I had one in the states, bought it used. 2015 classic. Loved the bike, fast but easy to navigate around town. My wife and I decided to relocate to Portugal so I sold it to my brother. A couple of years later I saw a good deal on a 2020 pure so I got it. Great bikes, they lack soul a bit but are a real blast to ride.
Bought a Yamaha Thundercat in the early 2000s in anticipation of passing my test. Dropped it on my leg resulting in a broken fairing and a bruise lasting half the year. Failed my test a couple of times and sold it. Came back to it all 20 years later, passed all the tests, bought an XJR1300, then a Tiger Explorer 1200, then a Thunderbird Storm. Still have all three.
T140Vs - the full set along with a few swaps. Also had a D (didn't like the mag wheels) and an E (changed it back to a V)....not had a J though (the paint and chrome is just plain silly).
Still have the bold. '79 Honda CX500 '83 Honda CX650 '64 Fuji Rabbit S-202 '94 Honda VFC-750 Magna '94 Suzuki GS550 '95 BMW R1100GS '08 Kawasaki KLR-650 '03 Suzuki DL1000 '99 BMW R1100RT '09 HD FLHRC Road King '14 BMW R nineT Classic '95 BMW R100R '16 Triumph Thruxton 1200 R '
My list is pathetically small but fortunately I’m used to tiny things, IQ being but one thing …. In 1986 I bought my first, a white & red Yamaha TY50 BKP252T - and used it until 1987 for commuting to college In 1987 I worked all summer to scrape together enough for a white & red Yam DT80 C961GKM The insurance for the more desirable DT125R was ridiculous and beyond my weekend / summer job pay so I took the 80 which did me for 18 months, but the 50 mile daily commute once I started working for real took its toll, the exhaust split & the piston needed replacing. it did get me through my test though On the 1st August 1988 I got my hands on the one I miss the most my RD350 YPVS F2 F488CKL. I wish I’d had, found or stolen enough money to enable me to keep her (called Jezebel - she was wicked). I was a hoon, a rebel, a tear away (or as much of one as a nineteen year old civil servant could be) - wheelies followed & my devotional love to two wheels was cemented in my soul. But In 1990 my head was turned from 2 stroke to 4 by a savage looking black & grey FZR600, G150RKO Once again I was scuppered by prohibitive insurance costs as I really wanted either the EXUP (70 mph in first gear, & a tendency to warp brake discs) or the ridiculous but awesome ZXR750 H2 (hoover pipe edition) but the 600 was, just about affordable and cc’s beyond were not - I was mortgaged and married by then but was “allowed” something so ridiculous because we didn’t have a car (that didn’t come until ‘92). I commuted on that for 18 months before coming a cropper on the way home from a late shift. The FZR ended up on the track, I ended up with a CBR600 FN black, grey, purple & orange J660MKE. It was a great bike, comfortable, quick & agile but I had “The Fear” after my off & knew I had to grow up. In ‘92 I passed my driving test & traded the CBR for a white VW Polo 1.0l 4+e - the acceleration was breathtaking lol Seasons passed, there was always THAT one day in Spring every year when I yearned for the freedom of two wheels, but it passed. Then in 1999 Suzuki brought out the SV650S & I knew I had to have one. That dream was realised in 2002 when I bought my three year old Yellow SV T280LPP. I always thought I’d keep her forever but age & age related stiffness happened. In 2019 my local dealer commented that I’d not done many miles since the last MOT - it was less than 200 in a year, & it dawned on me that I was just too old for the SV. Then a little bug called C19 ruined a perfectly good year, during which I had an epiphany about speed, I didn’t fancy it very much by anymore, an experience realised whilst watching Henry Cole circulate the Isle of Man on his “bitsa” Norton on the Motorbike Show in January - very much off bike season ! So to close the saga on the 21st April 21 I very reluctantly traded the SV for Belinda my beloved T120. I doubt I’ll ever part with her, but I’m long enough in the tooth to recognise I’ve said that before (but I’m still going to try to get a YPVS F2 when I retire)
Peugot Speedfight 50cc scooter Derby 50cc scooter had the scooters from age 17 until age 21 Yamaha R6 after passing direct access. Probably my favourite bike to date it was 2003 with the deltabox iii frame. Good 6 years or so break R6 on a 57 plate. Not as good as first bike imo. Small break then Yamaha XT660X Such a boring bike to ride. Mid life crisis time KTM 990 Superduke. 8 year break currently have The Thruxton R and dont plan on ever selling it just want to get a couple more bikes in future as a small collection before batteries and hydrogen bring an end to motorbikes as we know them.
