My first long relationship break was over a bike. My gf of 6 years and I were well into plans for our eventual marriage. I was in her family’s house nearly as much as my own. Finally a year had passed where my desire for a bike overcame her constant “no”s. We broke up. It was hard. I got the bike (an entry level EX500). She came back briefly and we went for several rides. But we knew it was over. This time I have other passions which are at least as dangerous. So I am not bothered by the “no”. I get it. My thinking is maybe she’ll be OK if I get an old early naughts Boxer and keep in my hanger for short rides in the country. Mainly I want to ride and wrench. We’ll see. If it doesn’t happen I won’t be heart-broken. You’ve played a roll in this too, @Maico. I remember reading your posts when you were in the Middle East thinking…
Boxers are fun, especially the naked ones. I love the new retro GS, although can’t afford one. Well, I could, but might as well begin looking for a divorce attorney while I’m at it. The kids’ education is not completely funded yet.
I was the opposite. My father raced motocross, back when they called it scrambling, on an AJS and BSA.
His brother is a motorcycle mechanic by trade and in 1973 or 74 was winning the NZ 250cc and 350cc road racing championship until he was nearly killed in a car accident when another driver t-boned him.
Me. I started riding bikes when I was 8 years old. This is one of me when I was 10 and about to tear it up at the local flat track:
The guy who owned the motorbike store where my uncle worked thought I was good enough to sponsor and from age 13 to 15 I raced Motocross, until he sold the shop.
The gent who bought it discontinued my sponsorship… possibly because I regularly beat his son in races? Didn’t bother me too much, because by then I was more interested in girls than motorbikes anyway.
That is me - Number 52.
I have never been without a bike, although I haven’t had a street legal bike for nearly 10 years now.
I am very tempted to have a look at this. Orange is only about a three hour drive away.
I have pretty much settled on an Africa Twin as my next bike (I have taken one for a test ride, including the comparable offerings from KTM, BMW and Triumph in the past 18 months).
I don’t need the helmets (I would never wear a used helmet anyway), but otherwise this looks like it ticks most of my boxes.
https://www.bikesales.com.au/bikes/details/2016-honda-africa-twin-crf1000l/SSE-AD-17011549/
You guys have really got me going on motorbikes now.
This was that last bike I had that was legal on the street (except for the race kit exhaust 
). I sold it because we have nearly 20km of potholed, unsealed road between the house and the nearest tarmac… but Jeez I wish I still had it. Best bike I have ever owned.
Man, that’s an awesome picture. I love all of the RMs, everyone doing Roger and Joel impersonations, and the JT gear in there. Brings back memories. I raced MX too, from 15 years old to about 25. Ran Yamahas for the first 5 and Hondas for the last 5. Seemed like it took forever to win my first race.
One night at an amateur SX in Ft Lauderdale, Fl, my friend got injured in the first moto and begged me to put on his gear and ride the second one. He was leading a points championship. My Yamaha YZ490 was home with a broken upper triple clamp, and I was there just watching the race in shorts and flip flops with my girlfriend. He was riding an ‘83 CR 250, which I had never thrown a leg over. So, I put on his sweaty gear, his sweaty helmet, and goggles, rode over to the starting line, not looking at or talking to anyone. I pulled up, put the bike in 2nd gear, the 15 second card went sideways. Away we went. I was late to the gate and got the very end spot on the inside line. I guess the shortest distance was in the middle by the little hut where the guy drops the gates.
Anyway, I got a good start heading for the inside berm, but I don’t think that the guy next to me on the right ever braked. Like he had a hung throttle, or his brake lever snapped. He went straight and took out like 15 dudes. 
So naturally, I was gifted the holeshot. That was interesting. I pivoted and accelerated for the next turn, expecting two or three riders to pass me in the braking zone, but nada. I just kept riding like my life depended on it the rest of the 20 minute moto, expecting to be passed any second. I mean there were 40 spots on the line and I had grabbed the last one. At times it felt like slow motion, like I was having an out of body experience. I was shocked and thrilled to get the checkers and headed to the back of the pits looking for his truck and wanting to get rid of the bike and his gear before anyone was wiser. It was funny as hell to be honest. His friends all came running up slapping me on the back and saying encouraging things, like, “I can’t believe that you f-ing won.” I couldn’t either and neither could my girlfriend.
Anyway, after that, I sold the yellow bike, went with team red, and never looked back. Honda was making great bikes then. Easy to ride. Lilo and I had many laughs over that one. I asked him if he wanted the favor in return, but he declined the CR480. It was really a pussycat after the Yamaha.
Oh man, that’s such a beauty. I think that @Victork2 had a 996 or something similar. Long live the Desmo.
