Your second bike?

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Seems like several of us own more than one bike, some of us more than two.  But...If you could only own your airhead and ONE other bike, what would the second bike be?  Since I presented my son with my R65 for his first bike the R90/6 has provided me with lots of satisfaction and enjoyment.  I 'm fairly partial to my Moto Guzzi California Special Sport as a second.  Fairly late model, stylish, very reliable, and except for some minor ergonomic changes I need to make, a good bike to ride all day long.

What would yours be?

[nhmaf]

I think a MG California is a good bike besides an R65 in the garage - use the R65 for the "scooting around" days and pull our the California for the big trips and/or when you have a spouse or luggage to haul.   I like my trusty, 1998 Kawasaki Concours (the only motorcycle I ever bought new).   It is as reliable as any K-bike, I think, and is nearly as good - and sometimes better - than comparable K-bikes were for about half the price.   I really like it it for commuting (have to carry computer and "stuff" with me) as well as high speed touring and any long haul rides.
All this said, I'd REALLY like to get a 3rd bike in the garage - either a late 70's/early 80's airhead or maybe an R1200C - either way I'd like to put a sidecar on it and try out hacking with my trusty Golden Retriever with me (or carry my saxophones to gigs).  

When your son is ready, I think a larger, comfy touring bike for those longer trips would be a good companion and could be justified with keeping the R65 for those spur of the moment, fun trips.

[Motu]

I sold two bikes last year to cut back to the 1987 R65.If I could have another bike at no extra cost,it would be the 1997 Yamaha DT230 I sold last year.It was just one hell of a fun bike to ride - 40hp,with a top speed of 165kph....this little bike would cream the R65 everywhere.Probably the most high tech 2 stroke road bike you could get - electronic power valve,traction control,electric start,digital dash.I could strip the bike down to dirt trim quickly,and had spare wheels for dirt and road tyres,different sprockets to gear for dirt,adventure or road.

But it couldn't run all day every day,at least not for long.Also,it was a DT230,and would always be a DT230 - my R65 is not a normal R65....but it can be....and it can be other things too....

[SCJJR65]

Well, I have my trusty '84 R65, "Britta", and also got my "dream bike", my '99 R1200C Classic back in February, so you'd think I'd be happy and content, right?  Wrong!!

I have a soft spot in my heart for a single cylinder machine, one that has some historical romance in its genes.  It ain't fast by any means, or a great handler in the twisties.  But it has survived and held on to its dignity among all the bigger, faster, and slicker cycles out there.  Yes, I'm talking about a Royal Enfield 500 Bullet!  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

I'm not so sure about having one of the really "old school" bikes that they made for decades, with technology and parts from WWII.  They have modernized the Bullet somewhat, with a front disc brake, electric start, and fuel injection.  The tiny jewel of an engine remains, the single cylinder engine that puts out all of 27 hp.  No, it ain't meant for cruising on the slab, but on the 2-lanes and back roads where you can relax and feel the thump-thump-thump kicking out that unmistakable rhythm that only a single cylinder can deliver!

Yep, this will be my next addition to the "stable", if I can ever talk my lovely wife into giving me the Okey-Doke to do so!  

[suecanada]

I have been fussing with what to get for a second bike for quite a while now as you guys know. Hmmmm. I would like to stick with the lightness of LRB and the lines and uniqueness I love about LRB which is an LS model. Seems classic lines are what I like.
 
For the Eastern part of North America I could easily stick with just another R65 set up just for touring. This is because I found on the trip south to TN. that the speed limits up to 70 mph. were very acceptable on the LS. I use a GPS now and go up to the "real" 70 mph. Traffic seems to add on just about the same mph over the speed limit as the GPS shows as the accurate speed. So I was never falling behind. I guess speedometers on most vehicles are set faster than one is actually going to save us from ourselves.
I found the seat, sidestand, throttle smoothness, clutch engagement much more to my liking on the LS than any of my other bikes so far. (R1100RT, F650GS single and F650GS twin). C of G is lower on the LS too and manoeuvring is just easier all around. There is a crowd pleaser factor with the LS too as I got many more compliments with LRB than even that spanking new to the USA F650GS twin I took to Gillette in 2008!

