To all the bikes we've loved before

Sport Tourers actually go places.
David Heiniger

Anyone who rides is aware of the class-clash between riders. Harley riders think they are at the top of the food chain, but that would be the pub food chain ‘cause they pretty much just go from bar to bar.

Touring guys with the Goldwings and other mega-monsters and their little girlie trailers think they’re real bikers, even though most of them spend more time fussing over them, than riding them.

Of course, all and sundry pick on the pseudo-Harley Japanese Cruiser guys. Everyone and their brother have one of those and they love to make ‘em shine a lot, make a lot of noise and pretend like they go fast. Mostly they just dress up in biker Halloween costumes and gather at Starbuck’s to talk about all their new farkle. Who knew there were so many dentists and accountants in the world?

Sport Tourers are the real riders who actually go places and go there kinda fast. I’m closer to that group, with my grown up sport bike. I’m not one of those wheelie kids; that’s not riding, that’s just fiddle-fartin’ around. No, strap some saddle bags on my go-fast, and I be-a sport-touring.

It took a while to get around to that view. I loved my Yamaha 1100 Virago. Nothing like the bottom end of an 1100cc V-Twin. Plus, as with most modern Japanese bikes, everything worked, and worked well.

Unfortunately, economic reality reared its ugly head and I fed the Virago to my starving business. My wife found my next ride, an ’83 Honda CX650C. Beautiful bike and well ahead of its day, which was good because I owned it well past its day. I loved that bike for a lot of reasons and I had some great times on it.

It was the End of Winter ride with my group two years ago when I knew it was time to move up to a modern sport bike. I chased the sport bike group up Mt. St. Helens and went just as fast as that 650 would go.

That fall when a local-yokel in Idaho backed up into it, I made my move into the high-speed technology that is the modern sport bike. It took a few modifications to get my Honda 919 dialed in for this upper-middle-aged body but eventually I did. It’s the sweetest bike I’ve ever had, hands down.

On a ride in Oregon last year, five of us made a high speed blast through a mountain pass and then took a break at a little scenic pullout. We were pumped, having chased each other at triple digit speeds for 25 miles through incredible twisties.

Standing there looking at our bikes, all parked together, one of the guys said, “Ya know, these are amazing machines. Five different models, three different manufacturers, and all are amazing works of engineering and craftsmanship that average Joes like us can afford. That is absolutely amazing.”

I know, right?  Whatever we ride, the one thing we all have in common is that we love our machines. 

What bikes have you loved before?

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