I am a man with many varied interests, but one of the most important is a fascination with mechanical devices and machines of all kinds.
As I recall, the first important machine in my life was the bicycle. I had several and had a habit of traveling long distances. Before I was old enough for a drivers license, I purchased a mo-ped---a hybrid bicycle and motorcycle with a 50cc gasoline engine. I got it cheap since it did not run, and I took it apart, fixed it and rode to work where I was a short order cook in a fast food restaurant about 4 miles from home. That did not last long as a police officer stopped me and informed me that I could not ride the mo-ped without a drivers license.
At 16, with a driver's licensed on the day of my birthday, my father helped me buy a new 1967 Ford Mustang. Not long after, he bought a Suzuki 250cc motorcycle, that I sort of took over as my own. I rode the motorcycle all over western PA venturing out on long 200 mile a day trips. (Photo of similar bike)
On my own, married at 18, supporting my family took most of my resources. But at age 30 I was prosperous enough to earn my pilot's license and to buy an airplane. Then a motorboat. When my son showed interest in motorcycles, I bought him a small motocross racing bike along with a 250cc Yamaha racing bike for myself and we raced at tracks around Dallas, TX. (Photo of similar bike)
My career up to then had been as a corporate executive and engineer responsible for fleet maintenance. Director of Maintenance for a trucking company, Then, Vice President of a company running 5000 school buses, and later with Trailways with 2000 buses. Lots of machines to take care of.
Tired of corporate politics, I bought a small car repair garage. No money for airplane and boat, so they were sold. The business grew and prospered and after a few years I started racing automobiles. SCCA amateur (FF1600) and pro events (FF2000 and Trans AM). With some partners, I started an engine parts aftermarket company. With the profits I started a NASCAR team and drove in a few events. A serious crash ended the professional racing.
Ten years later, I took up sailing and bought a 30 foot sailboat, then a 38 foot motoryacht. A new entrepreneurial enterprise required all my capital, so the boat was sold.
Once the new business began to show success, I renewed my interest in auto racing. Formula Vee in SCCA, and then Legend Cars on dirt ovals for fun. Now in my 60's. I found auto racing to be too strenuous.
Sold the plane and bought a slow 36 foot Grand Banks Trawler but found that working in the cramped engine room was too difficult---now at age 70, arthritis was becoming a factor. Sold the boat.
Life is bit of a full cycle. Back to bicycles and motorcycles. (35 years later!) Some of my friends were riding big heavy cruiser bikes--traveling all over the country--70+ mph on the interstates. That type of riding was not for me--too dangerous. The motorcycles are not dangerous---the truck traffic and congestion is the source of danger. My son and grandson ride motocross, but wrestling a bike on a dirt track is no longer in the cards for me. So, the type of bike I was looking for was what I would call a "naked adventure" bike. The actual model would depend on how much, if any, off road trail riding I intended to do, and of course how much horsepower I wanted.
The quintessential adventure bike is arguably the Honda Africa Twin shown above. 90+ HP 1100cc weighing in at 550 pounds with a 34" seat height. This bike will take you anywhere-even around the world. A really fine machine.
With a 32 inch inseam, a 34" seat height does not allow both feet on the ground, plus 90 HP was way too much bike for me. And, I was just going to ride around rural Central Pennsylvania.
I considered more of a touring style with a vintage R1200C BMW, made famous in a 1999 James Bond movie. See below.
Beautiful bike, with lower seat height. 1200cc, but only 60 HP. I decided that 500+ pounds of bike was too much for me.
The other extreme would be to go to a "Dual Sport" bike, like the Suzuki DR200. See below.
I would change tires to a combo street/offroad tread, less knobby. Seat height of 32 inches, and weighing only 250 pounds, it would be adequate for the 35-50 mph speeds on most of the roads I intended to ride on. In the end, I decided, with only 20 HP, it was not enough power and not enough acceleration for safe highway driving with a 200 pound rider.
So I set my sights on two bikes.
The Yamaha MT03 and the BMW G310R.
The Yamaha had a twin cylinder engine. The BMW had a single cylinder engine. Otherwise, the two are quite comparable. (Yamaha is a bit faster.)
I chose the BMW, well...because it is a BMW---even though it is made in India. I have a respect for German engineering and design. See below
The BMW has 34 HP, 310cc and weighs about 350 pounds. Seat height is 31 inches. I can put both feet on the ground and can "walk" the bike without too much effort. Light enough for me to hold up and even pick up if it falls. Accelerates 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds and top speed is 90 mph. Fast enough for me. Here is a video. (Speedo showing Kilometers 100kph = 60 mph; 7.3 seconds 0-60 mph, 6 seconds 60-75 mph)
