Favorite Non-Guzzi Street Bike

[jrt]

Frankly, it is whatever bike I have at the moment.  I did really enjoy my R90S back in the '90s- super comfortable touring bike.  My current non-Guzzi favorite is my 2020 BMW R11250RS.  This is a terrific bike. 

[guzzimatic]

there can be only one 1974 850 Commando,first big street bike!!!

[jpv7]

So fellows, I admit to feeling a bit guilty.   I loved my 2013 Guzzi V7 Stone to bits and racked up some decent mileage on her.  But after my crash, I “turned Japanese” and now ride a 2019 Kawasaki Z900 RS.  Which, I confess, I also love to bits.  So I’m not here on Wild Guzzi as much as I was before. 

So tell me.  You may be a dyed-in-the-wool, no-joke, real-deal Guzzi fanatic.  But what is your favorite non-Guzzi street bike?

2004 Ducati Supersport 1000ds.  What an engine!

[flower_king001]

Beautiful bike!

Frankly, it is whatever bike I have at the moment.  I did really enjoy my R90S back in the '90s- super comfortable touring bike.  My current non-Guzzi favorite is my 2020 BMW R11250RS.  This is a terrific bike. 

[flower_king001]

At this current time my 2007 BMW 1200 GS.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

For me there are 3 non-Guzzi that always tug at my thoughts

Kawa Z900RS Cafe



Triumph 660 Trident (tho I'm sure at +6ft and +230#, riding this would be like a bear on a bicycle)


and probably the bike I would buy if not for the new V100 Mandelo topping my list:

Triumph Speed Twin

[Huzo]

For me, my favourite bike cannot be nominated for the following reasons.
Is it..
The one that you remember most fondly..Suzuki GT 750
The one that got you so excited that you couldn’t sleep…Honda SL 70
The one that I did the most memorable trip on…Honda CT 110
The one that did everything better in an all ‘round way…Triumph Sprint ST 1050
The one that got the most attention…MV Agusta 750 SPR
The one that I sold for no good reason…Triumph Daytona 955i..and so on.
I guess if you boil it all down and in the spirit of your question, it would be if you had to finish your run on only ONE bike for the rest of your days, not as a young man but who you are now and from the ones  you’ve owned in the past or coveted from a distance….?
If it CANNOT be a Guzzi, then from of the ones I’ve owned (45 or so)…
The Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Of the ones I have not owned..?
A different Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Inexpensive, rock of Gibraltar reliable, powerful real world mid range, comfortable ergonomics, plain Jane looks that no one wants to steal.
The woman analogy is so apt it’s scary…

[ScepticalScotty]

If you mean right now if I had unlimited money - Triumph Street Twin.

That I have owned in the past - SRX600. Easy.

[Huzo]

If you mean right now if I had unlimited money - Triumph Street Twin.

That I have owned in the past - SRX600. Easy.

Now Scotty, you have to nominate ONE…!
That is why the question is framed that way. I put up a post once on the same topic and the problem was/is.
Nominating your “favourite” is hard, leaving out your “second favourite” is impossible.
But back to the question Scotty…
Which ONE is it…? 

[ScepticalScotty]

SRX600. Thats the choice. 

[Huzo]

SRX600. Thats the choice. 

But Scotty…!
That Triumph 

[sdcr]

SRX600. Thats the choice. 

Great choice. I had two of these, as rare as they are. The 600cc had some nice exclusive alloy bits, like the oil tank, side covers, headlight brackets etc.

 I have to give propsto Yanaha for taking a chance on the SR500 and the SRX6. Both sold slower than molasses.




cayman gt4 0 60

[sdcr]

You would probably enjoy a DR650 very much.  But the DR is godawful ugly compared to the SR500.

I also had a green Skorpion Sport. Yeah, kinda have a thing for big thumpers.

[WHY]

i am pretty much on the same boat, bought a brand new V7 racer back in 2011. the only bike I have and been enjoying it eversince. until last week saw a Yamaha XSR900 at the dealership. put down a deposit and ride it home last week. totally different bike and I am pretty much hooked. while the 2011 V7 don't even have ABS (doesn't need it anyway), the Yami comes with all the latest tech like IMU, D mode, corner AbS etc... I am keeping the Guzzi, and will probably ride it one season every few year to rotate with the XSR.

[Don G]

By street bike do you mean something that doesn't leave town? I have a 1966 BSA Lightning 650 and Triumph Trophy 650 for that, any extended high speed with these units will guarantee failure, that is one thing about old Guzzis, take them anywhere anytime any use and they stay together. The Brits stay inside until I feel a need to ride other than Guzzi.  DonG

[Vagrant]

Smith, that 900 Kawi is most likely the best choice for replacing a v7 out there. At least until you have to set the valves. Allow four days and 2-6 six packs.
Now if you're missing the v7 a bit too much take a v85 out for a test ride.

[coast range rider]

Multistrada.

[steven c]

My 2006 Buell Ulysses. Is just so much fun to ride.

 Though not fun when your stranded in a forest on a cold October day.

