heywood on 19/1/2013 at 06:45
OK, my turn.
2007 Ducati Multistrada 1100S, 2007-present:
Inline Image:
http://www.redmc.net/bike_pics/bike9_800.jpegInline Image:
http://www.redmc.net/bike_pics/bike1_800.jpeg^
The first picture is what it looked like stock, the second is what it looks like now. Multistrada translates to "many roads", signifying that versatility is it's biggest virtue. My hope in buying it was that I could sell my 3 previous bikes and be happy with just one bike for all the riding I do. That plan has mostly worked out.
I like that it has sport bike quality handling & suspension, a motard inspired riding position that's good for dicing through traffic and comfortable, and it can be fitted out with luggage and accessories, and can even handle a bit of off-road thanks to the long travel suspension and ground clearance. I also like that it's considerably lighter (claimed 196 kg / 432 lbs dry) than anything else I'd consider touring on. With 95hp and 76 lb-ft it's not that powerful, but it revs quick and all the muscle is in the midrange. The only time I've wanted more power was in the mountains riding two-up and loaded with luggage. It's no good above 160 kmh/100 mph, but I don't really have the opportunities for sustained high speed riding where I live(d).
I love the way it works, but I'm still not sure about how it looks. The styling is very controversial, especially from the front, and most people either love it or hate it. I didn't really like it at first, but it's grown on me. This next picture is what it looks like dressed up in touring mode, from a trip we took to Newfoundland:
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http://www.redmc.net/bike_pics/bike4_800.jpeg1990 Honda CB-1, 1995-present:
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http://dayerses.com/data_images/posts/honda-cb-1/honda-cb-1-05.jpgThe picture is not mine, but looks just like it. My CB-1 is in storage back in the US and someday I need to clean it up, put it on the road, and sell it. It was originally my wife's bike, but she gave up riding after a year. Then it became my track day bike for a while. It's only 400cc but it's a four-cylinder that revs to 14k and when it's on the boil it sounds a bit like an F1 car. It's very light and compact, and so fun to ride on tight backrounds that I couldn't bring myself to sell it even when I was only riding it a few times a year.
Here are some previous bikes, starting with my first:
1983 Yamaha XS650 Heritage Special, 1990-1991:
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http://www.travis-mc.com/various/83xs6502.jpgI started riding in 1990 when I turned 18 and this was my first bike. Again, the picture is not mine but it looks exactly like it. The Yamaha XS650 started as a Triumph Bonneville clone in the early 70s, but by the early 80s they had added a stepped seat, buckhorn bars, and some chrome to make it look like a cruiser. It was ugly, uncomfortable, slow, vibrated like a paint shaker, and couldn't go round corners or brake properly. But it was only $450 and in good condition and it was really easy to learn to wrench on.
1981 Suzuki GS650G, 1991-1993:
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http://www.hoohoohoblin.com/SuzukiGS650G.JPG^
The Suzuki was passed down from my Dad when he upgraded to a Honda ST1100. It was my transportation through most of college. It was the same color as the one in the above picture, except mine had a rack on the back and one of those big old school Vetter Windjammer fairings. That is, until I crashed it and cracked the fairing, then it looked just like above. I kind of miss that Suzuki. It was bulletproof, low maintenance with shaft drive, comfortable, and practical for daily transportation.
1986 Yamaha FJ1200, 1993-2000:
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http://www.redmc.net/bike_pics/FJ1200_800.jpg^
When I finished undergrad and started grad school, my Dad found this baby in mint condition for only $2500 and gave it to me as a graduation present. His real motivation was to get me on something faster so I could keep up with him on his ST. I rode it for ~7 years before selling it to an in-law. The picture was taken right before I sold it. It had HUGE torque and was comfy. I loved pulling out to pass traffic on that bike. It was sporty enough that I started doing some track schools on it, but it didn't have the chassis, suspension, or brakes to keep up as I got better. It wasn't particularly reliable either so I learned a lot about wrenching from it, including doing an engine and transmission rebuild.
