FJRay
Well-known member
My 67 Royal Enfield interceptor. One of only 700 made. It lives in a museum in LA now.
The One That Got Away
- Thread starter SoCalFJR1300
- Start date
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RadioHowie
I Miss Beemerdons!
Glad to share, since it IS On-Topic....The One That Got Away....first one sold in the world.....Serial # 000003:
Stunning, absolutely stunning! You actually owned the first sold!?! Gotta hear more!
Middle 1983, my ex-brother-in-law stole my Kawasaki ZR1 Turbo. Didn't know at the time it was him. That's ANOTHER story.
Got a great settlement from my insurance company and headed to the Kaw dealer, planning on plunking my cash down on an Eddie Lawson Replica
Unfortunately, being a limited production model, it was no longer in the dealer network. My buddy, who ran the local Kawasaki dealership told me if I could hold on 6 to 8 months, there was a new Kaw sport bike coming out...something that would "change the motorcycling world" as he put it. So I basically opened up a layaway account at the dealership, putting money down on my unseen bike until it arrived.
Come late February, my dealer buddy invites me to go with him to Bike Week at Daytona to watch the races. I ALMOST turned him down, but decided to go. On the day of the Superbike race, he invites me over to the Kawasaki Factory tent before the race, where, lo and behold, the factory team unloads a crate from a semi-truck, opens it up, and proceeds to assemble a brand new motorcycle. After about an hour, they crank it up, hand me the keys and congratulate me on my purchase!
I was flabbergasted! I had NO idea what my dealer friend had planned along with help from the Southeast Area rep from Kawasaki. I got my Ninja almost two months before any others were delivered to dealers around the U.S. I was told that Serial #1 was on display (and apparently still is) at Kawasaki's headquarters in Japan, and Serial #2 was trashed by a magazine writer at the press intro at Laguna Springs. I got #3!
Kept that sucker for about 10 years, ultimately trading it in on a bass boat after new in-laws taught me how to fish and I got "hooked" (HAHAHA) on a new hobby.
Pretty much stayed off bikes for another 4 or 5 years, when Kawasaki came out with this in '99
Another chance at an Eddie Lawson replica!?!?!?! OH HELL YES!!!
So I bought me one. BTW, THIS one is MINE!!
Had to get rid of the wife before I could get another bike, but it was worth it.
Still have the ZRX, but after 11 years of ownership, have only put 30k miles on it. The FJR took over as "Ride of the Day" when I got it in '05.
But if I had a chance to do it all over again, I'd have kept the Ninja. What a great bike that was (and still is). Hard to believe after 30 years, it's still pretty much "cutting edge."
rushes
Well-known member
Great story!*snippered*
Come late February, my dealer buddy invites me to go with him to Bike Week at Daytona to watch the races. I ALMOST turned him down, but decided to go. On the day of the Superbike race, he invites me over to the Kawasaki Factory tent before the race, where, lo and behold, the factory team unloads a crate from a semi-truck, opens it up, and proceeds to assemble a brand new motorcycle. After about an hour, they crank it up, hand me the keys and congratulate me on my purchase!
I was flabbergasted! I had NO idea what my dealer friend had planned along with help from the Southeast Area rep from Kawasaki. I got my Ninja almost two months before any others were delivered to dealers around the U.S. I was told that Serial #1 was on display (and apparently still is) at Kawasaki's headquarters in Japan, and Serial #2 was trashed by a magazine writer at the press intro at Laguna Springs. I got #3!
BTW, my bike that got away was one I never owned. The local dealer sold the ELR I was on the way with cash in hand to buy, minutes before I got there...
hppants
Well-known member
This is a no brainer. My '84 Nighthawk 700s, with '86 Red White and Blue plastics and an aftermarket chin fairing. I had that puppy looking right - my friends said I'd regret selling that one, and they were right.
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
Fantastic story RadioHowie, almost as good as your marrying the same woman twice Dude! Man oh man, this Crew has owned some incredible motos!Great story!*snippered*
Come late February, my dealer buddy invites me to go with him to Bike Week at Daytona to watch the races. I ALMOST turned him down, but decided to go. On the day of the Superbike race, he invites me over to the Kawasaki Factory tent before the race, where, lo and behold, the factory team unloads a crate from a semi-truck, opens it up, and proceeds to assemble a brand new motorcycle. After about an hour, they crank it up, hand me the keys and congratulate me on my purchase!