The most bonkers bike I have ever ridden is an IT 490.
I have a mate who races ‘Funduro’s’ which are basically Enduros for a bunch of guys who are old enough to know better on bikes that (IIRC) must be at least 15 years old. He has a Honda CR500… But he’s a total nutcase.
And I wish I had a ‘Cinderella story’ like that… If anything I had bad luck in races, the number of times that I thought I had it in the bag only to suffer mechanical failure… Hmm air-cooled two strokes, go figure. Or have a brain fart while leading and lucky to salvage a finish.
Although I did finish 4th in a State Championship race against ‘senior’ riders (I was technically still a junior) in my last year of racing.
You guys are heros. @chipwich that’s the craziest, coolest story I’ve ever read on Mudspike. Salute!
Forgive me lord, for I have Sinned. What have I done?
Im going to get a bad influencer badge at this rate. 
And YES that 1098 is amazing to look at.
2010 - 202x Africa Twin/Transalp?
Or
2012 - 202x RXXXorXGS?
98% road. 2% (if ever) off.
Discuss.
(ps, HD Pan America if you insist. I’m open)
I thinks the Dad bikes (Adventure bikes) are not for real offroad. Nobody wants to take a GS or Africa Twin off road. Drop it once or 3 times and you are done for the “Adventure”. On the road they are great. You sit high and comfy. If you wanted to go off road, you can. I LOVE the Transalp. Even thought about getting one… but they get BAD reviews, and Honda put Zero features that most new long-range bikes have. i.e. No Cruise Control. So if I had to pick one, the Africa Twin would get my vote. Great bike. No doubt.
For the road R1 is a great choice. They are not too comfy but will do for quick trips or commuting.
XGS? I suppose you meant GS? BMW wil never see a dime from me. Maintenance is a personal insult every time I need something from the dealer. Dealers are out of control in the US. With the popularization of bikes, they bring in young buyers to rip them off. Its “NORMAL” in Seattle for dealers to ask for 2500 USD over sticker price. So when you walk out your bike is basically worthless. Buy USED. In America we say Stealer-ships for a reason. Case in point. I bought a Suzuki blank because my Bandit only had one key. They insisted I needed a blank from the dealer. I paid 30 bucks for A BLANK KEY. When I was getting it cut, the locksmith cut my key for 6 dollars and sold me another Cut Key for 12 dollars. Thanks DEALER. Want the salt in the wound? The locksmith said, I can guarantee my key works but not the blank from the dealer. Lucky both did work.
How do I know Im getting old? Honda Goldwings are starting to look good.
I read a review of those a few years back in practical sportsbikes. I’ve wanted one ever since. Absolute whacko machine.
@chipwich that story was amazing mate. Bravo!
998R. Although having one and riding it are 2 different things in this case.
I haven’t got the guts to sell it yet. 
Time capsule.
No Blasphemy in the Forums please. You are keeping it!!!
I rode one once. What a machine!!!
I’ve ridden 916, 996, 998, 1098 and a very terrifying spin on a panigale, but i can’t remember which one.
But I’ve never ridden a 998r despite owning one since 2002
There’s nothing like the sound of a Desmo coming down the street. That 90 degree V-twin is glorious. So distinctive.
@maico pretty much summed it it, but my $0.02 is:
A well maintained, used Beemer is a good choice if is it is hardly ever going off road (with caveats)… But that depends on the definition of ‘off road’ in which case go for the Honda.
BMW caveats - Servicing costs can be OTT. To get to the clutch on those boxer engines, the entire swingarm and rear suspension has to be removed. I know guys have have been without theirs for over a week just for a new clutch plate (that was a 20 minute job on the Duke). Also, the GS Beemers are a lump, and it takes a particular technique and muscle power if you lay them on their side off-roading.
Overall, if you want an Adventure bike, I would go for the Africa Twin, but that is my pick of the bunch. The advice I have always given to anyone looking for a motorcycle is to park ya bum on as many different ones that take your fancy as you can, take them for a test ride and buy the one that you like best.
And remember:
And the rattle of a dry clutch with an ‘open’ clutch cover - distinctly Ducati, sadly no more.
One of the trips we did to Phillip Island (WSBK round from memory), we pulled into a ‘gas station’ in this tiny one horse town and the proprietor wandered over. He was in his 70s at least, wearing a set of grease and oil stained overalls that probebly hadn’t been washed in 20 years and he had a huge and equally grease stained beard…
Looked at me and said “mate, sounds like ya done a big end bearing” (dry clutch), then looked at one of the other guys bike - A Benelli Tornado Tre, with a beautiful custom made, stainless steel megaphone style exhaust - and said “And that exhaust looks like it is made out of spare milking machine parts”