Starting from 1986, when I were a wee lad of 16. Suzuki FZ50 Suzuki GP100 Kawasaki KE100 Kawasaki KMX200 Suzuki RGV 250 Yamaha RD350LC (awful bike) Suzuki GSF400VVC Suzuki SV650S Speed Triple 955i (wish I’d kept it) Suzuki GSF1200 Triumph TT600 (probably the best of the lot, after the Speedy) my current bike.
Always liked the look of the Speed Triple and when I wanted to change the SV I thought I’d give one a go. Absolutely loved it from the word go. Stupidly got rid as I wasn’t using it due to work commitments. When the TT came up, I couldn’t resist another Triumph.
Got my copy of Allan Girdler's book a few days ago upon your recommendation, @Aceofharps. It's great and very helpful. Thanks!
Kawasaki Eliminator Yamaha 650 Roadstar Yamaha Roadstar warrior Ducati Monster 695 Ducati Monster 696 Ducati Monster 821 Ducati SuperSport
Honda XR75 YZ-100 YZ-125 PE-175 KDX-250 GS550E Sabre 700 CBR600 750 Interceptor XR250 w/Al Baker 283 kit YZ-250WR KTM580 Buell XB9SX
When at school I was a keen cyclists but when I started work twenty miles from home dad said get a motorbike to get home earlier, so he borrowed a Francis-Barnet Merlin 98cc girder forks, solid back end, 3 speed hand change in 1963. then I bought a BSA 125 Bantam, £53.00, 1953 BSA B31 £12.00 plus another for spares £10.00. big leap to 1954 Triumph T110, that went over a hedge one dark wet night, bent forks and wheel, Velo MAC 350, broke a piston nearing Sheffield one Sunday afternoon, bought a new +20 piston on Monday morning, rebuilt and reached Boston in time for tea. while rebuilding the T110 , a Royal Enfield Constellation 692cc, Ducati Cadet, Yamaha YDS1 came and went. T110 rebuilt and DVLA gave me a new registration 1970 on a 1954 bike! Fitted a Watsonian Oxford sidecar and went to Morocco and back in a fortnight, 1977 Suzuki GT750 (Flying Kettle) Then in 1985 first new bike Honda CX500 after two fitting updated cam chains it was a very reliable bike so I upgraded to a CX650 often fitted with a flexible sidecar some times home built one or a Squire ST2. After a dealer trip round the factory bought a 900 Trophy in 1993 and after 130,000 miles retired it and got another newer one last year identical but only 58,000 on the clock. In between the Trophys I dabbled with two Suzuki 400cc Burgmans and succeeded in blowing both up (broken con rod just below the piston) common complaint on the early ones. May go for a later Burgman when finances allow.
Ive probably owned about 12 Triumphs and only 1 other non Triumph, a KTM Superduke R. Triumph forum is probably not the best place to say this but the KTM trumps the lot of them! Don't get me wrong, I love Triumphs... Obviously! Hand on heart though, the big Superduke is streets ahead in every aspect right down to the small details IMO. Triumphs are a more handsome bike though, I'll give them that
honda c100 montesa 250 maico 400 swm 250 then i reached 17 honda cj250 yamaha xs500 Pile of shite honda cx500 400 bandit great little bike cbr600 Triumphs i have owned 500 daytona (18th birthday present and i still have it) daytona 900 sprint rs 955 daytona 955 speed triple 1050 daytona 955 t160 trident t150 trident x2 t140d t140v