1993 BMW K1100RS, 2000-2007:
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http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery/BMW%20K1100RS%2093%20%202.jpg^
When I got out of the USAF and settled in the Boston area, I picked up the BMW and started doing some touring with my wife. It was a reliable, nicely engineered, competent machine but a bit boring. It was fine for touring (for a week or less) and commuting but not so good for sport riding with some of the faster guys I sometimes rode with. That led me to pick up another bike to complement it:
1997 Honda VFR750F (RC36), 2003-2010:
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http://databikes.com/imgs/a/b/h/d/t/honda__vfr_750_f_1997_1_lgw.jpg^
The VFR750 was the first and (so far) biggest object of my moto-lust, and the 1994-1997 models were the sweetest. I love the sound and feel of a 90 deg. V4 engine configuration more than any other, and the VFR750's 180 deg. crank and gear driven cams make it my favorite of all production V4s, despite being a little slow revving. The bike also had impeccable build quality, it felt solid and precise like riding a fine Swiss watch. Mine had Öhlins suspension and upgraded brakes, so it was competent on the track but it was also comfortable to ride all day. The only thing I didn't love was steering geometry biased way too far towards stability. Getting it turned into a fast corner was effort. After I got the Multistrada, I hardly rode the VFR on the street anymore. But I was still sentimentally attached to it, so before I moved to Australia I gave it away to an in-law to keep it in the family.
Finally...
Inline Image:
http://www.redmc.net/bike_pics/KTM_690-Duke_2012_800.jpg^
This is the bike I currently want to buy, a 2012/2013 KTM 690 Duke. A last generation 690 Duke R model would also be fine. My current tastes are in the light=right camp, and this is as light as you can get for a "real" motorcycle. Only 150kg/325lb with 70hp.
bikerdude on 20/1/2013 at 11:53
Quote Posted by heywood
2007 Ducati Multistrada 1100S, 2007-present:
The only Issue I had with that bike is the price when it was released was the price, Ducati had the cheek to charge £14,000 over here in the UK. IMHO that's a ridiculous amount of money for a motorcycle, albeit a very good one. But then Yamaha tried on the same thing with the FZS series. Looking on autotrader this bike can be had for 5k, I had no idea the price had dropped this far, hmmmm.
What's the seat height like on yours..?
Kyloe on 20/1/2013 at 15:32
I need to rent a KTM Duke when the weather gets better. I don't get along with heavy machines and that bike is even lighter than a Vespa GTS.
Since I only ride around town, these are perfect for me:
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http://up.picr.de/8128894ang.jpgheywood on 21/1/2013 at 05:39
Quote Posted by bikerdude
The only Issue I had with that bike is the price when it was released was the price, Ducati had the cheek to charge £14,000 over here in the UK. IMHO that's a ridiculous amount of money for a motorcycle, albeit a very good one. But then Yamaha tried on the same thing with the FZS series. Looking on autotrader this bike can be had for 5k, I had no idea the price had dropped this far, hmmmm.
What's the seat height like on yours..?
The seat height is somewhat high, 85cm, but the bike is narrow at the front of the seat so it's easier to get your feet down than you'd think. I am 175cm/69" tall with a 81cm/32" inseam and I can put the balls of both feet down comfortably. It's also fairly light, so I find it easy to manage.
Anyway, I know the newer Multistrada 1200 is something like £14,000 in the UK but I thought the 1100 model I have was under £10k new. There was a huge price jump when they redesigned the bike for the 1198 Testastretta engine and all the BMW-like electronic wizardry. I don't think the Multistrada has been very popular in the UK, in part because the early 1000 and 620 models had some reliability issues.
By the way, what's the bike in the upper right corner of your picture? Looks vaguely like something from Eastern Europe, but I don't recognize it. Also, which ones are current?
gunsmoke on 21/1/2013 at 13:48
Wow! Thread wins! This has been great, you guys have/had some great bikes.
@ heywood: That Ducati is very intriguing. I have never ridden anything quite like that. I have spent time on Ducatis of course, but that one looks like it has a higher center of gravity like my Suzuki motocross bike. Interesting.
gunsmoke on 27/1/2013 at 03:55
Damn, that seat looks like MURDER.
