On a more down-to-earth level, some of my favourite bikes (my “perfect” I guess) are those by Russell Mitchell at Exile Cycles. Oh they’re nowhere near being perfect, and there’s not one bike there which I could say was exactly what I wanted. But I love the simplicity and clean looks – to me they’re a cartoon of a cool bike. So I have seriously modded my ‘98 Harley Fatboy to get more “Exile-ish” and have a bike which suits me almost perfectly. It is so comfy I could ride it all day. Mine has mirrors and indicators so I don’t get arrested. If only it didn’t shake so much on the freeway and take 10 minutes to warm up it would be my perfect bike. If it was as solid as my old Meanstreak at speed but handled as well as it does at low speeds… I only got a Harley because they have so many after-market options. But for how I use my bike it’s close to perfect. But I doubt it would be perfect for the average Harley lover because there is nothing shiny on it now.

So, the “perfect” bike:

Customized 2004 Moto Guzzi California Stone. The list of modifications is long but not impressive – things here and there along the way. Flatter handlebar (dirtbike bar off the discount rack), $40 cockpit fairing, smaller and lighter front fender, saddlebags and small sissybar, BB’s in the pegs (leaves large displacement feedback, damps vibration), better brake pads replaced originals when they wore out, Metzeler 880s usually last about 2 rears to one front (I’d like to find some dual purpose tires that fit, but haven’t had much luck yet), airbox and extensive exhaust system surgery…etc. I might figure out how to dump the starter and replace with homemade kickstarter someday? If it ever needs to be rebuilt I might try a mild flywheel lightening and higher comp pistons. Passed lots of H-Ds on the US 212 last June, didn’t see any sportbikes (maybe one Monster – does that count as a sportbike?)… Wife admits this bike helped nab her!