Introduce here the one of your bikes that always will be the favorite.

[Conquiztador]

Mine would have to be the very first bike i had. i was 6 years old when my dad got me a 1982 CR80, i couldnt touch the ground and had to use an old milk crate to get on it!

would love to have that bike back again! never seen one since, and cant find one anywhere!

For $500 you can have a 84 model... >http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-525600589.htm

>

[GrayWolf]

Certainly in no way was it EVER the best bike I have owned, nor the fastest. It drank petrol like a rugby team getting a 'free' visit at the Speight's brewery. The frame came with a certificate from 'bendy toy'. Us old buggers know what they were! The brakes (drum) were marginal, forks flexed like a bastard as all bikes of that era did, tyres were only slightly wider than push bike tyres. it wanted to run away from corners, proved easily by hitting the powerband exiting said corner, the power delivery was like a knife blade, narrow and sharp, it came on like a light switch... imagine riding an R1 on 2 cylinders, hitting the revs where max power is delivered in 1st or 2nd, then a switch instantly turns on the other 2 cylinders... that's what an original 'Mach 3' or the H1a was like to ride. By todays standards, ho hum, where's the power, but for those days? a 60+hp 500 was astronomical power,,, remember the RG500 only produces 85 bhp, designed almost 25 yrs later.
It burnt out middle cylinder spark plugs at an alarming rate, often in the middle of overtaking, the middle pot would cut out, Kawasaki had a plastic 'box' and a bracket under the seat to hold 3 spare plugs... I shit you not,, all Kwaka triples had this.

BUT Favourite?? Oh hell yes,...... on 'power' there is NOTHING like that Kwacka triple moan, it was scary, it had a reputation as the Widowmaker, and certainly out of all the triples? H1's were the most difficult to ride! A change of undies was almost prerequisite when you went for a ride on the twisties.. but the thrill it gave to ride 'fast' and the 'control' you needed to tame the beast, to slip the clutch from the lights and see the voluminous cloud of smoke covering the bikes left behind you, to hear the rattle of the cylinders, the rasp, then the howling moan as the power band came in?? Only those who have owned or ridden a triple in 'anger' would understand, faster or not, no other 2T comes close to them.
I would'nt OWN another, but its the ONE bike that I never forget the impression owning it made on my riding enjoyment.

[Magnum Noel]

Yep I'll concur with that. I remember getting into a tank slapper going down Ngauranga Gorge one day on mine. VERY memorable indeed.

Certainly in no way was it EVER the best bike I have owned, nor the fastest. It drank petrol like a rugby team getting a 'free' visit at the Speight's brewery. The frame came with a certificate from 'bendy toy'. Us old buggers know what they were! The brakes (drum) were marginal, forks flexed like a bastard as all bikes of that era did, tyres were only slightly wider than push bike tyres. it wanted to run away from corners, proved easily by hitting the powerband exiting said corner, the power delivery was like a knife blade, narrow and sharp, it came on like a light switch... imagine riding an R1 on 2 cylinders, hitting the revs where max power is delivered in 1st or 2nd, then a switch instantly turns on the other 2 cylinders... that's what an original 'Mach 3' or the H1a was like to ride. By todays standards, ho hum, where's the power, but for those days? a 60+hp 500 was astronomical power,,, remember the RG500 only produces 85 bhp, designed almost 25 yrs later.
It burnt out middle cylinder spark plugs at an alarming rate, often in the middle of overtaking, the middle pot would cut out, Kawasaki had a plastic 'box' and a bracket under the seat to hold 3 spare plugs... I shit you not,, all Kwaka triples had this.

BUT Favourite?? Oh hell yes,...... on 'power' there is NOTHING like that Kwacka triple moan, it was scary, it had a reputation as the Widowmaker, and certainly out of all the triples? H1's were the most difficult to ride! A change of undies was almost prerequisite when you went for a ride on the twisties.. but the thrill it gave to ride 'fast' and the 'control' you needed to tame the beast, to slip the clutch from the lights and see the voluminous cloud of smoke covering the bikes left behind you, to hear the rattle of the cylinders, the rasp, then the howling moan as the power band came in?? Only those who have owned or ridden a triple in 'anger' would understand, faster or not, no other 2T comes close to them.
I would'nt OWN another, but its the ONE bike that I never forget the impression owning it made on my riding enjoyment.

[banditrider]

I've got this problem in that I pretty much like every bike I get to ride and all of the bikes I've owned have been favourites at some time or other...

I really enjoyed my time on Bandits and the RF was a real cracker. The VTR was also a lot of fun.

But I think the Connie definitely is my all time favourite and after 5 years and 87,000km I still can't see myself parting with it. I have a lot of fun on the DL but 5 minutes into a ride on the Connie it amazes me as to just how good it is at what it does. Super smooth, more power than I need, fabulous brakes and great handling for a 280kg "tourer".

Spent a bit on farkles too: Oxford grips, sheepskin, Givi V46 mounted on a custom rack, Rad guard, fender extender, hugger, helmet locks, bigger screen, GPS and mount, PCIII, +100 bulbs, Stebel. All this stuff helps to make the bike mine!

[Paul in NZ]

Ok.. I'll have a go at this one largely by reposting what I've already written....

I sold a Rickman Metisse' to buy Vickis engagement ring - a bike that was always going to increase in value. At the time the Rickman was in big bits with the rolling chassis restored and awaiting the engine rebuild so it was (relatively) not worth much but was always going to be super collectable and I knew I would never ever find or afford another one. However, we were broke and in love. Its still the best deal I ever made...

