Any motorcycle enthusiasts here?

Heavier than most dirt bikes, lighter than most street bikes. Its basically an enduro.

 

Had a Honda VTX 1800 the first month they came out.I think it was either
late March or early April.Awesome bike that changed the face of Cruisers.
It had The best Roll-on of any cruiser every made.It was a bit heavy
and had a gas tank with a seam { weld }. Harley types could not tolerate
that little seam.It actually makes a gas tank stronger.So Wiley G wasted no time
in introducing the V-rod.The same year but later.
The Honda VTX 1800 was upon introduction the Largest Production
Motorcycle in existence.It was classified as a 2002 Model.The V-Rod
came out later in 2001 as a 2001 year model.The VTX 1800 beat to market
the V-Rod by a few months.The smaller VTX 1300 { Single pin crank and
cable clutch } came out in 2003.It eventually became more popular.
Because it sounded like a Harley.The bigger VTX 1800 sounded like
an Elephant farting under water.I tried to usurp that notion by getting
arguably The best Pipes { aftermarket exhaust } available.
The Expensive HArdKrome Sideburners.With a look similar to the
Ford Cobra roadster { Large 4 " diameter side exhaust }.I had it dialed
in with a new version { different } from a Power Commander.
It was a Techlusion unit that acted like a carburetor having been tweeked.
Easy to adjust and smaller than a Power Commander.I had it set for
an awesome idle.It Idled like a race bike.However it kinda ran lean.
If one plans on keeping a bike for just a coupe/three years then trading in
for a new model DO NOT CHANGE THE BIKE with Aftermarket stuff.
It will only lessen the value about trade-in.Dealers are funny this way.

 

My dad made me a home made scooter when I was 8 years old. In my youth I had a Famous James, Harley 125 and a Honda C70 Dream. The first motorcycle I had with my name on the title was a 1952 Harley Davidson Pan head. I've ridden many different brands over the years and have to say there hasn't been a single one of them that I didn't enjoy. I had my first 'street' accident around 10 years ago. Only because I was a safety guru (being a MSF instructor) I survived the accident. Being 75 years old at that time I figured I had 'got the sign' I had been waiting for to hang it up and I haven't ridden since. It was a big part of my life. The only other activity I had that I enjoyed as much was sailing.

 

What the best bike in the world? The one you're riding! LOL

 

I always admired Italian bikes but never had the nerve to make the jump and buy one. There's been many descriptions I've used over the years when talking about Italian bikes: raw, primitive, brutal. All have scared me off.

 

Glad you're ok man.

 

Been around a very long time.I remember in the early to mid-70's
*Moto Guzzi were the Cadillac of Touring bikes.This of course was before
Honda had their first Goldwing.The First Goldwings were GL1000's
Very reliable.I remember sitting at a Harley dealer waiting to find out about
who is gonna get called as to being on a waiting list for a V-rod.
Some sturdy Farm boys had their Trusty Silverwing parked near the bench
they were sitting on outside the Dealer showroom.The were talking about some part
they needed.The bike had like way over 100,ooo miles on it.This was in the early
2000's.Silverwings are seldom mentioned any more.

*Big Fat Tanks and over 800cc.I think they were about the most expensive
motorcycles in that era.

 

Had an '02 classic for some time.
Retro with spokes..
Sold it and regretted it immediately. Never liked the color though, illusion blue.
Always looked purple in the sun

 

The Harley Evo or Evolution engine was basically all Aluminum.
It saved Harley Davidson from the Dreaded AMF years.The problem
became how it tended to leak oil.But the engine was a solid performer
and could last decades with proper upkeep.The Harley V-rod was
originally the best engine ever.The original was crafted in Germany
and had case markings from Germany Porsche.It was a race engine
and a DOHC design.Harley were not DOHC until the V-rod.
I never owned a Harley because they were overpriced and NOT a
performance engine plant.In fact,before the Reinvention of Harley with
the Twin Cam 88 { Evo's were 80 cubes } and the Shovelheads 74 cubes,
Harley's in the mid to late 90's were being sold at Dealerships at
anywhere from $ 2 grand to $ 4 grand over list.Because of a shortage
of supply and Harley could get away with it.
Huge Turnoff.In fact,a total { Lifetime turnoff }. I will never buy a New
Harley on account of that Shady Dealer practice.
Given Harley's are Overpriced to begin with.

 

04 1800 VTX Neo, Cobra speedster long pipes, white with custom purple graphics. Really loved it, took it across 20 states (and I live in CO, not tiny states).

Sold it to buy a Victory XC Tour, which my wife loved more than the VTX. Sold that to buy the Indian (Victory and Indian were the same company then).

 

I have a few bikes, but always find myself wanting another. My most recent desire is this Russian ATV 2x2. Is most awesome.

 

'08 Road King, Sportster, Suzuki intruder 800

None at this time. Miss my road king the most.

 

The Road King is the best HD, IMHO. Black with white walls and spokes are sweet.

 

Seriously?

The early Jap bikes fit that description since they had raw power and abysmal handling. They were like trying to drive a dragster around a tight corner. You had to come to a virtual dead stop before turning.

Compared to those the Italian bikes were sublime with superb handling. Match up the revs and gears and you never needed to touch the brakes going to a corner and it was like you were on rails. High speed cornering was an adrenaline rush that nothing else came close to. Add to that the sound and the power of the those big V-Twins and you had the perfect combination IMO. About the only weak spot was the Italian electrics but the same could be said for the English bikes of that era. Only the Norton had similar handling to the Italian bikes.

