What bike do you wish you never sold?

[FkNAmerican]

So I found out today my best mates dad used to be a hardcore biker but he hadnt been on a motorcycle since his first wife!! I've known him for ages and only just now found this out. He told me they had just gotten married and he decided to take her on a motorcycle trip up to the mountains. It was a 45minute ride (her first). The idea was to get up in the rockies, do a little dancing and drinking over the weekend and generally have a blast. When they got there she promptly got off the bike and refused to talk to him for the weekend. Apparently, she had been terrified the whole way up and was frozen in fear. When it got to sunday she hired a taxi and had it drive her all the way home. When he got home she told him it was either the bike or her. He sold the bike. They got divorced anyway a few months later. He hadnt been on a motorcycle since. The look in his eyes as he told me this story almost made me want to cry....it was just so wistful and full of nostaliga. The end of his story: "That was the biggest mistake I ever made......if only I had kept that bike!"......

So it got me thinking. Anybody thats been riding a long time probably has a similar story. Some bike, maybe their very first, they wish they had never got rid of. Lets hear the story about the one bike, of all the bikes you have owned in your life, that you'd have back above all others.....and lets hear the story of how you parted ways!! Post 'em up.

[KoroJ]

Bought my 1966 Triumph 650 Saint as a box-of-bits in 1975. It had been 3/4 reconn'd and came with extended forks, so I finished the job and put it back together close to original but just a couple of changes. (Semi-Western bars, a decent horn and Non-Flash Gordon pipes.)

It was a great bike to ride with it's low CofG, comfortable riding position, only 2 minor oil leaks (from the from pushrod cover and one of the barrell nuts) and it was economical. Once I'd removed the centre stand it would scrape on the headers and it could be started with a screwdriver instead of a key.

I sold it in 1977 for $500 and threw in a flying jacket and helmet.

[slimjim]

:finger::yes: shit that's rough,would have chosen the bike still,as its warm when started,doesn't complained when thrashed, and sit's there when quietly parked,:rockon: yup bloody dyna glide, however it will return

[onearmedbandit]

My 1985 GSXR750F, the one that I was riding when I paralysed my arm. I'd love to have that bike back. Put it in the lounge in a glass case.

[98tls]

No pic but my first road bike was a 500/4 Honda.......a real mint bike.....sadly it came to an end up the summit road.........sure would be worth having ..........:bye:

[skidMark]

my zxr250a i can buy it back it's pretty stuffed but i dunno i love it too much

so i'm weighing that up currently

[Big Dog]

On reflection there are none I have not missed at some stage, definately the ones with less "charachter" are missed a little less.

[T.W.R]

These oldies would be nice to still have parked in the shed :slap: :cry:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18273&d=1129879327

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18276&d=1129879327

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18275&d=1129879327

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18277&d=1129879327

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18278&d=1129879327

[Motu]

The one in my avatar - a 1964 Rickman Metisse.There are few bikes I've ridden that make me a far better rider than I really am......it often left me wondering '' How the hell did I do that?''......and also thinking "'Shit,I hope someone saw me do that,no one would believe it's possible''.I would on the verge of a major crash,wondering if I would live,or what injuries I would have......and while my mind was otherwise occupied the Rickman would sort it all out.It was kinda embarresing to ride such an awesome bike,it really needed a more fitting rider...

[Mrs Busa Pete]

I loved this bike but every time i stop i fell of and became frightened so i sold it. I wish i had just persifered with it

[Disco Dan]

Not a bike, but still wish I never sold her....

Months of work, lots of $$ and more love than I care to divulge.

1977 Mini 1000

ahhh good times....

I remember taking her around the track at Puke, they lined me up with all these big V8's ...I was so stoked when I creamed them all in the corners... but they would almost do a complete lap by the time i finished the straights!

[skidMark]

it's almosed finished dan...then i will let u drive it....

for old times sake :rockon:

[Unit]

I wish Id never sold my first bike, a 1974 Norton 850 Comando (sportster not Interstate tank). Its where my love of V-Twins comes from.
I wonder if its still around?

[Chrislost]

this POS
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/toycar/cvhbgfh.jpg
would have made a mean race/rat/stunt thrash... could have also been fixed up mint if it wernt for the scratches.

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Not a bike, but still wish I never sold her....

Months of work, lots of $$ and more love than I care to divulge.

1977 Mini 1000

ahhh good times....

