The Motorcycle Topic

[trip]

That Triumph is going to be a sweet one when you are done.

 

Does anyone here want a FREE pair of harness boots? size=9 1/2

Link to large picture

 

Brand new and never warn. I picked them up thinking they were zipper side, but they are slip ons. Not that I have a problem with slip ons. I can't believe I can't find any takers locally. ahwell...My wife suggested I try here since we just want them to go to a good home. I would have returned them, but my lady is quick to get rid of trash - even if it is something you should hold on to like a box and receipt.

 

I picked up a new pair (locally) today and left my old ones at work. I totally want to take a picture of my old ones. I am very proud of the shift lever wear on the left one. I finally had to retire them after the zipper on one totally broke beyond repair.

 

 

 

 

 

[dog_day_sunrise]

170 mph? fuuuuuck. Talk about the sensation of speed.

It's odd actually, from around 140mph+ you don't really notice the increase in speed, in anything other than wind noise and buffeting. I have noticed that the front end gets a little light post 160mph (indicate, 170 clock is probably about 155 real) but I'm hoping a new belly-pan and shallower screen angle, plus a drop in suspension height, will remedy that. Got in touch with a local company who do exhaust fabrication, want to spec up a "bag-o-snakes" style equal length manifold in 304 grade stainless, with high-flow cat and combined silencer, hopefully underslung to keep weight down, with a slash-cut, low-mount side exit exhaust a la the GSX-R- but I might need to cut the belly section off the race fairing in order to get it to fit. Should save a fair few kilos though- the Scorpion back-box alone weighs about 6kg!

 

Long-term, I'd like to look into options as far as the rear swing-arm goes. With the steeper gearing thanks to dropping a front sprocket size, the bike has a tendency to lift the nose under hard acceleration and an extra inch or too in swing-arm length might remedy that, but that's extra weight so I might look into single sided race swingarms as seen on the Daytona 675 endurance racers. Big money though, I've spent more tweaking and rebuilding the bike than I did on buying it now! Still, better throw money at a £2k early 2000's sports bike thats already been dropped and binned than it is to buy a new bike and bin that...

 

 

That Triumph is going to be a sweet one when you are done.

 

Does anyone here want a FREE pair of harness boots? size=9 1/2

Link to large picture

 

Thanks, I don't think it will ever be fully "done" though. My aim is to match (or beat) the modern 600s' around a track and so far it's doing pretty well at keeping up with your average R6 or GSX-R rider. On a twisty road or circuit it will keep up with an R1 or other 1000cc supersport, so long as its not running any major tweaks. Got my arse handed to me on a platter by a S1000RR rider on the 'ring but they're 205rwhp in slick mode and with a good exhaust, so that's not a surprise.

 

If I was US based I'd take those boots off your hands, but being in the UK based it's really feasible. Not so much my style, but would do well as a present for my streetfighter or classic riding mates.

[Taste Of Chaos]

That Triumph is going to be a sweet one when you are done.

 

Does anyone here want a FREE pair of harness boots? size=9 1/2

Link to large picture

Might have taken you up on that. But as it goes It was the first time I'd seen my dad since my 20th Birthday yesterday and he gave me his old SIDI boots. Fit like a dream and don't look so bad on the rest of my leathers.

 

You'll find someone though

[dog_day_sunrise]

Some pictures are in order I think. On my way back from Germany.

What a road...

[dog_day_sunrise]

DP ahoy but...

 

I dont think my life will be complete until I own this:

 

[Taste Of Chaos]

I need to buy a new bike. I have a serious Hard on for a Honda Bros 400 for sale in the town a few miles from me.

 

Where abouts is that stretch of road in the mountains?

[dog_day_sunrise]

I need to buy a new bike. I have a serious Hard on for a Honda Bros 400 for sale in the town a few miles from me.

 

Where abouts is that stretch of road in the mountains?

Swiss alps. Shortly before I got caught by a Swiss speed camera (or so I believe). Had a summons in German and French asking me to pay something like 300 Euro. I'm not going to- letter in French means that I can claim ignorance as it's not in my native language, plus the fact that Switzerland isn't in the EU means that it can't be enforced anyway.

 

Unlike the fine I got in France -_-

[trip]

Damn you Euro riders

 

I'm totally envious.

 

I actually came in here to post about my crazy ass ride home today, but since I am the only city rider around here(i think), it just won't make as much sense.

 

Around here we actually do that recommend thing of catching up with strangers and riding in formation - you know - for safety reasons. 'Buddy Riding', but that might be a local term.

 

Anyway, I was quietly sitting at a traffic light about 4 cars back when a dude scoots by me, beeps, and waves me to follow him as he lane splits. Keep in mind that I ride by the law and am pretty anti lane splitting. I have done it a few times in stand still traffic during some grid lock moments. So I end up lane splitting with this dude up to the light which turned green when we got there. Then it was more lane splitting and straight up crazy ass riding until we peeled off from each other a few blocks from my house.