Great list, @Boothman! I had to laugh, though, when I read "Got married so no bikes for awhile". My hubby has had more bikes since getting married to me that he had while he was single! I guess I'm a good influence.
@tim scott I thoroughly enjoyed reading your motorbike history saga, Tim. Thanks for a great write-up!
"Mid life crisis time KTM 990 Superduke." Yep! So, @timboo, what which couple of bikes might you add to create your small collection?? Asking for a friend...
I would like a Honda VTR SP2 not the best bike to ride but lovely to look at is going up in value and prob last bike of that era which remind me of the old VFR 400. Best colours is the white black with yellow detail. Its also based upon colin edwards superbike. Suzuki GSXR 750. Some of the originals are worth good money now, so last version made might well do the same especially with the euro 5 emissions over here making it less likely that another will be produced. Honda 900rr Fireblade Fi version. Really hard to come by in a nice colour with low miles. BMW M1000RR but need to save some serious money for one of those. Think thats about it, I did consider buying the final edition of the thruxton rs until i saw it.
Mostly the 76 R75l6. I owned it for 25 years and it went through several incarnations. Finally as a r90/6. I put on an r90/s top end: pistons, barrels, heads and beefed up the suspension and added the Hoske exhaust. I wanted a quasi period correct speedy airhead. It was faster and handled better than the stock bike but still not really all that fast. In a moment of weakness I sold it so I could buy a Moto Guzzi. Also wish I still had the Trophy 250 of course!
Lambretta TV 175 Honda SS 125 Velocette LE 200cc BSA B31 350 1956 BSA A10 650 1959 BSA A10 650 1954 Honda CB750 F1 Honda VFR 750 1990 Honda CBR 900 RR Fireblade 1995 BMW R1150R 2002 BMW R1200 GS 2015 BMW R1200 GS 2018 BMW R1250 GS 2020 BMW R1250RS 2023 Not a Trumpet in sight
Cool list. Are u a BMW convert now. They made some cracking colours of the fireblade pre fuel injected.
I fell into the BMW trap in 2002. I had an urge to buy a Harley, but after a couple of test rides and a poor dealer experience with a disinterested salesman I visited my local BMW showroom and less than a mile into the test ride that was my fate sealed. I did originally want a Tiger in 2015 (hence me being on here) but the 1200 was too big and top heavy for me and the 800 too small for SWMBO as a pillion. The 1200 GS fitted nicely between the 2 A bit of now and then
That’s quite a list, @littleade! But your last comment begs the question, how did you wind up on this forum?
If only I knew so.... I was bikeless between 2010 and 2015. I said in about 2012 one night in the pub I fancied another bike and SWMBO suggested I wait until I retired so I kept my side of the bargain even though she hoped I'd forgotten. I was undecided what to get at that stage and joined a number of forums as you do. I was quite keen on getting a Triumph, I even did their off road skills day on a 800 xcx. Anyway as a short arse I found some adventure bikes too tall (KTM, Kawasaki) so test rides were down to Triumph and BMW. I quite liked the Triumphs but as previous neither the Explorer or the 800 suited "our" needs so it was down to BMW. There was a choice of 2, the 1200RS or 1200 GS and SWMBO had the casting vote and chose the GS because of the pillion comfort and better wind protection. As I'd been quite active on the site even though I went to BMW I decided to stay and went to all 4 GMUs at Buxton, Bellendjam, Llandiloes and Bellendjam again. Things have moved on since then but I've remained on here anyway. Hope that answers your question?
Loving the last photograph is the bike in the pond on the golf course? Really nice colour scheme you had in the blade, those colours are rare now. The latest bmw gs trophy they had at the bike show last year was lovely. Is that your latest bike in the pic?
