Past Bikes

[Andreas]

Hi y'all! I was curious what everyone has ridden in the past, and what they miss about them or don't after coming to the MT07!

 

Here's what I've owned:

2006 Ninja 250-

Miss: Redlining every single gear & it's the only bike I've ever scraped the foot pegs on in a curve

Don't miss: Carburetors

 

1997 Ducati ST2-

Miss: Comfort, torque, exhaust sound, dry clutch, hard bags (basically everything)  

Don't miss: Reliability, in 8 months it needed clutch replacement, spilled all its coolant out twice, new starter & solenoid and stopped charging the battery

 

These are the only other bikes I've ever owned, honestly wish I still had both sitting right here next to the Yamaha. I think a big part of this isn't as much the bike performance, but the incredible memories I made and people I met as a result of them.

 

Please post about your past bikes and include pictures if you want! 

 

 

[sunblock]

1989 Yamaha TownMate T50
Miss: Simple to maintain, low cost, shaft instead of chain.
Don't miss: Awful brakes, awful suspension, awful everything!

1999 Gilera Stalker
Miss: Agile, low cost
Don't miss: The smell of 2-stroke on my clothes

1995 Honda CB400 SuperFour (wikipedia still has my photo. The blue one)
Miss: Amazing engine and sound, 4 cylinders, great acceleration, classic looks, cheap parts.
Don't miss: Breaking down all the time, rusty fuel tank.

2007 Aprilia Pegaso Strada
Miss: Upright position, amazing flipping ability, fun to ride
Don't miss: Power gap in low RPM, problems with fuel pump and ignition switch

2014 Yamaha MT-07 (FZ-07)
Like: Great engine, loads of power, sexy looks, ABS.
Don't like: Wind, so much wind!!, Garbage seat, garbage rear suspension.
 

[FZ07R WaNaB]

Here's a list of the bikes I have had. In different ways, I miss everyone of them. The sad/crazy part is there are more that I have owned and forgotten about.

 

Rupp Roadster 2

Carabela 125MX

CZ 250 MX

CZ 250 MX (2nd one)

CZ 400 MX

Can-Am TNT 250

 

Yamaha LT2 100 Enduro

Yamaha 100 MX

Yamaha 175MX

 Yamaha DT175

Yamaha RD250

Yamaha RD350

Yamaha TY250

Yamaha TY350

Yamaha 650 Maxim

Yamaha 750 Maxim

Yamaha 750 Seca

Yamaha 750 Seca (2nd one)

Yamaha XT225

Yamaha TTR225

Yamaha IT175

Yamaha IT250

Yamaha FZ-07

 

 

Suzuki PE250

Suzuki PE250 (2nd one)

Suzuki PE250 (3rd one)

Suzuki PE250 (4th one)

Suzuki RM250

Suzuki DS80

Suzuki DR350

 

Honda CRF70

Honda CRF80

Honda SL100

Honda TL125

Honda CR125

Honda XR200R

Honda 750 Nighthawk

Honda TM200

[michigan400]

Now that's a list, WaNaB!! Holy crap. Have not heard CZ mentioned in a looong time! Nice!

 

 

My list -

 

197? Honda XR75 - 1st bike and what I learned to on. I miss the bad-@$$, full sized, orange Hodoka front fender I had on it. Matched the silver and various other spray painted colors on it (NOT!!) Can't remember the model year though. Just that I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

 

1983 XL185 - Original owner screwed up and left the plate on it. I was 14 and ran that sucker all over the back roads and went waaay to far away from home on it. Beat the living sh!t out of it for quite a while. I would jump it high enough that the pegs would bend and drag in the dirt when I landed.

 

1980 or '81 YZ125 - I think it was the only model year that had the radiator mounted where the headlight should be. Weird,,, but definitely had superior suspension to the old XL185. Ran it for about a year until I blew it up in a sand pit. Tried rebuilding the motor in my bedroom but it didn't work out so well. 

 

1978 or '79 Suzuki PE175 - FUN, FUN, FUN bike!! Faster than the YZ with a ton more torque. Great trail bike. Sold to get a car. Stupid move.

 

Long spell with nothing. Was in high school and wanted cars and money to take girls out so no extra cash for toys. Another stupid move. I will admit to buying a 4 wheeler in my mid 20's. Stupid move that ripped up the tendons in my left leg. At least it did get me back into riding.

 

2003 Honda XR400 - Still got the ole girl. Dual sported up nicely and runs good. Not fast or anything but a great trail bike and 2 track bomber.

