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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Posts
    615

    Default List and rate your motor cycles.

    Following along the lines of my previous post, list and rate your bikes.

    My first bike was a 90cc Moto Guzzi, it had girder forks, was italian red and had no motor. My brother gave this to me when I was very, very young. I used to run up and down the driveway pushing the thing, jump on it and ride until it stopped, all the while making motorbike noises, well, I thought they were motorbike noises, the brother said he thought I was farting.

    Second bike was another brotherly cast off, a 50cc Honda step through. This one had an engine with a couple of bent valves so it never went. It did provide me with an opportunity to learn something though: I pulled the engine apart to see what made it go. It ended up in the bin with all my old alarm clocks, they never went again either.

    Next bike was a 1963, A65, 650cc, BSA, Thunderbolt. I bought this around 1967 a couple of months before my 17th birthday for $200, it was in really good condition. I couldn't stand seeing such a powerful looking beastie just sitting around doing nothing; so, I sneaked a couple of rides on it. Of course I had no idea how to ride a bike at this stage, all I knew was first gear, boy could that bike rev, must have revved it to at least 20,000 RPM. I've posted a story on this bike before under Motor Cycle Mayhem in the 60s.

    My next bike was a brand new Yamaha YB90, I had a lot of fun on this bike, rode it everywhere, on weekends I'd ride up North of Perth to play in the sandhills. Good bike except for the points: tiny little cutout on the alternator rotor to fit in a set of feelers and a screwdriver. Great fun!

    Next bike was a 1971, 650cc, Triumph Trophy. This bike was the first of the new model Triumphs and came with a frame with an integral oil tank, same frame and cycle parts as the 650cc BSA version. I'd always had a penchant for shiny show bikes so after riding it around for a bit stripped it and started changing it into a show bike. Sent of heaps of parts to the chrome platers: footpegs, brake pedal, spokes, bolts and nuts and so on.

    Shortly after I joined the RAAF and was posted to Townsville so didn't see the bike for another two years. Finally I shipped the Triumph over and resumed work. Cut off the rear section of the frame and shortened it to a single seater, cut off all the extra tabs, moulded the frame, painted it and put it together - dazzling. Every time I parked it on the main street I'd come back to find a heap of people ooohing and ahhhing over it. Again did another post on this bike under ****.

    Next bike was a Suzuki DR 250. The Suzuki was ok but a little gutless so I did a bit of work on it, ported and polished the head and added a flat slide carb, still slow but a pretty good bike for what it was.

    Next bike was Honda CR 250 MXer. Excellent bike, raced it at most of the MX tracks west of Sydney until I got married. Next outing, the big ends went and being married couldn't justify spending money to fix it so sold it to a super carter.

    Next bike was Suzuki GS 750 I bought as a wreck, resprayed it, took the motor apart and fixed it up. Nice bike, best Japanese bike I've owned. Again, posted a story on this one as well.

    After the Suzuki I bought Honda 50cc step through, got halfway to work on its first outing and it stopped. Threw the jammed up exhaust away and welded up a decent size expansion chamber and fiddled with the ports a little. After that I could wind it out to 70KPH. Not very safe at that speed and it drank a lot of petrol. Nice enough step through but way too complex for a step through.

    Next I bought a Yamaha 50cc step through with shaft drive. Nice little step through this one, no chain to worry about and the motor was as simple as they come. Same deal, fiddled with the ports and welded up an expansion chamber. much the same result as the Honda.

    I next bought a couple of wrecked YB 90s, collected all the good bits and did a number on it: shaved head, expansion chamber, changed the shape of the disc valve, shortened the frame, added lowset bars and a single seat. A proper little bucket racer. Nice bike and a real flyer.

    Next came a Honda 750 Bol Dor, what a heap of rubbish, enough said about that piece of rubbish - garbage.

    Last bike was a Triumph Bonneville which I did a lot of work on. Again, posted a story here about it. Nearly as good as my 1971 650 Triumph. Won the best Triumph at the Darwin bike show.

    That was the last, crook hips meant I couldn't kick a bike anymore so I lost interest. Regained my interest a few years ago but, PsA intervened, meaning I can't use levers so haven't touched one since.

