Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Oca Grassa on April 21, 2025, 05:40:00 PM
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If money was not a concern and you could have any bike in the world, what would it be?
I realize that covers much ground....and the answer today isn't the same as it was for many of us, 20 years ago.
For certain, I know if you'd asked me that in 2005, my answer would unequivocally be different from my answer today.
Here's 1994 me, pointing at 2025 me's answer to that question:
(https://i.ibb.co/WWLHhLJk/London-Bike-Show-8.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WWLHhLJk)
Taken at the Intenational Bike Show, Alexandra Palace in London in early 1994.
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A Magni shows that you have taste, at least in bikes. :tongue: :grin:
(https://i.ibb.co/kscSBnHy/New-York-Vincent-HRD-Series-C-Black-Shadow-Motorcycle.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kscSBnHy)
Sorry but gotta say, a very close runner up goes to:
(https://i.ibb.co/35tcCjyN/750-America.jpg) (https://ibb.co/35tcCjyN)
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I'm an analog guy in a digital world, so most of the new bikes today don't do a thing for me, especially the expensive ones. If it had to be a new bike, I'd probably choose a 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS, in orange and black, MSRP is $16K...
(https://i.ibb.co/nNwpfrC5/2025-Triumph-Speed-Twin-1200-RS-orange.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nNwpfrC5)
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(https://i.ibb.co/HLjFrYh6/IMG-0440.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HLjFrYh6)
Pete
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For a modern motorcycle, I would go with a bespoke build from ARCH Motorcycles. For a vintage motorcycle, likely an Indian Four model 440. The early 4-cylinder bikes are some of my favorites, but Indian, Excelsior, Cleveland, Ace, and Henderson fours are high dollar bikes so I currently own a Nimbus Type C instead.
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I would buy the Ducati green frame 750SS that was purchased new here in Spartanburg along with my V7 Sport. It was one of three sold at E&H Cycles. A minimum order of 5 was required. The regional distributor in Kingsport TN agreed to take the other two.
The original owner bought both bikes at the same time. The V7 Sport was sold about a year after purchase. But he still has the 750SS in as-raced condition and last I knew it could be purchased. Just to have them together would be very cool.
If not, I would buy the 1987 Ducati F1B (that Fast Frank Shockley rode to the 1990 Pro Twin Championship) that we built along side my V7 Sport in 94. It’s lingering locally as well. Sure did enjoy riding that bike.
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(https://i.ibb.co/wNBJwD5L/Barber-Museum-IMG-9815.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wNBJwD5L)
My Lottery bike. Ever since I saw it at the Guggenheim traveling museum in Vegas lust set in and I'm happy to say I'm still not over it.
Paul B :boozing:
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I would probably find a 1980s era Yamaha RZ-350. I started my motorcycle career on a 1970s some/odd RD-350. I was a total 2 stroke fan boy—I figured 4 strokes were for losers.
Yeah.
But then I got some really great 4-strokes from that
era, the pinnacle being a 1983 Suzuki GS1100-E.
But I’d never got to ride the “ultimate”
Yamaha 350 two stroke.
Mind you. If money is no object, I’d
buy one, but I would be fully prepared to be seriously disappointed.
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If it had to be a new bike,
It doesn't. Just what ever bike you'd buy if you had all the money you could ever wish for. As in money doesn't factor into the decision. Its purely about what you would buy if you could. Era or year of the bike doesn't matter.
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Britten V1000. Only 10 were ever built. The John Britten story and his creation is truly unique. I saw and heard one
run on the high banks of Daytona taking on the world's best. It ...was...mesmerizin g.
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A mint condition 1984 Honda VF1000 Interceptor.
Perhaps also the new 2025 BMW Orange R12S...very stylish indeed!
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New Stelvio with bags.
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I would have CCM build me a scrambler around the DR800 engine.
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As a die-hard sportsbike rider with a penchant for Italian bikes, I would have chosen the latest, fastest Ducati available and a few years back I very nearly bought an 1198 but, my tastes are changing and I'm finding myself riding more sedately recently (age catching up with me) and wanting a sightly more upright stance so am looking to less focussed machines.
Currently doing many more miles on the old Ducati 900 Monster, don't get me wrong I still have a 'need for speed' but less so.
And, keeping it Guzzi related, I've always liked the look of the Griso so that's probably what I'd chose which is good because it's quite an affordable bike rather than some unobtanium-exotica that I might have wanted in the past.
In fact if I hadn't got so much going on project-wise I'd buy one today but I need to get things under control before I add anything else to the stable so it'll have to wait.
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(https://i.ibb.co/wNBJwD5L/Barber-Museum-IMG-9815.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wNBJwD5L)
My Lottery bike. Ever since I saw it at the Guggenheim traveling museum in Vegas lust set in and I'm happy to say I'm still not over it.
Paul B :boozing:
Guzzi really should've bought that Morbidelli design. And, the MOTUS design.
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the answer today isn't the same as it was for many of us, 20 years ago.
Mine has been the same over the past 20-years....
(https://i.ibb.co/v4qPLXbm/Eng-101.jpg) (https://ibb.co/v4qPLXbm)
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can't help it... i love vintage dirt...