 

2004 KTM 450EXC - Still have this one as well. Considering doing a complete tear down on it this winter and getting it back in top shape. Right now it's beat down and tired from quite a few years of single tracking riding in Northern Michigan. Lots of fun camping and trail riding with the orange beast over the years.

 

2017 FZ-07 - 1st street only bike I've ever owned. 

 

That's it for me!

[Liquidmetal]

YZ60

YZ80

YZ125

DT125

KZ650SR

EX500

Magna 1100

Ninja 600

ZX-6

Bandit 1200

Vulcan 750 (current)

FZ-07 (current)

[Beemer]

I've only owned a few bikes on and off over the years, nothing worth mentioning again, really.

Have you put up any pics of your FZ-07? Did I miss them?

[FZ07R WaNaB]

3 hours ago, michigan400 said:

Have not heard CZ mentioned in a looong time!

The crazy thing is that I had those CZ's only 10-15 years ago when I was into AHRMA motocross.

[Cruizin]

7 hours ago, FZ07R WaNaB said:

Here's a list of the bikes I have had. In different ways, I miss everyone of them. The sad/crazy part is there are more that I have owned and forgotten about.

 

Rupp Roadster 2

Carabela 125MX

CZ 250 MX

CZ 250 MX (2nd one)

CZ 400 MX

Can-Am TNT 250

 

Yamaha LT2 100 Enduro

Yamaha 100 MX

Yamaha 175MX

 Yamaha DT175

Yamaha RD250

Yamaha RD350

Yamaha TY250

Yamaha TY350

Yamaha 650 Maxim

Yamaha 750 Maxim

Yamaha 750 Seca

Yamaha 750 Seca (2nd one)

Yamaha XT225

Yamaha TTR225

Yamaha IT175

Yamaha IT250

Yamaha FZ-07

 

 

Suzuki PE250

Suzuki PE250 (2nd one)

Suzuki PE250 (3rd one)

Suzuki PE250 (4th one)

Suzuki RM250

Suzuki DS80

Suzuki DR350

 

Honda CRF70

Honda CRF80

Honda SL100

Honda TL125

Honda CR125

Honda XR200R

Honda 750 Nighthawk

Honda TM200

Love that list of bikes! 

[bornagainbiker]

Here is my list of bikes.  The ones I miss the most are the KZ 650s from the late 70s because they were light, nimble fast and reliable--a lot like the FZ 07.  The one I miss the least is the Chaparral because it was so unreliable and hard to get parts for.

 

Can Am:

 

1976 250 Street/Trail

 

Chaparral:

 

1974 80 Street/Trail

 

Honda:

 

1970 C 50

1975 CB 750

 

Kawasaki:

 

1972 175 Street/Trail

1976 400 Triple

1977 175 Street/Trail

1977 400 Triple

1977 500 Triple

1977 KZ 650

1978 KZ 650 (2)

1978 Z1R 1000

1980 KZ 440

1984 KZ 440

 

Suzuki:

 

1973 500 twin

1976 GT 380

1978 185 Street/Trail

 

Yamaha:

 

1972 RD 250

1975 650 Twin

1976 YZ 125

1977 RD 400

1977 500 Twin

2016 FZ 07

[rick]

Seriously, one heck of a list

 

My list

1965 Honda CB72 (Hawk 250) - commute to and from college and one summer job - was broken a bunch.

 

1972 Honda CB500 four - more commute and summer jobs, but also took me to Colorado and back in 1974

 

1976 BMW R90/6 - aka the "Brown Stain", so dubbed by my, erm, friends, lol. Lots of miles. One big trip from SW PA to Maine and back via WVA, Virginia and Maryland.

 

1982 BMW R100RS in smoke red. Weebles wobble, but they don't fall down. 4 season commuter, camper, everything bike. Put 65k miles on it. Some of those living in Colorado for a couple years. Kinda wish i still had it, even though it had a driveshaft oil leak issue we could not fix in 1997. 

 

1996 BMW K1100RSA. Black and silver beauty and land yacht at 630 lbs w/63" wheelbase. It ate front tires and brake pads and let you know in no uncertain terms that all the heat from the motor passed under the aluminum tank and the seat. Damn, that thing was hot on yer private bits. The motor (built w/parts missing ) and FI had issues from day 1. Even lost a radiator cause the fan slipped forward on the shaft and drilled a hole in the back - sheesh. I was told it blew up on the next guy.

