On the heels of my first post about what sort of automobiles I’ve owned, and whom I’d purchase from again, I started thinking about the topic in regards to my motorcycles. What has been the top purchaser, what do I enjoy riding most and what would I buy again.
So, here they are ordered by the most frequently purchased brand (the degree of repurchase of Honda shocked me, considering I’m not very fond of them).
7 Honda
2 Ducati
2 Yamaha
2 Kawasaki
2 Suzuki
1 KTM
1 Cagiva (Ducati powered BTW)
My favorite manufacture by far is Ducati. I’ve owned 2, sort of 3. The Cagiva had a 900cc Ducati 2v engine that was really fantastic. I’d still have it if the bike had not been difficult to find parts for, and if there was at least a decent aftermarket.
The big deal for me, for several years has been V-twins. This is cronology of sorts on which Vtwins I’ve purchased and anything else (italics) non-Vtwin in that timeframe.
2002 Ducati 998
2003 Cagiva Gran Canyon
2005 KTM 950S
1994 FZR400
2001 Honda RC51
2008 Ducati 1098
1974 Kawasaki KZ400 (parallel twin)
2004 Suzuki SV100S
Only one of that least 6 bikes was not a V-twin. And the FZR400 purchase was made because.. well those things are just a hoot, reving 15,000 RPM (pretty high for those days, rather pedestrian, even in the liter bike category), plus it was RARE. Very fun machine for certain!
So, what might be next? Hard to say. I’ve always wanted to pickup an MV Agusta F4 (in 1000cc trim, might settle for a 750 if the price was right), or maybe that new BMW S1000RR 1/2 because it’s BMW’s first real race-fucused superbike effort.
In the end, I plan to keep buy Ducati bikes, despite the more rigerous maintenance requirements (and costs), because they are just soooooo fun to ride.
What am I most unlikely to ever purchase again. A Honda. For me, Honda’s have been little more than a stream of problems. Most of them eletrical, but some of them mechanical as well. The least reliable bikes I’ve ever owned where Hondas, the most reliable, the Ducatis. Imagine that.
Here is the list of bikes, mainly sorted by most purchased to least, but not in any chronological, displacement or specific age/MY ordering.
1992 Honda CBR600
2000 Honda VFR
2001 Honda 929
1989 Honda XR600
2005 Honda CRF50
1984 Honda V45 Magna
2001 Honda RC51
1992 Yamaha FZR600
1994 Yamaha FZR400
2008 Ducati 1098 currently owned
2002 Ducati 998
2003 Cagiva Gran Canyon 900
2004 Suzuki SV100S currently owned
1994 Suzuki DRZ250
1983 Kawasaki ZR900
1974 Kawasaki KZ400 currently owned
2005 KTM 950S Adventure