[jackthebiker]

My 2022 Kawasaki W800, GREAT BIKE, my 2nd bike to my 2022 V85TT. But I have had 46 motorcycles, hard to pick a favorite.

[Stretch]

Favorite bike that is a non-Guzzi and currently in my stable?

Toss up: 2015 Triumph Trophy or 1987 K75S.

Both are very, very competent motorbikes.

                               -Stretch

[Bulldog9]

You guys picked a lot of really good bikes, the Honda VFR, Ducati 860 GT, BMW K75. Terrific machines.

 But, if I could find my 1978 SR500, I would buy it back. These big singles, mimic the venerable British thumpers. But, the SR didn’t leak, and the electrics work.
Plus, they are very light and nimble.

Always wanted one of those. Not a single, but you express  the Exact reason I have held on to my 78XS 750 Triple and 79 XS1100.... They cost virtually nothing to keep. I put over 130K miles on the XS11 before retiring her from daily and long distance riding in 1998 when I bought a C10 Concours. I rode that thing in all weather, on all roads, 4 corners on the US, dozens of trips to the Dragon and other such roads, at east 5 Iron Butts, and all over Eastern Canada and up to Novi Scotia. A faithful friend. Changed the shims once, never a single engine issue, and NEVER had to open the carbs other than a Torn CV ballast thing. I did have to replace the fuse box and ignition switch wiring and a few electrical issues, and the last few years that I had a leaky valve stem seal on the furthest left exhaust valve. Unless ridden daily it makes quite a smoke show. The XS750 had a few issues, but was a fun torquey little motor. I put on shorter shocks in hopes my wife could ride it but was still too tall and mostly heavy.

Still my favorites. Both have been in long term temp controlled garaged storage since 2013 2 years since the Griso 'enlightened my sensibilities. Really looking forward to their resurrection in 2025 and I can ride the Griso and XS11 back to back, as well as the 1200 Sport. Then we will see who is truly King of my Herd. If I had to get rid of all my bikes, the XS11 would likely be the one to stay, though I'd also hate to let go of the Convert (and the Griso, and the Stornello.. and and and lol)

Both are 99% all original with the exception of the paint on the 11 which I did in 1984, and the exhaust that I replaced when an earthquake shook the bike so bad it tumbled off the center stand and broke the right exhaust header in 2011. The ONLY immediate replacement was a cheapo MAC system. I had 3 kids in college at the time...... Many of you know the deal.

OK, PICS have more value

[Bulldog9]

For me there are 3 non-Guzzi that always tug at my thoughts

Kawa Z900RS Cafe



Triumph 660 Trident (tho I'm sure at +6ft and +230#, riding this would be like a bear on a bicycle)


and probably the bike I would buy if not for the new V100 Mandelo topping my list:

Triumph Speed Twin

If this had a shaft, it would have been in my garage years ago...... I tried chain on my FZ1 and FZ6, and just was never happy or comfortable (my mental issue)

[twowheeladdict]

2014 Triumph Trophy SE, followed by the 2011 Kawasaki Versys 650.

[Shorty]

Huzo, if we have to limit it to what we can ride NOW, that narrows it down drastically.  When the choice (due to physical condition) is give up riding or go smaller, smaller I shall go. Given that, my lil thumpers fit the bill now.

[Phil/TX]

Like JTR, my current non Guzzi is a 16 R1200RS, highly farkled, but it’s for sale, since I got my V100.

[SmithSwede]

For me there are 3 non-Guzzi that always tug at my thoughts

Kawa Z900RS Cafe

Mayor, you nailed it.  That photo looks exactly like my new Kawasaki.  I just had to have the Eddie Lawson Kawasaki green !

[Moparnut72]

The replacement for the Audace when it got to be too much for me.
kk

[guido guzzi]

OK, my take on SS's original post was bikes you have owned and ridden... Would love to have many of the other bikes mentioned.
The one bike I never knew I wanted: 2005 R1200ST. Bought locally with 66K miles.  Not much to look at IMHO but the perfect balance of old and new: no ABS, no ESA but the motor and Telelever make for a super fun and comfortable ride for about half the price of an 8V Norge or Stelvio NTX. Lots of smiles per gallon from WI to CA and back  last summer. 

[cloudbase]

For all day comfort:  ST1300
For all day fun:  VFR750

[SIR REAL ED]

Great choice. I had two of these, as rare as they are. The 600cc had some nice exclusive alloy bits, like the oil tank, side covers, headlight brackets etc.

 I have to give props to Yamaha for taking a chance on the SR500 and the SRX6. Both sold slower than molasses.




cayman gt4 0 60

I agree.  Yamaha took some real marketing chances in the past in the US.

IMO, the SRX600 was one of the nicest looking bikes that the Big Four ever produced. 

SR500, SRX600, Vision 550, GTS1000, Seca650, TDM850, RZ350, etc.  Always fascinating to see what sells in one market that does not sell in another market.

For you fans of the SRX600, some of the MZ Skorpion gurus have mated an air cooled XT600 top end to the 660 bottom end, or just substituted the XT600E engine in the MZ frame.

IMO, the air cooled MZ is a nice looking bike.  No doubt a bit slower and a bit lighter....