Here's my story: I've been a motorcyclist since age 11 (1970) when my dad brought home a Honda Monkey bike, (which I am now restoring). After many years of off-road riding and racing, I eventually hung up my leathers to get serious about career, family, etc. You know the song. But frankly, from that point on I found it difficult to replace the outright fun and excitement with any other forms of biking. That is until I moved to Europe and started a restoration project of a 1950 Victoria KR25. It was then that I rediscovered the enjoyment of wrenching on my bike, and sharing similar experiences with others.
After the Victoria, I decided a "ridable classic" would be my next project. Not knowing much about old bikes (without knobby tires), I did a lot of research that lead me to deciding on an R90s. I bought my bike from a classic bike shop owner near Paris nearly 2 years ago. Mechanically it was really sorted out nicely, but aesthetically a mess and mish-mash of probably a dozen other essess. She's got 165,000 km (+100 miles) on the clock, yet the engine is tight and fresh.
Here's a picture of my 74 R90s now... the purists out there will notice a several mods. (spot them all and win a prize). Which is OK with me, as I ride it regularly so reliability and safety are most important so I can keep up in todays traffic conditions. Modern road bikes don't "pop my cookies", but I am thinking semi-seriously about vintage MX a little now...
I have been living in Europe since 1993 (Belgim, Germany, France & Switzerland), though I was raied in Up-State NY and lived many years in San Franciso. The R90s has been a great way to meet many nice people and rediscover the pure fun of biking. When I roll up to a bike shop in Europe, they see the "S" and know I'm a "real biker"... this more than makes up for the piss-ant scooters that constantly try to blow me off on the streets of Paris.
Kirk (Paris) AMA Life Member 570033A
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