Motorcycles.

[jscottyk]

If I had a big pile of coin I would ask Richard Pollock to build me one of these.

triumph_speedmaster_mule.1.jpg
triumph-bonneville-custom1.jpg

Or go full on USA style...
Mule.jpg

[cody.wms]

My current ride is a BMW F800GS and fits that description pretty well. See obligatory garage door pic of bike sans-bags.

I like!

eh sorry, not implying you are a fred everyone starts somewhere.

No worries. Thought it is an apt analogy.

[choke]

I would look at an older Monster, preferably a 900. Those motors are bulletproof and you might be able to find a decent one at the top end of your range. Here's one with 200k on it (197k in the article but he broke 200 in June) - Ductalk

CB750s are on my radar, as ar FZR 600s, and I just saw a pretty GPZ 750 that had been hacked apart for cheap.

I'd remove the FZR. They're a good bike but there's no way I'd want to take one on a multi-day trip; they are happiest at high RPMs and that would annoy me to no end after the first day. They're more of a 'take it out and carve the canyons for a day' kind of bike.

I love the air cooled motors. The '96 900SS/SP was one of the best and most fun bikes I ever owned. Beautiful design. Great sound. Enough power to be fun but not so much that you spit yourself off easily. Very reliable motor all things considered.

I have a '95 SS/SP and it's IMHO as close to perfect as a bike can be. I bought it 8 years ago with 5600 miles on it - today it's at 47k and change.

[jscottyk]

Beautiful!

Couldn't agree more.

I have a '95 SS/SP and it's IMHO as close to perfect as a bike can be. I bought it 8 years ago with 5600 miles on it - today it's at 47k and change.

[SteveP]

motorcycles are fun...
mid size are perfect... like 650/750/900.
dont have one anymore..
mebbe some dayy get another one.

[devlin]

it's a shame you guys never got the TRX850. Fantastic bike...
http://motosvit.com/Yamaha%20TRX850/...096%20%201.jpg. For touring wth a bit of sport twins usually do well. That 'Orca' up the page would be the ticket though if you can afford one. Awesome bike.

[jitahs]

triumph-bonneville-custom1.jpg

Whoa 300 lbs.

Sofa king hot. Pitch-perfect San Jose Mile machine.

[jscottyk]

Whoa 300 lbs.

Sofa king hot. Pitch-perfect San Jose Mile machine.

Yep. Heck, any street bike under 400 lbs is a blast. And a reliable, street-able, 100 RWHP motor can be done with out a lot of fancy-pants mods. If I do one, I build it with a Scrambler motor to get the 270 degree crank timing. Wouldn't that be fun!

[jscottyk]

it's a shame you guys never got the TRX850. Fantastic bike...
http://motosvit.com/Yamaha%20TRX850/...096%20%201.jpg.

Yes, that is a bummer. Great bike and a great motor.

[Nierman]

This was listed on local KC Craigslist. $1300 left for some leather and hooker and beer adventures.

[SteveP]

my last bike was a 650 yamaha twin
fast enough and fun as hell.

2 speeding tickets* in a week= sold it.

* not even going fast... like 50 in a 35...

[Michael White]

I had an xs special too . . . Great fun to ride, kind of a dog . . .
I often think about getting another one, but am not sure I'd really ride it much.

[echelon_john]

The answer to your question is KLR650. Used for $2500 no problem. Easy to service, if it should break down, which isn't likely if it's been maintained.

I'm a BMW guy and have done lots of touring on an 1150GS, but for a first/entry bike that's a little easier to manage, with good versatility for on/off road, that's available for cheap, the KLR is unmatched.

[christian]

I love KLRs. I owned a KLR. For a primarily on-road trip, a Ninja 250 is way more comfortable. And faster.

[Nate@Scarab]

Buddy of mine just picked one up...



But, looks like I'm set on a certain Ducati 900SS CR. Oh yes.

[david]

Buddy of mine just picked one up...



But, looks like I'm set on a certain Ducati 900SS CR. Oh yes.

nice, on both counts.

[jscottyk]

...But, looks like I'm set on a certain Ducati 900SS CR. Oh yes.

Sweet! That black one?

[Nate@Scarab]

Yessir!

[Nate@Scarab]

[dancinkozmo]

For anyone interested in the older ducati 900ss theres lots of good people and info here ...

Supersport - Ducati.ms - The Ultimate Ducati Forum