which would you choose?

[Missouri Bob]

If you could jump into the way-back machine and go to any point in the past forty years, buy a bike, and bring it back, which bike (only one) would you get?

 

Today, it would be a Norton 850 Roadster for me. (Tomorrow, it might be a Daytona Orange R90S.)

 

Yes, Winter has arrived in the mountains.

 

Have a good and peaceful holiday.

 

Bob

[AllenW]

Bought a used 850 Commando S many years ago, guy had tried to give it the chopper look with different bars, seat and sissy bar, I think I still liked it better than the single carbed Triumph I had back then, can't remember the model of that one though.

 

Probably go for a early 80's GS 1100 Suzuki, nothing exotic, was a nice bike to ride and just had a good time on the one I had.

 

Al....who's probably gonna be the only one on this forum picking a Japanese bike..

[jb11GSA]

Heck with the bike - invent and register the sticky note, invest in Apple and buy and register the trade mark for .com.

 

That's what I'm doing if I could go back; everything else keep the same.

 

Yup, I've been thinking about this a while :-)

 

Happy holidays folks ....

[John Bentall]

I'm guessing that in the Commando 850 you've picked an actual or inspirational machine from your teens.

Well, I fell in love with absolutely everything when I was that age - whatever was the latest thing on the block.

 

If this old machine was to park in the den and admire I might bring back a Laverda 750 Jota in Orange. To ride - it might be a Honda CB450 or countless other contemporary machines, all of which remind me of my younger days.

I never rode anything larger than 250cc in my teens and I would not want to bring back something that size (except a racing Honda 297cc 6-cylinder!).

 

Seasons greeting to everyone on this board - especially the hard-working moderators!

[tallman]

Smart play, most valuable today for best price back then.

 

Sentimental, Daytona bike.

[Whip]

 

 

Vincent Black Shadow

 

..prolly too old, but we are dreamin.

 

[Missouri Bob]

Heck with the bike - invent and register the sticky note, invest in Apple and buy and register the trade mark for .com.

 

And with this approach, you could buy every bike you ever thought you might have wanted.

 

The Norton was not something which appealed to me in my teens. The bikes that kept me awake at night back then were not as interesting. Thirty-five years ago, had someone given me a Norton Commando, I probably would have put a Windjammer on it. I'll leave the room now.

 

Bob

[OlGeezer]

If you could jump into the way-back machine and go to any point in the past forty years, buy a bike, and bring it back, which bike (only one) would you get?

 

Today, it would be a Norton 850 Roadster for me. (Tomorrow, it might be a Daytona Orange R90S.)

 

Yes, Winter has arrived in the mountains.

 

Have a good and peaceful holiday.

 

Bob

 

My 1974 Kawi Z-1 with bootiful (and wild!) GF on the back!

 

Yeah, I've been thinking about that for a while!

:o)

[TEWKS]

Suzuki should use this theme in building a modern standard. They wouldn't be able to keep up with demand! I said it before but I remember walking by this one in favor of the square headlight 750.

 

 

 

Pat

[CoarsegoldKid]

My 1974 Kawi Z-1 with bootiful (and wild!) GF on the back!

 

Yeah, I've been thinking about that for a while!

Occasionally I think about both the GF and Z1. They both had a wiggle in the middle!

[kmac]

These threads are always hard for me. Do you pick a bike for it monetary value, for its historical significance, a bike you owned, your dad owned, your grandpa owned, your personal favorite bike, your first bike......you get the point.

 

Giacomo Augostini's championship MV Agusta is tempting...

 

But if I have to pick 1, It would be the early 70's Rickman.

I love the Matiese, but my dream bike when i was a kid was Rickman that a local Yamaha dealer in Lawndale Ca. was building with the Yamaha Dt1 125 MX motors in them instead of the Zundapp.

Much more reliable. I used to toss at night dreaming of that bike. I BEGGED my dad for one of those, but it never happened.

[pbbeck]

I'd go back to 2006 and bring back my 2006 MV Agusta Brutale 910s. It was a Pre-Harley model.

[David13]

Would I want to go back to the days of drum brakes? No.

Would I want to go back to the days of carburetors? No.

Would I want to go back to the days of bias ply tires, non crash worthy cars, fuel inefficiency, low horsepower, etc? No.

I like too many of the new features on things. Would I want my old 1088? No.

I'm looking for next years model.

dc

[ka5ysy]

Hodaka Super Rat. Fun bike I learned to ride on.

 

[Limecreek]

1977-1980 R100RS

 

I hope to have one in the garage this year.

 

Cheers!

 

[russell_bynum]

Would I want to go back to the days of drum brakes? No.

Would I want to go back to the days of carburetors? No.

Would I want to go back to the days of bias ply tires, non crash worthy cars, fuel inefficiency, low horsepower, etc? No.

I like too many of the new features on things. Would I want my old 1088? No.

I'm looking for next years model.

dc

 

Lots of truth there. It is really hard to buy a bike today that's as bad as the "great" bikes of yesterday. You could outrun a Vincent Black Shadow while 2-up on an R1100RT.

