Author Topic: If you could have ONLY ONE M/C in a lifetime? (Read 4437 times)

bad Chad · « **on:** December 06, 2021, 05:45:22 PM »

What would it be? You get one pick and it's yours, you get nothing more for the rest of your life. For this exercise, your starting point is you are 20 years old or more.
So think it through a bit, your a little more than 20 now, what m/c would have suited you for decades, even if it wasn't around back in the day you can still pick it as your "forever bike"

For me, I have had some great bikes, I really could have picked the Suzuki 78 Suzuki GS1000, but I have become such a fan of the bikes from Lake Como, that I just couldn't go that route. There are far more bikes of all makes that I haven't ridden, then ridden, but I can only go on what I know.

I would pick one of my current lumps, the v9 Roamer. For me, it does everything well enough, and if I only get one bike, that's what I would want a marvelous jack of all trades.

Guzzi Gal · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2021, 06:34:04 PM »

If I could only have one PTW, it would be a Vespa. It's the perfect bike for a young beginner as well as a rider of advancing years.

tazio · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2021, 06:39:33 PM »

BROUGH SUPERIOR SS100

kingoffleece · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2021, 06:51:50 PM »

I could live fine with my 2015 V7

Wildguzzi.com · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2021, 06:51:50 PM »

PeteS · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2021, 06:54:53 PM »

SP1000 with my LeMans powertrain. 992 motor with close ratio gears.

Pete

mondtster · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2021, 07:02:53 PM »

I've owned a lot of motorcycles over the years, but my most favorite motorcycle has been my Triumph T140. It does everything well enough, except touring, and I don't foresee its departure from my motorcycle stable anytime soon, if ever, as long as it doesn't get wrecked and I can still find parts.

But that said, I do like doing some longer distance rides. A KZ1000 or GS1000 would probably be a bit more of a suitable "do all" motorcycle for me.

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2021, 07:08:12 PM »

It would have to be a dual sport of some kind. I'd have to compare some.

Matteo · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2021, 07:21:35 PM »

V85tt does it for me. The rest are all for sale.

Huzo · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2021, 07:23:43 PM »

There’ll be heaps of guys cannot limit themselves to one, without saying....
“But I still like my........”
You asked for ONE....!

My current 2VPC Norge.

radguzzi · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2021, 07:39:17 PM »

I too, like many here have owned and still do own many motorcycles and I know that I have my favorites in the stable now.

My choice would be that I would be perfectly happy with the '04 EV Touring forever.

rad__

Kev m · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2021, 07:42:54 PM »

As great as my more modern and more capable bikes have been it would have had to be the one bike I had in my late 20's that I should have kept.

1996 FLHRI (EFI EVO RK). The Weber-Marelli open loop EFI ran perfectly, as well or better than any later closed-loop system. It was smaller and lighter than today's big Harleys. Brakes were decent if not overwhelming. And I could have probably rebuilt it multiple times over as the years went on, even today.

Travlr · « **Reply #11 on:** December 06, 2021, 07:52:37 PM »

LeMans 5. Great all rounder scratching or touring.

Mike

motogoro · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2021, 08:07:21 PM »

Okay, I'll play your game Chad. I have actually looked back at my youth and wondered "what if?"
Rather than a '79 AMF SuperGlide, maybe I should have bought a Ducati or Guzzi?

The civilian peg G5 is a good ergonomic fit for me.
As a one and only bike it would have lived many lives by now.

1st life. Full touring mode. Vetter fairing with deer whistles. KC driving lights. Numerous saddlebag options. Fugly Vetters, then cavernous DB's, maybe Krausers and then... ?

2nd. Sport tourer. Probably an SP 1000 fairing, "Daytona" handlebars. Hella driving lights. Day-Long saddle. Finally, Givi E36s.

3rd. Cafe. Sfida 1/2 fairing and solo seat. Clip-ons, Tarrozzi rearsets... "oops! over budget. well then, we'll just bob the fenders and lose that OEM tail light."

'oh, my aching <blank> (neck, back, hands, etc.) I'm getting too old for this!'

4th. Drop it off at the Guzzi Doctor for a full restoration.

End of fantasy. LOL

Tkelly · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2021, 08:30:21 PM »

If the choices were limited to what existed at age 20 I would have picked a65 Honda 305 Supersport,100 mph top speed and more reliable than anything else.With a time machine my Stelvio .

