Dragonrider
New member
Sorry about the length of this, but I thought it might be fun to talk about the road bikes we've owned (Didn't include the ATC/Vs - that would have tripled the length! :yikes
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Here's my List of bikes
Honda CB 160
This was my first bike – really my girlfriend’s bike, but she would rather ride behind me than “drive” herself.. Really fun around town bike, for its day – a definite step up from the Honda 90s..
Honda CB 300 (x2)
Had these while I was in the service in San Diego – and purchase one, while I was in Japan. I rode these all over California – up to the Bay Area several times, which was really a push. I had to rebuild the bike after every trip, because 65 mph was the top speed for that bike.
Bridgestone 350
Had a friend who was a car salesman, and got this on trade. He called me, because the dealer didn’t want it. This was a 350cc 2 stroke, with oil injection (remember those?). For the day, it was REALLY fast, and super cool looking – no emblems or other advertising to break up the candy red and chrome lines. Blew the oil injection at 75 mph going to work one morning, and the motor seized – yes, locked up at 75 in traffic on the freeway…. A quick rebuild, and it went to a new home.
1958 T120 Triumph 650 Bonneville
Swapped this for an old El Camino I had traded for, and really loved this bike. It was my college commuter. Straight pipes, started every time, and had clutchless shifting, as long as you were rolling. One of the one’s I wished I had kept.
1972 T120R Triumph 650 Bonneville
This was a present to myself, when I got my undergraduate degree, and was the transportation for my first date with my wife (still have her J ). This was one of the Big Bad Boys of the day, and we rode it everywhere for years. In the early days, we lived in a townhouse, and rolled it through the townhouse to the patio in the rear, to keep it safe.
1982 Honda CB900F
We had moved to Oregon, and this was my return to motorcycles, after we settled in after the move. This was an unsold unit that was several model years old, but still in a crate (terrific buy). It was a great commuter, and fun to ride, but the brakes were a bit iffy, in wet weather.
Suzuki 800 Intruder
The intruder followed the 900, and was a nice looking and riding bike. I was easing my wife back into motorcycling, when the notorious rear carb blew raw gas all over the rear wheel, and, needless to say, made the bike feel like an ice skate. My wife wouldn’t get back on that bike, so it found another home.
1995 ST1100
I bought this bike for its reputed handling, and kool looks – on the day I picked it up, I put 200 very painful miles on it, and took straight back to the dealer to swap it for my Goldwing. I loathed that bike, and I’ve never even so much as read an article about a sport or sport touring bike again.
1995 Goldwing
This was a great road bike – either solo or two up. Put over 60,000 trouble free miles on this one. However, it did have one issue – in hard corners, it lean in and feel solid, then would “drop” a few inches, then catch and feel solid again. Just something I adjusted to. I traded it in for my first Valk, but the couple that bought it, did an ROR and died on their first group tour about 6 weeks later.
1988 Harley Davidson FXRS (x3)
Had these for about a year during my Goldwing days. Bought all three in boxes (nothing running) for $100. Managed to get two running well, and sold them as I got them together. Then sold the miscellaneous leftover parts from the third bike.
I was really unimpressed with these bikes – nothing here to make me want to support the Motor Company with my purchases..
1998 Valkryie Tour
This was my second love - my 1972 Bonny being my first. I put 80,000 trouble free miles on this Valk, before selling it to a friend of my son’s. The bike now has 210,000 miles on it, and is still a daily driver. Oil, belts, and tires – that’s all it’s ever needed. This was the bike I was on, when I first met Lamont, at the VOA gathering in Colorado.
2002 Vrod (SN #0007)
When HD announced the V-rod, I had to have one. My local dealers all demanded $5,000 over MSRP to order one, but I found a dealer out of state that would sell me one for MSRP. Done, order placed.
A friend and I took my truck to the dealer (1200 miles) to pick up the bike, which was the first one delivered west of Milwaukee.. People raced up to the truck, pointing and taking photos on the freeway. Pulled into rest stops or gas stations to ask about it.
When I got it home, a neighbor decided he HAD to have THAT bike, and with a $10,000 mark-up, my wife decided I would sell it – “you know you still have the Valk”.
