Motorcycle - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mikemover · #16 10-24-2006, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da Nag

Get a Goldwing. They rock.

(sorry)

!!!!

!!!!

Not just "no", but... "HELL no!"

They are almost as ridiculous-looking as the crotch-rocket crowd's import bikes.

Mike

t walgamuth · #17 10-24-2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebreath

like t.walgamuth had a 72 R60/5.I had to rebuild mine.I found that not only were parts readily available,but also most of the people selling said parts were willing to lend a hand if needed.Being a rider of 20+ years I definately feel that the BMW bikes are easily as pleasant to work as the benz is.And like these diesels babies of ours,they are not known as speed bikes.Mine only went 91 MPH and that was FLAT OUT(burnt a valve doing it).But the highway cruising and low end torque are unrivaled IMO.Also the only TWO wheeled bike that I ever rode in the snow(6+ inches) and would again without hesitation. ride well and watch for the left turns....

yes, i drove mine in snow too. i had it at the same time i had my 62 190c. i rebuilt my petcocks with standard brass shutoffs bought at the hardware. no problemo. i had to retap the threads to match us pipe.

on the top end, i like to remember the bmw owners manual. it stated with germanic precision..." top speed: 91 mph. top speed crouched: 97 mph." no kidding.

the torque of the motor was something you had to get used to. on a turn if a leftie if you were leaned over and gave it gas it would lean the bike over a bit more. (or was it the other way?) and when you accelerated and shifted the bike would lean at each shift. i never noticed it til i got on my old harley 350 after riding the beemer for a few months and found myself leaning left at each shift like you do automatically with the beemer.

i bought mine in spring of 76. i married my wife in may and in august we went up through canada all the way to the bay of fundy. and back in two weeks. 4000 miles i think. changed the oil once since the intervel fell on the trip. we rode at 75 with two up and an 85 pound military duffle strappped on the back and another 20 pounds of camping equipment strapped on the tank. it was a great memorable trip. and on the way home we rode from new york to fort wayne indiana (600 miles) the last day since we were out of money and stayed with a friend.

good memories, great bike.

tom w

#18 10-24-2006, 08:39 PM

My first bike was a 1984 Kawasaki GPZ550, it was scary fast and everything, but a greybread told me that one day I would learn the error of my ways. I did:

Don't people remember the ad campaign of the mid '70s? "You meet the nicest people on a Honda?". Today, Honda does it's best to imitate Harleys, right down to the bar and shield emblem. They are now selling the Harley image that they once derided.

There was this bar/poolhall that I used to hang out at, they had a Honda hanging from the rafters, and every now and then they would let someone beat the cr@p out of it with a bat. They would lower it a few feet, and some drunk would stand on the pooltable and try to whack it. I liked it better when a couple of drunk girls would dance on the tables instead.

kbannister · #19 10-24-2006, 09:46 PM

Is it true the new Goldwings are coming with an airbag option

I think I read that somewhere.

#20 10-24-2006, 10:03 PM

I remember reading the same thing, somewhere.

catmandoo62 · #21 10-24-2006, 11:20 PM

re rider magazine"official honda riders magazine"had an article about 2 months ago on the airbag,but i don't recall seeing any mention of it is going to be on the new models,just that it was in the later stages of testing.

t walgamuth · #22 10-25-2006, 03:15 AM

speakiing of airbags reminds me of the hoover/ harley joke.

tom w

PC Dave · #23 10-25-2006, 05:13 AM

An airbag is available on the 2006 Gold Wing:

http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/touring_sport_touring/model.asp?ModelName=Gold+Wing+Airbag&ModelYear=2007&ModelId=GL18B7

Re the OP's question, the answer is definitely an Airhead BMW twin, the air-cooled models ending in 1995. Not fast, but reliable, relatively smooth, and rebuildable forever (not that they'll need it). There's a solid body of knowledge at the user level (start with the Airhead Beemers Club, www.airheads.org). Not much goes wrong, and everyone knows how to fix/prevent the things that do - they're simple bikes. Parts aren't particularly expensive, and they're readily available (to start, go to www.bobsbmw.com and request or download a catalog). The bikes are also easy to find around the country (www.ibmwr.org/market). Airheads are more refined than any Sportster made before 2004, and vastly more livable on any kind of a trip. They're the 123/126 diesels of motorcycling, and they'll be around forever.

dynalow · #24 10-25-2006, 08:53 AM

I always liked the aircooled BMW's of the 70's.
But I did wonder about the heat on the shins after a couple of hours in the saddle.

I don't think an old Sporty is what I'd recommend as a bike to be driven regularly. A late model Evo Sporty, maybe, depending ... Newer rubber mounted , yes. That's a nice bike.

But if it's to be part of a "collection" and rarely driven, heck anything that will go up in value will fit the bill.

I have a 1975 Kwasaki Z1B I'm looking to sell and expect to turn a profit on it for the 3 years I've owned it.

The OP never mentioned experience or intended use, so further input would help.

mikemover · #25 10-25-2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbannister

Is it true the new Goldwings are coming with an airbag?...

Yes. It rides on the seat, and steers the bike.

Mike

JWJ · #26 10-25-2006, 10:03 AM

Oh, the bike would be for fun around town riding. No long trips. I don't want a speed demon or an overly loud huge engine. It doesn't need to be a show piece but I'd like it to be clean. Fun and interesting are the optimal words.

Any opinions of the CJ750?

Its a chinese/russian reproduction of BMW's WWII era motorcycle. It can come with a side car.

JWJ · #27 10-25-2006, 10:07 AM

Also it seems Ural makes a similar bike to the CJ750.

NoSpark · #28 10-25-2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWJ

Any opinions of the CJ750?

Its a chinese/russian reproduction of BMW's WWII era motorcycle. It can come with a side car.

I can't speak for that brand, but 6-7yrs ago I had my eye on the newly built Royal Enfield...i think they make 'em in India. I was not impressed by the build quality once I finally got close to one. They also make a green-pea military bike.

http://www.royalenfield.com/app/US/Products/BulletMilitary.asp

kbannister · #29 10-25-2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemover

Yes. It rides on the seat, and steers the bike.

Mike

LMAO

PC Dave · #30 10-25-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSpark

I can't speak for that brand, but 6-7yrs ago I had my eye on the newly built Royal Enfield...i think they make 'em in India. I was not impressed by the build quality once I finally got close to one.

I worry that the same would be true of the Ural and the Chinese copy - Russian and Chinese industrial quality aren't exactly legendary. I would be really concerned about parts and service availability for both of those - in the absence of a dealer network you'd probably end up doing most/all of your own work, but you'll still need parts. You'd spend about the same -$5k-ish - for one of those as for a perfect BMW airhead boxer; if you sold in 2-3 years, you'd get your money back from the BMW, I'd guess the other two would depreciate brutally, and I think the BMW would be a lot more fun to ride while you owned it.