The Motorcycle Topic

[locknload5614]

 

LOL. Have you never heard of a ZX14 or BMW S1000RR?

You're replying to a post from 2005. Don't.

 

 

yeah....that's some dumb sh*t for sure.

[trip]

Thanks to climate change my bike still has its battery in and is ready to go at the drop of a hat. Heck, I even changed the oil the other day.

 

Around here it used to be a sign of manliness to say "I'm riding deep into November", but at this rate I might be doing some riding in December.

 

 

 

I relayed this story elsewhere but since you guys are bike guys you'll understand. I broke my big toe on my left foot last Monday. My car is in the shop and the only way to and from the beer store(for a case of beer) was the bike. First time in my life trying to shift with a broken toe. Even 2nd to neutral hurt like a bitch.

[Affalterbach]

Thanks for the replies, guys! I will keep an eye out at the bikes you guys recommended. I completely agree with you guys - Now i think about it, it indeed would be smarter to start with a bike wich is cheaper. Riding that one for a couple months, maybe a year, and then upgrade to what i actually want.

 

Anyways, i can probably make a better decision after i drive a actual bike and get my license. That way i will know what suits my driving style the best, and what im capable of doing on a bike.

 

I will get back to this thread when its time to buy a bike.

 

.

[Adrenalist]

100% with Sivi on this. SV650 is the way to go.

 

This bike has a cult status among track day enthusiasts. Their frame can take a beating, parts are super-cheap, and it's enough power to allow you some fun, without making you bored as you get months into riding. The 250's and 300's will likely get you quite bored, quite quickly. They are great starter bikes, but after a few months you will yearn for more power. The SV650 is a perfect bridge for keeping you from feeling that.

 

Starting with a 100 hp 1100 can be done, but it's a much more cumbersome, heavy bike. This slows down your reactionary time and, to me, it takes a lot of the fun of being on a lighthearted, flickable bike. I would be quicker to suggest it to an older, more settled guy. But for a young blood such as yourself, I would recommend a lighter, livelier, motorcycle to help match your personality, and likely, riding style.

 

The SV is no looker, and will unlikely pull at your heart strings. But, much like women, it's the one that you can grow with, it takes the bumps in life with stride, give to you all it's heart, and is always fun yet very forgiving, that you want as a first bike. Save the Duc, the beautiful girl, tempermental, anxious, where a few times a month life is bliss, but most of every other minute everything is totally wrong and you question your decision on getting her in the first place, for a later experience. Besides, after a year and at least 6k+ miles, you'll be ready to move any direction you feel you like to go. And you'll most likely be able to sell the SV for what you paid for it. To me, there really isn't a better first bike.

[locknload5614]

Way too many people start out with the 600 sport bike or the 859lb Harley, both very poor first bikes. While the SV is a great bike, the best way to learn to ride is on a used, smaller dirt bike. In the dirt you can learn to ride & fall with much less damage to oneself or the machine.

Edited November 26, 2016 by locknload5614

[Adrenalist]

^

While there's nothing but truth there, you may be better off perusing and reflecting on the op's desires. I don't think you could get more polar opposite of a naked street bike than an mx bike. Unless, of course, you're talking about riding an mx bike naked on the street. Then, all's good.

 

 

 

So I sold my CBR600RR today. Well, traded it in. I had a lot of fun with it, but every time I rode it, I was reminded with how the seat was too low, and how it was down on power. So I haven't ridden it much in the last couple years. So I traded it in and threw some cash down on a bike that will be hitting our shores early next year. It'll compliment the r1m nicely. Very much looking forward to throwing a leg, and tapping into a different personality!

[Adrenalist]

New bike is here!

 

[SouthLand]

^Lucky bastard! Have fun and ride safe.

 

 

 

Also, have you guys have tried riding a motorcycle when you just had a blood test done to you in your right arm? It's an awful experience

[sivispacem]

My colleague fell off his bike when he tried riding home after giving blood.

 

Nor advisable.

[Jimmy]

I own a Blue Version of the TVS Apache RTR 160. It's 160 but still good enough for daily commuting. Top Speed's around 86MPH. Thr 180 version has a dual channel Anti-lock braking system (ABS).

 

Edited April 2, 2017 by Arrow

[Adrenalist]

SouthLand - Thx man!

