Well ... this will be different ...

[brokentoe]

Sweet. It is shocking how our priorities and interests change over the years.

[Rednaxs60]

Gord - Remebered your thread on changing priorities, getting a lighter bike and all. Was thinking about two years hence when I get to the age of 70. Still in good condition, joints are still good.

Just did this myself. Bought a 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan - 425 Kms on the clock when I picked it up last Sunday from a riding friend. Almost fully kitted, but there will always be something to add to make it my own. Keeping my '85 Limited Edition as it is my long term retirement project, and I have done a lot of work on it.

Liking the weight difference, some 440 pounds lighter than the GW. Gets ~75 MPG, great with the gas prices going up. Travels on the highway at 100 KPH, 4800ish RPM. Fairly comfortable. Only 24 HP. It's a great bike so far, just have to remember what it is and what it is supposed to do. Most of my riding is around town and up island.

It's a fun bike and quite capable of getting me from point A to B.

Here are some pics:

Himi -1.jpg

Himi -2.jpg

Himi -3.jpg

Himi -4.jpg

Cheers

[CYBORG]

Gord - Remebered your thread on changing priorities, getting a lighter bike and all. Was thinking about two years hence when I get to the age of 70. Still in good condition, joints are still good.

Just did this myself. Bought a 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan - 425 Kms on the clock when I picked it up last Sunday from a riding friend. Almost fully kitted, but there will always be something to add to make it my own. Keeping my '85 Limited Edition as it is my long term retirement project, and I have done a lot of work on it.

Liking the weight difference, some 440 pounds lighter than the GW. Gets ~75 MPG, great with the gas prices going up. Travels on the highway at 100 KPH, 4800ish RPM. Fairly comfortable. Only 24 HP. It's a great bike so far, just have to remember what it is and what it is supposed to do. Most of my riding is around town and up island.

It's a fun bike and quite capable of getting me from point A to B.

Here are some pics:

Himi -1.jpgHimi -2.jpgHimi -3.jpgHimi -4.jpg

Cheers

I think I see a trend here. As I sneek up on 77, should I be looking for another, lighter bike?

[Rat]

Nice looking Himilayan ... got the fancy boxes even. I’m using throw over soft bags.
I’m still happy with the KLR, got about 6,000 klicks on her now, riding every day if the roads aren’t icy.
Has heated grips even ! The PO added those and I use them a lot.
Only problem so far was a short in the aftermarket headlight the PO installed. I bought a good quality replacement and have had no further troubles. She starts right up in the coldest weather even though she lives outside (no shop/garage), with just a cover over her in the driveway.
Optimistic that I’ll be able to visit 'down south' this season ... Robin is our resident Kawasaki whisperer and I have prevailed upon him to help out with a valve adjustment and the doohickey upgrade just before Vintage Days/Eastern Run in July. Hope to see many of you then.

Gord

[Whiskerfish]

That 75 mpg deal is nice in this day.

[CYBORG]

That 75 mpg deal is nice in this day.

Ya, got my attention

[delling3]

Here is my latest. After being run off the road by a pickup truck a few years ago, I just don't have the appetite to ride in traffic anymore, but I still like being on two wheels. Just picked this little beastie up to tiddle around the back country of Northern Michigan. I won't be mixing it up with the cagers, and WOT is probably 60 MPH, but I am ready to go slow over shorter distances. 16 fire-breathing horses from a 200cc, air-cooled single . . .

IMG_0558.jpg

[Rednaxs60]

I think I see a trend here. As I sneek up on 77, should I be looking for another, lighter bike?

Sonya's brother was over yesterday and saw it. He mentioned he misses two wheel riding, he has a 2018 F3 Spyder - sold his 1800. Don't think it's atrend, but a lighter bike keeps us engaged, and for those of us with hair - hair blowing in the wind. I think it's a rationalization and realization of our needs, wants and egos, how we ride and where we ride. We're not 21 anymore.

There is a mindset today that unless the bike is big, I'd say 1000 cc or more, not a good touring bike, but great city bike. When I started riding, 1972 Suzuki 250 CC Hustler, the 750 CC water Buffalo was a monster. The next year, Triumph had a 3 cylinder Trident. Rode the 250 to Nova Scotia from Ontario.

The 75 MPG came from the Himalayan forums, and experience by US riders. Only has a 15 litre tank. Riding it at a modest 55 to 60 MPH on the highway keeps the mileage in check, pushing past this, fuel economy starts to suffer.

The hard saddlebags came with it, as did newly installed Oxford hand warmers, and Barkbusters. Talked to the local dealer, a mom and pop shop about additions such as heated clothing, and was pleasantly surprised when he mentioned that the electrical system can handle this without an issue. He rides one, is tall in stature and has 30K Kms on his. His wife rides one and has 27K Kms on hers.

The Himalayan is agricultural, not a lot on it to go wrong, easy and inexpensive to maintain. Lots of parts and extras to add on. Nice looking as well.

We discussed what to do with the 1200 and what I could expect price wise. Not taking into account maintenance and things I wanted to do to it, figure $3000.00 CDN. This is after a complete engine rebuild, complete painting, custom upholstery, alternator mod, side stand switch mod, and a few other items over the years. Thinking about the amount of money spent is not for the faint of heart. I have a complete engine for this bike - in parts for transport only, but in great internal condition, con rod and crank journal bearings are like new. Have other parts/pieces as we all do. I guess it's called cutting one's losses. Will keep until next year, then make a decision as to what to do.

