SL 125- 10....first bike would have to be a 10. CB 500/4.......another 10...compared to the SL125 Z1000...... 11.....this was less than a year after the SL125. BMW R60/6......2.....it was nearly dead. BMW R75/5......10 good all rounder. Ducati Darmah..... 7 not a good all rounder but lots of fun and nice to look at. CB100....5.....needed something to ride to work in London. BMW R100 RS.....8....another good all rounder...even bought it home to NZ....then kids arrived... Triumph T110....0.....then restored it to a 10...then it fell to bits.....0 NOTHING FOR 7 years apart from the BMW R75/5 with a sidecar on it. BSA Lighning.....7...commuted on it in London.....pushed it in Brixton.....seized it in Hammersmith.....rode in round Cork...... fun but needed TLC. The the BSA on TM in Green as a project......0 Chaing Jaiing....... 2 the kids liked it..... GPZ900........3 Tom Cruise raced a plane.....which is odd as he's not that tall. R50/5 for the racer project......5 that was a fun bike. Commando....10....wish I had bought one years ago Short list by real biker standards....... I've never had one newer than 5 years old.
BMW R65...8...first bike ever, had some lekky probs, but once sorted was great. Shouldn't have sold it. XV750...4...reliable, but rear susp was shot and had the worst brakes ever, gutless. And that's from me-the-nana! XJ600...6....bike in good order, great brakes. 6 speed box had too close ratios for me, very buzzy VF1000...7.. very reliable, heaps of grunt, a big monster, bit top heavy and great on the open road, not so great for commuting GS650G...5...ok, but no soul, very bland, very economical though CBX750...9... great bike in every respect except lacks some soul, reliable, quick, well balanced, handles beautifully.
My newest was the XJ600, 21 years at the time!
Jawa (cc rating unknown). 2 I'm being kind. Horrible thing. The only good thing about it was the two wheels. First bike crash - into the clothes line on a hot lap of our round the house GP course. Honda CD175. 2. Even thinking about that bike will necessitate a trip back to the therapist. Evil lesson in reliability and Honda spare parts supply lines of the 70s. Suzuki T350. 4. Looked good. Good power. Frame made of leftover spaghetti and fork stanchions made of plastic water pipe. Honda MT250. 8. Good power, decent handling, long wheelbase made for fantastic power sliding back in the day when you could ride like maniacs on Muriwai without being arrested. Honda SL125. 7 Neat bike, great fun. Vespa 90 scooter. 4. It was a scooter. Chicks loved it for some reason but the sort of chicks who loved it were not the ones that were enthusiastic about other things. Honda CR125 9 The original one. A revelation in its day because it did everything well - power, handing, suspension, reliability. Yamaha SR500 9 Terrific bike. Nice thumper power and hell-fun on a gravel road. One of my absolute favourites. Yamaha RD400. 7 Great bike but, like the T350, I found the whole two-stroke powerband thing a worry on the roads. Honda 50 step through moped. 10. Best bike ever.
I've had very few bikes, BFTP-eligible or otherwise. GN250 - 3 - my learner bike. Only two years old when I bought it in 1985. Couldn't wait to ditch it. Only had it for three months. GL400 - 7 - bought new in 1985. A 400cc version of a CX500, I expected to own it for several years. The engine broke under warranty. It had to go. It was otherwise nice to ride, although underpowered (predictably) R90/6 - 9 - bought to replace the plastic maggot in Jan 1986. The R90 was tired and worn out, but responded favourably to gentle TLC. Served faithfully for 7 years of daily commuting, long distance touring, Sunday fangs etc without once leaving me stranded. Earned my respect. Will get rebuilt one day. R90S - 9 - bought off Dodgy about eight years ago in bits. Has served faithfully for five years now, since the rebuild was completed. Has already given me an enormous amount of satisfaction.
