I have never had a bad bike but my Royal Star Tour Deluxe had bad timing. A stone clipped the radiator on Cape Breton. The next year the rear wheel bearing went out on a Sunday in Maine.

My BMW's and Honda's have all been good but the BMW's have been outstanding.

 

My current 99 Goldwing is by far the best.
Nothing else has come close.

 

My 250cc Ossa Pioneer

 

I've only had three bikes. Two were Hondas; a CB350 and my 1996 Goldwing. They are two totally different bikes and neither is better than the other. They were both great bikes for what they are and what they cost. I guess it goes without saying that I like the Goldwing the best as it is a premium machine.

 

My 2004 Triumph Speedmaster. It's been semi retired for the past few years but when I was riding it steady I never had any trouble with it. In 115,000 km all I've done is oil changes, tires, chains and sprockets and 1 set of rear brake pads..

 

I've had dozens of Yamahas over 50 years. They are always my go-to brand.
I'd say my 2020 FJR1300ES is up there with nearly 50,000 miles ridden by me already. Zero issues.

My 2003 Honda GL1800 has to be up there as the best. 140,000 miles without one hiccup.

 

I think it would have to be the 2010 Victory Vision. Put 66,000 miles on that bike and completed 16 certified Iron Butt rides on it with trips from coast to coast including two rides north of the Arctic Circle. From Death Valley to Nova Scotia. Key West, FL to Deadhorse, AK. Never a breakdown or any issue on the trips.

 

The 2013+ FJR1300, or earlier if you can live without cruise control and don't mind dealing with a few well documented minor issues, mostly involving checking and cleaning ground connections.

Fantastic bikes all the way around, although I don't get the Electronic Suspension version, it had better hardware in the form of USD forks, but they should have made them manual. Losing front preload and coupling together compression and rebound damping front and rear into a single "damping" setting to make it ES was just flat out silly.

Other than that they are fantastic bikes and very practical.

 

Whatever bike I'm currently riding always seems to be my best bike.

 

Well, I thought the R3 was the best until I got the R7; however, the R3 is still good.
R3 Pros - Peppy, 62 MPG, upright position, front not soft, rear seat conducive to bag.
R7 Pros - More peppy, 56+ MPG, leaned over position, front not soft and its adjustable.
If you like sitting basically upright the R3 is.
If like being leaned over then it is a R7 plus.
I dislike a soft front fork, (ex: 2021 Honda CBR300R was soft in comparison to these).
Even after riding the R7 when I ride the R3 I still think it is quick.
Both of these are the best bike for different reasons.

 

For me, the best bike is the next one. It's always the next one.

 

Yup, me too! As my riding needs change, next bike is always one that suits that need best.

 

All of them. I've never really been disappointed in any that I have owned could be I don't keep them long enough other than the older classics I've bought all my bikes new.

 

Only been riding a couple years now, so hard to say what's best.

First bike was a 2023 CMX500. Picked up in 2023 but was already lightly used. After a while I found out why it was traded in so quickly... Transmission problems. But it served it's purpose as a "learning bike". (No pic)

Second is a 2024 CMX1100 with the DCT transmission. This bike has had some electrical gremlins that I have never been able to resolve. But otherwise it still faithfully ferries me to and from work most of the year.

Third bike was a 2024 Tuono 660. I had zero problems with this bike... For the few months I owned it. I quickly got bored with it as it didn't have much more power than my CMX1100. This would have been a keeper if I didn't already have the CMX1100 and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a spirited street bike. Comfortable and quick!

Fourth bike is a 2024 Tuono V4. Traded my previous Tuono for this during the Black Friday sales. No real saddle time yet.

 

2005 Honda VTX1800C. Of all the bikes that have come and gone (14 total, I believe), that’s the one I regret unloading the most. I had swapped the bars, pegs, seat, grips, and a few other things I’m probably forgetting that made it one of the most comfortable rides I ever had. I had a nice tornado intake and a Bubb megaphone exhaust that had just the right note without being obnoxiously loud. I haven’t customized anything else before or since, and if I had the chance I’d probably buy it back today. Biggest mistake if my riding life was trading that bike.

