The thread on favorite motorcycles got me thinking about the bikes I owned over the years. I thought it would be cool to see what bikes other people have owned over the years. Feel free at add any interesting stories associated to the bikes.

Here is my history. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of all my previous bikes so I had to use pictures from the internet. Those are noted as such.

'74 Yamaha RD 350 (not my picture but this is exactly what I had). I bough this in High School in '82.




'82 Kawasaki CSR 650 (not my picture). I bought this new the day after I turned 18 in '84. Two year leftover and they were all but giving it away at that point.




'84 Honda Nighthawk (actual pic of my bike). I sold the CSR to a friend who really really wanted it. So I then went back to the shop and bought the Nighthawk (also in '84)




'85 Kawasaki Ninja 900 (actual pic of my wrecked bike). I bought his in '86. I had it for two weeks when an old lady turned in font of my. I got the worst of it and had to have my leg put back together. It was six months before I was back to normal. I was amazed at the lack of damage to the bike considering how smashed the lady's Subaru was. Damn I loved riding that bike (for the short time I had it).

I never got back on the horse after that. I had a hard time reconciling the fact that there was nothing I could have done to avoid the accident. The only solution I could come up with was to stop for a green light.




2001 Kawasaki ZR-7s (actual pic of my bike). Fifteen years later I finally return to riding with the support of my girlfriend (who is now my wife). This was an inexpensive way to get back in the game not to mention a good "reentry bike". The only catch was it sucked for my wife on the back.




2001 Kawasaki ZRX 1200 (actual pic of my bike). My current ride. Funny story. My wife hated riding on the ZR-7 but I did not know how much she hated it. I had to take the ZR-7 to the shop to get a tire replaced. My wife was meeting there to give me a ride home. After getting everything squared away in Service, I find my wife talking with a salesman. She was very excited about a couple of choices she has scouted out. She confessed to how much she hated riding on the ZR-7. Although she really wanted me to get a Honda Shadow, it just was not my style or preference. But we did both agree on the ZRX 1200 (which I had been eyeballing since I had ZR-7 and no doubt she knew that). I rode the ZRX home that night and the ZR-7 was sold shortly thereafter. The things we do for our wives. Making be buy a bigger, better, faster bike. Its a wonder I still have my man card.

good idea

First was a Suzuki GZ250, I outgrew this in about a week. (not mine)







I sold this Triumph a few years ago, the reward just wasn't worth the risk to me.  This bike did kick ass though.












 

This is easy for me.  I've only ever owned 1 motorcycle:

Stock picture


I bought mine in 1992 and sold it in 1997.

I only have actual pics of the most current.

In the beginning .....



(mine was black)

The Turbocharged phase .....




Narrowly escaped death more times than I can count on this one ........




Crashed this one hard ........




My last bike, and the one that marked the end of my riding career ..........

Sweet ZRX 1200.  I always liked those.



I only have one.  It was my dad's.  Thankfully it wasn't his Harley 883 Sportster.  



1976 Bonneville

Past: '85 Goldwing Aspencade GL1200








Present: '08 Goldwing GL1800




 

This was actually my second bike:



And my third and current:



Only been riding since summer 08, though.   Plan is to  hold on to the ST for a few years, then maybe move up to an ST1300.

My last scooter..


Before that Ihad a Yamaha XT600 Dualsport and my firts was a Honda MB 60 bored out to 65cc with a micron pipe and airbox delete

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l193/georgebury/93YZ250002.jpg

Some nice rides everyone.

For as much as I was/am into bikes, I never realized how popular the old style Triumphs are. There is something classy yet rugged about them.



GPZ 750 Turbo. Those things were insane back in the day. Heard a lot of horror stories about them. To much power at the wrong time. That is one bike I would have refused to ride if one was offered.



Sweet bike. I assume something bad happened. Sorry to hear that if that is the case.

First:



Second:



Third:



and the bike I just got this summer:

the 900rr was faster than I had skill/courage to find out

This was my first in 1976



1983 Virago 500


1972 Harley Shovelhead (pic not mine , mine was white)


1979 & 1/2 Harley low rider


1993 Electra Glide Sport


1992 Electra Glide Classic

Nothing bad with that bike thank goodness. If something went wrong on that I would probably be in a box.

No, the unpleasantness was on the 748. I had both bikes at the time, 748 for track days and the 1098 for the street.