Kawasaki 350 something 2 stroke - 5- bought in a box.....should have left it there.... Suzuki 250 2 stroke - 1- rode it once....crashed and wrote it off.....bastard Yamaha SL250 learners bike - 7- great fun bought new never had an issue just out grew it Yamaha XS650 - 9- finally fell in love......chromed everything possible...only sold it because some stupid drove into me/it never the same after that Honda Goldwing - 6 nice big bike rode well, nice balance, just don't go over 100kph...first engine rebuild Various 1980 models whilst on OE...mostly English,Kiwi, American, Canadian and Australian, ridden in all weathers and some two at a time!!, some terribly ugly ones when i was to drunk to know better... Yamaha XS650 - 8 first mistress during midlife crisis still going still fun Yamaha XV1000 - 9 - best riding bike i have owned.plenty of power and nice and big Yamaha XJ550 - 0 - was running when it arrived....rode it into the back yard...been in bits ever since...rode one new in 1982....almost bought it but decided i didn't like the whine....I love the shape though
I can't list all the bikes I've owned - I don't even remember half of them. BSA Bantam Major,150cc - 6. The first bike I owned,the first bike I crashed,and the first bike that broke down on me. The beginning of a journey. 1951 BSA B31 - 10. It gets a 10 not because it was a great bike but because of all the things I learnt about motorcycle through my continual experiments. Triton - 6. All my mates thought I was such a great rider...not hard when they are on rigid Triumphs with extended forks and apehangers,and you are on a Featherbed with rearsets and clipons. 1964 Rickman Metisse - 12. Holy shit,this was the bike that transformed me from a wanna be try hard to a laid back can't be bothered trying,the bike did it all and transformed me to a new level of ability. 1953 Matchless G9 - 0. The worst bike I've owned,everything broke,and handled worse than anything before or after. 1961 Norton 99 - 8. Just a nice bike. BMW R60/5 - 3. Ungainly clunky thing. 1954 BSA racing sidecar,with '72 BSA Thunderbolt engine - 8. A bit of naughty fun,and it taught me how to ride like a speedway sidecar on the road. Ural/VW outfit - VI. I need a different numerical system for this bike,it was from another planet altogether. 1979 Bultaco Sherpa T - 5. I found I was not Sammy Miller. 1979 Yamaha TY175 - 6. I wasn't even Mick Andrews. 1974 Kawasaki KT250 - 3. Nor Don Smith. 1973 Suzuki TS400 - 4. Not really a great bike.The only bike that has dumped me on a gravel road,it should get less - but it taught me to ride beyond my abilities and into the realm of a dirttracker. 1981 Honda XR200 - 8. At 38 I found I was 16 again...wow,Prolink,duh - it works. 1981 Honda C50 - 10. For the very reason it became Bike of the Century. 1971 Yamaha XS1 - 8. Not really a great bike,it was a piece of crap and handled at the level of a 2. But it seems to be a convergence point for me,forward and back. The bikes of my youth,and the bike I think of when I ride the R65. It captured the essence of motorcycling for me,but in such an unperfect way. (bad spelling appropriate) 1987 Honda XLV750 - 8. The perfect bike at the right time...I loved it. 1997 Yamamha DT230 - 7. A barrel of fun,the last fling of youth for me before I descended into the clutches of BMW fuddyduddyness. 1987 BMW R65 - 10 at this point it time. I think this is the bike that is the sum total of all those other bikes,and my riding experience - the 650 twin,handling I can trust and put myself into,gravel road capable,touring capable,tinkering capable.
Not ALL of them surely?? Shit, I must have had 10 since BFTP began, let alone the 20 years prior.. How about the top 3? 1977 Moto Guzzi Mk1 LeMans - 9. Would get a 10 if it was comfortable. Rightous looks, racous engine, exclusive, good brakes and handling, light weight, robust and parts a-plenty. 1975 BMW R90S - 9. Would get a 10 if it had better brakes. Comfortable sporty do anything bike. Peppy engine, good handling on road and gravel, groovy paint job. The BMW with character. 1973 Norton Commando 850 - 8. Looks, and handling. Cheap parts, coolness, quirkyness, iconic machine. Brakes could be better and so could the longevity of the engine. Special mention; 1979 Kawasaki Z440 - 6. The bike I could not kill. I disrespected it constantly, as did the previous 16 owners and it never failed, not once.
I started on trailies.. '82 YZ125j...9,good power but a bit top heavy. '79 PE175N...10,indestructable. '82 TT250....1, p.o.s. '83 KX125...10, awesome machine. '83 or 4 DR125t....10,again absolutlely unbreakable and could pull 130kph, not bad for a four stroke single. It could also get places no bike has the right to. '82 IT 175j...8, not bad, took a hiding but did die eventually and the suspension was a bit average. The first roady I owned was an old H*nda 350 four of some sort. Got it not going, got it running, but not for long. Rode it up the road once....0. Next was another trailie, '85 KTM 250MXC. 100 mph off road bike! 10, awesome. Then came the first '84 GPZ750 turbo....10. followed by an '84 RZ500....8,good, but it broke. '82ish VF750 Sabre...7,super flexible engine, with handling to match. Oh yeh, it broke. Then My current turbo...10. There was an early 80's KR250 Kwakka in there somewhere too...5,neat little bike, but again..kaboom! And I took possession of My brothers '83 XT250 with YZ suspension in it...9, amazingly after the TT I owned, this thing wouldn't die. After that was a couple of late '80s then newer stuff. All the older stuff is gone bar the turbo now.
