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If my history of bike ownership tells you anything, it's the fact that I have never been satisfied with any one motorcycle.
My first bike was a Katana 600. I have to admit, I am glad it was my first bike. The Katana was stable, easy to work on, and easy to ride, but no one's first bike is their dream bike is it?
My second bike was a 1986 GSXR750. You got it, OLD SCHOOL. This particular GSXR had some history with it. There is a very good chance that MY GSXR was the first GSXR to ever touch American soil. The serial # was 000027. Production date: 8/85. Hawaii is the first stop anything coming from Japan has, and my bike was special ordered by of all people, the Snap-On tool guy back in 1985 when the rumors of the first race replica motorcycle from Suzuki came out. I know it was the first GSXR registered in the state, and as I said, it could have been the first GSXR in America. So what did I do with this piece of history? I wrecked it of course! The bike lived on after a friend of mine rebuilt it, but it was a total rebuild. I bent front and back rims, forks, tank, all the bodywork...it was bad. I ended up in the Hospital for a week.
Since then I have owned a '87 Hurricane 600, '90 GSXR750 (that I stuffed an 1127cc motor in) a '93 CBR900RR, another Katana 600 (I got in a deal, man that bike is fun) a '91 ZX7RR, a '92 FZR600, a '98 & '97 TL1000S, a '98 R1, a 2001 R6, a '98 GSXR750 and finally my TL1000R. I love Sportbikes.
I think I was like most people. I would get a bike then read some article in Sportrider about the new "Bike of the Year" and want to get it after hearing about how "nothing to this point has been so good" Blah blah blah. Well, as odd as it may sound, I think I am finally satisfied with what I got, my '02 TLR. No magazine has ever declared my TLR as "the best bike ever".
In fact, most magazine reporters agreed that the TLR & TLS were "flawed" or too heavy, or ill handling. They all seemed in agreement that the engines on these things are "Brilliant", and I couldn't agree with them more (well other than the stock TLS's behavior at about 3K rpm). What convinced me that the TLR I am riding now is the BEST bike for me was a ride. During my "down time" after my accident I have had some time to think about how far am a willing to go with this bike. I ride for fun. I don't race, or show my bike in any car shows. My bike is a hobby, and I like cool stuff, and this is the only reason why I would consider "building up" this bike.
Things are different in my life too. My shop is doing well, and for the first time in my life I am not stuggling to make ends meet. I can finally afford to spend a little more in my hobbies and not have to worry about it as much. I still remember how it was to search through the couch cushions for loose change so I could buy gas to go to work, so I am NOT in any way able to bring myself to spend money freely. LOL! But...I am in a better position to build a bike the way I want to. I am happy with the TLR. For the first time in my life I am satisfied with what I have. Before I bought the TLR, I was in the position to get pretty much any bike (shy of a Bimota SB8 or anything like that) but I chose the TLR based on my experience with the TLS. The bike I chose was chosen not as a status symbol, or a race tool. My bike was bought as a source of entertainment, my stress relief, and a mode of traspotation on sunny Hawaiian afternoons. This bike was aquired so that I could travel my favorite road as the road was meant to be ridden, and for this, I feel the TLR is MY perfect bike. I have decided to build her up a little, nothing out of hand, but up to the point where I can help her reach her potential. She already has the looks and the soul, and those 2 things in my opinion cannot be improved upon.
While I ain't too pleased with how my pride and joy looks like at the moment, I can't help but have this feeling of optimism when I look at her. The damage is minor, and temporary, and as soon as the new parts get in I can start on this next adventure in my life. I have decided to build her up slow, and enjoy her as she goes through her changes. I have a feeling she isn't the only one that will be changed by all of this, in fact I know it.
My first bike was a Katana 600. I have to admit, I am glad it was my first bike. The Katana was stable, easy to work on, and easy to ride, but no one's first bike is their dream bike is it?
My second bike was a 1986 GSXR750. You got it, OLD SCHOOL. This particular GSXR had some history with it. There is a very good chance that MY GSXR was the first GSXR to ever touch American soil. The serial # was 000027. Production date: 8/85. Hawaii is the first stop anything coming from Japan has, and my bike was special ordered by of all people, the Snap-On tool guy back in 1985 when the rumors of the first race replica motorcycle from Suzuki came out. I know it was the first GSXR registered in the state, and as I said, it could have been the first GSXR in America. So what did I do with this piece of history? I wrecked it of course! The bike lived on after a friend of mine rebuilt it, but it was a total rebuild. I bent front and back rims, forks, tank, all the bodywork...it was bad. I ended up in the Hospital for a week.
Since then I have owned a '87 Hurricane 600, '90 GSXR750 (that I stuffed an 1127cc motor in) a '93 CBR900RR, another Katana 600 (I got in a deal, man that bike is fun) a '91 ZX7RR, a '92 FZR600, a '98 & '97 TL1000S, a '98 R1, a 2001 R6, a '98 GSXR750 and finally my TL1000R. I love Sportbikes.
I think I was like most people. I would get a bike then read some article in Sportrider about the new "Bike of the Year" and want to get it after hearing about how "nothing to this point has been so good" Blah blah blah. Well, as odd as it may sound, I think I am finally satisfied with what I got, my '02 TLR. No magazine has ever declared my TLR as "the best bike ever".
In fact, most magazine reporters agreed that the TLR & TLS were "flawed" or too heavy, or ill handling. They all seemed in agreement that the engines on these things are "Brilliant", and I couldn't agree with them more (well other than the stock TLS's behavior at about 3K rpm). What convinced me that the TLR I am riding now is the BEST bike for me was a ride. During my "down time" after my accident I have had some time to think about how far am a willing to go with this bike. I ride for fun. I don't race, or show my bike in any car shows. My bike is a hobby, and I like cool stuff, and this is the only reason why I would consider "building up" this bike.
Things are different in my life too. My shop is doing well, and for the first time in my life I am not stuggling to make ends meet. I can finally afford to spend a little more in my hobbies and not have to worry about it as much. I still remember how it was to search through the couch cushions for loose change so I could buy gas to go to work, so I am NOT in any way able to bring myself to spend money freely. LOL! But...I am in a better position to build a bike the way I want to. I am happy with the TLR. For the first time in my life I am satisfied with what I have. Before I bought the TLR, I was in the position to get pretty much any bike (shy of a Bimota SB8 or anything like that) but I chose the TLR based on my experience with the TLS. The bike I chose was chosen not as a status symbol, or a race tool. My bike was bought as a source of entertainment, my stress relief, and a mode of traspotation on sunny Hawaiian afternoons. This bike was aquired so that I could travel my favorite road as the road was meant to be ridden, and for this, I feel the TLR is MY perfect bike. I have decided to build her up a little, nothing out of hand, but up to the point where I can help her reach her potential. She already has the looks and the soul, and those 2 things in my opinion cannot be improved upon.
While I ain't too pleased with how my pride and joy looks like at the moment, I can't help but have this feeling of optimism when I look at her. The damage is minor, and temporary, and as soon as the new parts get in I can start on this next adventure in my life. I have decided to build her up slow, and enjoy her as she goes through her changes. I have a feeling she isn't the only one that will be changed by all of this, in fact I know it.
It's safe if it's done right....
TLR 
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