What is the oldest bike that is modern day practical?

[wymple]

My Yamaha dealer could ride anything he liked. His personal choice was a 550 Vision. I grew up on Yamaha 2 strokes. I rode 650 Yamaha twins for years. Fell in love with my GS1100 Suzuki, and lucky to live thru it. Power is addictive. Never liked the Goldwings. Actually liked the 750 Honda automatic I got to play on. I couldn't bring myself to care for the Kawasakis, I did like that 750 twin they had for a short while. My neighbor had a Yamaha triple and it was a fine bike. I lusted a long time for the Suzuki water buffalo. I've had a couple of Viragos and they were really competent, nice powerband, best clutch in the business. Never saw one with a bad charging system or final drive. Not for distance, tho. My best these last couple of decades....GS 850 Suzuki and my Cal 2. I have fond memories of my 1984 650C Guzzi. My son has a 750 Guzzi that is wonderful.

[keener]

My Yamaha dealer could ride anything he liked. His personal choice was a 550 Vision. I grew up on Yamaha 2 strokes. I rode 650 Yamaha twins for years. Fell in love with my GS1100 Suzuki, and lucky to live thru it. Power is addictive. Never liked the Goldwings. Actually liked the 750 Honda automatic I got to play on. I couldn't bring myself to care for the Kawasakis, I did like that 750 twin they had for a short while. My neighbor had a Yamaha triple and it was a fine bike. I lusted a long time for the Suzuki water buffalo. I've had a couple of Viragos and they were really competent, nice powerband, best clutch in the business. Never saw one with a bad charging system or final drive. Not for distance, tho. My best these last couple of decades....GS 850 Suzuki and my Cal 2. I have fond memories of my 1984 650C Guzzi. My son has a 750 Guzzi that is wonderful.

Thats nice..

[jas67]

Nobody stipulated that you couldn't have a support vehicle as part of the package.

That's cool!   What is it?
From the exhaust, looks like it is maybe a V4?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Shirley  it's a V4. Whatever it is, I'd definitely look good on it.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Or just a v-twin with split exhaust ports.

Found it: Koehler-Escoffier v-twin

[oldbike54]

Shirley  it's a V4. Whatever it is, I'd definitely look good on it.

 That picture is familiar somehow , I think it is a prototype OHC conversion using two BSA Vtwin engines . Don't make any bar bets on that .

 Dust

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

1929 Koehler-Escoffier 1000
2 cylinders, 980 cc
Entrant: Dominique Buisson (France)
Participant, Class B | Best of Show, selected by jury

The Concorso d’Eleganza is the place to go if you’re looking for truly obscure motorcycles. Koehler-Escoffier was founded in 1912 by former Magnat-Debon mechanic, Jules Escoffier, and funded by Marcel Koehler. The company was bought by Monet-Goyon in 1929, then faded from view in 1957. Known as the ‘Four Pipes,’ this model featured a 980 cc twin with a shaft-and-bevel-driven overhead camshaft. And we suspect this might be one of the few—if not the only—remaining examples.

https://www.bikeexif.com/concorso-eleganza-villa-deste-2019

[oldbike54]

 Thanks Charlie 

 Dusty

[jcctx]

The earliest I owned that was every day dependable was  Honda 90S. Commuted every day while working in the Phillipines (before it was stolen).

[T4halo]

Great thread. I rode this old bike on a 2000 mile tour of the Great Lakes last year. Snapped the clutch cable 400 miles from home and had to rig up the front brake cable. 400 miles with only the rear brake was an adventure.




Bought this one in Silver City New Mexico and rode it that day to Colorado Springs. Two days later rode from Colorado Springs to Tipton Mich (1300 miles).

[booob]

My Yamaha dealer could ride anything he liked. His personal choice was a 550 Vision. I grew up on Yamaha 2 strokes. I rode 650 Yamaha twins for years. Fell in love with my GS1100 Suzuki, and lucky to live thru it. Power is addictive. Never liked the Goldwings. Actually liked the 750 Honda automatic I got to play on. I couldn't bring myself to care for the Kawasakis, I did like that 750 twin they had for a short while. My neighbor had a Yamaha triple and it was a fine bike. I lusted a long time for the Suzuki water buffalo. I've had a couple of Viragos and they were really competent, nice powerband, best clutch in the business. Never saw one with a bad charging system or final drive. Not for distance, tho. My best these last couple of decades....GS 850 Suzuki and my Cal 2. I have fond memories of my 1984 650C Guzzi. My son has a 750 Guzzi that is wonderful.

Visions are real oddballs, I have this 81' but have to say my Ambo far more practical for everyday riding.

[Moparnut72]

I've forgotton all about the cable trick. I did that a couple of times with my R75/5. It snapped clutch cables all the time.
kk

[v7john]

I'm going to fit a rack on this and use it to go shopping. Maybe things are different here.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I'm going to fit a rack on this and use it to go shopping. Maybe things are different here.

Why not. I use my Convert and V700 to go shopping. Both are fitted with Pelican cases, so that makes it easy.

[SmithSwede]

I'm going to fit a rack on this and use it to go shopping. Maybe things are different here.

I think I’d fit a real air cleaner to that thing if I was planning to rack up serious mileage with low maintenance. 

Cool bike though

[Muzz]

I think I’d fit a real air cleaner to that thing if I was planning to rack up serious mileage with low maintenance. 

Cool bike though

I did 200-250 thousand miles on my old AJS?Matchless Bitsa.

I don't need no steenkin air cleaner.

Just change pistons and rebore on a regular basis.

[LowRyter]

seeing this photo, I couldn't resist

[Rusty goose]

At different times in my life from 17 years old on I have had bikes for daily's. '70 Kawi H1 triple, '79 Suzuki GS1000sn, GS 550L (sucked), BMW R90/5, /6, R100s, '77 and '79 Honda GL1000, Ural 650, '79 MG G5 (one of the best), '66 then '67 BSA A65L (both converted to tls front brakes), '68 MG Ambo, BSA B44vs  (NOT recommended for top speed or comfort or brakes).The Honda's and the Suzuki were easily made for the criteria. But currently my '67 Bsa does that commute easily (with the '69 tls brake upgrade). But the Ambo does it soooo much smoother.  The Ambo wears an old Steib s350 sidecar for use a school bus taking my youngest to middle school.  The BSA is for the days that I miss leaning into corners.

I guess the point is, you need more than one. Switching up every other week makes you appreciate the differences.  It also keeps you on your toes trying to remember shift patterns and which foot to use!