 

Silly me, thinking that buddy riding was designed for safety

 

I'm just a skinny ass white dude with no tattoos that actually still wears a helmet. Trust me, I look more like a hippie then a biker. I'm pretty sure I have many more years of riding than the crazy ass dude I just rode home with, but you could tell he thought I didn't. Not that I need to, but I feel I impressed him . I kid you not, we were f*cking motoring and crazy riding.

*remind me not to relay this story to my wife*

[ptiko]

I was wondering, is it illegal to overtake in traffic?

 

You know, When its a dual carriageway and you cut up the middle? I saw a few bikers doing it today, and I felt like a right nerd sitting in the traffic with everyone else.

[dog_day_sunrise]

 

I was wondering, is it illegal to overtake in traffic?

 

You know, When its a dual carriageway and you cut up the middle? I saw a few bikers doing it today, and I felt like a right nerd sitting in the traffic with everyone else. 

Technically, yes.

 

The highway code stipulates that you cannot "pass traffic on the inside" which you would be doing riding up the middle of everyone. However, if that traffic is stationary or slow moving (not specified how slow in the highway code, generally taken to be around 20mph) you can "filter" through the traffic at a "reasonable speed"- generally around 10mph more than the traffic is traveling. It's one of the great advantages of riding- though the ill-informed, the mouth-breathers and the reps in their poverty-spec A4s and 3-series really don't like it.

 

Almost every biker has ridden through traffic at quite a pace at some point, but it's dangerous and I only ever use it when someone's being a complete moron (for example, middle lane muppets who sit at 69mph in the middle lane when there's no traffic to their left and cause bottlenecks, or people who pull out to pass other vehicles in lane 2/lane 3 and don't actually accelerate, just sit alongside them).

[trip]

I was wondering, is it illegal to overtake in traffic?

 

You know, When its a dual carriageway and you cut up the middle? I saw a few bikers doing it today, and I felt like a right nerd sitting in the traffic with everyone else.

That is what we call lane splitting over here. Believe it or not it is legal in most states based on the fact that most bikes are air cooled and not happy idling in traffic. I don't think it is legal in my state, but I don't think it is enforced since the first time I did was because a cop on his bike did it.

[Taste Of Chaos]

So yeah. I sort of impulse-bought an 1989 Kawasaki ZXR400 on Monday.

 

Edited September 29, 2010 by Taste Of Chaos

[dog_day_sunrise]

So yeah. I sort of impulse-bought an 1989 Kawasaki ZXR400 on Monday.

 

Nice buy. Just don't bin it- they're lethal in a crash. A friend of mine lost a testicle (no joke) when a white van pulled out on him. It's almost as if the tank is designed for quickie castrations.

[Taste Of Chaos]

Yeah I did think that the tank design could be fairly catastrophic.. It's ok, not really driving it fast at all.

[luigidude]

lol believe it or not im 12 and on the gta forums so meh,

but me and my dad and my bro go out on our bikes every weekend at the track.

i do trials on a cool little 80cc yamaha from like the 70's

i can go up banks the height of a normal cieling and go over roots and stuff

and the odd wheelie

[dog_day_sunrise]

lol believe it or not im 12 and on the gta forums so meh,

but me and my dad and my bro go out on our bikes every weekend at the track.

i do trials on a cool little 80cc yamaha from like the 70's

i can go up banks the height of a normal cieling and go over roots and stuff

and the odd wheelie

Good to start young. Wheelie-ing trials bikes is very easy though. I'll be impressed when you can wheelie a Honda Goldwing- as my mate's dad managed to do.

Outside a pub at a bike meet

"What are those scratches on your exhaust tips?"

"Oh, that's from wheelies"

 

[trip]

luigidude...dude, keep riding. Ride crazy on those little bikes. I swear it is the best way to learn how to ride bigger bikes on the street. I got my first 90cc Honda when I was 12 and I never looked back. Damn, that was over 30yrs ago.

 

dog day, holy sh*t on pulling up a gold wing. Naturally, it has to be someone's dad. Cracks me up how you can't be eligible for a gold wing until you are at least 50.

 

Edit:

forgot...ouch on the testicle killing ninja. I had no idea.

[dog_day_sunrise]

Edit:

forgot...ouch on the testicle killing ninja. I had no idea.

It's a very common thing with late 80's/early 90's sportsbikes. After a number of deaths and serious injuries due to perforated fuel tanks in the event of accidents most manufacturers spaced the tank block up from the top of the engine by a couple of inches. The side effect was putting a great lump of solid metal, a good couple of inches higher, between the riders legs. Lots of bikes from that time featured tanks that were almost at a right angle to the seat, which meant that if you were involved in a crash that would normally send you over the bars, you tended to take the full force of it in the nuts.

[trip]

I think I say this every year here.