Crashed the 748 hard and learned how hard it is to run a business when you're all hopped up on oxycodone and you
spend most of your day sitting at your desk drooling on yourself, hoping the phone doesn't ring because it's too painful to pick it up.

Decided I couldn't risk the track, and if it was street only I didn't see the point any more. Sold them both and moved on.

Nothing good lasts for long, as they say.

Oh, and the Turbo was nuts. A long time ago, to be sure, but when it was cool and that thing decided to spool up, you best hang on.

First bike: Honda 50 (internet pic)

2nd: Yamaha 90 (internet pic)

3rd: (current in stable - for sale if you're interested)
1982 Honda Magna V45 (750)

4th: (current rider - 2009 Honda VTX 1300T)


 
 

My first bike when I was 14...

Not my picture, but mine was identical to this except for the rear seat back and rack.

1982 Honda 250CM Custom


And my second bike.

2006 Kawasaki ZZR600 (the day I brought it home )  



I miss both of them a LOT.  

Honda QA50

 Yam 80
 
Honda 100

Yam 250

Kaw 440 LTD

Honda 700 Night hawk

Honda 750 spirit

Kaw Nomad

Yamaha/Star Venture

I never realized how ass ugly some of those bikes were in the 80"s

Just started riding last year, still have both my bikes(gonna have to wait till spring to sell the Rebel).

'85 Rebel 250, '10 Triumph Scrambler

The new Scrambler looks great.



 

I've only been riding for 10 years, but here is what I have owned.

















My 2 current bikes:




 

Sportster:








 

My 1969 Whisker








1976 XR75

1979 RM80

1985 RM80

1985 RM125




RZ350 w/ Spec2 Stage 2 motor



2007 KTM 525 EXC

All pics borrowed from the web.

19?? Bridgestone 90

197? Suzuki TC 100


!97? Suzuki GT550


1988 Kawasaki 750 Ninja

1986 Honda 750 Interceptor

1991 Kawasaki ZX7

1986 BMW K100RS

2000 BMW R1100rt

2006 Suzuki dr200se

2007 Honda Interceptor 800

Low Glide I built



07 GT1000




02 88ci sporty


97 748/853



96 900SS/SP



98 T595



04 Superhawk



92 Honda F2, can't find a pic

My first real motorcycle:

1970 Honda SL100 - I don't want to hear any crap on this picture. I have no idea why I dressed like that.



and then a bunch I don't have pictures of...

Then my 1992 Honda CR500 - THE MOST FUN I EVER HAD ON A MOTORCYCLE!!!!!!!



1996 Harley Fat Boy



2002 Harley Heritage Springer



gave up motorcycles for good in 2004

In 1956, Ya, I'm old, I bought a Surplus Harley WLA for $75.00 I was 15 at the time, and could ride a motorcycle on a learners permit.



Mine looked little like the photo because I stripped the fenders and all the other junk off of it.  (How stupid is that)  I rode it for one summer and sold it.

Joined the Navy in 1957 and was sent to Morocco where I bought a 1954 Adler.  Rode that bike all over North Africa.

Rode her around morocco too.


Had a couple of bad accidents on that bike and gave up bikes for about ten years, then bought a dirt bike.
19 70 something Yamaha.250


Got the bug for Motorcross and picked up a brand new Yamaha YZ 125.



I found that I didn't have the skill to compete in motorcross and sold all my bikes when I left California and moved up here.  Got the bug again and bought a 1975 Honda 750 / 4 Chopper.



Then a 76 750 road bike.


and a KZ200



Then another 750 DOHC 1979



Then a 1984 GL1200 that I put 120,000 miles on.


Then a 1079 GL1000 with a Sidecar





and a 1985 Honda Sabre 700 that I still have but need to sell.



My next project is a VW powered Trike that I've been working on for a few years.  Maybe I'll get it done someday.

These are just a few of the many that I have owned. Some others are 250 Ossa, Hodaka Combat Wombat, 441 Victor.
These are from my youth. (Pix are file photos).

My first bike in 73.


Mine was a blue 69 or 70.


I had an all yellow repaint 72 with chrome expansion chambers.


Bought one of these new in Dec 74. Didn't know then that there would be such a cult following.
About froze getting home appx 70 miles in the midwestern winter.

