMW R90/6 (Murdered by an SUV)

1975 850 Norton Commando (still own)

1983 Honda CX650E (Gone to starving student)

1976 BMW R90/6 Current ride

1930 James

Regards, Rod.

[reuterstl]

1972 Honda 125 enduro
1982 Yamaha 650 Seca Turbo
1984 Kawasaki 900 Ninja
1997 Ducati 900 SS/CR (Yellow)
2003 BMW F650 CSA (Still Own)
2003 BMW R1100SLA
1999 Ducati 996
2008 BMW R1200GS
2010 BMW K1300S (Still Own)

[Vagabird]

'77 Suzuki GS400
'80 Suzuki GS750
'42 Harley Davidson Servicar (heavily modified)
'82 BMW R100 RT
'65 BMW R60/2 with Globe sidecar (wish I still had it)
'97 Harley Davidson Sportster
'00 BMW R1100 RT
'07 Moto Guzzi Norge
'07 BMW R1200 RT
'08 BMW R1200 GS
'12 BMW K1600 GT

I've learned my lesson. The Suzukis were learner bikes, but the other non-BMWs were attempts to try something different. I was always dissatisfied because they weren't like a BMW. I guess I'm stuck with BMWs. :whistle

- Kate

[AKsuited]

'75 Hodaka 100 "Road Toad"
'86 BMW K75C - Sprint fairing with dual headlights
'03 BMW R1150RT - Silver

Harry

[CBrider]

Yamaha GT80 - not mine, my cousin's. Got the fire started, though.

Honda CL200 - My mom's. She didn't ride it, so it became my first bike. Slammed it into the side of a car that stopped in front of me unexpectedly when it was doing a u-turn. Never forget the look on the guy's face. Never used the front brake (know lots better now). My knee still gets sore 30 years later.

Honda XL185 - My first. My own. Always my love. I did it all on that bike - wheelies, jumps, sand... Rode to highschool and work over two entire South Dakota winters. Always cold, but sometimes magical. My dad said it made me tuff.

Kawasaki LTD750 - Got it the summer after my junior year in highschool. Learned to speed shift and drag raced anything/anyone willing to give it a go.

Yamaha YZ125 - Spent several years refining what dirt skills I have in the AZ desert.

Kawasaki GPz550 - Found a 1981 model with 5K miles in mint condition at a small private service shop in Flagstaff, AZ in 1997. My dream street ride as a kid, so I had to have it. Rode it as my sole means of transportation for three years going to college and basically wore it out.

Suzuki GSX1100G - A big, late-model Japanese standard built when no one wanted them. I found it used with low mileage and bought it cheap. Served me well.

BMW F650 - The thumper. Wanted something that would get me into the dirt without the need to haul it there in a pickup. Lots of fun, but too many compromises, IMO.

BMW R1200 GSA - What I'm riding now. Love it as a street bike; appreciate it as a gravel road explorer, but still Jones for a small dirt bike.

:blah

[plexiform]

1st solo ride 9yrs old - 1973 Honda 70 - it was a 10 minute ride and an unforgettable feeling.

1st motorcycle of my own (9th grade) - 1989 Kawazaki KE100 - speeding ticket day one -- before I even had a drivers license :brow

1st real bike - BMW R100/7 78 - needed the money so had to sell it.

1978 Honda GL-1000 - needed the money so had to sell it.

2003 Moto Guzzi V11 LeMans - needed the money so had to sell it.

1988 BMW R100rs (pearl white with solo seat and S-fairing) - sadly got rid of it but missed it so much bought another one later on - see below

1998 BMW R1200c - one bad ass cruiser.....but not 'BMW' enough for my taste so got rid of it.

2004 BMW R1150GS Adventure - most amzing bike in the world - sadly needed the money so had to sell it.....regretting every minute of it.

1988 BMW R100rs (with solo seat and full RS fairing - this full fairing is even better than the S for highway speeds.) - never gonna let this one go :thumb

[geisterfahrer]

When I was 18, a Honda CB125S. First bike ever. Kept it for about a year.

After a long hiatus, two marriages and divorces, I won an eBay auction for a Honda Nighthawk 650. That started my re-aquaintance with two-wheeled adventure. That bike was pretty much rideable when I bought it, and after putting new tires on it, and a few other maintenance items, I rode it for a couple of years. Sold it to a friend's son, and he's still riding it.

In the meantime, I won another eBay auction for a Suzuki GS750L that had been sitting in a garage for 12 years. I rehabilitated that bike, and rode it for a while, but I could not get comfortable on the L frame (a cruiser configuration). I sold it last year to someone who could appreciate it.