Just wondered about your experience nhmaf taking the R65LS Tillie down to the rally in Tennessee? As opposed to the Concours I am sure you weren't as comfortable but generally picking a combo of secondary roads like Hwy. 220 and some interstate, how did the old girl do?  Being smaller in size I can maybe get away with a smaller physically and lower cc capacity bike but I like some get up and go.

Triumph Bonneville SE retro Classic (67hp) is one choice and after a test ride, maybe the Moto Guzzi V7 Classic (50hp). They have my eye in the looks dept.  MG better maybe as has shaft drive and valves that are accessible! But will it take the 75 mph. scampers across the Prairies on the way to Redmond Oregon next summer? I think it just might!

I await other ideas!

[steve_wicks]

As a run around I've got a Honda CTX200 .... a detuned version of the old Honda 200R.

I find it boring and uncomfortable but it is joy in stop-start congested traffic and very frugal on petrol.

'Mutti' gets used for anything that involves freeway or open road work.

[nhmaf]

Sue - I was actually quite impressed/proud of how well little 'Tillie' did on the trip.   Being about a foot taller than you and weighing over 215 pounds, I am sure that I present a greater challenge for the R65 than you do!  Riding backroads and interstates at up to an indicated 80 MPH weren't a problem, though being essentially a naked bike, it was quite a change from the Concours' fairing and multicylinder smoothness.  Though, actually both bikes have some buzz - the concours' buzzy zone is between 65-72MPH - once one hits 75 it is as smooth as glass.   Tillie was also very pleasantly smooth at 75.   I did want for more room on the seat to slide back/forth, but with the large duffelbag I had strapped onto Tillie, her already smaller seat was a bit restrictive for someone over 6 feet tall.   The seat-to-footpegs distance is also kinda cramped for long rides, but switching to the "rearsets" off and on helped to reduce that discomfort.  Once or twice I felt that I'd have liked a bit more overtaking power when dodging misguided minivans and tractor trailer rigs around Scranton, PA and Roanoke, VA, but perhaps that is being a bit spoiled by the Concours' 110 HP.   But overall, for a small, light, 27-year old bike she did admirably, and I'd make that same trip again on her.  

I do think that it is handy/desirable to have a 'newer' machine in the stable, for those times when you just want to be able to hop on and go, "just in case".  

[k_enn]

Sue and nhmaf -- I have found the R65 to be very good in the eastern US for touring, especially if you concentrate on the non-interstate routes.  I have traveled the entire Blue Ridge Parkway from Front Royal, Va. down to the Smokey Mountains several times, and the R65 really showed its stuff on the curves of that road.  I never felt a lack of power on those roads, and the bike never wallowed through the turns like many of the large touring bikes.  Although the seat gets a little uncomfortable after a few hours, I was pleased overall with the bike on those trips.  Other eastern tours included Route 1 up to Bar Harbor, a tour around Nova Scotia, and a tour of the Gaspe area in Quebec.  For my riding, the R65 is all I need.

k_enn

[steve_wicks]

I decided what I want for a third bike .... an R65 with a late model R80 engine or a lazy late model 1000cc engine.

I'm not too worried about an inch less ground clearance as I've never got close to grounding my heads .... except when the s/stand finally broke!

[TXRider60]

I was pretty happy with the backup bike I just had to sell (my YELLOW 78 DT250), if only it had had electric start.  Before selling I even tried to trade it for a 125 to 175 (even if it wasn't as old and cool) with electric start.  I'd still like to have a little trail bike-- ideally a nicely restored 68 Hodaka Ace90 (with a permanent built-in support staff): I know it's not electric start, but I think I can still kick little guys...

[Semper Gumby]

Yamaha XS-V1  -- Will this bike ever get built?