Charliecloud wrote:

^^ I like that - I hate trikes in general

Adjust them rose tinted glasses and decide if you want a bike to 'ride' or just 'fix' and admire. If it's 'ride' then there are lots of more modern stuff, some of which can be had for reasonable amounts of cash.

Hi

Think with trikes u either like or loath them

definitely want a bike I can ride , indeed think it’s going to be best to get a modern bike

Do like the trikes that have the VW engines fitted , heard the engines are supposed be to extremely easy to work on and cheap for spares

Plus in reality because of my weaker left leg due to nerve damage I think a trike will be a lot safer and more comfortable

  

astonbuilder wrote:

I lusted after the CBX as a teenager starting out on 'biking; size of the engine and six cylinders being the main criteria over anything important like brakes and handling

My first (illegal as only 16) 'bike was a Kwak KH 250 triple. They were renown to only run on two cylinders in the wet but mine ran as a 167cc twin about 95% of the time as it was and the centre cylinder was just a rotating weight basically. I go misty-eyed at seeing them again but definitely wouldn't want/ride one again.

Have had, literally, dozens of 'bikes since but I'm not a serious tourer/user or anything (euro trip I used a van and just pottered the 'other end' before bringing it, and many of my mates crashed/broken ones, back in the van again ) and now if I get a 1000 miles a year on one it's a lot (and given that will likely include at least one 200 mile round trip to see my mum you get the idea of how much I use them).

I'll never ride one in the rain, unless caught by a shower, my days of winter riding as only form of transport ended around circa 1983....) and am now 'accepting' that having the 'bike is just to cling to my youth and it's there for when I want to use it on a rare occasion.

With that in end and 'just having wheels in the garage' I bought this rather than hanging my helmet and leathers up for good;

Click image to enlarge

It looks better in photo than the flesh and I have a few things I want to tinker with over winter; brake overhaul, suspension refurb, re-paint back to original colours, etc.

A decent, depreciation proof, usable and [becoming] classic that can still cut it out on the road when used.

I have no desire or hankering for anything 'proper classic' and anything pre circa-1990 is unlikely to find a space in my garage

Hi

U make a lot of sense ,

I think being honest to myself a trike will be the best way forward , also the safety of other road users is paramount to me , because of my weaker left leg I don’t want to be in the what IF situation

Wondering if getting one that’s virtually complete , as I want a winter project , wondering if a VW engine would also be the way to go

But alas is all of an unknown to me as I’ve never worked on or owned an air cooled VW engine , req further investigation of costing etc

Thks again

  

Discomadness wrote:

Just a note : the photos are off the net for examples as I don’t have pics of my bikes on my phone.

I’ve had a load of bikes over the years, started as a kid with a Honda qr50 then a Yamaha ty80, then had a 1978 Kawasaki kl250 which was a wreck but great for riding around the coal tips behind my parents house


When that died I progressed to a “barn find” Suzuki rm500 which the farmer I knew had from new ridden once in his garage for rounding up the sheep trust me. He never rounded up any sheep with that monster ! What a bike for a 16yr old lad ! all my mates had 125’s and 80’s. They hated it ! It used to throw rocks everywhere. Bit dangerous now looking back.


After that I had a gasgas ec400fse I bought brand new when I passed out from my apprenticeship with the MOD road legal bike. Absolutely loved it.



Then all my mates went through the “rice burner” phase and after a go on a Ducati 748 (which I couldn’t afford) I part ex’d The gas gas for a tuned 2001 Suzuki gsxr 750 which was craziness in a bike frame. I sold that after nearly getting hit off it 3 times in one year. Haven’t had one since but would love something like a bmw rg1200 or Africa twin.

