Author Topic: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes  (Read 4980 times)

Offline Scud

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 1192
  • Location: Carlsbad, CA
Re: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes
« Reply #90 on: June 13, 2021, 02:34:15 PM »
If I could just have ONE bike, it would have to be the most versatile, and therefore, the Husqvarna 701 Enduro is the easy winner for me. I would not want to give up riding dirty, rocky, technical single-track, and the 701 Enduro is also a damn fine sport bike that could go long-haul if I invested in a different seat. I think the 700 Tenere is similar, though biased a bit more toward street and less toward dirt.
1989 Moto Guzzi LeMans
2002 Moto Guzzi V11 Sport Scura
2017 Husqvarna 701 Enduro
2017 Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX
2020 Yamaha TW200

Offline guzzimatic

  • Gosling
  • ***
  • Posts: 227
Re: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes
« Reply #91 on: June 14, 2021, 09:12:08 AM »
First bike 1972 Honda xl250 Mosport,the grandfather of ALL modern 4 valve dirt bikes!!! 1974 Norton Commando Roadster,first big street bike rode it to Tahoe in 1978,stayed for 5 years,heaven on earth!!! 1976 Convert,first Guzzi and the last Guzzi I ever wanted,but she purred her way into my heart!!! Honorable mention 2008 Norge,does everything well,arrest me red color,nuff said…
big Jim Walker bikes:'08 Norge,02'DR650,'84LeMans III,,'78 honda cb750k,'78 BMW R100S,'77 Ducati 860GT ES,'77honda XR75, '76 GUZZI convert,'75 850T cafe[project],'75 RD350 yamaha,'74 NORTON commando,'72 750 Norton flattrack replica,'72 250 Rickman-Montesa,'72 XL250 Honda Mosport[first bike

Offline blackcat

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 8854
  • Location: USA
Re: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes
« Reply #92 on: June 14, 2021, 10:43:47 AM »
Probably my 1000S, comfortable to ride long distance and has been an incredibly trouble free bike. In 25 years of ownership the only thing that has gone wrong is the Ducati voltage regulator and the final drive large seal and both of those things went bad soon after I bought the bike.

The CX has been my workhorse though it has been a difficult relationship.

And the 68 Norton, another difficult relationship but I just like the bike.

 

1968 Norton Fastback
1976 Lemans
1981 CX-100
1993 1000S
1997 Daytona RS
2007 Red Norge

Online lazlokovacs

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • Posts: 1079
Re: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes
« Reply #93 on: June 22, 2021, 06:47:40 AM »
Ok I'll play

In no particular order

T100C triumph 1970 - bought this almost 20 years ago, my go-to city transport, such good ergos, bulletproof once you learn what to live with and what to fix. No electric start so flat batteries aren't a problem. Any pillion just smiles when they're on the back of it. And probably the best looking triumph ever built. nice

2006/2009 Cali Vintage - yeah, I've had two of these and have since turned them into one 'perfect' bike. I have done upwards of 100k between the two of them and what can I say, the only bike I've ever done a 4 hour trip on and been disappointed that my journey wasn't twice as long upon arrival. Thank you guzzi for putting such a sweet yet characterful engine into such a good touring package... Oh, and perfect for a pillion too

2006 Ducati 848 - track days on a bike this beautiful?!!! Oh yes, thank you ducati!!!


Oh and an honorable mention to my big brothers vespa which was the first thing I ever rode
« Last Edit: June 22, 2021, 06:48:35 AM by lazlokovacs »

Wildguzzi.com

Re: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes
« Reply #93 on: June 22, 2021, 06:47:40 AM »

Offline Vagrant

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 2136
  • Location: Gainesville, Ga or Green Valley Az.
Re: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes
« Reply #94 on: June 22, 2021, 08:39:34 AM »
I started riding in 1964. Never been a time when there hasn't been at least one bike in the garage and seven at one time. Over 50 have come and gone. Today there is still a EV in the garage and has been since 1999. A 2017 V7III and a V85 share the homes also. The only one from the past I really wish was still here (sold because it was just too tall) is the 2008 1050 Tiger. I guess the three current bikes are the top and are the three I would buy again. After 17000 miles the V85 just might have beaten the other two out for first place.
HE IS FREE WHO LIVES AS HE CHOOSES
2016 V7II, 2017 V7-III Blue special, 2022 V85 the fast red one! 2016 650 Versys
L-196, L-197

Offline Canuck750

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 2138
  • Location: Edmonton, Canada
Re: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes
« Reply #95 on: June 22, 2021, 11:08:12 PM »
I had a 1996 Kawasaki Concourse, based on purchase price, dependable and cheap to maintain I covered a lot of country on that over six years, best bang for the buck motorcycle I have owned by far, number two KLR 650 for the same reasons; cheap to purchase and run and they have taken me to the Arctic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and all across the western USA and Canada, my 72 Eldorado for introducing me to Moto Guzzi and Italian bikes in general plus it’s the best all around vintage bike I have owned.
48 Guzzi Airone, 57 Guzzi Cardellino, 65 Benelli 200 sprite, 66 Aermacchi Sprint, 68 Gilera 106 SS, 72 Eldorado, 72 Benelli 180, 74 Guzzi 750S, 73 Laverda SF1, 74  Benelli 650S, 75 Ducati 860GT, 75 Moto Morini 3-1/2, 78 Moto Morinii 500

