Bike History, the (im) perfect two wheelers

[wheels]

Just wanted to relate some personal bike history.  It could be useful for new riders.  My fitment is a 29" inseam which eliminates a fair number of bikes.  Must have smooth throttle control/response, mostly in town riding with week-weekend trips.  Usual issues for me is the seat (height usually) and the windshield.
 
Current  :  2012 DT 300i  , new shows great potential
                1993 Suzuki VX800, a less expensive BMW R80

Previous:   2008 Burgman Exec, better on the road than in town, nits: throttle   
                                          down shifting, windshield, weight                                       
                2005 Burgman 400, great fit for me, nits: windshield, rear shock travel
                2003 Suzuki SV650, Quick   nits: light weight on the highways.
                200? Hyosung  GV650 only cruiser, great value  nits: engine heat,
                                               could not find replacement handlebars
                1987 BMW R80   great road bike
                1976 BMW R60/6  great road bike, good in town nits: this applies to
                        the R series BMWs, clunky clutch/transmission
                1975 Yamaha RD350 great road and city bike nits: light weight on the
                         highways
                           

[JustWantToRide]

Current:  2009 Kymco Xciting 500Ri

Previous:

2009 Yamaha Zuma 125
2006 Suzuki Vstrom 1000
2005 Suzuki Burgman 400
2004 Suzuki Burgman 650
2001 Yamaha Zuma 50
1998 Suzuki Bandit 1200
1992 Suzuki DR650SE
1992 Suzuki GSX1100G
1991 Honda XR 600
1990 Yamaha Super Teniere 750
1987 Kawasaki KLR 650
1984 Yamaha RZ 350
1984 Yamaha RZ 350
1983 Honda XR 500
1978 Yamaha RD 400 (European Spec)
1978 Yamaha RD 400
1978 Montesa Cota 348
1977 Yamaha XT 500
1976 Yamaha DT 250
1976 Jawa CZ 250 with sidecar
1976 Yamaha RD 250
1975 Yamaha SR 500
1975 Yamaha RD 350
1975 Yamaha RD 200
1975 Suzuki GT 750
1974 Kawasaki H2 750
1972 Yamaha RD 350
1972 Kawasaki H1 500
1972 Kawasaki H1 500
1972 Kawasaki H1 500
1972 Yamaha DS7 250
1972 Yamaha RD 100
1970 Yamaha R5 350
1969 Kawasaki H1 500 Blue Streak
1967 Yamaha YDS5 250

In the 70's I was working as a machinist and as a motorcycle mechanic.  I was racing in the CRRC, WERA, and AMA through the 80's and working at different motorcycle shops.  I owned a lot of bikes which I didn't take the time to list here - because I would buy crashed bikes and bikes with blown engines for my racing supplies.  At one time I had 34 running bikes and even more for spares.  I bought bikes and fixed them up, tricked them out - and then sold them.  In 1989 I went back to school and sold all but a couple of RZ's and a KLR 650.  It was really weird only having 3 bikes.  I still bought and sold a few bikes for several years - usually keeping it at 3.  When I met my wife I had 3 bikes.  A Bandit 1200, a DR 650, and a Yamaha Zuma 50.  She didn't like the DR and wouldn't ride the Bandit with me - so I sold the DR and traded the Bandit for a Burgman 650.  She had a Vespa 50 that I got running and we enjoyed riding that, and I ended up getting the Burgman 400 for her.  She bought me a Vstrom 1000 (but put it into her name) and had me get rid of the other 2 bikes (eek - down to one!).  I bought her a Buell Blast that she wanted.  After the divorce she didn't wan the Buell and I couldn't sell it - so I traded it for a Zuma 125.  The VStrom is a nice bike - but it's not as good a street bike as my Bandit was, not as good a dirt bike as a DR, and not geared for neighborhood speeds or grocery runs.  So I traded it for a new 09 Kymco Xciting and sold the Zuma 125.  I'm a single parent with a 4 year old daughter.  I needed a practical ride that could carry my daughter and groceries.  She loved the Zuma 125 - and I had racks mounted front and back - but it couldn't handle highway speeds and I didn't need 2 scooters - so I sold it.  I'd like to get a DRZ 400SM or something to tear around on - but I'm still recovering financially from having been married and then getting divorced - so I think it will just be the Xciting for a while.  If I had a bigger garage then I would go back into buying and fixing bikes up as a hobby, but for now I'm busy being Daddy...

[Doug9678]

Holy Cow - JustwantToRide - you have a ton of riding experience and ownership!

I wish i had half of your knowledge on bikes!

[JustWantToRide]

I've never been into clubbing - so the perfect Friday night is spent working on a bike and then taking it for a ride to check it out.  Luckily my 4 year old has the riding bug - too bad she can't stay out very late...