Favorite 5

Updated Comments: Shoutout to my readers! What’s on your five favorite production bikes of all time list?

A few observations,   RC30’s are more popular than I thought and I’m not alone in my love of old 2 strokes
Since I’ve started my five all time favorite production bikes series I figured I put out a request for what the readers like.  I’ll keep this post pinned to the top and copy and paste your choices as they come in one by one. Here is what I’d like to do, Either respond to this post in the comments section or E-mail me directly at superduckz@gmail.com

Give your name (full or first name only if that’s all you’re comfortable with) and your five bikes listed
1. Make, Model, and Year (color optional)
2. Make, Model, and Year (color optional)
3. Make, Model, and Year (color optional)
4. Make, Model, and Year (color optional)
5.  Make, Model, and Year (color optional)

Anything goes.  Old, new, dirt, street, sprotbike or cruiser. It’s your list.  I’ll go through my e-mail every evening and update the posts as they go along.  I’m interested to see if there are any consistent themes etc..

I have no idea how many (or few) of you want to get in on this so it may take off or it may just go flat.  We’ll see.
For the record so far my list has:
1. Ducati 916 Red
2.BMW R100 GSPD
3. 1969/70 Kawasaki H1
4. Vincent Black Shadow / Black Lightning
5. Moto Guzzi V7 Sport (the original one not the modern one)

Honorable mentions:
Royan Enfield Interceptor
Ducati 750 Super Sport

OK Here We Go!

Superlucent
In no order:
2008 Kawasaki KSR110 (Black)
1976 Benelli 750 SEI (Red)
1995 Triumph Trident 900 (Black/Red)
2010 HRC Montesa 4RT
1977 Harley XLCR Cafe Racer

ihab elnaccash
1 Honda RC30 1988
2 Honda hawk GT grey 1988
3 Honda nr 750 1992
4 Honda rc45 1996
5 Honda cb 400f 1977

GARY NIEMEYER
1.  1969 – Kawasaki Mach III – white
2.  1968 – Kawasaki A7 Avenger – Red
3.  1984 – Yamaha RZ-350 – Yellow
4.  1969 – Honda 750 – Green
5.  1968 – Suzuki X-6 Blue
I have owned bikes 2 and 4 in the past and wished I still owned them.  The Kawasaki A-7 I pu a little over 70,000 miles on.  The Honda 750 I put over a 100,000 miles on.   I still own the RZ-350 Yamaha.  The Mach III and the X-6 were owned by friends of mine but I rode them extensively.  I currently own a 1978 BMW R100/7, the RZ-350 Yamaha, an SP-500 Suzuki, and a KZ-400 Kawasaki.  In case you did not notice my first love is TWO STROKES.
( Steve D: I’m with ya Gary.  You guys already have me rethinking my choices a little bit.  I have my first 3 which are locks but the last two are getting tough.)Tony240Z
In chronological order:
1967 Egli-Vincent
1972 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport
1972 Benelli 750 Sei
1973 Laverda 750SF1
1973 Kawasaki Z750RS (Z2)

RAN
1988 Honda RC30 (the greatest road bike ever made)
1975 Yamaha TZ750 (the meanest)
1948 Vincent Black Shadow (the manliest)
1994 Ducati 916 (no explanation needed)
1978 Honda CBX1000 (for the sound alone)

Standhardt Fotografie
1) Troll Supertwin 2001 grey or yellow
2) Ducati supermono 1993 Red
3) Britten V1000 1995 Bleu/pink
4) Mv Agusta F4 1000S 2007 red/silver
5) Bimota Tesi 2D 2007 white/red
All bikes i truly love. There are much more, but this would be the list in my garage if i had the money…
I have much more special bikes i love, but don’t know if they are production bikes or just kits. Like
Ducati RAD 02 imola blue/silver
Vee Two Squalo Dark blue/white
NCR M16 Carbon unpainted
Kreidler Van Veen 50cc GP Orange/green
A nice custom Triton with Alu tank and low clip-ons

Mick — Difficult to pick just five  (SD:It sure is)
1971 Honda CB750 Gold
1977 Ducati 900 SS Silver
1978 Yamaha TT 500 Yellow
2004 Triumph Speed Triple Black
2005 Suzuki SV 1000 N Black

Christian S.
Honda RC30 all years
Honda Hawk GT all years
Yamaha RD350 all years
Ducati 900SS 1989-1998
Suzuki RGV500

Prosper de Bever
Harley Davidson XLCR
Ducati Monster
Egli Vincent
Brough Superior SS100
Moto Guzzi Le Mans I

Ron
YAMAHA OW02 R7 1999
DUCATI 888 1991
MV AGUSTA F4 1999
YAMAHA EXUP FZR 1000 RU 1991
KAWASAKI ZXR750 H1 1989

Garrick Anso
I no Particular order:
-Triumph Rocket III (due to shear power and excess)
-1920’s Indian Scout (pure nostalgia)
-Honda Goldwing (there is no better large touring bike)
-Vincent Black Knight (obscure and beautiful)
-Hinckley Triumph Bonneville’s (T-100, Scrambler, Thruxton, etc…)

kevinhog
78 Z1R turbo, for blinding acceleration (at the time)
all Z1’s of all years, the last best air cooled 4
79 CBX, for the balls to build it
any shovelhead
and I just can’t figure out the 5th one yet, so many bikes, so little time

Gerry Michaud
In no particular order
BSA Gold Star,
Bultaco Metralla,
Triumph Bonneville,
Ducati 916,
Vincent Black Shadow.

