Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
Sold my bike last year, and kept toying with the idea of a replacement, but for what, I never go anywhere and I don't have decent covered space = you don't need a bike.
My latest crazy venture
- Thread starter dreadnut
- Start date
Started my motorcycle life with misc. borrowed Honda 65's, 90's and an occasional CB 160. My first purchased bike was the previously mentioned Triumph Bonneville; a wonderful, quirky, typically British ride (Lord Lucas still reigned supreme).
I then graduated to a tweaked Kawasaki KZ900 that thankfully was stolen before I killed myself.
My final ride was a '90 Honda VFR 750F, a fabulous sport-tourer that with some tweaking did 0 to 60 in about 3 seconds and would top out at close to 150 mph.
Mind you, I understood the dangers. I wore a helmet, gloves, leather jacket, jeans and boots and assumed that every driver on the road was out to kill me. I took the Free Motorcycle Safety Program classes,
cce.icc.edu
where I unlearned 20 years of bad riding habits and eventually graduated to the California Superbike School, where I learned the limits of what a properly ridden bike could do to survive.
My best rides were on early Sunday mornings on the back roads of southern Wisconsin. When the traffic came out, I went home.
Alas, those days are now history, but still are wonderful memories.
Bikes are awesome, but you have to stay in the proper state of mind.
I then graduated to a tweaked Kawasaki KZ900 that thankfully was stolen before I killed myself.
My final ride was a '90 Honda VFR 750F, a fabulous sport-tourer that with some tweaking did 0 to 60 in about 3 seconds and would top out at close to 150 mph.
Mind you, I understood the dangers. I wore a helmet, gloves, leather jacket, jeans and boots and assumed that every driver on the road was out to kill me. I took the Free Motorcycle Safety Program classes,
Continuing Education - Illinois Central College
cce.icc.edu
where I unlearned 20 years of bad riding habits and eventually graduated to the California Superbike School, where I learned the limits of what a properly ridden bike could do to survive.
My best rides were on early Sunday mornings on the back roads of southern Wisconsin. When the traffic came out, I went home.
Alas, those days are now history, but still are wonderful memories.
Bikes are awesome, but you have to stay in the proper state of mind.
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Rayk
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My bike is officially 20 yrs old this year . Gosh that’s hard to believe. I don’t think I ever cleaned the carb . LolI love riding but really haven't much since I had kids. I've chomping at the bit to ride again so much lately that I look at them daily. I've actually even considered selling off a couple of Guilds to grab a nice adventure bike.
That Sportster's one of the last years for the Ironhead and at least post-AMF. Whew! If there's one thing, though that would make me get a newer bike, it's fuel injection. Cleaning carbs is a drag!
Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
Prices of cool bikes are so high now, I may never have another.
rampside
Senior Member
Here's me in 1985 with my custom Ironhead ('65 HD sporty, rigid frame, extended triple-tree front end, radical handlebars, drag pipes etc...)
I had recently divorced, and wisely sold this widow maker not long after this photo. (although, wished I had put it in long-term storage instead).
With that rigid frame, handlebars, feet up on the highway pegs, and hitting those bridge transitions on the highways, my rear-end would experience some major air time.
**Note: yes, I put the slide in the scanner upside down
I had recently divorced, and wisely sold this widow maker not long after this photo. (although, wished I had put it in long-term storage instead).
With that rigid frame, handlebars, feet up on the highway pegs, and hitting those bridge transitions on the highways, my rear-end would experience some major air time.
**Note: yes, I put the slide in the scanner upside down
davismanLV
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Terry, what a great photo!! It looks like you should be selling me something...... shades, belts, keys, jackets..... something. LOL!!
jp
Senior Member
These are probably one of the best engineered MCs ever. I remember my first ride on an Interceptor, and it was thrilling. The latest VFR800s are a marvel -- even power and weight distribution, torquey, and amazing handling. Love these bikes!My final ride was a '90 Honda VFR 750F, a fabulous sport-tourer that with some tweaking did 0 to 60 in about 3 seconds and would top out at close to 150 mph.
Yeah, the V4 motor had torque to die for. You could ride 3rd gear down to 20 mph and up to 60, no problem. The riding position was comfortable, not as demanding as a sport bike but still allowing spirited riding. A little on the heavy side, but properly ridden it could keep up with a lot of the racer wannabees.
The single-sided swing arm made chain adjustments absolutely brainless. The motor was essentially bulletproof. The only maintenance I performed was oil changes. I totally agree with your assessment.
bobouz
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An immediate PTSD moment: One look at that long-stroke thumper & my hands began shaking violently - while at the same time I apparently became a bobble-head doll above the neck.1981 1967 BSA Victor with Gold Star tank.
Some rides, you never forget!