Bpreynolds2 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 06, 2021, 08:31:36 PM »

I’ve had about 35 or more bikes in the last 18 years. As TG Sheppard once sang, “I loved ‘em every one”; yet, this question is so easy, too easy for me. There are certainly some Guzzis in my top 5 but without even a flicker of a doubt, the bike far and away above them all, my former carbed KTM 950 Supermoto. Or. My current 990 SMT that I’ve highly modified to be as similar as possible to that former 950. For me personally, it is still the single greatest Swiss Army knife for paved roads I have ever driven, let alone owned. But more than its abilities, even just cruising down the road it put the biggest smile on my face nearly every single time I took it out.

Beowulf · « **Reply #15 on:** December 06, 2021, 08:44:21 PM »

For me I’d go with the V7 850 it just hits all the right spots for me. Classic nice lines fun to work on and the feel of that engine is unlike anything else. I know cliche and even despite the fact it’s at dealer I love it and hope to see it back.

Alfetta · « **Reply #16 on:** December 06, 2021, 08:44:58 PM »

For me it would have to be an air cooled 650.. a KLR, DR or perhaps an XR..
Do it all, never fail air hammers..!!

Antietam Classic Cycle · « **Reply #17 on:** December 06, 2021, 08:46:29 PM »

My '69 Ambassador. Owned for 24 years - the longest I've ever kept anything.

AJ Huff · « **Reply #18 on:** December 06, 2021, 08:49:26 PM »

71 Ambassador.

-AJ

TN Mark · « **Reply #19 on:** December 06, 2021, 08:53:21 PM »

This is an easy one for me. My 2012 Victory Cross Country Tour. I haven’t found anything it doesn’t do exceptionally well since I bought in March 2013. It could be pushing 100K trouble free miles by this time next year. I’d buy another without question if this one were to get taken out.

twowheeladdict · « **Reply #20 on:** December 06, 2021, 09:07:53 PM »

If you are talking about the bikes that were available when I was 20 it would have to be the Yamaha XS750 triple. Shaft Drive, Enough factory accessories to make it a full on touring bike, Easily converted into a cafe for when the mood struck. Enough power for a side car when I aged.

When bikes could be configured to become what you want when you want.

Bikes today are so specialized which is why I have several to meet the different types of riding I want to do.

cliffrod · « **Reply #21 on:** December 06, 2021, 09:23:48 PM »

My V7 Sport. That's why I've had it for decades, through all the everything of life. It is my bike.

2-up on it is a drag. That's why we got our shovelhead. But if I could only have one, it's an easy choice.

Scout63 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 06, 2021, 09:24:20 PM »

G5 - classic looks, plenty of power for me, I can tear it down, no need to kick, good brakes, comfy for a passenger, sounds great and I can turn it into a skinny jeans wearing metrosexual warm white wine drinking cafe bobber sidewalk sculpture if necessary.

rschrum · « **Reply #23 on:** December 06, 2021, 10:06:10 PM »

Hands down, Griso.

AJ Huff · « **Reply #24 on:** December 06, 2021, 10:09:41 PM »

Or a Sunbeam S7 or S8. Don't know what it's like to ride one but I've always thought it the best looking of all bikes.

-AJ

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #25 on:** December 06, 2021, 10:30:46 PM »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFeuPWgDB9k

balvenie · « **Reply #26 on:** December 07, 2021, 03:06:09 AM »

I could always go back to a S o r t e d separate construction, Triumph Thunderbird. As long as it was sorted. Not the piece of junk that was made of used parts that was my first bike. Reasonably light. pretty fast. It had no centrestand though. That would have to be fixed too.

balvenie · « **Reply #27 on:** December 07, 2021, 03:08:01 AM »

Quote from: fotoguzzi on December 06, 2021, 10:30:46 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFeuPWgDB9k/quote]

Good video, foto

Johncolleary · « **Reply #28 on:** December 07, 2021, 03:23:45 AM »

I would have to go with my present Stelvio!

reidy · « **Reply #29 on:** December 07, 2021, 04:51:27 AM »

Good question. I can't answer it and I think it would be impossible to answer.

If I knew then what I know now it would be a different answer. I loved my GPZ900's in my early 20' and could easily live with one now. They were great in their day and one in good condition could hold its own today.

As I have got older I am drawn to simplicity and this is one area where the GPZ does not shine. I could not see myself on one as a seventy year old.

To be honest I would struggle to answer if I could only have one bike for the rest of my life. It would have to be simple, versatile and a blank canvas that I could change as I change. A small block Guzzi would fit the bill.

Steve

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Author Topic: If you could have ONLY ONE M/C in a lifetime? (Read 4437 times)

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