TOPIC:

I just love my 1300 but do also have 2 other loves in my life......

Yamaha VMAX & Kawasaki ZRX1200R.

Both are fine bikes in my opinion. You can do a lot with both of them, especially the VMAX. The last one I built below had many upgrades including Taylormade Wheels & forks.








Just look at the photo of my last ZRZ1200R & a friends Z1300..........two timeless classic Kawasaki models which compliment each other

So What is your other love ?????

Pete F

As a treat to myself for my 40th birthday I bought a (then) year old 2007 Yamaha MT-01 with 1100 miles on the clock. Take the 1700cc V-twin from the Warrior cruiser & drop it into a chassis with R1 suspension & brakes & you have the MT-01
It 'only' has 90 bhp but makes 120 ft.lbs. of torque, which makes it a great long distance bike, especially with the loping, low-revving V-twin. I've been around Europe on it quite a few times now & still love it 5 years & 23,000 miles on, I have no intention of changing it

A bit like the VMAX Phil, the MT01 is not everyones cup of tea as you know, but I like them a lot.

Its not a bike you see everyday & they sound great.

Not just another plastic pocket rocket !!!!

Pete F

I myself have bonded with and enjoyed early 90's Katana's. Many cheap thrills and spills were enjoyed on my first 1990 GSX750F. It was versatile, not too uncomfortable, and even ran like a champ after I high sided it (I was still pretty new to riding lol).
It was running and in great condition when I sold it two years ago. Still wish I would have kept it as a daily beater but money was short .
I'm planning on getting another one next year.

Until very recently this was my other bike......bought it from a guy in Leicester and spent a few quid and many hours restoring it back to it's original state. Lovely big shaft drive bike but as anyone who has ridden one will know did handle worth a toss. Good for short runs but not a patch on the Z1300 for touring with two up. Might still get another if one turns up - very easy to work on.

I probably already fessed up to actually riding a Honda as my every day machine. I like the power fine, if anything, it's too smooth. Unfortunately, the big pig front tire tracks ruts all too well.

Around here most cars run studded tires six or seven months a year. The result is that all of our heavy used pavement must be replaced/overlain every two years because the pavement gets worn away by the studs. The worst of it is that the back roads are rutted or grooved as well but they don't get attention unless the pavement actually comes apart. I've always known that the Valk would wallow in the ruts while going down a straight road but it took a while (I can be dense) for me to realize that the Valk also wallows on the curved sections that are worn, around here that's most everywhere.




A couple of years back I sold my only V twin bike a 2006 Kawasaki 1600 Mean Streak. I liked it, I just didn't ride it, probably because, while it tracked better than the Valk, it didn't begin to compare power wise.

Yesterday I might have found the answer:




I bought this one today. Also a 2006 V Twin. It has 11,000 timid miles on the clock and every accessory the PO could find and bolt on.

Bill

Bill