 

no more BMWs, for me. 

 

2002 Aprilia RST1000 aka Futura.  Great bike with loads of smooth power, good handling  and the most comfy seat ever put on a bike. And surprise, it's also been quite reliable - good thing as parts become unobtanium. Still have it and will be sad when it's time to let it go. 

 

2015 FZ07 in white. What's to say that yunz guys don't already know. 

[peteinpa]

1981 Yamaha  QT50  ran all over, fun, used to go to work on it to my gas pumping job in upstate NY. while in High School. Still have it, have made it a 60cc but I can't make it street legal, long story.

 

1983 Honda 650 Nighthawk great bike, looked great, fast, a lot in common with the FZ07. put on 30k miles in 2 yrs and traded for...

 

1985 Honda V65 Sabre. Very fast, comfortable, kept a long time. traded at 90k miles for...

 

1998 Honda CBR1100XX  INSANELY FAST, handles great, maybe the bike I miss the most. Just couldn't take the low handlebars anymore as I got older. After 80k miles traded for...

 

2006 Honda ST1300 Fast, comfortable, great having hard bags, Still have, is at 60k miles.

 

2015 Yamaha FZ07 I first was looking for a used Nighthawk, either a 80's or 90's but didn't want the problems of parts availability, maint. etc.

wanted light, simple,  with good power, so I got it.

 

1993 Honda XR650L  Love dirt riding, maybe more than street, just not enough places to do it legally. Now sold. I take the FZ07 some places off road I used to take the XR.

 

                    

[faffi]

1974 Suzuki A100. Miss? Front brake was good...

1980 Honda CB100. Miss the simplicity and low weight and the memories, but going back would not be good.

1976 Tempo Panter 50. Miss absolutely nothing!

1978 Honda CX500. Miss the looks and bigness and simplicity. Handling was horrible and the seat a torture rack.

1983 Yamaha XJ750 Seca. Nothing I miss now.

1974 Honda CB350F. Miss the memories it gave and the attention it drew. 

1978 Suzuki GS550E. Many nice rides, but other than its looks there was nothing great about it.

1983 Honda CB1100F. Miss the unflappable stability and the stupid speeds that came with it. Horrible engine vibrations.

1982 Suzuki GSX400F. Not missed.

1981 Honda CB250N. Miss the simplicity and surprising comfort and roominess. Had no power, though.

1976 Yamaha XS500. Miss its looks and handling was fine. Lousy engine construction.

1982 Suzuki GS650GL. Miss the amazing shaft drive. Handling was worse than crap.

1983 Honda VT500FT. Miss it despite its many flaws.

1984 Kawasaki Z1300DFI. Miss nothing.

1981 XL500S. Miss the engine and how unstressed it felt no matter what. Other than that there was nothing good about it.

1999 Kawasaki VN800A. Miss its looks, the engine and the superior clutch. As per cruiser handling was naff.

1995 Suzuki GSX600F. Miss the handling, weather protection and the all day lack of discomfort. Lots of plastic to unbolt for maintenance.

1979 Z400G. Miss the amazing handling (after mods) and splendid simplicity. Needed a bit more power.

1995 Triumph 900 Sprint. Miss the most compliant suspension of all my bike. But a very, very bland motorcycle.

1987 Suzuki VS1400. Miss the torque. Don't miss the cruiser handling.

1995 Triumph 900 Daybird. A bike I built by mixing a Daytona and a Thunderbird. Miss the looks, nothing else.

1987 Yamaha XT600Z. Miss it despite it being all used up and not good at anything. Only bike I really regret selling.

1977 Kawasaki Z650. Miss nothing. A bland bike that even with longer suspension and center stand removed lacked cornering clearance. Handling indifferent at best.

1993 Honda CB400SF. Miss its looks and cornering clearance. Engine feels lame despite going well. Boring, just as the Z650, although better.

1982 XV750SE. Built as a scrambler with Seca rear wheel, XT600Z shock and XV1100 engine. Miss a bike that didn't need cleaning, the power and the overall prowess. Don't miss all the problems.

2015 MT07. Miss the engine. Nothing else. Did I mention I miss  the engine?

1999 Honda NT650V Deauville. Current bike. Will, when gone, miss the protection, luggage capacity, comfort and utter reliability. Will not miss all the plastic in the way of maintenance or the lifeless powerband only matched by the CB400SF. Like the 400, the 650 is faster than it feels.

