Do you have "another favorite" brand of bike?

[SCJJR65]

It's almost "All BMW, all of the time" at this forum, which is fine.  But many of us probably also own something else besides a BMW, or at least are interested in another marque (or maybe not).  Here's a chance to say if there is something else besides BMW that you are interested in or intrigued by!

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

[Jon_P]

i have my first bike that i got when i was 16, 79 kawi kz650. i had made some changes to it. it has a kawi kz1000p front end. that is the police model front end on it. it gives it a real urban blaster look having two 18" by 130mm tires on front and rear. i'll post some pixs soon when the weather warms up.

[NC Steve]

Can you only vote once?
What if you're a conflicted soul who can't quite afford to indulge his various lusts & addictions??? :-/

[Melena]

I have to say that I saw this very nice Moto Guzzi that I really liked.  It belongs to an architect that works with the company I work for and he rode it one nice day to a meeting at our office.  Of course I went down to look at it.   He's got it up for sale now and if I had the money and a place to keep it.................(sigh)   [smiley=undecided.gif]   I guess we've all got that problem.  

Anyway, if anyone is interested in a very nice, newly refurbished '83 Moto Guzzi Le Mans, check out the San Francisco Craig's list.  

Since I can only vote once, I voted the Moto Guzzi.  But I think something else I would like that Rob brought up is a side car rig.  I can almost actually see that in my future.  Don't know if it would be a BMW or a Ural.  

Gads!  What has happened to me?  I used to be a sane and sensible person with a car and a bicycle and 2 feet to get me where I wanted to go.  

[its_only_me]

You only have to look at my signature to realise that BMW doesn't come first, but I can't vote for just one bike either. At this moment in time I own a T120R, a CB750K, and my R65, but I change bikes like the weather.
What I will say is this though, I have a passion for Brit bikes from the 40's to the 70's,  a true love of certain Jap bikes from the 70's (espcially Kawasaki) plus a few Jap muscle bikes from the early 80's, and I have a list of wants as long as my arm, inc a Guzzi LeMans, and a Harley 750.

So many bike, so little time.

[SCJJR65]

I like the way you tink, Melena!

I, too, am attracted to the Moto Guzzi brand.  In particular, the Breva 750.  It is remarkably similar to the R65 in overall dimensions and overall feel when riding.  I have also loved Moto Guzzi's long and illustrious history, and like BMW, have stuck with the same general overall design for engine and drivetrain since the compay's inception.

If all goes as planned, before the end of this year I WILL have a black Breva like this one in my garage!

[NC Steve]

Melena and John, like you I've been a huge Guzzi fan for years, and have always been torn between their 1960s-70s Ambassador and Eldorado 750/850s and the modern bikes like the Griso, California series and Brevas.

Kevin, like you, I cut my teeth on early British iron, BSA specifically, but have much lust for Norton and Triumph as well; I'd buy a new Triumph today without any qualms. We won't even talk about Vincents.

But, with limitations on space and funds, and since no one has spoken out for them yet, I'll throw my sole (in protest!) vote to Ducati. If I was buying brand new and money wasn't an issue I'm not sure what I'd get, but if you gave me $5K today to buy a nice clean used bike, I'd search high and low for an early 900 or later 750/800 Monster. The handling, slimness, riding position, balance and power delivery, to me, are hard to beat in a modern bike that real people can afford. [smiley=thumbup.gif]

[SCJJR65]

The Breva in the pic is available for the "everyday price" of $6995 plus tax at Best Value Motorsports in Columbus, GA.  I called them about it, and the only added amount is $300 tax.  $7295 out the door!  (They told me it's their Internet Special.) I haven't owned a brand-new "factory fresh" bike since I bought a Kawasaki KZ-440 Sport back in 1983.  

I rode the Breva and a Ducati Monster 620 "Dark" the same day, and they were nearly identical in handling, responsiveness and ergos.  Again, I was reminded as I was zooming around curves just how much both bikes reminded me of Britta, except it felt like the Breva was a little quicker responding to the twist of the throttle.

Hmmm.... Maybe I have some Italian in my bloodlines somewhere!  

[msbuck]

I'll put a vote in for the Italians, although owning my Laverda has almost cured me of it.  Graham's Laverda Ghost looks very similar to the Ducati Monster and my Ghost Strike is not much different.  It's the handling I love, but the reliability that I hate.  And working on it is NO FUN!  Everytime I have to work on it I say, " Don't let me ride this again because I'm selling this piece of ..."  But then I ride it and I can't get rid of it!  




The Guzzi LeMans was the first bike I ever lusted over and I like the Breva as well.  The ex-importer for Guzzi (they were 7 kilometeres from my house before they were bought up by Aprilia then Piaggio) is a short gal like me and she had a Breva with a low seat on it.  It was marvelous!

[NC Steve]

...and if you let me semi-retire, thus having plenty of free time to travel, and gave me $15-17-20K to spend, I'd be hard pressed to choose between a new R1200RT and a new Harley Road King Ultra Tour Glide Classic Night Train Bobber Rod thingee, for purely eating up major USA miles in comfort and reliability. In all honesty, my nod might go to the HD, with some minor intake & exhaust mods, for the sheer low-revving torque, "cool factor", and the fact that, these days, there's a Harley shop on every corner with parts galore and good factory trained mechanics, something BMW sorely lacks, and Guzzi, Ducati & Triumph are even worse...

[SCJJR65]

Yeah, Steve, you're right about there being a H-D dealer on nearly every corner, while the same certainly cannot be said for BMW, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, and Triumph.  But then, H-D is "the home team".

[Jon_P]

now if we arre talking about what bikes i want to get next than a guzzi and a duc are next in line for the stable. i have the kawi, r65, kind of dpenr/bmw project. after that we'll see.

[nhmaf]

The "other" bike that I currently own is a Kawasaki, and I gotta say, they aren't always the prettiest, but
they make some tough stuff !   But, mine is a 1998 Concours (the only bike I've ever bought brand new),
and with the style/shape of the fairing, and saddlebags, many people think I'm on on BMW, especially
at 75 mph.   I have alot of fondness for Norton Commandos, but avoiding the prince of darkness (Lucas)
often brings me back to my senses before I buy one.   I've also really liked the Motor Guzzis as far as
Italian bikes go - much more than the Ducatis.   I've seen too many Harleys stopped on the road to
want one of them - I'd probably get a Kawasaki vulcan instead with better handling and reliability.

and yes, I'd also love to have an older BMW with a sidecar - even if it weren't an R69...
 :-/

If I had alot more money, and a larger barn, I'd try to get one of all the above !
 

[NC Steve]

...plus an Aprilia or two and a few big KTMs, maybe even an MV Agusta Brutale and/or F4 while we're dreaming of filling up the barn...