2000-2006. I can't remember! There was a Honda NX650 Dominator in here some where, in late 2005 I think.
2007. Dominator was traded on a new Honda XL650V Transalp. Was a good bike solo, but a little underpowered with my fat arse on it, and worse two up with my Son on board! The Transalp was only kept for six months, it was traded on a new 2007 model Yamaha TDM900. This was kept until I had a stroke in late 2009. Sold under consignment by my local Dealer, who ripped me off badly. At this time I also had a Yamaha RD250A, a 1974 model. I resurrected the RD and had it road registered, but due to injuries from a work accident Icouldn't ride it properly. It was sold along with a heap of parts to a local RD enthusiast.
2009. I bought a little late 1960's Yamaha 80cc road bike, to commute the short 4km to work. I did that for a while, before buying a ew MadAss 125 in late 2009 to take over the commute to work. Later that year I had a stroke, and gave up bikes until 2012
2012. Feeling OK enough to start riding again, and missing it terribly I began the search for a cheap 250cc road bike to relearn my lost skills on. I ended up buying a 'grey import' Honda VT250F privately, it was in good nick and scrubbed up really well. I eeven used it in my job as a sub contract courier for awhile after my Great Wall ute was damaged by a hit and run on Sydney. It was by far the best performing small bike I ever had. Kept it until early 2013, by which time I was convinced I could ride something bigger with more space.
2013. Found an old 1983 Yamaha XT600Z Tenere on Gumtree. Looked salvageable in the photo, so drove the 200km round trip to pick it up. Spent a lot of cash buying parts, including $970 for a rebuilt new front wheel & tyre but decided if I wanted to use the bike in my work as a Courier it would need to be capable of long distance road running, have plenty of room for luggage and to stretch out, and be electric start. The decision was made to sell the Yamaha, with all the amassed parts. It was bought by a member of an enthusiasts forum, and yes I did lose a lot of moolah!
After the sale of the Tenere was negotiated, I began researching bigger old road bikes in my $2K budget. They were very thin on the ground! Most of what I saw in that price range either wasn't roadworthy, or running, or both and was missing bits!
Then I stumbled upon the Honda VF1000F at my local bike mechanic/wreckers. It ticked all the boxes, and was in my budget so I put a deposit on it. It passed rego as is, and the biggest expense I've had was for a new reproduction seat cover as the fitted one is a bit sad from our harsh Aussie sun.
Monday, June 24, 2013
SYDNEY BASED BIKING
1992. After a move from Newcastle to Sydney, the decision was made to get another road bike. There was as brief flirtation with an early '80's CB750F, then another Yamaha XJ550.
1993. I still had the Yamaha XJ!
1994. The Yamaha was traded on a late model Honda CB Seven Fifty F2N, the Charcoal grey one. This was a great bike, and was also the bike I had my second 'off' on. Two up, with my new Bride on the back we hit some bodgy roadwork on WisemansFerry Road and went down at low speed. Wife still has the scars, bike was ridden home minus a few pieces and wasoff the road waiting on parts for nearly three months. Wife has never been on a bike again since :-(
1995. Still had the Honda, but traded it on a 1990 model Kawasaki ZZ-R1100.
1996. Sold the big Kwaka, and bought a new Yamaha DT175 for the short km commute to work. Kept it a few years. It was sold with low km's and I bought a 1991 Suzuki GSX1100G shaftie. I rode this for a couple of years, before putting it into storage at my then workplace before selling it privately in about 1999.
1993. I still had the Yamaha XJ!
1994. The Yamaha was traded on a late model Honda CB Seven Fifty F2N, the Charcoal grey one. This was a great bike, and was also the bike I had my second 'off' on. Two up, with my new Bride on the back we hit some bodgy roadwork on WisemansFerry Road and went down at low speed. Wife still has the scars, bike was ridden home minus a few pieces and wasoff the road waiting on parts for nearly three months. Wife has never been on a bike again since :-(
1995. Still had the Honda, but traded it on a 1990 model Kawasaki ZZ-R1100.
1996. Sold the big Kwaka, and bought a new Yamaha DT175 for the short km commute to work. Kept it a few years. It was sold with low km's and I bought a 1991 Suzuki GSX1100G shaftie. I rode this for a couple of years, before putting it into storage at my then workplace before selling it privately in about 1999.
PAST MOTORCYCLES.................
I'm sitting here listening to the rain outside, looking forward to getting my Honda VF1000F on the road and trying to remember what other machines I have had over the years. Here goes....
