Past Loves....any Bikes You've Loved And Lost And Wish You Still Had..

1993 Fireblade, one of the few "game changing" bikes of the last 30 yrs IMO.






Did just over 18k miles in 14 months until.......


2002 XR650R, bought in Dec 2009 with genuine 525 miles on the clock and absolutely mint. What a find that was! Got nicked off the drive several months later. Turned up damaged at a local dealer a few weeks later and was written off.



2004 R1, the first model with the underseat chimneys. Still the best full on sports bike I've ever owned. Part-exd for a Ducati1198SP in 2011 which I fell out with quickly. Tried to buy the R1 back 3 months later but it had gone. Oh well, such is life I suppose!

 

Aren't they just! They were made to measure Manx Leathers, £600 in '89. I thought they were the dogs at the time. Very well made but a bit of a cringe fest now though!

Edit...They lasted years until I came of the R1 in Nov '04 and they were cut off me in hospital. I replaced them with an off the peg 2 piece Alpine Stars suit which fitted very well almost everywhere but pinched a bit round the gentleman's area. I'm no human tripod but there wasn't much room for the three piece suite.

 

I had one of those in 1990, the first model with the upside down front suspenders. The 1127 oil cooled motor was one of the best around at the time IMO.

 

I had one of those in 1990, the first model with the upside down front suspenders. The 1127 oil cooled motor was one of the best around at the time IMO.

 

Was that the NC30 model, smaller version of the RC30? I fancied a RC30 when they came out but found them small and cramped compared to other sports bikes at the time. A bike of legendary status in road race circles.