Any audiophiles into motorcycles


As its just getting into motorcycle season here in the great lakes region, motorcycling is beginning to supplant audio as my primary preoccupation. I recall there being threads as to car ownership, don't recall a motorcycle thread. And so, lets hear from the audiophile motorcycle enthusiasts out there; tell everyone about bikes you own, or have owned, and lets hear some motorcycle tales.

As for myself, I started riding around 12 years of age, little Suzuki 50cc trail bike, purchased Sears Allstate (Puch) 250cc street bike at 15 so I'd be ready for street legal riding at 16. Over the next 25 years too many bikes to list, mostly 650cc bikes and larger, migrated to super sports over those years, I was doing a lot of sports touring in those years, strap a tent and sleeping bag on bike and go for up to three or four weeks, mostly around great lakes region. I did great lakes circle tour: southern Ohio and West Virginia was a yearly tour, up into Adirondacks, northern New York, Vermont was always nice. Ontario, Canada was also a pretty common destination as was upper peninsula of Michigan. These days I  find myself pretty much sticking to weekend rides with my nephew, a budding audiophile with his Aprilia RSV4. I've been riding my little pocket rocket KTM RC390 the past few years, fun bike but lacking the thrill of bigger bore bikes such that I've now purchased 2021 Ducati Supersport S in silk white, expecting delivery next Wednesday. So, at this point my ownership of bikes includes the KTM, Ducati, Suzuki DRZ400S and 1973 Yamaha TX500 I'm in process of making into cafe racer.

My passion for motorcycles (and cars, but that's a different story) has certainly impacted my audiophile life. I don't have as much disposable income for audio, and bikes replace audio as my primary preoccupation in summer, but having passion for both sure makes for a richer life!
sns
81 Yamaha XS400 Special 2
82 Yamaha 650 Seca
85 Yamaha FJ1100
90 Honda CBR1000
93 Yamaha GTS1000
2012 BMW K1600GTL

Worked in both Stereo and Motorcycle sales over the years, gotta say I don't really miss the stereo sales job. Way too many eccentric know-it-alls for my tastes. ;)
Always loved dirt riding...

I had a Harley 65. The gas tank was larger than the bike.

My first real bike was a Suzuki 185, bought brand new. Within a week I had it stripped down for trail riding.

My brother had a Yamaha 180 I use to ride.

Can Am 125
Can Am 250
Honda CR 125
Kawasaki 500 triple/2 cycle

@georgehifi,

I rode a Suzuki RE5 once upon a time.
For me, people texting while driving has taken a lot of the joy out of riding.

These are two of my favorites, the best upgrade I did was the high carbon brake rotors.

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/6162#&gid=1&pid=7

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/6162#&gid=1&pid=8


Not sure this is a representative sample, but where are the younger motorcyclists? Often hear talk about the disappearance of younger audiophiles, I fear the future of motorcycling is in greater doubt.
I suspect cultural change brought about by increasing congestion on roads is the sole cause of this endangerment. I'm pretty sure if I was a youth growing up in an urban environment today a motorcycle would be anywhere near top of the list of desires. I did grow up in the city, but back in the day we didn't have anything near the congestion of today in that same city. Add to that increased aggression of drivers in ever larger vehicles. I doubt many parents are ok with their children riding bikes, and even the youth can clearly perceive the danger.  Where I live urban areas to east, never ride east, and that from a very experienced rider.
Too bad so many youth will never experience motorcycle culture. I've had some of the best times in my life on motorcycles hanging out with fellow bikers, rolling into backwater towns where you're a novelty and citizen's curiosity makes them open up to you, just experiencing the smells and sights of the parts of America most never even know exist. Finally, I never experience a sense of freedom more than when I'm on my bike, I've always felt riding my iron horse on long tours is as close as I can come to replicating what it must have been like to live on your horse prior to industrial revolution.