Long before I started spending too much time and money on coffee, I started spending too much time and money on motorbikes. Specifically Harleys.
It started as a fun way to avoid the tube for my commute for years living in London where I rode Hackney to Soho basically every day unless it was snowing!
Any other riders here?
Here’s some of my bikes past and present:
2004 XL1200
1994 FXDL
2020 FXLRS
Yeah man. Although I think chrome is better on a coffee machine hahaha!
Had Vespas in my teens, (with a lot of chrome, which may account for my statement above, having spent too much riding time with a cloth and polish). Then finally after a break got a full licence mid 90s.
Kwak GPz500s, FZR600R, ZX6R J2, two FZS1000s one after the other due to serious mileage, and now I have one of the earlier Street Triple 675Rs, twin round lights, twin underseat pipes, short 1st gear (‘factory streetfighter’).
I rode the FZR600R round Snetterton, all the twisties within a 100 mile radius, and to work in London every day except snow. Also rode it to Denmark, Czech Republic and most of western Europe before realising I ought to get a more practical bike!
Did much the same on the Fazer Thousands. Took one round the Nürburgring Nordschleife which was the only time I ever maxed it out. An indicated 160mph which probably was more like 145 if you allow for speedo error.
I have 2 mates with Harleys though. One has had a Road King, then a Breakout, and now some kind of Heritage Softail Deluxe or something like that. Warning: May contain traces of tassels.
My other Harley riding mate has quite a cool but rare-ish thing called a Switchback. 1700cc, removable hard luggage, big frame (not Sportster based). Within minutes you can turn it from CHiPs bagger to 1950s Duoglide lookalike. It is surprisingly quick, it’s the steering and slowing down that take the time! (especially when he got ACF50 on the brakes!) He’s had it painted in the same grey they used on war planes (he’s pretty geeky about that kind of thing and knows the exact colour). He did look slightly crestfallen when he showed me, and due to my lack of knowledge of WWII planes I described it as “filing cabinet grey” 🤣 🤣
Fazer 1000 Nürburgring
Me and the guys just setting off on tour of Germany. Mine was the white and purple FZR
My 1st Gen 1 Fazer 1000 on the way home from Spain (this is obviously Mont St Michel in France, nearly home after almost 3000 miles in baking weather.
ZX6R J2
The Stripler
I had bikes a few years ago. First was a FSZ600 and that was unfortunately run over (fortunately with no one riding it) and I ended up with a 1250 Bandit for a while. I got fed up of refilling the tank on that so I got a Hornet 600 with the first bikes insurance moneys. Loved it but sadly the engine went bang in quite an expensive way so I ended up bikeless. I had been using it less and less with getting a work van so not needing to commute, and taking up running (a lot) so have not gotten one since.
I miss it. My old commute was along a great Devon road that was about 2 miles through Plymouth and about 10 on a brilliant bit of road. Needless to say I could do the 10 almost as quickly as the 2 on a good day!
Nice! Love the ZX! Sounds like you’ve done some serious mileage! We do a fair few UK tours but yet to cross the channel. I have a long list of Europe rides I’d like to do.
I had a very similar age Street Triple! 2010 model, red, under seat pipes and round lights. Always preferred that to the later fly-eye lights. Loved it, probably the best all round bike I’ve had. It was actually the last bike I had before Harleys. Living in Hackney when the Striple was just about the most stolen bike and a 20mph speed limit all the way to work meant a different bike was more appropriate.
I know what you mean about the corners being the slow bit for Harley, that black one above is a 1900cc with engine work and remap. It’s an absolute rocket in a straight-line but a handful on twisties!
I sold it after 6 months though, the new Harleys are comfy and smooth but for me they lack all the character of the older, carburetted models. I also like to be able to fix them without plugging them into a computer!
Street Triples were a “wunnnhunnndredandeiiiightyyy” for Triumph. A triumph one might say, 😂. Daytona chassis with class-leading handling, all day comfort (comparatively, for the rider at least), great riding position for road observation, streetfighter looks which hit the spot for their target market, and that fantastic 675 triple engine that delivers more torque than it has a right to, perfectly linearly and predictably, so that if you came from a 900 or 1 litre straight 4 you would miss nothing but the insane top end rush of a big 4IL, while being so linear that they were easy to ride for people getting their ‘first big bike’. Instant power, loads of fun and it flatters the rider. They literally covered all bases with that bike which is why it sold so well, and also became a target for the scrotes who nick them. Certainly did a lot to boost the brand.
