So mine will be one of the shorter CVs here: 2019, passed my test and bought a RE Himalayan 2022, bought my dream bike - 2021 Triumph Tiger 900GT Anyone want to buy a much-loved Himalayan?!
This was the colour scheme in the Harris brochure and I liked it so had it reproduced by a friend of a friend. We went down to the Harris factory to collect the chassis and had a very interesting tour while there. £3003.00 included everything, (Dymag alloy wheels, Marzzochi forks, WP rear shock, Brembo brakes), except engine and elecrics. Sourced a Z1000A1 engine from a breakers in York and rebuilt it with 1105 Wiseco pistons, oversize valves, Jim Wells road cams from Mistral Engineering who also did the rebore, 33mm Mikuni smoothbore carbs. I bought the rest of the stuff, wiring loom, clocks etc, new from a local breaker/spares specialist. Total came to just under £6k IIRC which was quite a bit more than the current top of the line Jap stuff. Over 120bhp at the rear wheel and it was a quick bike at the time with peerless handling thanks to bespoke, "not the average rider" suspension! but not big in the comfort stakes. Check out the skinny Metzeler ME99A's!
Started in 1969 aged 15. Just went and bought a bike when I came into a bit of money. Didn't know the first thing about them. Ducati 200 elite. On starting occasionally a big flame shot out of the bellmouth carb and would ignite the edge of the saddle. Honda cb72 Honda cb250 k3. Had a gorgeous exhaust burble to it. 20 + year break raising a family Bmw f650 to commute. Yamaha tdm ( 850 I think ). Triumph sprint executive. Triumph daytona t595. Tiger 955i. Technically I next owned a Yamaha fz1 ordered on the model launch. I had paid a deposit, and agreed a part ex price. I wrote off the Tiger 2 days before the exchange day. I had to phone the dealer to cancel the deal from my hospital bed. Broken ribs and bruised internal organs. The dealer had already registered the Yam in my name. They reimbursed me every penny I'd paid. Hats off to On Yer Bike. Back in the game 2 years later after my wife knew my promise to never ride again was faltering. Bless her Another tiger 955i. Tiger 1050. Another accident, mountain bike, broken pelvis. Two ops later and I couldn't handle the tall tiger any more. Bonneville. Back to full strength Tiger 800xt Probably the most capable bike I ever owned. But I was bored stiff with it. Yamaha tracer 900. Was worried about losing my license with this one. The acceleration was too addictive. Triumph speedmaster 1200. Loved it but the ergonomics weren't right for me after an hours riding. Yamaha tracer 9gt Love it. Just gotta be more vigilant with speed cameras.
Way back in 1977, I bought my first bike. It was a 1974 Suzuki A100. It looked like a AP50, but was quicker. Oh the fun I had as a 17 year old! Honda CB250G5. Spent 3 weeks in hospital after an off on July 4th 1979. Next was an Yam RS125, closely followed by a CG125. RD200, coffin tank. Suzuki GT500 1975 RD250, peardrop tank. CB400/4 F1 CB250 K4 Suzuki X5 CB250N Honda C70 RD125 LC XS250 CB550/4 GPZ900R (owned for 22 years) Suzuki X7 ZZR600 Kawasaki ER6 Honda NC750X and finally, a 04 plateTriumph Thunderbird 900 with just over 14k on the clock.
The gas flowing of the head and larger valve work on mine was all done by Mistral who shipped the bits back to me and I built the engine up in the garage. Those early air cooled Z1/Z1000 engines were really well built with the heavy, roller bearing cranks. After checking the crank specs I had it welded up by SEP at kegworth. I did exactly the same thing in March '86 when I traded the bike in at Cusworths for a new 1000RX which was some 20mph faster and comfortable although heavier and not as nimble. I think I got around £2k for it against the £4400 price of the RX. The trade in value was subject to a test ride and thorough inspection by one of their mechanics who came back and said how impressed he was with the build quaity! . The top salesman at the time was Phil Roberts who went on to open his own dealership, Team Roberts at Conisborough. The trade in was only brought on by a friend of mine buyng a GPZ900R which was more than a match for the Magnum and significantly cheaper to boot.
My motorcycles in order of appearance: 1966 Sears Sabre 50 1970 Honda CB 250 1975 Honda CB 350 1983 Honda V45 Magna 1993 Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 1995 Harley Davidson Electra Glide 2001 Victory V92C 2006 Victory Vegas 2004 Victory Touring Cruiser 2010 Victory Cross Roads 2004 Victory Touring Cruiser (Same one listed before - I bought it back) 2018 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster My Wife's Motorcycles in order of appearance: 1970 Honda 300 Dream 1983 Kawasaki 750 LTD 2004 Kawasaki 800 Vulcan Classic
Yamaha FS1-E Honda CB175 Triumph 5TA Speed Twin Triumph Thunderbird 6T 650 Norton 850 Mk3 Commando Yamaha DT175 MX MZ TS125 Laverda 120 Jota Honda CB750 F2 Kawasaki Z650 B2 Yamaha FZS 600 Fazer Triumph Tiger Cub Honda SL230 (grey import) Aprilia Pegaso 600 Trail Triumph 955i Daytona Triumph sprint ST 1050 MV Agusta F4 1000 Ducati Multistrada 950S Triumph Street Cup Some of these I owned at the same time - e.g. one for a commuting, one for pure enjoyment! The last 2 are my current steeds.
1955 DOT197 1949 Royal Enfield Model G 1964 Triumph Thunderbird 1969 Triumph Bonneville !979 Ducati 900 GTS 1972 AJS Stormer 250 1980 Yamaha YZ465 1980 Suzuki GS1000 1982 BMW R100 1975 Suzuki RL250 1975 Montesa Cota 172 1976 Laverda SF3 750 2016 Triumph Thruxton R 2018 KTM Duke 390 Still got the last 4
I started back in 2003 and the. Had a break from 2013 to 2019. 2003 - 2007 Yamaha Dragstar 125 (03 reg) 2007 - 2010 Honda Shadow 750 (07 reg) 2010 - 2013 Triumph Street Triple R (10 reg) 2019 - 2021 Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle (16 reg) 2021 - ??? Triumph Speed Triple R (16 reg) 2023 - ??? Triumph Thruxton RS (19 reg and waiting to be delivered)
1955 DOT197 1949 Royal Enfield Model G 1964 Triumph Thunderbird 1969 Triumph Bonneville !979 Ducati 900 GTS 1972 AJS Stormer 250 1980 Yamaha YZ465 1980 Suzuki GS1000 1982 BMW R100 1975 Suzuki RL250 1975 Montesa Cota 172 1976 Laverda SF3 750 2016 Triumph Thruxton R 2018 KTM Duke 390 Still got the last 4
2003 Aprilia RS50 (Telefonica colours) - as a 16yo was so cool 2005 Suzuki GS500 - boring first "big bike" 96 Suzuki RF600 - first "fast" bike, written off promptly (calmed me down a bit) 98 Yamaha Thundercat - bought as a write off. Loved it, can do anything; commuting, touring, trackdays, Sunday blast. 2003 Aprilia RSV Mille - sexy temperamental Italian. Wouldn't start too often. 1959 James Commodore 250 - 2002 Suzuki GSXR 600 - a reliable sport bike to replace the Aprilia 2015 Triumph Street Triple - first triumph; love it.
Found a couple, the R1 I paid just £500, it had been sitting in a garage for 5 years and required a little fettling!!
My pick from these would be your RD 350 absolutely loved mine, I had the white/red/blue combo red frame YPVS I’d love another one day, loved my memories of 2 strokes and watching Kevin Schwantz at the British GP way back