 

That said...it would be a tough choice for me between the '96 916 SPS, the Britten V1000, and the Black Shadow.

 

 

 

[kmac]

Evening David,

I personally dont think that is the point of the thread {not that there are any rules}. I would not want to commute or daily ride a bike that doesnt have at least some of the modern ammenities, disc brakes, electronic ignition....

 

I think the point is what bike would you like to own. Like to own for whatever reason you would like to own one. Seems like many of us are picking bikes from our history or a bike we dreamed of.

 

Limecreek, That is a beautiful R100RS...

 

Russell, Now you did it you opened up the Britton door...nice

[Linz]

I wish I'd never sold my Honda CR110. Apart from going back in time to stop myself virtually giving it away, I'd pop it into a glass case just for looking at.

 

Maybe it could have a lock on the case so I could fire her up once a year just to listen to the glorious sound.

 

The last time I saw one sold was about ten years ago for over $200,000.

 

Linz

[cris nitro]

Kawasaki Z1, definately. Defined the modern sportbike. Black and orange. Everytime I see one, I get goose bumps. Or a prisitne blue Bultaco Pursang.

[hopz]

Hi Bob,

Interesting thread... it makes you to take a moment and think.

 

I am in agreement with the drift the conversation is taking. I feel like the R1200RT I have is the best bike within the span of the last 40 years- all things considered. Best and most enjoyable.

 

There were great Hondas, Yamahas, a whole stable of Harleys, sporty bikes, touring bikes, dirt/street racers... but all around...the R1200RT (and I am not trying to be politically correct or patronizing).

[David13]

I think the question of the thread is what do you like best about the good old days? And my answer is the future.

I did like the old BMW's the old Hondas, and I admired many more bikes, maybe all bikes.

But the bike I want ( I think ) is probably the 2013 R1200RT. I think, but I'll have to see it first and go over it with a fine tooth comb.

My favorite all time bike of all time is the one I have now. Otherwise I'd change it.

There are plenty of super bikes shown and mentioned in this thread, no question.

But for me, the answer is: None of the above.

dc

[upflying]

I would bring back a Suzuki X6 Hustler, Kawasaki Mach III, Yamaha RD400..

Anything that leaves a smokey haze in the windshield of a Prius.

[Missouri Bob]

I should have explained my thoughts more clearly.

 

I, too, have no interest in commuting with drum brakes. I still vividly remember a white-knuckle moment in rush hour traffic aboard my /2.

 

A Norton Commando pretty much embodies an idealized past in soft-focus. Sure, I could get one with a disc, but it would still have the usual 1970s (1950s?) British gremlins. Doesn't matter. That's not the point.

 

Although I have never enjoyed a bike as much as my GS, it still lacks a certain je ne sais quoi.

 

If we all liked the same thing, life would be less interesting.

 

Bob

[bayoubengal]

If I could grab one it would be my 1973 Honda XR75. Yeah I know I couldn't ride and enjoy it, but for sentimental reasons.

 

For riding purposes, I would grab my Honda CX500. Unsure of the year, but it was a first year, 76/77/78 ish. Absolutely loved that bike. It was my Hutch's Honda demo, my father's dealership. So I guess if I could go back in time I would do two things:

1) Keep the Honda Shop

2) Talk my Dad into adding Harley when they offered (late 70s)... Oops!

 

A few months ago I told my wife I have decided to not sell any of my bikes, including my kid's so when this thread pops up in 2030 I will post pics of my 2006 RT, an 02 XR50, an 03 PW 50 plus various currently owned bikes and future RTs, GSs, and GTLs...

[OlGeezer]

Sweeeeet!

[jmseattle]

I agree with the Z1 crowd. Bought one in '75 that had had an accident and a much more mechanically able friend of mine helped me get it back in riding condition. After a series of mid-sized Hondas the Z1 was the bike that boggled my mind when I cracked the throttle for the first time

 

[Paul Mihalka]

I'm not a collector. For something old the only thing I want to keep around is myself. If I had a second bike of my choice for its beauty AND rideability, I'd get a Ducati GT1000. Would be a nice ride on a nice warm sunny day.

http://motorcycle-pics.blogspot.com/2010/06/ducati-gt1000-2010-sport-classic.html

[OlGeezer]

I think the question of the thread is what do you like best about the good old days?

dc

Definitely the GF, although the Z1 was a lot of fun, too.

[Paul Mihalka]

Well, if it is about what I would like from "the good old days", it would be a BMW R69S with the Earles fork, Or a R90S.

[Bill_Walker]

While I love the looks of the old Britbikes (a Bonnie or a Norton Commando would be high on my list, or a BSA Gold Star if I could go back a little further than 1970), I don't think I'd want to live with one. A Honda 400F or Kawi GPz550 would float my boat. Or a Honda GB500 or Yamaha SR500.

[RockBottom]

Speaking of Commandos, about two months after I started riding, I passed a farm with about 15 '70s era bikes outside. Clearly someone had just found a barn full. One was a Commando in pretty good condition. The rest were various Japanese bikes. I was too naive to even stop and inquire. I occasionally slap myself now.