 

My current 2020 CVO Road Glide. Consistently late oil changes since purchase. Motor oil in the 6,000-8,000 mile range, then trans/primary every other time. Lots of riding from sub freezing temps to triple digits averaging over 40,000 miles a year (over 50,000 in 2024). The bike has never broken down on me or needed a major repair as a response to a failure. 48 states (49 including a rental in Hawaii), three Canadian provinces, 20 Iron Butt rides, and over 200,000 miles in less than 5 years. I'd put this machine up against anything including most cars. It doesn't matter what I throw at it. It refuses to quit.

The bike will be 5 years old the 28th of this month.

 

Too many to list, and I would have to ask, what for.
In the dirt. CanAm 250, Honda TL 250, Rickman 125.
Around town, CB 400. Over the mountains and open road, SV1000. Comfortable sporty cruiser, Triumph Trophy 900. Old iron, BSA 650. Piece of junk from new 69 Norton Commando.

 

I've owned so many over the years, but I would say the best overall was my 1978 Honda 750 F Super Sport. I was 22 years old in the Navy in San Diego, could not afford a car on a Firemans (E-3) pay, saw an add for the bike for $1,200 test rode it an loved it. Plenty of power, good handling and stopping power and comfortable for those SoCal commutes.

I've owned so many over the years, but I would say the best overall was my 1978 Honda 750 F Super Sport. I was 22 years old in the Navy in San Diego, could not afford a car on a Firemans (E-3) pay, saw an add for the bike for $1,200 test rode it an loved it. Plenty of power, good handling and stopping power and comfortable for those SoCal commutes.

 

My 2006 Wr 250 F because it got me back on a motorcycle after a crash years earlier with my girlfriend now wife on the back. Oil change once a season, lube and adjust the chain and clean the air filter. Just right for me and the single track I do.
My 2007 S83 is the best because it never gives me problems and it helped my wife get back on the pillion seat again.

 

By today's standards, it was a pretty terrible bike, but nostalgia for that feeling of freedom makes me say my best bike was my first - a Yamaha 250 in 1963. Nostalgia aside, my Concours 14 - its only fault was the lack of a true cruise control (which I sort of remedied with a throttlemeister).

 

I have a very short list to choose from, having only ever owned 4 motorcycles. By far the best is my current bike, the 2003 BMW R1150RT. It's as stable and quick as my '78 GS550, and more powerful and fast than my '81 CB900C. So it's the best of both of those.

I've only put 1000 miles on the Spyder, so it's too soon to judge on that one. But it doesn't ride like a two-wheel motorcycle, so it gets points deducted for that.

 

The most favorite bike I ever owned was a 1986 Goldwing. It was much better than the 1978 GL1000 I had before. It did everything I wanted and I just felt Good on it. I still miss it to this day. It was even Made in America.

 

The most favorite bike I ever owned was a 1986 Goldwing. It was much better than the 1978 GL1000 I had before. It did everything I wanted and I just felt Good on it. I still miss it to this day. It was even Made in America. View attachment 93613

Goldwing's definitely built to last. I think it holds record for highest mileage bike @ +450k-miles! Although there was VFR that went 800k-miles, but on 2nd engine.

 

They can be bought fairly cheap too. I see them on craigslist all the time for $1500 approx, give or take.

 

My Valkyrie !

JJ

 

Hard to name, "just one"..... Many of my bikes has a good reason to be a best bike.... They had different reasons....
My first was a '70 CB 350 / fun to learn on.
Second was a Honda 550 'winning 'production racer', and the racer taught me performance riding.
Third a '76 KZ900 LTD. Just a fun bike .
Then a Jordan built Yamaha FZ750, w/a racing heads, clutch/ transmission / 15,000 RPM.... Entering a turn, I could down shift without the rear locking up..... A SUPER bike !!
My last was a '86 Yamaha FJ1200, and again, full build/tune from Curt / 120 HP the the rear. Another "perfect bike".

 

I've been riding since 1968. I have a 2011 Yamaha Stryker now and it's awesome. But the greatest bike I have ever owned was a 1998 Honda Valkyrie. Fast, comfortable, cool looking and the hands down smoothest ride I have ever had. Never met a twin that could keep up. Handled like a dream. Hurt my back and had to sell it because it was painful to lift when I stopped.