1964 Yamaha 90cc

This is a photo copied from the WWW. I owned this 90 cc from about 1966-1971. I took a 500 mile round trip from Eau Claire, WI to Brainerd, MN on this 45 mph top speed single cylinder, 2-cycle. I had to swap spark plugs about every 100 miles. An unforgettable experience.

1964 Yamaha 90cc engine

This is the only photo that I have of this motorcycle. I was going to rebuild it over the winter. I ended up selling it as a basket case for $50 in the spring of 1971.

1968 (est.) Yamaha 180 cc

This 2 cylinder, 2-cycle Yamaha was my first new motorcycle. I believe that it cost $780. As you can see by the staged rider position this baby was a rocket. Memory says that I owned it until the fall 1971.

1971 (est.) Honda CB450

This bike was purchased at Christmas time 1971 to celerate my first full-time teaching job. Who could pass up a road rocket like this 2-cylinder, 4-cycle, DOHC with torsion bar valve springs. I think this photo was taken in spring 1973 in Prairie Farm, WI. My riding partner here is our son, Brook. Brook now lives in the Charlotte, NC area and rides a '97 VRF and ad '03 SV1000--both are only slightly better than the bike pictured here!

1971 Honda CB450 customized

The 450 was my daily summer ride from spring 1972 through spring 1977 (see GS750). It served as a touring bike (Vetter Windjammer fairing--used on the GS) and a "cafe racer" (left). This was an awful touring bike: rock hard seat, hand numbing vibrating, short fuel range. Nonetheless I had a lot of fun with this motorcycle. I sold it to a former high school student of mine (Gary C.) in 1977 and have been riding with Gary ever since--motorcycles create lifelong friend!

1974 Suzuki TS125

I purchased this bike new in 1974, this photo is from the WWW but it is the exact motorcycle I owned. The idea here was to use this bike to get my wife licensed to ride with me. The project was successful; she completed a motorcycle safety/rider course at NWTC in Green Bay. We owned this bike until about 1978. I had a rear-bumper mount and we took the 125 on numerous camping trips.

1977 Suzuki GS750

This motorcycle can be considered the father of the Gixxer750. This thing was the road rocket of 1977. It was a decent motorcycle, never had any problems. Crappy fuel ecomony--my wife and I joined 6 other riders (solo and 2-up) on a trip from Green Bay (my home at the time) to Daytona Beach, FL. We put on an "ass-killer" 500 mile day and average 28 mpg. The word "farkle" did not exist in 1977 so I customized the heck out of it: Lester wheels, Windjammer, custom seat, Windjammer with AM/FM/CB!!

1980 Yamaha XS1100

This motorcycle is the only motorcycle whose loan I made money on. The bike was supposed to be delivered to me on about April 1, 1980. I took the loan out at 8% the day before delivery. When I went to pick it up I was told that delivery was delayed by upto 8 weeks (because I had ordered the Yamaha tour package--custom faring and detatchable bags). So, I had the money from the bank and I deposited it until the motorcycle arrived. Within a short period of time interest rates skyrocketed. I ended up earning 12% on money borrowed at 8%--I'll do that any day. This bike served touring duty and as a "cafe racer."

1976 Suzuki GT550

We purchased this bike, used, in 1981. I was hoping that my better-half would move up from the Suzuki TS125 to this for some joint road trips. It turns out that the GT550 was too tall and too heavy for her and thus became an unpleasant riding experience for her. We had the bike for about a year before selling it. I liked the bike but did not ride it much because I had become corrupted by the power of the XS11.

1985 Honda V65

The V65 replaced the XS11 in spring 1987--big mistake! I purchased the bike from a private party on day one, day two I went to the local Honda dealer to purchase oil and filter. I told the parts man I need oil/filter for the V65 I just bought. He says, "Holy sh-t, you bought a V65--those things are junk, get rid of it before the camshaft goes on you. I had it three month and dumped it for the Yamaha Maxim. I found the V65 fast, twitchy, gas guzzling, and unbearably hot from heat coming off the engine.

1985 Yamaha Maxim 700

I must admit to losing money on the Honda V65. I traded the V65 to a local guy even up for this Maxim 700 in late summer 1987. I had a lot of fun and got a lot of miles out of the Maxim. Fast enough for the times, ok riding range on a small gas tank and rock reliable.

1988 Kawasaki Voyager XII

I had ridden a friend's 1987 Voyager XII during the summer of 1987. Wow, I did not believe the plush accommodations, cruise, 50 mpg, tunes, tons of luggage storage. I had to have one. I purchased this in early 1991 and owned it until October, 1997 when I traded it in on a left over '97 Voyager XII.

1984 Honda CB700SC

I wish I had a better photo of this red/white/blue "California Hotrod." To this day this is one of the best looking motorcycles that I have ever owned. This bike was not particularly fast, though it looked it. This was one of my sportbike during the Voyager XII era.

1989 Honda Pacific Coast (PC800)

Purchased it used in about 1992 and had it for 1 or 2 years--I'm a little foggy here! I used it as a commuter for my daily 30 mile RT to work. The previous owner had added the expensive Honda radio and I appreciated the tunes for the commute. Great under body storage and really subpar performance from the 800cc V-twin.