Honda 65 (7) 1st bike when I was about 8ish, used as a field bike. Broke my 1st collarbone Honda C70 step thru (6) Donated by my cousin as a non runner. Awesome fun on twisty country roads. Everywhere flat out. BSA C15 (10) Fond memories of this one. My 1st restoration when I was 17. Passed test on it. Triumph T100 (7) Dads old bike, passed down to me when he got Silver Jubilee Bonne. 1st big bike. Did lots of runs up to Scotland and into Wales. Eventually killed by Mazda ute driving into me. Snapped both stanchions clean in half, 3rd collarbone (I did 2nd grass tracking) 6 broken fingeres and wrist. On the + side the ute was written off as well. Moto Guzzi Le mans Mk 1 (7 Would be higher but it was scared of the dark!!) Bought as a basket case and I fitted with 1000 California motor. Did 1st European trips. Triton. (10). Wideline featherbed, Thunderbird motor with high comp pistons, hot cams, Weslake 8 valve head, straight thru megs. Morphed from everyday bike to dedicated sprinter. Honda CD200 (10+) Ran this for about 3 or 4 years as hack/winter bike. Bugger all servicing, lived outside, flat out abuse everywhere. Crashed 2nd day I had it (10pm, gravel on road, cartwheeled into field) rebuilt, crashed AGAIN about a week later (handful of front brake in wet). MZ ETZ250 (For the love of god, WHY !!!!) I can't say enough bad things about this heap of s##t Katana (10) Only bike I ever regret not having now. Motor went into sidecar outfit and sold rest to a mate to build drag bike. Suzi GS450 (7) brought to NZ. Swapped for X7 (8) Cracking fun, love another. Suzi GS550 (?) I'll know soon as it's on the road.
Wow....we need a place with a campfire and some beer..... maybe an old woolshed...... hint hint.
A bit like motu, I can not remember them all, but here we go Yamaha DS7 ,8 great performer Suzuki GT380 (x3 over the years) 8 neat wee bikes, still like them heaps today Yamaha RD350 81/2 like the DS7 but faster and had brakes. Honda CB450 was not really into 4 stroke back then in the 70's Suzuki GT750K 9 I loved that bike, had for about 2 years and did over 20000 miles on it. Honda GL1000 1975 8 in my opinion the best model goldwing made, before they went all faired, bulky and ugly. Honda CB400/4 7 neat wee bike, but a little slow Suzuki TR500 works GP bike 9 my first flirtation with 150mph bikes. Wish I still had it. Yamaha TZ250B x Randy Mamola 91/2 another one I wished I had kept. Kawasaki H2B rode to work during the week, raced in on the weekends, toured on it once, a bit hard to tour on a bike that only got 15mpg at 60 mph!! Suzuki GS850 8 lovely bike Kawasaki Z500 5 horrible bike!! Honda 750/4 6 just a bike. Honda CX500Turbo 9 great bike, I loved it. BMWK100 8 nice smooth tourer, but did not use it much due to business commitments back then. Yamaha XS850 6 not as nice as I had remembered them when I was selling them new. GSXR750F 8 neat toy, still got it. BMWK100RS 8 still got this one also. Thats a few I can recall, there were LOTS more, old english stuff like James, francis Barnets, BSA bamtams, triumph tigeress, lots of older jap off roaders like Kawasaki 90sss, TS185's, TS250's,Yamaha IT175 ( the only new bike I have ever bought) and more jap road bikes, I just can not recall them all.
