Motorcycles

[dancogan]

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. 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 ....

 

[Bob Denman]

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?? :shocked: :2thumbs: They had a powerband that was ferocious! The H2s seemed rather tame by comparison...:roflblack:

 

[Bob Denman]

Question: Why do the British like to drink warm beer?
Answer: Because Lucas also made refrigerators!! :roflblack:

 

[DietitianBill]

<img style="width: 388px; height: 253px;" src="attachment.php?attachmentid=35525&amp;stc=1" attachmentid="35525" alt="" id="vbattach_35525" class="previewthumb">

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!

 

[BajaRon]

Oh no! Now I'm gonna have to see the therapist again. :roflblack: 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! :yikes: 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....

 

[BajaRon]

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.

Cotton

The rotary valve, oil injected Rotax 250 engine was an absolute rocket ship. No one could touch it in a smooth, straight line. Alas, off roading is rarely smooth or striaight, and this is where the Can-Am failed. With very poor suspension you were only in 1st place going into the 1st turn. I think it would have make a great flat track machine. But I loved this bike. Started easy, great low end, mid range and top end too. I used to beat Yamaha 360's all the time with it and not even close.

I too am surprised that Can-Am has not gotten back into the dirt bike world. And I agree, they could give KTM a run for their money. But the field is pretty crowded. I'm sure BRP's marketing people have looked at it.

 

[BajaRon]

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?? :shocked: :2thumbs: They had a powerband that was ferocious! The H2s seemed rather tame by comparison...:roflblack:

Yes, a beautiful, candy apple red H1. It had about a 50 RPM power band, but you knew when you were there! :yikes: Litterally, if you were not hanging on when you hit the power band this bike would leave you. 1st gear was a waste of time. You could NOT afford to hit the power band with any throttle applied while in 1st gear.

The frame was made out of rubber (or it felt like it). The forks were off a toy bicycle and the rubber bushings in the swing arm didn't help either. I got a steering stabilizer after nearly getting killed doing a tank slapper at about 125mph one day. But this was one of the most fun bikes I ever owned. Always wanted to put the expansion chambers on it but never did. I think this bike weighed something like 385 lbs dry and not that much more wet. I was in heaven on this bike.

 

[ARtraveler]

Dancogan: So you rode the BMW 1600 GTL. I wanted to do the same thing. I really read the specs hard and drooled at the fact that I could have all the luxuries of the GW but shave off a couple hundred pounds--putting the bike in the same weight range as my Vulcan 900--which I can handle very nicely.

The only problem was, I was worried about the seat being an inch or so to high for me.

The dealer here had only one. He said it was not for sale, and no test rides. Go figure. That took care of my drooling for the BMW. Then, some of the magazines did a test comparison (I think it was Rider & Cycle World) of the BMW and the GW. The GW won of course--so that also cooled me down a bit.

No arguement started here I hope--I know the GW is not a BMW and vice versa--they are unique to themselves--and are kind of an apple to orange comparison--with the BMW being more "sport" and the GW being more "touring".

Still don't know what the final outcome will be on that--still want that bigger, quieter engine, with all the amenities that I am now used to. I still would like to experience that when I purchase my final motorcycle.

 

[dancogan]

...The dealer here had only one. He said it was not for sale, and no test rides. Go figure...

The BMW dealer near here always has demo's available and is very good about putting you on a bike. I was going to suggest finding another dealer, but maybe you don't have a lot of choices where you are! :roflblack:

The nice thing about the K1600 was that it just doesn't seem like a heavy bike. The standard seat is below 30", and a lower seat is available. The weight is really low so I never felt like I had to exert any effort to keep it upright like at red lights or other stops. And it was cruising very lazily at 75mph and about 3500 rpm.

 

[NancysToy]

The BMW dealer near here always has demo's available and is very good about putting you on a bike. I was going to suggest finding another dealer, but maybe you don't have a lot of choices where you are! :roflblack:

The nice thing about the K1600 was that it just doesn't seem like a heavy bike. The standard seat is below 30", and a lower seat is available. The weight is really low so I never felt like I had to exert any effort to keep it upright like at red lights or other stops. And it was cruising very lazily at 75mph and about 3500 rpm.

