Past Bikes

[InterceptorPR]

I have owned a VFR now for about 3 years. I love it. I'm on my second VFR. I have posted pics of my current bikes, a 2005 Silcer Interceptor and an 04 Asphalt. In this post I'd like to share some pics of my previous bikes.

I owned a 2005 Suzuki GS500F. a 2010 Yamaha FZ6R that I bought brand new and modded a bit, a 2002 CBR954RR(my absolute favorite bike I've ever owned), a 2006 CBR1000RR, and my current VFR's

Share your pics of your previous bikes and maybe their stories.

[jhenley17]

The VFR is my second. My first was a Honda 599. Bought it in 2007 at age 19, went down on it 4 or 5 times trying to be Vale until the last time when I bent the frame, front wheel, and broke the motor mounts (why I'll never use frame sliders again). Rode it from 2007 to 2012.

[InterceptorPR]

Awww, I love the 599! The 599 along with the 919 are just awesome classic looking bikes. I always wanted a lil hornet, but I could never find a good one in my price range(people that owned and cared about never let them go). Shame it was wrecked though. My CBR1000RR met a similar fate, but a new owner rebuilt her and is still enjoying her.

[2FAST4U]

Excluding my current bike, these are the only others I've ever owned. When I was in college I had a couple buddies that would loan me their bikes (a Super Magna and a Suzuki I forget what). Neither of them had a car (and I did) so we'd frequently trade vehicles for a day (so those were kind of my first bikes -I just didn't own them.)

[MadScientist]

jhenley, thought I recognized that name from somewhere. I am/was madscientist from honda599.com, but I don't frequent there very much anymore.

InterceptorPR, I'd love to hear the story about how you put a bike in a tree, and my 599 is always for sale if you ever swing through SE Wisconsin.

I don't have many pictures of the bikes I owned when cell phone cameras were more of a novelty, but this is the last 4:

[2FAST4U]

This is the same Yamaha FZ1 from my first post. I totaled in on May 12, 2007. I remember the accident like it was last week. To this day, I've never understood how I walked away from it unscathed.

[keef]

not sure what i have digital pics of, over the last 20 years I've had a few.

VFR 400, ducati 996, yamaha TRX850, cbr250 ( a proper one, 4 stroke 4 cylinder 18,000 RPM screamer) a couple gsxr 600 SRADS, a gsxr 711 streetfighter ('88 750 frame, 87 1100 engine, 1196cc big bore, big carbs, GSXR1000K4 Front end, carrozzeria wheels, a proper fighter) a 1050 speed triple, a drz400 SM, a ktm640 SM (great fun), versys 650, and an MT09 currently lives next to my 5th gen fighter.

[Dutchy]

Ah.. the previous thread on this question must have been purged...... :-(

[jhenley17]

jhenley, thought I recognized that name from somewhere. I am/was madscientist from honda599.com, but I don't frequent there very much anymore.:

Ah, I recognize your name. Yeah, that place is dead. I still check it out once in a while just to see what's going on.

Awww, I love the 599! The 599 along with the 919 are just awesome classic looking bikes. I always wanted a lil hornet, but I could never find a good one in my price range(people that owned and cared about never let them go). Shame it was wrecked though. My CBR1000RR met a similar fate, but a new owner rebuilt her and is still enjoying her.

Whew, that looks like it was pretty scary. My only accidents were lowsides, so less underwear soiling, more thinking, "dammit, that was stupid. I hope the bike comes out alright," as I slid. Yeah, it was a really cool little bike, I love the look. I gave some thought to getting another one, and my wife even wanted me to get the CB1000 that was next to the VFR on the sales floor, but I wanted something different and I'm glad I went with the VFR.

[TheStig]

I don't have the oldest pics digitally saved, but my first bike was a DT175 when I was just a wee teenager in 1982. Blew it up so many times it put me off 2 stroke Yamahas forever...
I then bought an XL250S facelift model for £175.00 after I took my full licence at 18. Restored it over the course of a year or so and sold it as a minter for £900 in my 2nd year of university, to buy a bike to go touring with.
And so a great friend & I went from the UK all the way to Greece & back without using highways, visiting around 10 islands in the Cyclades, including some of the smallest ones where the locals would load our bikes on & off passenger ferry boats using ropes. We had only enough money for fuel and food - but we made it there & back. A great adventure & the best bike trip of our lives. Here, I was repairing a puncture on an empty highway. I couldn't risk losing the inner tube by riding with it deflated as we wouldn't have known where to get another in the middle of nowhere and couldn't abandon one of the bikes with the luggage attached...