I bought a new (year-old dealer stock) Honda Nighthawk 250 in 2008 because I fell in love with the nimble little bike at the BRC training. I still have that bike, and ride it often.

I found my Beemer on an eBay auction. I did not win the auction, but it did not meet reserve. I contacted the seller, who was local, and negotiated a price. I rode it throughout the fall, and then over the winter I stripped it down to the bare frame and rebuilt it. That's been two seasons ago, and despite some old bike gremlins I had to fix, I've been loving it ever since. I think I will be keeping this one.

[fabiox]

Montesa 360 1978 ****Rio de Janeiro Brazil
Suzuki Katana 1981 ***************Rome Italy
Honda XL 600 1985 ****(bought new) Rome Italy
Suzuki 750GS 1983*************** Rome Italy
Didn't ride in the 90s
Harley Davidson Sporters 1200 2002 ******** NYC I hate it this bike
BMW R100RT 1994*****************NYC I fund love
BMW R1150GS 2002****************NYC Love it

[RODNEY.ANDERSON@COX.NET]

I bought a '74 Honda CB360G in December of '74 with a bit over 4400 miles showing on the clock. This was in northern Colorado. I found out very soon how cold you can get at 28 degrees with the wind chill... It didn't take long for me to put a handlebar mount fairing on it, which extended my riding season significantly.

I rode it about 11,000 miles in 23 months and then traded it on a new '77 Yamaha RD400.

I put a Windjammer fairing on the RD and rode it over 36,000 miles over the next 10 years. The RD was a great motorcycle. It was much more comfortable, faster and got better mileage than the Honda. I wish I could buy another one.

I traded the RD on a leftover 83 Yamaha 650 Seca Turbo in the fall of '87 as a present to myself when I made Chief in the Navy. I rode it about 55,000 miles by the time I retired in January of '96, including one trip from San Diego to northern Colorado to visit family. On the return I rode from Grand Junction, CO to San Diego in one (very long) day. The speed limit was still 55 mph back then.

When I retired from the Navy I took a job that required me to carry tools and the Turbo mostly set in the garage for the next 3 and 1/2 years. I managed only about another 3,000 miles over that 3 year period. I sold it in the summer of '99 when work took us from San Diego to New Jersey, because I didn't think NJ was anyplace I would want to ride a motorcycle.

We moved back to San Diego the beginning of '05 and I started to get the itch to buy another bike, but it didn't make economic sense. My wife and I carpooled to work for several years and the bike would have meant extra gas expense.

The beginning of this year the boss moved our office from northern San Diego into downtown. This put a stop to the carpool business and now the bike makes sense. Parking downtown for a car is $10 to $17 per day, but a motorcycle can park for free.

I bought an '02 K1200RS the first of February and put 4350 miles on it by the middle of May. I took it in for it's 60K service and the mechanic wrecked it when he had it out for a test ride after the service. The insurance company declared it a total loss.

We settled and I replaced the RS with an '01 R1100RT. I've ridden it about 2400 miles in the last 5 weeks or so. I'm having a great time and looking to duplicate the trip to Colorado this summer.

[69zeff65]

1973 Suzuki 185, 1969 Honda SL 350, two '71 and two '72 Honda SL 350's Bikes and a truck load of NOS parts and trinkets are all gone. Three 1961 R 26's, 1961
R 50S, 1994 R1100 RS, 2003 R1100 S BCR #172 regrettably all gone, Current toys 1969 R 60US Dover White, 1962 R 50S Dover White over Black, 1965 R 69S Bristol Grey, two 2001 Kawasaki W 650's, 2004 1150 GSA, 2005 1200HP-2E, '75 R 90/5, In process of restoration and or tweaking '73 R 75/5, '75 R 90/6, '55 R 50, '68 R60US original Granada Red, Hooligan /2 conversion Cafe' racer in planning & parts collecting stage. Pending acquisitions '75 R 90S, '78 R 100S. I used to have money and time now I just have fun!!!

[69zeff65]

Two Honda XR 75's bought restored and sold in 3 months.

[cw36]

1988 K75c (low seat)
2009 R1200R
2000 R11000S (current ride)

[lrende]

Started on a yamaha 100 enduro, 1972, the rode my father's hodaka 125 wombat. We rode in the dirt as kids. In the late 70's my brother and I rode a honda 350 twin. I finished college and went to graduate school, the honda and yamaha were sold. In 1987 I bought a 1986 Kawasaki 1000, great bike.
My wife and I took many a trip to the finger lake region of new york with it. at the time it was competing with the beemers as a sport touring bike, we had a great time on that bike. Sold it in 1994 for $300.00 less than I paid for it. The buyer was very motivated. In june of 2010, I bought a brand new k1300gt,
can't believe I waited this long to get back to riding again, this bike is amazing.

