the VT500s were a great bike,super reliable,my mate had one for years. When he first got it he was complaining about the gear shift,he said would I take it out for a ride and see what i thought. I took it for quick 5 mile ride with him on the back and had no probs with the gears at all. I assumed it was coz he hadnt ridden a shaft drive before . I had a cb750 at the time and thought the handling of the VT was pretty good too. Yep the brakes were a nightmare as you say.
No he knew, he told me but all the years of booze had wiped my memory cells I guess youre bound to remember if you had to go buy another 2 of em .lol
Looks a nice level bit of kit but inboard brakes on that job is as good as a convertable with a roof rack!! And yes yes you hit the nerd status for spark plug sizes!! E
Loved my Speed Triple but there are two bikes that really stand out for me: 1981 Yamaha RD 250 LC; bought it new with everying I had saved from my first year working. After riding an FS1E this LC just blew my away, cloud of blue smoke into the power band and off it shot. Didn't know it at the time but I bought an iconic 80's stroker. 2016 Yamaha MT10. I know the looks of this bike are not to everyone's taste but this bike for me is not special because of how it looks but how it goes. I honestly believe Yamaha have created a future icon here. The reworked R1 crossplane engine is a masterpiece, 160bhp. I've never experienced acceleration like this bike gives. Even with the 'safety' electronics on this thing wheelies 1st, 2nd and 3rd past 90mph. Progressive electronic steering damper keeps things just about inline, handling is sublime. This thing looks like a Transformer, drinks fuel, is not very practical but I absolutely love it.
Have you got one Richard? the front of the MT10 is growing on me the more i see it,saw a review of it the other night and it seems to be one of the best in it's class,wouldn't mind a go on one
In 1980 I had an FS1E and passed my test a couple of years later on a Honda C90 and went out and bought a Yamaha FZX 750, think they called them a mini V Max, I'll see if I can dig out a photo. I then moved onto a Zephyr 750. My mates had RD250/400's, GT 250's and one had a Jota, never knew where he got the money from, he was an apprentice tool maker ! I had a few years off then bought a T509 then a succession of Ducati's. This was my favourite , a 2006 Sport 1000, with a few mods ! But it was also the most uncomfortable bike I've ever owned but I loved it. Owned it for 3 years then had to get rid when I lost my job. Now back on my feet the Thruxton R is a keeper..
The bike that I've owned and in the "outstanding" category was my Honda Valkyrie. CBR 600 front brakes; 6 individual open exhausts, backrests for rider and pillion, air suspension on the back - and the noise it made at 3am on my 50th birthday in the valley where I lived was just completely AWESOME.
Yes got it in July and done 2000 miles now. I'm quite tall and found the seating and leg position more comfortable than the 2012 Speed Triple I owned. Careful about taking a test ride, I never intended to buy one and just fancied a test ride! For a bike under 10K (just) its a remarkable machine. So far perfectly reliable. I'm only getting 120 miles to empty on a 17L tank 90 sees the fuel light Its the bikes only downside.
The best bike I ever had was a Laverda RGS 1000 bought it in 1983 , sold it in 87/88. Did 70,000 klms or so, lost very few points as it was sooo fast police couldn't catch it, there was no radar speed detectors in Australia back then!! Speedo only went up to 220klm then had a marking that would have been 240klm but had no figures there! Bike did 245klms out of the crate before it was run in. Top gear was a true overdrive, it was faster in 4th gear than 5th by a good 20klmhr, I soon sorted that out, geared it down (added 2 teeth rear sprocket) threw the airbox away, jetted carbies to suit open megaphone mufflers, top speed attained a bit over 300kph !!! And it stopped on a sixpence and gave change back and loved corners . the loudest part of the engine was the three Carby bell mouths @6200rpm+ the induction noise was freaking awesome !!! It out accelerated my mates Z1000J and did it two up as against solo ! Was supposedly only 94/96hp @ rear wheel but it must have been closer to 110/120 HP and the torque was off the charts. I put my RGS up against several Laverdas in the QLD laverda club , one was a worked Corsa ! Mine won every time in every way, standing start , roll on from set speed and gear or out right top speed ! I Bought it for $6,900 plus $1300 insurance (I was only 19 almost 20yrs) I could have bought two cars for that money. But I'm glad I didn't.... Heh heh.
Suzuki X7, mildly ported, bigger carbs and expansion pipes made it quicker than RD 400's Suzuki 650 Katana, sold it for the deposit on me first house, questionable styling some might say. 1988 VFR 750 FJ, is there a better sound than a vee four with a race can? 2005 Vtec, track it, tour it, reliable as the sunrise.
Best bike I ever owned? I still have it, a 2007 Moto Guzzi Griso 1100. Id like a 1200 but it didnt come in Orange. Does everything I want it to, comfy and carries luggage, still sets a good intermediate time round Cadwell Park. Fastest? 1989 Yamaha FZR1000R-W. Its punch for counterpunch a match for the 955i Im picking up today but I think I'd give the win to the FZR... just. Best handling? 2003 Yamaha YZF-R6 5SL... after I crashed it and turned it into a trackbike. Worst? 1982 Suzuki GSX400FX. In fairness to the poor thing, it was bought for £150 as a non-runner, but it wasn't worth making it roadworthy. Ended up pushing it to a scrapyard only to get £14 for it. Honorable mention goes to my first Benelli Tornado which didn't make it home from the place I bought it from before it dropped a big end. Griso: FZR: R6: Benelli (x2):
All five Triumphs special, had several Jap bikes as commuter or run arounds, two of these were also special, Yamaha DT175 two stroke, stationed in Cyprus 1973-75 and this was ideal light weight to whizz about on, easy to go off road and explore, later had an XT500 thumper for several years when I lived in Devon, that was good fun round the lanes. Also had two BSA C15s, which are great if you enjoy playing with meccano.
Honorable mention goes to my first Benelli Tornado which didn't make it home from the place I bought it from before it dropped a big end. ouch!
That first Benelli was from Superbike Factory in Macclesfield. Since then I've heard horror story after horror story from there.