Offline ysrebob

  • New Egg
  • *
  • Posts: 12
  • Location: Virginia USA
Re: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes
« Reply #96 on: June 28, 2021, 01:13:47 PM »



1996 Honda VFR750.  Surprising nobody has mentioned a VFR yet.  The old ones with the gear-driven cams were kind of legendary all-around bikes.  I had several different VFRs and liked this Gen4 one the most of all.  With a Staintune exhaust, sounded almost as good as a Guzzi.




1976 R75/6.  Not really great at anything in particular, but outstanding when taken as a whole: just very well-made, well-thought-out, and satisfying to ride and work on.  Regret letting go of it.




2017 BMW R1200RT.  My current main ride.  Not the prettiest thing on two wheels, but the most all-around capable bike I have ever owned.  Supremely comfortable yet can flat-out fly on twisty a back road.  Of all the bikes I've ever owned, this is by any practical measure the "one bike to rule them all."  Not really enthused with the "digital dash" of the newest RTs, so I guess I will keep riding this one till the wheels fall off.
Yessiree, Bob.

1967 Honda CL90
2017 BMW R1200RT
2019 Honda Super Cub C125
2020 Vespa 300GTS

Offline vintage53

  • Gosling
  • ***
  • Posts: 243
  • Location: Hunterdon County NJ
Re: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes
« Reply #97 on: June 29, 2021, 04:26:09 PM »
My 1975 Honda CB500-T   was may first bike, I started to ride on it.   As a 20 year old beginner rider,  I rode it for 15 yrs. 

My 2010 MG Calvin which got me back into riding. After raising a family.  It introduced me to the big twin. (Last of the Tonti's )

My 2004 V11 Coppa Italia ,  which always put's a smile on my face.  ( Spine Frame )

...........Now I would like to "find" a new V7   
1977 Lemans 1.2 "Project"
2004 V11 Coppa Italia
2010 California Vintage
2021 Vespa 75th Anniversary Primavera 150

Offline MMRanch

  • MMRanch
  • Gaggle Mentor
  • ****
  • Posts: 705
  • Evil wins if Good Men do Nothing
  • Location: Lynchburg , Tn.
Re: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes
« Reply #98 on: June 29, 2021, 11:43:11 PM »
I've had a lot of bikes in 51 years of ridding but the most outstanding would  be :

A Suzuki LS650 has to be the best all-around bike for ridding single on.   They have enough of everything to do anything and the 650 single has a great FUN FACTOR built into it.   They are also about the simplest machine ever made too.   I've got one I'm keeping for my "Old Man" bike , at 380 pounds and a 28" seat ... anybody who even remotely could be ridding can ride one of these  .   Belt drive too !  :thumb:

But , the wonderful little LS650 doesn't have the seat room to ride 2 full grown people on for a long ride.

So , things have to get complicated : 






 

« Last Edit: June 29, 2021, 11:54:59 PM by MMRanch »
2016 V7-II Stone
2022 Royal Enfield Meteor Stellar Blue

Offline SED

  • Gaggle Hero
  • *****
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 1627
Re: Your 3 “Greatest of All Time” bikes
« Reply #99 on: June 30, 2021, 01:26:51 AM »
I've owned "only" 7 motorbikes so not sure there are 3 greatest of all time.

My greatest of all time never sell while I can ride bike is the '47 Ariel. Been riding it for 18 years on many adventures from 0 to almost 10,000'.  It is a slow bike I can ride fast.

     


Next is the LMIII which I've been riding 13 years.  It's tough, easy to maintain, it eats miles and is much easier to camp with after adding Givi paniers. Good adventures on it too.  But it is a fast bike I ride slow.  And heavy.  And the stormtrooper chin fairing is weird.


 

3rd is tied between the Monza and the Slicer.  The Monza is light and nimble, looks great and, with the V65 engine, pretty darn quick.  Potential hooligan.  It's a little less comfortable on long rides than the LMIII and Ariel.
The slicer has taught me lots of mechanical lessons, is really interesting to look at and to ride (maybe too interesting). Unfortunately I'm still sorting it out so it's not yet totally happy mechanically.  It will get there...

 


1983 LeMans III
1981 Monza
1947 Ariel Red Hunter
1939 Ariel Red Hunter
1937 Guzzi GTV

***Wildguzzi Official Logo High Quality 5 Color Window Decals Back In Stock***
Shipping in USA Only. Awesome quality. Back by popular demand. All proceeds go back into the forum.
http://www.wildguzzi.com/Products/products.htm
Advertise Here
 

Quad Lock - The best GPS / phone mount system for your motorcycles, no damage to your cameras!!
Get a Wildguzzi discount of 10% off your order!
http://quadlock.refr.cc/luapmckeever
Advertise Here