1974. I think, learnt to ride on a Honda C70 step through. That was farm in Scone, NSW. Riding around on the dirt with road tyres taught good balancing skills!
1975. Back in Newcastle, I picked up a Suzuki TC125, and my Brother had a TC120. Both were really AG bikes, with dual range gearboxes and a two stroke motor.
1975. Rode my first 'big bike', my Uncle's Honda CB550F when he was too drunk to ride it home from the local Club. That was a real hoot!
1978. Early in the year bought an old Honda MT125 motocrosser, later that year at 16 and nine months I passed my Learners test and bought a Honda XL250 Motorsport, the Silver one. This ws also the first cycle I was to crash on the roads, I was riding home from work in Newcastle's CBD area and travelling too close to the vehicle in front. Wet roads, Universal Trials tyres[remember them?]and a amber light I couldn't stop for. It was the brand new[then]Holden Commodore, and luckily for the car I hit the towbar and did very little damage to the car itself. I rode the Honda home the rest of the way with a flat front tyre, and a severely bent front wheel. It was a slow trip at walking pace but a lesson was learnt!
I kept the Honda until I passed my P plate test later that year.
1979. Now on a fullbike licence, my next bike was a Yamaha RD400. That blue bike was fast. It also had an appetite for pistons, little did I know it was jetted very leanand after piston number three I sold it thinking there was something inherently wrong with it. Would jave been nice to still have it! That was my last bike for a couple of yearsI gotmy car license n '79 as well, and drove an assortment of cars for a while.
1981. I think this year I bought a Suzuki TS185, and rode it on and off mostly on trails.
1982. This year I bought a Honda XL185S, the red and white one. This was nearly new when I bought it and stayed in the family for a while after my youngest brother bought it.
1987. This year I bought an old Honda CX500, it was a rough as guts. Painted mostly matt black featuring chrome 'shotgun' pipes. It was LOUD! Rode that for a while, then progressed to a Yamaha XJ550, the naked one. This was my first XJ550.
1988. This year I bought a mate's Kawasaki KLR650, and had this about two years. It was ridden hard all the time, and crashed offroad a few times as well but never let me down. This was the machine I had when I first moved to Sydney from Newcastle. It was a great commuter bike in heavy traffic.
1974. I think, learnt to ride on a Honda C70 step through. That was farm in Scone, NSW. Riding around on the dirt with road tyres taught good balancing skills!
1975. Back in Newcastle, I picked up a Suzuki TC125, and my Brother had a TC120. Both were really AG bikes, with dual range gearboxes and a two stroke motor.
1975. Rode my first 'big bike', my Uncle's Honda CB550F when he was too drunk to ride it home from the local Club. That was a real hoot!
1978. Early in the year bought an old Honda MT125 motocrosser, later that year at 16 and nine months I passed my Learners test and bought a Honda XL250 Motorsport, the Silver one. This ws also the first cycle I was to crash on the roads, I was riding home from work in Newcastle's CBD area and travelling too close to the vehicle in front. Wet roads, Universal Trials tyres[remember them?]and a amber light I couldn't stop for. It was the brand new[then]Holden Commodore, and luckily for the car I hit the towbar and did very little damage to the car itself. I rode the Honda home the rest of the way with a flat front tyre, and a severely bent front wheel. It was a slow trip at walking pace but a lesson was learnt!
I kept the Honda until I passed my P plate test later that year.
1979. Now on a fullbike licence, my next bike was a Yamaha RD400. That blue bike was fast. It also had an appetite for pistons, little did I know it was jetted very leanand after piston number three I sold it thinking there was something inherently wrong with it. Would jave been nice to still have it! That was my last bike for a couple of yearsI gotmy car license n '79 as well, and drove an assortment of cars for a while.
1981. I think this year I bought a Suzuki TS185, and rode it on and off mostly on trails.
1982. This year I bought a Honda XL185S, the red and white one. This was nearly new when I bought it and stayed in the family for a while after my youngest brother bought it.
1987. This year I bought an old Honda CX500, it was a rough as guts. Painted mostly matt black featuring chrome 'shotgun' pipes. It was LOUD! Rode that for a while, then progressed to a Yamaha XJ550, the naked one. This was my first XJ550.
1988. This year I bought a mate's Kawasaki KLR650, and had this about two years. It was ridden hard all the time, and crashed offroad a few times as well but never let me down. This was the machine I had when I first moved to Sydney from Newcastle. It was a great commuter bike in heavy traffic.
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