Motorcycles?

[genna]

Looking at that "What is your daily driver" thread, I saw lots of motorcycle mentioned.

It got me thinking about how many pilots ride.

Who here rides(or rode for a many years)?
for how long?
what do you ride?
and how do you split time between flying a riding?

me: riding since 1993
current bikes: '97 Ducati 916, '06 Ducati 749R, '13 Honda PCX150
riding always wins, but I don't own a plane, otherwise this would be more difficult.

 

[Lawreston]

- - riding since 1945; owning since 1959; always Harley Davidson. Presently, pictured. Maine license plate #9 since 1998; my father had #9 from 1954 to 1998.

HR

 

[Jimmy cooper]

Yes! My last was a 1987 kaw ZL 1000. It was a great bike!

 

[James331]

R1, haven't ridden it in a while, love riding though.

I'd ride on a nice day instead of taking the car, if someone wanted to go riding with me, that kind of thing.

Bikes are great, very fun, not so much mx, easy to keep inside when not being ridden, great on fuel.

I've always found them to be a great bang for the buck.

 

[jesse]

I've been riding since I was 5 years old. I currently have a 2011 Kawasaki Concours 1400 which for me is basically the ultimate motorcycle. I have no desires to swap it for anything else anytime soon.

I used to do a lot of long distance 1,000 mile days but haven't in quite a few years. Time just doesn't permit for it anymore and it's easier to just take an airplane.

 

[Bob Noel]

I've been riding since 2004... well, I need to fix the motorcycle, haven't had it running for a little more than 2 years.

For me, the motorcycle is useful for local riding, but I don't have the love of motorcycle riding that I have for flying. The motorcycle has always been more about the convenience, including the convenience of parking spots at the base or the ease of putting it in the hangar. Flying, on the other hand, is a magical experience.

 

[Dav8or]

The poll doesn't have an accurate option for me. I'm in between the "Yes, I have them and love them" and the "Yes, I used to ride". I started riding motorcycles when I was a teenager before I had my drivers license. I pretty much rode for two decades, but it was never really a love affair for me. Pretty much just about transportation. Cars were always my first love.

The reason the second option doesn't work for me is because I still own a motorcycle, I just don't ride it anymore. It stopped being functional from lack of use and now it's a project in the waiting. Eventually I'll get the inspiration to fix it up and ride it again, but I'm in no hurry and I don't care if it just sits around the garage as a conversation piece. It's going nowhere but up in value even though I do nothing to it.

Here's my bike-

1967 Honda CA-77 305 Dream

 

[EdFred]

Been riding since I was 10.

Still have a Yamaha MX80
Also have a 1970 Suzuki 125
Current road ride is a CB600F4

 

[AcroGimp]

Started in late '89 when I bought my KLR

1990 Kawasaki KLR-650

1987 Honda VF700C SuperMagna

Don't ride often enough really, been hot here - both are in good shape though. I prefer the SuperMagna for comfort but the KLR is still a great Swiss Army Knife on wheels.

'Gimp

 

[genna]

I guess I should have said 1. "yes, ride them" 2. "yes, used to ride them". owning doesn't really matter.

but in the end, I'm trying to gauge who like riding them more than just a convenient transportation.

My thinking is that a lot of motorcycling and GA aviation have similar mindset

 

[ralarcon]

Yes;

 

[Theboys]

Have two. 96 Harley ultra classic and 65 harley flh dressed. Haven't ridden the 65 in 8 years and very seldom ride ultra classic. Anymore seems safer in airplane.

 

[jsstevens]

Owned a 1981 Yamaha SECA 750. Rode it as my commuter for ~2 years in 1984-86. Sold it before I moved back to the "big" city.

I still have a valid motorcycle license.

I enjoyed the motorcycle and my wife and I rode it a great deal during those years. Then we moved and started having kids.

John

 

[brcase]

I guess I should have said 1. "yes, ride them" 2. "yes, used to ride them". owning doesn't really matter.

but in the end, I'm trying to gauge who like riding them more than just a convenient transportation.

My thinking is that a lot of motorcycling and GA aviation have similar mindset

My answer would be 1.5 I ride them, not really a love.
I have one, I got my wifes Shadow 750 when she upgraded to the Roadstar 1600. I like the 60mpg commuting to work, but if my car got 60mpg, i would just as soon take it, with cheap gas I have been driving more.

She loves to Ride, So I go riding with her sometimes.
I love to fly , so she sometimes flies with me.

Brian

 

[Tom-D]

Started riding in 1954, with a Beezer 500 single. (15 bucks) after enlisting in the USN I bought a 52 Triumph Thunderbird, (50bucks) rode that a couple years, then bought a KRTT harley, then a 1964 FLH, then a 1966 Sportster, Then restored a 1947 Knucklehead, the last bike I owned. back in the day when you could ride in zorry skuffs, and short shorts.