(https://i.ibb.co/ynRbZhNX/montesa.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WW3YMDH6)
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It's always the same.
THIS!
(https://i.ibb.co/HDjQcjzF/brough-superior-ss100-web-eng-03.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HDjQcjzF)
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MV Agusta F4 1000. I saw one in person about 20 years ago and it was one of the best looking bikes I have ever seen. Now that I am older I probably wouldn't enjoy riding it as much but I still want one for short rides.
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Funny enough just last week I bought my money no object "Right Now" bike.
And I got what I consider to be a fair deal.
It checked all the boxes for what I am looking for. I no longer have the time or the interest for "Collector" bikes that I don't have time or effort to ride/maintain.
2013 California 90 with 7 miles. Yep, 7 miles. (It was on MGNOC if any of you saw it, I pulled the trigger).
(https://i.ibb.co/N2pGmXkq/IMG-7901.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N2pGmXkq)
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Mine has been the same over the past 20-years....
(https://i.ibb.co/v4qPLXbm/Eng-101.jpg) (https://ibb.co/v4qPLXbm)
Yes, legal or not.
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Funny enough just last week I bought my money no object "Right Now" bike.
And I got what I consider to be a fair deal.
It checked all the boxes for what I am looking for. I no longer have the time or the interest for "Collector" bikes that I don't have time or effort to ride/maintain.
2013 California 90 with 7 miles. Yep, 7 miles. (It was on MGNOC if any of you saw it, I pulled the trigger).
(https://i.ibb.co/N2pGmXkq/IMG-7901.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N2pGmXkq)
That is the ultimate Cali, I saw it come up but no $ and I got an EV. Beautiful to work on and you can make it SNORT Twin plug Lemans heads.
You will Love it, the seat is even improved over previous Cali's.
I have some nice memories in my old 2-105 White tractor like the one parked next to bike.
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you can make it SNORT Twin plug Lemans heads.
I have some nice memories in my old 2-105 White tractor like the one parked next to bike.
OH! now there is a fantastic idea. Good to know!
When I saw the tractor and the condition it is in I knew the bike would be a good one and not a scammer. But I am having buyers remorse a little. Such a clean commemorative and she's gonna get ridden not garaged. Feel a little guilty about that.
If there was any other bike no money issues yeah the MGS01.
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(https://i.ibb.co/PspJg63k/IMG-1875.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PspJg63k)
This. R12S. A genuine stunner.
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Quote from: rocker59 on Today at 07:24:02 AM
Mine has been the same over the past 20-years....
https://i.ibb.co/v4qPLXbm/Eng-101.jpg(https://i.ibb.co/v4qPLXbm/Eng-101.jpg)
Yes, legal or not.
me too.
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I would buy Burt Munro's 1920 Indian Scout and put it in my living room.
https://www.drivencarguide.co.nz/media/rl4cevy4/burtmunromuseum-010.jpg?rmode=max&width=740&height=555
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Would definitely be a 1940s through 50s Harley Davison’s with suicide shifter
(https://i.ibb.co/vxVQpW0b/IMG-2847.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vxVQpW0b)
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I like the mousetrap clutch, and away you go.
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This is a hard one but right now I am leaning towards a TZ750. I think I would be afraid to ride it though. It would probably be somewhat terrifying when it hit the power band. Kenny Roberts rode one in a few flat track races. He said he wasn't paid enough to ride the damn thing. I would have to ride it once and then put it in my living room. But it would be a hard choice between it and a V8 Moto Guzzi. But I wouldn't dare ride it, what if something broke.
kk
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Hard question. For me, a Vincent twin, like this 1953 Series C Rapide, in original blue.
(https://i.ibb.co/C31sqq4M/IMG-1842.jpg) (https://ibb.co/C31sqq4M)
An Egli Vincent would also do. An acquaintance let me examine his two Vincents. And I also had the good luck to have a detailed article about the engineering. So I fell for them.
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#1
(https://i.ibb.co/bMNzrMsY/IMG-4939.png) (https://ibb.co/bMNzrMsY)
#2
(https://i.ibb.co/KHqFCm4/IMG-4938.png) (https://ibb.co/KHqFCm4)
One only…?
Then #1
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#2
(https://i.ibb.co/KHqFCm4/IMG-4938.png) (https://ibb.co/KHqFCm4)
A Kettle on its side will leak water! :tongue:
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(https://i.ibb.co/Y45fBb0T/Screenshot-18.png) (https://ibb.co/Y45fBb0T)
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Mopartnut - here you go https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k8hJWKIVNs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k8hJWKIVNs)
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A Kettle on its side will leak water! :tongue:
That SL70 was the first bike I ever had and the GT 750 was when life was closest to perfect.
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I think in order to have one fully restored and reliable would cost a lot of money, so I'd say the Sunbeam S7.
Or the money to fly back and forth across the pond, the new Norton Commando.
