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1981 RM-125

I had a 1985 Yamaha YZ 125 when I was in middle school loved that bike lots of good memories riding with friends and riding girlfriend around on it. She got my cherry, man I miss that girl and that bike.

My current bike I love as well. Honda XR650R 2007 model, tons of power right off the bottom all the way to the top. I want a giant loop for it so I can do some bike campiing. That will only make me love more. I looked for 3 years for this one. I found it in alabama and it was bought new in 2009 and had only been ridden 6 or 8 time, essentially a brand new bike. LOVE IT!

Can't knock the technological advances in motorcycles over the last few decades but those older machines were so simple to maintain, particularly those air cooled vertical twins and single cylinders. Everything was out in the open where you could get to it, no need to half disassemble it to change plugs. And with such a simple design even a rookie like me could understand them and work on them.

While I prefer two smokes, those single cylinder air cooled Honda engines seem to run forever.

Yep, very easy to work on. Here is the video I made of the bike when I decided to sell it.

I've ridden a few buddies bikes over the years, only bike I've ever owned was an '85 cr 125

'06 FXSTI..first new bike...long gone but fond memories

The SR is back! Now it's a 400, but it's much like the old SR500.

http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modelhome/691/home.aspx

That's two very cool bikes. Sounds like your Suzuki was exactly like my Yamaha 175 Enduro...just plain dependable and competent.

The R90 was an outstanding bike. BMW has gained some steps and lost a few steps. They lead in technology in many areas but they have really lost some steps in reliability. Still, they are a nice ride. If I found an R90 at a decent price, I'd grab it up. The problem with the older Boxer engine Bimmers. Most have a gazillion miles on them. Because Bimmer owners are some serious riders.

But I love that engine design, everything for maintenance is right out there, easy to get at. The newer Boxers, not so much. but those '70's and '80's Boxers are just a dream to work on.

Okay the R90 makes me want to play:
69 Honda Mini Trail
71 Honda CL175
78 Triumph Bonneville (the only one bought new.)
74 BMW R90/6
84 Kawasaki ZN1100
03 Moto Guzzi California Titanium (What was I waiting for?)

Jahrs,

Continuing...

Like you, in my early 20's it was motorcycle only for me. I didn't park my Seca 550 in the house, but it was on the front porch right next to my bedroom window. If anyone messed with it, they'd be looking at the business end of a pistol. (for a while the only handgun I had back then was a Broomhandle Mauser; but she was reliable).

My 550 Seca took me everywhere and did so very comfortably. It lacked the low end of your Bimmer, but get it into the power band and it would beat ANY two cylinder factory bike regardless of how many CC's back then. I've been trying to find a 550 Seca just to re-live the old days; not many of them out there. I'm sure the handling and acceleration wouldn't even remotely compare to my ZZR-1200, but I'm also sure the old Seca 550 would be a pure joy to ride.

About a year ago I rode a late 1976 R90 factory Cafe Racer with the fade paint job and the little quarter faring. Man that was one cool bike. And despite being nearly 40 years old, she handled very well; I could be happy with that bike.

That's a good looking bike!

it would have to be martha,ive had this 1968 T120r bonneville since 1981.right now i have a fall apart 2003 harley fxd

I have temporally given up riding because of 2 recent knee replacements but if I ever do buy another bike you can bet your sweet bippy i'll be looking for another R90/6 or 100/7.

First motorcycle was a turquoise and cream 1968 BSA Starfire 250cc. I bought it for $450 virtually brand new. Hid it from my parents and rode it to high school. Brought it home one day to show my dad, thinking he would let me keep it because it was so pretty. He drove into the driveway after work. Asked me who the bike belonged to, then asked me how much I paid for it. He then told me to put it in the front yard and put a for sale sign on it, and walked into the house without another word. It sold in one day for $450.






My third motorcycle was a brand new 1973 Triumph 750 Bonneville. I bought this motorcycle in Rota, Spain with my $1,500 Combat Arms Enlistment bonus from the Marines. Toured Andaluc�a Spain from Rota to Torremolinos, to Granada, and Sevilla with my buddy who had a 1974 Norton 850 Commando. This photo was taken in Torremolinos when I was 20.




30 years later I discovered Moto GP racing and Italian motorcycles. Since the kids were gone I bought this 2001 Aprilia SL Mille to be a "Ricky Racer." Off'd it and bought a 2003 Moto Guzzi V11 Rosso Corsa, perhaps the best motorcycle I have ever owned. Sold it and turned around and bought its stable mate a 2004 Moto Guzzi Coppa Italia.

Had a few bikes including a GeezerGLide (Honda Goldwing) for a short while, and some Yamaha Enduro's way back when. My favorite is my current bike. We went racing again last Saturday. This pictures is from a couple of weeks ago but this is the bike. Started out as an 883R, but is now punched out to 1230cc's, Weisco pistons and jugs, Andrews N-4 Cams, Ported and polished heads with the biggest valves we could shoehorn in, Aluminum intake manifold and S&S Super "E" carbourator. Had designs on getting it turbo'ed, but that project has not come together yet. Best part of last Saturday was beating a brand new Kawasaki Ninja 1100 head to head, straight up race during the time trials. He was starting to catch up to me at the end of the track, ALMOST DID (A great race!) so I have to find a few more HP before I go back :

Orange Okie,

Gorgeous bikes, those Guzzi's! I have to get a seat stop put on my bike like yours have before it dumps my butt on the ground. I won't have to hang on for dear life while trying to ride and ecxellerate. Only now do I understand why the big 'guzzi's and a few bikes have those pieces standing striaght up at the back of one's seat. To keep the rider IN the seat!

I like your current Red monster the best. Looks like loads of fun.

I think I would be made fun of if showed my current motorcycle that I ride to my office 3-4 times a week.

Mine was a "toilet seat" (trail) 90 I got used. Favorite 'cause it's been my only motorcycle. It was kinda fubar, it'd been overheated enough the head would warp and the engine seize if it'd get hot. So ... sit there for a half hour or so 'til it'd cool off.

I broke a few things. I flew it far too high once and it came down hard enough to crunch the rear shock. I rode that out without wrecking but I'm not sure how. Despite the automatic clutch, I missed a shift one time, it wound out to red-line, then caught. Busted some parts inside and I spent two years trying to fix it. Finally gave it away.

One time I managed to do a 30-something mph 360 degree spin without laying it down. I was toolin' along, saw a barb wire fence laying down in the grass, locked the brake, and it just spun around without going down. WTF? Didn't think that was possible. Good thing that straw-like dry grass is slick, if I'd had traction I might have gotten hurt.

Tom