I parked my ride 20 years ago to get married and raise a family. That portion of my life is over and now at 60 I took my 72 Breganze Laverda 750 SF out of moth balls and put it on the road. You would think at my age riding would be out of my system but it isn’t.

Things are sure different today. There are no Sport Bikes and Young Riders. All you see are New Harley’s and Beeners ridden by old fartx like myself. Literally 100’s of these Bikes go by my door every day. I live in Spanish, a small town on HWY 17 located on the North Shore of Lake Huron just opposite Manitoulin Island. I can not believe the technology of these new rides but I don’t think you can beat the riding enjoyment or exelleration you feel when you are on a vintage ride. I don’t ride like I use to, carving corners at 120mph: but instead, tour along with the flow and just enjoy. 50 mpg isn’t bad either and thankful I still have my health to be able to do it.

I get a lot of attention from riders where ever I go and there are always stories. You say to yourself many times in life “Someday I’m going to this or that or go there... etc.” Funny thing is that I never planned to ride again but at this point I don’t think I want to do anything else :o))

http://www.camaroforums.com/forceddownload.asp?file=3%3B42237

http://www.camaroforums.com/forceddownload.asp?file=2%3B42237

Once a enthusiast, always. I still have the desire.

I have a 1970 Triumph Bonneville w/5800 miles sitting in my garage since '92. Owned the bike since '79. Wife had said put up & shut up. Too many unskilled auto drivers out there, so since I live in the same house and intend to continue living here for many years, I didn't say a word. Now, she's a Material Damage Appraiser, so, its even worse.

Like you, when I was driving, heads turned. I have a route through the country I would drive, thee most mileage I put on it one year was 120 miles between annual safety inspections.

What a feeling to drive, until a junebug hits you in the chest at 80 mph........

Lately at the ripe age of 61 I also have started to yearn for the days when I use to ride. My dream bike was always a Triumph Bonneville. It sounds like my dream has been sitting in your garage all these years. Occasionally I'll find one that someone has abused and cutup into some chopper style bike, but nothing within reason that is pure stock. My wife once gave me the decision to make when she said you can either have a muscle car or if you get a bike take out a lot of life insurance. Needless to say my '67 was what I chose. My son rides a Honda CBR600 and once in a blue moon when my wife is away at her friends I will sneak out and take it for a ride in the neighborhood and enjoy every moment. For those of you lucky enough to ride, enjoy the freedom but be careful...

Rode a 69 Bonny for about 3 years through to 74 when I crossed my Laverda. Bonnie's are sure a sweet ride. Tuned up will do 118 mph single and 108 double - LOL

A Bonnie may have been cantankerous to start at times but unlike these new Hi-Tech rides, if they stopped, you always got them running.

Betty (girlfriend for the past 7 years), rode bikes for years before I met her, but her last bike, an 85 or so Suzuki GSX-R 750, caught fire and was destroyed before we met. She never got it out of her system and everytime bikes rode by she'd turn her head watching. I told her years ago that someday I'd get her another bike. Back in November of '06, I bought her a 2006 Suzuki GSX-R 750 as a Christmas present.

At the time of purchase, I really had no interest in bikes and never really rode them. It was all hers.

That didn't last long ;) I just bought my own 2008 Suzuki GSX-R 750 a few months ago. We both love to go riding, not to mention the money I'm saving in gas alone each month not driving my truck pays for the bike and the insurance on it.....

I'll post of some pictures of the bikes tonight if I can remember. Here's some pics of the bikes we have, these ones are just not "ours":
Mine: (it's actually more orange in the bright sunlight than these pics look)

http://67rs-ss.net/bikes/b3.jpg
http://67rs-ss.net/bikes/b4.jpg

And here is "hers". (again, these are pics taken randomly off the web till I can get some personal ones ;)

http://67rs-ss.net/bikes/b1.jpg
http://67rs-ss.net/bikes/b2.jpg

Now that I've been riding to work, I've been getting out less on the weekends. Either way it's still fun to ride. Although going to work Monday I got a rear flat at about 75. Not fun on a 900 lb Goldwing.

