My Vote goes to the Royal Enfield Bullet
 

My Vote goes to the Royal Enfield Bullet
and here is WHY >>>>

http://theroyalenfieldbullet.blogspo...hy-bullet.html


Also maybe because being from India , I have'nt seen / Experienced the other bikes mentioned here.

Let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low..
 

Hi Matt
My old bucket!? Oh you cruel person! How could you rattle my cage like that!

As for the kilt thing, I've been told by female friends that they are indeed truly intrigued by a man in a sort of skirt, and it adds a little frisson to their interest. But surely this is too high a price to pay for giggles? Not to mention midgies grazing on your "parts" during a Highland summer.

Here is my 1st challenge to you. I assume you wear your kilt for everyday use, so head up to Glencoe for a July/August weekend, and put your tent up at the Clachaig, or down at Sol's Bunkhouse. Let me know if you can handle 2 days of insects up your kilt, and if you can I'll buy you a pint at Lumb Farm one day. I need authenticated proof from a doctor and witnesses that you did it. You may post "Before" and "After" photos on the HUBB with Grant's permission, as they may offend taste and decency. However, some people may enjoy the sensation of biting insects, and in some cities you can pay a lot of money for a similar service, so it may not be a hardship for you.

Challenge 2 is that you write an article on "Motorcycling While Wearing a Medieval Garment" when you don't even have a Highland name. There is a pint for you here if you do this - a genuine offer. I will not renege.

Not many people on the HUBB are insulted as brutally as you insulted me. I did not run whimpering to a Moderator, but instead offered to buy you a pint!

Good roads!!!!
Denis

I'm allready taking them all... maybe that is part of my problem???

Next trip, another type of trip, another type of bike, another type of experience.

This is my only true problem; so many choices, so little time. Not only do I have to choose between the experience offered from all the routes in the world, but also the experience offerred by the choice of wheels, and more often than not, I want to travel each route with several vastly different bikes. One route can be travelled with so many vastly different bikes, each offering their own unique experience. Anybody done a Trans-africa on a trike or a quad???

The problem with my next trip is that I have too little time and want to cover lots of ground, keeping me to the main roads. As the roads for the trip i have chosen do not pose too great of a challenge, riding an offroader would be overkill. Riding a classic scooter on the other hand is just silly, and truely adventurous...

One thing to concider before you diss my choice of wheels completely. How many other rides do you know of which has been produced in virtually the same form and shape for 60 years, and still being used accross the globe in vast numbers? And, which has been used in Africa by the french foreign legion paratroopers?? And which have competed in the Paris-Dakar rally atleast three times that I know of (and even placed)??? And which has done RTW as well as being ridden arround towns by housewifes and blokes alike for decades? And which has achieved an iconic cult status rivaled by only a few, many generations over??? And, a ride which enjoyed massive sales in Africa (60s and 70s), as well as Europe, America, Australia and Asia? A ride which has sold in greater numbers than any vehicle, even the beetle. It is a piece of art and ingenuity. It is a ride which deserves being dragged and carried accross every square inch of the face of this earth... it has earned its right.

But, it is an utterly useless piece of junk, more useful as a lawn ornament than for transportation... but I think the question was for the best looking, not the most sensible. But to me, travelling in style is as sensible as travelling in comfort, with performance and reliability, etc. I must admit though, I do miss my motorcycle sometimes when I ride my scooters.

Wheres my bike
 

No Elefants even mentioned? Even if they are as reliable as British trains they do look the part, don't they?

Dear Denis,
A gentlemans challenge indeed! Whilst I am tempted by the offer of a pint I wıll not be in Scotland for several months and will be unable to take the challenge of the swollen swonnicles. Too bad ;)
Matt
ps- my name ıs from Aberdeenshıre!
pps-I apologıse for my remarks re: your bucket. It was ın reactıon to your defaming of my Indıan prıde and joy! Not an excuse though!

Old Glory!
 

