How many Bikers? (of the motor kind)

[Night Train]

In many ways I still miss my bike.

A Harley Davidson 1450cc FSXTB Night Train, hence my forum name, that I bought new after passing my bike test.

I would probably still have it were it not for the bike being a Friday afternoon bodge job with everything wrong that could be wrong and a dealership and parent company that cared more about trying to get me to join a 'local chapter' then actually fixing the bike.

I eventually paid for the repairs to be done and then it was a really nice bike, but expensive.
Got shot of it in the end and used the cash to set up my furniture making workshop.

 

[Slaav]

I still ride a bike, but not as often.

I have a Blackbird and once a year together with a few friends we have a bit of a road trip Europe where the roads are better and the traffic much lighter.

CBR 600's are still a cracking bit of kit.

Funnily enough my new found hobby (humph humph) has got me thinking about returning to the fold of motorised 2 wheels.....

As part of that awful bored MAMIL thing, have flitted from new bike gear and stuff to Bikes on a well known (PH) motoring forum.

Kept gravitating back to a Blackbird for some reason? (the point of my reply)

So, what are they like? MAte had one a while ago but I am rather large and would maybe do some daily 200 mile commutes on it. Seem big and comfy - they fit me (you know what I mean) and am sorely tempted but the latest (last) ones dont seem like bargains to me?

Lovely toys - ahem sorry - commuter bikes - purely functional you understand Mrs Slav!

Thanks for any opinion and sorry for any hijack.

 

[montyboy]

Funnily enough my new found hobby (humph humph) has got me thinking about returning to the fold of motorised 2 wheels.....

As part of that awful bored MAMIL thing, have flitted from new bike gear and stuff to Bikes on a well known (PH) motoring forum.

Kept gravitating back to a Blackbird for some reason? (the point of my reply)

So, what are they like? MAte had one a while ago but I am rather large and would maybe do some daily 200 mile commutes on it. Seem big and comfy - they fit me (you know what I mean) and am sorely tempted but the latest (last) ones dont seem like bargains to me?

Lovely toys - ahem sorry - commuter bikes - purely functional you understand Mrs Slav!

Thanks for any opinion and sorry for any hijack.

i would thoroughly recommend one.

Big and lazy with more torque than you can shake a stick at. 200 mile trips on one tank are a doddle. Comfy. good weather protection and a nice riding position. My mate is 6' 2" and 16 st and he is comfy on it, sold his hyabusa as he was too big for it.

They hold their value too.

 

[Xiorell]

I think Honda would be the way forward if I get a motorbike again. Had a few and they was always bulletproof.

 

[Panter]

Another biker here.

Started with a custom Kawasaki Z400, then got a Yamaha YZF750R. Replaced that with a Yamaha R1, then sold that and got a little Honda 125 for the commute.
Then, a few Years without a bike saw me yearning for one so I bought an old CBR600

 

[apollo179]

I passed my motorbike test in 1983, 3 years before my car test. I have always preferred 2 wheels to 4, despite trying to give it up on safety grounds several times .

Started with a Suzuki GS125, then moved on to a GSX400F, Honda CBX550, then a Honda CBX750. At that npoint I passed my car test so the bike was sold to finance a car. A few years without a bike until I was bitten by the bug again and bought a Yamaha XJ600 Diversion, followed by 2 900 Diversions. Then a Fazer 600 until my current bike, a Honda CBF600S which I only bought 3 weeks ago (on the strength of getting a new job, which I just walked away from today; another story ).

Ex motorbike courier.
I went honda h100s (learning) on to a GSX400 and then variety of honda superdream type 400s and 500s finaaly sticking with gt550s.
Ive got a couple of non working sr125s somewhere in the undergrowth that i have been renovating (or not atcmb) for the last few years. Diversions were allways relatively cheap and i felt occupied the unfortunate position between not being suitable for couriering on and not being desirable enough for enthusiast use. No offence.

 

[apollo179]

I had and rode various Guzzis and Morinis over the years.

I miss them terribly, but I no longer have the nerve or the reactions necessary to ride a motorcycle on the road.

What staggers me is that I used to scare myself with 60 or 70 bhp - or even less.