Nice collection there mate

  

astonbuilder wrote:

I can't remember all the 'bikes I had but here's a few 'memorable' (for many reasons...) after the KH250;

Honda 250 Superdream (the Apple product of it's day in biking really), physically big too
Honda 400 Superdream and also, now a rare classic, auto version
Kawasaki KH125 - work commuter 'bike - when I gave up riding in the wet/snow/winter
Kawasaki GPz550 - my first 'proper' sports bike that could do 120mph plus on the clock (wearing jeans.....)
Kawasaki GPz900 - would now be a sports tourer really
Honda 650SLR - back to biking weekend toy - lots of low down torque
Suzuki 600 bag of thing
Triumph Trident 900 - brilliant modular 'bike from Bloor
Honda CB1000 'Big One' - ace bike and regret selling
Yamaha TDM850 - actually this is 'my sort of bike' really on reflection of them all
Yamaha TDM900 - ditto
Suzuki RF900 - surprisingly capable 'bike
Kawasaki ZX-9r - nod to my youthful lusted 'bike
Triumph 900 Daytona - wish I'd never sold it
Kawasaki ZZr1100 - tuned with 180bhp or so at rear wheel - the 'bike I probably did most miles on......ever!
Suzuki 1200 Bandit - an 'all that you need' 'bike
BMW r1200GS - best 'bike in the world?
KTM Superduke 990
Aprilia Tuono V4 - first brand-new 'bike - only managed 670 miles in a year
Yamaha MT-01 - not old enough for a Harley or any custom and this as close as I'd go - sold to 'show willing' for a house deposit and never found a decent enough one to replace my mint one and prices just keep on rising
BMW K1300r - fastest thing I've ever ridden - three figure speeds in blink of an eye - dangerous (life and licence)
Honda XC700 - brilliant concept automatic 'bike - 50bhp just not enough though (although 80mpg+ without even trying)
Pan European 1100 - heavy as a house but eats miles (all 1000 in my ownership )
Honda Africa Twin

Lots of very tempting 900 naked and middleweights out there now I could easily buy but know I'd never use them as the Mazda MX-5 has been the summer toy of choice mostly now

Wow , impressive

Also had the superdreams , preferred the 400n over the 250 ,

  

Ken wrote:

Miss my CB1300



Current

K1600GT
R1200R LC

HD Breakout lands in Sept

Very very nice

  

gstuart wrote:

Discomadness wrote:

Just a note : the photos are off the net for examples as I don’t have pics of my bikes on my phone.

I’ve had a load of bikes over the years, started as a kid with a Honda qr50 then a Yamaha ty80, then had a 1978 Kawasaki kl250 which was a wreck but great for riding around the coal tips behind my parents house


When that died I progressed to a “barn find” Suzuki rm500 which the farmer I knew had from new ridden once in his garage for rounding up the sheep trust me. He never rounded up any sheep with that monster ! What a bike for a 16yr old lad ! all my mates had 125’s and 80’s. They hated it ! It used to throw rocks everywhere. Bit dangerous now looking back.


After that I had a gasgas ec400fse I bought brand new when I passed out from my apprenticeship with the MOD road legal bike. Absolutely loved it.



Then all my mates went through the “rice burner” phase and after a go on a Ducati 748 (which I couldn’t afford) I part ex’d The gas gas for a tuned 2001 Suzuki gsxr 750 which was craziness in a bike frame. I sold that after nearly getting hit off it 3 times in one year. Haven’t had one since but would love something like a bmw rg1200 or Africa twin.

Nice collection there mate

defector wrote:

Was in awe of the CBX and CB900F when they came out and used to drool outside Sports Motorcycles in Manchester.

Have had a Gpz900R quietly appreciating away in the garage for 15 years, need to recon the carbs as they are a bit gummed up.

Gpz550 original Unitrak was a beautiful piece of kit and provided me with great joy.

I'm more a Kawasaki person as i started on an AR80 and went up the capacities from 400, 500, 550 and 900 with a 250 and 400 Superdream in between....oh nearly forgot the CB250RS as well.

Was hooked on bikes since the day i saw a Kawasaki Z1R pilot waste a Porsche 911 from the lights on the A5103 (Princess Road, Manchester) as i was stood on the pavement as a schoolboy. Still remember it to this day.

Hi

Those cb900 were really nice , had an awesome deep sound when opened up, never rode one but ur spot on when Honda were bringing out there new models in the 80 s, as a heating boiler apprentice back then they were well out of my reach

Always managed to get a new Honda brochure and read it on the way to school