Best & worst Moter Cycle - Most fun

[crash325]

Lets have some more fun. this time with motor cycles.

You go first.

 

[tman1020]

I'm nursing A couple cracked ribs right now as I write this from having so much fun on this. I've been riding almost as long as I can remember and It's definitely a blast but they can hurt you. Seems like the minute you lose respect they remind you pretty quickly what can go wrong. Be safe and watch out for the crazy people texting and driving. I thought it was crazy before cell phones how people didn't see us.

 

[Patches]

I've had a bunch of good ones, mostly Honda and even a Harley, but the worst one was an almost new 1970 BSA Thunderbolt; the forks were absolute junk and would top out, with a horrible thud when rebounding. Didn't keep that one long

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I started out with a Cushman motor scooter, and then bought a Honda 360 Scrambler as my first real bike. I've had many, many bikes since then, mainly dual sports like the BMW R1150GS and F650GS, but also cruisers, a Buell Thunderbolt, a Triumph Sprint, a Sportster and a Goldwing. Oh, and a Suzuki Burgman scooter - a real blast to ride also.

The Goldwing was probably the best bike I owned and the most comfortable. That one was my long distance touring bike.

The 1150GS was the one I probably loved the most. It was a veritable Swiss Army Knife of motorcycles.

The Buell was the biggest hoot to ride - a torquey, low revving, tuned Harley Sportster engine in a sport bike.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

View attachment 469999

I'm nursing A couple cracked ribs right now as I write this from having so much fun on this. I've been riding almost as long as I can remember and It's definitely a blast but they can hurt you. Seems like the minute you lose respect they remind you pretty quickly what can go wrong. Be safe and watch out for the crazy people texting and driving. I thought it was crazy before cell phones how people didn't see us.

Most fun motorcycle I ever had was my Husqvarna SM510R.

 

[CalG]

edit ( opps, didn't mean to tag along to the previous post.)

I rode my '99 honda VFR800Fi again today. That thing is just so sweet. best of everything (but not an off road delight)

I used to play in the dirt, but I grew out of that. ;-)

 

[TCowner]

My 1971 Kawasaki 500 H1 (Mach III) was the most fun. I bought it new in 1972 as a senior in high school. There was nothing that could beat it, car or motorcycle, from 0-100 mph. Now, it had no bottom end power whatsoever, but, at about 5800 rpm that screaming two stroke came to life. It put out enough smoke to kill every mosquito within a 1/2 mile radius and had a rather nasty "twitch" in corners but the fun factor was unbelievable. The only way I was able to keep my driver's license was that the local small town police were rather forgiving in those days. I can't count the number of times I was stopped for my "7,000 rpm burnouts" which explains why the original rear tire lasted less than a 1000 miles. I was also told by one forgiving officer that I was driving a motorcycle, not a unicycle, after being stopped for one of my famous 150 foot long "wheelies".

I was the king for about 4 months until a friend of mine had the audacity to buy a 1972 Kawasaki Mach 750 Mach IV. My reign was over, I was moved to second place. I could stay with him all the way through first gear and a little through second, but then it was over. I could still beat every Honda, Harley, Norton that tried but the bigger two stroke just ruled the day.

So for me, the totally unrefined Mach III was clearly the most fun.

 

[Beltzington]

Not sure how this works, but here is my list, it surprised me to recall how many bikes I have owned over the years.
1973 Yamaha 100 Enduro (My First)
1974 Yamaha 250 Enduro (Best Memories)
1979 Yamaha 1100 Special (Stolen)
1980 Yamaha 1100 Special (Fast)
1982 Honda XR250 (Most Fun)
1984 Honda 700 Sabre (First Highway Crash)
1979 Yamaha 750 Special (Worst - Rebuild Project)
1987 BMW K100RS (Snob Appeal)
1996 Kawasaki GPZ1100 (Last Bike, getting to old to go that fast, sold 2013)

 

[orezok]

My 1971 Kawasaki 500 H1 (Mach III) was the most fun. I bought it new in 1972 as a senior in high school. There was nothing that could beat it, car or motorcycle, from 0-100 mph. Now, it had no bottom end power whatsoever, but, at about 5800 rpm that screaming two stroke came to life. It put out enough smoke to kill every mosquito within a 1/2 mile radius and had a rather nasty "twitch" in corners but the fun factor was unbelievable. The only way I was able to keep my driver's license was that the local small town police were rather forgiving in those days. I can't count the number of times I was stopped for my "7,000 rpm burnouts" which explains why the original rear tire lasted less than a 1000 miles. I was also told by one forgiving officer that I was driving a motorcycle, not a unicycle, after being stopped for one of my famous 150 foot long "wheelies".

I was the king for about 4 months until a friend of mine had the audacity to buy a 1972 Kawasaki Mach 750 Mach IV. My reign was over, I was moved to second place. I could stay with him all the way through first gear and a little through second, but then it was over. I could still beat every Honda, Harley, Norton that tried but the bigger two stroke just ruled the day.

So for me, the totally unrefined Mach III was clearly the most fun.

Yup, I still have a '75 Kawa 750 3 cylinder. It's torn down now for rebuild. It's both the best and the most wicked motorcycle I have ever owned. In a straight line, not much can beat it. If you put bean oil in it it smokes very little and the smell is erotic. Just don't try to turn or stop!

 

[Bird]

The Goldwing was probably the best bike I owned and the most comfortable. That one was my long distance touring bike.

Me, too. The 1985 Aspencade version of the Goldwing was the one I went to Quantico on, as well as trips in Texas, such as Port Aransas.

The worst (and still not really bad) was a 250 Zundapp I bought used about 1968. I returned it to the dealer from whom I bought it when he wasn't able to fix the one problem it had; carbureator.

