In 2000, my Triumph Daytona 900 was killed by an idiot turning right in front of it and the search started for a replacement bike. I wanted something that was more easy-going than the Daytona, with excellent build quality, good looks and character.

Looking at the Harley brochure, I loved the looks of the FXDX best of all – I still do in fact – and liked the idea of its sporty aspirations. A decision was made – insanely enough without a test ride! Thinking about it, I was bloody lucky that we subsequently got on so well as I’ve since learnt that bike tests always throw up surprises and you are better off trying your potential purchase alongside a few alternatives to be really sure before parting with your own cash.

I was delighted with the bike and I have yet to find something else I’d be prepared to swap it for. Unbelievably it is still standard, but then I reckon the original package is pretty proficient, but that is about to change for two reasons: the Twin Cam 96 inch engine of the Super Glide Custom tested in AmV37 and the brakes of the XR1200X coming up in AmV39. Both blew me away and I’ve been utterly hooked. Upgrading my bike is now a necessity – and in the pipeline!

Originally a long term loan from Victory, this became the American-V long term project bike at the end of the test which gave us chance to make a few modifications. A 2003 model, it's the original Vegas which represented Victory's coming of age in terms of a unique style and we've fitted the Pure Victory accessory drag bars and risers, and a Biker Buddy pro Air-Ride from Nick Gale Custom Cycles, which drops it by nearly six inches on its suspension - as seen above: it scuffs the lower silencer something chronic, but there are plans for that.

It's about to be resurrected with a cosmetic make-over and Stage One, but we'll be leaving it as a 92-inch, 5-speed Freedom motor because it's a bloody good motor as a stocker and the extra oomph and audible exhaust note will press enough extra buttons to guarantee its place in the garage.

After trading a Shovelhead FLH for a VN1500 Classic many years ago, I traded that Kawasaki for this staged Mk2 Cyclone after test-riding a first generation Victory V92SC Sport Cruiser. Realising that there's much much more to a big-inch v-twin than the Japanese cruiser offered, the VN made it as far as D&K in Stoke-on-Trent where this bright yellow low mileage M2 was waiting.

Originally intended for the Benelux countries, Centurion Harley-Davidson did all the recall work which dealt with everything except the scuffed exhaust that was a result of the original owner setting off with the steering locked: he'd just had all the breathing work completed, including the Yoshimura can and carbon XL-style filter.

It's from the first year with the Thunderstorm heads, and while it would have got a tacho a year later, I like the simplicity of the single clock - maybe a motogadget Classic will replace it in time. It also has the big tank and seat that created the 'softest' of the tube framed Buells.

A 1340cc Shovelhead Low Rider in the gunmetal grey of the first iconic model - to me at least, which is why I've got it. Spotted it at the Rock and Blues in 2004, it stood out from the crowd, and talking to its owner, an engineer called Dave Gatton, it turned out he was looking at parting with it in favour of a more modern bagger capable of two-up European touring. I had a 1996 FLHT ... but not for much longer.

It has had most of the intelligent stuff done to it: twin plug heads running single fire and a Hi-4 ignition unit, a Mikuni HS40 carb, five-finger clutch with billet pressure plate, and brakes: twin Harrison 4-pots up front with a Grimeca at the back.

It's showing just under 70k miles on what looks like an original speedo, but has plenty of miles left in it.

The backbone of American-V is the bikes that inspire us, and they still put the miles in between test bikes. They give us the chance to indulge ourselves and speak volume about where we come from, and this is where we're going to follow their progress.

They are:

1979 Harley-Davidson FXS Low Rider
1994 Harley-Davidson FLHR Road King
1999 Buell M2 Cyclone
2002 Harley-Davidson FXDX Super Glide Sport
2003 Victory 92/5 Vegas

They might be joined occasionally by some long term bikes - we're talking to Harley-Davidson and Victory at the moment - and we'll follow their progress here too so we can give them the space they need: all we've got to do now is work out how to make it obvious which entries relate to which bike. The next entries will introduce each of them individually.