-AJ
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Difficult decision...as there are SO MANY fine machines out there...but I think a nice Colorado Norton Works Commando ...like this one...would fit the bill nicely for me!! :bow: :thumb: :cool: :boozing: :wink:
(https://i.ibb.co/4wpnVVgG/Screenshot-2025-04-24-at-7-12-26-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/4wpnVVgG)
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Maybe a Vincent Black Shadow.
Something that will keep up on modern roads.
-Stretch
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(https://i.ibb.co/WWLHhLJk/London-Bike-Show-8.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WWLHhLJk)
Taken at the Intenational Bike Show, Alexandra Palace in London in early 1994.
Quoting myself here….the Magni Guzzi Australia in the pic I started this thread with was shown at the Alexandra Palace show in 1994 with a price tag of £28,000. The dollar to pound exchange was roughly $1.50 to a GBP. That put that bike at $42,000 USD in 1994 money.
To put that into perspective, according to Amortization dot com, $42,000 in 1994 = $90,915.02 in 2025. That’s more than my annual salary now, just like it was more than my 1994 annual salary then.
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Here's a video from the shop that sold on a buddy's Australia
There were two batches built in 94 and 98 as I recall and there are significant differences, although externally they look almost identical
The bike in the video is from the batch built in 94
https://youtu.be/-0dCVpw2bkE?si=5YxnZkeSZrRsGszk (https://youtu.be/-0dCVpw2bkE?si=5YxnZkeSZrRsGszk)
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That’s more than my annual salary now, just like it was more than my 1994 annual salary then.
.. and about double mine at the time. See, you are/were rich! :tongue:
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(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rnxrRxfOmDw/WubtFTDd3YI/AAAAAAAC-LA/-HuPom8OoQwdN3FngF1V3-fyLbcncnxVgCLcBGAs/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/guzzi%2Bguareschi%2B.jpg)
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not sure I'll be able to still afford it when it's out of the shop.
(https://g4.img-dpreview.com/9268903BC42A4C1C8320019D42E83EF6.jpg)
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As much as I loved my '77 XT500, it had a few shortcomings that lead to me selling it. This Motorieep 670 XTE would likely solve all of them, while retaining the things I liked about the original.
(https://i.ibb.co/JRzSPVCv/Motorieep-670-XTE.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JRzSPVCv)
(https://i.ibb.co/rK6bZpG0/Motorieep-670-XTE-colors.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rK6bZpG0)
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I'm an analog guy in a digital world, so most of the new bikes today don't do a thing for me, especially the expensive ones. If it had to be a new bike, I'd probably choose a 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS, in orange and black, MSRP is $16K...
(https://i.ibb.co/nNwpfrC5/2025-Triumph-Speed-Twin-1200-RS-orange.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nNwpfrC5)
The local Triumph dealer had the demo fleet in this weekend. Naturally, I had to ride the 1200 Speed twin. Very nice. Handles well, brakes well, comfortable, sounds bitchin' and super easy to ride. Looks right, too. Comma but. That instrument cluster is a cluster all right. :grin: You can't even read it in bright sun. Gimme 2 clocks and I'll go on down the road.
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(https://i.ibb.co/ks6RkSGf/SRX600.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ks6RkSGf)
For me please!
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Such an 'impossible' question for me to answer, there are so many . . .
The 'silly' answer would probably be a road-legal Suter 500.
I don't think any four-stroke Bike could even come close to the sheer exhilaration something like that would give me.
130kg with 190 BHP . . .
Would likely only get used for Trackdays though.
(https://i.ibb.co/MyHVjqRr/Suter500.png) (https://ibb.co/MyHVjqRr)
For the 'sensible' choice, something practical that would get a lot of use day-to-day, and give me huge grins every time . . .
(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc778cd5405ea0e6cfb6720/1691400560096-GBMO5G9KDXEM4U332H72/00%2BBlue%2BOrange%2BMock%2BUp.jpg?format=500w)
EDIT By the way, I already have my perfect Guzzi, nothing could replace that for me . . .
(https://i.ibb.co/F4TQpYpt/IMG-20220906-143735.jpg) (https://ibb.co/F4TQpYpt)
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That instrument cluster is a cluster all right. :grin: You can't even read it in bright sun. Gimme 2 clocks and I'll go on down the road.
That's Triumph's new dial for everything. The Scrambler 1200x, the Speed Twin 900, Speed Twin 1200, Trident 660, etc.
I tested a Scrambler 1200x and a Bonneville T120 last weekend. Loved the 1200x, EXCEPT for the wonky digital dash. This isn't 1985! I really love the Bonneville T100 / T120 clocks and wonder if there is any economical way to convert the digital dash bikes back to the twin dials. The 2024 Speed Twin 1200 had twin dials. For 2025 they've gone to the digital dial.
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I wonder if there is any economical way to convert the digital dash bikes back to the twin dials.
(https://i.ibb.co/h1Xps39W/2021-Triumph-Trident-dash.jpg) (https://ibb.co/h1Xps39W)
(https://i.ibb.co/N6HDFG7p/WWB5-R4-DOQP2-YRA2-LM3-P7-USYMP4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N6HDFG7p)
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I would buy back every bike that I sold in the past.
See list of the bikes in my signature.
TOMB