All that talk of new motorbikes has got me wanting to see bikes from my era.
My first job was in a body shop that also sold motorbikes. Sometimes the new bikes were uncrated in my state of the art workshop.
Here we see a Z1300 being born in 1981. It was bloody massive. My TS 50 can be seen behind.
smoothest torquey and most underbraked bike I ever rode.
Not sure I have photos of them all but here's a few.
Suzuki GS400 was mine. In some nice company too.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/4051/5124457232_ef083d9ef8_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/4051/5124457232_ef083d9ef8_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/8NQbAU ]Loch Lomond[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
GS750 with ST fairing. Made it on a few long trips with this one, including the Bol D'Or. It got hammered going up and down the M1/M6 when I was working in London and coming home to Edinburgh every third weekend. The white fairing helped clear the fast lane.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/4047/5124456136_b33225d6f5_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/4047/5124456136_b33225d6f5_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/8NQbh1 ]Contin - Riverside Campsite[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/4072/5124458020_dfb5d2e062_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/4072/5124458020_dfb5d2e062_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/8NQbQu ]South of France[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
Ducati Darmah with Jota bars and a Dunstall fairing. Had this for quite a while, including a couple of Euro trips.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/1351/5124451028_0b633ee69b_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/1351/5124451028_0b633ee69b_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/8NQ9KW ]img008[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
This is on the "wee" road between Arisaig and Morar
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49472995931_8afc0f7e5f_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49472995931_8afc0f7e5f_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2inL35t ]Darmah_Arisaig[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
Suzuki RV125 I bought while one of my other bikes was off the road. Had a great laugh on it.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49472552243_76e057ffb9_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49472552243_76e057ffb9_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2inHLbF ]RV125[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
Katana 1100. A head turner from day 1. It was subsequently stolen from outside my work one night.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/6059/6402272683_ea0d2219ca_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/6059/6402272683_ea0d2219ca_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/aKKjBM ]Kat-Crop[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
Suzuki RG250. Just the most fun thing you can imagine riding. Struggled on long rides to keep up with my larger-capacity friends but would happily overtake them on any bend you could point at.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49473002566_eeffdd2036_w.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49473002566_eeffdd2036_w.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2inL53S ]Gamma01[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
I'll see if I can find a few others.
Morini 500
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49473082266_86bee068b4_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49473082266_86bee068b4_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2inLtK1 ]Morini[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
I called it my Marmite 500. Lovely to ride but it seized on me twice, both on long/fast motorway journeys. Turned out that the fuel hose - carried over from the 350 - wasn't large enough to feed both carbs at full chat, so it would run lean and then - BANG! I eventually wangled claimed on the warranty and that's what led me to buy the Darmah.
Here's a couple of mine
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1986 XT600
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1985 FZ750
I've had the xt for 11 years,it's currently parked in a corner of the garage with what appears to be a snapped crank..
I've had the FZ since 1991,it's currently on the bike bench getting rebuilt.
One of my mate's is currently rebuilding a Z1300,it looks perfect but it's cost him over 10 grand so far!
This was the best bike I ever had ,pictured somewhere in Wales. I later bought a GT750 and it wasn't as fast as my 550. All my friends with bigger bikes were amazed by it.
Nice Krausers
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/3946/15736002076_eb8b7c787d_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/3946/15736002076_eb8b7c787d_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pYx8bC ]img157[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr
And my worst. Luckily it wasn't my only bike as it would fall to bits on a regilar basis. Italways started first kick and never leaked oil though.
It looked good to go to the pub on and my girlfriend liked to go pillion on it. Thats my dad. not my girlfriend in the picture!
Oh man,I loved those Z13's and those Katanas.
I had a 550 Katana but it didn't have the very distinctive fairing. Not sure I ever had a photo of it and wrote it off in London.
Can't find my pics just now but hopefully I've got pics of my
Mt50, rd125, z250 scorpion, kz550, gs550, gs400, pk50, 1974 z900, gsx400, gsx750 👍
I had a 550 Katana but it didn’t have the very distinctive fairing. Not sure I ever had a photo of it and wrote it off in London.