[robbo10]

1940s Ariel 350 despatch riders bike. I painted black and white over the khaki. Arrived in 1950s needing serious attention which it got. First bike, perfectly behaved, light, never any problems. Illicit runs to school. Fun. (as avatar)

 

50 years - none

 

2006 Kymco 250 twin cruiser. Ideal returnee bike. Lovely Suzuki copy engine -sweet. Crude, basic bike but smooth progress in many ways. Delightful styling. Because I could not afford an HD V-Rod. Only just been scrapped. Missed.

 

2006 Yam TDM 900   Parallel twin 270deg. Loved the look, the engine, performance, the do-it-all nature, comfort. Solid absolutely reliable Yam. (TDM: 'Tedium', some said - not me) Too much a tall-roader for me eventually. So-

 

2006 Yam MT-03 (Original). 660 single. A precurser to the 07 in a way. Never warmed to the single engine;

 

2014 MT- 07. Sweet perfection for me. I need a light bike. That engine! And it feels rather like the TDM's. Long may it last;

 

2017  Honda Rebel 500. Replaces the Kymco. Too vibey but otherwise feels like a solid Honda development. Good fun riding. Still got two different bikes for variety. Lucky me.

 

 

[gregjet]

OK, Here we go! War and Peace for the motorcycle crowd.

 

1970's

 

1973 Honda SL100: became a 125 . First bike. Got me hooked. Modified the begeezus out of it.

1972 Ducati 450 Desmo Silver Shotgun: First insane bike. Viscious and personality ( BAD).

1973 Honda CR125M: First race bike. First Jap real MX bike made. First bike I modded suspension on. Original rear 100mm travel. Mine 175mm. And unlike everybody elses design  until the YZ125 came along, mine worked.

1974 Honda cb125: transport bike. Lots of fun.

1973 Yamaha RD350B: It's hard to describe to current people just how potent this bike was at the time. Turned it into a cafe racer ( ie a real one , not the current throwback retro)

1974 Honda XL175S: Great bike with a completely crap clutch. Completely spoilt an otherwise competitive bike. Used it for enduros.

1974 Montessa Cota 157.: Trials competition bike. Loved it.

 1974 CZ175 "enduro" bike: Possibly the worst bike evermade. Could not climb a hill without burning out the clutch. Gave it away.

1978 CX500: One of the best touring bikes ever. S&W suspension and gold valve ( early form) front.  Design fault cam chain tensioner that I modded myself and , unlike everone else that kept putting in the OEM ones , mine stayed in one piece. First 5000km trip.

 

 

1980's

 

1980 XV1000R Yamaha: NOT  acruiser. Rear suspension was insanely bad and at the time unfixeable. Monoshock but soggy spring stuffed it. Wish I had one now with modern access and knowledge for suspension stuff.  Motor was in our 07 league. A truely great motor.

1982 RD350LC: Wahoo, that's all...WAHOO! Fully worked suspension.

1982 IT250H: Completely magnificent dirt bike. Could not fault it. You could ride it like a motorcrosser or a trials bike.

1982 XJ550 Yamaha: first narrow crankcase inline 4. Handled better than the RD350LC but was heavier and not as much fun. Nicer on a long ride though. S&W real shocks and Valved front end. Only inline 4 I have ever owned. Only 4-1 headers I have ever owned.

1983 Honda VT250R2: Sewing smooth motor a real fairing and stupid 16"front wheel. Even stupider enclosed brake. Didn't have it long. Turned too quick ( don't hear me say that often).  After a few hard stops..wouldn't

1984 Honda CB250RS: My favourite bike ever. 18HP of raw unadulterated gutlessness. Ridiculously light ( when I finished ). S&W shocks again valved front. CRAP brakes stock. First time I severly modded brakes.  Used to ride it up and down the mountain looking for GSXR's to humiliate . It is a VERY tight steep road. The reason I reckon that Moto3 would be the class I would love to race ( I am way too heavy).

1984 Honda VF400F: The next year was a better bike because of the proper brakes : but the motor is still what I believe to be the best 4cyl. 4 stroke motorcycle motor ever made. The race versions are just wonderful ( VFR400R). Brilliant multi link suspension.

 

Big  break for motorcycles as I got into triathlons and MTB so no time to ride.

 

 

2000's

 

2004 Hyosung GT250 Comet: Got it as a cheap commuter. Loverly motor. Ridiculously and unnecessarily heavy.  Poor materials design for the whole bike despite the motor being engineered originally by Hyabusha ( yes that company). Clutch cables made from hemp string. Still rode OK though. Interestingly a 1989 CBR250R shock bolts straight on for instant handling improvement.