Going to start divesting myself of the parts I've been collecting over the past 6 years.

Have the 2014 Spyder for two up and touring.

Enough pontification. Ride what you like, and enjoy the ride. I know I will, I've got fewer birthdays in front of me than behind.

Cheers

[CYBORG]

I think I see a trend here. As I sneek up on 77, should I be looking for another, lighter bike?

Sonya's brother was over yesterday and saw it. He mentioned he misses two wheel riding, he has a 2018 F3 Spyder - sold his 1800. Don't think it's atrend, but a lighter bike keeps us engaged, and for those of us with hair - hair blowing in the wind. I think it's a rationalization and realization of our needs, wants and egos, how we ride and where we ride. We're not 21 anymore.

There is a mindset today that unless the bike is big, I'd say 1000 cc or more, not a good touring bike, but great city bike. When I started riding, 1972 Suzuki 250 CC Hustler, the 750 CC water Buffalo was a monster. The next year, Triumph had a 3 cylinder Trident. Rode the 250 to Nova Scotia from Ontario.

The 75 MPG came from the Himalayan forums, and experience by US riders. Only has a 15 litre tank. Riding it at a modest 55 to 60 MPH on the highway keeps the mileage in check, pushing past this, fuel economy starts to suffer.

The hard saddlebags came with it, as did newly installed Oxford hand warmers, and Barkbusters. Talked to the local dealer, a mom and pop shop about additions such as heated clothing, and was pleasantly surprised when he mentioned that the electrical system can handle this without an issue. He rides one, is tall in stature and has 30K Kms on his. His wife rides one and has 27K Kms on hers.

The Himalayan is agricultural, not a lot on it to go wrong, easy and inexpensive to maintain. Lots of parts and extras to add on. Nice looking as well.

We discussed what to do with the 1200 and what I could expect price wise. Not taking into account maintenance and things I wanted to do to it, figure $3000.00 CDN. This is after a complete engine rebuild, complete painting, custom upholstery, alternator mod, side stand switch mod, and a few other items over the years. Thinking about the amount of money spent is not for the faint of heart. I have a complete engine for this bike - in parts for transport only, but in great internal condition, con rod and crank journal bearings are like new. Have other parts/pieces as we all do. I guess it's called cutting one's losses. Will keep until next year, then make a decision as to what to do.

Going to start divesting myself of the parts I've been collecting over the past 6 years.

Have the 2014 Spyder for two up and touring.

Enough pontification. Ride what you like, and enjoy the ride. I know I will, I've got fewer birthdays in front of me than behind.

Cheers

Thanks for the insite. I don't really have any problems with the 1200, or the 78. But I know the time is coming . I might just be trying to keep up with the Jones. Just don't know which one. Greg went to a 1800, and Gord went to a 650. But I think I'm leaning tward Gords direction

[Whiskerfish]

[pidjones]

Here is my latest. After being run off the road by a pickup truck a few years ago, I just don't have the appetite to ride in traffic anymore, but I still like being on two wheels. Just picked this little beastie up to tiddle around the back country of Northern Michigan. I won't be mixing it up with the cagers, and WOT is probably 60 MPH, but I am ready to go slow over shorter distances. 16 fire-breathing horses from a 200cc, air-cooled single . . .

IMG_0558.jpg

I often lust for one. But, too many bikes now (Yes, you CAN have too many if you don't have room to store them). I want one to explore the gravel roads that I pass by on the other bikes. I did about 100 miles on gravel with the GL1800 one year. Too old for that now, and the Spyder belt doesn't get along with gravel.

[Lowrider Bud]

I've had my '97 KLR since 2000. Bought it used with 4K miles on it. It now has 80K, been to all four corners of North America, Copper Canyon (Mexico) 3 times. Replaced the Doo-Hickey right after I bought it and replaced the spring with the coil type just before my 2015 trip to Cabo. The only major item that I had to replace was the Balancer wheels. The rubber on them had worn to a point that the adjuster would not take the slack out. When I got home after my first trip to Alaska, in 2011 my wife asked, "What are you going to do with your KLR now?" My reply, "Ride it as long as I can, then have it bronzed or make a coffee table out of it." I'm still riding it.

Here's a picture made in 2004 while riding the Mexican side of the Rio Grande from Ojinaga to Piedras Negras.

KLR.JPG

Later, Bud...

[Rat]

Great stuff ...

Gord

[Rednaxs60]

Love the simplicity of these bikes, and the go anywhere thought - within reason. Would like to go up to Tuktoyaktuk = be there for the midnight sun festival. Went to Dawson City in 2019 on my 1500, but would not take it up there. Have to convince a riding friend to come along.

[Sagebrush]

Last fall wife and I rented a cabin in the NC mountains. Towed my Suzuki cruiser (a step down from my 1800, done awhile ago) and her 1800 trike. My back had been acting up substantially before we left and continued while at the cabin. I was having a really tough time getting my leg over the seat of the Suzuki which isn't all that high to begin with. I was fine once I was aboard but getting on was tough. I was moving my wife trike one day while up there and didn't have any difficulty mounting it because the floorboard allowed me to step up and then simply step over the seat, hmmmmmm.

Anyway I took it as a warning and a solution. Long story short I put a down payment on a 2022 Spyder RT Limited to be delivered some time in the future, supply chain problems don't you know.

Untitled.jpg