Motorcycle Threads

[bridhb]

I remember a column by Peter Egan about attending a bike race wherein he referred to the riders having "an interesting and varied assortment of limps and gaits".

Yeah, the good tracks are designed to let you crash and not have anything solid stopping you. Daytona isn't one of them, which is a main reason why I quit CCS. Just about everyone crashes, at least a couple of times a year. It takes its toll. I am more worried about the number of times I had someone yelling me back into consciousness than the lumpy bones.

There is nothing that requires more, zen like concentration though. Sailing can, but it is more difficult to maintain it. Trying to keep the boat moving in zero to light shifty wind almost comes close in a weird sort of way.

I miss motorcycle racing.

Don't forget, opening round of MOTOGP is on tomorrow. Much more fun to watch than Formula "Un"

 

[oldsurfer]

Upgraded the fork springs and rear shock, handles way better. Found some bags on Craigslist, and bought a camping hammock. Been exploring old logging roads along the ridges of the coastal mountains and zoomed right past a good sized bear.

 

[cyclone]

Upgraded the fork springs and rear shock, handles way better. Found some bags on Craigslist, and bought a camping hammock. Been exploring old logging roads along the ridges of the coastal mountains and zoomed right past a good sized bear.

View attachment 587359

A skid plate wouldn’t hurt. Ricochet makes a nice one.

 

[Black Jack]

I am seriously considering bringing my 1983 special California plated airhead home from Germany which i have keep there for many years. (Those who love to ride, eat and enjoy - there is no better place to do that than in Europe. South East Asia is another kind of riding; something a little more exotic in most cases.) Last summer i really have embraced fewer miles (less than 250 miles per day) on one and two lane roads most of the time and only carrying a small backpack/tailbag & wallet for everything. I have narrowed it down three choices to send in its place. Each would be amazing in their own terms. The racer would be for canyon slashing and speed from short points to points. The scrambler like gs would be a better urban street fighter with some light gravel road cred and the smallest 310 would be an economical putter able to ride anywhere semicivilaized and rougher country lanes. As you can tell, I am crazy about opposed twins and Bmw motorcycle in general. i do like the bikes that best follow the old bike I have in terms of spirit, feel and economy. The racer or 310 have good merit; both would be a blast. The other retro bmw a real hoot sits too much in my garage, gathers dust undeservingly. the stupid sailing I do ensures that its miles remain low. And yet the Racer with risers would best reflect the much loved airhead that is so much fun to ride.

 

[Wetabehindtheears]

I did a few miles today going from Catawba NC to Marion NC the long way via Blowing Rock. The ride had a little of ever thing that makes riding a motorcycle worth the risk.

 

[tp#12]

I did a few miles today going from Catawba NC to Marion NC the long way via Blowing Rock. The ride had a little of ever thing that makes riding a motorcycle worth the risk.
View attachment 587444 View attachment 587445

Lovely bagger

I have a VFR800 at the moment, love the V4 growl. But I miss having Ducatis so I’ll be back to one of them some time in the next year or so

Though I’m sorely tempted by an Indian; they’re pretty cool. But they’ve brought the Diavel out with the V4 engine now … eeek!

 

[Wetabehindtheears]

Lovely bagger

I have a VFR800 at the moment, love the V4 growl. But I miss having Ducatis so I’ll be back to one of them some time in the next year or so

Though I’m sorely tempted by an Indian; they’re pretty cool. But they’ve brought the Diavel out with the V4 engine now … eeek!

The 23 Multistrada has caught my eye. However I’m sure I would also have to hire a divorce lawyer and be ready to live in a van down by the river if I got one of those!

 

[tp#12]

The 23 Multistrada has caught my eye. However I’m sure I would also have to hire a divorce lawyer and be ready to live in a van down by the river if I got one of those!

Yes but life in a van down the river after buying the Ducati would be awesome 😂

Who needs near 200hp in a touring bike!

Me!

My GTi Golf had 200hp before I tuned it. Just goes to show the power to weight of these things is getting nuts. I love it

 

[Dervish]

@Black Jack , owned a 1983 R65 from 1985 to 1995. Few years ago, bought this “Frankenbike,” which is a 1975 R90/6, with low factory bars, engine guards, fork brace, Sylvester bar ends, an R100 tank, weird aftermarket seat. Somewhere along the line it was painted GM “Pull Me Over Red.”

Replaced the seat with a factory replica, battery with an LiFe one, and had electronic ignition installed. Also put in a resleeved master cylinder to fix the poor leverage of the front disk on this bike.