 

Not this weekend but next weekend is the toy run here(Philadelphia). Sure, it may sound like just another toy run, but we happen to host the largest toy run in the nation. Usually over 100,000 bikes for just a one day event that is over in a few hours. It has been reported that in one day we have more bikes than all of Daytona bike week. The run here is what actually got the Marines all pissed off and why we can't call it 'toys for tots' anymore. They got upset that we bring in more toys than they do. The volume of toys is now to the point where the run supplies all of our hospitals as well as ones outside of the city. And we are known for our hospitals

 

I'm not going to ramble on about how special and touching this run is. I will just say, regardless as to how 'hard' some of the bikers may look, almost everyone is wiping tears from their eyes when they exit the hospital.

 

Even though I think I'm the only east coast US rider on these forums, I will always extend my hospitality to anyone who might be doing the run. My house is actually not even 5 minutes from the hospital where the run ends.

[Darkshade12]

I'm thinking of learining to ride a motorbike, i'm considering getting a moped next year (when i'm 16 i'll ride on a provisional licence) and then when i'm a bit older move on to a proper motorcycle.

[ptiko]

Do it. Dont bother with a girly 50cc though.

 

 

Today was fun, I was on the way work and it started snowing. Bad. I couldnt really turn back so I carried on and about 1 minute from work, I turned off the D-road and the back wheel went. Luckly, my ass saved the bike. Theres only a bit of damage where the indicator smashed through the plastic panel. I didnt hurt at the time, but by christ I ache now.

[dog_day_sunrise]

Do it. Dont bother with a girly 50cc though.

 

 

Today was fun, I was on the way work and it started snowing. Bad. I couldnt really turn back so I carried on and about 1 minute from work, I turned off the D-road and the back wheel went. Luckly, my ass saved the bike. Theres only a bit of damage where the indicator smashed through the plastic panel. I didnt hurt at the time, but by christ I ache now.

I've actually bought a bike for the weather this year. With the Triumph in lock-up and the BMW sold (as I've barely used it in 2 years) I bought myself a Yamaha XTZ750 SuperTénéré, complete with a whole box of off-road bits including spiked tyres! Due to pick it up at the end of the week- hopefully we'll still have some snow on the ground by then so I can put it to use!

[trip]

Riding in the snow? Holy crap, that just seems crazy.

[dog_day_sunrise]

Riding in the snow? Holy crap, that just seems crazy.

Surprisingly, it isn't too bad if you've got the right tyres. Lack of ABS really helps- with the amount we have on the ground there's no way the BMW would be going anywhere.

The trick is just to stay a hell of a lot more upright than you otherwise would- lean with your body rather than with the bike.

[trip]

I hear ya. All I can picture is going into a turn and having the bike slide out from under you. About the only saving grace I could see is the fact that it wouldn't be dry pavement your body would be sliding on.

 

My body can't even ride in the cold weather(below 50f) anymore. My lower back seizes up no matter what gear I have on.

[dog_day_sunrise]

I hear ya. All I can picture is going into a turn and having the bike slide out from under you. About the only saving grace I could see is the fact that it wouldn't be dry pavement your body would be sliding on.

 

My body can't even ride in the cold weather(below 50f) anymore. My lower back seizes up no matter what gear I have on.

Oh, it's not fun- but needs must sometimes. Despite the Audi being AWD, it's got summer Pirellis on it (sod all use in the snow) so until I can get some good winter tyres for it (have a set of spare 17" wheels for it- now it has 18" C5 RS6 winter ones on) or until the council do a half-decent job of gritting my street, I'm stuck in.

 

As for having it slide out -yeah, it does happen- but as long as there's no lean on the bike and you bring yourself up the moment you feel it slip your alright. Back brake is often a saving grace- it's great fun to stay upright, jam the back on and use the bike to lean around corners, feathering the throttle to get some proper lovely powerslides.

[BCspeed34]

Just picked up a new bike. 2003 Kawasaki ZX6R, with a few aftermarket bits included. Planning on painting it green during the spring, and getting flush-mount blinkers. New windscreen too.

 

 

 

[ptiko]

XTZ750 SuperTénéré

How you finding it?

 

I'm quite interested in the 660 Ténéré and the 800GS. I'm leaning more towards the 800GS, but I'm going have to go for a test ride on both.

 

Just before my dad got his 1200GS, he tried the 800GS. He said one of the best bikes he's ridden.

[Taste Of Chaos]

Resprayed my Fuel tank. Taken a few weeks as time is short. 1989 Kawasaki ZXR400

 

 

Hope ye' like.

[dog_day_sunrise]

XTZ750 SuperTénéré

How you finding it?

 

I'm quite interested in the 660 Ténéré and the 800GS. I'm leaning more towards the 800GS, but I'm going have to go for a test ride on both.

 

Just before my dad got his 1200GS, he tried the 800GS. He said one of the best bikes he's ridden.

Mine's an old model, early 90's. 80-odd HP and about 70lb ft, so it pulls well. Not exactly comfortable- quite high-sided and gets buffeted around a lot on the motorway, plus a pain to get your knee down on. Still, all in all, not a bad bike.

 

The F800 is a much better ride- I tested an F800R a while ago and absolutely loved it. Mind you, it's more than 10 years newer.