 

[steingar]

Been riding since 1986. Current bikes include a 2010 Honda CB1000r (very spanky) and an old cantankerous Honda Goldwing Gl1100 with a busted speedometer and broke clutch cable. The clutch cable is giving my hissy fits, since it slides in underneath the false tank, where I can't see it. Removing the false tank involves removing the seat, which is held on by two attach bolts on of which is utterly stripped.

I go to wail on it some more tonight.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I ride but I haven't been consistent.

Bought my first about 1973 and rode relatively consistently (maybe a 3 year break in the middle) until we moved from Mass to Colo in 1992. Figured I wouldn't ride again, but the bug bit and I bought another one, which I rode until about 2006 or 2007. The, just last year, the bug bit again.

I have a Kawasaki Vulcan 500. Mostly for fun on country roads (you can drive from mountains to coast hear without ever going on a highway) and to go to the airport,

 

[bnt83]

I grew up with a serious bleeding disorder called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). I loved motorcycles all through high school till moving to Lincoln Nebraska and almost being rear ended a couple times.

I had an 2002 Harley FLHTC with full bags, cruise control the works. It was kinda fun up until the OEM stock rear cylinder exhaust header broke coming back from Omaha on a friggen hot summer day, which just added to the pain by blowing hot exhaust gasses on my leg. It had around 40,000 miles on it is all and 6 years old. Then the Tour Pac cracked right at the mounting bolts through the tubular mount and damn near fell on the street and dragged it.. I've never really liked Harleys and this one didn't change that.


Put about 800 miles on my Dad's (brand new then) 2008 Honda GL1800. what a sweet bike.


I've also had a 1982 KZ750LTD, 1987 Yamaha FZ700 which was really nice ride.


My favorite was an bike was a 1988 Yamaha FZR400 (Japanese 3EN Model) resurrected from a Japanese junk yard by my oldest brother while stationed over there. He bought it and fixed it for something to do then discovered he wouldn't be abler to register it again in Japan so he gave it to me. I eventually replaced the 400 with a 600 I picked up from a wrecked bike in Iowa. I sold the 400 engine to a racer in North Dakota for more than I had invested in all my motorcycle stuff.




The 1800 Goldwing was about the last cool bike I road before losing my right hand and most of both feet. I could probably rig up a trike or something but I was relieved when I sold them all. I've been through enough anyway. I think I'd be happy with a convertible now.

 

[SoonerAviator]

R1, haven't ridden it in a while, love riding though.

I'd ride on a nice day instead of taking the car, if someone wanted to go riding with me, that kind of thing.

Bikes are great, very fun, not so much mx, easy to keep inside when not being ridden, great on fuel.

I've always found them to be a great bang for the buck.

I've been thinking about picking up a Gen II FZ1. I'm a bit old to be in the aggressive riding position of the R1, but love the look. The FZ1 would at least provide a lot of the benefits of the R1 with a little more upright riding position. Wish I could get the FZ1 with the current R1 engine though.

I've never really liked Harleys and this one didn't change that.

You're in good company. I like the way a few of them look (Road/Street Glide), but that's about where it ends for me. I'd just assume have a Victory or Japanese bike like a Honda Interstate. Better mpgs/ smoother engine, more reliability, cheaper parts, equal or better performance, and lower purchase price.

 

[bnt83]

I've been thinking about picking up a Gen II FZ1. I'm a bit old to be in the aggressive riding position of the R1, but love the look. The FZ1 would at least provide a lot of the benefits of the R1 with a little more upright riding position. Wish I could get the FZ1 with the current R1 engine though.

I wanted to swap an R1 engine into my FZR400 but just couldn't seem to scrape up enough money back then.

 

[FastEddieB]

The current stable:

1998 BMW K1200RS w/EZS sidecar (bought used, already converted):

1999 BMW K1200RS (bought new, customized to be an "S":

2003 Buell XB9R Firebolt (bought new):

2005 KTM 950 Adventure (bought new):

Each still a hoot in its own way, and all keepers. I really do not lust after anything newer or different - these just may do me until my riding days are done.

 

[bnt83]

I've been thinking about picking up a Gen II FZ1. I'm a bit old to be in the aggressive riding position of the R1, but love the look. The FZ1 would at least provide a lot of the benefits of the R1 with a little more upright riding position. Wish I could get the FZ1 with the current R1 engine though.



You're in good company. I like the way a few of them look (Road/Street Glide), but that's about where it ends for me. I'd just assume have a Victory or Japanese bike like a Honda Interstate. Better mpgs/ smoother engine, more reliability, cheaper parts, equal or better performance, and lower purchase price.

