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

[Conquiztador]

Was thinking, that we all have a bike that was/is our favorite. The one we owned/own that, if we had a chance, we would keep/want back.

I would be interested to read and se a pick of her. And I think there might be others on here too who would enjoy the opportunity.

So how bout it? Give us a short story re who she was/is and a pic or two.

So I start:

48 Panhead.
"Gullet"

I had a 750 Bonny that I had crashed in Italy. Forks damaged, but could still ride after some bending. But I knew that when I got back home to Sweden I would have to do some major repairs.

So it was a good opportunity to trade in and get something else. A HD was on the wish list. Something old that I could customise.

So when back home after a long trip w/o any front suspension and no lights... the search started. A private sale/purchase was out of question as not many would want the Bonny as a swap for a HD.

I heard about a small shop up north that had brought in a Panhead that was standard. Needed some work, but all was there. A Hydra. So I spoke with the guy on the phone and then packed up my Bonny in a van and went up.

He offered me enough for my broken bike so it was worth it. And the Pann was ok priced... But then I did see another one he had there: A rigid rat Pan with jockey shift and 20+ inch extended springer. All black and peanut tank moulded in to frame. I was in love. The guy told me that the rat was not worth buying and he had brought it in for the motor only. But I could not hear him from all the buzzing in my head.

A 1/2 hour later I was on my way back with the Pan's forks sticking out from the back of the van.

I got her running and used her for a month w/o any papers or wof. Managed to get a few tickets. But it did not stop me from loving her. (Was even taken off the road once and given one of those stickers that said that it could not be removed and there would be a huge fine...right)

Then I spent the winter modifying and customising.
I took back the rake from 55 degree to 45.
I stretched and changed the frame.
I repaired the forks (cracks galore...)
I fitted a wheel with a brake on front
I put a VW 15" rim on back
I stripped motor and got all sorted.
I put primary belt on.
I painted.
I chromed.
And you name it I did it.

Cost me all money I had and a relationship.

I kept her for 5 years and only sold her as I left Sweden. But I still think about her. And some day soon I will do something very similar.

[cave weta]

Kawasaki Mountain Goat!

First bike I rode
First bike I jumped
First bike I crashed!
First bike I wheelied
First bike I put over backwards!
First bike I blew up
First bike I rebuilt!
First bike I repainted
First bike I sold
First bike I missed!

I think they were made in Levin- galvanised waterpipe frame and wheelbarrow wheels! with a 90cc rotary valve Kawasaki engine....

God it was awfull!

[Headbanger]

As pictured.

I regretted selling her since the day I let her go, Though I don't regret why I sold her, Life has to be lived, and if that means sacrificing the bike so be it.

[cave weta]

As pictured.

I regretted selling her since the day I let her go, Though I don't regret why I sold her, Life has to be lived, and if that means sacrificing the bike so be it.

Why the funny Handlebars- did your mum take thallidomide?

[Headbanger]

Why the funny Handlebars- did your mum take thallidomide?

I was 21.

Besides which apes look wicked, are comfortable and easy to ride with.

200km/h with those babies was a thrill.

[cave weta]

I was 21.

200km/h with those babies was a thrill.

.......respect!

[fatzx10r]

my current bike zx10r, it's just an awsome toy tick's all the box'es for me. the only problem's with it is the rider lol, and it try's to get me into trouble with the law from time to time

[98tls]

At the tender old age of well oldish have to say my favourite bike of all ive owned is one of the ones i still have,my old TLS has been in the shed for many years and see no reason to part with it in the future,40,000 odd kms later and its never let me down,fell in love with TLs the first time i clapped eyes on one and the wonderful sound they make is a bonus,they have an interesting history and many seem to be experts on them though generally there opinions are based on nothing more than there sisters boyfriends cousin had one and it blah blah blah..all good stuff.

[1vanvan1]

The good old VTR250

First bike I ever owned.
Nice hum with the custom exhaust.
Nice look.
Easy to throw around in twisties.

Basically it ticked every box for a first bike!

[madbikeboy]

My CBX1000. I'll be buried with it. If the bank was knocking on the door and was about to foreclose, the bike wouldn't be sold. If the dog needed a life saving operation - pooch would understand. If the world was about to end, and handing the CBX across would save it, well, it would become a real dilemma...


Nup, I'd keep the bike and ride it to hell.

[Oscar]

My KTM950 Adv.

Slap on some knobblies, 25mm bar risers and Staintunes, then take offroad - wow. Show the Charely and Ewen wannabes how it's done...

[trustme]

Norton 850 Interstate mk2

Owned it for almost 10 years , completely rebuilt it , Universal Mcs blueprinted the motor. She ran sweet, was pretty reliable , a few little glitches but it always got me home . Rode it around the Sth Is on three occasions never broke down
Set up right & treated right it was a bloody good bike, trick was not to rev it hard or they died pretty quick , the head breathed real well but the bottom end & high piston speed meant they did not hold together long if ridden real hard.
Favourte ride . From Whaitianga to Tairua & back over the Kopu Hikuai in the company of an XS 1100 & a GSX750. They would pull away on any straight, but come the tight stuff & I would poke my wheel up the inside
on corners just to remind them I was there , had a yack at Tairua where I had to admit the clutch was slipping so I was not on full throttle. These guys found it disconcerting that an old Pommie POS could go so well
Could not hold them sth of Tairua & over the hill , they were just too fast in open going
My favourite bike even now but not the best I have owned

[martybabe]

The last and best of my FJs. It was born just at the right time, after I left the fire brigade and before I re-joined the rat race, some six months. It was the only time in my life I've been truly free, we went hundreds of miles for no reason at all, just because we could.

My daughter submitted an essay for English at school, the subject was what do your parents do. She put mommy is a nurse and daddy just rides round on his motorbike all day. Outstanding I thought. Happy days.

Oh yes and the point was, because it was an FJ, it never ever let me down, any time I felt the urge, just start her up, piss orf to who knows where and return seamless and faultless. Top bike and I do miss it.

[Number One]

My baby blade will forever hold a place in my heart but I have to say that my current ride + hubbies suspension + throaty growl is my favourite!

I see myself riding this baby for a very long time and don't ever see myself getting anything 'bigger' I really don't need it nor would I be able to use it in a way that would warrant getting a bigger bike.

Anyway - threads are nothing without pics...so here's my baby (with hubbies bikes arse on it...imagine silver everywhere)

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/pi...pictureid=9134

[Forest]

I'll always miss my TU250. Rego number 96UIS. I see it riding around Auckland occasionally.

Funnily enough I bought my dream-bike a little earlier this year (for which I'd been lusting over the last seven years) but I don't think I'll miss it when it is gone. It has style and soul but I've never felt connected to it.