The Motorbike Thread

Airborne01

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I got my first "big" bike in 1964, a Norton Dominator 88 all of 500cc.
View attachment 422907
Note the up to the minute gear, studded donkey jacket and huge gauntlets. I had to get that bike on hire purchase as it cost £74 and my father had to sign as guarantor.
Sold this one today, 1986 Honda XBR 500 G.
View attachment 422908
I bought it 12 years ago and it had a great engine but was cosmetically in poor condition so I ran it for a few miles then stripped it fully and restored it to its former glory. Over the years I have had too many bikes to remember but keep going back to Honda as they are just so well buit and reliable, present bike is a 2016 Honda NC 750X DCT which I bought new and 58443 miles later it runs as well as the day I got it.

Andy.
Noncey colour for the discard but love the 'Retro' IOM imagery!
 

JR

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Gern, way back yonder I had an Itom 50cc racer - gear change on the 'other' side, racing seat. knee grip tank, and scary 'lift the front wheel in third (5 speed box!) acceleration. Probably worth a small fortune now. Screamed like a banshee as you went through the revs = also no good for going to work on!
Wow, I wrote to the importers in my youth asking for details, never had a reply. That name has always stayed with me along with the name Kreidler.
 

Ancientmariner

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Some lovely bikes and great pics that I thoroughly enjoyed looking at!

I started with a Ducati 998S, then got a Honda VFR400R (NC24) in Rothman's colours, BMW R80 and just added a 2002 GSXR 750 to them.

Currently the VFR400R is in bit being rebuilt, R80 will be a cafe racer and the other two are almost as factory standard and condition wise.

I just need a license really and then will be away. They make nice ornaments though and I enjoy tinkering with them!
 

Mark1

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I used to have an AprillIa rs125, two stroke derestricted, extremely nimble and rode it thinking i was Valentino rossi, great fun, those where the days :smiling:
Never did get round to doing my test which I do regret but probably never will now.
 

Peej

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Had a few since I started riding in '84 when I was 17. I will see if I can remember them:
Suzuki gp100
Suzuki gsx 250 X2
Suzuki gsx 550
Honda CD 175
Honda CB 400
Kawasaki z 200 (rat bike)
Honda CB 550 (chop)
Kawasaki z 400 (chop)
Honda VT 500
Kawasaki GT 750
Yamaha xj 750 (us import)
The VT was written off by a car driver who pulled out on me. I was only doing 20 mph. Nearly lost my leg with that one. The 2 750s came about 4 years after the crash. Don't ride now. Still love 'em to bits but got a wife and family to think about. Would love a Honda cbx 1000. Nice big 6 cylinder jobbie. Going for silly money.
 

therapy

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Nice list of bikes Paul. I had a GSX550 for a couple of years, it took me and my lady for our first trip on the Continent when we went to the Bol d'Or at Paul Ricard in 1984. Here's a pic of the bike soon after purchase:

20200515_095744.jpg
 

Ian M

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I miss my bikes every spring. Not so much in the winter though. Never owned one in Demark, to expensive! I have had a few though, in my misspent youth.
Had a couple Elsies both the original not the power valve one. A black one bog standard, and a white one which was a bit special, wire rims, strait bars, single seat, and a motor tuned to within an inch of its life. Went like stink. (Had it up to 130 which was ok for a little 350).
Had a cbx550 for the winter and touring on. Took an LC from Kent to Cornwall once. Couldn't fell my bum for a week lol. Hence the cbx. Scraped that down the road one day on the way to work. We survived but the tank and fairing got a bit ragged.

Pop quiz, which bike did I get a speeding ticket on. The CBX. Stopped on the M2 for doing 80 !
Would I have a bike again.... At my age I don't bounce so much, just break, so probably not. Besides I would not have it, or a licence very long. New law in DK. break the speed limit by more than 50% and they can take your car/mc.
 

Peej

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Nice list of bikes Paul. I had a GSX550 for a couple of years, it took me and my lady for our first trip on the Continent when we went to the Bol d'Or at Paul Ricard in 1984. Here's a pic of the bike soon after purchase:

View attachment 424345
Same colour as mine. Mine was the full fairing model. Read a test report about them once. They said the 16" front wheel made it twitchy handling. Never noticed myself and used to get mine virtually laid down on corners.
 

Airborne01

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There was a Honda with that undercarriage configuration once; I always thought it would have some 'interesting' handling so was never tempted!
 

PaulinKendal

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20210713_161415.jpgGreat thread, @therapy .

My dear old dad was mechanically useless, never learned to drive (or ride) and thoroughly disapproved of me riding bikes.

But on a good day, when I was polishing my RD350LC, I persuaded him to sling his leg over it and took a snap. It's a family favourite picture of him - so atypical.
 

therapy

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Welcome along Paul. Here's a couple of pics of my foray into Kawasaki triples in around 1982.

Firstly the nearly new KH400 I bought a few months after getting knocked off my 350LC:

KH400.jpg


And here's the S3 400 that was up for sale nearby. I paid about 300 quid for this one, but it was a bit scruffy and I did have the engine in bits at some point:

S3 400.jpg

Nick.
 

PaulinKendal

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Interesting! I got the 350LC immediately AFTER the KH400, which was nicked. The LC also got nicked a year or two later - the only two bikes that ever got stolen from me.

The KH I bought off a mate who'd stacked it, fortunately (for me) taking the brunt of the damage on his knee - there was a big knee-shaped dent in the tank. It was also missing a side panel, but once those were replaced it was pretty-much perfect. He'd not done many miles on it and had lavished care on it - it was a real beauty.
It didn't go round corners very well, but in a straight line it was fabulous. I used to commute from SE London to the City on it. I always prayed I'd get caught at the lights on the north side of London Bridge - then I could open it up across the bridge, smothering the whole bridge in a cloud of two-stroke oil! Shocking really, but nothing comes close to a two-stroke for me.
 

boatman

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HI Nick the wife an i were bikers back in the late 70 's an some pics on my honda 250 super dream IMG_6390.JPG lovely an comfy bike to ride an fast too but she would not hit a ton
 
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