Tim Bell
1. Morini 3 1/2 Sport 1975
2. Ducati 350 Desmo 1975
3. Honda XR600 1985
4. MV Augusta 750S 1973
5. Laverda 750 SFC 1973

Five Favorite Production Motorcycles of all time Numver 5: Moto Guzzi V7 Sport. (ahem… the original one)

This one is more emotional than logical. It’s a big, long, heavy, moderately powered bike. But my oh my does it “speak” to me. The sound and the style… Yep that’s number five. But I’ll have more honorable mentions over the next few days and I’ll probably put together an “anything goes” list here in a few days or so (as opposed to production bikes only) so stay tuned.

Top Five All Time Favorite Production Bikes Number Four. Vincent Black Lightning and Black Shadow.

The Vincent Black Lightning and Black Shadow. Jesus.  Talk about ahead of it’s time.  I considered the Royal Enfeld Interceptor here but much as I love that bike the Vincents are just all that and more for me.  They speak for themselves really.  Not much else to say.

And before you start beating me over the head I know they are not the same bikes and I do know the history.  But in my eye they’re close enough so sue me.

Favorite Production Motorcycle Honorable Mention: Royal Enfield Interceptor

I’m going to run a few “Honorable Mention bikes as I go along.  The first three are posted and I have 2 selections to go.  I’m squirming mightily… so sue me!   lol….

This is a bike I’ve drooled over since I was a pup.  There’s about four or five fantastic British bikes I could put here.  Bikes that are much more popular and more renowned.  The BSA Goldstar,  The Triumph T100C and the Norton Commando 750S are all contenders for a spot. But to be honest I find this bike to be much more striking than just about every other British bike on the planet.  That chrome thank with the old school lettering, and the general stance and line of the bike just hits the perfect notes for me.  I have a local friend who is the “go-to” british bike mechanic and he raves about this bike in looks AND engineering.  He doesn’t understand how they were overlooked for so many decades by British bike fans.  Neither can I.

Top Five All Time Favorite Production bikes. Third of Five. 1969/70 Kawasaki H1 2 stroke.

You just know I’d have to get a 2 stroke in here.  It’s my first passion after all.  But this one was really tough for me.  Ordinarily it’d be a snap.  Just put up a picture of a TZ750 and call it a day.  But while the TZ was technically a “production” bike it was hardly common much less street legal.   I could go with an RZ500 but it’s a non-US bike.  RZ350?  Maybe.. I do love them but they’re hardly “iconic” so no.  I’m also a huge fan of the Yamaha RD350 and 400 series bikes but they’re not very inspiring when completely stock so in fairness I have to scratch them.  Then there’s the entire Suzuki T and GT lineup which is quite impressive and brilliantly engineered but no one bike grabs me.

That leaves the Kawasaki triples which could win as a category but in fairness I should pick just one.  I personally own and much prefer the late model H1 500’s to the H2 750’s.  And my ideal bike is an H2 engine in an H1 chassis (I’m actually building one). But again that’s not “production”.  So which way to turn?  It’s very close. While I’m very tempted to go with the gorgeous purple 75 H2 (it is a stunner) I have to go with the first in the series that set the tone.  The 1969 / 1970 first generation Kawasaki H1.  Just a stunner of a motorcycle for it’s day and indeed,ANY day.

Top Five All Time Favorite Production bikes. Second of Five. BMW R100GSPD

I’m going to go ahead and get this curve ball out of the way early.  I know more than a few of you might be scratching your heads a bit but hey it’s my list and I freely admit that I have some inconsistent taste in bikes. I like em all.

Well, “back in the day”, a South Florida dealer was clearing out old stock and had a sweet deal on a “Bumble Bee” black and yellow R100GS as the oilheads were on their way and he needed floorspace. I kick myself to this day for passing on it. Yeah I know the Bumble Bee wasn’t a Paris / Dakar model but I kick myself just the same. The R100GSPD was the penultimate model in the air cooled GS lineup and in my mind THE class defining Adventure bike. I think I may own one yet.

Update: Top Five alltime favorite production bikes week! One of Five: The Ducati 916. Timeless Classic

This would easily make my top 5 all time list.  The other four might get interesting though.  Hey I think I have my theme for the week!  Top 5 all time production favorites.  We’ll call this first of the five.  I’ll just do them as a group without a particular ranking.  My mood changes too much anyway.