1986 Yamaha FJ1200

I believe that I purchased this early in 1994 used with about 25K on the odometer. This is the first true sportbike that I ever owned. Why did I wait so long. Well, I have an artificial right leg, below the knee and bending the right leg to 90degrees is actually painful for more than 5 minutes at a time. This bike was right on the edge of painful but doable. I really like the horsepower of the FJ. I sold this bike to my long-time buddy, "Honda Al" and might be one of only two non-Hondas Al ever owned. Al has been riding with me for 37 years.

1995 Kawasaki GPz1100

The GPz would kickass on the FJ and it also was ridable for me with only a little pain in the leg. Because it had a relatively long wheel-base it was not a "flickable" sportbike but it was practical for me. I sold the GPz to Big Skid, our best man, high school friend, riding partner since 1964 and the salesman who originally sold this bike to me. Son, Brook, to left of me on his '94 Ducati 900CR.

1997 Kawasaki Voyager XII

I traded my 1987 Voyager XII on this 1997 in October, 1997 because the 1997 had a CB and I really, really wanted a CB. The 1997 just did not measure up to the fit and finish on my '87 XII. I never liked this bike and that is probably why this is the only photo of the '97 Voyager I have. I also learned that I HATE a CB.

1999 BMW K1200LT (Icon)

I really wanted a Honda GL1500 but because of my artificial right leg I never use a foot brake and the GL1500 had pathetic front brakes. The K12LT's ABS brakes impressed the heck out of me (actually saved my life on one occasion) and that was the deciding factor. I had very good luck with the '99 K12. No serious problems, great fuel economy (usually around 49 mpg and frequently better). My wife was really confortable on this K.

1997 BMW F650st

I sold the GPz1100 and bought this as my "sportbike." I found it on the internet, flew to Dallas, TX, and rode it home to Racine, WI over the next two days. The bike had 350 miles when I purchased it and it had 1475 when I got home. It was really comfortable for me and that is why I got rid of the GPz and bought this. Besides, now I had two Beemers--status ya know!

2003 Suzuki DL1000 (V-Strom)

The F650st just did not have enough oomph and I needed (well, wanted) more! I rate the V-Strom as one of my two favorite motorcycles over my riding years. I will probably look for a used one and get another. Scorpion pipes were not expensive, sounded great, but needed a PowerCommander for run right.

2004 Ducati Multistrada 1000DS (MTS1000)

I had ALWAYS WANTED A DUCATI and this was the first one I could comfortably ride. My high school buddy, Red Eng, and riding partner since 1964,found this bike for me. I sold the V-Strom to purchase this used MTS. The Duc was a nice bike but it is honestly (at least in my opinion) worth about 2 cents more than the V-Strom. I'm glad I owned it but given a choice between a used V-Strom and a used Multistrada priced identical, I'd get the V-Strom. Ducati maintenance is outrageously expensive. My riding buddy, Erlin, is a true-blue Ducati guy but he has the skill to maintain his Duc, I don't have the skill. This is the guy who rides a Buell from NE IL to the MotoGP--ouch!

2003 BMW K1200LTe

I traded my 1999 K1200LT for this LTe in Sept. 2004. It only had 7K, remaining warrantee for 18 months and it had GPS--I love GPS. I had to have it--piece of sh-t! I had one MAJOR problem with this motocycle every year I owned it. BMW, you lost a customer and I will NEVER come back. In my opinion BMW is a jerkwater company. Please note: of all the motorcycles I've owned this is the only one I've "bad mouthed!"

2007 Suzuki Burgman 650

This is the other of my "two favorite motorcycles." As you will see next I have a 2007 GL1800 ABS. If I could have only one motorcycle at this moment--bye, bye GL. The Burger is fast enough to smoke most on a H-Ds, comfortable enough for an 850 mile day (I've done that twice), get 50 mpg at 75 mph.

2006 Honda ST1300

I traded the '03 K12LTe for this '06 ST1300 in April 2007. The K let me down one to many times and I no longer trusted it. The ST1300 is as good as the mags say: great power, great range with a 7.7 gal tank and nearly 50 mpg, lots of storage, fine handling and comfortable enough for me to ride out a full gas fill. I traded it for a GL1800 in September because my wife just could not be comfortable on the ST and we missed intercom and tunes.

2007 Honda GL1800 (abs/navi/comfort)

Honda Al let me ride his '02 GL1800 on the way to the 2007 MotoGP in Laguna Seca and I discovered the GL had decent front brakes. I traded the '06 ST1300 for the GL in mid-Sept, 2007. I'd avoided the GL1800 because I had thought it used the same braking system used by the GL1500--it does not. After 3K of riding this fall I still believe that the K12LT has better front brakes (a really big deal for me) but the GL's brakes are more than adequate. Most importantly, this bike is comfortable for Ricci, my wife. We are going to retire in 2008 and we want to do a lot of touring. I want her comfortable and the GL does the job. Another consideration for me is: Honda has a much broader/deeper dealer network than BMW.