Have you ever owned your dream-bike?

[faffi]

When I was born, a 16-18 year old with a license could ride 125cc motorcycles, but from 1972, new regulation set the limit to 100cc and 7 hp (5.15 kW), provided the bike would not run faster than 80 kph (50 mph). Most 2-strokes were usually limited to 6.5 hp, the Honda CB100 was listed with 7 hp. It was still the slowest. From 1996 on, the limit was raised to 125cc again, and max power was up to 15 hp (11 kW).

My dream bike at the age of 16 was a Honda CB100, the old model with drum brakes front and rear. It was an outgoing model in 1980, replaced by the much more angular shaped CB100N with a cable operated front disc brake. Due to this new version, the leftover CB100s were sold at a discount. So one rainy Autumn afternoon, after suffering an ailing and recalcitrant Suzuki A100 for several months, I went to the local Honda and Yamaha dealer to pick up my brand new, old style CB100. I reckon it is the proudest moment of my life.

Have you ever had a similar feeling when buying a motorcycle?

[twowheeladdict]

Every bike and any bike is my dream bike.  It is all about the ride for me.  I have had the opportunity to own many different kinds of motorcycles and test ride many more.

For me it is about the dream ride not the dream motorcycle. 

[inditx]

Every bike and any bike is my dream bike.  It is all about the ride for me.  I have had the opportunity to own many different kinds of motorcycles and test ride many more.

For me it is about the dream ride not the dream motorcycle.

Well said!

I for one have spent way to much time looking for the “panacea” of bikes and it just doesn’t exist.
Still need more than 1 for different needs I believe but then you have to maintain them etc. etc.

I bought my first real motorcycle, a Yamaha 80 Trailmaster, after calling the seller several times trying to disguise my voice and get the price where I could afford it.
She was a kind woman who knew straight off it was me each time and finally said, “you must want this bike awfully bad to keep calling me”. Sheepishly and somewhat ashamed I agreed that I did and she sold it to me.
God bless that woman, altough I was only 13 my folks were understanding since it was my hard earned lawn mowing money and my 2 older brothers had “seasoned" our folks with prior purchases so, I think they just acquiesced out of exhaustion.
This began my sweet addiction to bikes.

The end
inditx

[cliffrod]

I lucked into mine over 30 yrs ago and still own it.  I had only a passing knowledge of a V7 Sport when I got it. It wasn’t my first bike, much less my dream bike at the time.  It was just another bike and there have been many more, including some I like or liked very much.  But I don’t remember the first ride or so many memorable rides on them.  It’s become my point of reference for everything with two wheels.

It isn’t pretty, much less perfect.  All the people who say it would be a nice bike if I fixed it or restored it don’t get it.  It needs nothing to make me happy.  Even though I don’t ride it as much as I would like, it’s the end of my ruler.  Except for adding the missing shark gill mufflers and painting the frame argent instead of the wonky mismatched red it was, it’s otherwise exactly how it looked when I found & assembled it.  What a great bike. 

Edit- here’s a couple of convenient screenshot pics..

[Canuck750]

Every bike and any bike is my dream bike.  It is all about the ride for me.  I have had the opportunity to own many different kinds of motorcycles and test ride many more.

For me it is about the dream ride not the dream motorcycle.

You nailed it!

[Turin]

My Daytona RS is my dream bike. Didn't know it when I bought it.

[Tkelly]

My Honda Dream was a dream come true in 1965.

[Huzo]

Still do…
I would not swap my Norge back for anything I’ve owned previously.

[SIR REAL ED]

Great thread. 

Each bike I have bought fulfilled some kind of motorcycle dream or fantasy, but I doubt there will ever stop being another "dream bike."

Not so much the newer ones, sign of old age I guess.  The quest of reclaiming the spark of youth, even if just imagined, at least for a little while, still seems to be attainable with another purchase.

Probably not a viable, profitable business, but I always thought that a motorcycle rental shop with a large variety of older restored bikes (like the Barbour Museum) would generate a lot of business.

[Moparnut72]

I've owned a few, some were good some not so much. The most memorable was my Yamaha Trailmaster. I had a Bianchi motorscooter previously, it wasn't a great machine I spent quite a bit of time fixing something. When the wrist pin seized to the rod and the piston, I started looking at Yamahas. I bought a year old 1964 model. It was a big improvement over the scooter, I put 17,000 miles on that little bike, rode it everywhere. I still have fond memories of that bike and the places we went.
kk

[Shiny Hat]

The current bike is my dream bike.

[Sprouty115]

Dream bikes?  Yeah, I've woned a few!

This was my second bike, a 1978 RZ125.  I've never owned a more focused bike.  It had two modes - you were either blasting through the gear accelerating, or slamming on the brakes to stop.  There was no cruising on this bike.



Sold because my friends stopped riding with me because it was always a race.

That bike led to a life-long love of 2-strokes, so I eventually got an RD 400, sold to buy and RZ 350, and then that was sold to buy the greatest sport bike ever made, an RG 500 Gamma.



