Anybody own 2 of the same identical MC model?

[blackbuell]

Ten or so years ago I fell in love with 5th generation Honda VFR's. I bought a salvaged one for $2,000, fixed up pretty nice, and then turned around and bought a pristine used one for $4,000. Ended up with 2 red 1998 VFR's. My wife and most MC buddies thought I was nuts. Why would you want to have 2 identical bikes?! I thought it was completely logical: I didn't spend a lot on the bikes, so I felt fine tearing them down to learn how to maintain and fix them when things went wrong, even though my mechanical skills are minimal. I always had one running just fine. Back then I frequently had riding friends visit; felt free lending them one of the VFR's.


Fast forward to today: I'm on my second 2V Norge; put about 55K miles on the first before I lost it to a deer strike 2 summers ago. Bought the second a year ago for $4,200 with only 2,300 miles on the ODO; it now has 15K miles on it. This is my favorite bike of all time, and I can see riding it, or another one just like it until I'm 80 years old (will be 70 in a few weeks). There is a 2007 one for sale by the local dealer for $4,500; it has only 5,500 miles on it and has new tires and has just been serviced; sounds like a good deal to me.


How crazy would it be for me to buy this bike? Hell, I already have a Norge, just like it, that is running fine. Also have a few other bikes. Do any of you possess 2 of the same bike, or, at least have the desire to?

If Guzzi were still making a comfortable, capable sport-tourer, I'd probable buy a new one and hang on to the old Norge, too.


Jon

[Chuck in Indiana]

I had the Mighty Scura in SoCal, and liked it so much I bought a Rosso corsa for Indiana. Very similar bikes. Once I bought the Scura home, though,  Rosie  became superfluous.
So, no.
I did get a free  (Guzzi content ) Skorpion parts bike, though, so I guess you could say I have 1 1/2.

[nose2wind]

I have 2 Guzzi  2000 V11s and 09 Stelvio.  They are completely different rides and I like it that way.  I also have a Buell and a KLR 650.  All are different and serve my riding passions in a different way. 

Use your money to get something different.   

[Waterbottle]

2 Griso 8v's, One mostly standard with matris cartridges and a wilbers shock , the other has Matris cartridges and a modified Ohlins shock pictured left 

[Darren Williams]

I had two first gen KLRs. Needed the second so I could keep at least one in running order. I never understood why those things gained the reputation they have. If I had to do it over again I would have gone with the DR. I had an old DR350 and it was really a dependable and simple bike.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I had two first gen KLRs. Needed the second so I could keep at least one in running order. I never understood why those things gained the reputation they have. If I had to do it over again I would have gone with the DR. I had an old DR350 and it was really a dependable and simple bike.

After helping Austin with his KLR from hell, I agree. What a complicated machine for such a simple job.

[Sheepdog]

My next door neighbor, Jim and I have identical '07 California Vintage models.

[pehayes]

We have two 98EV.  Mine is red/cream and Regina's is an HD&M.  Mine has gold anodized front brake calipers and hers has silver.  We've done some height management modifications to hers.    I do all of the maintenance.  For unknown reasons, her bike's engine is way superior to mine.  Smoother, stronger, better fuel consumption, etc.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[nc43bsa]

I have 2 1973 750 Commandos and 2 1974 850 Commandos.

Does that count?

[Shorty]

I have 2 790 Bonnevilles. an 01 and an 05. I think the only difference beside the color is the newer  one has  "D" shaped mixture screws, so you need a special tool bit to adjust it.

[Robert]

Do Honda Trail 90's count?

I have at least 5. 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I owned two Ambassadors ('69 and '71) at one time, but they were hardly identical even in stock form. My present '69 V700 and the '69 Ambassador are closer. 

[lucian]

Calling MedicAndy

[oilhed]

My next door neighbor, Jim and I have identical '07 California Vintage models.

 

[earemike]

  why not?

Of course there were 3 colours of 850 LeMans & while 2 series are discussed the rolling upgrades mean I will never own two identical bikes...

[Turin]

I owned 2 Quotas for about a couple of months if that counts.

[Sheepdog]

At the Armadillo Festival in Leesville...

[Huzo]

Only twice.
GT 750 A Suzukis and Ossa 250 Explorers.
Shoulda' kept all four..

[oldbike54]

 In the late 70's there were 3 441 BSA shooting Stars in the garage , don't ask why , raw stupidity I suppose 

 Dusty

[Mr Revhead]

I have two CX500s. Bought one to do up, then bought a going one to ride. Turns out they are 7 numbers apart in frame number!

[Rick4003]

just got a second frame for a 850 T5, so I guess now I have two of the same unloved guzzi, I just need to assemble it to a complete bike. It will not go back together as a standard T5. So they will not be fully identical.

One reason I like having identical or closely related bikes/cars are they will be able to share most parts and most special tools, if you have a wide range of different manufactures and models, you would likely have to get an equal amount of special tools for each bike. So if you do your own wrenching it can be a good reason to pick something similar or identical. And as was mentioned before, when you learn the tricks for one model it applies to the other as well.

-Ulrik 

[Doug McLaren]

The one on the right is a '77 850 MK1 Le-Mans, the left one is a 1981 850 MK2 Le-Mans. I stuck the narrower fork yokes and instruments off a MK1on to it, it was essentially the same bike. Both sold now.