 

 

 

I've a ton of parts already, and a ton left to get on this new one. Here are the few things I've been able to get to so far:

 

Being able to work on the bike is important, and if it suspended on stands, it makes it much easier. Attaching spools to the swingarm is one method of raising the rear of the bike. Bought some Lightech spools for this bike:

 

 

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

In use:

 

 

 

 

Next, raising the front can be accomplished in a few different ways. I already have a front triple tree stand, so I chose to get a pin designed for this particular triple tree:

 

 

In use:

 

 

 

 

Next thing to get done was the grotesque rear fender. Not only is it ugly, it's an easy 2 pounds, 2.45 ounces you can shave from the overall weight of the bike. To do this I got a Yoshimura rear fender eliminator, and Custom LED integrated tail light.

 

 

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

 

 

Next up, frame sliders for fairing protection!

 

 

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

 

 

The last thing I tackled on this mod round was the rearsets. This improves shifting feel and engagement, lightens things up, and improves your grip on the pegs. Lightech supplies these with aluminum heel guards, and fixed pegs. I went ahead and upgraded the rearsets to the folding pegs (they fold in so they don't snap if the bike tips) and carbon fiber heel guards. I weighed everything mid-install, and the Lightech rearsets shaves a little less than a pound off the OEM. The carbon vs aluminum heel guards shave an extra half ounce.

Rearsets:

 

 

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

 

Still a ton left to do.......

Edited April 13, 2017 by Adrenalist

[trip]

^

Looking good.

 

 

 

Per (GTAF motorcycle thread) tradition:

Today marks the first day of motorcycle season here for me. I love the start of motorcycle season. The smell of oil and gas...just perfect.

 

Even treated myself to a new battery.

 

I even forgot to put my boots on when I went out. Looked down and I was wearing sneakers...I know better than that.

 

Gonna treat myself to new tires this year. Might even replace my sadle bags.

Edited April 14, 2017 by trip

[K^2]

The irony of living in Cali and still not having had a proper ride this season because it can't stop frigin' raining just about every weekend since November. Well, at least they finally called off the drought measures.

[trip]

I'm always envious of you west coast people when it comes to riding. Honest. We have such a short season...plus I'm old and cranky and don't like to ride when it's too hot.

 

The only time I went down hard was due to rain*. Nothing fun about riding in the rain. "April showers bring May flowers" is totally true here. I follow the 40% rule - if the forecast is 40% (or lower) chance of rain I'll ride.

 

 

*50+ mph and I lost my back tire on a slick trolley track...slid sideways and then slingshot over the bike...stuck the turn signals in my pockets and rode home with my one foot on the crankcase because the foot peg was gone. ThE clutch handle was so twisted that you had to take your hand off the grip and reach under the thE handlebar to engage.

 

Bonus thing about that accident is I live in a trolley heavy part of town and there is no way to get to my house without dealing with a bunch of trolley tracks. You can probably visibly see my nerves when I do get caught in the rain.

[Adrenalist]

sh*t, Trip. Sorry to hear you highsided in the rain. That sucks!! Glad to hear you weren't too hurt to ride home.

 

There's some cattle guard crossings mid-curve on a few roads I ride, and it's pretty unsettling. Couldn't begin to imagine what they'd be like in the rain.

 

 

 

 

Got some break-in time on the ZX. Tis my favorite road (in my state). Note the sign (13 killed in motorcycle related accidents).

 

 

 

A few passes got rid of the chicken strips.

 

 

 

I have 300 miles on her now. Once I get to 600, I can tear her apart and turn her into a much better bike in nearly all facets.

 

 

Since I traded my 600 on the black one, I was jonesing for another 600. So, I picked this up a week or two ago...

 

 

 

 

Done with purchasing bikes. A few couple years of modding/paying these off and I can change focus on some other lifelong goals. Caaaan't wait!!! And there's really nothing as good as videogames to keep me from wasting money. It's literally my best tool for saving money & accomplishing dreams.

[Beez]

My riding season did not start off well. I'm in New England (Go Pats!) and parked the bike in December. My BMW R1200GS sat in the garage until April and we got a nice weekend so I was planning on going for a ride. It would not start, starter was spinning fine but it would not light. I put an emergency battery starter on it as the main was losing juice. Finally a few coughs and eventually it started but was making a frightening knock from deep in the engine. Then I moved it outside and started it again but the knock was still there.

 

The next week I loaded it into the van and took it to work. Dave, our mechanic, thought it sounded like the big end bearing. Marc Cook, former editor for Motorcyclist who now works here, also thought it sounded terminal. Dave started investigating and I started looking on eBay for replacement motors and researching what could have happened. Mind you, the bike only has 50,000 miles on it and I maintain it well and ride it fairly easy. And I had not done any deep water crossings prior to putting it away for the winter. These boxer engines are over-built and should easily go over 100K miles or more.