Been a motocrosser/trail rider since I was 10. All internet pics:



1976 YZ80





1979 RM125





1983 CR125





1986 KX250





1990 CR500 (my only 2 stroke 500, good for fire roads/desert. Sucked for MX or trail riding.





1994 KDX200





2000 YZF426





2005 RM250, my current bike

Cool thread

Three of my first four were all from the same guy I went to VoTech school with .
The first was an 81 YZ 125 , never could get it running right .  I traded it back to him for a 76 CB 400 F Super Sport Honda . I had great asperations for it , but again , never could get it running right. I rebuilt the top end , fired it up , but had the cam-chain adjuster set wrong and bent evry one of the valves .

Meanwhile , I had a 79 Honda CR 250 I had picked up from another classmate . It needed a piston and that I managed to do no problem . I ran the dog shit out of that and would love to have another someday. I rode it for two summers, then I traded that to the first guy for a 71 Kawi H-1 tripple . It had Wirges expansion chambers , Wiseco pistons , and was painted Kawi-green . What a crazy ride for a 17 year old . It had Kawi's first CDI ignition and was always giving me fits . I think I pushed it more than I rode it.

My best friend had an 85 Ninja 900 and wanted one of the new ZX-7's . I built him an engine and stuck it in his 68 Chevy truck as a trade for the 900.

In 88 I rode the Ninja from Maine to Florida when I moved down there with my old GF .  Living in Orlando was hell with only the Ninja , so I sold it , paid some bills , bought a truck ,  . . . . . . . and a basket case 81 GPz 1100.

a little back story . . . .

Since they came out in the early eighties , I had always lusted after the KZ 1000 R Eddie Lawson replicas , but could never afford one . It was my dream bike .
As I began to earn more money as a young adult , the 1000R's gained value as collector bikes . They were always out of reach . . . . . now I had this 81 GPz , which had the same lines as the ELR, and  come Hell or high water , I was going to make my dream come true.

Shortly after I bought it , I landed a job as an engine machinist at MTC Engineering in Cocoa . They specialized in high performance engine parts for Kawis and Suzukis , mostly drag racing stuff.  I imediately started collecting goodies  to build my beast.

I started by sending the crank to Falicon in Clearwater to have the bearings replaced , balanced and welded. I bored the cases to handle the oversize sleaves , milled the center cap for a steel renforcing plate , replaced the main studs with APE cromoly stuff, and undercut the transmision. I tossed the stock clutch basket and custom built a beefier unit with an MTC forged slider basket and HD springs . The block I re-sleeved and fit a set of tweaked MTC 1260 pistons at about 11:1 comp.

I took the cylinder head and fit 1 mm oversize intake / 2mm exhaust Manley valves with new guides , and ported both sides.  A set of Web cams with APE springs and titanium retainers kept everything in synch.  I made a custom oil routing manifold and plumbed some -8 Earls S/S lines to an Earls oil cooler .  The motor was fed with a set of Kehin 39mm smooth bores.

I welded some gussets to the frame to strengthen her a bit , and found a beautiful CalFab braced aluminum arm , as well as a set of FOX shox. I also found a set of magnesium Dymags and fit a set of 320mm Performance Machine rotors with billet 4 piston calipers to slow her down. All the brackets and hangers had to be made from billet in my spare time. I made a custom battery box and a billet clutch-pusher/ sprocket cover , just like the factory race bikes used.

All custom wiring , cut down seat , one-off tail light and headlight , GSXR gauges and controls , rebuilt forks with HD springs, SS brake lines, etc,etc,etc.

She was a very fast bitch  , and surprised evryone who tried her out. I loved her like no other machine I ever owned . I rode her hard for about 4 years , and after blowing the engine for a second time , I finally parted her out after starting the work I do now , and not having any time to put her back together. God I miss her

This is the only picture I have of her :

Do you post over at GL1800riders?



I'm sure I've seen your snow picture before somewhere.  I don't visit there nearly as much as I used to.



 

1989 Kawasaki Vulcan 750



Pics are from the day I bought it.













Post picture modifications:



-Corbin custom saddle

-V&H pipes

-Chrome grips, foot pegs, shifter, and rear brake pedal

-10" mini apes

-Also shaved off the mirrors



Going to try getting into my buddies garage this winter to rebuild the engine and slap on some fresh burnt orange paint and clear coat.