[Asymmetrical]

I'd agree with many of the earlier bikes proposed, but here's another one -- The Honda CBX1000. Six cylinders, 24 valves, and at high RPM sounds like a racing engine. Didn't handle very well, but that engine!

[sardineone]

Hi Bob, 1st I'm glad you and the GS are getting along so well! Good topic that I have philosophically entertained from time to time. One of my favorites with practicality filtered out would be a 71' Kawasaki 500. I grew up with the speed and sounds of two strokes and always have a soft spot for such. I'm still riding today though probably in part because I couldn't afford to own such a beast at the time. I did bum a couple of rides though and know what they were in a straight line. FUN! I think that Norton Commando S that I was eyeing as a senior in high school would be a good candidate. With my knowledge acquired over 42 years of riding, there are very few vintage rides I'd feel safe riding on today at speed. I guess that's why I've kept my 86' Moto Guzzi LeMans as it is a good example of a dated design. The frame the same basic double loop as the Kawi 500 but, in huge proportions by comparison.

[terryofperry]

My RT is the best bike I have ever owned but it is not my dream bike.

 

BMW K1 (Ketchup and Mustard)

 

Terry

[johnlt]

Well, if it is about what I would like from "the good old days", it would be a BMW R69S with the Earles fork, Or a R90S.

 

I'm with Paul on the R69S but a couple years ago I borrowed a absolutely pristine Norton 850 for an antique motorcycle ralley and loved it. It handled and braked better that my old airheads did but I still lust over the R69S

[Missouri Bob]

Well, if it is about what I would like from "the good old days", it would be a BMW R69S with the Earles fork, Or a R90S.

 

I'm with Paul on the R69S but a couple years ago I borrowed a absolutely pristine Norton 850 for an antique motorcycle ralley and loved it. It handled and braked better that my old airheads did but I still lust over the R69S

 

Wow! That is exactly what I thought of. And it even has the shift lever on the "correct" side. That photo could be considered motorcycle porn.

 

Bob

[cris nitro]

Many, many years ago, my neighbor used to work for Devon Honda in Pa. and brought home a brand new Commando. The one with the left side brake and the 1 up, 4 down shifting on the right. He told me to take it for a spin. I was 19 at the time and didn't hesitate even a little bit. Well several miles on a backcountry road and a nice big dog decided to take a run at me. Well I'd been riding "normal" bikes for years and my first reaction was to stomp on the brake. Doh! Not only did hit the shifter intead of the brake, I upshifted instead of down! Brief moment of panic and I was able to miss the bugger, but I think I messed up my shorts.

[Little_Brit]

Great topic.

 

Like others here I'd have to say that my 2009 R1200GS is the best bike I've owned by some margin.

 

However... The sight, the sensations of sitting on and operating the controls and then the sound of my first brand new motorcycle, a bottle green 1974 Honda CB350K4, I would love to experience again. All my birthdays came at once!

 

I can still recall the sensation of turning on the fuel and flicking the little choke lever on before starting her up and being greeted by the lovely off beat exhaust note of the 180 crankshaft.

[Boffin]

Great topic.

 

Like others here I'd have to say that my 2009 R1200GS is the best bike I've owned by some margin.

 

However... The sight, the sensations of sitting on and operating the controls and then the sound of my first brand new motorcycle, a bottle green 1974 Honda CB350K4, I would love to experience again. All my birthdays came at once!

 

I can still recall the sensation of turning on the fuel and flicking the little choke lever on before starting her up and being greeted by the lovely off beat exhaust note of the 180 crankshaft.

 

I have one of those in my garage awaiting a gentle restoration. It belongs to my son though.

 

What I want to get is the bike I first saw as a 17 year-old callow youth with a brand new driving test pass certificate - a Morini 3 1/2

 

 

The problem was it cost more than a Commando, so I bought an old Triumph TR6 - the bike, not the car.

 

 

It was one of these that Steve McQueen used in The Great Escape. Quite why the German Army was using a British bike from the future is something I have never understood...

 

I have promised myself that I will one day own a Morini 3 1/2 - I live just three miles from a dealer that specialises in the marque and always has a few in stock. I just lack the funds.

 

 

Andy

[kmac]

omg that 3 1/2 is so cool. all cafe style stock. smoker. italian. it has it all

[drtex]

Here is my dream bike: 2010 Honda CB1100

It has all of the charm of the classics with most of the modern amenities. Unfortunately, Honda will never bring it to the US. I finally gave up and "settled" for an RT.

 

http://s582.photobucket.com/albums/ss267/mick7504/?action=view&current=Honda-CB1100F.jpg&newest=1

 

This video is my New Year's gift to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dn19VbH_98

 

 

[garlee]

A Honda 250N SUPERDREAM 1979 model with the kickstarter . Did over 100,000 miles on this bike without any major problems apart from the consumables on it .Totally Reliable Bike

[Rob L]

I have always thought that the Honda CBX was exotic and reasonably rare. The 1982 model with the matching bags and fairing would be great.