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[guest7]

Following a drunken discussion on Saturday evening, what is your dream bike, and what would be your choice of current production bikes?

My dream bike is a Manx Goldie, but if I had to pick one new machine to have I'd go for a Harley Road King (yes yes, I've been teased already about this).

The Manx Goldie is, imho, a superb marriage of chassis and motor. Few motors fill the Featherbed so well as the BSA single. When I say 'Manx' I mean that the chassis should be full standard Manx, i.e. large tank, humped saddle, clip-ons, etc.

The Harley would just fill a desire I've harboured since a bloke let me ride his 45 Harley when I was 16. I am a little besotted with the classic big Harley.

You?

GC

[Bill Rutter]

Without a doubt, and with deference to this wonderful club, an RC30......or a Golden Flash because my dad had two. Current bike? A Guzzi Breva.

[Alan#307]

First of it would be Honda XL500 and for a new bike would have to be the Yam MT-3.

[Andy M]

Dream bike: BMW R80GS with all the overland toys. There is one on e-bay for £3.5k, so here's hoping I win the lottery!

For a current production bike i'd struggle. Maybe a Guzzi? I love my Bonneville and guess I could live with the 865cc "upgrade" too.

The Harley I can see. Before I got the Bonneville I went for a test ride on a Sportster. The motor is first class. It's let down by all the Harley style **** that goes with it. Feet forwards, lots of stuff that needs cleaning, no proper luggage and a dealer that still writes to me after 2 1/2 years offering to put stuff in my petrol for the "closed season" after August! IMHO what Harley (or Buell) need to do to capture a market outside the stockbrokers-with-leather-tassles brigade is make a proper European bike. That motor in a Vincent looking bike would sell. Actually, that's a point, I like the look of those Ducati GT's too.

Andy

[GB500nz]

I suppose a Ducati Monster 600 with a Honda Bros engine: the best of both worlds. Few new bikes attract, but the Kawasaki Sherpa is a damn good compromise. Not much point having a bike that only runs when it wants to.

[peterj]

Been thinking about this a bit lately as a precursor to actually doing something about it in a couple of years when I go back to Australia. Current thought is a new Metisse cafe chassis with a DR800 motor. Only problem is how to get it registered in Australia......

[Nathan]

MMMM i was thinking of a DRengine in a low cafe chassis.
but i just dont have the money.

I have a full set of plans for it too.

Dream bike for a long time has been the Ducati Monster. but i think its got to the point if i bought one id only be disapointed.

Nathan

[Steve H]

This http://www.absaf.nl/dariosecq_absaf.htm PLUS the time to ride it

[bullet350]

Classic bike has to be a NorVin BLack Shadow. Fits the featherbed frame with a good 2mm clearence all round. Ogri looks with 150mph. Perfect for chasing modern four-pots, especially with 2" open pipes...

As for the modern bike it has to be a 1200 sportster and a tin of brown hammerite. The hammeriste should alienate me from all the tassled accountants.
i test rode a rubber-mount injection 883 the other day. They've finally removed all traces of 'character' from the bike, so you might as well spend £2000 on a 3 year old jap cruiser.
oh yeah, and they keep calling and posting crap to me.

... and a Bentley Blue Train for when i've broken both the bikes.


350bullet

[xbruby]

A BSA Goldstar or a Vincent Black Shadow would both put an insane grin on my face but that would proably be more to do with parting with a huge sum of cash in exchange for a motorcycle!

In the modern world a 1200GS or a new Tiger would be very nice.

I know a third choice is a little greedy but I have always hankered after a H-D Fat Boy but the blinding cost, even for a second hand evo, is likely to put most pepole off, me included.

Owned a Sportster for 14 months, couldn't live with it, no matter how I modified it it just was not comfortable over any sort of distance - it had to go!

Andy

[guest18]

Trinity's Ducati... with Trin riding it ;-) I'll just sit on the back and hold on.......

(Calms down a little) current bikes? I'd struggle, if it wasn't for my license I'd have the big Kawa ZRX1200 Eddie Lawson rep thingy, given I have little self control when it comes to the throttle, and looking at the alternatives, if I had to buy another new bike It'd probably be another Mastiff :-o

Of course moving on to dream bikes... well I've seen 100+mph over the speed limit and I don't commend it and it doesn't do much for me anymore so I'll be boring and practical here(!) I'd like someone to make a bike with the practicalities of the MZ traveller (eg sensible fairing, medium sized panniers, "normal" sized tyres etc etc) but with the 600 diesel engine the US marines have in their KLR 600 and decent handling. Hell, put that motor in an MZ Scorpion and sell it at £4k and watch the couriers and commuters and "real" motorcyclists snap them up....
(decent grunt, sounds like a proper bike, 80mph anywhere regardless of wind/terrain etc etc, good reliability and 150mpg+ possible.....)

[Bruce]

I had my dream bike many years ago a K1 Honda Goldwing 1000cc it was quite, reliable comfortable and quick  first major trip was down to Northern Greece across to Corfu and over to Brindisi in Italy over a three week period I also did the 1982 Elephant Rally with it and the following year a tour of Yugoslavia. I covered about 35,000 miles over three years. When the towing of a trailer was reallowed I had a tow bar fitted and a small trailer made.(This is now towed behind the Big 4.) If I had the money I would buy another one tomorrow the modern ones are in my opion completly over the top.

[guest24]

I've always rather fancied the RC30 though I wouldn't say no to another SRX250.

Choice of current crop - dont have one!!  However, I would like something similar to my SRX400E  and may be in the market soon to buy and welcome suggestions.

[guest18]

Dunno about similar to an SRX400 but for best all rounder I'd say scrounge a go on an MuZ Mastiff/Baghira/Scorpion et al and see how you like them.
Anything else (thumper wise) I've seen newish has significant drawbacks :-/ *


*of course my experience is by necessity limited and I'm looking for bikes that will do *everything* so please don't be offended if I have slighted your bike of choice!!

[guest27]

Mmm perfect bike.  Well that would have to be my RD500 but having been fettled by Wolfgang or one of the good guys in the states.  Or maybe my Triton back on the road.

Modern - well I was on the lookout for a Mito chassis for the Rotax lump before I got the TZR one so I guess the new Mito 500 would be nice.

Would love to have a go on or even own a modern 1000 but would not sell owt in the shed to finance it.  WOuld prefer to have the T500 running or the K4 350 etc.  For sensible the Diesel in MCN this week could fit the bill - especially as I could run it on chip fat - and we are awash with it in the vallys.

Oh and to be greedy my old RD350 like ot was stollen in Plymouth all those years ago - bet she would seem rubbish now but I was heartbroken when there was the big gap on the road where she should have been.

R