Wow DCS you have opened up a very thought provoking topic, for me personally it is all about enjoyment and what type of riding I am doing at that particular time, there was a similar thread some time back, my first bike was an ex WW2 despatch riders bike when I was 14 in the very early sixties, the guy I bought it from demonstrated how to start it, change gear and how the brakes worked, I pushed it home and rode it on farm land that I had permission for (in exchange for some free work), it was a sort of baptism of fire. I passed my test in 67 and went from a Tiger Cub to other Triumph twins, BSAs, Matchless, Ariel's and at 19 got a Goldie, I am proud and feel blessed to have lived and rode in that era, I was and still am a Rocker (although now ageing somewhat), I have owned over 80 motorcycles of all makes models and capacity. I had a lot of pleasure riding off road on a DOT Trials Bike, these were very heady times with a group of like minded fellow Rockers. My current machine is a Street RS, I regularly ride my sons Panigale 1299s along with other machines, with the modifications and full Akro system the Panigale is running 220 BHP, when used in anger it can shift some and is fun to ride, it has more electronics than Currys/PC World and playing around with various settings and modes is fun, I ride my other sons Katana and like the relaxed feel and riding position, the K5 GSXR1000 engine in it provides a nice fun ride. I have just missed out purchasing a genuine ex works DOT Trials Bike and was gutted, by the time I had checked and had verified it's authenticity it was sold. It's difficult comparing machines especially from different years, imagine buying a bike today that is capable of 100 MPH and had a single leading shoe front brake and a less than effective rear, no rider aids and 6 volt lighting, no helmets required (although we did) and straight through exhaust pipes, we had a lot of great times and hard riding, our girlfriends that rode with us had the same feeling and attitude we all had with great loyalty. I am also looking at a custom chopper and viewing it very soon, I guess it's a nod back to those rebel days. I just love getting out riding with like minded people, no snow flakes to bother about (unless falling from the sky). I have also kept up with modern technological advances, and rider training, I take the advanced re test every 3 years for bike and car, as like bikes and cars everything changes year on year. Ride safe all.
On road I prefer twins between 500 and a 1000 somewhere. Have ridden 4 cylinders, but for me personally the joy of a twin engine can’t be beaten.
The more cubes the better, preferably a big twin for the torque , saying that my rocket triple is not short on torque
... and, if you want to get the best of a very broad spectrum of triple pleasure, try two machines that deliver the triple experience and which overlap - hugely - somewhere in the middle, those machines being an early T300 Speed Triple 900 and a Gen. 2 Street Triple 675.
Been drooling over these for a few months. They're NOT cheap, like 6K USD. I don't know too much about them past their basic operation and function. I'd imagine they're anything but "plug and play," and you'd need serious internal adjustments and upgrades. So when the smoke clears I'm sure you'd be pushing 10 large. I assume the Thruxton R mod would mate up on a Speed Twin, but it's just a fantasy at this point. I'm not old, but I'm not young… at my age how fast do you really want to go? I've already got my girl to 135 once… once. That''ll pretty much make you stain on the asphalt when shit goes pear-shaped. https://www.tts-performance.co.uk/single-post/2017/03/09/triumph-thruxton-r
Well most fun I’ve had have been 400-660cc group. Just don’t bother slowing down and keep it pinned. They generally are good enough to get you banned so for that reason I’m not going into detail but most of my fun has been on big singles and backroads.
Thornton Hundred Custom Triumph Bonneville Bobber Despite this machine being capable of hitting 170mph with nitrous activated (or 150mph without), Thornton Hundred’s upgrades are aimed at making the Bobber a usable everyday bike. It rides on uprated suspension, with a sophisticated custom Ohlins fork, triple clamps, revised Brembo monobloc brakes, wide Excel rims, and grippy Michelin sport tyres. The frame is based on the standard Triumph Bonneville Bobber Black’s item with Jody Millhouse and his team at Thornton Hundred then adding its ‘V4 Wide Kit’, before fitting the engine with TTS machined cases, forged pistons, and a Rotrex C15 supercharger. With an injection of nitrous oxide, that figure jumps to more than 200hp, enabling a remarkable quarter-mile time of just 10.49 seconds. The frame is finished in gloss black, while the tank and tail are blessed with a bespoke livery from UK paint specialist Image Design Custom. An upgraded set of lights was installed, the seat was given custom trim, and a lightweight rear number plate holder and front mudguard were fitted. This radical, supercharged, nitrous-injected Triumph Bonneville Bobber sold for a whopping £38,000 very recently. Picture 1 is the finished bike, picture 2 the build in progress. Considering the build cost it is something of a relative bargain.
No idea really, starting riding in the 70's and haven't owned that many bikes over the years as I keep them for a few years because I've liked them all. Best fun bike is between 2 loaners, a Laverda 650 strike and an original speed triple 900 both had been mildly tuned. Thinking about it, both were an orange(ish) colour, so I'd say orange is the best cc's.... I wouldn't want to own either of them as my only bike though.
To me "fun" definition is high rpm and lightness, so I voted 600-800. But I don't want fun everyday, so I like 1000 +
I voted 1001-1200 but only because most of the bikes I have owned for the last 25 years have been in that class. However 600cc + bikes are also great fun to potter around on and provide plenty of power to enjoy. Good thread @DCS900
What a thing of beauty. The acceleration must be phenomenal. But with that riding position hanging onto it at silly speeds must be horrendous. Hanging onto my speedmaster at over a ton is not pleasant with the body position. God knows what 150 mph would be like.
You "don't want fun everyday", @Hubaxe?! That sounds slightly suspicious. Who doesn't want fun everyday?