2004 Vrod
I was not finished with Vrods. I sold my Valk to buy a used (800 miles) Vrod. The owner’s wife bought it for him for his 50[SUP]th[/SUP] birthday, and he really wanted a Fat Bob (why??). I got a great price and handed him the cash.
The fit & finish of this bike was the best I’ve ever seen on a bike. I put 35,000 miles on this bike, riding all over the Western US and Canada. I had added hard bags, pipes, windshield, and Corbin seat – otherwise this was a complete and terrific ride, and was it ever fast (for a cruiser, of course). However, this was the bike with the 3.5 gallon fuel tank, and you were lucky to get 100 miles out of a tank – actually had to coast into a gas station twice… and, after getting drenched coming home from Canada, it was time for a new ride.
2006 K1200LT
When I went to the Harley dealer, to talk about a swap for my Vrod, another customer had traded his Ultra for a BMW K1200, and he wanted another Ultra instead. I walked in at just the right time, and we did a three way trade, with me riding my K12 home.
This was the best all around bike I’ve ever owned. It was stellar in almost every regard. It had all the power for touring one or two up, every bell and whistle you could want, and took to the twisties like a sport bike. When I traveled with a group, no one else could keep up. It had an electric center stand that worked well, but had to be replaced three times during my ownership.
Then came the bionic knee, and my concern that I was not safe holding a really tall 900# bike upright. So she had to go – I still miss that bike.
2001 Valkryie
I found this Valk by accident, talking to a guy who had purchased her new, and only put 3000 miles on the clock in 6 years. During that time, he farkled the bike to the nines. I offered him peanuts for it, and he took the cash. I owned this bike for 5 years, not being able to let it go, but not riding it much.
2009 Can Am Spyder RS SM5
I had been reading about the spyders – having taken the MSF Trike and Hack course, I knew I did not want either a standard trike or hack, and the new RS looked like the ticket. My wife and I went for a test ride at our local dealer, where I fell for the Spyder, and had a feud with that dealer, sending me 180 miles away to buy the RS.
This was a blessing in disguise, as the 200-mile ride home taught me how to ride the Spyder.
I had the RS for a little over a year and 16,000 miles, trying to make it a comfortable ride for me – trying all kinds of seats, pegs, windshields, ISCI’s handbrake, etc. Nothing worked.
A friend in Idaho purchased his RT in mid 2010, and I made the mistake of riding it. The RS went up for sale, and was gone within 24 hours.
2010 Can Am Spyder RT”S” SE5
I went looking for a RT of my own, and found a SpyderLover in New Hampshire that got in over his head and was forced to sell his new RT “S” SE6. I worked with a dealer in NH, and had the bike shipped to Oregon.
As many here know, I farkled the heck out of that RT, trying to get better mileage and adding touring comfort to it. My wife and I loved it and put over 25,000 miles on that RT. However, the plight of the 2013 RTs and the coming new drivetrain for 2014 overly concerned me, so I decided to let the RT go.
2010 Honda Stateline 1300, purchased new in late 2013
This Honda followed my RT, as I wanted a reliable ride, and this was a 1300cc, shaft drive, FI Honda. What could be better… Well, after 4 years on a Spyder, and having bad knees, I wasn’t comfortable on the Honda. So, after only putting 460 miles on that bike in a year, it went for a deal on a year end 2014 RT, and I am not sorry.
2014 Can Am Spyder RT SE6
This bike is a keeper – only needing a few farkles to meet all my road wants – rock guard, sway bar, spring stiffeners, trunk mirror, Seal floorboards, F4 windshield, and frunk liner, are all that was really needed. It has the mileage I was trying to get out of my 2010, and handles like my RS (now). I will continue to add a farkle here and there, but I look forward to thousands of miles, before I retire my helmet.
- - - - - -
Of all my bikes, my BMW was the top of the heap. I wish I would have discovered that earlier, but I have tons of fond memories on that bike. I’ve taken a test drive on a new K1600, and like the Gold Wing 1800, I like the older version better – both had more room for me. Also, the ‘Wing was nice and reliable, but didn’t hold a candle to the BMW on the open road.
Around town, the V-Rods were a hoot – fast and fun, but on the open road, not so much.
I’m happy with my Spyders, not really having many issues with any of them. There are a few things I wish were better, such as adding a hand brake, but all in all, they are a fun and safe ride, that both my wife and I can enjoy.
