This is one beautiful motorcycle

[jav]

I miss mine

 

[Strawdog]

My pride and joy...

 

[Teflon97116]

After 50+ years doing it just one way, I'm too set in my ways to switch back and forth between left-side and right-side shifters. I have to get my classic motorcycle thrills with what I know how to ride instinctively without having to think about it (even for a split second) and then adapt.

Sure, modern bikes are super efficient, agile and ultra low-maintenance, but they all tend to look like tupperware covered rocket ships as time and technology march forward. Maybe I could move somewhere else, but I can't think of many places where a streamlined 150+ mph dildo would be useful today.

To make my pulse quicken, I prefer classic bikes.

Yeah, there's the whole rough ride, oil drip, points and carb adjustments, Lucas ("Prince of Darkness") wiring business. But those bikes were (to me) exciting and they still are.

In homage to that vibe with modern efficiency, I recently put some time and effort into a '75 XS650. Upgraded all the invisible handling/reliability things (front and rear suspension, bearings, brakes, ignition) and stripped off all the 1970s crap (dashboard, high bars, huge signals, foot-tall rabbit-ear mirrors, gigantic tail light, ugly pipes and couch-sized seat) so I could still see there's a motorcycle inside there.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

This is a 1969 XLCH Sportster. It is the last year of the magneto ignition (no battery).

My wife and I used to travel on Sportsters.

Had a '74 XLCH and a '75 XLH. Gotta have two . . . one to ride and one to work on. :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

Painted the '75 Boss 302 Red and added the black Sportster tank graphic decal. Looked good.

Lotta fun. Gave 'em to my sons.

PS The '74 was RH shift and the '75 was LH shift . . . kept me alert. ;)

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I bought a new 1979 Yamaha 650 since it reminded me of the Triumphs of the 50s.
I realized after riding 40 miles round trip to work that changing chains and sprockets was not fun.
I bought a 1979 Honda Goldwing with 10,000 miles on it in 1981. What an outstanding bike. I put about 40,000 on it with no problems.

A Fantastic and smooth bike 70-75mph no problem. I also had it to 145MPH once.

Bought this Dyna Classic from my daughter and it is not even close to the bike that the Goldwing was.

 

[el caminero]

My brother wanted to mod his ex-HP kz to hardtail, i laughed and said dont do that to your only ride. Dad grumped about not having a sprungtail even on his last, a new panhead, and i said sure, back then the cages would let you slow down for a bad bit of road; today you become a speedbump. They both agreed.

 

[WendyZXZ]

I don't ride anymore since my son was killed by a texting driver hitting him head on on his motorcycle.
The bike I liked best but had the most problems with was a Royal Enfield Bullet 500. It had a solo saddle and engine guards with panniers and a pedestrian slicer on the front fender.
I took it to the dealer for the initial oil change and adjustments and they screwed up the timing and it cooked the engine.
I had to "discuss" them taking it back but we came to an agreement. We both took a bath on it but it was a fair settlement.

I bought a Yamaha V-Star 650 which was a good reliable bike but then my son got hit and was in a coma for 10 months so I took a loss on selling it back to the dealer.

Sad to hear of the death of your son. People "screwing" around with phones are a growing menace that is a disaster easy to lessen greatly, put the damn thing down and concentrate on controlling a 2 ton and sometimes more vehicle that can take out an entire family because of idiocy at the wheel of the vehicle.

 

[Joey]

Sad to hear of the death of your son. People "screwing" around with phones are a growing menace that is a disaster easy to lessen greatly, put the damn thing down and concentrate on controlling a 2 ton and sometimes more vehicle that can take out an entire family because of idiocy at the wheel of the vehicle.

I like your attitude..................

 

[GasGuzzler]

I can't find any electronic pictures of the only motorcycle I ever owned...actually part owner. Didn't have it long, bought it to flip. It was a highly modified 1997 XL883H that looked stock. The H is for "Hugger" so it had adjustable front shocks and a double disc front brake factory. The 883 was punched to 1270 or 1280 ... maybe 13XX cc, I don't remember and it had aftermaket cams, Screamin' Eagle ignition and air cleaner, and the OEM pipes were cut open to remove the baffles and were TIG welded back to look stock. It was black and very glossy, had 40 or 48 spoke wheels, and an orange and cream HD script on each side of the tank. Also had a solo Mustang seat, aftermarket adjustable rear shocks, and HD forward controls. It was fast, at least to me. Sold it for a loss. It was worth it.

 

[Fox Mike]

Had a '76 K model Honda (CB 750) that I gave to my grandson. It was just too heavy for me to handle safety. Great looking bike.

 

[carbonfibrebob]

Here is one I built

 

[xchecker]

Acquired(read free) this as a grungy cockroach of a chopper 30+ yrs ago.
Obviously resurrected to nearly original. Have put over 30,000 miles on her since.

 

[el caminero]

Acquired(read free) this as a grungy cockroach of a chopper 30+ yrs ago.
Obviously resurrected to nearly original. Have put over 30,000 miles on her since.

View attachment 93854

Vetter rabid transit? Not often seen, even back then.
Googol image sez its a cbx and a viper fairing.

 

[xchecker]

Vetter rabid transit? Not often seen, even back then.
Googol image sez its a cbx and a viper fairing.

Actually, '74 CB750/4 Shoei fairing (even more rare)
Also a TV star:cool:

 

[Jim W]

I lost count of the number of motorcycles I have owned and ridden over the years. Think I've had at least one of every brand and style. I've come to like Italian girls in my old age and I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.