It didn't take long to get a return either.. We had years of having kids and renovating old houses and stuff that consumed all our spare money and I was reduced to a $75 Suzuki TS250 for a while. Then one day the house was basically completed, painted and looked great. All it needed was carpet and the $$ for that was in the bank product of a years overtime. While we were hauling literally the last load of crap to the dump we went past Bland Brothers. Out front Alan had a 1970 Triumph TR6C and a 1970 T120R for sale outside. I told Vicki, 'after we buy the carpet for the house, I want a bike like that one' pointing at the TR6C. (the bonnie was a better buy and now prob worth more but again - I was in love).

After the dumping was done Vicki jumped into the driving seat which was something she rarely did with a trailer attached. She stopped outside the shop and told me to go in and have a look at the bike and find out how much it cost. Turns out it was just about exactly the amount we had saved for carpet. "Buy it she said. I can wait for carpet a bit longer and you have waited long enough.." I spluttered and resisted but I don't think I ever loved her more for that!!!

I'll tell you! I worked my arse off to save the money for that carpet and it was down within 6 months.

140,000 miles, 2 major rebuilds and 2 minor ones later I still have that bike and I hope I will never have to sell it. I still love my wife and I still just go out to the garage and sit and look at that bike and think about that day. Shit we have had some epic fun on it.... We have competed (lightly) on it, ridden it to work, been to rallies, bike shows and ridden it just for the heck of it, made friends and loved life.

[BuzzardNZ]

The other bike I have some affection for is the Honda GB400TT which got me back into bikes in 1987. I'd driven to Barry's Pt Road in Auckland to pick up a yacht sail and spotted this beauty in the window of the Honda shop. I just HAD to have it. Mrs B was not well pleased and retaliated by buying a piano at nearly twice the cost of the GB. All's well that ends well....

+1, actually +3, that's how many GB's I've owned.

However my fav bike was my old Suzuki GSX400X Impulse. Some say it had looks only a mother could love, but at the time ( 1987 ) , it was a bloody quick bike and one I'll never forget.

[banditrider]

However my fav bike was my old Suzuki GSX400X Impulse. Some say it had looks only a mother could love, but at the time ( 1987 ) , it was a bloody quick bike and one I'll never forget.

Forgot to mention my Impulse - that was a great little bike too!

[Magnum Noel]

Ok.. I'll have a go at this one largely by reposting what I've already written....

I sold a Rickman Metisse' to buy Vickis engagement ring - a bike that was always going to increase in value. At the time the Rickman was in big bits with the rolling chassis restored and awaiting the engine rebuild so it was (relatively) not worth much but was always going to be super collectable and I knew I would never ever find or afford another one. However, we were broke and in love. Its still the best deal I ever made...

It didn't take long to get a return either.. We had years of having kids and renovating old houses and stuff that consumed all our spare money and I was reduced to a $75 Suzuki TS250 for a while. Then one day the house was basically completed, painted and looked great. All it needed was carpet and the $$ for that was in the bank product of a years overtime. While we were hauling literally the last load of crap to the dump we went past Bland Brothers. Out front Alan had a 1970 Triumph TR6C and a 1970 T120R for sale outside. I told Vicki, 'after we buy the carpet for the house, I want a bike like that one' pointing at the TR6C. (the bonnie was a better buy and now prob worth more but again - I was in love).

After the dumping was done Vicki jumped into the driving seat which was something she rarely did with a trailer attached. She stopped outside the shop and told me to go in and have a look at the bike and find out how much it cost. Turns out it was just about exactly the amount we had saved for carpet. "Buy it she said. I can wait for carpet a bit longer and you have waited long enough.." I spluttered and resisted but I don't think I ever loved her more for that!!!

I'll tell you! I worked my arse off to save the money for that carpet and it was down within 6 months.

140,000 miles, 2 major rebuilds and 2 minor ones later I still have that bike and I hope I will never have to sell it. I still love my wife and I still just go out to the garage and sit and look at that bike and think about that day. Shit we have had some epic fun on it.... We have competed (lightly) on it, ridden it to work, been to rallies, bike shows and ridden it just for the heck of it, made friends and loved life.

Can,t see the screen properly Ya brought tears to me eyes.

[Banditbandit]

Hmm .. the first bike I ever owned, which will always have a place in my heart .. I rebuilt it to this ...



However - they are crap to ride in real terms (fun classic - crap to ride for real) so I think the best bike I have ever ridden and probably ever wil ride is my 1250 Bandit ... wen I'm sick of it I'm likely to be old enough for a cruiser ...

[slofox]

Current is the best so far - in terms of the kind of performance it can produce. Pity I didn't have one of these when I was racing all those years ago. I might have learned to ride more properer..

Benelli 250 Supersport is another favourite. Pity about the Italian ignition system...


There are more bikes I'd like to ride than I have years left to live, dammit. How the fuck do they expect a man to keep up..? Slow down productionIsayfuckingsnortroarantraveoink bzzztzzt!

[Drew]

1250 Bandit ... wen I'm sick of it I'm likely to be old enough for a cruiser ...

They're not called cruisers?

Who knew?

[Banditbandit]

They're not called cruisers?

Bwhahahaha ... ... Some might call them cruisers - it depends how you ride them ...

[ellipsis]

...i still get pissed off now when i recall getting rid of my first bike, a 1971 T250 Hustler with the up-swept pipes...i dont think i knew what i was doing at the time, (it was 1974, of course i didn't know what i was doing)...it hurt me big-time,(the bike), and i had just about rebuilt it twice and that coupled with the fact that i got shit for riding a jap bike from some influential, (wankers), people in my life...if only i had known what it was that i owned at the time...had dozens of bikes since then but none get the 'why did i do it', retrospective kickings i give myself, like the T250 does...

[rastuscat]

1982 Kawasaki GPz550H3.

Real cool bike. So cool some bastard stole it.

[rastuscat]

Sorry, pic added.