Bikes you wanted when you didn't have the money

[greyghost]

At 14, I thought the BSA GoldStar was pure gold, until I saw the Trident 750. Wow.
Now, I like electric start.

[SteveAZ]

Ducati 748 in yellow. The 916 seemed like "too much bike" and I liked the yellow that most 748's came in. Now a 748 is everyday money but I can't imagine dealing with the care and feeding of one. I still look at them and once in a while a really nice low miles example will come up but the desire is just gone.

Funny thing is I thought the 900ss was too pedestrian back then but I would love to have one now. Strange how we change perspective.

I've had and still have only one Guzzi, my LMIII, changed my whole perspective on motorcycles.

[johnr]

This one, for the shear fun of it (once you got it started) What a beast!


This (drool) A touring masterpiece yet simple.


I've always been very fond of the A10. This I think may have been the ultimate one.


For an afternoons blast on tight roads what could be better fun. This is a 68 one.


A second one of these. It was a squeeze to finance the 1st one I had, but what a good buy it was. It just kept doing the job so so well for the 37 years I owned it. If I had a spare one standing by in a crate I would probably never have bought another bike.


Interesting that 4 of the 5 bikes above (including the Ariel) were made by BSA. Quite a company.

In any case, were I in a position to have a stable, these would be members of it.

[Dave Bell]

1970 Norton Atlas.  I used to go look at the New ones in Austin where I lived.  Later got a Commando and restored it.

[wymple]

I wanted an RD400 really bad when I was running around on small 2 strokes. Then it was the Suzuki GT750 Water Buffalo. Then I liked to died when I couldn't come up with the money for an XS Eleven midnight special. The last bike I lusted after and was too short in the money dept was the Cal III. Now new bikes are too ugly to get my attention, they all look like bad plumbing nightmares.

[Calijackalbob]

I've owned over 100 bikes in 40 odd years. (Went through a lot as a courier rider in london and Melbourne Australia.) All jap bikes and one BMW.
Here are a few............
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/drfunk62192003/My%20Bikes/CB%20750%20four%20Cafe%20Racer.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/drfunk62192003/My%20Bikes/IMGP5411.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/drfunk62192003/My%20Bikes/245.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/drfunk62192003/My%20Bikes/bike.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/drfunk62192003/My%20Bikes/DSCF0001.jpg
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/drfunk62192003/My%20Bikes/IMG_1689.jpg

I loved the idea of owning Ducatis, British bikes, harleys, etc,.... but after getting my first Guzzi, a 2001 Jackal, which I had designs of turning into a Cafe Racer, but decided against it, because of draconian laws against modifying bikes here in Singapore and because the Jackal has SOOOOO much style and character that I didn't want to mess with it. (Love it more every day!) The only other bike I want is every other Guzzi I can get my hands on, starting with a V7 Racer. After owning a Guzzi, there is no other brand of bike that I'd rather have.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk57/drfunk62192003/20150501_155252.jpg

[hooah54]

BMW R1200 CLC...wanted one several year ago and now lost interest...on the other hand I would love to find a V65C

[MotoGoosy]

When I was a kid, Hondas just started coming over from Japan, and I lusted for a 305 Dream.

[Tobit]

All of them.

Most notably, from new:

Falta CZ
Wheelsmith Maico 400 radial
'80 CB750F Blue
'88 R100RS White
Laverda RGS Red
Husky 430 XC

And more....

[biking sailor]

When I was in high school, a guy up the street had a Honda CB750 Four.  That bike seemed so big and powerful that it seemed the ultimate. Also were the Penton MX bikes at a local shop.  They seemed so advanced over the Japanese 125's I was riding.

Now it's neat to see them, but no desire to own one.

To Rocker.  I was a Japanese only bike owner through my younger years mainly because at that time period the big four were dominating the race scene that I would follow (win on Sunday, sell on Monday).  British bikes just were thought to be to trouble prone and never even knew where to look at an Italian bike.  And BMWs were for those weird old guys!  About 5 years ago heard about these good deals on leftover 2008 1200 Sport Guzzis, on "Sport-touring.net" and bought one.  Next, my wife thought it was the best looking bike I had ever owned and went out and bought a used Breva 750 for herself.  Few years later traded the 1200 Sport in on a New Stelvio that I loved until a deer hit totaled it.  That's how this Japanese rider got into Guzzi's.  I do have modern Triumphs now.

[MotoGoosy]

And a great wife!!!!