The dominator (Honda NX650) was a great bike. Excellent for being a hooligan on.

As we rode back through Abruzo national park, I heard a VFR coming through the mountains, with what turned out to be a Devil exhaust. I told my friend there & then I was going to sell the Domi and buy a VFR when I got back...
And a few months later, that's what I did. It was 3 years old with 3,500 miles on it. Like new.

Here's a picture of said friend riding it on our way to the North of Spain as we traveled down in a group to holiday & celebrate our graduations for university.



I did some 65,000 further miles on it whilst modifying and improving it. Much of the mileage was completed riding in Europe too. I liked it so much that when I moved to Japan in 1998, I stored it away.

In 2005 I sold my yellow & purple CBR954RR. This picture shows the then new owner who was riding it for the first time, with my replacement bike, an RC51 VTR SP2 beside it (Which I still have, considerably modified all over).

I re-imported my VFR to Japan 3 years ago - this is how it looked after a weekend cleaning and getting it running again.

I've modified it a bit since too, it now wears my SP2's original forks, brakes, etc.

I have several other bikes aside from these two Hondas, but since they came after the VFR's latest guise & they're not relevant to this thread I won't clutter with more pics except an up to date one of the SP2.

[InterceptorPR]

InterceptorPR, I'd love to hear the story about how you put a bike in a tree, and my 599 is always for sale if you ever swing through SE Wisconsin.

It was about 4 years ago, I was on a group ride one Sunday morning. I had been on these "spirited" group rides before. That day I was feeling real brave, I followed an experienced group of riders. I was going way too fast for my skill and low sided in a corner. On the side of the road there was a ditch. The bike and I slid into the ditch, I was launched one way, the bike in another. I landed hard on my shoulder, the bike flipped and landed in that tree. Other than a broken collarbone, I was unscathed. The bike, not so much.

[Conedodger]

The one that started the obsession:

Replaced by the ST1100 and eventually the VFR:

[3dcycle]

rd250

sold

Yamaha radian totaled in Florida

2007 Honda 919 last picture is the day I brought it home with 0 miles, took it out of the crate myself.

first picture is about the time I sold it. wish I still had it if only I had the room.

[V-FORE]

TheStig

I don't have the oldest pics digitally saved, but my first bike was a DT175 when I was just a wee teenager in 1982.

I saw this and since I just found this picture in storage, 1978 DT175, I think this is 1981...my 2nd bike

1st bike I bought was a 73 Yamaha CT1 like this

Had 1 of these

Then I fell for the V-Four

The commuter & I had two others.....

I still have my '94 & 99 VFR's & a 2012 NC 700 the current commuter

[3dcycle]

hey I too started on a 1972 dt 175. though a few years after you did. thought it was cool when I finished restoring a 72 cl175 to ride. put 5000 miles on that one summer, learned a lot on that bike... like a slow bike is almost as bad as a fast bike.

[carlgustav]

I like these threads, gives us pause to look back ...

My 1st was one of these;

Mine was a bit rougher, cost me $500, rattled like crazy, may have been capable of 70 - 80mph but I couldn't tell b/c the speedo needle was bouncing all over at highway speeds ...

2nd, one of these;

Mine was a duplicate of this one, with the exception of Dunstall silencers. I made the mistake of turning her into a 'road race' replica, bodywork, clubmans ... should have left her alone. She had the 'melting' cam lobes issue many of this year had. And thank God for the kick starter, the electric start wasn't too reliable ... she was quick & handled well ...

3rd, one of these;

Mine was same color as this one. I blasted the pipes and flat blacked them before finally going to a 6-1 header, that screamed. Frame wallowed in high speed sweepers. Added clubmans later (a trend here) ... she pooped out around 110 or so, valve float ...

4th, one of these;

Mine had a custom black over red paint job, dunstalls, Windjammer III, and saddlebags. Took a 'pre-honeymoon' trip with my fiance on her from MO to ME & back. Took a post-honeymoon trip with 3 mo. pregnant wife from MO to UT & back. Very stable & handled ok, but I never rode over 75% back then anyway.

Then this;

This baby sits in my shed waiting for me to finish re-building carbs & re-installing. I hope she runs again someday ...

ACE

[jhenley17]

I took you for an Englishman based on your post until I saw your very American driveway and street. Sweet little history of bikes you've got there.

[MadScientist]

InterceptorPR, I'd love to hear the story about how you put a bike in a tree, and my 599 is always for sale if you ever swing through SE Wisconsin.