.Here's my List of bikes
Honda CB 160
This was my first bike – really my girlfriend’s bike, but she would rather ride behind me than “drive” herself.. Really fun around town bike, for its day – a definite step up from the Honda 90s..
Honda CB 300 (x2)
Had these while I was in the service in San Diego – and purchase one, while I was in Japan. I rode these all over California – up to the Bay Area several times, which was really a push. I had to rebuild the bike after every trip, because 65 mph was the top speed for that bike.
Bridgestone 350
Had a friend who was a car salesman, and got this on trade. He called me, because the dealer didn’t want it. This was a 350cc 2 stroke, with oil injection (remember those?). For the day, it was REALLY fast, and super cool looking – no emblems or other advertising to break up the candy red and chrome lines. Blew the oil injection at 75 mph going to work one morning, and the motor seized – yes, locked up at 75 in traffic on the freeway…. A quick rebuild, and it went to a new home.
1958 T120 Triumph 650 Bonneville
Swapped this for an old El Camino I had traded for, and really loved this bike. It was my college commuter. Straight pipes, started every time, and had clutchless shifting, as long as you were rolling. One of the one’s I wished I had kept.
1972 T120R Triumph 650 Bonneville
This was a present to myself, when I got my undergraduate degree, and was the transportation for my first date with my wife (still have her J ). This was one of the Big Bad Boys of the day, and we rode it everywhere for years. In the early days, we lived in a townhouse, and rolled it through the townhouse to the patio in the rear, to keep it safe.
1982 Honda CB900F
We had moved to Oregon, and this was my return to motorcycles, after we settled in after the move. This was an unsold unit that was several model years old, but still in a crate (terrific buy). It was a great commuter, and fun to ride, but the brakes were a bit iffy, in wet weather.
Suzuki 800 Intruder
The intruder followed the 900, and was a nice looking and riding bike. I was easing my wife back into motorcycling, when the notorious rear carb blew raw gas all over the rear wheel, and, needless to say, made the bike feel like an ice skate. My wife wouldn’t get back on that bike, so it found another home.
1995 ST1100
I bought this bike for its reputed handling, and kool looks – on the day I picked it up, I put 200 very painful miles on it, and took straight back to the dealer to swap it for my Goldwing. I loathed that bike, and I’ve never even so much as read an article about a sport or sport touring bike again.
1995 Goldwing
This was a great road bike – either solo or two up. Put over 60,000 trouble free miles on this one. However, it did have one issue – in hard corners, it lean in and feel solid, then would “drop” a few inches, then catch and feel solid again. Just something I adjusted to. I traded it in for my first Valk, but the couple that bought it, did an ROR and died on their first group tour about 6 weeks later.
1988 Harley Davidson FXRS (x3)
Had these for about a year during my Goldwing days. Bought all three in boxes (nothing running) for $100. Managed to get two running well, and sold them as I got them together. Then sold the miscellaneous leftover parts from the third bike.
I was really unimpressed with these bikes – nothing here to make me want to support the Motor Company with my purchases..
1998 Valkryie Tour
This was my second love - my 1972 Bonny being my first. I put 80,000 trouble free miles on this Valk, before selling it to a friend of my son’s. The bike now has 210,000 miles on it, and is still a daily driver. Oil, belts, and tires – that’s all it’s ever needed. This was the bike I was on, when I first met Lamont, at the VOA gathering in Colorado.
2002 Vrod (SN #0007)
When HD announced the V-rod, I had to have one. My local dealers all demanded $5,000 over MSRP to order one, but I found a dealer out of state that would sell me one for MSRP. Done, order placed.
A friend and I took my truck to the dealer (1200 miles) to pick up the bike, which was the first one delivered west of Milwaukee.. People raced up to the truck, pointing and taking photos on the freeway. Pulled into rest stops or gas stations to ask about it.
When I got it home, a neighbor decided he HAD to have THAT bike, and with a $10,000 mark-up, my wife decided I would sell it – “you know you still have the Valk”.
2004 Vrod
I was not finished with Vrods. I sold my Valk to buy a used (800 miles) Vrod. The owner’s wife bought it for him for his 50[SUP]th[/SUP] birthday, and he really wanted a Fat Bob (why??). I got a great price and handed him the cash.
