Classic motorcycle

[Marco]

If I was going to go down the route of something that had a "classic 60s café racer" look I think the new triumphs would be my starting point.

1200cc twin so plenty of grunt and modern suspension and tyres so decent handling and a lot in the way of extras so you can personalise it as well.

Now yer talkin', Ben. *That*, for me, is what a REAL bike should look like, and what I'd buy now if I were in the market for one (minus the gold 'bling')! Didn't even know that they made bikes in that style anymore

It just looks more 'human' (and also 'butch/manly'), but stylish, rather than some soulless, overtly computer-designed looking/'futuristic', 'sculptured' aerodynamic, plastic girly thing, with zero class.

And yes, a classic [not necessarily 60s] café racer is defo my thing: something to cruise around town in (or the beach/countryside), which looks the part and SOUNDS great, especially in low gears. Not something to thrash around corners or go stupidly fast in

Don't get me wrong, I totally agree about modern brakes and components being vastly superior to the stuff used 'back in the day', which is why if I wasn't buying something like that Triumph, I'd modify (the likes of Geoff's 1975 Kawasaki) with the best modern 'bits', so I'd have something that looked AND handled great - and most importantly stood out from the crowd!!

[As I hate having the same things as everyone else, in anything, cars, bikes, houses, hi-fi, you name it].

Marco.

[Marco]

Love those two Ian, particularly the Yamaha. Looks like an early 80s RD-250? Reminds me of my old LC-350, which had the exact same colours, and was a mentalist machine!

Marco.

[Marco]

Well, if it's Italian you like Marco. The original Ducati 900SS takes some beating for looks.

Lol - not bad. But I said that *I* was Italian, not necessarily that I liked Italian bikes, although I do...sometimes. Find me one from an earlier era with spoked wheels, more chrome and no gold 'bling'

Marco.

[Haselsh1]

Charley the Harley Colour AOS by Shaun Haselden, on Flickr


This is what I currently ride with all of the finesse and grace of a '48 Fordson. It has that iconic Screaming Eagle exhaust sound and can corner tight corners in third. This is THE most charismatic motorcycle I have ever ridden. Stunning for myself and Sue it just attracts so much bloody attention everywhere we go. 30mph in fourth, no problem and then just thunder away when you feel like it. This bike was just made for these incredibly flat coast roads here in Lincolnshire.

Having spent so many years riding sterilised Jap bikes and Ducati's this is my current bike for getting away from reality. The most sterilised bike I have ever ridden...? Yamaha FJ1200. Absolutely devoid of any spirit at all. Must be the equivalent of a Mondeo. The most ridiculously fast...? Believe it or not a Kawasaki GPz1000RX. Thought I was doing 75 on a Lincolnshire motorway ? Not so but I don't want to heavily incriminate myself. Plod may be reading. It just about had the balls to pull itself out of your fingers in fourth at about 135. Power to weight, 500hp per tonne. Oh my, what a bloody privilege.

Most outrageous...? Ducati 900 Monster. It really was that bull in a china shop.

In 1977 I did get to ride a Kawasaki S1C 250 two stroke triple so that makes two classics although I didn't actually own the S1C.

[struth]

Beauty of a bike. Everyone should ride one once

[Haselsh1]

Beauty of a bike. Everyone should ride one once

Grant, you may be right but at 400Kg dry weight, I'm not too sure.

[struth]

Well as a passenger at least. It's a stylish way to go. Iconic

[walpurgis]

M V Agusta anybody? You'll need getting on for £100,000 though.

[willbewill]

A few of the bikes I've had over the years. Kawasaki Z650B1, Suzuki GS1000S, Suzuki GSX1100, Yamaha RD250E, Honda VF750FD, Honda VFR750, Suzuki GT250X7 and finally Yamaha XJR1300 SP. Loads more as well but these were very memorable.

I've got one leg 1 inch shorter than the other thanks to a RD250.

[Haselsh1]

Yes mate, my left leg is one and a half inches shorter than my right and I now have severe osteoarthritis in my left knee due to a KH250 in 1977.

The things we do for love