Started working on a replica R90S fairing, but this windshield works well enough for me.

 

[tp#12]

@Black Jack , owned a 1983 R65 from 1985 to 1995. Few years ago, bought this “Frankenbike,” which is a 1975 R90/6, with low factory bars, Sylvester bar ends, an R100 tank, weird aftermarket seat. Somewhere along the line it was painted GM “Pull Me Over Red.”

What a gorgeous bike

Those cylinder heads are high enough that you won’t expose the valve train after a long sweeper, too 😂

I love the red. You must love her

 

[Dervish]

It’s fun but do most of my riding on a 2008 Tiger 1050 ABS. Also have a GSX-R750 track bike but that’s going.

 

[tp#12]

The gixxer 750 is a great track bike. I nearly got a K5 myself as a track bike when I stopped racing for a while

But I bought an 848 instead and went racing again 😂

 

[Dervish]

Was looking at Ducatis before I got my first track bike, an SV650SF.

A friend said, “If you crash the Ducati, you’ll be able to buy an SV650 for what the repairs cost - so just start there.”

Plus was trackside vendors had anything you’d need for an SV.

 

[tp#12]

Was looking at Ducatis before I got my first track bike, an SV650SF.

A friend said, “If you crash the Ducati, you’ll be able to buy an SV650 for what the repairs cost - so just start there.”

Plus was trackside vendors had anything you’d need for an SV.

The SVs are a great choice. When I was racing in the UK they had the mini twins series which was mostly SVs so there were heaps of bits for them and a steady supply of sticky tyres with little wear coming from the front runners. Did they run mini twins in the US?

 

[SloopJonB]

My GTi Golf had 200hp before I tuned it. Just goes to show the power to weight of these things is getting nuts. I love it

I thought that to preclude government intervention the manufacturers came to an agreement to halt the HP wars after the Hayabusa?

 

[bmiller]

I'm currently on day 3 of a 4 day western Colorado eastern Utah excursion.

Day 1 was mostly waiting for my buddy to arrive but we got in a few hours north of Canyonlands NP.

Day 2 was the white rim trail. 100 mile loop. Stunning scenery and not very technical. Did it few years ago on mtn bikes and a support vehicle over 3 days.

Day 3, today, a bunch of stuff near Dewey Bridge east of Moab. Near the end of the day we went to see one more tower. At the crux move there was 4 new Broncos parked with all the people standing right in the middle of the move. Feeling froggy I charged right up the gut causing a bit of commotion for the group. They got a show, and I need to grow up. Turns it was some sort of 4 wheel driving clinic.

Day 4, tomorrow, is the western rim and zion curtain trails.

I'm not much for photos but my buddy should have some I can add later.

 

[tp#12]

I thought that to preclude government intervention the manufacturers came to an agreement to halt the HP wars after the Hayabusa?

That’s a new one on me. I remember the Japanese manufacturers had an agreement ages ago at around 100hp and that stuck for a fair while but we’re well beyond that now. The Ducati V4R with the race exhaust and ecu is making something like 235hp from a 1000cc V4 and the bike weighs something like 170kgs

I had a ZX-10R about 15 years ago that made 173 at the back wheel with a full exhaust and fuel mapping done so we’ve had some pretty big numbers for a while

 

[SloopJonB]

It was a few years ago, that's for sure. It was similar to the German manufacturers limiting their cars to 250 KPH.

200+ HP on a bike is just ridiculous - way worse than the stupidest of the drum braked Hemi muscle cars.

 

[tp#12]

It was a few years ago, that's for sure. It was similar to the German manufacturers limiting their cars to 250 KPH.

200+ HP on a bike is just ridiculous - way worse than the stupidest of the drum braked Hemi muscle cars.

They’re absolutely mental to ride 😂

I’ve only ever ridden one on track, not the road, and it’s quite the experience and a very physical endeavour

 

[Goodvibes]

That’s a new one on me. I remember the Japanese manufacturers had an agreement ages ago at around 100hp and that stuck for a fair while but we’re well beyond that now. The Ducati V4R with the race exhaust and ecu is making something like 235hp from a 1000cc V4 and the bike weighs something like 170kgs

I had a ZX-10R about 15 years ago that made 173 at the back wheel with a full exhaust and fuel mapping done so we’ve had some pretty big numbers for a while

Ego driven wanker sales. "O look at me I must be a man because I have this really fast bike that has to have 15 fucking selectable modes to control the horsepower so that fuckwits like me can ride them."