:lecturef_smilie: Don't start that sales pitch stuff! Besides the "must stop thinking about it" thing, you will kindly add "I must stop talking about it ... must stop talking ... must stop ...

I refuse to ride one, lest I like the darned thing.

 

[ARtraveler]

Only one dealer in my area--so that kind of narrowed down my options. We run into that a lot here in AK. When they are the only game in town--they are pretty hard to work with.

 

[dancogan]

...I refuse to ride one, lest I like the darned thing.

Wish you had told ME that! :roflblack:

 

[napper39]

i for got to show my canam dirt bike and here it is with my son ,a 250 and it was fast ,also my 500 single matchless.like the other guy said i loved the comprashin release,because it could brake your leg if it was not there.:thumbup::chat:

 

[NancysToy]

I probably hated my Victor so much because it didn't have a compression release. If the cable broke on those, the compression release parts often came out and went through the engine, destroying it. The answer to a broken cable was to put in a bolt in the compression release hole, which left you with no compression release. Combined with the relatively low kickstart throw ratio, long stroke, and high compression ratio, it made my 441 a real bear to start! It made my Sportster and my old Indian Chief look like child's play.

 

[Bob Denman]

Yes, a beautiful, candy apple red H1. It had about a 50 RPM power band, but you knew when you were there!.. . Always wanted to put the expansion chambers on it but never did. QUOTE]
I rode an H2 once with a set of Dencos hanging out the back... The guy told me to short-shift and ride it at least a geat higher than what might feel right... (He was following me on my wing...)
I never got near the power and it was actually a rerlatively smooth, quiet and not-quite-comfortable ride! :2thumbs:
But I felt like I was hanging onto a hand grenade that had the pin pulled already...:yikes:

 

[patdcop]

<img style="width: 388px; height: 253px;" src="attachment.php?attachmentid=35525&amp;stc=1" attachmentid="35525" alt="" id="vbattach_35525" class="previewthumb">

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!

That is cool, RESPECT

 

[Oldmanzues]

I probably hated my Victor so much because it didn't have a compression release. If the cable broke on those, the compression release parts often came out and went through the engine, destroying it. The answer to a broken cable was to put in a bolt in the compression release hole, which left you with no compression release. Combined with the relatively low kickstart throw ratio, long stroke, and high compression ratio, it made my 441 a real bear to start! It made my Sportster and my old Indian Chief look like child's play.

I have to ask. Did you ever own a BSA dbd34 Gold Star ? I loved it, but most, if not all people today would not put up with problems on that thing.

Lucus voting machines elected Clinton, Queen of England. Tee shirt, Lucus switch = off- dim - flicker. If you have never had the """" Pleasure """" of dealing with the old Lucus, you should be glad. The company was known as the Prince of Darkness.
OldmanZues

 

[Allensr]

fJR1300& present DL650

 

[NancysToy]

I have to ask. Did you ever own a BSA dbd34 Gold Star ? I loved it, but most, if not all people today would not put up with problems on that thing.

Lucus voting machines elected Clinton, Queen of England. Tee shirt, Lucus switch = off- dim - flicker. If you have never had the """" Pleasure """" of dealing with the old Lucus, you should be glad. The company was known as the Prince of Darkness.
OldmanZues

Yes, I owned a Goldie. I got it as a basket case with a dismantled engine, when a guy whose Hornet I rebuilt couldn't pay me. It was not much more temperamental than any Brit bike, or at least any Brit single. It started easier than my Victor, too. Better kickstart throw ratio...and that compression release worked. I still have Lucas six-volt electrics on my 1965 Bonneville, and I have owned a lot of Triumphs. I am very familiar with Joseph Lucas' products. There was an entire book made of witty Lucas sayings and jokes.

 

[SheWolf]

This is my baby. All modded in his full glory.


Full size if you click the pics. I lurv mah bike.