#1 .. Was my 1st mode of transport....Honda 400 super sports....in those day the freeway was not very long....but she was a great bike to open up on the open roads
and dare I say it..loved the power between my legs Oh you know what I mean

#2... Was in 1991 had a Ford LTD white with white vinyl roof red velour interior and basically one way window tint...351 with a rolls royce grill ... god that was a hot car to drive..use to drive it up and down from Broome and on the open road she was like driving in your lounge seat..God I loved that car

Surely you can't have an R1 at number 1.

Don't get me wrong, very good, very functional, very reliable, very nice.

Yes very nice. But nice can't good enough to make number 1.

It has to be more than nice. There are way too many nice Japanese superbikes and they are way too nice to be number 1.

Not saying a bike should be number 1 but if it was it would have to be a 916 Senna edition, F4 750, maybe even something like an Aprilla RS250.

They may be slower, less reliable and more expensive than an R1, but they have something that an R1 doesn't. I don't know what it is, I can't describe it, but if an R1 is your number 1 then you really need to go ride a Ducati, an MV Augusta, an Aprilla, a Bimota or anything that isn't made by Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki or Kawasaki to put your life in perspective.

Now, having said all that I would put my old Honda VFR400 NC30 at number 2 on my list. Yep, can't explain it either.

Number 1 : Island Unique 8' 4" squash tail, yellow deck, red bottom, black rails with Kalama black tip fin and Hot Sails Maui rig at H'ookipa 1992.

Laser eye surgery

iPhone

Boss RC-2 Loop Station

Nova Ibex 15 mini paraglider

Cardboards 135x48cm custom kiteboard

Flat screen TV

Subaru Outback 2000 model

Topfield digital pvr

Had a 1972 Yamaha XS1 650 that I stripped down to bare essentials, put a TX disc brake front end on it, alloy rims, ported and polished cyl head, a 2 into 1 exhaust with a straight megaphone muffler, struts from swing arm mount to centre down tube to get rid of the "Death Wobbles" and Dunlop TT100 tyres.

That thing had the sweetest note ever heard from a bike and went like the clappers.

I believe it is still in a shed at Riverdale in Perth. It sounded a bit like this one.



Had one of these (same colour) before I had the Yammy.

mattyjee said...

We all take it for granted but imagine life without the humble microwave oven.

Its way in front of its time. You put cold food in, press the "go" button, and the super-magic invisible radiation fairies heats your food in about 2 minutes.

No offense but microwaved food


Obviously not a lover

Yeah look, 'totally blown away by' -

I wouldn't deny an R1 is an awesome machine. I would agree the Jap superbikes are faster, more reliable, cheaper, safer than anything else

For the commute to work, the blast up the mountain, the start first time, the stop on a dime they are the best and in 2003 the R1 topped the list by a mile. My mate got booked doing 150 mph (miles per hour) on an R1 (2000 model from memory though - one of the first anyway).

But, a bit like the cool wall on Top Gear, they are too perfect. I am not saying they don't stir the emotion, but you always know what you are going to get. They are always perfect, they never let you down. Is the sensation of 140 kmph on an R1 same as 90 kmph on something else ?

The first time you ride it might 'totally blow you away', but the second, and third, and fourth, it does exactly the same thing. The same thing is awesome, but does it 'blow you away', what does it do the second time you ride it that you never imagined it could do after the first time ?

I just reckon that to consitently 'blow you away' it has to consiently do things you never even imagined it could or would.

I have a Kode 80. Best board I ever had. Does exactly what you tell it to do. Never does anything else. Never puts your heart in your mouth. Never makes me go 'woooaaah'. Not only is it the best board I ever had it is also the blandest. First time I rode it it blew me away. Now I get blown away by the wave, the sea the conditions but not by the board. I can go out in bigger faster heavy surf, but the board doesn't blow me away. Still the best board I ever had, but not number 1 on the blow me away scale.

Does that make sense ?

Question wasn't about being good, it was about being blown away.

A Bigmac is good, but it doesn't blow you away. Scotch fillet is good and may well blow you away.

Good shouldn't be a factor

Maybe my old VFR400 blew me away because I rode it every day. 6 days a week through rain, snow and ice ride to work, to work in the dark, home in the dark. Tootled along in traffic, wary of the slippery conditions with my big rucksack on.

Then on Sunday, in the sun and open roads wound it up to 16,000 rpm, hammered the gears, stood on the brakes, kept up with the 916s and the blades, scraped the pegs on the corners. Never imagined it could do that when I was sat waiting for the rail crossing shivering in the middle of winter after a bad day at work.

But - if I only ever rode it on Sundays in the summer, maybe it wouldn't have blown me away.

Last bike was a S4R Monster - 2007 900 cc was better than 1995 400CC, but the Monster never blew me away like the 400cc did.