Now that I've been riding to work, I've been getting out less on the weekends. Either way it's still fun to ride. Although going to work Monday I got a rear flat at about 75. Not fun on a 900 lb Goldwing.

I can only imagine! I don't want that experience even on a 368lb (dry weight, no rider) crotch rocket.

i got a 79 honda cb750k. Everything has been good so far other than a broken cam tensioner.

My first 750 was a 1979 CB750K. Loved it! My brother-in-law and i went to San Jose Honda one Saturday morning and rode 2 750K's home that afternoon. The wives were pissed, but got over it. But never forgot it!

This is a good excuse to post a couple of pics of a friend's bike. He builds and does airbrush work.

http://hometown.aol.com/zz430droptop67rs/images/canyon%20city%20017.jpg

http://hometown.aol.com/zz430droptop67rs/images/canyon%20city%20018.jpg

http://hometown.aol.com/zz430droptop67rs/images/canyon%20city%20012%20edit.jpg

Wishing I still had mine. I bought a '79 650 Yamaha back in 1980. Had about 1200 miles on it if I remember right. Used it as a daily driver for many years. Sold it a few years back because it was just sitting in the garage collecting dust. 60 mpg with the wind on your face sounds pretty good about now. Funny thing is, the other day my wife asked me when I was getting another bike. It's not too often she comes up with that sort of question. It's usually, "When are you cleaning out the garage...when are you painting the kitchen...when..." :D

I always wanted a Bonneville myself. Had to settle for a Yamaha 'clone'.

Mark

i am in the process of building a 74 xs650 yamaha chopper. it will be my first street bike. been riding in the dirt for years but now its time to dodge cars on the streets.i'll post pics when its together.

Funny reading this, I saw a Hayabusa this morning, I miss mine once in awhile, guy hoiked up a wheelie after the light went green and then was real gone in a hurry.

On board computer occasionally told me I was geting 48 mpg, not bad for a 156rwhp 1300cc bike. Most times was telling me 42, heavy right hand, well,,,,
Was a wonderful bike.
I was thinking of getting an old Honda CBX 6 cylinder, or an old KZ1300 6 cylinder for fun. Those sounded great. Looked awesone too, all 6 pipes in the front. Cool.

A friend owned an RD 350. 6ft guy and one h*ll of a joker; anyway we were teens and walking down main street and noticed the town Police Chief scuffing an apple in front of the Red & White. I went in and bought "One Potato" from a girl that sat across from me in high school and told her "Watch this." My friend did a wheelie down main street and the Officer could not start his car to pursue the offender. Gary parked in the lane behind the store walked up the alley to join Annie and me where offered our condolences to the distressed Officer peering under a raised hood. As the cruiser was being towed away by the Local Chrysler Dealer, I commented to Gary " I bet they tare 1/2 the engine apart before they find that Potato in the Exhaust Pipe."

I can't say I was an ANGEL :o))

I can't resist the bike thread. I love all bikes, Bonnevilles, Triumphs, Indians....ahhhh.

I have the need for speed though so this is my current 200hp steed. A 2000 Kawasaki 12R, bored out and highly tuned.

http://www.media-swap.com/12ratPutnam.jpg

I ride on 07 FXD and my wife rides an 07 883 Low Rider. I've been on bikes since I was 5. I cannot explain it, but riding my motorcyles over the years has provided me with the most consistent pleasure of any motorized vehicle I have ever had. I also love the old bikes (both Harley and Metric). I just love motorcylces.

triumph really hit it right when they started making the bonneville again

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a367/mjsmilford/100_1431.jpg

Here's PIC's of my 72 LAVERDA BREGANZE 750 SF

Man a Bonnie Twin DOHC - Nice. By the Looks of the Blue Exhaust I would say it's running a little Lean.

BA that is one Monster Ride, gotta say your definitely a Biker.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2618887636_47a6f14171.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/2618063983_0ca16e81ee.jpg?v=0