 

One of my other co-workers has a friend who is very into BMWs and he suggested that the hydraulic lifters were dry and it just needed to run a bit until the pumped up. I didn't even know it had hydraulic lifters. So I searched for that on the internet and found nothing. I figured if it happened to me, it happened to someone else and there would be something on a BMW forum somewhere. Nothing. So this made me doubt the hydraulic lifter idea.

 

Dave's investigation turned up nothing and in order to check the big end bearings one has to disassemble the whole bike. So the plan became, let's let it idle and see if it gets better (the hydraulic lifter scenario) or it doesn't get better and then we know it needs to be completely rebuilt or a replacement engine. Thankfully the first option worked! As it idled the knock went away and now it's back to normal.

 

So what I am guessing is that when I shut the bike off in Dec. it stopped at just the right place where the oil could drain from the lifter cup. It was also parked on the side stand instead of the center stand all winter so the left cylinder (where the knock was loudest) was lower than the right possibly making it drain. I don't know. All I know is it runs great now and summer is coming!!

[trip]

^

Phewwwww... Thank goodness that ended well.

 

 

 

New England? I'm down here in Philadelphia(go birds). Gotta hate these short east coast seasons. I just hope for decent summer weather...nothing worse than sitting in city traffic in 100f Temps with 4000% humidity with a piping hot engine under you. We can lane split(in still traffic) here for bike health reasons but you try to tell that to the cabs and other dick heads who are sitting in their cars in traffic.

Edited May 16, 2017 by trip

[Beez]

I used to lane split in California but don't out here. In CA it's been part of driving culture for decades and drivers know it is legal and you still get dick heads. If they made it legal here most drivers would be ignorant of the law change and be super aggro because "IT'S NOT FAIR!!"

[Adrenalist]

^

Lol!

 

For me, it becomes a game of fake-out. And I won't lie, it's actually kind of fun to stoke their petulant fire.

 

Really happy to hear you got your bike up and running!! You had me at "oh sh*t" a couple times in your story.

 

 

I'm sitting on 10k worth of mods for the zx10rr, and I really don't know if I should move forward or not. I was just made aware that we may lose our main account at work in 2018, as it's up for rebid. So, my focus is starting to change. I really need to pay off my credit cards, the R1M, and then focus on paying off my truck. I could have the R1M and credit cards done by the end of this year, and then I could possibly have my truck paid off by the end of 2018. Kinda bummed out. While I have about 70% of the parts acquisition done for the zx10 track build, I'd have to sink quite a bit more into the fine tuning (suspension, afr), paint work, electrical wiring, etc., so I already feel the adulting pull to sideline it.

[GTA-Biker]

Hey guys,just a quick question for those who are familiar with 250cc cruisers.Between Honda Rebel 250, Suzuki Marauder 250 and Yamaha Virago 250,which one is most reliable and most comfortable for a 6 foot 1 man?

[el carlitos]

Just saw the Triumph Bonneville Bobber. Feld in love. It reminds me of the Zombie Bobber. Cool as f*ck and you have quit few custom option from Triumph. Didn't drive it yet. I will have to check some Youtube clips later. Didn't hear it either. Hope it sound close to Harley. The price seems little high, around 14.000,-€. Anyone drove it yet?

 

http://www.triumphmotorcycles.de/motorräder/classics/bonneville-bobber/2017/bonneville-bobber?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrZmMhOrg1QIVwbsbCh0R8Q2REAAYASAAEgLNm_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[GTA-Biker]

You can hear the sound of Bonneville Bobber in this video:

 

Doesn't really sound close to Harley Davidsons (after all,it's a parallel twin,not a V-twin),but it has a cool sound.For comparison,here's a Harley Davidson Sportster sound:

 

[el carlitos]

Yeah the sound is nice but I don´t know it fits a Bobber. Well it´s a British Bobber, so it could be accepted. It´s a great bike, but as it is a Bobber it´s normal to compare it with Harley Davidson. I hope the industry will follow the trend and bring more bikes with the old school looks.

[GTA-Biker]

There's already lots of retro bikes to choose from.From cruisers there are Triumph Bonneville Bobber, Harley Davidson 48 (also a bobber style bike), 72 (old school 70s style chopper) and Crossbones (similar to 30s/40s Harleys with springer forks and fat front tire), Indian Chief Classic (similar to 40s/early 50s Chief), upcoming Indian Scout Bobber, Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber and maybe some others,from retro standard/naked bikes there are Triumph Bonneville and Scrambler (both similar to 60s Bonneville), BMW R Nine T and R Nine T Cafe Racer, Ducati Scrambler, Honda CB1100 (similar to 70s UJM bikes), upcoming Kawasaki Z900RS (also similar to 70s UJM bikes)...