DSC00004_WEB by Doug McLaren, on Flickr

[rdbandkab]

I had two aprilia Futuras at once.  One orange/red and one silver/blue.  I've also owned two 06 black Breva 1100's...although not at the same time. We put around 53-54,000 miles on the first one.
I would buy the same design Futura again if aprilia started pumping them out.  *There's not a more comfortable seat for two-up anywhere.  And I'm prepared to fight about it.

[jas67]

For about two years, I owned both a 2014 V7 Special, and a 2013 V7 Racer.   They're identical from a chassis and driveline standpoint, but, of course, the Racer has clip-ons, rear sets, and the Record fairing, so, completely different ergos, though similar ride otherwise.    I wouldn't have bothered with two of the same series Special or two of the same series Racer.

I replaced the '14 Special with a '17 V7 III Special, so, now they're more different.

But, to the OP's point, should he buy the low-miles Norge for $4,500.    YES.   Absolutely!    It's his favorite bike of all times, and they're not making them any more, so, a spare would be a good idea.

That said, before buying it, go out and ride the current BMW R1200RS.    With helibar risers, I'll bet it is a very similar ride to the Norge.   That's the closest thing on the market to the Norge.   The RT, IMHO, is the next closest, but, feels a lot bigger due to the huge fairing.   Mind you, it is much lighter on it's feet than its looks would make you think.    If either of those bikes seems like a worthy replacement, then don't bother with this 2nd Norge.   Just keep enjoying the one you have, knowing there are other bikes on the market that would be worthy replacements for it.

With proper maintenance it should easily making it to 150k miles w/o any major work.    At 13k per year, that will take 9 more years to reach, so, shouldn't have any trouble seeing you through until you're almost 80.

Oh, and an early happy birthday to you!

[larrys]

For a number of years I had a bunch of '60's and '70's Bonnevilles at the same time. None were identical, though. Probably half of them ran at any given time. Won't count the parts bikes.
Larry

[Aaron D.]

His and Hers Indian Scouts

[oldlegs]

I've got 3 Beta 350 cc M4 Motards 2 of them the engine and frame No's follow each other and 1 Beta Alp 350cc very similar to the other 3.

[F-22]

My V50III's. They were nearly identical. One had a black swingarm, one had a white one. One had balck fuel tank bottom and a black top cap, the other was completely red. One had a chromed headlight rim and one did not. The forks were completely polished on one (and it had the fork brace). They were both quite fun to ride. Lots of power from a small block (I think the engine was practically the same as the Monza, a bit more power than the previous V50 and V50II). I think these were the most powerful small blocks with the shortest swingarm. I sold both at some point.

[MedicAndy]

Calling MedicAndy

I don't know what you are talking about my friend! 

But yes, I like having more than just one of anything I like around, that is toys I'm planning on keeping until the end of my time. I have been asked many times on why I own seven 1100 Sports, and I guess I only ended up with so many of them since I love the hunt to find another. My original goal was to own one of each originally available factory color (silver, red, blue, yellow, and black), which I now have. I found two more bikes which were unique in their own way along the way. One of those bikes was a original yellow 97, which was painted in BMW red since her original owner wanted a red 1100 Sport when they came out here for sale in the US, but all red bikes were already sold, so he bought a yellow bike and had her painted in red. This bike needed a lot of work when I bought her, but she is now my main 1100 Sport bike that I'm riding. The other "extra" 97 Sport was sitting neglected for seven years under a tarp out in the weather, and that bike took a while to get her running again. This bike is running again, and I'm planning on turning this original yellow bike, which needs a complete cosmetic restoration, into a tribute bike of the original Moto Guzzi R&D 1995 red & silver R&D prototype 1100 Sport.

My other five bikes are all a little different. The different colors are obvious, but two (silver and blue) are carb 1996 models, whereas the other three are EFI models. One of the 97 with 1388 original miles is completely stock (except the cross-over), while others have different exhaust systems ranging from one with the original MG exhaust and others with Mistral carbon / Stainless Steel, or Staintune Stainless Steel exhaust systems. One has K&N pod air filters, the others have their original ram-air boxes installed. Most have the Creedon ECU chip, one still has the original chip.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that yes, those seven 1100's seem to be all alike, but they are actually all different, if you are looking at the micro level.

But I'm also looking at my bikes more as being a collection, which I love to look at, versus something I need to actually use or ride. I only ride three of my 1100's a couple of times per year. The others are there mostly for looks, but all are fully serviced and will fire up without any problems.         

I also have a couple of other bikes sitting in the barn. One of them is my 96 GSXR1100W, which I love to ride. I have been looking now for a year to find me a second GSXR1100W, just because, but finding one of them is almost as hard as finding another 1100 Sport.

There is a 2015 BMW K1300S currently for sale on eBay, and I would love to add that bike also to my collection. I owned a 2011 K1300S but sold her some years ago, and I miss riding such a well engineered and powerful bike. I was thinking yesterday about maybe selling my 96 Silver & Blue 1100's to fund (in part) the purchase of the BMW, but I know that I would never be able to replace those bikes after they were gone........

So in conclusion,

It's not always easy having Champagne taste while living on a beer budget!  :)










This is the R&D 1100 Sport tribute bike I'm planning on building next year

[wrbix]

Two Last Edition BMW R100s - a CS and an RS, identical but for fairing and rear brakes. Always on the lookout for an RT.