Hold On

I have been riding for 40 yrs. Lots of different bikes. Here is my current ride.

Honda 1800 VTX 110ci engine, custom intake and exhaust, Dynojet programmable computer and Nitrous injection. Dynos at 130HP and 150ft lbs

Tons of fun !!

shmark

I'm jealous, love the bikes. But I promised my wife I wouldn't get one until the kids are out of college since I have a tendency to go all out...bad enough in the car! But keep 'em coming, love 'em.

Bill Ball

My current rides. Not shown: 91 Honda 600 F2. I started with a '68 Honda CB350, then '71 CB450, '71 Norton Commando 750, '75 Norton Commando 850 (still have), '87 Suzuki GSXR-RR 750, then came to the current fleet with the GL1000 being the most recent addition. All others have been owned between 12 and 33 years. Others bought and sold include pristine '75 Honda 400F and '76 400F as well as a neat ~2/3 scale '92 Yamaha YSR-50.

Brett Matthews

Got my first bike at 13, in '69, a used Montgomery-Wards Riverside [Benelli] 125, the second bike was some sort of pressed steel framed single seat Yamaha 100cc thing.

My third bike I wish I still had, I've never seen another one. A Bridgestone 175 factory racing bike of some sort.. Boy, the stories I could tell about that one... Bought it for only $125!

Several and many various bikes along the way... Largest was a Yamaha Venture Royale.

First big street bike was a '64 BSA A65.

I now own a '48 AJS model 18, wish I could find an exhaust pipe that fits this
bike...
A '55 BSA Gold Star, that Deb bought me for a 1st year anniversary present,
just short of 24 years ago
A few more A65 BSA's are in the works, one of which is a 650cc Hornet, a
factory dirt bike!
As well as a couple A10's
About 6 Rickmans of the 125 & 250cc versions
A couple Montesa's
A '69 Matchless/Norton P-11 Ranger
A '72 Suzuki TM400
and my newest bike currently, is an '80 Suzuki RS 250

And there are a few I think I am forgetting...

I don't think this qualifies as an Iron Butt, but I once did over 600 miles on a Kawasaki H-1, going up to the Atascadero area from the San Fernando Valley on the 101, bombing over some road to Bakersfield, then down the 5 back into the Valley... At least, that was what the odometer said on that bike... Boy, was it apparently tired, going south up the Grapevine!!! And my brother was riding a Yamaha RT-1 360 single!

Bill Ball

Brett:

That's probably a world's record, and that you lived to tell about it is remarkable. I once rode a '69 H1 (AKA Mach III) around the block and when it nearly tossed me off going around a modest turn, that was enough for me. I did take it up onto the freeway for a few seconds. When I hit the throttle going up the on ramp and the bike lunged forward, I could barely hold on to it for dear life. It was the quintessential death machine. Crazy fast motor mounted in a flex-frame. I decided I wasn't that nuts and bought a '71 Norton Commando instead.

the flyin' scotsman

Was the H1 the 750 or the 500?...............my buddies in Scotland were Kwacker fans leaving 3 streaks of blue everywhere they went but my old Norton would catch up in the bends.

Ispeed

My only bike now, a 2002 CR500 AF 2 stroke. It's fast. Raced MX from 1983 to 2004.
Just sold my RC51 last fall...

Bill Ball

Malcolm:

The H1 was the Mach III 500 triple. The H2 was the Mach IV 750 triple. Lovely 2-stroke smokers! I think the 500 was more potent and deadly. The Mach III or IV were the only bikes that could keep up with my '71 Commando 750 in a straight line, but I found I could leave them in the twisties as well. The H1 and H2 had notoriously flexible rear ends. Somebody on the list was involved in the design of the late version of the Commando adjustable isolastic suspension that no longer used shims. The Commando 750 had so much low end torque, it had this totally effortless quality about it. It never seemed to be working hard no matter what grade of hill I was flying up. A sensational motorcycle that I will always recall fondly.

the flyin' scotsman

Thx for the info. Bill..........that seems a long long time ago; **** it was.

My Norton was a 850 mk 2a so it had the isolastic engine mounts with shims. One of my sensible (non H1 or H2 owner) Scottish buddies bought a MkIII and it had the 'screw' type engine mount, much more easier to adjust. Your Norton must have same? as well as many other upgrades that made the Mk2 very old in comparo but not in the same leaque as the Japanese bikes of the era.

My biggest issue with the Kwackers was that they'd start with half a kick but the old Norton needed much finese of tickling the Amal carbs and swinging the engine over on the right stroke and that was with Boyer electronic ignition............it was a real love hate relationship, perhaps thats why I have a 928

We digress though.

Brett Matthews

Bill and Malcolm,
As a matter of fact, I think it was one of those 500cc Mach III's, with a distributor and plug wires coming out on the right side of the cases? And yes, they were firecrackers on wheels.... The H-2's were more manageable, but the horsepower sure could leave you wondering why those red lights were showing up in the rear view mirrors....

Later on, I owned a pair of the 750cc H-2's. I managed to retain one of the front ends, have since learned how to make them into dual disc set-ups, and am putting this front end onto one of the afore-mentioned A10's, building a sort of 'rocker'... I want this one to be able to stop!!!! I've never had any good report of BSA brakes working well....

Now, I must say the stock brakes on my P-11 Ranger are absolutely GREAT, for a brit drum brake! They WORK!
Brett

Bill Ball

Yes, Malcom, it was a rare Norton that started first kick. My '71 was one or 2 kicks after I tickled the Amals. The major issue was learning how to kick it over. I'm a small guy, but I understood how to apply the right leverage at the right point. I had football playing buddies who struggled to kick it over at all. The MK III electric starter actually works on my current bike, another rarity. I improved it with beefier wiring than stock.

993MAN

Bought is about 5 months ago. best bike I have EVER owned.

johnf95111

My two-wheel ride is HD's Bstrd step child, an '02 V-Rod. Water cooled, over head cams, EFI....

This pic is my lovely and me up in the beatiful Glacier National Park in northern MT. I was going to crop it, but the backdrop was too magnificent.

Cheers,

the flyin' scotsman

John...........excellent roads for a ride. We did the 'road to the sun' in the 928 with a few others.........what a blast.

The park is only 40 mins away from home; at least the Canadian half that we call Waterton. Anyone in the 'hood should send me a PM.............I know its months away but still.

911tracker85

I have ridden/owned several Hondas, started with a Honda Super 90 when I was 15. my wife is petrified of bikes and worries I will get crippled on it. I sold my 81 750F and shadow 1100 several years ago. but a good friend restores and builds tricked out CBX so he got me hooked again and I got an 83 CB1100F late 2007 and did a full frame up restore that winter. I dont ride a lot, drive / track my porsches more. I had to change my avatar to show the bike since I have not gotten around to uploading pics I can add to a thread.