Unfortunately,my favorite retro bike (Harley Davidson 72) got discontinued this year.Hopefully one day when I'll be able to afford it,I'll find one that's in good condition and not customized much (except for saddlebags and a more comfortable seat,which I would also put myself).

Edited August 22, 2017 by GTA-Biker

[el carlitos]

@GTA-Biker

Nice list. I checked them all. Very nice bikes. Specially the BMW R Nine T Models looks awesome IMO. Hope to see more of these here on the streets.

[trip]

Hey guys,just a quick question for those who are familiar with 250cc cruisers.Between Honda Rebel 250, Suzuki Marauder 250 and Yamaha Virago 250,which one is most reliable and most comfortable for a 6 foot 1 man?

Honda Rebel. Had one in the mid 80's and my wife had one up until a few years ago.

 

Super durable, reliable and easy as sh*t to maintain and work on.

 

E:

Not comfy for a 6 foot dude. Any of them. You'll be eating your knees. I tried riding my wife's and it was way weird...I'm 5 11. But hey...try one oUT and sEe how it feels.

Edited September 5, 2017 by trip

[GTA-Biker]

 

Hey guys,just a quick question for those who are familiar with 250cc cruisers.Between Honda Rebel 250, Suzuki Marauder 250 and Yamaha Virago 250,which one is most reliable and most comfortable for a 6 foot 1 man?

Honda Rebel. Had one in the mid 80's and my wife had one up until a few years ago.

 

Super durable, reliable and easy as sh*t to maintain and work on.

 

E:

Not comfy for a 6 foot dude. Any of them. You'll be eating your knees. I tried riding my wife's and it was way weird...I'm 5 11. But hey...try one oUT and sEe how it feels.

 

Thanks,I'll check in a local bike dealership,maybe they have one that I can try out and compare to my current bike.

Right now I have an Aprilia Classic,which is also a small beginner bike cruiser,so I'm already used to having my knees at around the same height as the top of the fuel tank.Fortunately,I have somewhat short legs (I'm around 6 foot 1 inch tall,and my inseam is around 2 feet 8 inches),so that's not really a big issue.If I'll be able to turn the handlebars without hitting my knees,I'm good.

 

 

My current bike,a 1994 Aprilia Classic:

 

 

Edited September 6, 2017 by GTA-Biker

[trip]

Nice bike.

 

But why are you looking for another starter bike? Honda Rebel comes in(or used to) a 450 as well. Heck, even Harley has a 500cc bike on the market(trying to lure millennials) now.

 

Take the plunge and graduate up. I was nervous going from a 250 to a 450. Bigger/heavier bikes are easier to ride when you are grown. Now a days I ride a 97 inch motor

[GTA-Biker]

Thanks.

I don't know,since my Aprilia is a very lightweight (around 220 pounds with a full tank) and beginner friendly bike,I just wouldn't want to upgrade to something too powerful and heavy for me.Recently I tried just sitting on my friend's Suzuki Marauder 800,that bike felt much larger and heavier than my Aprilia,and I was kinda scared I would drop it,so I think a 250 cruiser would be enough for me for now.Another reason is my financial situation,it will take me at least a year to save up enough money for a used 250,so I can't really think about getting anything bigger right now.

After a few years on a 250,I'm thinking about getting something like a Suzuki Savage or a Honda Shadow 600,but that's gonna be far in the future.

Edited September 6, 2017 by GTA-Biker

[trip]

I hear ya. Honda Shadows are nice bikes.

 

I miss my years on Hondas.

 

I totally hear you on the finances thing too. I'm poor and I grew up poor. But hear me out...it is worth financing a new bike. I was 16 when I bought my Rebel. I financed it through the dealer to the tune of like $32(might have been $42 - long time ago yaknow) a month. My dad cosigned.

 

Plus you get all sorts of benefits and maintenance deals. It really just makes sense. A new bike with no history, issues, problems plus freebies to boot...all for a few dollars a month.

 

And since you are already riding and looking for your next bike it is obviously in your blood and worth the investment.

 

 

And since we are on the topic. I got the title to my bike last week. Yup...that loan is all paid off now. Can't beat that. Normally that would mean "time to get a new bike" but I think I'm sticking with this one for awhile.