My neighbour has a red Katana 550. I think he rides it twice a year.
My uncle had a z1300, my step dad had a gt750.
They both owned this before me!
Hi all
Certainly some memories there. This is my early riding era.
No photos I’m afraid but in terms of bikes mine are:
Suzuki AP50
Honda XL125
Kawasaki KL250
Yamaha RD350LC
Suzuki GSX250
Suzuki GS550
Suzuki GS550 Katana
Kawasaki GPz600
Suzuki RG250
Suzuki GS750
Suzuki GSX750
Kawasaki GPz900R
Suzuki GSF1200 Bandit
Honda CBR600
Kawasaki ZXR636
Aprilia RSV1000 Tuono
Triumph Speed Triple 1050R (current)
Just typing that made me go all misty eyed
Cheers
Steve
Honda MTX 50 (1987)
Yamaha DT50 (with DT80 engine bored out to 95cc & logged as a 50cc)
Yamaha RD350 YPVS
Kawasaki KR1 250
TDR 250 YPVS with TZR250 wheels
Suzuki Bandit 1200
KTM Duke2 (split in two when it met a Yaris)
Gilera Runner 180SP
Vespa GTS 250 (2008)
I'll see if I can did some pics out later.
Gerelli KL50
Suzuki GS125
Honda CD200
MZ 251
Honda Bros 400
Making a new woodruff key for the magneto using a pair of pliers and a rock to thin it to size.
Sprung hub Thunderbird on the Corrieyairack (before it was closed to vehicles). Note the sandals, and the pissed off wench slumped against the door of the hut. 🙂
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/7015/27089491901_1c34ee7184_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/7015/27089491901_1c34ee7184_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
AJS 350 Trials
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/3731/10999144673_8ef1115bf7_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/3731/10999144673_8ef1115bf7_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Armstrong Siddeley Whitley, Norton International, Triumph ISDT Trophy
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8163/7254790092_560c43398c_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8163/7254790092_560c43398c_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
That pic of Onion jumping his Darmah was the first thing I saw after signing up to this place.
Nice one fella, great pics.
Best hosting site?
I'll have to scan some pictures
Puch m2 sports 'ped
BSA Bantam
Honda H100s
Suzuki 125 of some sort
BSA gold Flash
BMW K1000RS
BMW R1100RS
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/3101/2548475585_93aaf50537_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/3101/2548475585_93aaf50537_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/4TcB1e ]bsa 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr
KR-1S C3
ZX-7R P1
First gen R6
ZX-9R E1
KTM 640 supermoto
GSXR-1000 K1
Bit of a break and now a KTM 950 SMR
Yamaha MT03
GSXR600 SRAD
Buell XB12STT
Triumph Speed Triple 1050
RM125X
TS50ER
TS125X
RD400E with a stage 3 tune, TZ350 pipes and a sidewinder sidecar. On L plates.
DT175MX registered as a 125
RD350LC with Swarbrick pipes.
GS750
RD350LC with a Stan Stevens proddy tune and Swarbricks.
FZ600
VFR400R with Micron titanium full race exhaust, raced by Sandra Barnett at the IoM TT
CBR600
The same VFR400R (the CBR was boring in comparison)
RD350LC YPVS which handles so badly that after the first time I rode it hard I got the spanners out and checked the wheel and swinging arm spindles because I thought they must be loose! I then bought a KR1S rolling chassis and attempted to transplant the YPVS engine but work and real life got in the way so I had to sell it.
ZXR600
I think that’s it. Haven’t owned a bike for over 10 years now but I did think about buying a trials bike last summer. Never got around to it though.
Oh yeah, I forgot the GN400 rat bike I had while Sandra borrowed the VFR. Ace fun, used to ride it like a flat tracker.