I was flabbergasted! I had NO idea what my dealer friend had planned along with help from the Southeast Area rep from Kawasaki. I got my Ninja almost two months before any others were delivered to dealers around the U.S. I was told that Serial #1 was on display (and apparently still is) at Kawasaki's headquarters in Japan, and Serial #2 was trashed by a magazine writer at the press intro at Laguna Springs. I got #3!
BTW, my bike that got away was one I never owned. The local dealer sold the ELR I was on the way with cash in hand to buy, minutes before I got there...
Panman
Well-known member
Not sure if I miss the 1951 Ariel Sq 4 or the 1965 Panhead the most. Don't think I'll look back though, I'm happy with the FJR and I'm thinking that it will out last me.
Geezer
Parsimonious Curmudgeon
I have not owned that many bikes, fewer than 10. I don't miss any of them. I would miss my '05 FJR if I didn't have it. I plan to keep it even if I buy a new one. I never had as much fun on any other motorcycle, or made as many good friends.
ZOOOMM AGAIN
Well-known member
1965 HD Sportster. I was sixteen when I bought it used for $600.00. I put $2,000.00 in chrome on it. Sold it in my 30's and didn't ride for 20 years.....then I met Iris!
rogdeb
Scouser
Our '99 Suzuki Bandit 1200S, in midnight blue ..... should never have sold it :-(
Sold to an "experienced" biker who wrapped it round a tree 2 months later
Sold to an "experienced" biker who wrapped it round a tree 2 months later
rogdeb
Scouser
Our '99 Suzuki Bandit 1200S, in midnight blue ..... should never have sold it :-(
Sold to an "experienced" biker who wrapped it round a tree 2 months later
Sold to an "experienced" biker who wrapped it round a tree 2 months later
rogdeb
Scouser
Our '99 Suzuki Bandit 1200S, in midnight blue ..... should never have sold it :-(
Sold to an "experienced" biker who wrapped it round a tree 2 months later
not my photo.
Sold to an "experienced" biker who wrapped it round a tree 2 months later
not my photo.
rogdeb
Scouser
I have NO idea how I triple posted !! Tried to rectify without success ..
Bugnatr
Well-known member
Hey Roger, you never should have sold it!
juniorfjr
Well-known member
I'm thinking Roger liked the bandit. 
SoCalFJR1300
Well-known member
Man that is one sweet lookin GS!!!83 Suzuki GS1100E, (not my photo)
Red and Black go so well together and red is my fav color for a bike!
Niehart
Pie Smuggler
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
rogdeb
Scouser
Doug, Don and Junior .................... there were a whole lot of "first rides" we did on that Bandit. Great memories )
Of course ................. nothing .... compared to the memories we make on the FJR !
)Of course ................. nothing .... compared to the memories we make on the FJR !
The one that got away? I guess I'd have to join the ring-a-ding club. Mine was a '75 GT550 2-smoke triple. (stock photo)
When I got out of the USN I bought two basket case GT550s and combined them into one working unit. Mine was cafe'd out a little with clubman bars and a little bikini faring. I even had the oil injection working well and it didn't smoke (too bad) especially if I used the Klotz synthetic 2-stroke oil.
Rode it around New England for a while and then bought an '86 BMW K100RT that I thought was all that. Shipped the GT550 off to my brother in law in Misery (free bike, he just paid shipping) and he rode it into the ground. Don't know what the eventual demise was, probably just neglect knowing my BIL.
What a fun bike. Didn't have very good suspension or brakes even though they had front disk, but oh that engine.
When I got out of the USN I bought two basket case GT550s and combined them into one working unit. Mine was cafe'd out a little with clubman bars and a little bikini faring. I even had the oil injection working well and it didn't smoke (too bad) especially if I used the Klotz synthetic 2-stroke oil.
Rode it around New England for a while and then bought an '86 BMW K100RT that I thought was all that. Shipped the GT550 off to my brother in law in Misery (free bike, he just paid shipping) and he rode it into the ground. Don't know what the eventual demise was, probably just neglect knowing my BIL.
What a fun bike. Didn't have very good suspension or brakes even though they had front disk, but oh that engine.
hppants
Well-known member
I know someone with a water buffalo. He would sell his wife first....
