In praise of less

[Lee Davis]

I am 67 now, and my first vehicles were of the period... First car was a VW Karman Ghia with a 36 HP engine. First bike was a BSA 441... second a Yamaha Exciter 250. Bought a 1960 VW camper bus with a 40HP engine. It was fine out on the road, but dragged in 3rd gear on hills. I only got into trouble with that old bus one time... on the tall streets of Seattle (after leaving REI), in 1974.  So, I know what it takes to make the top of the hill. The first bike I ever remember was a neighbors 305 Honda Dream... what a beast! I have a photo of my Father on his new Ariel 350 Red Hunter in England in 1952, with me on the tank, at age 2 1/2. I have 3 bikes now... A Harley 135 CI, A Stelvio 1200, and a 900 V9. Do I need that much? I think not. I shall keep plugging along. I wish Moto Guzzi would make a 350 Stelvio adventure bike. That would be a hoot! But, sadly, few would be willing to downsize.

[Scud]

I wish Moto Guzzi would make a 350 Stelvio adventure bike.

There is a 310cc four-stroke Italian "adventure" bike available. Check out a Husqvarna TE310 - made during the period of time when they were under the MV umbrella. Serious dirt suspension, street legal, but not a great road bike.

But for 50cc more than you asked for, there's always a Suzuki DRZ400. The Suzuki is a better on the road than the Husky (and longer service intervals), but not even in the same league on the dirt.

[Triple Jim]

When I rode a friend's KTM390 is was a real blast.  Tons of power and light weight.

[twowings]

[kingoffleece]

I agree.  I just adore my V7 to death.  It's such a total hoot to bomb around on.
As for the new 310 BMW's, I've had mine ordered for months as the new ride for the bride.

[pyoungbl]

Hi Lee, you are preaching to the choir.  I'm down sizing.  A year ago I bought a 250cc Adv Bike.  What the heck, it was not horribly expensive and might just be fun.  Now, some 18 months later, I can hardly wait to sell all the other stuff in my garage.  I'm to the point where it is a lot of fun to stay on the US numbered roads, ride through small towns, and actually smell the roses.  I can forgo those 800-1000 mile days.  It's true that riding a slow bike fast is more fun than riding a fast bike slow.   Obviously I'm not the only one seeing this as desirable, most of the major OEM manufacturers have come out with sub 400cc Adv bikes.  Mine is a CSC RX3.  www.cscmotorcycles. com/2017-RX3-Adventure-p/zrx3-2017.htm

It's funny that the smaller bikes are both an outlet for us old farts to down size, as well as an entry point for new riders.  I guess we can gain some satisfaction from knowing that we will be blowing the doors off those newbies on the same tiddlers that have their eyes wide open.

Peter Y.

[willowstreetguzziguy]

In time... I think the 300-500cc adventure bikes is the next big thing for the reasons you mentioned... for old farts and newbies!  You'll just have to wait for it

[fotoguzzi]

I had a Buell Uly, sorta like a Stelvio but more HP, about a 1/2 foot less wheel base! and torq like no Guzzi I ever had.. and even tho I'm not 67 yet I sized down.. still need to blast freeways at 80mph ..so got a 650 thumper.. cut weight down to (360#?) .. pushing around garage is a breeze..

Yeah I rode there, 100 miles RT in winter

[Arizona Wayne]

Yeah, we're all getting older the longer we are still around.  In a month I'll be 74 and glad I already have had 3 maxi-scooters to adjust to my physical capabilities as I age into the twilight.  No longer are top speeds and such important to me.  If I can do 90 mph when needed, that's enough for me now.  BTDT on the faster stuff.  Let the young uns do it now and watch them.   I got up to 139 mph on public roads repeatedly in the past w/o getting caught and that's enough for me.    That's why I sold my `87 LeMans IV.    A man got's ta know his limitations  ( Clint Eastwood). 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Still in "love" with my Morini 350 K2.



I'd like to add a sibling to the garage, maybe a 350 Kanguro.

[Sheepdog]

I have four two-wheelers, but really only two: my Vintage and my BMW R1200RS. Those are the ones that compete for my time. I like to think that these two bikes give me a broad street-biking experience, but any more than two and it's too much for me. Two is my ideal...

[Mr Pootle]

My father had a Red Hunter before I was born. I recall him talking about it. There's one for sale about 70 miles from where I live, for £5,995. The price of old British iron has got ridiculous. But Lee, if you want to bring back memories of your infancy, buy it, and I'll collect it and store it till you can get it shipped.

[Aaron D.]

A good friend has a Kawasaki 300 Adventure type bike, and did a review for the dealership that got a lot of attention, so the small ADV bike is here and selling well.

Several Chinese imports that also look great, and likely where I'd look.

[Ncdan]

A guy was at the service station yesterday where I was gassing my keep. He was ridding a later model XL 250 street legal Honda. Bike had off road knobby tires. The guy said he rides the little guy everywhere. He said on the road he can run 65 mph all day. Back in 73 I had the same little Honda and road it the same way.

[blackcat]

Bought a 1960 VW camper bus with a 40HP engine. It was fine out on the road, but dragged in 3rd gear on hills. I only got into trouble with that old bus one time... on the tall streets of Seattle (after leaving REI), in 1974. 

I'm assuming that you no longer have the bus. Those buses are worth a small fortune nowadays.

[guzzler]

An Enfield Himalayan would probably tick the boxes for quirky/ unusual and semi-adventurous
Cheers Guzzler

[nick949]

To celebrate my full recovery from triple by-pass surgery, I bought a junker 1984 Yamaha Venture 1200 - all 800+lbs of it. I think I'm heading in the wrong direction.

Nick

[Lee Davis]

My father had a Red Hunter before I was born. I recall him talking about it. There's one for sale about 70 miles from where I live, for £5,995. The price of old British iron has got ridiculous. But Lee, if you want to bring back memories of your infancy, buy it, and I'll collect it and store it till you can get it shipped.

    I actually found an Ariel Red Hunter in Australia and bought it in 2004. Mainly because it was a 1952 350, identical to the one my Father owned. I asked him to come over and sit on it as he had done in the several old pictures we have of him in 1952. He even had the same shirt and shoes in both pictures! He is 34 in the first picture and 86 in the second. 

[rodekyll]

    I actually found an Ariel Red Hunter in Australia and bought it in 2004. Mainly because it was a 1952 350, identical to the one my Father owned. I asked him to come over and sit on it as he had done in the several old pictures we have of him in 1952. He even had the same shirt and shoes in both pictures! He is 34 in the first picture and 86 in the second.