When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Well , after seeing the great looking 2 wheelers shown here, I'm not sure mine belong, except for the mid engine and 2 wheels.....
'65 PUCH 250 After restoration 1948 Viking Bicycle frame with an installed Whizzer kit installed back in the day. 1948 Hiawatha Bicycle that I Electrified 1966 Sears Blue Badge 150 Vespa (Silver), 1964 Seas Allstate 125cc Vespa (Red) & the DS50 in the background
I am an idiot with posting photos. I have a couple of photos of me from '89 after my motorcycle accident. It was an '85 Honda Shadow VT1100 and pristine. I always knew I would get hit. What I figured was that I would break a leg or something and that would be it for me riding. It turned out that an idiot paused after turning against me into a Country Club. I had locked up the brakes (evidenced by the skid marks) for about ten feet. The witness said it was as though all of a sudden the driver thought he could make it and charged forward. He hit me dead center with his Accord. I was tossed head first into a telephone pole at the entrance. I hit the pole with my head then the body slapped it, breaking my rib cage (most of it). Luckily for me the PennStar helicopter program had just begun. At the time, you had to have a doctor on site to authorize a lift and, low and behold, I was in front of a Country Club and there just happened to be a doctor on site. I was given the airlift order. That saved my life as I was not even breathing after the collision with the pole. Somehow I lived through the night with my chest injuries alone. Then, during the 3 1/2 weeks in drug induced coma, the worry became was if I would be able to function mentally at all when awake. My brain somehow struggled to survive and evolve from the injuries sustained. I had to relearn everything, I did not even know basic functions. They all came back quickly. As a result of the accident I do not ride any more. I finally gave up my motorcycle certification on my license last year. I would love to ride but now I have an excuse to not.
Last edited by philjoemill; Nov 27, 2020 at 05:40 AM.
Rode harleys for a number of years (1972....until ~1979) .
Started working at an HD dealership in
mid 70s and repaired so many wrecks, (gruesome at times as they were still stained with blood) it made me reconsider riding them at all.
So ...no motorcycles for this guy...
But....what I learned from riding a motorcycle is that it makes for a far better driver...always defensive ...
Always assume that the other drivers can't see you.
Always watch the drivers eyes and wheelsAlways look at the side mirror of the parked car- if you see some movement- guess what.
On and on.....
philjoemill, what a horrible accident, but an amazing recovery!
Another member of my motorcycle club (I'm still in it although I sold my bike) had two similar but less severe accidents, and promptly quit riding as well. The "10 o'clock" accident is quite common here (I guess it would be a "2 o'clock" accident in RHD countries), in which the car/truck driver impacts the motorcycle from the 10 o'clock position on a clock dial superimposed on the accident. In the two accidents my friend suffered, the car drive started to turn left and then froze in the middle of his lane. In one he was thrown over the hood and landed in the road on his back. In the other he hit the car making the turn with his head.
He was a pretty conservative rider. It proves you don't need to be acting stupid to get in trouble on a bike, you just have to have the bad luck to encounter someone else acting stupid.
Well , after seeing the great looking 2 wheelers shown here, I'm not sure mine belong, except for the mid engine and 2 wheels.....
'65 PUCH 250 After restoration 1948 Viking Bicycle frame with an installed Whizzer kit installed back in the day. 1948 Hiawatha Bicycle that I Electrified 1966 Sears Blue Badge 150 Vespa (Silver), 1964 Seas Allstate 125cc Vespa (Red) & the DS50 in the background
I just sold my 1997 Suzuki TL1000S when I moved from Tokyo to Fukuoka a few months ago. It was a nutter’s bike and challenging to ride, always wanting to throw me off even after 20 years. It was a unique, torquey and beautifully styled bike, just like my 2004 XKR!
Btw, I know the Isle of Man is famous for racing, but I think the BeeGees were born there, if I’m not mistaken.
They were born there and started life in Port Soderick, about 2 miles from my home village, before moving as children to Manchester. The TL1000s is such an interesting beast, I came very close to putting one in my garage many times
My bike is a 1976 Suzuki GT500, one of the last of the big 2 strokes. I owned a bunch of bikes when I was younger, in the late 60's and 70's when I lived in England. The oldest was a Mk1 Velocette KSS, the most unusual was a 1948 Scott Flying Squirrell and the most fun was a Velocette Venom Clubmans. I raced a little with Triumph and BSA sand racers and an Ariel Arrow road racer.The last bike that I owned before I moved to the US was a GT500, just like my present bike except it had a red tank. I rode it around the IOM TT couse and was stopped by the cops twice on the same lap.When I arrived in the States in 1982 I bought a Honda CB650 which was my daily driver for 3 years during which time I put 45000 miles on it. Then I sold it, bought a car and was without bikes until 2017 when I bought this one.I have done a complete engine rebuild and replaced other parts to make it reliable.I have had a soft spot for 2 strokes ever since I owned the Scott and the Ariel and I have thought about importing a Scott from the UK.