The bike really isn't anything special, but it's one I am going to keep over the years.  Long-term project idea is to chop it out...  they look pretty amazing when they are.



examples:

http://www.cdthayer.com/cruiserchops.htm

mostly internet pics:

Honda CL350 (i've had several of these over the years... they're fun to ride.


1981 CB750F


1979 CB750K


1980 CB900K


81 GL1100 Standard


84 GL1200 I


and about a dozen dirtbikes, made by yamahondakawazuki.

Mustang minibike

1970 Suzuki TS 90

1968 BSA 250 B44

1975 Yamaha DT 175

1974 Suzuki TM 400

1973 Suzuki TM 125

1974 Montessa 247 Cota trials bike


1975 Honda CB750F

1983 GpZ1100



1985 Yamaha RZ 350 (#1)



1985 Yamaha RZ350 (#2) and 1983 Kawasaki GpZ550 (#1)

1982 GpZ550 (#2)

1979 Yamaha Daytona 400


1987 Kawasaki 750 Ninja

1987 GSXR750 with 1988 GSXR1100 engine

1989 Kawasaki KDX200

1989 Kawasaki KX250


1990 Yamaha FZR1000

1993 Honda CR250


2006 Kawasaki KLR650, 2007 KTM 250 XCF-W, 2010 KTM EXC 530

I am thinking about a 2010 KTM XC 150 as my next bike.  

Which one?




 
 

Pics are difficult overhere... but!

XT225 dual sport- sold

KLX650 dual sport- still have

Triumph Daytona 675- sold

WR250X super moto  - sold

V-strom 650- still have

GSXR 600 now a track bike

GSXR 1000 had to sell it, to much lack of self control and go fast as a rider/bike combination...  

My next bike will be a KMT 990 SMT if I decide to part with the V-strom... if not I am eyeballin a KTM 690 SM or a Aprilia 550 SXV for around the town fun

placeholder

Nice to see a few ole Zs as well as that Lawson posted .....never ran across one for sale but I always wanted one.


restored this  for the wife (ex wife ) bitch !



my 1st street bike



second









This pic was from a writeup in Streetfighters Mag



theres a few more Zs  and half a dozen dirt squirters laying around here somewhere.....

Home-made, 1967.




My buddy trying to get my crappy Ducati Falcon started, 1970.




2004, new Triumph Bonneville modified to look like a '67.




Kawasaki ZX6R track bike, 2007.




BMW R1200R, 2010.

Great thread and pics, keep'em coming. My only bike was an '81 YZ-80.

Not my bike.
Never got anything bigger as a 27" inseam is not conducive to riding bikes with 36" seat heights.

Keep wanting to get some type of street bike, but years of seeing the idiotic things people do on the road plus a career in healthcare keep me from it.

Always give consideration and plenty of room to bikers though. Even the squids.

I still have my 1978 YZ400E, though it hasn't been started in a few years.

Limited to street bikes, titled in my name...

1986, First street bike, 1985 Honda Nighthawk 650SC.  A truly fantastic all-around motorcycle:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i251/Klatuu_1/Motorcycles/20065C095C225Cbikepics-684706-full.jpg

1987, Second, and at the time "The World's Fastest Production Motorcycle", 1986 Kawasaki 1000 NInja.  It was a repo I snagged for < half price.  Smooth, and fucking fast, fast, fast.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i251/Klatuu_1/Motorcycles/kawasaki-gpz1000rx.jpg

1989, Still my favorite, 1986 Honda VFR 700.  Very good accel & speed, great handling, 500 mi/day in the mountains no problem.  V4 sound.  
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i251/Klatuu_1/Motorcycles/20105C045C115Cbikepics-1948750-full-1.jpg

I had the Ninja and the VFR until 1995 or so, then I had a long dry spell without a bike.  I rode other people's from time to time, but was without my own for far too long.

Now, 1993 Yamaha VMax.  I always wanted one of these, and I got it for a song a few months back.  25 year-old design, still faster 0-60 than any car on Earth, save the Veyron & the Maclaren.  Comfortable all day long.  
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i251/Klatuu_1/Motorcycles/3109_0_1_4_vmx201200_Yamaha20V-Max209320dark20violet20cocktail201.jpg

Nope.  Never been there.  I have posted that picture on a few other sites.  LDR and Skunktails are two.