rktman1

Antonio, While I agree that there isn't a single modern HD that could make the top 20, surely in 100 years of motorcycling, there is a Harley that would be considered "leading edge" in its time. Tim

Yeah. There are quite a few bikes missing. I'm not a Harley fan but surely a HD model would make the top 20. How about the BMW R90? Etc. Etc. Tim

1 - Ducati 916 2 - Honda CBR900RR 3 - Vincent Black Shadow 4 - Yamaha R1 5 - Honda VFR750R RC30 6 - Honda CB 750 7 - Triumph T-120 Bonneville 8 - Kawasaki Z1 9 - Honda RC166 10 - BSA DBD34 Gold Star 11 - Brough Superior SS100 12 - Suzuki GSX-R750 13 - Honda VFR750F 14 - Kawasaki GPZ900R 15 - Moto Guzzi LeMans Mk I 16 - Suzuki GSX1100 Katana 17 - Yamaha RD350LC 18 - Honda CBR600F 19 - MV Augusta 750S 20 - Kawasaki H1 Mach III

I asked Steve Preter, Renaissance M/C here in Tucson, about the 1100 Breva and the MGS and he said: Breva - maybe by the end of this year, MGS - not this year. Tim

Yes. I bought one for my ZX12R, which had a plastic tank (cover?). They also sell sheets that you can cut yourself to fit - like the sides of the tank where your knees might rub. Tim

This is on the cover of the latest Cycle World magazine. Haven't had a chance to read it though... Tim

Is there a way to find an old m/c review in Motorcyclist, Cycle World, or Rider magazine without looking thru each issue? I have 10+ years of these magazines and it would be great if there was an index somewhere which listed all the bikes that have been road tested. I've been to the websites for these magazines and couldn't find an index. I've even sent e-mails to the websites asking if their was an index - no response. It's pretty easy to find reviews of new popular bikes, say a 2001 model. I just go to late 2000 and early 2001 - it's usually there. But other, less popular bikes... Tim

Here's a better picture. I didn't own a digital camera when I took this a year and a half ago so the quality isn't the best...

The guy let me sit on it while it was idling. The heads-up instrument display was really interesting. I can't describe it but it looked like a holograph. He said that there were only three of them in the SW: His, Nicholas Cage, and some other name I didn't recognize. He took it for a ride that day - down to the Circle-K to buy a pack of cigarettes and then back home. Not sure I could own a bike that I was afraid to ride. Tim

TX, you're too sharp. This was too easy. Here's a link about the designer... http://www.motorcycledesign.com/News_Info/...ody_kohama.html

Winter? What is that? But we pay for it in the summer. It is said here that we have two seasons: Summer and HELL.

This bike was owned by the guy from whom I bought my 929RR. He is rather well-off and had WAY too many EXPENSIVE toys (the 929RR didn't qualify as one of his expensive toys). When I took this picture the bike was sitting in his driveway, idling. It only had about 800 miles on it and he said that he had an offer for $80,000, which he declined. I think there were only 200 made. Tim

I will most likely pass on this bike. I haven't contacted the seller. Yeah, I agree about customized bikes. As soon as I hear "custom paint job" I immediately think "must have wrecked it and had to get it repainted". And even if this isn't true, from what I've seen, a $1000 custom paint job on an almost-new bike reduces the value of the bike about the same amount. Tim

Three of them were purchased used and yes, here in southern AZ I can ride almost every day of the year. In fact, I enjoy riding here in winter the best. I commute, on average, 4 days a week, using the Aprilia for the gravel road shortcut and the Ducati or Guzzi for the paved road "long way around". I usually take a morning ride every Sunday (100 miles average). Yes. I have time to ride them. But I don't ride the 929RR too often; maybe every other week - I bought it (used) so my son would have something to ride when he comes down to visit. He doesn't like to ride my "old man bikes". BTW, If I had the space and didn't mind the insurance cost, I'd own a dozen bikes! Tim

Thanks for the comments. I figured you guys would know the specifics. I agree about "seeing/riding" before buying. I can't buy a bike unseen/unridden - ie. ebay bikes half-way across the country. Just couldn't do it. A group of high-resolution digital pictures from all 4 sides might be good enough for the "seeing" part but I have to be there when it is started COLD and I have to ride it. The only reason I'm half-way interested in this bike is because it is in Phoenix, only a 2-hour drive from Tucson. Thanks, Tim

An ad in CycleTrader for a bike in the Phoenix area... http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/1/4/77928714.htm 1976 MOTO GUZZI 850, Cafe Racer, hi quality, very fast, exc cond, recent cosmetics and tuneup, rare exotic bike, exc tires, only needs batt and new owner, 23K mi, $2950 Is this a good deal? Tim

I don't know what the 'CB' part means but Honda has designated their bikes with 'CB' since the 60's. The CB750, CB350, etc. The 'R' part of 'CBR' is for 'Race', as in race-replica.

Janusz, I didn't really mean YOU. Just the bike. There's almost no way to talk yourself out of a ticket riding a sport bike. I've owned quite a few sport bikes - never ridden them the way they were designed to be ridden - but I do like the leading-edge technology. Now, why do I like the LeMans? I've said this before: Riding a sport bike is like flying an F-18; riding the LeMans is like flying a late-40s P-51 Mustang. Both cool! Ride safe. Tim

I think every motorcyclist should own (or at least ride) a liter race-replica once in their lives. The power (140-160 HP) in a 440 lb bike, along with wonderful handling is truly frightening. You can get yourself into a bad situation QUICKLY. Don't get me wrong. I love my 03 LeMans, but it seems like a big heavy tank after riding my 929RR. Be careful Janusz! The cops are waiting for you... Tim

I think a Hayabusa is a Japanese hawk/eagle/falcon so the name is pretty cool - just sounds funny in the original language. My vote goes for bad is 'Volusia'. My favorite is, of course, LeMans, but I've always liked the name 'SuperHawk' - since the mid-60s. Tim

I have a 2001 CBR929RR, Erion Edition, with Erion racing pipe and PowerCommander. I bought it so my son would have something to ride when he comes to visit - he doesn't like to ride my "old man" bikes. It has about 2.5K miles and I ride it 50 miles or so every other week. Is it comfortable? No. Is it fast? YES! Does it handle good? Yes. Is it smooth? Yes. This bike only weighs 440 lbs wet, 110 lbs lighter than my LeMans, with 50 more HP. While I love my LeMans, these occasional 50-mile rides do give me a thrill. Tim

Yes! And use one of their loaner bikes (usually Honda 250 NightHawk or Buell Blast here in Tucson) so she can dump one of those and not her own bike. Tim

I'd agree with the dual sports / dirt bike suggestion but these tend to have high saddles compared to most street bikes. It depends on how tall she is. I'd recommend a used Suzuki SV650 ($3000-$4000), a good light modern beginner bike - and a bike she won't grow out of soon (if at all). Tim

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like most here feel that Guzzi has created their own problems. BTW, my moniker, rktman1, doesn't have anything to do with motorcycles or how I ride. It's a nickname I got in High School playing football. I could motor fast in a straight line, no moves, and ended up as an offensive guard (sort of like right field in baseball). I should drop it now since it really doesn't apply any more. Tim

BTW, I was reading a comparo of the BMW F650 and the Aprilia Pegaso 650 on the Rider Magazine website and it stated that both bikes are built in the same factory in northern Italy. Almost identical components for both bikes. The article also stated the wet weights were 440 lbs. Jeez. This is heavier than my 929RR. 70 lbs heavier than a KLR650, 100 lbs heavier than the XR650L and DR650, and 140 lbs heavier than the DRZ400S. Tim