I rode a friend's FZ1 and really enjoyed it. You should get one

 

[Sac Arrow]

I've been thinking about picking up a Gen II FZ1. I'm a bit old to be in the aggressive riding position of the R1, but love the look. The FZ1 would at least provide a lot of the benefits of the R1 with a little more upright riding position. Wish I could get the FZ1 with the current R1 engine though.



You're in good company. I like the way a few of them look (Road/Street Glide), but that's about where it ends for me. I'd just assume have a Victory or Japanese bike like a Honda Interstate. Better mpgs/ smoother engine, more reliability, cheaper parts, equal or better performance, and lower purchase price.

A buddy of mine has an FZ1. I mean, it's a motorcycle, and motorcycles are fun, but it lacked punch and the missing sixth gear was noticeable. I was riding a 1200RT at the time. I thought my RT was more fun to ride. (So did he.) I'll take a light sport tourer over a detuned naked supersport any day of the week.

I've been pushing sportbikes most of my life.

 

[kgruber]

1900 Roadliner........

 

[JCranford]

Been riding since I was 8 (1972) and have owned about 10 or 12 street bikes over the years, mostly sport bikes. Currently have a 2012 HGarley Street Glide and I'll have to say its probably the best bike Ive owned. Maybe tied with the 2000 Kawasaki ZX12R. THAT thing was a beast!

Wife owns a 2007 Harley Heritage Softail Classic.

Next bike'll either be an Indian or a BMW.

 

[wrbix]

Yup, lifelong rider.
Lately seem to like the older stuff better (wish the fairer sex felt likewise):
BMW R100RS
BMW R100CS
BMW R100GS
Moto Guzzi Lemans IV
Moto Guzzi Lario
Moto Guzzi V65 - cafe'd
BMW R60 sidecar back
BMW F650 GS twin - Teresa's

 

[SkyHog]

Does this count? It has a 2003 GSX-R1000 Engine in it...

 

[dillardrg]

Started riding when I was 60.

This is the only bike I have owned; 1998 Honda Shadow ACE Tourer;

 

[asgcpa]

Me riding since 2007. Honda Aero 750

 

[SoonerAviator]

A buddy of mine has an FZ1. I mean, it's a motorcycle, and motorcycles are fun, but it lacked punch and the missing sixth gear was noticeable. I was riding a 1200RT at the time. I thought my RT was more fun to ride. (So did he.) I'll take a light sport tourer over a detuned naked supersport any day of the week.

I've been pushing sportbikes most of my life.

Well, no doubt, but you're adding 200CCs to the equation as well. At that point, I would be comparing the FJR1300 (which I think looks better than the 1200RT). I haven't ridden any of them, so I can't speak to their handling/performance in any respect. I just know there's a lot of happy Fazer riders out there.

 

[genna]

Has to be 2 wheels , so no legend cars don't count... not to mention it's not street legal

So far the poll seem to support my hypothesis. Although, I imagine it's not very scientific

 

[Tyjay30]

Riding since I was 4 or so...2009 Ultra Classic, just made the 3000+ mile round trip to Sturgis.

 

[Al P]

Started riding dirt 1967. Have not been without a bike since. Still have a 74 HD ironhead I got in '76. Current ride is 04 Bourget low blow chopper. May add a big wheel bagger soon.
Must admit, the plane is much safer.

 

[Bill]

Down to one bike, my Ducati Multistrada 1200S Touring. I had a pretty decent summer riding, got out for 6 days of backroads riding in May and 5 days of backroads riding in late July.

See my .sig, that's me on a corner at Deals Gap, taken on the second trip.

 

[lbfd101]

Rode dirt bikes in the 70s, didn't ride again until buying a 1994 Honda Magna in 2003. It currently has about 73000 miles, mostly commuting, seldom drive anything else to work year round.

 

[FastEddieB]

Bill's post prompted me...

I live near some of the best motorcycling roads in the East - Deal's Gap, Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway and many, many more.

In fact, I live where I do because of the roads.

Always looking for riding buddies. Just give me a head's up if you're in the area and we can go play. Also have a HandyLift, tools and a trailer if you ever get stuck nearby.

 

[MotoFlier]

Me: Yz450 dirt bike, yz250 2 stroke dirt bike, buell firebolt sport bike.

Wife: TTR 125 dirt bike Honda 400 motorcycle.

6yr daughter: KTM 50 dirtbike

4yr daughter: PW50 dirtbike

 

[evapilotaz]

If I wanted a motorcycle my wife would want me to take out a million dollar life insurance policy.

 

[Challenged]

I've owned various bikes over the years; currently riding a Honda NC700X

 

[linuxjim]

If I wanted a motorcycle my wife would want me to take out a million dollar life insurance policy.

And she's cool with flying? My wife was thrilled I took up flying. Doubled my policy the next day. Even encourages me to ride the Harley to the hangar and says helmets are for wimps.