I love mine even though its a bit long in the tooth. I don’t mind that though, with only 36k on the clock it still feels almost new to me. About the only downside is the turning circle, because the frame is from the track focused Daytona and headstock is quite big and strong which limits the angle through which you can turn the bars (no issue for track bikes where stiffness is more important than turning circle). They improved it on the subsequent models 2013 on. That and the ‘adequate’ electrical system which is barely enough to run any accessories and can lead to burnt out stator.
It’s ironic, but I actually bought the Street Triple R because my commute was from Windsor to Kentish Town and I thought it would be easier to filter through central London rush hour on than the Thou. But then I discovered how desirable (to the wrong people) Streets were, so I never rode it to work until I moved jobs. I agree about the ability to do home servicing. My STR is the first fuel injected bike I’ve had, all the others in my bike history had carburettors (and the ZX6R used to get carb icing in winter!) Even so, the Street (as you know) didn’t come with ABS until the later models, by which time it had lost its looks (IMO) and the short first gear. I like to be able to at least change oil, filters, brake pads and brake fluid without needing a computer, apparently you need to plug modern bikes in to disable or reset ABS if you change the brake fluid? I fancied a Ducati Supersport but they made it a ‘dealer tools required’ job just to tension the chain ffs! That’s basic maintenance that you need to be able to do yourself, so it put me off. They obviously only want the sort of customer who can afford to have the shop do every stupid little thing, or who racks up 250 miles a year and trades in before first MoT. I have basically disregarded Ducati as a brand since then. But its inevitable. If I ever have spare cash I’ll probably get a Triumph Tiger for more adventures and pillion comfort, or one of the Bonneville range, like a Speed Twin. No doubt that will need the dealer computer for loads of things too… sigh.
Exactly, I guess they’ve gone the same way as cars. These days what’s under the bonnet of most cars is barely recognisable as an engine.
As you say, a way to get people back at the dealership spending service money.
You’re right about the ABS. It’s another reason I got rid of the 2020 Harley. I wanted to put taller risers on as I’m quite tall. Half-hour job on previous bikes, maybe a couple of hours if I needed to do longer cables and internal wiring. But as soon as you change a cable or bleed brakes on the ABS system you have to plug it in to the dealer tool!
With £85 of parts Harley wanted £750 to put new risers on…
No thanks!
Those Triumph 1200 Bonnie engines are really really good. Stacks of torque low-down and fun short wheelbase. I’ve had my eye on the Speed Twin too.
My current 3 bikes
My Harley (Fatboy) back in 2003 and I had a Honda CBR1000 FJ as well. Noawadays I no longer ride a motorcycle.
That was 75% of the reason I wanted one too! The other 25% was at Bike Live at the NEC as a teenager in the early 90s with my Dad and seeing women in leather hot-pants ride Softails across HD’s enormous stand to “We Will Rock You” 😂
Say what you will about Harley, they’ve always absolutely nailed their marketing.
Cue for this little gem again!
Especially true for motorcycles of yesteryear. You could always tell Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda from the sound. This was true even during the 2 stroke era. Suzuki 380 Ram air, the 400 Yam that looked like a Fizzy and the Kawasaki triples (especially the big ones). We won’t mention Honda, who didn’t descend to the 2 stroke madness, or the Big Suzuki flying teakettle.
Dave, are you familiar with the work of the engineering genius Allen Milllyard?
-Mac Wow, No I have not….watched some, but will watch it properly tonight on YT big screen. Looks like some wonderful stuff…I always admire people with that level of knowledge and engineering skill…sadly becoming a lost art nowadays.
He’s often on The Motorcycle Show (ITV Player I think) which is a great watch and has that ‘old school’ bike show feel you don’t see much these days.
I just got back from a 10 day tour of Tasmania with a few mates on my 2005 Speed Triple.
Most of the other guys were on adventure bikes Tigers, KTMs etc.
I am about to restore my GS1000st Wes Cooley rep and put it on Club rego.
I am on a new lap top with no pics but I’ll pop a couple up later on.
Sounds fantastic, Tasmania is certainly dream ride territory.
There was an incredible film made there a few years back called Halfway to Nowhere. Two guys on old Harleys and immense scenery. One of the guys sadly and tragically died in a bike crash shortly after.
It’s worth a watch even for non-Harley fans. I’d go as far as saying it’s worth a watch for non-motorcycle fans.
