I know everyone has there favorites in motorcycles and they all have there problems, I think the best trouble free one I had was a 750 Honda tho it did handle like crap and the 750 Kawasaki two stoke would scare the heck out of you it was so fast. My Spyder feels like it would like to pull the front end in the air.
The CB92 is a high-strung racer, and needs a lot of attention. The Triumphs are Brit bikes, they come factory-equipped with a host of problems. It is part of the mystique. The BMW has been pretty good to me. It is maintenance intensive, but fairly trouble free. My Spyder RT is fast becoming my favorite ride of all time, however. The rest of the bikes sit idle in the garage these days. My 2011 has had a few issues, mostly addressed by TSBs, but if the machine is good, you ignore those and just enjoy the ride. My Spyder is like that...much like those old Triumphs.
-Scotty 2011 Spyder RTS-SM5 (mine) 2000 BMW R1100RTP, motorized tricycle & 23 vintage bikes 2011 RT-622 trailer, Aspen Sentry popup camper, custom motorcycle trailer to pull behind the Spyder
I know everyone has there favorites in motorcycles and they all have there problems, I think the best trouble free one I had was a 750 Honda tho it did handle like crap and the 750 Kawasaki two stoke would scare the heck out of you it was so fast. My Spyder feels like it would like to pull the front end in the air.
There was only one bike that made me *ascared*, And that was a fully worked Suzuki TL 1000.
Most Super Bikes are so fast and smooth that you don't have time to get *ascared* on them.
*Brooklynese*
Kawasaki KZ1000. I have had three and will have another! If Kawasaki comes out with a 3-wheeler??????
Had an 84 Kawasaki 900 Eleminator and really like that one but did not like the shaft drive or I would still have it.
States We Have Been To On Our Spyder
My mods: Green filter, Air box mod., Muzzy exhaust, Cat Bypass, Exhaust Heat Wraped, Powder coated all Bare Metal surfaces, Capt. Jim`s Belt Tensioner, Custom Built Highway Pegs, Elka front shocks, RS-S rear shock, 2011 smaller windshield, Dynojet PowercommanderV & Autotune, NGK iridiom DCPR9IEX spark plugs, Maxxis MA-Z4S Victra rear tire, General Altimax HP 185/60R14 front tires, Corbin seat & backrest, BRP hitch. I need to stop!
Unlike Scotty, I didn't keep any of my favorites, although I do still have a 1975 BMW R90/6 that is a nice bike. But the two that I really wish I had kept are a Yamaha RD350 and a Honda MR175 dirt bike. The Yamaha was the most fun street bike I ever owned. It was so light and agile that it felt almost like a dirt bike. Top speed was a shade under 100 MPH but it accelerated really hard, handled extremely well, and stopped better than anything I'd ever been on. The MR175 wasn't the best dirt bike I've ever owned but, at the time, it handled so much better than the stuff I was used to riding that it kinda taught me how to ride dirt. I should have kept them both.
1986 Yamaha FZX (Fazer) 700. Inline four Genesis 5 valves per cylinder. Imported from Japan for only two years in the U.S. A bit longer for Canada which got a 750cc model... and far longer in Europe... Still has a cult following there. This bike was so quick light to light that I was beating brand new 750's + in 98 with this thing. Styled after the Vmax. I miss this bike and maybe someday I can find another one.
WackyDan - Fun, not crazy.
Charlotte (Matthews), NC Silver Moon SM5 - V35 and V46 Givis, CHAD, Motolight 35w steering lights, Dash Powerlets, Helibar risers, Garage door opener, Eastern Beaver PC-8, Digital voltmeter, Kewl Metal Intake, Evoluzione Sway Bar, RT Shocks and Juice Box PRO. *Mower deck in development*
2008 model -new in crate, April 09
26,000 miles.
Looking for other Charlotte area riders to cruise with and compare Spyders.
I still have my 94 Vmax and for me it's the best bike I ever had, I had an 86 (stolen) but I prefer the 94 with its better fork and brakes... Did some work in the frame to get it where I want.... Of the 18 bikes + Spyder I still have the order would after the Vmax: Norton Commando, Kawasaki H2, Kawasaki S2, vincent Egli, Honda cb450, Yamaha XT500, Vmax 09 (for sale to finance maybe an Ural), Yamaha Xt 250 & 225, Enfield Interceptor, Triumph X75, Yamaha XS650, Honda SL350, Laverda 750SF, Jawa Californian, Norton 400ES, Yankee Z.
