What if you could have it back again?

Many of us are long term enthusiasts and have owned many, perhaps too many motorcycles over the years. Which of these motorcycles made a special impression on you to the extent that you would love to have them back in the stable?

 

I'll start this thing off with my own personal memories and favorites from the last thirty something tears of riding and wrenching. I had an advantage over many of you by the fact that my fater bought a Honda dealership when I was seven years old so I was merrily submerged in motorcycles from that point on. I've lost count of the bikes that I have ridden obviously but there are a few that I owned which stand out. Not all Hondas by the way!

#1
1985 Yamaha RZ500N four cylinder two stroke gp replica (it was raw and nasty and very rare). I want it back!!

#2
1982 Honda CX500 Turbo
It was a really sweet ride to pile the miles on all day long with super ergos and torque to spare. There was also a space ship factor that drew alot of attention.

#3
1982 CanAm 175 Qualifier
Awesome trail bike that could be ridden on the road as well.

#4
1980 CB750F (silver)
Big and fast, it was heavy but a blast to ride especially with a pipe.

#5
1983 Interceptor
You know why

#6
1978 Honda XR185
My first real hard core off road (enduro) experiences were had on this baby. Steel tank and twin shocks, it was old school but reliable and fun to ride.

#7
1979 Can Am 175 Qualifier
I won the enduro class in 1984 ice racing one of these beasts. I sold it the next day and then it was stolen, never to be seen again.

#8
1991 VFR750
The pictures are in my gallery, it was an awesome machine (my 2nd VFR) and I did everything on it, touring in the mountains, Star racing school, drags etc.

Wow there are more but I think I need to stop before we run out of space.

There are bikes out there that I still need to experience before I die,

#1 NSR400
#2 NC35 (VFR400)
#3 RC30

Funny how none of these desirables are either new or big displacement eh.

 

Well mine is simple and applies to your statement. My first street bike back in 1990 was a 1986 VF500F. I kept the bike for a couple of years, then like most people of my age at the time, I went to the CBR line up for longer than I should have. After coming back to the VFR line up in 1999, I decided that I wanted the 500 back. I found one a few years back with just 600 miles on the odometer that needed a ton of elbow grease. With updates and all, I have over $6K into the bike now, but I don't care since money was no object for this project. I now have a 2007 RWB and a 1986 VFR750F, but the 500 is my favorite. How weird is that?

 

I've regretted selling two bikes that I've had.
One, like stewartj239, I had an 86 vf500 that was almost perfect, sold it because I needed the money, but just purchased one on ebay for $750.
I'm in the process of cleaning it up now.
Second, I had an 91 Hawkgt that I would love to have again some day.

 

I'd take all of them back, and I'll take one of all of yours too!!!

You can never have too many toys can you?

 

79 Honda CB 750 I miss the old girl

 

1990 RC30...because they are getting fantastic prices today.
1986 super cherry VFR750F (RWB). Actually this was much easier to live with on the road than the RC30.
In my opinion, both of these had the finest paint schemes from Honda....ever!

 

In the year 1967 I was about the age of 13/14 years old, now my older brother had a Triumph Thunderbird 650 twin,and I would realy love to get this bike in my shed,but I doubt that I would ever be lucky enough to find that "one",maybe one like it.

 

Three that I'd like to have back:

'72 Kawasaki H2 750 (Felonious)
'76 Yamaha TT500 (Sage Buster)
'79 Kawasaki KZ1300 (Felonious II)


One that I have nightmares about finding back in the garage:

'77 H-D XLCR (Sheep in Wolf's Clothing)


Rex

 

I'd like to have my original 86 VFR750R back so I wouldn't have to re-buy everything for the one I just bought. I also had a 1991 Hawk GT, a 76 Harley Sporty. Those were all my favs.

 

1979 CM185T.
Why?
Because that's the bike I started on and I have two seasons of fond memories of getting my feet wet in motorcycling.
Since then, I'll take an upgrade anytime. I just haven't found something worth replacing my '95 since I rolled her out of a dealer in December of '94.
Great bike + Paid for = Long term keeper.

 

1972 Yamaha DT175. In 1986 I rode it from East Tennessee to Ventura Ca. when I was 17. By the time I got there the compression was so low I had to roll it off every time I wanted to start it. Without enough money to fix it, I sold it for bus ticket money to get home. It was a good friend, and took me on one h$!! of a trip for a 17 year old.

 

I had an '86 VFR700 that I sold in '92. It was perfect and had under 10K miles on it. I sold it because I got pissed when Maryland passed a law that required helmets. Yes, I was a squid but I was young, forgive me.

I wouldn't mind having my '89 CB-1 back either, just for shot hops.

 

I regret not buying my buddy's RD400 when he went off to college. It never was mine, but I did log a lot of miles on it and absolutely loved it.

 

Of all I would have to have 2 dirt bikes back & two street bikes:

My 1971 Penton ISDT 125: What a bike, enduro, flat track, motocross, did it all!

My 1973 Honda TL125 trials bike. It was a little under powered, but a well balanced bike that I could do almost anything with! One of the toughest, tourqui-est little buggers!

My 1978 Honda GL 1000 Black with Vetter Fairing & bags...the begining of the touring bike market!

My 1990 VFR750F that I foolishly traded away as part of the deal I made for the RC45. I miss the little red beast, she was as sweet a tracking bike as my RC30 and still drew stares and comments from those who did not know her.


I could go one more......My 1969 Honda SL90 Motosport, it was over weight, under powered dog to ride, but she was my bike & therefore my first love, and she served me well unitl I discover more that she was capable of .......... in about two months....

 

Well I've not regretted it because I did buy another one. Over the years, I've owned two of:

VF500F
CBR600F1
VFR750F
VFR800 VTEC
VTR1000F

Yes, I'm a honda man. But to really answer the question, I'd like to have another 79 CBX but they're just too damn expensive for me to own/fix now.

 

1984 honda nighthalk cb700s black with blue
1982 yamaha vergao 920 custom red
1986 honda nighthalk cb700sc blue,white and red
1979 yamaha yz400f
1985 honda xl500
1986 vfr700f my first vfr
Yes I am a honda man also very much well for the street ,

 

The bike I regret selling the most was my 87' Yamaha Venture Royale, traded it for a 97' Yamaha ATV + $1000 in my pocket. Figured I'd use the wheeler more as I have direct trial access to some of the best riding in WI. Didn't pan out that way the wheeler sat in the garage only to be taken out for the occasional poker run. The other bike I wish I still had my 79' Yamaha IT250, it belonged to a good friend that died of luekemia in high school I completely restored it to pristine condition & some:censored: stole it out of my front yard about 12 years ago.

 

Hmmm, just as I expected, we all have a long list of bikes that we wish we still had in the garage. I guess the next question is "what bikes would you never own again"? oh yes and why???

This could be good!

For me the list looks like this;

1993 ZX11
Too heavy and a bad habit of eating #3 crank bearings

2001 Ducati 748
Gorgeous but underpowered and fragile

KLR 250 can't remember the year
Heavy and slow with no character