Sold with "massive" regret to buy a countertop for a kitchen that I started but simply could not afford to finish, because no responsible parent makes their kids eat the cereal while holding the bowl because they can't set it down somewhere.  Having said that, I still lord this "sacrifice" over them as adults...

My KTM 690 was the bike I always wanted in high school - a bike that I could ride anywhere.  And I did ride it everywhere, with the longest trip being a 3,500-mile ride to Newfoundland and back.  No other bike I have owned, before or after, has been as versatile. 



Unfortunately sold because I wanted to try a new 1250GS before got too old for a big bike. 

The GS was the most powerful, most comfortable bike I've ever owned. 




It was sold at 12K-miles, without regret, because I just didn't feel like committing to the expense and learning curve required to service it.  Compared to an older Airhead, it just wasn't "fun" to work on.  And, you guessed it, it was heavy...

Other bikes came and went: a 1972 Yamaha RT1-360, Honda XR500, KZ 750, and Truimph Thruxton 900.  I enjoyed them all, with the exception of the Honda - it was heavy and slow and I just never liked it.

I've never had more than two bikes at a time, as that's all I can manage, and right now I have two that I'm pretty happy with.
My 1975 R90/6.




And the newest (to me) my 1973 Eldorado.




The Airhead has been fully gone through so it's pretty much done, and it's a wonderful bike to own and ride.  It's amazing how comfortable it is for an almost 50-yo motorcycle. 
The Eldorado was another "I'd like to try one before I die" purchase.  The previous owner went through it and did a lot of the work (thanks Luke!), so I'm just doing small things to make it "mine", changed to civilian bars, added a police-style windshield, and thinking about a solo seat and rear rack.  So far I'm really enjoying it.  It has a completely different character than the Airhead and I'm excited about taking it on a longer trip next summer.

There are plenty of other bikes that I think are cool, but nothing has me thinking about spending money...




Well, maybe with the exception of this:



 
 

[tommy2cyl]

Like many here, I have been fortunate to own several bikes that I that I desired.  Pressed to pick my dream bike it has to be
my, bought new, 1991 Ducati 900 SS.  A lot of factors goes into this choice, primarily the age you are and the type of
riding one is doing at the time.  That bike was my introduction to L twin motors, and with the desmo valve train, and a Jimmy
Adamo can, the sound was glorious.  I had experiences railing that bike in southern Ohio, W.Va & Pa that was the essence of
man and machine being one.  Best eye candy ever when I would come into the shop and see it sitting there, just ready to have a go.

[drdwb]

At the infamous “ Muddy Creak” National Moto Guzzi rally 2007 I got to test ride a Norge on Friday before the rains started. I immediately fell in love, at the time I was very content with my 03 EV, I had no intention of buying another bike,I was just standing in line going for a test ride on one of the Demo bikes, a Norge was open when my turn came up so I got on it, not expecting anything but a free ride through the hills on a different bike. The route we took on the test ride was the route I had ridden the day before on the EV to the rally. I was so impressed with the powerband up and down those hills, the bike took those hills effortlessly, I felt so comfortable with the fit I found my dream bike without knowing I was looking for it. Seven years later, 2014, My wife purchased the 07 Norge, I had been bidding on but didn’t get on E-bay when the original wining bidder didn’t follow through. She and friends arranged the “Fly and Ride” and surprised me with a plane ticket to Nashville on my 60th birthday. The Norge is my dream bike, it has exceeded my expectations and truthfully even though my riding skills have improved, I don’t have the skills to test its limits.

[inditx]

I've owned a few, some were good some not so much. The most memorable was my Yamaha Trailmaster. I had a Bianchi motorscooter previously, it wasn't a great machine I spent quite a bit of time fixing something. When the wrist pin seized to the rod and the piston, I started looking at Yamahas. I bought a year old 1964 model. It was a big improvement over the scooter, I put 17,000 miles on that little bike, rode it everywhere. I still have fond memories of that bike and the places we went.
kk

EXACTLY!

[faffi]

Probably not a viable, profitable business, but I always thought that a motorcycle rental shop with a large variety of older restored bikes (like the Barbour Museum) would generate a lot of business.

I think you could do very well with that. Especially if you combined it with planned tours - most people with time and money to spare seems unwilling to take on real adventures, but are willing to pay for a guided adventure.

[Matteo]

I lucked into mine over 30 yrs ago and still own it.  I had only a passing knowledge of a V7 Sport when I got it. It wasn’t my first bike, much less my dream bike at the time.  It was just another bike and there have been many more, including some I like or liked very much.  But I don’t remember the first ride or so many memorable rides on them.  It’s become my point of reference for everything with two wheels.

It isn’t pretty, much less perfect.  All the people who say it would be a nice bike if I fixed it or restored it don’t get it.  It needs nothing to make me happy.  Even though I don’t ride it as much as I would like, it’s the end of my ruler.  Except for adding the missing shark gill mufflers and painting the frame argent instead of the wonky mismatched red it was, it’s otherwise exactly how it looked when I found & assembled it.  What a great bike. 

Edit- here’s a couple of convenient screenshot pics..

Looks good to me, that's all I ever really wanted.

