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Hey guys - You have already read about and seen pics of bikes from my past, and the two I still own. Are there Vintage or Modern bikes that you're very interested in and would love to test ride? Here are my top 4 right off the top of my head.
The BMW R18 - A modernized version of the horizontally opposed twin engine that was used in BMW cruisers for decades. I love the retro look and think it would be a cool bike to tool around town on.
The BMW 1600 GTL - Truly the ultimate cross between a Touring bike and a Superbike. One of my best riding buddies has one of these bikes, and with their 6cyl motors they are smooth and wicked fast. I have not driven his, although he's offered, but I have sat on it. At 5' 9", with a short inseam, I am vertically challenged to get my toes on the ground on this bike. My buddy told me they make a custom lowered version, I'd love to ride one.
The modern Triumph Rocket 3 Roadster - It has the largest engine ever put in a production motorcycle, 2.5L. Yep, that's right, 2.5L, can you imagine! Supposedly wicked fast, and I can believe it. I think it has a nice style too.
The Indian Challenger - The newest addition to the Indian bagger line-up. Obviously a knock-off of the HD Roadglide, with a frame mounted fairing. The Challenger from everything Ive read, and heard first hand from actual owners (I'm in the St. Louis Indian Riders Club), is that the Challenger has better handling, rides smoother, and has more HP than a Roadglide. It is also liquid cooled. It would be on my test ride list if I was looking for a new bike!
Last edited by Dream67Olds442; July 27th, 2023 at 01:11 PM.
Damn! That Triumph is badass! And sounds like it would be an insane ride!
I want that now instead of a VMAX LOL
About $24,250k base for the R. Tempting...
Ya, you could definitely claim to be King of the Streets on that baby! As you pointed out, not crazy expensive either compared to alot of other new cruisers, and you would definitely have something you don't see everyday. I know I've never seen one out on the street. Maintenance costs could be an issue? I've never checked to see if there are any Triumph dealers close by in my area?
Last edited by Dream67Olds442; July 27th, 2023 at 01:59 PM.
I know a couple guys who own the newest Goldwings like this and they love them. Honda doesn't make any bad products. I probably would not opt for the automatic shifting of the DCT version though, I think I'm too old school and like the idea of shifting myself, it's part of the riding experience. Just my 2 cents.
I've never checked to see if there are any Triump dealers close by in my area?
The closest one to me seems to be the Bonneville Performance between New Smyrna and South Daytona. They're listed as a Triumph dealer. There is Tampa Triumph which may be better. Nothing close to me though...
The closest one to me seems to be the Bonneville Performance between New Smyrna and South Daytona. They're listed as a Triumph dealer. There is Tampa Triumph which may be better. Nothing close to me though...
I just checked around me and there is a large multi-brand dealer on the northwest side of St. Louis that carries Triumphs, it's about 40-miles away. A review said they had a nice selection of new Triumphs.
Some people are not happy with the new Goldwing front end ... 2018 +
Honda has revealed its new Gold Wing; shaving 42kg off the previous model, but now making 125bhp, it’s lighter, more powerful, has a seven-speed DCT (dual clutch transmission) gearbox – with reverse – and a unique suspension setup.
Using a wishbone suspension setup means the wheel moves upwards, rather than diagonally back
[QUOTE=Cosmic Charlie;1513721]Some people are not happy with the new Goldwing front end ... 2018 +
Honda has revealed its new Gold Wing; shaving 42kg off the previous model, but now making 125bhp, it’s lighter, more powerful, has a seven-speed DCT (dual clutch transmission) gearbox – with reverse – and a unique suspension setup.
That "unique suspension set-up" sure doesn't sound like a "better mouse trap" to me!
Some people are not happy with the new Goldwing front end ... 2018 +
Honda has revealed its new Gold Wing; shaving 42kg off the previous model, but now making 125bhp, it’s lighter, more powerful, has a seven-speed DCT (dual clutch transmission) gearbox – with reverse – and a unique suspension setup.
That "unique suspension set-up" sure doesn't sound like a "better mouse trap" to me!
I still belong to https://goldwingdocs.com/ Not seeing a lot of people not happy. Though some have change the preload adjuster and tire pressure. (One guy said, Mine was set to full compression from the factory and it rode like a rock. I adjusted to 9 clicks from minimum and the ride is much more comfortable. The adjuster is located behind the right side cover. Check your manual for how to adjust. It’s easy.)
As much as it has a very very low center of gravity. I have laid drown my bike a couple of times. Once at a wet rocky job site. 700# is not easy to put back on its tires. I had to use hands, my knees under the seat. And at the end stand on my tippy toes. To get it up.the bike back up. Some Goldwing's started to hit 900 pounds with the extras. I was not interested in getting another, just too heavy. Even the newest one are 800+
I took it mine everywhere, even a foot trail in a state park for a long ways. Until I came to a big mud hole. thank god for revise to turn the bike around. The four speaker stereo system was so loud you could hear me from over a half a mile.
Some people are not happy with the new Goldwing front end ... 2018 +
Honda has revealed its new Gold Wing; shaving 42kg off the previous model, but now making 125bhp, it’s lighter, more powerful, has a seven-speed DCT (dual clutch transmission) gearbox – with reverse – and a unique suspension setup.