A lot has changed since then and now the Jap bikes have vastly improved handling. They can hold their own in the corners but they just don't have the sound and the power of the big Ducati's.

It was a shame that you listened to what everyone else was saying because you would probably have liked them once you had a chance to experience the thoroughbred handling of those Italian bikes.

 

I was never into touring bikes myself. I preferred crotch rockets but not rice burners. If you think about it in terms of cars back then you could have a Cadillac and go touring or a Jap car and it would totally reliable. However if you wanted a superbike then a Ducati was the equivalent of a Ferrari.

 

The Original Honda VTX 1800 were the Classic and did not
offer spoke wheels until the R { Retro } models came out.
Plus the color - Illusion Blue - { more purple than blue } was reserved
for the new 2004 Valkyrie RUNE { THE Only Honda custom bike ever made }.
- Illusion blue - was a custom color than changed it's hue when in the
sunlight.From blue to Purple.

 

I was interested in the Ducati Diavel { Fastest motorcycle 0-60 } in
Existence.But the new 2019 models were not being shipped to dealers
last spring.Nor were the Ducati Monsters.So I settled for a bike
less than half { much less } than the snazzy Diavel.The budget version
or Yahama XSR 900.I traded in my wonderful but tame CB 1100
which was in mint condition and took a likin' on trade-in.It had less
than 3,ooo miles.It was a 2013 model.Arguably The best motorcycle I
ever owned.Started up every time almost instantly { had a long idle however }.
Best brakes by far on any motorcycle.Was plenty fast but one had to kinda
goose the throttle.It was not a Cruiser but a Standard.Skinny back tire.
Extremely efficient and smooth clutch and shifting.Was flickable.
But very quiet and easy going.TOO easy going.More of a Beginner
Motorcycle.I needed a motorcycle with an attitude and true get up and
go.The Yahama XSR 900 { am still breaking-in } is a virtual torque monster.
Has ABS { no fan of } and 3 modes.Plus traction control { no fan of }.
A sport bike cannot possibly keep up 0-60.Sport bikes however
once getting into the revs { usually 2nd to 3rd gear } can blow past
most all bikes.

 

Perfect boating/camping combo.

Steve McQueen's Panther is gorgeous...

 

I can't afford the latest Ducati's either. Fortunately there are still plenty of good 2nd hand ones available. I don't need to have the fastest street bike in a straight line because that is boring IMO. I just want something that I can ride hard through the twisties and have fun.

After I bought the Guzzi in early 1980's I was out for an early Sunday ride with two friends who were also on Guzzi's although one of them was the 1000 cc model. We were cruising along the highway on our way to meet up with the rest of the group when we were overtaken by a brand spanking news Honda CBR 1000 in full race trim going flat out.

That peaked our interest so we kicked down and took after him and caught him quite easily. So two of us came up the one side of him and the other was on the opposite side and we were checking out his new bike. The Guzzi is a very stable platform and even at well over 130 mph it doesn't feel fast.

The guy on the Honda suddenly realized that he was surrounded by the 3 bikes he had just overtaken and we were having no problem at all keeping up with him. I think we ruined his day because up until that point he must have been convinced that he had the latest and fastest bike on the road.

FTR the top speed I clocked on the Guzzi was 150 mph but that was just to find out how fast it actually was and for an early 80's 850cc that was more than quick enough for what I wanted. It was slower than the Ducati's off the line because of the shaft drive but it was like really together in all other respects. One of the nice features was that the foot brake controlled both the back and one of the front disks given a very balanced feel for regular braking.

 

The VTX1800S was available as a 2002 model and was available in illusion blue.

http://www.uspaint.com/paints/Honda-VTX1800.asp

 

Funny you mention that.I was really into purchasing from my
local Harley dealer { who lied about calling me when my name came
out on the V-Rod wait list }.That dealership had about the worst reputation
of any motorcycle dealership in memory.They since moved to the big city
into a huge bldg.I used to go there once a year in December when they
had their annual 10% off sale on Harley gear.Not for myself by my
riding buddy and his wifey.
Anywho,that year { 2005 or 2006 }.Harley was celebrating another Anniversey and had The
First Harley *CVO { their custom bikes } with a Hydraulic clutch and custom
gold plate paint job and anniversary markings.The most expensive CVO at that
time.I can't remember the price.Somewhere between $ 24- 28 K.
But I already knew the policy at the lousy little Harley dealership.
No Trade-ins ... PERIODS on any bike other than a Harley.I wanted to
trade in my Honda VTX 1800.I waited till the following year and the new
release of the Suzuki Cruiser the M109.I was riding bikes until I had 10,ooo
miles { usually 4-5 years }.However not my Rune.

* A gold paint Road King.Each year Harley introduced a different
CVO model.Funny But I rarely see the original V-rod anymore,
Maybe once every other year on the road.It had the unmistakable
anodized aluminum tank.Reminescent of certain select Nortons.

 

HEY! stop knocking Harleys! 90% of all the Harleys ever made are still on the road!









(the other 10% they were able to push back to the garage)

 

Picked up a retro Honda VTX1300 some years back at a pawn shop.

 

Meh, a bike is a bike. Have had Harley’s before.