Then again, had a Yamaha RD with power valves. That blew me away everytime I hit 8,200 rpm and the power valves kicked in. Everytime, I never remembered just what the boost was like, everytime I got nervous at 7,900 rpm knowing something was about to happen and remembering it is more awesome than I remember it.

Hang-on just realised a Honda and a Yamaha blew me away like a Ducati never did - bollocks - apologies for my first opinion - clearly the Japs can blow you away.

Go the R1.

GypsyDrifter said...
....
No offense but microwaved food


Obviously not a lover

Microwaves ovens are just a tool for cooking. If you use it right the results are outstanding. You have to set the temperature (power) and time to suit what you are trying to cook.

Poached fish.
Steamed vegetables.
Asian soup noodle dishes.
Pasta sauces.
Yum!

#1 American Bull Dog (Johnston) - HAF
#2 Toyota Hulux (2005) last of the old skool - TAF
#3 52 inch flat screen hidef tv - CAF keeps the missus happy

^^^^^^ the wagon I presume ? not the girl

yes the van, the girl ended up running off with humpty dumpty who had fancy shoes only she turned into a lesbian maybe he didn't have the goods and yes he was a kook maybe I should write a story on that 1...

Carantoc said...

Surely you can't have an R1 at number 1.

Don't get me wrong, very good, very functional, very reliable, very nice.

Yes very nice. But nice can't good enough to make number 1.

It has to be more than nice. There are way too many nice Japanese superbikes and they are way too nice to be number 1.

Not saying a bike should be number 1 but if it was it would have to be a 916 Senna edition, F4 750, maybe even something like an Aprilla RS250.

They may be slower, less reliable and more expensive than an R1, but they have something that an R1 doesn't. I don't know what it is, I can't describe it, but if an R1 is your number 1 then you really need to go ride a Ducati, an MV Augusta, an Aprilla, a Bimota or anything that isn't made by Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki or Kawasaki to put your life in perspective.

Now, having said all that I would put my old Honda VFR400 NC30 at number 2 on my list. Yep, can't explain it either.

Number 1 : Island Unique 8' 4" squash tail, yellow deck, red bottom, black rails with Kalama black tip fin and Hot Sails Maui rig at H'ookipa 1992.

While I agree with you whole-heartedly on the bike perspective, the OP did stipulate that it was something that you had bought yourself, can't imagine there's a whole lot of people out there in Seabreezeland that have owned a 916 Senna or an MV Augusta of any kind (let alone an F4).

Mind you the bike I've ridden that I enjoyed the most I think would have to be a 748 (haven't ridden a 749 yet, but am considering buying one as my next bike when I have some spare play-cash, after a test ride to compare of course).

Taking the low (cost) road.

Couple of weeks ago I bought an $8 fleecy Hi-Vis vest to use on the pushy. Has a zip up kneck that stops me getting a crook kneck/back from cold drafts (poor diddums). So noice..Tres stoked!

Needed the hi vis after crazy crack head mum reversed out (at speed) in front of me then took the time to roll down her window and abuse the kn fk out of me!?! Thought she was so pathetic I (uncharacteristically) didn't even bother informing her where to get off.

Also.. over a decade ago I got a mid 80s Fender Japan Squire from a 'mate of a mate' who was a total tool. He bought a locking tremolo and all the fruit USA Fender Protege for big bucks that had tone the equivilent of a half sucked sausage roll. I walked off with the super sweet toned Squire for less than $200. Such a nice axe - some say these series were superior to yank Fenders of the day. Plays great - speshly in someone competant hands (not I ).

A bunch of stuff.

My original bike, also a 400/4 Super Sport was awesome at the time. Now, not so much. I've had a 916 and it was awesome, but I totally get the R1 thing. I put it in the category of "blow me away" too. The sound of a dry clutch is an acquired taste though. THe power of an R1 is beyond dispute.

My first guitar tuner, cost $30, revolutionised my life.

My first guitar 30 years ago, an Ibanez, still have it, still sounds great.

My Ipod. Say what you like about the quality of MP3, the convenience of an Ipod is amazing, and they definitely sound better then the scratchy 45's and cassette tape I grew up on.

Sailing wise, I had a flash red Roberto Ricci slalom board that totally blew me away. Foolishly traded it away in a misguided attempt at fiscal wisdom. It was blistering fast and totally exciting to ride every time I went out on it. Never did tire of it.

Diver said...

Top of list
Rolled Gold - Best of Rolling Stones EP. Side 4 with the 'phones on after a session[}:)]

Then;
Greg Laurensen custom mini mal
iPod
western desert painting - still get lost when I look at / in it

Yeah, add Sticky Fingers to my list, and Dire Straits/Dire Straits and Communique.