[alaskanmonte]

What other bikes do / have you owned? How does it compare to your Stryker? I'll start:

1998 Harley Davidson Dyna: Good bike and a comfortable cruiser. Put approximately 8,000 miles on it. Never really had any problems with it in the two years that I owned it. After I changed the jets in the carb it ran a lot better with the aftermarket pipes and air cleaner. It was cold-blooded and did not like to run smoothly until fully warmed-up. I sold it when I had an offer from a friend for more than I bought it for. Don't really miss it anymore. Used the money to pay bills instead of getting another bike.

2010 Yamaha R6: Purchased last December (of 2010). Put a little over 6,000 miles on it in a little under a year. Never had ANY problems with it and I drove it like I stole it. Part of the reason I sold it was that I drove it like I stole it ;D. I loved the bike and it was one of the main reasons I purchased the Stryker (Yamaha). Fast is an understatement when it comes to this bike. I loved the performance but hated the riding position on it. Was not really suitable for passengers. I miss it; although I just got rid of it this last week.

 

[strykerjan]

After owning bikes as a teenager back in 1980, I was reintroduced to bikes in 1997 when we got a suzuki 250 given to us in boxes. Steve then built it up and we had it for about a year. The one rainy bank holiday in 2000 we went bike shopping and got a 750 shadow between us. This became his bike and I bought a virago 535 for myself. I kept that for 3 months as it was no good for our long journeys and I got a XV1100 Virago which meant my bike was bigger than his. He then bought a wildstar obviously to save face among the men.
I kept the virago until 2003 when I fell in love with a Dragstar XVS1100A which I kept until 2010 when I felt I needed a change and got a XVS1300A Midnight Star which I do love and still have.
The icing on the cake was this year when I got my Stryker. After much effort from Steve it is the first one in the UK. I think this will be my last bike as I can't imagine how I could better it.

 

[11Stryker]

First Bike was a Brand New 1974 Harley Davidson Z90. Sold it in 1976. Had to replace bad gears in transmission.

Second Bike was a Brand New 1977 Yamaha RD400. I was a Senior in High School. Alot of fun on that bike. Sold it in 1980 when I got in bad car accident and lost interest in bikes.

Third Bike was a used 1975 Kawasaki H2. Yeaa Baby! the 750 3 cylinder. bought it for 150.00 in 1988. Had a bad clutch, but was till rideable as long as you did'nt get right into it. Sold it for 175.00 in 1989. (If I had this bike today- I would be rich selling parts off it!!!)

Fourth Bike was a used 1990 Suzuki 350 on/off road. Bought it in 2008 mainly to ride off road with my 14 year old son with his Yamaha Blaster and then 650R. Sold it in 2009.

Then got the best bike to date- My Stryker on Decenber 24th 2010 with zero miles till March 2011. And here we are!

 

[alaskanmonte]

Awesome picture 11Stryker!

 

[strykerjan]

Great picture. True image of an all American boy

 

[XVS13]

It was cold-blooded and did not like to run smoothly until fully warmed-up.

I had a wife like that.

 

[XVS13]

1976 Honda CB360T
1980 Yamaha 650 Special
1981 Yamaha Maxim 750

 

[dreadly]

Mom had a Kawasaki 440 LTD when I was a teenager. Now, 23 years later, I just bought a Raider. The wife has never owned a bike and she is now the owner of a Stryker.

 

[ktourville]

1981 Kawasaki KX 60 - I was 9 and loved it
1980 Yamaha DT 175 - Bought with my owned saved money at the age of 14
1984 Honda Magna V65 - This bike scared the [email protected]#t out of me. I was 17 when I bought it.
2 1997 Yamaha YZF 600's - Bought one in 97 and the other in 2003

 

[sfcmcgan]

Currently:
2011 Yamaha STRYKER
2007 Yamaha TTR-125L
2009 Yamaha TTR-230
2005 Yamaha Raptor 660
2002 Yamaha Banshee
2003 Yamaha Breeze
2008 Polaris Outlaw 525s
2009 Ninja 250R SE

formerly:

1981 Suzuki GS400
1979 Honda XL-125
1983 Yamaha DT-100
1978 Yamaha XS-750

As you can see... I had a bit of a break for toys...

 

[strykerjan]

Mom had a Kawasaki 440 LTD when I was a teenager. Now, 23 years later, I just bought a Raider. The wife has never owned a bike and she is now the owner of a Stryker.

I really wanted a 440 ltd in the 80's but couldn't afford one. I had a kawasaki Z250

 

[11Stryker]

Awesome picture 11Stryker!

Thanks, I wish I still had some of that hair though!!