Kmx200
Cbr 400
Guzzi v50
BMW r100gs
Honda firestorm
R1100rs
Honda varedero (had one for work as well)
Triumph bonneville t100 newer version
K1100 lt (worst bike of the lot which is odd as I had a work k1100rs and it was great)
Kwaker gt550
Another kmx200
Currently tmax 250 scooter, a non-working bantam and Honda c90 (one of the best bikes I’ve owned)
Yamaha RD125LC
Yamaha RD250LC
Yamaha RD350 YPVS
Yamaha SR500 - the only bike I wish I still had. YYP 363T, where are you now?
Yamaha DT125LC for Devon green lane fun
Kawasaki Z1000J2 lump fitted in a Z650 rolling chassis
Royal Enfield 500 in India
Ducati Monster 796 - last of the proper air cooled Ducati’s. Analogue as no ABS or traction control. Fitted with Termis and the race ECU. Loved this bike
Kawasaki Z900A2 - bought back from a friend after myself & another friend imported it from California during the great Zed drain of the early 1990s. Planned to try and do a Sanctuary style resto but it was always going to be a money pit. Sold it for 3 times what I paid for it though...
BMW S1000XR - the only bike I’ve ever bought brand new. What an amazing bike but only a matter of time until I lost my licence. Effortlessly fast and laden with tech. Had lots of fun on this but sold it to buy a motorhome
Honda MSX125 fitted with knobblies to go in the moho garage. Probably gets more attention than any bike I’ve ever had!
Fizzer
CB100 (the original 70’s one, not 100N)
CG125
RD350LC
CB250RS
GP100
RD350LC
RD350YPVS
RD400
ZX4
GN250J (I think. Some ‘custom’ shaped Suzuki thing)
GPZ900R
I think I may have missed a couple.
If we're making lists
Honda SS50 5 speed
Honda CB125T At 17 I passed my test on that
Suzuki GT250 Ram Air,rewired by a farmer,had it delivered on the back of a farm trailer.That bike was a learning experience...
Suzuki 250 X7 That one ate through CDI units for some reason
Yamaha XJ550 The only new bike I've owned.First trip down to the south of France on this one
Yamaha 250LC & another for spares.I proddie raced this before I gave up due to lack of funds & talent.I went to the Bol D'or on this & got on the track & did a few laps of Circuit Paul Ricard.
Kawasaki Z650 Needed a bike quickly to go away on at Easter,bought a dog..A couple of years later It cost more in oil than petrol riding it back from Barcelona.
Yamaha FZ750 It's photo's up there ^^^ That one has also done a few laps of Circuit Paul Ricard
Yamaha XT600 I bought that as a project,it had suffered a hard life,the only major component I didn't replace was the crank & that appears to have snapped..
My 'modern moto' is a Street Triple
Oh yeah,there were a couple of Fizzy's in there too
Cb250 rs
Z500
Rd350 ypvs
Fzr600
Gpz600r
Trx 850 wish I'd kept
Gsxr750 srad
Vtr firestorm
BMW 650 funduro
Fzs 600 fazer
Same pissed off wench as in other photo, but 2 children later, another continent, and 5 years later.
She's smiling because I'm just dropping her off after a 1,100 km mainly on dirt from Mt Isa earlier that day and I was heading on a further 350 km north that afternoon to be ready for work the next day.
Back then the BMW was the only bike able to be ridden hard all day like that. It had long travel suspension compared to other bikes and could sit at relatively high speeds all day on any surface.