My Jag is a 2011 XKR convertible 1978 Suzuki GT500
which I have owned for 18 months. It shares the garage with a 1979 Alfa Romeo Spider. I sold my 85 Alfa GTV6 street/track car to make room for the Jag and it was a good move.
I have a 1936 KSS 350 - I know very little about it - it was Dad's. It has been sat oiled under cover really since WW2. He rode it round our side field in the late 70s one afternoon, we all had a ride on the back.
When this virus is over and I'm allowed to go home I will bring it back to England and restore it.
The bike was my Dad's pride and joy, not long had it at the outbreak of the war (he was in his mid 50s when he had me, he was a lot older than my Mother). His brother was killed on his bike riding home under black out - lorry took a corner wrong, he swerved to avoid it, no helmet, hit a tree. Dad took his bike off the road from then onwards. I waited until Grandma died before putting a bike on the road - it never went down well with the relatives, and things got even worse when I started racing...I feel quite bad knowing what I put them through, made some of my cousins very jealous though that I did whatever I wanted regardless of the opposition.
I've given it very little attention over the years as I was always studying or living away - finally I can make a job of it. i was always intimidated by it, but rebuilding / restoring big 4 cylinder Jap bikes is 10 times more complicated, so I'm looking forward to this - but first I need to get a lot of research under my belt...and will need one or two parts - luckily all available.
Dad never got past his love for his bike, and when asked what was his prized possession was on his death bed, he apparently said "the Velo".
He had a raft of sports cars after that, and I grew up only knowing those cars. It all went a bit wrong for my indoctrination however with his constant mixing with bike racers and always being at the TT etc - its part of the reason we moved to the Isle of Man when he was looking for somewhere to escape the high death duties in England! I'm trying to make my kids only be interested in cars and dirt bikes - we shall see.
Of all the cars Dad had I always thought he should have had a Jag - and E-Type - all his cars were halfway there - good but not the full deal. I think that's why I had to get the XK once the timing was right.
I don't have an XK but have had three Jaguar XJ's a 90 SOV, 95 XJR and now 05 XJ4.2 have had so many bikes lost count had to change to a step through style scooter due to injuries it's a 500cc Scarebeo but it got totalled with me on it on 5th Dec and I'm still in Hospital writing this after my last surgery yesterday on my shoulder and I'm already looking at a new bike lol oh I found out after 50 you don't bounce you just break
Me in hospital after illegal U-turn perpetrated on me coming back from my mother's house at 40 kph 10 broken ribs, T1,T2 in my neck fractures leg and ankle broken and just had shoulder reconstruction I have some really grusome photo's but feel inappropriate for the site
I wish you a speedy recovery. Just shows even a low speed accident can have brutal outcome when there is 2 vs 4 wheel collision.
And looking for a replacement bike while in hospital!
I don't have an XK but have had three Jaguar XJ's a 90 SOV, 95 XJR and now 05 XJ4.2 have had so many bikes lost count had to change to a step through style scooter due to injuries it's a 500cc Scarebeo but it got totalled with me on it on 5th Dec and I'm still in Hospital writing this after my last surgery yesterday on my shoulder and I'm already looking at a new bike lol oh I found out after 50 you don't bounce you just break Me in hospital after illegal U-turn perpetrated on me coming back from my mother's house at 40 kph 10 broken ribs, T1,T2 in my neck fractures leg and ankle broken and just had shoulder reconstruction I have some really grusome photo's but feel inappropriate for the site
wishing you a speedy and safe recovery. Good to see you still haven't learnt from it
Chatting to a police woman after a big bike crash, she said the first bloody question every biker asks them getting into the ambulance with limbs hanging off..."is my bike ok"! Ha!
I'll never forget my accident at Elvington race circuit, asking my mate as I sat in the ambulance having just regained consciousness..."where's the bike, is it ok"
He replied "its gone for a little wonder somewhere past where you fell off, but im sure it will be ok"
In 2008 I had a single vehicle bike accident. Broken left leg, broken wrist, cracked ribs, lacerated spleen. I had the good luck to have the next car come by be a police car. I had the bad luck that the bike low-sided, then caught a tire and flipped over on the other side, damaging every bit of plastic on the bike.