 

[strykenshane]

You guys have great me memories, I started riding in 76 when I was 8 on a little Suzuki 60 I think it was, my dad was a bit of a horse trader so over the next 10 years I had a many as 7-8 bikes at a time, we'd fix em up and sell em after I tried to tear em up. As far as street bikes I can remember having at least 3 Shadows, 2 Intruders, 3 Vulcans, 2 VTX's and of course now my Stryker, my favorite as a kid was a Kawasaki KV100 I got when I was 14, that thing would fly

 

[the(B)inbang]

Figured I'd throw my 2 cents in this one...I'm only 28 so my list isn't too extensive

First bike - 2001 Suzuki GSXR600 Great bike overall, ran very strong and decently quick when compared to other sport bikes. Bought it used, wrecked on both sides, and bone stock. This bike was the initial spark to my interest in customizing motorcycles.

Second bike - 2005 Yamaha R6 Nothing but problems with this thing. It was very fun, but I bought it used and abused. Most of the custom work was done by the previous owner but always seemed to have some sort of ignition, stator, or drivability issue. Good looking bike, but once I got it into decent enough shape I hocked it for a slight loss. This pic is from Deal's Gap which was awesome!

Third bike - 1981 (2 years older than me) Suzuki GS250T Scored this baby for free from a co-worker who didn't want it anymore. It was all original, only had 3200 miles on it, and reached a top speed of about 60, downhill with the wind behind me. Put 2 new tires on it, re-jetted the carbs, and added some aftermarket go cart air filters (Ha!) Surprisingly, this thing ran better than the R6 overall and made a very fuel efficient commuter. (Scary pulling into traffic sometimes) This thing was in remarkable shape for being 30 years old. Bought the Stryker and sold the Suzuki for 600 bucks - used the money to buy the Cobra pipes.

 

[11Stryker]

Cool Rides Bang!!

 

[strykerjan]

Figured I'd throw my 2 cents in this one...I'm only 28 so my list isn't too extensive

First bike - 2001 Suzuki GSXR600 Great bike overall, ran very strong and decently quick when compared to other sport bikes. Bought it used, wrecked on both sides, and bone stock. This bike was the initial spark to my interest in customizing motorcycles.



Second bike - 2005 Yamaha R6 Nothing but problems with this thing. It was very fun, but I bought it used and abused. Most of the custom work was done by the previous owner but always seemed to have some sort of ignition, stator, or drivability issue. Good looking bike, but once I got it into decent enough shape I hocked it for a slight loss. This pic is from Deal's Gap which was awesome!

[IMG]

Third bike - 1981 (2 years older than me) Suzuki GS250T Scored this baby for free from a co-worker who didn't want it anymore. It was all original, only had 3200 miles on it, and reached a top speed of about 60, downhill with the wind behind me. Put 2 new tires on it, re-jetted the carbs, and added some aftermarket go cart air filters (Ha!) Surprisingly, this thing ran better than the R6 overall and made a very fuel efficient commuter. (Scary pulling into traffic sometimes) This thing was in remarkable shape for being 30 years old. Bought the Stryker and sold the Suzuki for 600 bucks - used the money to buy the Cobra pipes.

[IMG]
[/quote]

The Suzuki you had was the same as the one we got for £40 in a box. It was great.

 

[the(B)inbang]

Cool Rides Bang!!

Thanks!

The Suzuki you had was the same as the one we got for £40 in a box. It was great.

It's strange when a 30 year old bike is more reliable than a 4 year old bike...

 

[toby]

My first bike was a Brand new 1971 Honda CB 350. Well actually my first bikes were mini bikes. But had the Honda for almost 20 years. Did every cosmetic mod to it you could think of except rake the front end. Ya even the old banana seat with the big tall sissy bar that was over my head. Built the motor up with every high performance part you could get in those days. A cam with the highest and longest lift I could fit without cutting the pistons for valve clearance. 12.5.1 compression pistons. Board three sizes over stock Meconey two cycle carbs to feed that cam. Cut the timing plate to advance the timing far enough for that cam. The fastest stock bike in that day was the Kawasaki 500 3 cylinder two stroke. My 350 beat it in the 1/4 mile.
Now we have the V Star 950 And the Stryker. And still have the 1981 Virago 750 Which has been our work horse for the past two years and had no problems with except had to take the plugs out and warm the up to get her to start in high altitude and cold damp conditions. It being so dependable is what lead us to buying to new Yamahas.
The Virago was my wife's 1st bike to learn to ride. She rode it for two months then I let her ride the 950 and then I had to get a new one for me, the Stryker. And I gota say out of all the bikes I have rode or just sat on the Stryker has the best feel.

 

[Natedog]

1st Bike
1997 Kawasaki ZX6R
Not the smartest choice as I crashed it not long after.

Took a 10 year break and decided to try again with something a little tamer...

1987 Yamaha Virago 535

I outgrew the Virago quickly and decided to upgrade...

1996 Kawasaki ZX6-E
Owned this one for about a week, until I found out that my insurance did not cover "rebuilt" bikes...

Back she went and I bought this one instead.

2003 Kawasaki ZX6R

After a couple years I wanted something new, so I traded up to 2007 model

2007 Kawasaki ZX6R

and then....

STRYKER

 

[alaskanmonte]

Natedog; why the change back to a cruiser after several sportbikes? I ask because I came from a sportbike to the Stryker also.