other bikes in your stable?

[nhmaf]

Wow !!
 

I am in awe !     You both have definitely met the perfect mate to have such a garage !

[rl900]

For the sake of your sanity, I would avoid Nortons like the....

Ouch!!

Been riding Nortons for 36 years.  Something visceral about them.

Current stable:
1981 R65 with Velorex 562
1999 R1100RS
1996 Ducati 900SS SP
1981 Ducati 900SS (bevelhead)
1975 Norton 850 Commando Production Racer Replica/cafe racer
1973 Norton 850 Commando Interstate
1973 Norton 750 MkV Roadster (2)
1969 Norton Ranger 750 (P11)
1967 Norton P11
1968 Norton 750 Commando Fastback
1959 Triumph T120 Bonneville

I guess that makes me one sick puppy.

[fastcataz]

I have the same sickness, not NEAR as bad as you. Nice collection you have. All I have left are some parts and memories. And the limp. I had a 72 (?) combat commando and still think it was the  best looking and sounding machine ever built. I never understood the hardly ableson thing back then, Nortons looked ( and still do ) better than anything  hardly will ever produce. No contest on the road. I use my bike as everyday transportation and just got tired of working on the thing. I replaced it with a Z-1 and went on from there. Had a few more over the years, the best being a early 73 I picked up with 1300 miles on it. I traded my spare, a KZ750 for it. The stunning red one. Had it for 7 years of sunday morning rides. It was sold with 14,800 miles up. Miss it, but, if I could talk Her Indoors into it, my next "spare" will be a R100.

[lairhead]

The most perfect motorbike made fo all uses exept racing is the R1150Gs adventure ,sit the whole day on it and cruise over bad roads.drainage ditches sand rocks and then the next day ride coast to coast!!
hey fastcataz i am also a Volvo man Own a 2002 V70 R (4wd) which i am adicted to it has 200000+ miles on and can still do 0-60mph under 6 sec after a new turbo and CV,joints and heat exchanger and canm seals
Brendan

[Reopropf]

Currently:

MV Agusta Tamburini ..good for 2 hours or 120 miles in the saddle given the arthritic disease in my neck and low back.  

The R65LS pairs with the Tamburini like Danny DeVito to Arnold in the movie Twins.

 I love how the two compliment my riding pleasures.

Peter

[sixfifty]

a suzuki dr200 for toodling about.  makes a nice minimal touring machine.


and dropping.


an f650cs for commuting and touring and screwing around.


the necessary non-running project bike, a 1970 yamaha cs3.


not quite mine, but soon, very soon.

[Barry]

I only have the one BMW but I wish I still had some of the 70’s bikes I once owned.

An Italian bevel drive single with an engine to die for but the electrics and paintwork were poor.

A big British twin built from quality materials but aspects of engine design and reliability let it down.

A very big Japanese four with a brilliant unburstable engine but material quality and finish were ordinary.

A German BMW of very modest performance, well designed and built from high quality materials was vastly more expensive than any of these but after 30 years the quality has stood the test of time.

Why is it then that a Ducati single, a Triumph Bonneville, or a Kawasaki Z900 in top class condition would all now cost me up to 5 times the value of my BMW.

Life is so fickle sometimes.

[drewboid]

Barry,
You are thinking like a rider - think about motorcycle collecting for a moment - the rarer the bike the more is is worth to a collector. Most of your old Ducs, bonnies, and Kawas are long gone to scrap while the Beemers are still running. Finding a BMW in good condition is so much easier. Sooo - you ae going to spend a lot more for the rare bike that did survive.

[steve_wicks]

an old Honda XR200 derivative called a CTX 200 Bushlander

But I've been riding a Hyosung GT250 this week and next week I get a Triumph Bonnie. Oh, but I have to write about those ones and that means riding them in all types of conditions ... like this weeks freezing rain.

Unfortunately I've got one of those real crappy jobs that someone just has to do.

[larstorders]

At last, I made my choice.
Well actually I made my choice of stablemate for the R65 months ago. I just couldn't remember the last time I saw an original and decent R80G/S on the market. When the chance for this one came up I was quick off the mark and took a bit of a chance with it's limited recorded history, which shows 61k miles.
The rascal has just arrived. Engine seems to be quite good, cycle parts fair condition, excepting rear wheel bearings and front wheel rim, not cheap to fix but no biggie really.
I have some plans  to convert into the Paris Dakar style if I can find that Holy Grail for G/S owners, a spare PD tank. But that may be a long time coming.  I already have a few ideas for the fairing and improved lighting. But I'll be riding it before doing any conversion and depending on how much I enjoy it, maybe I'll just leave it original. Nice touches on the machine already are the full stainless exhaust system and floating front disc.

[nhmaf]

Great  find Lars!

It appears used but pretty well cared for - I am sure that you will be very happy with it on some of the non-paved roads out your way.

I'd had a yen for one like it, or the more street-oriented model that we had over here for a short while, the R80ST - extremely similar save for paint, mostly.

[SCJJR65]

Here's a pic taken in February of this year, the day after Valentine's Day when I brought my 1999 R1200C Classic home to meet Britta.  I wasn't sure just how Britta would react to having another bike in the driveway with her, but she has adjusted to the new company quite well!  

[Bengt_Phorqs]

I already have a few ideas for the fairing and improved lighting.  

If you're going to add additional lighting consider upgrading the alternator to the Omega.  If memory serves we only have about 200 watts on the R80 / R100 GS machines.

[Semper Gumby]

< snip >It's [KTM] bigger than I like, but I do wish I had something that would be better for the gravel logging roads up where I live.  I really liked the F650GS I rode a while back but I stayed on pavement. < snip >

I believe the Bridgestone TW-302 fit on the front and rear of the R65.  Then you can do all the gravel roads you want.  Just make sure you have lots of fender clearence!!!!!!

The 4.60-18 on the rear and the 4.10-18 on the front -- I should know some time this winter for sure.

http://www.motorcycle-karttires.com/glamourindex.aspx?productID=80&LookupID=19

[Crossrodes]

I have the '79 R65 and an '06 Goldwing....Totally different bikes.  I bought the R65 for local riding and short (250 km) trips.  

I don't think you can beat the Goldwing for it's touring capabilities and comfort.  I have made 2 cross Canada trips on the Wing as well as about 4 trips to Ontario from BC on this and a prior Wing.  I've also done some long distance rides from California to Texas and return.  

The only problems I've had with the Wing on a trip is that I wore out a set of tires on the way home from Newfoundland two years ago and I burned out a tail light bulb on a trip to Ontario this summer.  Of course I'm anal when it comes to maintenance.

The only problem with the Wing is it's weight.  It's not a problem when you are on the move but if you drop that sucker you really have to know the right technique to pick it up.  I'm getting too old to do this by myself these days and the arthritis doesn't help so I'm thinking that the next tourer might be something lighter like the R1200RT (If I can talk the wife into it).