Well..for me..
I"m going to list the 5 bikes that I have liked/enjoyed riding the most..even though there are technically better and more comfortable-reliable bikes made nowadays. [Think it would be really difficult..and highly subjective to say "the 5 best of all time"]
1.) My 1959 Ariel Square Four
2.) My present 1977 550K
3.) My 1973 CB 450 Twin
4.) My 1958 Matchless 650cc Typhoon
5.) (believe it or not) my highly modified 1955 Whizzer Sportsman (20" wheels, battery, kick-start, 2-speed trans, et al.) motorbike (I rode that thing all over when I was 14-15 years old..and before my parents would let me get an actual motorcycle).
Like a lot of others here..I'd include the Vincent Black Shadow as an all time best bike. But I never had the chance to actually ride one (or afford one)..so I'm leaving it off my list.
Domo,
Ichi / Al
Ichi, you are one of the few who talk about the Ariel Square Four, I think they are "Something" as well. Closest I got to one was when a fellow brought one to my Granddad's Motorcycle shop and told my Dad that he wanted HIM to put it back together.
You see he had taken it to one guy to have it gone through, painted and whatever and then put it back together. Then there was a dispute between them, so the owner gathered it up and brought if to my Dad (who had never even SEEN one at that point). Well Dad had him unload it over in a corner and Dad would just look at it for a while, when ever he went by it and finally just started slowly (at first) trying to start putting parts together and finally had it done. I thought it was an AWESOME bike and sounded beautiful through four straight pipes (not really THAT loud either).
Must have been really something to have owned one.
Also, you mentioned a Jawa. That caught my eye as well, since we (my Granddad and my Dad) had the Jawa franchise in Arkansas and I've done some work with them as well. Along with the fact that I too, am wanting to build up a Jawa for my Dad (doing it up to LOOK LIKE the one that he built back when). I look forward to when you might be able to work on that Jawa also.
Plus, you mentioned the Matchless Typhoon, I never had one, but there was a guy who race one on the Scrambles track, in Arkansas (and maybe Louisiana) back in the early 60's and those things seemed pretty powerful as well.
Later on, Bill
Actually though, I'm pretty impressed by 2 of the bikes I already have, which are the 80' Honda CBX and the 83' Kawasaki GPZ1100. I mean, there's a lot of technology in those 2 bikes, they are incredible to hear AND to ride! Not too shabby, I'd say.
Of course, the fact that I have those 2, makes me a bit prejudice.
Not Bragging, mind you, just convinced.