[Mike M]

In order:

1998 BMW K1200RS Red
1998 Honda Valkyrie Black
1976 Honda GoldWing Red
2000 Honda Blackbird Grey
2002 Harley Davidson RoadGlide Black
2003 BMW K1200RS Black
2003 BMW R1150GS Adv Black
1974 BMW R90/6 Black
2005 BMW R1200GS Black
2006 BMW R1200GS Black
2005 BMW K1200S Black
2002 BMW K1200LT Black
2007 BMW K1200GT Graphite

Loved them all----not as much the HD. It was a beautiful-looking machine, it just didn't perform.

[retread877]

Honda 50 - sometime in the 60's
some Japanese micro-twin, either 90 or 100 cc
Yamaha RD350 - actually honeymooned 2 up on this one. Subsequently watched tv thru the frame over one winter while I (a machinist at the time) built a motor - ported and polished, riser blocks for the reed valves, etc. Wrapped it up, test rode it, the throttle stuck so I drove the truck to work that night (2nd shift) and tore up my clutch hand. Sold it to the landlord's son, who terrorized most everything on two wheels with it until he low-sided it into a metal guardrail. Broke my heart to see my motor...........
850 Commando - YES! Except with a passenger, you sat on the main downtube, and important parts "went to sleep"! Geez that was a great bike.
650 Yamaha Seca - ok, no real emotion involved
BMW R80 RT - red, huge fairing, love.
K75T - from VT to Bike week in 86? maybe 87, I recall the bike as being an 86, but I'm probably wrong. Daytona back to VT in one fell swoop. Seeing little green men as the snow melt began to harden up around Manchester VT.
My Bumblebee - still have photos (somewhere) of it on Rt 17 (Appalachian Gap, VT) on 14 February, the day I picked it up from Carl's in Montpelier. 67,000 miles in two years, it succumbed (sort of) to a wiring harness fire. As I recall, replaced (temporarily) by an R100 with a Pichler.
R100 w/Pichler - rode New Year's Day, early 90s? in northern VT. Just to keep up my year round personal record (at least one 100 mile day every month of the year). Found steering head grease set up so hard that I had problems turning the bike around in town.
5 years lost to serious bout of depression.
Another R80RT - had been down, rode a little sideways, but I was back on two wheels
Dry spell - another 10 years
Kaw KLR 650 - much fun, but not an airhead. Longing returns. I want a real motorsickle!
In the works! 95 R100R, 9600 on the clock. Doing a fly and ride next week. Here's hoping reality measures up to the advertisement. Will follow up................

[Visian]

5 years lost to serious bout of depression.

that's because you didn't have a motorcycle! :hungover

[jimbob1960]

In order, by approx year:
1968 Cat mini-bike from Oshman's in Houston
1975, 1971 Suzuki TS-125
1975, 1967 Montgomery Wards 350 (Benelli)
1979, 1978 Yamaha XS-1100
1980, 1970 650 Triumph Tiger
1981, 1972 Triumph Bonneville 750
1981, 1981 Yamaha 750 Seca
1983, 1983 Yamaha 650 Turbo (#1, stolen)
1983, 1983 Yamaha 650 Turbo (#2)
1984, 1977 Can-Am Qualifier IV 175
1984, 1978 Penton 250
1984, 1979 KTM 390
1985, 1986 Husqvarna WR400
1987, 1976 Penton 175
1989, 1978 Yamaha SR500 (#1)
1990, 1983 Suzuki GS850
1991, 1979 Moto Guzzi SP1000
2005, 1978 Yamaha SR500 (#2, UK Spec)
2005, 1983 Yamaha Seca 900, (UK Spec)
2010, 1971 Rokon RT140
2011, 2011 Honda Airblade (wife's, Vietnam Spec)
2011, 1980 BMW R100RT
2011, 1968 BMW R50/2

:bikes

[nomadman]

'73 Triumph Bonnie
'78 BMW R80/7
'78 BMW R100/7
'79 BMW R100 S
'78 HD Low Rider
'78 HD FLH
'83 BMW R100 RS
'85 (?) Wing Aspencade (aack!)
'92 BMW R100 GS/PD
'95 BMW R1100 GS
'-- BMW K1100 RS
'00 BMW R1150 GS
'02 BMW K1200 LT
'01 (?) BMW K1100 LT w/ EML GT2 hack
'03 (?) BMW K1200 GT whatever the first year in US was
'06 (?) KTM 950 Adv.
'07 BMW K1200 LT
'07 BMW R1200 GS ADV
I think that's all of them.