Using a wishbone suspension setup means the wheel moves upwards, rather than diagonally back
bought this new in 1980 still riding today with over 100k trouble free miles,looks a little different due to being broadsided by a 74 cutlass in '82 and rebuilt.owned 4 other new harleys.all the naysayers without first hand knowledge,harley does build a good machine,probably why other manufacturers copy them
Like this bike , owned a couple of shovelheads some years ago and miss them. Got my driving licence for
motorcycle in 1978 and purshased a Honda 500 -72 , my wife drives an Dyna Streetbob -10 and my bike is
a Dyna Fatbob -08. We had our bikes since they were new. But there have been other bikes here also.
One friend of us rebuilding english bikes and he have restored a lot of bikes , purshased a Matchless of
him some years ago 350 cc G3L -47. The Ajs below is just one of the bikes he restored and this was
shipped back to England. He have some nice bikes himself also .
OK, do any of the bikes you guys own have any unique accessories or features you really like?
Although I don't own it anymore, I always loved the style/colors/arrangement of the gauges in the 2014 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero 1700 I owned. The analog gauges reminded me so much of a mid-60's to early 70's Muscle Car gauge layout.
The whole style of the 2010 Yamaha Stratoliner Deluxe I still own is supposed to be retro/neo. This theme is carried into the gauge package on top of the tank. In low light or the dark, the numbers on the Speedo and the needles for the speedo, rpm's, and fuel glow neon blue. Reminds me so much of a vintage jukebox.
Last edited by Dream67Olds442; July 29th, 2023 at 07:58 AM.
You are absolutely correct, thanks for pointing out my error. Those gauges are from the 2014 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero 1700 I posted a pic of above. I will edit my post. P. S., thanks for the compliment on the Stratoliner, I love riding that bike.
Last edited by Dream67Olds442; July 29th, 2023 at 08:05 AM.
I can't remember who it was I can probably look it up but I pulled over for someone that had one on the side of the highway. It was a Denver Broncos player. I am pretty sure it was an offensive line player. I gave him a ride home and back. That thing was huge in person. So heavy. When I was a kid I was told if you can't pick it up then you shouldn't own it. That bike was SO heavy!!
In the truest sense I would NEVER consider a Boss Hoss a motorcycle - NEVER.
Amen to that. When I ran that trucking company one of our driver's had a six cylinder Honda?. I rode that bike more than a few times. Holy crap that engine heat would cook your eggs. It was miserable. I can only imagine sitting on top of a small block Chevy.
I’ve been to two events where the owner/developer of the Boss Hoss was present early 2001 - 2003 timeframe. I’ve seen maybe a dozen of them. Glorified pieces of garbage.
I’ve been to two events where the owner/developer of the Boss Hoss was present early 2001 - 2003 timeframe. I’ve seen maybe a dozen of them. Glorified pieces of garbage.
I can't even imagine riding one. That bike was so crazy heavy. Just sitting there I knew it was not engineered for anything other than having a small block on it. No way in hell that bike handled at all. I got on it to try and figure it out. It was crazy heavy. Like stupid crazy.
I aways thought that after Morrison faked his death and after he and Elvis sold off the Burger King franchise in Kalamazoo, he moved west and started up his own supercharged, injected big block Chevy motorcycle custom build shop???
LOL!!
CBX, Honda's flagship sportbike from '78-82 after which it was superseded by the CB 1100F, a more conventional muscle bike based on the 750 and 900 Super Sports. CBX's were good for mid-11s @ 116-118 MPH.
I never wanted one just because they looked too awkward to scrape your knees through the corners, although the road tests of the day claimed the extra 2.5 inches width over the four cylinder Super Sport was no big deal.
CBX, Honda's flagship sportbike from '78-82 after which it was superseded by the CB 1100F, a more conventional muscle bike based on the 750 and 900 Super Sports. CBX's were good for mid-11s @ 116-118 MPH.
I never wanted one just because they looked too awkward to scrape your knees through the corners, although the road tests of the day claimed the extra 2.5 inches width over the four cylinder Super Sport was no big deal.
In the Touring and Cruiser Classes respectively, the Honda Goldwing and Valkyrie are also 6-cylinders.
Growing up my brother ruled the streets on his Kawasaki. One of his best friends bought a CBX new. Not one time ever could that bike hang with my brother.
The six cylinder bike that our driver had was a Yalkyrie. I would get off that bike absolutely soaked in sweat. By far the most unrideable bike I have ever ridden.
Speaking of bikes. I was out on the bike today in Englewood Colorado. I stumbled on an incredible Mopar collection. Dude had at least 25 cars. Pretty much everything was under car covers. I could tell there was at least one winged car. Superbird or Daytona. I could tell there were Chargers. Superbee's etc etc. His drag car was what I think was a 64 Plymouth. Red if anyone out here knows it. He had two "Drag Pack"? Challenger's that you could see. Had to be a million dollars plus of cars in this unmarked building. He wasn't the most friendly guy. I would have loved to talk to him more.
I am serious. This guy was one hundred percent Mopar. I will get by and at least get a couple pictures of his tow rigs. I wish he would have been more friendly. He had some serious iron in that building. I know my cars even under car covers. I know there was at least one 69-70 Charger. I know there was a 69 Superbee. I didn't want to seem too nosey. Completely indiscreet building. You would never know.
I've never ridden one, but a chopper with a tank shifter and clean handlebars has a nice aesthetic. I think I'd have to stick with the original clutch style, but it's flat enough around here I could get away with just a footbrake and not roll back.
July 27th, 2023, 01:09 PM