    I do all the work myself on these type projects: paint, sheet metal work, electrics, metal polishing, mechanicals, spoking, upholstery and so on.

    Some before and after pics. In the background of the YB pics you can see a spare frame and some other bits and pieces I discarded. Don't have any pics of the Guzzi without a motor, don't know why!
    Attached Images Attached Images

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    287

    Default

    !985 GN250-perfect first bike.
    1988 GSX250RR-Prolly more than I could handle at the time, turned out to be a lemon
    1987 FZR400 exup-Very cool bike, lots of fun.
    2 x yamaha AG250-work bikes, bout as exciting as bowl of cold porridge
    GN125H....yawn...
    I love bikes but as you can see I've not really owned anything to write home about...one day I'll own at least one Trumphy and 1 classic Jappa (GSX1100e or ex maybe...)

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    1,766

    Default

    Dunno about dates but here we go.

    Honda CB100, Suzuki 100cc 2 stroke road bike thing.

    Ducati 250 single Mark 3 1964 vintage coil spring head. Did that one up and won a few shows with it. It was also my daily ride for about 18 months after rebuild.

    BMW R65. One of the best bikes I've ever owned.

    Laverda RGS 1000. Man that was one hell of a bike. 160klm and hour 2 up between Sydney and Brisbane and plenty of go left.

    Kawasaki Eddie Lawson Replica, not a bad bike. First large Jappa.

    Ducati SD1000. Pig of a thing, needed heaps of work.

    Indian made Royal Enfield 500. A good honest motorcycle.

    Harley Davidson XR 1200, the sporty harley. Handles well, plenty of grunt. Don't ride often enough.
    There ain't no devil, it's just god when he's drunk!!

    Tom Waits

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    South West Victoria
    Age
    64
    Posts
    471

    Default

    From first to last.

    Honda XR75 trail bike. I learnt to ride on this around the local tracks. Bought used approx 1974.

    Yamaha DT125. L plates on the road. Rode it everywhere and wore it out. Bought new 1976.

    Yamaha IT250. Road and trail 2 stroke. Plenty of power and good fun. Bought new 1980.

    Suzuki GS450 road bike. Swapped a wood lathe for it. Should have kept the lathe and ridden that. Used approx 1983.

    Yamaha XT500. Had this bike for years. Loved it. Kick start could break a leg if you got it wrong. Used 1976 model bought in 1989.

    Yamaha XVS1150. Poor mans Harley. kept it for a year but never really liked it.

    Buell X1 Lightning. Fantastic bike. Like the XT500 on steroids. Loud and vibrated apart. Loved it. Bought demo 2004.

    BMW R1150GS Adventure. My best ever bike. Rode it everywhere and have been sorry I sold it. 2004 model bought end 2005 with nearly 2000ks on it.

    Suzuki M109 1800. A good bike but it scraped on every corner. Riding position meant passing trucks would nearly blow you off the seat. Bought new 2008.

    Harley Fatbob FXDF 1690. Ordinary. Wanted a big Harley for years and was disappointed with it. Spent heaps on it but it never improved to a point worth keeping. Bought new 2012.

    Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200. Plenty of power and turbine smooth triple engine. Top heavy. Seat torturous after not long in the seat. Again just couldn't get it comfortable to like it. Can't service or do anything on it at home or out on the road. 2015 demo model bought 2016.

    BMW R1150 GS Adventure. My current bike and a keeper. Found this 2006 model with low ks in Canberra a few months back. Nearly as good as my old one I had but I will hang on to this one for good. Great to ride. No gizmos or gadgets. idiot proof to service yourself. 2006 model bought used 2017.

    Col.
    Lara, Vic.
    Good better best, never let it rest, until your good is better and your better best.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Townsville NQ
    Posts
    100

    Default

    This is my present scooter, previous are a RM 250, DR500, GSXEFE1100. and a 185 that i cant remember the model of
    .IMG_1919.JPGIMG_0894.jpg

    this is the EFE

    IMG_1453.jpgIMG_1454.jpg

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