The one that has outlived everything since 2000 is my 1150 GS, but the one I most regret parting with is the PD.

[jerulator]

To the best of my memory......
1...1970 Suzuki TS90 (5 speed not the 2-range 4 speed)
2...1973 Yamaha DT175 (maroon color)
both of these bike were converted for dirt only riding
3...1976 Yamaha YZ 125 (had the big cans on the forks)
4...1976 Husqvarna 250CR GP Heiki Mikkola replica (except a 250)
5...1976 Yamaha RD400 (Orange)
6...1978 Husqvarna 250CR (whip antenna forks)
7... 1980 Husqvarna 250CR
8... 1987 Kawasaki KX 250 (formerly Ricky Ryans practice bike)
9...1985 BMW K100RS (Loved it)
10...1992 Husqvarna / Cagiva 350 WXC (didnt suck)
11...2004 Husqvarna TC450 (Italian stallion)***
only bike I ever purchased brand new was the husky 450
12...1980 BMW R100RT ***

***denotes still own and ride

At 11 yrs old, my son appears to be carrying on the tradition (with some help from dad :thumb)

His rides are/were
1...1999 Husqvarna "Husky Boy" 50cc twist and go
2...2001 Kawasaki KX65
3...1994 Yamaha YZ80 ***

Jerry

[R1100rtP]

Growing up in a family with no Motorcycles, didn't start riding until 1981. (already had 3 kids. Some painful learning experiences led me to the purchase of an automatic in 1981
1981 Honda CM400A bought new & traded for:
1982 Honda SilverWing Interstate bought new & traded for:
1983 BMW R65 new/traded for:
1985 R80RT - sold with 136k, and purchased:
1986 R80RT sold
1988 K75C (still own)
1964 Yamaha YDS250 - purchased from collector - still own
1984 R65LS purchased used & sold

1994 K75RTP - Purchased new in 1997 - sold in 2007 :cry
1990 Honda NX250 - Purchased used - Still own
1999 F650 - sold
2000 R1100RTP- purchased New in 2004 Still own
2007 R1200 GS - purchased new - Still own

Sold Honda NX250
Purchased new 2011 DR 650

[bobzeliff]

yep this is a memory test. approximate years.

1963 Rockford Silver Pigeon scooter
1965 Suzuki 80 sport
1964 Honda 160 Dream
1966 Bridgestone 175 Hurricane I was a dealer for these one summer to pay for this
1972 Bultaco Alpina 250 ( wonderful woods bike...i miss this most)
Ducati Single phase Several basket case Ducati 160 and 250 single resoling in one marginal 160 Monza running..sort of.
1972 Kawasaki 250 triple
1974 Honda CB500 four
1978 Honda CX500 This bike got me in to touring
1982 BMW R100RT
1978 Harley XLCR Still have this one
1976 Honda 90 Trail the kids bike
1996 BMW R1100RT
1997 Kawasaki KLR 650
2008 Triumph Bonnieville Black
2010 BMW F650GS

[martinPH]

OK, a trip down memory lane.

1938 Aerial 500cc
1938 Aerial 500cc
195? Norton Jubilee
1961 Aerial Golden Arrow SS
1952 A7 BSA
1954 A7 BSA
196? A50 BSA
196? A65 BSA
1956 Douglas Dragonfly
196? Honda 305
197? Yamaha 650
1979 Kawasaki 750
1971 Triumph 750
1978 R80 BMW
1955 R69 BMW
1980 R100 BMW
198? Honda Gold Wing. ( I won this one)
1984 R100RT BMW
199? Honda 400
1977 R100 BMW
1988 R100RT BMW
199? K75 BMW
199? R1100RTP BMW
1999 R 1100GS BMW
2003 R 1150GS BMW
That’s all I can remember, along with many dirt bikes.

[kthflieger]

Started out on a honda 90 that I had to sneak out of the house since I wasn't licensed and Dad never gave me permission to ride. Got busted though when I jumped the bike and damaged the rear fender and light.....
On to a Kaw 175 enduro that I rode through high school. Had a honda CB360 in Germany but it only lasted about 90 days at autobahn speeds before it had a melt down.
Came back to the States and noticed that in 3 years all the kids at the high school had graduated to 750 or larger.....man....where did they find the money??!!
From there I tried to restore an old one lung Duc....250 or something but could not find parts - scrapped it. Moved on to a Honda CX500 custom....great bike - wish I had it today to use as a teaching bike. GL1100 and finally 1200RT. 35 yrs of riding and can say only laid it down once....in a blizzard in Eagles Nest NM. knock wood!!