Here's my loaded up Triumph street triple R in Toulouse a couple of summers ago, not a touring bike as such but it performed brilliantly and was pretty comfortable. (note the water bottle tied to the radiator cowling0

I've posted before but:

My forum name

And my "investment"

The RK is a user, the Katana is off the road...

Love the Katana Derek, I hired a Roadking last year in California, it was only $80 for a day so I had a Diner and a roadster as well, great fun!

Jase, that picture sums up the "Why?" for Harleys. What was the trip?

My VFR (that I still have most of), with my daughter (13 today) kitted up and ready to go:



My old Aprilia (with my old Coupé in the background) - uncomfortable, impossible to ride smoothly at less than 30mph and with useless mirrors, but, by golly, it was fast and loved corners:



My long-suffering ZX-6R, shortly after somebody on an R1 rode into the back of it as I braked for Tower corner at Croft circuit:



And the same ZX-6R after I put back on the road on a tight budget - it was my regular bike for another few years (and even managed a track day at Donnington):



I need another bike!

My friend just bought a place near San Diego (thats him on a street triple) spent a week riding around the desert, some good mountain twisties too, the sparks were flying!




Went to see the woodies, an annual car show with all the original 50's surfmobiles, all pristine..
@AndrewR great selection there, which was your favourite?

The ZX-6R (I've had two of them, but I only have a couple of non-digital photos of my first one).

The Aprilia was too new and expensive to take on a track, but far too focussed for road-riding.

The VFR was too far the other way; it cost me peanuts and ran for years without ever putting a foot wrong, but it just wasn't involving enough.

The 6R was just perfect - it was big enough that I could ride it down to Dijon without any aches or pains and it could take a pillion or a 4-man tent strapped over the pillion seat with ease. It had enough low down and mid-range to be easy to ride through traffic (even in central London), but when you wound it up (or took it on a trackday) it was still a bloody quick bike.

When I get another bike it will almost certainly be another ZX.

Edited to add: Before the 6R I had a CBR-400RR NC29, which was also a nice bike, but physically a bit small and a bit high-revving for longer journeys.

Further edited to add: I don't think I have any pictures at all of the CBR4, but it was the same colour scheme as this one:



I'd forgotten what a good looking little bike it was, actually.

My wife had one of those, although as she's 5 feet nothing tall it wasn't too small for her, and she regrets selling it every day.

I'm not surprised, Tim - it would be a lovely bike for those twisty Scottish roads. Loads of fun and you'd probably never miss the top-end power of a bigger bike.

couple of my mine..

That is nice Genic. Can't beat a Harley in Black! Although I may be biased!

Thanks Derek , that Road king is lovely, one day I will have to get a proper Harley

America is a great place, the food is so cheap and you get massive portions, this is me on the last day Mmmmm doughnuts...

Looking good Jase

Why step back in technology? I like the V-Rod, yours is stunning!

The stigma of a water cooled Harley...

True..

I've never really got the whole Harley vs all other bikers thing.

I've never ridden a Harley, or felt any real desire to own one, but if they're your thing then what does it matter to anybody else?

Mind you, Harley riders do seem noticeably less likely to return waves or nods from other bikers, so maybe they're happy being a group apart.

I've given up giving the nod to cruisers, they never nod back and you feel a bit of a prick, too cool for school? I dunno.

Amazing skills here... motorcycle cop

Fantastic...amazing skills

If you think that was good, this is outrageous!

Here's mine (in order) !




1. Honda XLV125 Varadero - my learner bike. It was big for a 125. A copper asked me once if it was a 600 !

2. First bike bike. Yam Fazer 600. Great bike too. Apart from the noisy cam chain.

3. My love.... Honda VFR800 VTEC. What an engine. Hit 7,000rpm and in comes VTEC and the bike sounds like a NASCAR ! Power wheelie in second gear? Yes please.

4. VFR was a little bit big in stature, so switched to a Yam Thundercat 600 with RAM air induction ! Went far too fast on this... Great little bike with 100bhp.

5. Calmed down a bit (after some near licence and life losing events) and got a more touring/commuting bike. Kwak Versys 650. Toured Scotland, went to work, Sunday blasts - all good fun. This photo (black bike) shows me fully loaded up headed for Scotland.... and returned 68mpg too !

6. So much fun that I bought a second one. This time in orange ! Still got it, and currently doing my advanced riding qualification. The Versys might only have 60bhp but the handling is awesome and can outsmart sports bikes in the twisties... if you ride well...

Always loved the USS Enterprise and have now got a pearler ..

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll270/robshed/Photo0763.jpg