 

[crash325]

Worst 1967 BSA 441 Victor. Solid cast iron foot pegs. Handle bars shook so bad that in less than a mile your hands went numb. Followed soon after by your feet. Could not get over 15 miles without something falling off. But it was a real Stump puller, even though not fast.
Next worst was a 400 Suki dirt bike. First race after 1 lap pulled into the pits. Traded off very soon.

Sort of a mixed blessing, Husky 400 5 speed. Very early model. Came with problems, Bolt holding rear of engine in to small. 1/4 inch, replaced it with a 3/8"
Ports nowhere close to matching, lot of work getting those lined up & polished. Had been riding bull tacos & if you got in trouble it would usually straighten out.
Husky just the opposite. , just looking for a chance to through you off.

Best & most fun dirt bikes 325 & 250 bull taco's.
Fun a little 125 Suzuki dirt & street bike.

305 Honda, it would run 95 MPH, got me a ticket.:laughing:
Harley 1973 Hermitage, spent around $3000 on heads, cams, exhaust systems & seats. It would run with the big boys, as in hot custom Harley's.
Very good 1992 Harley convertible. It was stolen.
Another mixed blessing 1995 Harley dresser. Front end geometry wrong. Liked to fall over when you stopped. Hated unleaded gas & hot weather.
Lots of power & ran great with some leaded gas in it.

Think I got them all. Well sort of.

 

[prs]

Current ride, a Honda GL1800; but I have yet to throw my leg over a bike that didna bring a grin.

prs

 

[KennyG]

Been away from bikes for a while but best and worst is hard to sort out. I started out with 250 and 350 Ducatis. Great handling and not that many around but you had to watch for loose electrical connections (even vibrate the insulation off the wires.) Went through a number of Yamahas and Suzukis. Ended up with a Suzuki GS1100. Nothing at all to criticize on that bike.

 

[oosik]

Most fun was with a "Snortin' Norton. Twin cylinder - 750cc - dirt track racing. I never won though - I was 24/25, married and knew what pain was. Most of the other racers were under 20 and were "indestructible". Now at 74 - my fun is on a BMW R1200R.

The worst was a poor little 100cc, twin cylinder Yamaha. I rode it so hard a piston would overheat and seize. Got very good at tear down & repair though.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I had a few touring bikes:

1965 Honda SilverWing GL650
1988 Honda GL1500
2005 Honda GL1800
1994 Harley FLHT 80cid
1999 Harley FLHTCUi 88cid, modified to 106cid

Always wanted a bike, but sane thinking kept me away from them until after the kids were on their own; started riding at age 57. Loved touring. Put about 200,000 miles on the '99 Harley with a Bushtec trailer with my SO with her own '99 FLHTCUi.

Can't say that any of them were 100% reliable One can count on a breakdown of some sort, at any time. Honda's were faulty with electrical problems. Harley's... well, you have a good variety, but no shortage. Bikers learn to love their iron horses same as old-time cowboys learned to love their ride. When you're 100 miles out away from anything like civilization, out in the mountains you think about how your well being relies on your iron horse, no matter what brand it is.

BUT - there's nothing like being out IN the environment, wind in the face, smells of nature, feeling of the sunshine, thrill of the lean on corners. That's just the way touring was meant to be, not coped up inside a luxury mobile with artificially conditioned air, plush seat and glass surrounding.

Riding a motorcycle is only a few notches of pleasure above driving a tractor; they're only a little faster. The downfall, of course, are the idiots texting on their cell phones that never see you as they run right over you. One big difference is though - bikes don't pull a plow very well.

 

[sea2summit]

Had an old Katana not sure what year, it was okay but previously wrecked so was a great beater/learner bike.

2008 Honda CBR600rr, lots of fun but not all that practical for commuting and kept it even after I got the BMW but found myself not riding it so finally let it go.

2013 R1200GSA...will probably run this until the engine falls out. I'm pushing 25k now, second set of tires almost gone, original seat wont survive this summer, third battery, and I love it.

 

[DarrellSimpson]

The best for me in the trails was a old KDX 200 , for a trail bike the seat was really comfortable , I never developed the skill to ride real fast on trails , I also had a TT 500 that was real enjoyable but it was a real stinker to start at times . I now have a 2014 street glide , I thought I would really like it but the suspension front and rear is really awful .

 

[KyleH]

2011 Yamaha R1

Was never a fan of the graphics on the side, sold it last fall since it wasn't being ridden much anymore.

 

[tcreeley]

I had an '87 LS650 Suzuki I used to drive the 6 miles to work. One day I came out at 8pm and found fresh snow - about 2 inches. It handled it fine rolling over it, but I was going slowly. On a corner I figured I would pull over and let a car pass. As soon as I rolled the front tire off the pavement and onto the shoulder that had softened up from the wet, down I went. Always good to feel dumb, reminds me that I am human. Got it back up and rode the rest of the way home without a problem. Stayed off the dirt shoulder.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Gem99ultra: I agree with your post. Some great thoughts there.

Most of my bikes were reliable. Only exceptions were the Honda 360 Scrambler and the Buell. The Buell had an intermittent problem with refusing to turn over - just "click". After tearing my hair out diagnosing the problem, it turned out to be a $10.00 starter relay. Fixed. The 360 Scrambler, on the other hand, I think I pushed it as far as I rode it.

My Goldwing (2005 GL1800) was 100% reliable, and was the most comfortable bike I ever owned by a long shot.

Next most comfortable would have been the R1150GS, which was a great long distance touring bike. Biggest problem with it was my ABS system went out when I was on top of a mountain in Colorado. Hmmmm. The time to have a brake problem is at the BOTTOM of the mountain, not the TOP.