Bikes you wanted when you didn't have the money

[Rough Edge racing]

Remember , these are bikes we DON'T want anymore  Who doesn't want a Brough or Crocker ? And a Vincent , come on now 

  Dusty

 Oh....I missed that part...I didn't like those vintage things when I was young...And if I rode one now I probably wouldn't like it ...

[fotoguzzi]

Griso

[tazio]

Another one is the attraction of the piddly little Honda CX bikes.

horses for courses I guess, ..but make mine a turbo

Harley Davidson COW GLIDE, though I've mooved on from THAT gem

[brlawson]

Norton

+1    One just like this:

[Luap McKeever]

My Stelvio. I still can't afford it but am renting it from the bank.

[Lannis]

+1    One just like this:

So what happened to make you not want that nice Norton any more, now that you can afford it?

Lannis

[StaysCrunchy]

When the Buell Ulysses came out, I fell in love and knew I had to have one. They were out of my price range at the time, unfortunately, and remained that way even on the used market for quite a while. I test-rode one about 6 months ago now that they're well within my financial means, and I immediately hated it. Don't know what I saw in them at the time but whatever it was it's gone. They still look cool but there'll never be one in my garage.

[charlie b]

Honda Sabre (the V4) and ST.  The Beemer RS bikes (any of them)

I guess in my older age I have found that I don't feel a need to spend that much money for my entertainment.  The old Goose does just fine.

[drums4money]

1st bike I wanted when I started wanting bikes:
Honda Elsinore
My dad had two when I was 3'ish.  My mom "encouraged" him to get rid of them after I fell off the back of one while we were riding around in the yard.  I'm told I got a nasty knot on the noggin'. . . that's probably what sealed my fate.
I got older & the first bike I could buy was a Ninja 250. 

[sdcr]

Ducati Supermono. 

   In the early 90's, Ducati produced this 550 CC four valve single. Made about 60 hp, and weighed less than 270 pounds, basically a factory race bike. They made only about 65, so they were hard to aquire even if you had the $$. I wanted one then, and still do.

John

83 Le Mans III

[guzzisteve]

I bought what I wanted to ride & still have most of them.  One of the reasons I wrench is to catch a free ride on one's I can't afford these days. 

[lucydad]

1971 Honda CB 500 four....so bad....could not put together the funds....went to college instead...

[56Pan]

Anything not from Japan.

[LongRanger]

1979 RD400F Daytona Special. Knowing what I know now, it'd probably be a miserable bike to own.

[mgfan]

Any Harley Davidson     

[cwiseman]

Growing up I wousld see my uncle on his early 80's H-D Sturgis and drool over it when I'd go to my grandparents house where he kept it. Many years later when I bought my first Harley I found oh he sold the pristine bike very cheap, not much more than I paid for my clapped out sportster.
A couple of years ago another uncle was in his buddy's bike the twin to my uncles Sturgis just in brown that he bought on the same day at the same shop as my uncle. I got to ride it and just wasn't impressed, the bike felt very small and not that powerful. So that little dream was smashed.

By the way a 1979 Daytona 400 is a very capable bike and they handle amazingly well!

[Muzz]

 

Any Harley Davidson     

:1: and then some.  Potatos should be made into crisps,  not exhaust notes.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Oh, just remembered. I was probably still a teenager and stopped in a shop where a guy was working on a Royal Enfield  Interceptor. I thought it looked really cool, but was too expensive for me.
Don't want one now, so this qualifies.. 

[Dukedesmo]

Back in the late seventies, I wanted a Le Mans. At 16yrs old I could neither afford one nor was able to legally ride one. 

I bought one in April of this year...   

[brlawson]

So what happened to make you not want that nice Norton any more, now that you can afford it?

Lannis

I discovered The Moto Guzzi and never looked back.

[Lannis]

I discovered The Moto Guzzi and never looked back.

Seems to be a common factor with a lot of people.   Nothing wrong with that!

Lannis

[SmithSwede]

Wanted, but could not afford/find:

BMW R90S, in smoke/grey two tone. 

Laverda Jota

Moto Morini 3 1/2

Instead started on an ragged out fourth hand Yamaha RD 350.  Then various Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki I4 550s.  Eventually worked up to a red 1982 Suzuki GS 1100E.  Enjoyed them all, really. 

Don't think I'd be tempted to buy the R90S or Jota today.    But that 3 1/2 still looks like fun to me. 

[Testarossa]

1971 Honda CB 500 four....so bad....could not put together the funds

Bought mine used in '74.  Loved that bike to pieces.

[Hymes Inc.]

Every crotch rocket made. No desire for them anymore, for the best I'm sure.

[Aaron D.]

Velocette Thruxton. When I rode one I was surprised how little I wanted one. But before I rode it I really wanted one.

Triumph Daytona.

Any bevel Ducati twin.

MVs, any of them. Well, maybe I'd still take a Magni ..nah.

[Charles in Lake Charles]

First edition LeMans, have one now.

[bpreynolds]

First edition LeMans, have one now.

Onward and driftward, I say!

[JoeW]

In 1977 I walked in to Chicago Cycle to buy parts for my V7 Sport. I was greeted by 2 red and 1 Blue LeMans. I talked briefly to the salesman and was told I could have my pick for 3200.00 plus tax and license. Upon my return to the college town I was living in, I went straight to the bank to apply for a loan. I was 22, working part time and going to school. The loan officer said they would be glad to lend me 1800.00 towards the purchase. That ended that! I did buy a 78 Lemans in 1994, owned it for ten years.

[Lannis]

Velocette Thruxton. When I rode one I was surprised how little I wanted one. But before I rode it I really wanted one.

If you can find someone who will let you ride "your dream bike", you can often save a ton of money and frustration, and you can move forward onto a dream that you might really want to fulfill.   That's why I'm angling for a ride on a Vincent Rapide.   I know what old Brits feel like so I know what the "baseline" is.  Compared to that baseline, will it feel like just another loose, rattly, poorly braked old Brit or will it be something special and smooth and fulfilling and wonderful?    I know I'd have to ride on a Nice One - any 60-year-old bike will feel crappy if the bushings and bearings are worn and loose ....

Lannis

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

In high school and shortly thereafter, I lusted after just about everything Yamaha had on offer. I particularly liked the Seca 550 and 650, the XS650, XV920RH and RZ350. I could afford any of those now, but they just don't seem that attractive any more. Now, when I see one for sale, it's like "nice one, reasonable price, someone else will have fun with it". Once I bought my first Guzzi ('76 Convert) in '83, my entire focus changed.