My Top-10

Favorite Motorcycles

 

 

 

So many motorcycles to ride... so little time...

I think I may actually love just about every motorcycle out there (old and new) and there are many, but over the years I've grown attached to a few, and so here's my list of "Top-10" favorite motorcycles - not neccessarily in any particular order:

 

1

1970's Honda ST70 Trail Bike

When I was just a little kid, I thought the Honda Trail Bike was the coolest bike on the planet (I still think it's pretty damn cool)

Honda ST70 Trail Bike

 

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2

1930 Indian Chief

Mostly for sentimental reasons, I'd like to own an Indian Chief Motorcycle. The photo below is my grandfather, Sergeant Murray (circa 1930) posed for a photo on his "Police-Special" Indian Chief Motorcycle. He was later promoted to Chief of Police of a small suburb of New York City. I'm very proud of my grandpa.

Circa 1930 Indian Chief "Police-Special"

 

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3

Kawasaki KLX 400
(modified as a "street legal" dual-sport)

When I first met Sam Correro, creator of the Trans-America Trail, he rode with us on his trail on a Kawasaki KLX 400. I've liked the bike ever since.

Sam Correro, Creator of the Trans-Am Trail

 

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4

BMW F650/GS

One of my favorite "go-anywhere" motorcycles is the BMW F650/GS. I rode a slightly modified version of the F650/GS (shown below) when I rode across America on the Trans-America Trail. Editors Note: The Kawasaki KLR 650 deserves an honorable mention here, as it's another very popular "go-anywhere" motorcycle. It's similar in many ways to the BMW F650/GS. I included the F650/GS on my list of Top 10 because I was so impressed with how flawlessly the BMW survived the harsh conditions of the 35-day, 5,000-mile cross-America adventure.

Michael Murray (center) with his BMW F650/GS motorcycle
at BMW Motorcycles of Nashville Tennessee

 

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5

BMW R1150/GS

One morning when I took my F650/GS to the local BMW dealership for a schedule maintenance appointment, they offered my a loaner bike… an R1150/GS. I had appreciated these bikes from afar, but this was my first experience riding one. I rode off on the big 1150/GS and fell in love with it right away. I rode it virtually non-stop for the 3-day weekend until it was time to pick up my F650. I returned the 1150/GS with nearly 1,500 additional miles on it. I've loved the bike ever since.

 

BMW R1150/GS

 

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6

1978 BMW R80/7

In 1978 when I was in high school, my older sister's boyfriend rode up our drive way in a brand new, right off the showroom BMW R80/7. I was already big-into motorcycles and I recognized this as one seriously cool motorcycle. About 30-years later I saw one on Craigslist and knew that I just had to have. It's been my daily cruiser ever since (and I still think it's one seriously cool motorcycle).

1978 BMW R80/7

 

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7

Ducati 848

I did a presentation one summer at the local BMW/Ducati dealership and the following weekend I was invited to come back early before they started their "Ducati-Days" Open House. In 4 hours of test riding I rode about $75,000 worth of Ducati's, and the Ducati 848 stood-out as a favorite. A fast and sexy machine that feels as much at home on the track, as it does on the streets.

 

Ducati 848

 

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8

Ducati SportClassic 1000

Similar to the 848 above, the Ducati SportClassic 1000 is also one of the bikes I test-rode on the "Ducati-Days" Open House. I was instantly drawn to the classic retro-look of the Sport1000. And although it looks like an old classic, it rides like a great modern Ducati - noisy dry-clutch and all (music to my ears). The SportClassic 1000 is very fast, and handles amazingly… as a Ducati should.

Ducati SportClassic 1000

 

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9

Harley Davidson SofTail "FatBoy"

I'm still not sure if this was the motorcycle that Arnold Schwarzenegger rode in the "Terminator" movie, but no mater, I think the HD FatBoy motorcycle is just plain bad-ass. With it's sold wheels and low-rider look, it's a powerful bike with a laid-back cruser feel. I had a day of riding the Harley Davidson up and down the Pacific Coast Highway and loved every minute of it.

Harley Davidson SofTail "FatBoy"

 

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10

URAL "Sahara"
(with side car)

Okay, so I'll admit, including the URAL Motorcycle with side-car seems a bit strange because it's such an unconventional motorcycle. It's made in Russia and was reverse-engineered from the old BMW "Airhead" boxer engine. But the thing that has me so fascinated with this bike is that the side-car is powered also - making it a 2-wheel drive motorcycle… basically, that means it can go just about anywhere, in just about any riding condition - sand - mud - snow. Totally cool to me, and definitely worth adding to my list of "Top 10".

URAL "Sahara"
(with side-car)

 

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So many motorcycles to ride... so little time...

I could've easily made this list my "Top-100", or my "Top-1,000".

And so this list is by no means complete.

And it doesn't necessarily represent "the best" or "the fastest" or "the coolest" or "the most exspensive" motorcycles, it's simply "MY" list of favorites that I wanted to share with you all.

What are some of YOUR favorite motorcycles?

Please leave a comment...

 

Ride on!

—Michael Murray
Owner | Rider | Enthiusiast

michael@motorcycletraveldvds.com

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