For me the 1955 MV Augusta V8 500cc monster
Lawrence of Arabia's Brough Superior SS100 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brough_Superior_SS100#T._E._Lawrence
You should really qualify your question. What would be the purpose of this motorcycle? - Collector item - Every day use - Tracking - Other There are so many types around and usually, a bike that is excellent in one category, is more often than not, impractical in another.
this may sound odd... but I'd like a first series Katana. a high school aged Choptop walked into a Suzuki dealership when the bike first came out and I was blown away.
I just got what I've wanted for a while: a track bike that is essentially user friendly: SV1000. Ex-Team Emgo bike, very quick, but not a handful like the GSXR1000 that I'd been using for a track bike. Should be a fun bike for the track, will find out at Thunderhill next Monday..... Art
An old Indian with a wood frame. I happen to know where there is one too, brand new in the crate, NEVER opened. The same guy has about 30 bikes in his barn, some of them like the Indian was never opened up. There are only a handful of those Indian bikes ever produced. I think it was built before 1900 or right around there. The guys grandfather was a dealer and he closed up shop but never sold off inventory. The owner of the treasures is currently 86.
wow, that's awesome! I know a lot of Harley guys who bought 100th anniversary bikes a few years back and never uncrated them...but a bike from the turn of the last century?!? to answer the OP's question, its a long list but I think the Desmosedici RR is at the top for me.
This guy didn't plan on saving any of this stuff it just happened. That is usually the stuff that has value later on, the unplanned retention of items. He has a few Harley's too. There is one I would love to have. It was actually used for a bit, broke and then was stuffed in the same barn. As the story goes the owner of the bike took it back to have it repaired then never returned. This barn is HUGE and it's full of stuff like that. Austin Healeys, Triumph's, MG's, Jaguar, the motorcycles, etc. The house has been in the same family for generations. The grandfather, father, and son all went to A LOT of auctions. I found a lot of first print VERY old books in the library. It's not what some may think. There is NO organization at all, just piles of crap everywhere. It's my mothers boyfriend of 30 years. He told me on Saturday he took a bunch of old VW stuff to the scrap yard.
Ducati (Bevel) Supersport I think ... actually after recently riding a 2000 750S I'm very impressed with the belt driven engine. Pete
Donelson Cycles in St. Louis still has an SP3 that they have never sold since new. I have always wanted an SP seat with the cutout for the tank bolt for my 851 Strada.
To do everything with a resonable amount of fun, today I would probably pick the new Moto Guzzi 8 valve Griso.