1974 CB100 7. carried me all over the upper north island. Went bang a few times, but taught me so much! Didn't handle, didn;t stop. Fun to drag your toes everywhere on Nitto Safety tyres! 1981 RD350LC - 8 too young and foolish when I had it. 1982 YZ125J road racer - motor slotted into GT125 frame and lots of Ken McIntosh mods to make it work. Still have it. First race bike. Lots of sentimentality. a Club Championship bike though. 1987 TZR250 8 too deep in hock to race it properly. Mine must have been the only stock one there. Still, I did see 500rpm into redline on stock gearing and dead stock and I mean dead stock - didn't even have the carbs or head off it. 1990 RS125 Honda definite 10! I won a NZ 125GP on it! Won something like 18 out of 21 races in one season 1984 RZ500 Yamaha. 4. slighly possessed that bike. Had a very badly blown motor (holed cases) when I bought it - rebuilt another motor and built the whole bike back up. I did 5000km in 7 years - every time I rode it, something broke. Sold it. Don't miss it. Sold my late father's N model RZ500 with 4900km on it 4 years ago. That was one to keep. Don't really miss it either! 1988 TZ250U Yamaha 9.5. Soooooooo coool to race. Not quite as fast and punchy as the 350, but man does it handle. Fastest laps I have ever done at Puke were on that. Easy to work on too. 1979 TZ350F McIntosh Yamaha 9. The old faithful. I've raced this 14 years now. Is like an old arm chair and I'm still unlocking secrets. 1976 TZ750C. 7. Waht a motor, what a noise. So good for the cajones! Wish I could make it handle. Is a legend though. 1989 FZR750R OW01. For out right simpleness to ride and and unflappable behaviour. 10. 100hp, not the fastest in a straightline. But coooooool and super smooth. Does wicked backfires too! Thought I forgot one. 2C Benelli road racer. never take a knife to a gun fight. 4. At least it was reliable. Mostly. Sooooooo slllllooooooooowwwwww . I think I've been faster on my push bike. GP125 Suzuki. 3-4 maybe. never did many miles.
Some highlights and low lights First road bike: Honda MB5, I will give it a 7 which also happens to be it's BHP.... Then on to a Suzuki GSX250ET, which was great, even did a few trips from the 'Bay to Auckland on it. It gets an 8 Next was my worst ever bike, the very shit Yamaha XZ4000, it gets -100 Not put off by the crappy XZ I bought an FZ600, which was a great bike and I would most likely still have it if some scum hadn't stolen it. It gets a 10 Others include an 87 CBR1000 (8) Racebikes Z900 (7) GPz900 (9) And lastly the GS1000ET, which gets a 10 for looks but that may change once I start riding it......
No way could I remember all the bikes I've owqned (or , at least, had possesion of). Way over 100 anyway. Probably severla 100, though some were only passing through, flicked on for a quick profit. Memorable ones Bantams, numerous, the funnest bikes ever. Pity about reliability, but they always got me home - not always with the same piston they set out with though Velo Venom 500. Absolutely beautiful and pig perverse. 10 out of 10, the one that I most regret selling, I was young and stupid Various Triumphs, unit and preunit, Speedtwins, 3TA,5TAs, couple of Thunderbirds, Bonnies (real and fake) , T100s, Tiger cub. All OK good solid Briddish Matchy G9 , quite nice really BSA A10, A65, A50. B40 trials (nice that) Several Jawas . About 3 out of 10 , and that just for perversity Assorted scooters , probably about a dozen or two assorted. Too unmemorable to remember CB77 , very nice 8/10, and a C77 , not so nice 3 or 4 Honda 90s and a clutch of 50s Ariel arrow, nicer than they look, but big ends only last long enough to go round the block A brace of James , and a Fanny B Numerous two stroke Yamahas and Suzukis, 50 80 100 125 150 180 200 250 305 350 500 750 too many to count. All nice in cranky two stroke fashion, lots of fun A Kawasaki 500 triple. The early one with the disk brake. It didn't quite manage to kill me. Only Kawa I've ever owned, thank God. Honda CB650 four - only four cylinder I've ever owned. Smaller Hondas, a CB150 (I think) and a CB175, and a couple of CB250, CB350 things, CB100 CB125, SL125 (nice) . All good reliable plonk along four strokes. The CB650 was probably the nastiest handling bike of the Jappas, except the Kawa 500. Yamaha RZ350 . Hold on tight , 9/10 for fun, less so for reliability An AMC 350 single can't recall if it was a Matchless or AJS, might have been both. Ariel side valve thing can't remember the model, plonk plonk plonk, but ALWAYS got there. I liked that one . And assortment of Yamaha XV750, probably about 2.5 bikes, only one running. Nicer than it looks Prolly a whole heap more I've forgotten , I'll remember them later. Memorably nice (ie I want them back): The Bantams, the Velo, the CB77, all the 350cc two smokers, Suzuki T500, Suzuki GT750 waterbus (just BECAUSE, OK) , The Ariel side valve (dunno why though) , Honda SL125 . OK, I still got some of them. And various moderns. Strictly of course most of the above aren't BFTP , they're too old.