2004 Sachs 150: Believe it or not as a road race bike. On class semi- production class for the local track. Jack Miller actually rode one. Funa nd cheap racing. ( we used a gokart track).

1989, 1991,1993 Honda NSR250's ( race bikes):  Now that's a bike. All the models handle different good. Brakes amazing. Motors are awesome and very moddeable. 70HP 250's. Best one was 120kg.

2003 Cagiva Raptor 650: If you get a chance to ride one ...do it. All the great things of a Cagiva and Ducati without the bad bits ( This is the bike that preceeded the Monster line).  All the good things of a Suzuki SV650 motor ...without the bad bits. Genius bike. Sold it for a BMW F800R. Except for the BMW ABS, it was a huge backward step.

2010 BMW F800R: Beautiful bike to ride ...aweful to own. You have to take it back to the dealer for EVERYTHING and it is expensive. Can't even change the oil yourself without having to spend a $100 on clearing the incessant dash warning). NEVER own a BMW!

1980's Honda H100 race bike: Sort of. A heap wasn't even Honda. Superlight class. Cheap and complete fun racing.

1991 Castec Honda frame with a H100 motor then a CR85  motor ( race bike): Rear subframe was complete carbon fibre.

1995 Honda GP125 bike RS125 with a 28HP CR85 motor ( race bike):

1999 Honda VTR250 ( race bike): 100kg but not competitive against the CBR250r and RR. Better handler but they would just eat me on the straights.

1993 Honda CBR250RR( race bike): One of the all time great bikes... and physically too small for my long body. If you are shortish, find one to ride. When the motor spins past 16000 for the first time, and keeps going it does you head in. Brilliant handling. As wierd as it seems they are completely reliable even now. Oil is VERY important.

2007 Kawasaki ER6N ( race bike): Fun bike and some underrated engineering on this bike. A bit heavy. Best Carbon firbe work I have ever done. Lots of effort to chuck around.

2007 Honda CBR125R, 2007 Honda cb125R and  YZR125R: ( race bikes): Commuterlight racing. Cheapest racing  there is here. Both the makes stock 11HP and a pipe/airbox and Powercommander give 15.xHP at the rear wheel.  That's about a 50% HP increase. Essence of fun. I so miss it.

 

2010's

2013 Husqvana TR650 Strada: VERY great tourer. Has starting problems but wonderful on the road...any road. Did my 7000km trip on it and it was totally comfortable. Can't sell it thanks to BMW and KTM's BS about support. Did I mention I hate BMW?

2007 DRZ400SM: A great bike with a lot of problems. Mostly dangerously soft rear suspension and unreliable leaking O rings in the carbs. Fantasticly fun bike on the road. Bought for Sally but she hated dirt roads.

2014 KTM 690 Duke: CRAP fuelling. Worse fuelling than the 07 to the point of dangerous in corners if you trailed the throttle in. Fixed but scared Sally so much she sold it.

2014 Yamaha MT07 LAMS ( DELAMinated): Love this bike. Once the suspension is fixed handles very well ( still runs wide a bit). Will be a keeper for me.

2007 GS500F Project bike: Lightening and updating project. Great stuff available and a great main bike. Would be a good tourer. Sold after dropping a lot of weight off it.

2013 Honda CB500X (project bike): A motor as good as the 07, but less kick and much smoother. Very nice to ride. Lightening project. Stock bike is way too heavy for it's lovely motor. Not sure how successful without making a new subframe to replace the Harley lookalike structure.

 

I am pretty sure I have missed a few. Sorry no index...

[Cruizin]

This was my first bike. 3-4 years old I was untouchable on this. No, seriously, I was beating kids on bicycles, skateboards, everything. My neighbors had this circular driveway and we would race laps around it,  I would take the inside circle and smoke everyone. 

 

Awesome bike,  got mega MPG, handled well and the suspension didn't bob up and down at speed like the FZ-07. 

 

[gregjet]

When I was 3-4 years old they didn't have bikes like that. Hell , they didn't even have plastic...

[robbo10]

28 minutes ago, gregjet said:

When I was 3-4 years old they didn't have bikes like that. Hell , they didn't even have plastic...

+1    My biker father was in wood manufacturing so I got presents of that kind but in wood. Even my baby pot was a wheeled seat unit.

[faffi]

Toys made from wood are still highly popular here, and much preferable to plastic IMO.