I remember taking her around the track at Puke, they lined me up with all these big V8's ...I was so stoked when I creamed them all in the corners... but they would almost do a complete lap by the time i finished the straights!

sounds like your creaming someting else

[mitchilin]

I wish I never sold my z1000r ELR.Had to though.Usual stuff,disqualified again and the missus was expecting.

[Puddlejumper]

Had many, many bikes, but the ones i wish I still had were both kwakas. My first real bike, a then new KH400 triple 2 stroke. So long as you were already moving ( huge leap first to second gear so no good from a start.) she would take the rd350's that everyone thought were the snot. And GPZ900r, fun.

[Horney1]

The one in my avatar - a 1964 Rickman Metisse.There are few bikes I've ridden that make me a far better rider than I really am......it often left me wondering '' How the hell did I do that?''......and also thinking "'Shit,I hope someone saw me do that,no one would believe it's possible''.I would on the verge of a major crash,wondering if I would live,or what injuries I would have......and while my mind was otherwise occupied the Rickman would sort it all out.It was kinda embarresing to ride such an awesome bike,it really needed a more fitting rider...

Gidday Motu,

I've often seen your avatar. What's it powered by? I know what you're saying there. I've sometimes thought the same, then thought,... nah, I ope no one saw it, they'd probably report me!!

edit: Oh, my Z650C and MTC1000 powered bold'or 900 (pulled nice wheelies, longish wheelbase and had nice guauges)

[Warr]

Tough question ... Shown is my 2nd and 3rd bike.
I think for nostalga it would be the AJS500 though :)

Puch 150 ... Electric Start.. Wow !! That was back in '72 and I was doing 'School C'

[98tls]

Tough question ... Shown is my 2nd and 3rd bike.
I think for nostalga it would be the AJS500 though :) Whats the bike in first pic mate...................

[Motu]

. What's it powered by?

It had a unit 500 Triumph,to Daytona specs,sometimes with twin carbs,sometimes a single.The power to weight ratio was pretty impressive for the day ('70's) and the bike was a 1964.

[Horney1]

It had a unit 500 Triumph,to Daytona specs,sometimes with twin carbs,sometimes a single.The power to weight ratio was pretty impressive for the day ('70's) and the bike was a 1964.


Yeah, I was thinkin it looked a bit Triumphy (Trophy ish... )

Cheers

[nudemetalz]

Well the one I wish I had never sold was powered by a 660cc 4-stroke Triple that made 70hp @ 8500rpm....
The sound was glorious and it handled superbly

Also it was made by Honda !!!!

Okay, so it wasn't a motorcycle but as near enough as you can get !!!
My Honda Beat...

[lewis_walker]

For me it was my Suzuki Marauder 1600. Put a huge grin on my face.

[Warr]

Whats the bike in first pic mate...................
Edited Post 4 you :)

The AJS I bought like that and looked the same when I parted with it for a pre-unit Triumph 650

[98tls]

Edited Post 4 you :)

The AJS I bought like that and looked the same when I parted with it for a pre-unit Triumph 650 A puch...........been lookin for ages and would never have guessed......a bloke i know down here has a 250.......not sure of year but its old......am guessin late 50s...........

[Toaster]

I miss my GSXR1000K6 - but I do love the new beast. I just wish I had both! sniff....

[Madness]

I had a minter than mint GSXR750H that I regret letting go. Got caught doing close to 100 in a 50, I'd just pulled out of my street and was just winding up 2nd gear. Had only a 6L at that stage, traded it for a 250 smoker the next week...:bye:

[BarBender]

I wish I hadn't sold Blue.

[skidMark]

I had a minter than mint GSXR750H that I regret letting go. Got caught doing close to 100 in a 50, I'd just pulled out of my street and was just winding up 2nd gear. Had only a 6L at that stage, traded it for a 250 smoker the next week...:bye:


did the exact same thing on my zxr250a

got locked on at 94 in a 50

convinced him to drop down the speed and ticket me for something else

$600 - driving in a manner liable to cause damage

$230 - for whatever speed he did me for

kept me under demerits

silly cop ya had one of at the time one of the most reckless riders in auckland a complete menace to society and ya let him go

silly rozzers

SM lol (ps. my birthday today ahhh i'm 20!)

[YellowDog]

Good Story. Having been happily divorced for 3 years, in 2004 I decided to get a bike for the first time in 15 years. My girlfriend said NO!, but I said "I am happily divorced and will do what I want." Anyway, I got the bike and she loved it and we are now married ya-de-ya-de-ya....

Love me Love my bike!