Philippe
Like a lot of others, I have owned over 30 motorcycles since 1964. All were rice burners. I had mechanical problems with only ONE of these. My 1984 Yamaha Venture--it had carbureator problems--but dealer fixed it under warranty.
Of the three 's I have owned none has had major problems--but there have been more fixes on these than the combined total of all the others. This is the nature of the beast though--high technology, totally new vehicle concept, etc. etc. Therefore I am not complaining. I like my and am waiting for bigger/quieter engine in the same type of three wheel configuration.
I still have my 2009 Vulcan 900 LT--and that has had no problems from day 1. Kawasaki is the winning brand--counting my current Vulcan, I have had 7 kawi's.
Just writing about this brings back many fond memories over the years.
1986 Yamaha FZX (Fazer) 700. Inline four Genesis 5 valves per cylinder. Imported from Japan for only two years in the U.S. A bit longer for Canada which got a 750cc model... and far longer in Europe... Still has a cult following there. This bike was so quick light to light that I was beating brand new 750's + in 98 with this thing. Styled after the Vmax. I miss this bike and maybe someday I can find another one.
I really liked this bike as well and yes they were fast!
States We Have Been To On Our Spyder
My mods: Green filter, Air box mod., Muzzy exhaust, Cat Bypass, Exhaust Heat Wraped, Powder coated all Bare Metal surfaces, Capt. Jim`s Belt Tensioner, Custom Built Highway Pegs, Elka front shocks, RS-S rear shock, 2011 smaller windshield, Dynojet PowercommanderV & Autotune, NGK iridiom DCPR9IEX spark plugs, Maxxis MA-Z4S Victra rear tire, General Altimax HP 185/60R14 front tires, Corbin seat & backrest, BRP hitch. I need to stop!
Oh no! Now I'm gonna have to see the therapist again. My Victor and my Honda CB550 run a close race as the very worst bikes I ever owned. There are lots of rides that I miss, but those two aren't among them.
-Scotty 2011 Spyder RTS-SM5 (mine) 2000 BMW R1100RTP, motorized tricycle & 23 vintage bikes 2011 RT-622 trailer, Aspen Sentry popup camper, custom motorcycle trailer to pull behind the Spyder
Can-Ams were good dirt bikes back in the '70's. I never knew why they quit making them. When the Can-Am brand was brought back with the ATV's, UTV's, etc. I thought they might get back in the dirt bike business and give KTM a run for their money but I guess not.
I think my favorite would have to be my most recent - a BMW R1200GSA. It's as much at home on a dirt road as on pavement, pulls like a tractor with a very easy to modulate throttle, and I can ride it in comfort all day.photo.jpg It's great 2-up. We've put over 3,000 miles on it in the past 2 months.
The only fly in the ointment was a test ride I did yesterday at the BMW dealer. I had no intention of ever buying one, but I rode the BMW K1600GTL. It has a mere 160 hp, torque from about 1500 rpm and is incredibly easy to handle. Must stop thinking about it ... must stop thinking about it ... must stop ....
I had a 1983 Gold Wing Interstate that I think was my favorite... Anti-dive forks and a unified braking system; stuff that was a bit ahead of its time...
Ron, You had an H1?? They had a powerband that was ferocious! The H2s seemed rather tame by comparison...
My RC51 was my favorite of all time. this photo was of me at BMP back in 2003. You can see the outriggers I used to use for street riding almost hitting the curbing...Awesome Bike!
Oh no! Now I'm gonna have to see the therapist again. My Victor and my Honda CB550 run a close race as the very worst bikes I ever owned. There are lots of rides that I miss, but those two aren't among them.
My 441 was a BEAST! My friends called the seat a 'Canned Ham' because it was about the same shape, size and feel. I could never talk anyone into starting it because it would break your foot if it backfired (loved the compression relase but you couldn't even turn it over without it being pulled in).
Shifter on the right, brake on the left! In a pannic I just mashed down on both sides to be sure I stopped!
Going down the road it was hard to tell if it was really bad pavment or just engine vibration!
It sounded great and looked awesome, but that was the end of the thrill for this ride. Loved my 1971 CB750 though. I remember people giving me a hard time saying no one needed a motorcycle that big. Little did they know....
Motorcycles
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if only
it was fun while it lasted.
Originally Posted by che57vy
's I have owned none has had major problems--but there have been more fixes on these than the combined total of all the others. This is the nature of the beast though--high technology, totally new vehicle concept, etc. etc. Therefore I am not complaining. I like my 
My Victor and my Honda CB550 run a close race as the very worst bikes I ever owned. There are lots of rides that I miss, but those two aren't among them.
