Because it was my first. I would leave highschool at study hall and come back to my next class covered in mud. 4x2 8 speed transmission, moderate power, light enough to through around. Good fun always.
I'm glad it failed.1975 Kawasaki 900 z1b. Front end raked 4degrees with a Wiseco 1075 kit. That MoFo tried to kill a 22 yr old me on several occasions.
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Nice bit of kit Bob. Reliable dependable and easy to maintain.I’ve been having this debate in my head ever since this thread was posted. It’s so hard to pick one bike, I’ve loved them all for different reasons, but I do really keep coming back to one particular bike. It wasn’t the fastest or the best handling, the brakes were wooden and the suspension was mushy, but I keep going back to my 1977 BMW R100/7. After a hiatus of over 20 years, this was the bike that was my re entry into the motorcycling world. I bought it when I was 47, it was also my first classic bike, my first BMW and my first restoration. When I bought it , it ran well but was rough looking and I decided to just ride it for a while and do little repairs as I went.
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I had had it for about six months when I recieved some bad news. Seven months after my only brother died of cancer, I found out I had cancer too. Prostate cancer, and I needed surgery soon. I had my surgery and then I developed complications. What should’ve been a few weeks recovery drug on for two and a half months. That old BMW became therapy for me. When I was still too sick to work, I could shuffle out to the garage and sit on my stool and get lost in the minutiae of detail work.
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I could only manage a couple hours a day, but those two hours were like heaven. When I was working on rebuilding carburetors and forks I was totally absorbed in the task and all thoughts of being sick were pushed away, worries were forgotten and I was in a happy place. After my recovery and I returned to work, I began riding again and it was glorious, that old Beemer shed its years on the Highway and was an excellent bike for weekend travels. I had that bike for another four years, eventually selling it so I could purchase my first brand new bike in 30 years. I’m not ashamed to say I had a tear in my eye when the guy who bought it rode away. I don’t think I realized just how connected to it I had become until I saw it leave.
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Sorry for the steal Bob.
[QUOTE="Mailman, post: The RS Beemers were exceptional bikes.
Very true, my Guzzi SP1000 is a mile-muncher as well and my first Goose. Love it!View attachment 198933