Two things stand out in my mind about that day. When I got to the hospital the attending wanted to cut off my motorcycle pants, a pair of BMW pants that I just bought. I vigorously protested, not wanting them ruined, so they carefully (and somewhat painfully) took my boots off instead and slipped the pants off over my broken and good legs. Only later did I learn that the entire rear end of the pants had been ripped open in the accident...
The second thing is my destination. A few weeks before I had organized a group ride in my club to a seminar about 100 miles away. When I crashed, I was heading to the meeting point with the other riders. The destination? A seminar on motorcycle accident scene management.
I don't have an XK but have had three Jaguar XJ's a 90 SOV, 95 XJR and now 05 XJ4.2 have had so many bikes lost count had to change to a step through style scooter due to injuries it's a 500cc Scarebeo but it got totalled with me on it on 5th Dec and I'm still in Hospital writing this after my last surgery yesterday on my shoulder and I'm already looking at a new bike lol oh I found out after 50 you don't bounce you just break Me in hospital after illegal U-turn perpetrated on me coming back from my mother's house at 40 kph 10 broken ribs, T1,T2 in my neck fractures leg and ankle broken and just had shoulder reconstruction I have some really grusome photo's but feel inappropriate for the site
Ouch! Wishing you a speedy recovery. Good to hear your spirit wasn't broken!
Yes. I grew up in a motorcycling family. My father‘s first motorcycle was a World War I surplus Harley Davidson that he got in 1926 at 10 years old. He was too small to ride it so learned how to repair it. He continued with Harley Davidson‘s as he grew up and became a local racer and eventually a dealer after his service in World War II. Unfortunately his 6 veteran belt drive Harley Davidson‘s were given away to the war effort scrap drive by his sisters while he was fighting in North Africa and Sicily.
My brother continued the tradition with a 50cc Zundapp and 250cc NSU in the 1950s. He had numerous Japanese bikes as well as Triumph T100s and a 1956 Matchless G80CS through the years.
For myself, I had several Honda’s and Yamahas over the years (better half and I toured Vermont on our honeymoon) plus a Triumph T100C and a 1959 AJS model 18. Several work and pleasure travel trips to England involved chasing vintage spares adventures for myself or friends. IoM vintage races are on my bucket list. The only bike I regret selling was a 1974 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport hence my forum moniker. Absolutely a great motorcycle!
Last bike was a LARGE Yamaha touring bike sold about 3 years ago after our at-speed way too close encounter with a black bear in western Massachusetts. Distracted or oblivious drivers on 4 wheels also helped make bikes a thing of the past.
The 2008 XKR filled the motorcycling spot earlier this year. Awesome performance and safe car that allows my mechanical tinkering itch to be scratched. I always wanted a Jag and this one is just perfect!
I have been a motorcyclist all of my life, from the age of 10 on 1971 Honda CT-70 to the present, with 6 at age 59. I have both dirt bikes 2 KTM's and a Husqvarna, 2 Moto Guzzi's and a scooter. I came to the Moto Guzzi camp in 2015, so I am late to the brand but I love their unique character and distinctive styling. The nearest dealer for me is in Las Vegas, approximately 430 miles away.
I purchased my 2000 Jaguar XK-8 convertible in 2012. It reminds me a lot of the Guzzi's. You don't see one coming the other direction every day, they too are unique and distinctive. While Porsche's, Corvettes and others are perhaps more "reliable" and certainly less quirky the Jag endears itself in a way that is difficult to quantify but satisfying regardless. I owned a 2012 XJ for a year and a half, thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't have a seconds problem with it. It just wasn't super practical for me.
I know at some point I may need to part with my 2 wheeled companions, and it will indeed be a sad day when that comes, however........until that day I will ride!
Great thread, thanks for starting this. It is nice to see so many beautiful bikes out there.
Those of you that have encountered other land motorist not paying attention and have stopped biking, ever considered taking up flying ultralights or other aircraft instead?
You can try the special oil for Harleys, because the universal oil may not be quite good and of high quality. So I can say that you have to choose the oil for each specific motorcycle, also based on its age. You can look at different types of Oil For Harley Davidson https://allforharley.com/best-oil-fo...n-motorcycles/, because they are also different. This is the principle that I usually choose for my motorcycle. I hope that I helped with this.
Okay, thank you, I will try while I decided to stop at Red Line (42504) 20W-50 Motorcycle Oil .