[SIR REAL ED]

I think you could do very well with that. Especially if you combined it with planned tours - most people with time and money to spare seems unwilling to take on real adventures, but are willing to pay for a guided adventure.

That would probably work in some areas, there are guided tour companies in Europe that have existed for many years IIRC

I think what makes it unfathomable to me, is that all the customers would tend to be quite wealthy, and therefore outside my peer group.  I also don't live in a touristy part of the world.  Based on the changes of the last 30 years, I have a horrible track record of predicting what people consider to be affordable necessities or excessive luxuries. 

I was thinking more of a local business where one could rent a Honda CBX, a vintage Benelli, Ducati, CB750, Kawasaki H2 or Z1 for. few hours or days.  Obviously, insurance might be a major expense that makes or breaks the idea.

[cliffrod]

Looks good to me, that's all I ever really wanted.

Thanks, Matteo- much appreciated!

[LowRyter]

I was 14 and the rule was 5 hp limit.  The first time I went to get a license I failed the vision test due t the wrong prescription.   

When I get my new glasses I went back.  I had a Honda Scrambler 90 (7 HP, OHC) that I got for Xmas (with my life savings).  The instructor asked some questions.  The Honda "straight" 90 (ohv) had 5 hp.  I said I had a Honda 90.  He asked is that a Super 90 (7 HP).  No.

I was good.

[Moparnut72]

When I was in the Army I worked nights and weekends in a motorcycle rental shop. Our fleet consisted of late model 175 and 350 Hondas. My primary job was to fix all the broken stuff so I would be leery of using vintage bikes. However our shop was outside a gate to the local Air Force Base, not the best clientele. The Zoomies could sure tear up stuff. The Honda dealer was just down the street. we were probably their best parts customer.
kk

[bronzestar1]

I've owned two bikes that I would consider "dream bikes".  One was a 1982 BMW R100RS, the other was a 2002 MV Agusta F4 750.  The PO of the BMW put slightly taller bars on it, so my hands would hit the inside of the fairing when turning the bike at full lock.  That bike was slow, noisy, skinny rear tire, and was a disappointment.  The F4 was a fantastic bike, had I been 20 years younger I might've kept it, but I'm definitely not built for speed anymore!   

[Alfetta]

Every night, it's a new dream....   I'm not fluid enough to keep up with that rate of change....

[SportsterDoc]

Had several "dream bikes" but I selected my 2023 V7-850 at age 76 as my final bike.
No regrets.  5,500 miles since May and 77 next month.
It was the only new bike of interest and Motopia (formerly Triumph of Albuquerque) started selling MG at just the right time!

[rocker59]

I've been lucky enough to have owned three of them:

1996 Sport 1100

2004 LeMans Nero Corsa

1991 LeMans 1000 CI

[SIR REAL ED]

I was 14 and the rule was 5 hp limit.  The first time I went to get a license I failed the vision test due t the wrong prescription.   

When I get my new glasses I went back.  I had a Honda Scrambler 90 (7 HP, OHC) that I got for Xmas (with my life savings).  The instructor asked some questions.  The Honda "straight" 90 (ohv) had 5 hp.  I said I had a Honda 90.  He asked is that a Super 90 (7 HP).  No.

I was good.

This is the first time I have ever heard of horsepower limits attached to youth licensing in the US.  I thought only the Europeans & the Japanese did that.

My neighbor used to own a Honda/Suzuki dealership.  Occasionally he would tell the tale of a parent who would buy a GSXR1000 as a first bike for their beloved child. 

My reply was usually, "it sounds like the parent is trying to kill the kid before they have to pay for the kid's college education."

He often added, "Yeah, the parent thought it was a good idea.  Until they found out the only insurance the kid could get cost $9000 a year."

[MMRanch]

Well  faffi

I've enjoyed reading your thread !       I'm glad you started this . 

I just got a bike I've been waiting for for almost two years.   The RE Super Meteor finally got to the USA and I snatched-up one of the first batch to land at my local dealership.   
 

 

[DC950]

yes, a 91 1000S, green with the big valve motor.  I wanted that bike so bad that I kept the Motorcyclist it was in for years.  I finally got one.  It was beautiful.

But heavy, made little power below 5500rpm, steered ponderously, never carbeurated cleanly at low rpm, and had such a shiny dash that my face got badly sunburned more than once - with a full face helmet.

It absolutely was a case of be careful what you wish for.  When I miss it, I think about how much fun it wasn't to ride.

[faffi]

Well  faffi

I've enjoyed reading your thread !       I'm glad you started this . 

I just got a bike I've been waiting for for almost two years.   The RE Super Meteor finally got to the USA and I snatched-up one of the first batch to land at my local dealership.   
 

Congrats! I am also liking the current RE bikes, both the 350s and the 650s. Hope to see a thread by you on how you like it 

[chuck peterson]

My landscaping employer walked me to his backyard barn. Opening the huge door…crrreeeeeaaaakkkkkk

He said, “want it?”

R60/2….full Wixom fairings top and bottom in front, saddlebags and top box

I can still see that moment like a frozen screen grab.

I’ve got to go scan some of those old slides..


Gave Grandpa a ride….once.