Riding vs Flying -- How many here ride?

JJS wrote:

It used to be that most pilots I knew rode motorcycles, but that seems
to be less of a correlation lately. Wot say the group -- do you
currently ride a motorcycle? Did you in the past?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"


Reading about the other guys' bikes brought back fond memories. I've been riding since about 9 years old.

I've owned:
Bridgestone 7 (anyone remember those)?
(2) Honda 90's (one was the 5 hp model with the long carb slide. It was cut down to size).
Honda SL350 I was 14 and thought this thing was a power house).
AMC Harley 125 (piece of crap)!
Suzuki 185 (Highly modified. Started racing motocross and hare & hound races with this one).
Suzuki RM 125 motocrosser (also highly modified).
Kawasaki KX 250 dirt bike.
Suzuki RM 465 motocrosser
Suzuki GS 1100 street bike (in the barn awaiting restoration).

Not currently riding. Almost had a mid life crisis and bought a Goldwing a couple of years ago. The wife said no!

If you listened to the wife, then it wasn't a real MLC! :-)

I've owned only four motorcycles in my 30+ years:

1970 (I think) Chibi - how many folks ever heard of those?

1973 KZ100 Kawasaki (at least I think it was a KZ model, they had two
different 100s that year, one that had a dual range transmission. I
didn't have that one)

1976 KH400 Kawasaki (one of the famous two-stroke triples. Fun bike,
but only 35 MPG!)

1987 ZG1200 Kawasaki

I sold the last one two years ago as Kawasaki had told the AVA (American
Voyager Association) that a new model was in the works and imminent.
When they dropped the Voyager from the line-up in 2004 I was sure the
new one was just around the corner. Then someone offered me way too
much money for mine so I sold it thinking I'd buy the new one in the
fall when the new models came out. Then Kawasaki reneged on the deal
and decided not to build a new touring model. I'm still ticked at them
and likely won't buy a Kaw as my next ride even though I have a long
history with them.

The only bikes that I really like now are a couple of the BMW models,
the K1200LT in particular, although I'm waiting for a full-dresser to be
built around their new inline 4 engine. Trouble is, the nearest BMW
dealer is 80 miles away. My next in line is the Yamaha FJR1300, but it
lacks electronic cruise control which my old wrist needs for long
distance riding. I couldn't believe Yamaha put a gimmick electric
shifter on this model last year yet overlooks something with true
utility like cruise control. I haven't see any sales figures for the AE
model, but I'll be astonished if it sells well.


Matt