Might have been one of the best looking but this was probably the worst one (all except the power)......
Two for me,... First one was a VFR800 when they first came out, hated the abrupt lurchy fuel injection and also the sizzling noise the gear driven cams made, only had it 10 months and p/exc it on a Fireblade. And one before that, about 1991 or so I think,...Ducati 851 Superbike, part exc my 1000 Exup Yamaha ( which was a ballistically smooth fast thing ) and a shit load of cash for this 851, the first model with the upside down forks, looked great, sounded great, but actually rode shit Same problem with lurchy fuel injection, but even worse as there was so much engine braking the bike used to virtually stop dead! That and the absolutely rock hard suspension, was not unusual to hit a bump, the bike would kick you out of the seat and land on the fuel tank! Only had it 6 months and chopped it in when the first round headlamp Fireblade came out, did the deal at M&S motorcycles Newcastle, the Blade felt light years ahead of the 851, almost like it had been beamed down from the planet Zanussi ! Never touched another Ducati for 22? Years till I bought the 899....totally love the 899 though
My memory is telling me, every bike I have owned through the years had its own unique character to enjoy, from the first bike I bought, a 1930s Sunbeam 350cc single with a tank mounted gear lever to my Panigale V4. The only one I regret buying was an horrendously expensive (£75 in 1971 IIRC) DBD32 Goldstar 350. What I didn’t know was it had a blown head gasket and sadly it was destroyed in a ball of fire before it got fixed. The guy I sold it too left the side stand down and looped it on the first left hander and split the tank. Chap was okay but well pissed off. Andy
I bought it brand new and I think you are right about the front wheel. The bike had tremendous power (as you would expect from Kawasaki engines) but the bike was so top heavy and not really suitable for someone slightly deficient in the leg department. If it fell over, it was so heavy so much so even Arnold Schwarznegger would have needed help to lift it up. The bloody thing wouldn't go round corners unless I clambered all over the tank....even if I had climbed up onto the tank and stood on it I doubt it would have been any better ......it was terrible at 30mph in a long sweeping easy bend......a Harley would have gone round more easily (and that's saying something).
Think it was actually? ..the first one with upside down forks and white wheels, here’s a dodgy picture off the garage wall of me on a Ducati owners club track at Cadwell park, can’t remember the year 91 / 92 ? Around that time? I’ll see if I can dig out the reg number?
@ducv2 Found it! Just been rummaging through some old picture albums and found a few of my old bikes.... The 1000 Exup “ magic carpet “ that I part exc on the 851, this was a really great bike This one was taken at my brothers and it was about 2c ! here’s the 851 ...J691 JFT Is the registration number, I’ve just blown the pic up to make it out And the Fireblade I chopped it in for, must have had this a few years as the tax disc says 1995, really enjoyed this bike, it was the ultimate bike to have at the time, ...almost killed my self on the Isle of Man with this one getting carried away !! I’ll bet the 851 is the same bike??
Suzuki GN250 I had as a commuter. It was a very light bike though. Bits kept shaking off the bloody thing. Complete shite.
Gsx1100f. Electric screen, 16” front wheel. Loved straights. Hated corners. Seat was plank. That engine though...
I had a Superdream 250, made me walk tall.... till the camchain snapped a few hours before my bike test!
I would bet it is, there were very few of those around at that time. Dont think I have many pics of it which is a shame. I did swap a ride on it for a ride on a round eye blade and actually found i preferred the 851. Blade wheelied better though.
My mistakes have always been Hondas (hmmm, it would take a very special offer for me to ever buy a Honda again - car of bike). A CX500 that was recall city and a VF750F that never broke down, as I recall, but was too heavy with the weight too high and crap economy All of the Ducatis, I would have again, but the S4R Monster was good fun - track days and power wheelies - but as the fuel economy and fuel tank size was not great, I wouldn't wanna go back. And I once had a Power Commander on it that Luigi Motors ripped out when it was there for a blocked fuel filter problem (that he sussed). He reckoned that the Power Commander was crap!
