The Motorbike Thread

[boatman]

AN then i bought a new susie GT 380 with treble lots of everything an a ram air system it was a two stroke an i hit my first ton on this boy was there some smoke behind me an i went an done stupid thing it was an icy morn an when i rid to work an there was this girl waitin at a cross rds every morn well i rid in past her tryin to look big an she was lookin an when i turned onto the main rd i gave the suzie a handfull an boy that was the qickest id ever fell off a bike an to make matters worst the bloomin bike came down on top of me pinning me down to the road an she just stood there lookin an boy was that bloomin bike heavy it took me qiute a few minutes to get out from under it just as well a car or a lorry dint come an sorry pics not good as these were taken 40yrs ago

[boatman]

an here i had a nice CM CUSTOM 250 AN IT WAS ALSO A NICE MACHINE TO RIDE AN THIS WAS BACK IN THE EARLY 80 's

[boatman]

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

[PaulinKendal]

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.

[Nicko]

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:




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:



Nick.

[Tim Marlow]

Wow, another suicide Elsie……scary to think you could ride the 250 on L plates when they came out…..

[PaulinKendal]

Great thread, Nicko .

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.

[Nicko]

Nice XSR John. I've been lucky enough to ride most of the MT07/09/10 range, but the XSR's have so far eluded me.

Got treated to an early Father's day present today with a factory visit and ride on the new CCM Maverick...



Nick

[john i am]

Here’s my current ride. I’m on the lookout for something I can take down the lanes for a bit of fun and dirt.

[Airborne01]

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

[Peej]

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:

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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.

[Ian M]

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.

[Nicko]

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:

[Peej]

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.

[Mark1]

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.