It was about 4 years ago, I was on a group ride one Sunday morning. I had been on these "spirited" group rides before. That day I was feeling real brave, I followed an experienced group of riders. I was going way too fast for my skill and low sided in a corner. On the side of the road there was a ditch. The bike and I slid into the ditch, I was launched one way, the bike in another. I landed hard on my shoulder, the bike flipped and landed in that tree. Other than a broken collarbone, I was unscathed. The bike, not so much.

And a change of shorts too, no doubt. Collarbones are no fun either, broke mine in a bicycle vs car accident when I was 19. Damn thing took forever to heal and driving stick with 1 functional arm during rush hour adds a fun new challenge!

[oldboyracer]

Started with a dt175a when I was 14 . Then got a very fast super bike honda750four at 17 . Still have them both . The dt still goes out on the trails , the 750 is currently awaiting a resto. rebuilt the motor 5 years ago time for the rest. The pic of the dt is my son learning to ride a couple of years ago , I hope the vfr is still running when it's 40 years old

[VFROZ]

1975 (my 12th birthday present, my folks regretted it ever since)

Suzuki TS90 (learned to use a clutch)

1976

Honda TL125 (learned to control a bike)

1977

Bultaco 350 Pursang (the death trap, learned to fall)

1978

Honda XL 250 Motorsport (learned to survive riding on the road)

1979

1980 (learned about long rides)

1983 (learned to ride fast)

1984 (learned to fix bikes)

1985 (learned what a bike could do)

1986 (learned that there are some bikes that can do everything well)

1988 (learned to ride faster and longer)

1991 (learned that you can fall in love with a pig)

2013 (fell in love all over again, but no pig this time)

[TheStig]

Interesting to see several of us started out on air cooled DT175's. The previous owner of mine had worked in a bike shop and had it ported. It would go pretty well for a teenager & his cousin to ride, but man it would seize so easily!
Bike was in Portugal for riding around my parent's place & on the beach, we lived in UK.... and there were no parts for the Yamaha sold in Portugal those days, not anybody to rebuild it...

So I remember checking a large sausage bag into a flight with a freshly rebuilt engine and all my books to study for my final exams at school and the look on the face of the lady when I put the bag on the scales.

In those day I could just plead poverty and they'd let the bag through. Now it would have probably set off a security protocol and demand dismantlin the engineg to ensure it's not a bomb... and astronomical excess luggage charges.
The bag made it to Portugal, customs charged a pittance to let it through and I rode for the holiday before it seized a few months afterward at the hands of my cousin. I never did make any use of the books during that vacation.

My XL250S worked fine in UK, but when I got it to Portugal, I only rode it about 100 miles before the chocolate cam chain snapped. I ended up bringing it back to the UK inside the trunk of a 1973 Benz 300D. UK Customs & Excise were curious why the back was so low and were bemused to find an entire UK registered bike in there. Restored it from there and so the adventures on 2 wheels continued..

[Cogswell]

My '95 4th gen circa July, 1997. Bought it with 3,000 miles on the clock. The seller had bought it for his son "who didn't care much for riding" (his loss!). It was love at first sight. I had to have it. It was bone stock except for the tank bra.

A later photo from August, 1998. I had bobbed the fender (still don't know why I did that) and added the 2 Brothers slip on. Just over a year later I traded it for my then-new 1999 5th gen which I still have today. The 2 Brothers pipe stayed and with a different connector pipe is now on the '99. Sure wish I could have kept it but life dictates many things. I've often wondered what became of it.

[Ultimatevfr]

The one that started it all for me, alum tank , rims , modified rear shocks and I was good to go. After riding it a few yrs ,dad tweeked the motor to get 22hp. Wasnt real fast, but with its gearing,Id swear it could climb a telephone pole.

[BusyLittleShop]

My 1966 Honda S90


Same Spot 43 Years Later on Mr.RC45...

43 Years bike by bike...

1963... It all started with a set of mini bike plans from the back of
Popular Mechanics...

1964... You never forget your real first motorcycle ride and neither
do I... mine began on friends step through Honda 50... I got on the
saddle... I opened the twist the grip and took off and immediacy
stopped thinking... I was frozen on the controls heading straight for
a wire fence... the fence didn't end it... thanks to back wheel
digging in the front tire began a steady climb up the fence... I was
so impressed with the amount of driving force that I did the one thing
I knew would stop it... I lifted the rear wheel off ground... as the
engine raced and with the back tire spinning madly did I remember what
the throttle was for... OK this is not as easy as it looks... sorry no
pic...