[lb99]

all of the bikes I have owned in my youth have blown up shortly after selling them :shifty:

But I had a mint 72 cb100, I kinda wish I still had that
or my 87 NSR250, I wish I had spent more money on it instead of on :doobey:

bike I regret not buying.....sandcast cb750, maybe a k like 69 or 70, the one with 4 throttle cables, dude sold it for $1000 in 1995, I could have borrowed the money, but I didn't want to , kicking myself now:wacko:

[Hawk]

my R80
Windjammer fairing
BMW panniers
top box
heated grips

Great bike, twist and set the throttle and it would stay there all day.

[tri boy]

81 Katana 1100. Sold it to a mate in Perth in 1990 for $2800. Bastard won't let me buy it back. :crybaby: :crybaby: :crybaby: :weep: :weep:

[Big Dog]

81 Katana 1100. Sold it to a mate in Perth in 1990 for $2800. Bastard won't let me buy it back. :crybaby: :crybaby: :crybaby: :weep: :weep:

Yes the only regret about the purchase of the Hayabusa was the fact I had to sell the 88 Katana to buy it.
That haunts me a lot more than it ought to for a 19 yo bike.

[MD]

Good opening story FknAmerican. I hope she was atleast a good root for your mate because she sure screwed him over.
If I could time warp back and return with one of my earlier bikes.. lets see.
76 Honda CB400Four supersport or XL175 dirt bike come to mind (had a lot of fun on both), 77 Z650 Kwaka maybe. No the recent black 636 would make a great second bike right now. Old bikes might for a moment bring back good memories but to be realistic, I doubt many of us would actually enjoy riding them nowadays.

[Mr. Peanut]

So I should keep my NSR? :innocent:

[kneescraper]

Very interesting thread, great to see some old bikes.

The bike I wish I still had and rebuilt and repainted to factory spec'd...and worked the engine alittle is my old 1989 Honda CBR400RR...I swapped it for a AE85 Toyota Trueno...I so wish I hadn't. If one comes up for the right price I will snap it up!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-99465908.htm?p=19

This one is the same model..he wants to much for this or else I would buy it.

The bike I want is a VFR400 NC30 in a bad condition so I can rebuild her back to factory spec :)

[sinned]

I should have kept it. Great sound track except for the piston rattling noises. So much fun to wind out - cause that is what you had to do.

[NighthawkNZ]

Yes the only regret about the purchase of the Hayabusa was the fact I had to sell the 88 Katana to buy it.
That haunts me a lot more than it ought to for a 19 yo bike.

I miss my katana as well :(

[ben444]

My 1992 Fireblade... In original colours, two bros exhaust, dynojet,k&n filter, braided lines and that was it... and that was enough.... dynoed at 130hp.. sold in 2000 and it was stil as fast as the new stuff!!

[GSX-RJIM]

1986 GSX-R 750

I still miss her.

[Big Dog]

I miss my katana as well :(

Certainly not the precision or the brute force of the Hayabusa.
But definitely a fun ride.
In many ways it was the dependable way that it was just short of being good at anything in particular that made it great.
Excellent mile muncher.
Versatile as anything.

[Smokin]

My all time favorite was my XR500A, It really was my first true love :love:

[Richard Mc F]

1973 Kawasaki Z1A, brown and orange one, bassani 4 into 2, TT100 tyres, ate them and chains for breakfast..............sigh 18 years old when I bought it god knows how I survived, the bikes I most regret not buying ( and could have), 1973 rouncase ducati 750 sport, and a mint seely with a cb750 single cam

[Forest]

I don't miss any of my old bikes.

I've only ever traded up to better ones.

[Mr Merde]

The first bike I bought when I arrived in London.

There was a shop on Goldhawk Road in west London trhat I walked past every day.

Goldblatt Motors.

Bought a lovely "NorVin" from them in 1979.

Totally impractical cafe racer for London but gave me the shivers everytime I rode it.

Got engaged and the bike had to go so I could be "respectable".

Should have kept the bike and dumped the girlfriend. That would have been a better deal.

[skidMark]

The first bike I bought when I arrived in London.

There was a shop on Goldhawk Road in west London trhat I walked past every day.

Goldblatt Motors.

Bought a lovely "NorVin" from them in 1979.

Totally impractical cafe racer for London but gave me the shivers everytime I rode it.

Got engaged and the bike had to go so I could be "respectable".

Should have kept the bike and dumped the girlfriend. That would have been a better deal.

yeah if a women ever says me or the bikes bikes will win, they were there first.