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Previous bikes
Suzuki GP100
Suzuki GS400
Beamish Suzuki RL250
Suzuki GS550
Suzuki TS100
Fantic 240
Honda XL250
Kawasaki GPZ550
Currently have
BMW R1200GS
BMW R1150GS
Honda CBR600F
Montesa 315R
Yamaha TY175
TL125
KT250
XR185
PE175N
RM125C
RM250X
DR370/RM250 hybrid
RM465Z
RM500D
DR250
wasn't really into road bikes, but had for transport at various times-
CG110
air cooled RD350
GSX1100
GPZ550
and as a grown up, just because I'd always wanted one,
450 Desmo
couple of back-in-the-day scans
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/2685/4472324149_dc1e5b3053_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/2685/4472324149_dc1e5b3053_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/7PcQa4 ]img002[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/oobie1/ ]oobie38[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/2800/4472324339_ba5776c329_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/2800/4472324339_ba5776c329_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/7PcQdk ]img003[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/oobie1/ ]oobie38[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/4045/4473101610_fe0a432851_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/4045/4473101610_fe0a432851_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/7PgPgy ]Ruapuna - RM500D[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/oobie1/ ]oobie38[/url], on Flickr
I often thought one of those big strokers like the RM500 would have been real fun in a good road chassis. You could put together a proper cafe racer weighing less than 300lbs.
Actually, still think that. 🙂
Let's test my image hosting: From first to last:
TS185 field bike (this still exists, somewhere in the family)
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Z400J - the result of a young lad with some money in his pocket buying the first bike he sees...
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I re-sprayed it in my bedroom at university. Never let me down.
GPz550 - went everywhere on this (incl France & Spain). Great bike.
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Finally, the object of my adolescent dreams*. Oddly, I haven't got a picture of mine, but it was *just* like this:
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There were various other borrowed bikes along the way, but the only other one I owned was a Suzuki A100 that I bought for a summer in Aberdeen.
*some of them, anyway.
No pictures but..
FSIE
Dt175
RD250lc
RD0350lc
GPZ900R
DT125lc
Husqvarna CR250 83 tin tank...
Husqvarna WR240 84
KDX200
RMX250
KTM125 94
KTM125 96
TM300 98
HRD125 2000
RM250 97 vinduro bike
My old pictures have all been lost, so a list:
Lambretta TV175 (bored to 200, Wal Phillips fuel injector - lethal)
Lambretta SX150
Then a switch to bikes:
Triumph Tiger Cub
Yamaha RD200
Honda TL125
Bultaco Sherpa 350
Yamaha RD 250
Then a long break, to:
Suzuki SV650
Triumph TT600
Triumph Speed Triple 955i (possibly my favourite of all)
Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Triumph Speed Triple 1050
Triumph Tiger 800
Triumph Bonneville T100
Triumph Tiger 800XC
And currently: BMW F800R Sport. (Considering a Triumph Speed Twin 1200 next)
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49479115102_49bc820b37.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49479115102_49bc820b37.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ioip6q ]XT250[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/48687436@N05/ ]Dicky Boy 500[/url], on Flickr
XT250 bought after I'd failed my test on a hire bike & reconned that a 250 would look less illegal to ride around on
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49478413008_fdc25c8982.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49478413008_fdc25c8982.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ioeNom ]XL500[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/48687436@N05/ ]Dicky Boy 500[/url], on Flickr
Stolen recovered XL500, once rode it too up Swansea to London in mid winter
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49478413163_0d3c580845.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49478413163_0d3c580845.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ioeNr2 ]Morini 500[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/48687436@N05/ ]Dicky Boy 500[/url], on Flickr
Morini 500 at my first Bulldog bash
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49478413203_66c16347eb.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49478413203_66c16347eb.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ioeNrH ]Lemans mk5[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/48687436@N05/ ]Dicky Boy 500[/url], on Flickr
Company LeMans at euro demo 1994
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49478893761_90356bf726.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49478893761_90356bf726.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iohgic ]Guzzi Lemans[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/48687436@N05/ ]Dicky Boy 500[/url], on Flickr
Me on at mates Le Mans - inspired me to buy the one above
Well spotted - Aberfoyle.
@56.1782433,-4.3826995,3a,75y,347.5h,72.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYBbuV8vG4rXAPo9LJEj3Pg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656"> https://www.google.co.uk/maps/ @56.1782433,-4.3826995,3a,75y,347.5h,72.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYBbuV8vG4rXAPo9LJEj3Pg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Ha! I knew it was one or tother. Loving the colour clash leathers and bike.:)