There are bikes on the market now with 160+ bhp. Much more than that even...

Although tyre, brake and suspension technology has improved greatly and there are now wonderful traction-control devices, that is still a lot of Ooomph.

Ice is still ice; diesel is still diesel and.... Oh God. I just blinked and saw a pipe and some slippers coming my way.

Sorry....

+1. I was never comfortable with high speeds. I used to ride with the appropriate dangerous recklessness befitting a courier but i never liked high speeds , not like some zx9 and r1s flying down the autobahn at 180. Had a zzr1100 for a v short while and never went above 80mph. Seen to many accidents etc.

 

[yello]

Me too. Started on a 'mini-bike' (lawn mower basically) on the beach, then trail bikes in the hills (Yamaha DT175, Suzuki TS125 and - believe it or not - a BSA Bantam!). First road bikes were Suzukis; a GT185, then a GS400 to a GS550, Katana 750 before taking a break when I came to the UK. Started back again some years later on a Cagiva 125, then to a Suzuki SV650, Honda VFR400, Yamaha Bulldog BT1100 then finally a Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat. I'm on my 2nd Thundercat now (first one stolen) and it's all the bike i could ever want. I toy with getting another bike sometimes (Yam FRJ1300 or the Triumph Sprint ST) but the cost simply doesn't justify it.... the T'cat is just so good.

The VFR400 was, btw, a simply incredible bike. I used it on trackdays and it was immense fun. Handled like a dream, I loved it to bits. *Completely* impractical for any distance on the road though!

Every now and again, I have this hankering for a Yam TRX850. I think it's a gorgeous bike and fancy the idea of having one as a 'project'!

I have my car licence but much prefer the bike. I do drive but it's rare. My wife normally drives if we're in the car.

 

[vernon]

I've worked my way through
BSA Bantam Bushman
Triumph Tiger Cub
Yamaha RD200
Yamaha RD250LC
Yamaha YB100
Yamaha FJ1200
Honda C90 Cub
Honda CB400F
Honda CBX550
Moto Guzzi V50
I currently have a CB500 lurking in the garage. Thirteen or so years old, 8,000 miles on the clock.
I just don't seem to find the time to ride it.
The daft thing is, is that I am thinking of n+1 as I fancy owning a Morini 350

 

[MattHB]

Current biker here too. Hold my advanced license.
Currently riding a Triumph Trophy 1200. Although she's been in the garage for 2 weeks as I've been cycling everywhere. Will probably stick to self propelled for most of the winter.

 

[yello]

Hold my advanced license.

Quick OT; what's that? Something like RoSPA or IAM?

 

[Vapin' Joe]

In many ways I still miss my bike.

A Harley Davidson 1450cc FSXTB Night Train, hence my forum name, that I bought new after passing my bike test.

I would probably still have it were it not for the bike being a Friday afternoon bodge job with everything wrong that could be wrong and a dealership and parent company that cared more about trying to get me to join a 'local chapter' then actually fixing the bike.

I eventually paid for the repairs to be done and then it was a really nice bike, but expensive.
Got shot of it in the end and used the cash to set up my furniture making workshop.

A typical Harley, then.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

List of bikes i have had


AS50 Suzuki

DT100 Yamaha

RD250 Yamaha

Z650F2 Kawasaki

Z1000R Kawasaki

GPZ900R Kawasaki

GPZ550 Zephyr Kawasaki



Got married , kids , not worth the death and injury so sold the last one and bought a nice Scott Speedster to still get out and enjoy the countryside

 

[Woz!]

I got rid of my 600 when my first kid came along, but got my scoot a few years ago:

We've mothballed my car for the majority of this year and I've relied on 2 wheels to get around (scoot and bicycles).
We still have a family car (2 kids) but it's not used excessively.

A scooter is CHEAP to run!

 

[Basil.B]

Started riding motorbikes when I was 14 (1977), Honda C50 in a mates large garden.
Since then:

Honda 125 T
Suzuki 250 GSX
Yamaha XT250
Honda 250 N
VT500
VFR750 X2 (FJ, FN)

Also
CBR600
Yamaha FZR100 Fantastic bike

CBR1000

Never took my car test till I was 38.