The fit & finish of this bike was the best I’ve ever seen on a bike. I put 35,000 miles on this bike, riding all over the Western US and Canada. I had added hard bags, pipes, windshield, and Corbin seat – otherwise this was a complete and terrific ride, and was it ever fast (for a cruiser, of course). However, this was the bike with the 3.5 gallon fuel tank, and you were lucky to get 100 miles out of a tank – actually had to coast into a gas station twice… and, after getting drenched coming home from Canada, it was time for a new ride.
2006 K1200LT
When I went to the Harley dealer, to talk about a swap for my Vrod, another customer had traded his Ultra for a BMW K1200, and he wanted another Ultra instead. I walked in at just the right time, and we did a three way trade, with me riding my K12 home.
This was the best all around bike I’ve ever owned. It was stellar in almost every regard. It had all the power for touring one or two up, every bell and whistle you could want, and took to the twisties like a sport bike. When I traveled with a group, no one else could keep up. It had an electric center stand that worked well, but had to be replaced three times during my ownership.
Then came the bionic knee, and my concern that I was not safe holding a really tall 900# bike upright. So she had to go – I still miss that bike.
2001 Valkryie
I found this Valk by accident, talking to a guy who had purchased her new, and only put 3000 miles on the clock in 6 years. During that time, he farkled the bike to the nines. I offered him peanuts for it, and he took the cash. I owned this bike for 5 years, not being able to let it go, but not riding it much.
2009 Can Am Spyder RS SM5
I had been reading about the spyders – having taken the MSF Trike and Hack course, I knew I did not want either a standard trike or hack, and the new RS looked like the ticket. My wife and I went for a test ride at our local dealer, where I fell for the Spyder, and had a feud with that dealer, sending me 180 miles away to buy the RS.
This was a blessing in disguise, as the 200-mile ride home taught me how to ride the Spyder.
I had the RS for a little over a year and 16,000 miles, trying to make it a comfortable ride for me – trying all kinds of seats, pegs, windshields, ISCI’s handbrake, etc. Nothing worked.
A friend in Idaho purchased his RT in mid 2010, and I made the mistake of riding it. The RS went up for sale, and was gone within 24 hours.
2010 Can Am Spyder RT”S” SE5
I went looking for a RT of my own, and found a SpyderLover in New Hampshire that got in over his head and was forced to sell his new RT “S” SE6. I worked with a dealer in NH, and had the bike shipped to Oregon.
As many here know, I farkled the heck out of that RT, trying to get better mileage and adding touring comfort to it. My wife and I loved it and put over 25,000 miles on that RT. However, the plight of the 2013 RTs and the coming new drivetrain for 2014 overly concerned me, so I decided to let the RT go.
2010 Honda Stateline 1300, purchased new in late 2013
This Honda followed my RT, as I wanted a reliable ride, and this was a 1300cc, shaft drive, FI Honda. What could be better… Well, after 4 years on a Spyder, and having bad knees, I wasn’t comfortable on the Honda. So, after only putting 460 miles on that bike in a year, it went for a deal on a year end 2014 RT, and I am not sorry.
2014 Can Am Spyder RT SE6
This bike is a keeper – only needing a few farkles to meet all my road wants – rock guard, sway bar, spring stiffeners, trunk mirror, Seal floorboards, F4 windshield, and frunk liner, are all that was really needed. It has the mileage I was trying to get out of my 2010, and handles like my RS (now). I will continue to add a farkle here and there, but I look forward to thousands of miles, before I retire my helmet.
- - - - - -
Of all my bikes, my BMW was the top of the heap. I wish I would have discovered that earlier, but I have tons of fond memories on that bike. I’ve taken a test drive on a new K1600, and like the Gold Wing 1800, I like the older version better – both had more room for me. Also, the ‘Wing was nice and reliable, but didn’t hold a candle to the BMW on the open road.
Around town, the V-Rods were a hoot – fast and fun, but on the open road, not so much.
I’m happy with my Spyders, not really having many issues with any of them. There are a few things I wish were better, such as adding a hand brake, but all in all, they are a fun and safe ride, that both my wife and I can enjoy.
