Who rides a motorcycle?

[Skyco]

My family has been riding motorcyles for many years.
We ride dual sport adventure bikes now.
We have 3 yamaha XT225's and a Kawasaki KLR650.
We have ridden dirt roads in Ut, Co, NM, AZ, TX, FL, VA, KS, SC, GA, AR, WV and NC.
Its 10 miles dirt road to our home here in the NC mountains so a dual sport is a must!
sherpa

I see you live in Mortimer near Brown Mtn? Many memories of the Brown Mtn system, some great and few not so great, including one trip to the emergency room in Hickory when my then 16 year old broke his foot on an XR400, or so we thought, turned out to just be a bad sprain. Kept telling him to keep his toes up in rock gardens, had to learn the hard way

 

[irvingj]

Back when I was in college, my first real ride was also a 66 Suzuki X-6. Amazingly fast for such a small machine. Continued riding while in the Army (another X-6 in CA), then picked up a 71 CL350 in Japan; brought it back home and STILL kick myself for selling it!

Didn't ride for quite a while, then my son showed up with a 76 XL250 he'd found for about $35.... Helped him get that up & running and then got bitten again.

Guess I never got out of the 70s as far as styling goes- have had & sold a few old Japanese bikes, but now have "only" four, all of which were given to me --though that does NOT mean they were free of cost...

Now I ride not every day, but pretty much every month out of the year if the roads are clear. Mostly the 75 CB360, just cause it's so simple- push button, start, go, and get 50+mpg. As long as the trip is less than 35 miles, one can avoid the dreaded Honda twin "numb-butt" syndrome!

For longer trips, I came into an 82 Yamaha Virago 750. Very smooth, plenty of power (I only weigh about 135) and quite comfortable. No spokes, no sprockets, no chain--love it!

Latest acquisisiton is a 71 CB100 which had been in a barn for years & years. Still a "work in progress."

Yes, riding is/can be dangerous, but manageable if you stay constantly alert for dummies, and always assume that that guy who's looking right at you WILL pull out right in front of you!

 

[Aggieville]

Used to have a Ninja back in college.

 

[Mike058]

That fairing is worth more than a couple of bucks. They stopped making them years ago, even though they just stopped making the bike in 2006, or thereabouts. There are still a bunch of 750's out there.

Nice 750 Vulcans. I had a 700 Vulcan for a year or two. I thought it was a great bike. The suspension and mid range power were much better than I had anticipated. They are very capable motorcycles. Mine had a frame mounted fairing on it when I bought it. I removed it and had to find a headlight for the bike. I installed a large 7 inch light from a 750 Honda. I had to cut down the back of the housing a little to clear the instrument cluster. The final result was great. I still have the fairing somewhere in one of my barns.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

Haven't owned a bike since the early '80s. Thought about buying a Dual Sport when gas was over $3 bucks a gallon.

 

[hr3]

Have 2 and a half Harleys...

 

[LBrown59]

Haven't owned a bike since the early '80s. Thought about buying a Dual Sport when gas was over $3 bucks a gallon.

What made you give em up?

 

[hilld]

Haven't owned a bike since the early '80s. Thought about buying a Dual Sport when gas was over $3 bucks a gallon.

You might get your wish, our here in Oregon, Super is just about $3/gal, I paid $2.92 yesterday, regular was $2.75/gal.

The commuting factor is one of my thoughts, but it isn't just gas, all the wear and tear on a car is much higher than on a bike (at least I told my wife that)

D.

 

[SkyPup]

Here one of my older Adventure Bikes, a 1998 KTM 620:

 

[Sackett2]

I have a 94 ZX11 and a 94 Fatboy, from my brother

I've done the Rose City 500 3 times, successfully completing it only two.
Rose City Oregon 500
Hard part for me was the extra drive up and back for the ride


Also join California Motorcycle Roads - Pashnit Motorcycle Tours Maps, Passionate Scenic Rides Photos

Another Eugene Pashnit member and I are planning a group ride to John day this Memorial day.

 

[Thomas]

One for the long rides,and one to make the long ride short.

 

[om21braz]

Last bike was a Honda 954rr. It was shared between my son and I. Too many idiots on the road now, you can be as aware as possible and still wind up in an accident. It does'nt matter whose fault it is if you're in the hospital, or worse. By the way, if I were to get another - an BMW ADV would be on the short list. Super nice bike !

 

[firefighter jim]

1979 Kawasaki Police KZ1000C2. Several other bikes prior to that.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

1979 Kawasaki Police KZ1000C2. Several other bikes prior to that.

Watch out for high speed wobbles on that bike. If it were mine, I wouldn't go over 75mph. Notorious for high speed wobbling to the point of the front forks snapping. Many cops have gone down. Otherwise, possibly very collectable.

 

[Bird]

Watch out for high speed wobbles on that bike. If it were mine, I wouldn't go over 75mph. Notorious for high speed wobbling to the point of the front forks snapping. Many cops have gone down. Otherwise, possibly very collectable.

Yep, Kyle, you're right about a number of cops crashing on those, but if both forks and tires are properly inflated, it's not likely to happen. It was also found to happen more with light weight riders than heavier ones, and if it happens, leaning forward; i.e., trying to shift weight to the front is the most likely way to stop it.

 

[firefighter jim]

Watch out for high speed wobbles on that bike. If it were mine, I wouldn't go over 75mph. Notorious for high speed wobbling to the point of the front forks snapping. Many cops have gone down. Otherwise, possibly very collectable.

You and Bird are correct. We were made aware of the wobble glitch with this motorcycle from one of the policeman when we obtained it (Cleveland suburb of Mayfield Village). Thanks to both for the heads up. FYI: I ve had it up to 70 and that was about 20 mph more than I care to go!! I'm losing my nerve the older I get!!! Jim

 

[Dutch445]

I picked this up 2 years ago, after not having a bike for over 20 years.
My son was riding the Kawi at the time, but he hasn't ridden much this year.
I basically use it to commute to work (2 miles) and an occasional ride to
dinner if the weather is nice.

 

[6dog]

2008 BMW K1200GT

It's also my bike being used in the current Olympia Motosports catalog...

Catalog picture

behind the scenes at photo shoot, and no that is not me in the photos.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I have been riding for 46 years and I have accumulated 4 keepers over the years

I ride my crotch rocket the most, but I like to ride my Triumph when I just want to cruise:

2002 Yamaha YZF R-1:

1979 Triumph Bonneville Special:

1972 BSA Lightning:

 

[dfkrug]

Mostly the 75 CB360, just cause it's so simple- push button, start, go, and get 50+mpg.

Wow, IRVING, that's my first bike! Same color, same year, everything the
same except for the tank dent and oil leak. That was in 1977. (Get rid of
the stock air cleaner if you want to add 30% to the hp.) That was
a great machine, esp for us shorter, lighter guys. I was only 138# back then.
Now I will be thinking about m/cs all day!

I have stopped riding as of last year, because I no longer commute and I
never rode much just to cruise around. My last bike I bought new in
1981, and sold last year....a Kawasaki LTD750. If/when I get another, it
will be 4 stroke dirt bike with electric start.