Dear Wheelie,
Not so much into Vespas or scooters but anythıng that goes vroom with a history! Hence the Enfield takıng up space ın my pops garage. (Next to his 1932 Riley Specıal, it could be genetic!)
Actually, (to be just a little serious for a moment) I think it has to do with connection to the machine and the road. You can FEEL the road through the forks of an Enfield, you can HEAR the indivıdual explosıons ın the cylinder, you can really hear the strain of the engıne as you pull away at high revs, you get a much greater feelıng of connection to an old bike than a new one. It's almost symbiotic. Even the bloody work you have to do on them makes them more special!
Its the same with a car, in my pops Rıley, with the roar of the wind in your face, the scream of the engıne, feeling the tyres skitter across the road in a hard corner, leaning over the door and pulling wıth all your might on that huge steering wheel to hold it in line, that exhaust note that sounds like a Spitfire in a hard climb. God, it's hard work but theres no modern car in the world that can match that feeling. (Before anyone asks, no I ain't ever driven a supercar, I'm just assuming my dads car is better!)
Matt

.................................................. ........................................
Aberdeenshire is not Highland - I was right. So I'll say "Fit like my loon!".

I am still hurting about the "bucket" remarks...you sure know how to hurt a guy. My bottom lip is still trembling....

If you say that word "bucket" to Harleyrider or Bossies then they will run crying to a moderator and whine and whimper like babies. It's so embarrassing. They're such girlies..

Haste ye back tae Bonnie Scotland

Denis

Bucket of $**t
 

Well I must agree with you there Denis. My F650 was a bucket of $**t when I bought it. Bike looked good on the outside and ran fine but after closer examination it was a clanger. But after many frustrating hours in the garage stripping the bike to bits and rebuilding it, without any assitance I might add, the bike is an absolute pleasure and I would like to present it as a viable option for a RTW bike....now that it's gotten over all it's niggling issues and hang-ups.

I have also now gone from knowing very little about the mechanics of bikes to being able to diagnose pretty much any fault on my Funduro. Saved be loads of $BMW's to fix it myself. And yes I'm really proud of myself for doing it. Hope I can be of assistance and pass on the knowledge.

Hi Matt

I have suffered the problems of old bikes which is why I want nothing to do with them now. My first bike was a BSA B33 bought for a fiver. I used to go into the Highlands most weekends on it, pissing oil, and I can tell you that in Loch Lomond, from Luss to Inverarnan, there are clutch plates, sidestands, assorted nuts and bolts etc etc. All from the old BSA. The dynamo never worked as it was made by Lucas (Prince of Darkness). I learned a lot on this old banger, but in the end I installed a Fiat 500 cc engine out of those little cars they made.

I got rid of it and loads of engine parts to someone for a song. I was glad to get rid of it. After many other bikes, now I am on the Africa Twin you hunger for, though your jealousy is well concealed. I urge you to stand straight and tall, be rufty tufty and buy one. You will be respected by all and you can look windswept and interesting as you journey everywhere. You can join the human race at last!

Tooting my own horn, and another vote for Italian stuff, I'm fond of Italian singles.

Like say, this 1965 Ducati 250.

--Dave

Ural...
 

I'm tooting my own horn here too - I just love my Ural. I'm learning how to fix every part of it and how to upgrade what is upgradeable. But I think it's darn good lookin'!

Going back to the original question, I can only think of one bike that (still) gets my heart-rate going, and one that I can still buy, although in "replica" form from China, is the Honda CT-70/CT-90 Trailbikes. I know that it is a trail/commuter bike, but it was the first form of freedom for many people in their teens, being able to ride around on the streets on something other than pedalling under their own power. I guess the Honda Spree 50cc falls into a similar category as far as independence, but the trail bikes looked "masculine" vs. the, well, girlie Sprees, and the similar scooters from the other brands in the early to mid-80's. I have to give my thanks to Lifan for still producing this trailbike!

http://www.americanlifan.com/lifan/models/g7.html

No !you're all wrong!!

Honda CT 110
 

I would say my Honda CT110 has to be the hardest looking ride around...
Itll look even more ballsy by the time I finish my trip.
1month to go before I leave.
Perth(Aus) to Morocco via central asia. Hoping to be on the road for 18months or so this trip.
Ill put a pic up in the morn.

Obviously the R1150GS for me as it gave us such great experiences.

However to add to that in no particular order...

The Africa Twin

The Yam XT 600 Tenere

My little XR 400 is coming on nicely

And anyone of these if I win the lottery:
HPN-Motorradtechnik GmbH - Germany
Click on mmmmmmotorcycles!