1965... First bike I purchased was a Honda C 200 a iron barrel push
rod 90... it lasted two weeks before I traded it in on a Honda S90 at
Bar-B Marina...


1965... First new bike was a Honda S-90... I'd wake up in the morning
and just ride... anywhere was good... across the Bay Bridge it didn't
matter... just racing at 60 mph was enough of a challenge out of
8HP... it helped to have a tail wind...

I'm being honest... when I'm on a bike and it don't feel right to
me... I stop thinking about riding and start thinking about a
solution... and thats been true since 1967 when I inadvertently spun a
donut in the dirt on my Honda S90... I thought there was something
wrong because it had never done that before... I stopped riding and
disassemble the whole bike looking for clues... only after the engine
was on the ground that it finally struck my mind that maybe sliding
was something to be played with... I assembled the whole mess back
together and so began my love affair for donuts and dirt...



1966... Honda CL160... wow real power for two up riding and romance...
in fact Mary and I first kiss happened on a ride...


1967... After we got married and moved to San Bernardino... Mary felt
daring enough to take pics of my CL160 as it jumped over her...


First competition was a USAF sponsored gymnkana or skills test... I
was surprised to take 4 of the 5 trophies... I'm never 100% happy with
my riding skills...



I thought the Honda CL160 was a dirt bike... it was good on jumps but
poor on landings... taking 3 bounces to settled down...


1969... Busy Little Shop #1 was the living room in our first
cottage... our Land Lady wasn't happy with bike parts inside her spot
less rental... so I used the lamp shade over the frame trick to hide
the fact I was building a motorcycle... never the less she swore I
was a member of the Hells Angel...


1970... Kawasaki 350 BigHorn... I was asked to perform movie stunt
work for a Air Force Now film but after my wheelie crash the USAF
enlistment board denied my request for enlistment based on their
initial perception that I had "no personal concern for my safety"...
My film director had to set the record straight...




1972... CR 250 Husqvarna that I raced in the CRC SoCal Motocross and
enjoyed the sandy beaches of Ensenada Mexico...




Busy Little Shop #2 was in the spare bedroom of our Land Lady's second
rental... she never gave up the notion that I would move the bike
outside and make room for kids inside... little did she understand
that some of us like motorcycles better...


1976... WR250 Husqvarna... my version of a street legal dirt bike...




1978... My first time over 100mph was on Waldo's hand built Z1
complete with Ocelot fairings... I though you must be nuts to ride at
those speeds...


1979... While stationed in Japan I bought a CR250R Honda direct from a
Honda factory worker who must have pilfered some extra parts... I
recall that the Japanese government turned me down 5 times for a
street legal license plate... So I raced the CR in the black sands of
Fuji MX park...



1980... Busy Little Shop #3 was inside our home in Japan... P5
Ushihama Heights Tokyo To...


1981... I'll never forget meeting Hirotoshi Honda #1 son of Soichiro
Honda


1980... Z400FX Kawasaki... Japanese 4 unique to the home market... I
painted the wheels School Bus yellow and installed a Honda fairing and
tail cowl... It was deemed the Circus Wheeled Kawasaki by the Honda
factory workers at the Saitama Honda Plant they christened the frame
with a sticker "Made by Honda Motors LTD"...



1981... While stationed in Wichita Kansas I ordered a new GPz550 from
East Side Honda... 3 days later I was off for a 1500 mile round trip
to New York and back... next summer I rode home to California and
back... I got the 3 spoke magnesium Dymags direct from Harris
Performance while on a TDY to England courtesy of the USAF...


1986... XC400 Husqvarna... another Husky I made into a street legal
dirt bike... I mainly rode Little Sahara State Park... the Park
Rangers would check for your steel whip antenna and orange flag at
the entrance... I didn't mind the flag but steel whip antenna would
give my helmet a nasty whack every time I stopped... it got so that
I'd jettisoned the antenna and then ride out of sight from the
rangers patrolling in their dune buggies...

1984... 84 VF500F Interceptor... my first love affair with the V4
begins...


1988... 86 VF500F Interceptor from Golden Gate Cycles... I engineered
this into famous Belt-0-Ceptor... I racked up 98,000 trouble free
miles...



1998... 94 RC45 found in Tijuana Mexico for 8K...

[duccmann]

Cool look back and love the pictures....glad I got ta meet ya and enjoy the story and drooling over the 45 a the WSB round last year....