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Hey guys, I'm looking at buying a first bike. My dad's a biker extraordinaire and has been teaching me, and I might take the MSF course when I get back to NY.
So: I'm 5'11", ~130 lb. I'm going to be in upstate New York, so a scrambler would make sense (lots of beautiful little back roads) -- I am absolutely enamored with standard bodies though (Triumphs, droool). Because I'm so light, I was figuring on a 250cc, although I'm hearing good arguments for 500ccs -- that said, I'm mostly going to be tooling around on rural upstate roads and don't exactly need a whole lot of speed. I love the look of vintage bikes, but am not quite mechanical-minded enough to justify buying an old bike that will take a lot of maintenance.
Also, I know aesthetics aren't important, but I really, really don't like the look of Japanese bikes.
I'm obviously going to be buying used; my budget is a little up in the air, but I'd like to keep things around the $1000-1500 mark if that's possible (should be doable for a 250, right?).
Hey guys, I'm looking at buying a first bike. My dad's a biker extraordinaire and has been teaching me, and I might take the MSF course when I get back to NY.
So: I'm 5'11", ~130 lb. I'm going to be in upstate New York, so a scrambler would make sense (lots of beautiful little back roads) -- I am absolutely enamored with standard bodies though (Triumphs, droool). Because I'm so light, I was figuring on a 250cc, although I'm hearing good arguments for 500ccs -- that said, I'm mostly going to be tooling around on rural upstate roads and don't exactly need a whole lot of speed. I love the look of vintage bikes, but am not quite mechanical-minded enough to justify buying an old bike that will take a lot of maintenance.
Also, I know aesthetics aren't important, but I really, really don't like the look of Japanese bikes.
I'm obviously going to be buying used; my budget is a little up in the air, but I'd like to keep things around the $1000-1500 mark if that's possible (should be doable for a 250, right?).
WHAT BIKE SHOULD I BUY AAH
thanks.
Remember to budget an extra $500+ for gear, if you don't already have it.
Actually that's a good question I should ask. What's a good starter bike for a guy my size? I'm 6' even, 260 lbs. and am interested in cruisers. Going to be doing a fair amount of highway driving since about 60% of my commute to work is on the highway doing 110KM/h, so any additional gear I should look at for the bike (windshield, different pegs, etc)? Budget is about $3000 - $5000 CDN.
Actually that's a good question I should ask. What's a good starter bike for a guy my size? I'm 6' even, 260 lbs. and am interested in cruisers. Going to be doing a fair amount of highway driving since about 60% of my commute to work is on the highway doing 110KM/h, so any additional gear I should look at for the bike (windshield, different pegs, etc)? Budget is about $3000 - $5000 CDN.
My friend got a 2005 Honda Shadow 600cc for 2,500 USD. It's a great entry-level cruiser that doesn't destroy the budget (even though he got a sweet deal on his) and is common enough to find service/parts for. Windshield is a big recommendation for highway riding, but a used bike might come with one. Gear is up to your style, but I would wear all gear all the time.
Also, I know aesthetics aren't important, but I really, really don't like the look of Japanese bikes.
What about them, specifically? Personally, I think Suzuki's Boulevard M109R and M90 are the best looking cruiser's I've ever seen. They don't have a very traditional appearance, but they're pretty damned sexy.
For naked sport bikes, I like the appearance of the Ducati Monster.
My opinion on faired bikes are all on a case-by-case basis. I generally dislike it when they try to imitate the appearance of a full-blown supersport (right down to the color scheme), but that might just be my bias against most of the idiots I see buying/riding them (both the imitators and the real things).
Barrakketh on
Rollers are red, chargers are blue....omae wa mou shindeiru
If you took the average aesthetics of any major manufacturer, you know who I think comes out on bottom?
BMW.
And this is coming from a V-Strom rider.
BMW does have the "crazy prototype" thing going on with its dual sports or something. It's like they are so awesome with motorcycles that they can afford to make a bunch of non-traditional models that still kick ass.
So obviously I'm not an expert, and can't really speak very eloquently on this, but I dislike the sleek, hyperaerodynamicized look of a lot of Japanese bikes that I've seen -- the swooping plastic, the curved headlight, etc.
That said, I've been looking at Honda CBs based on a recommendation from my stepfather, and the older CBs look almost exactly like my ideal bike.
What's the difference between 500cc and 600cc for a beginner? In the course I took I rode mostly on a Kawasaki Vulcan 250, so I'm familiar with the clutch on those bikes. How are the Kawasakis for reliability?
What's the difference between 500cc and 600cc for a beginner? In the course I took I rode mostly on a Kawasaki Vulcan 250, so I'm familiar with the clutch on those bikes. How are the Kawasakis for reliability?
Very little. Cruisers are not as high-strung as the sport bike engines, so the 500-600cc class are all super choices. You can't go wrong with Honda or Kawasaki.
What's the difference between 500cc and 600cc for a beginner? In the course I took I rode mostly on a Kawasaki Vulcan 250, so I'm familiar with the clutch on those bikes. How are the Kawasakis for reliability?
My first bike was an 07 Shadow 600 VLX. I sold it in the spring, but it will always be special in my heart. You should be able to pick one up for under $3500. Great bike!
Listen, I understand some people love harleys, but what the fuck.
They're not that great of a motorcycle, they're double the price they should be, and most (not all I admit) of the harley owners are elitest pricks. Which is ironic because the reputation is supposed to be the fight the power individuality.
I try really hard to be an equal opportunity motorcyclist, as I really really love motorcycles and I think we're on the road for the same reason. But the amount of harleys I see sit in the garage with smug owners who won't wave back unless they see their emblem or hear their potato-potato makes it tough sometimes.
Listen, I understand some people love harleys, but what the fuck.
They're not that great of a motorcycle, they're double the price they should be, and most (not all I admit) of the harley owners are elitest pricks. Which is ironic because the reputation is supposed to be the fight the power individuality.
I try really hard to be an equal opportunity motorcyclist, as I really really love motorcycles and I think we're on the road for the same reason. But the amount of harleys I see sit in the garage with smug owners who won't wave back unless they see their emblem or hear their potato-potato makes it tough sometimes.
As with most things, you can blame the baby boomers for fucking up a good thing.
I used to live out east and rode a Suzuki Intruder. Nice fat tires, beautiful engine that just opened up on straightaways. It made me a little nervous in the turns sometimes, especially on tight ones, but it was a good bike and I never dropped it. Plenty of beautiful rides out there.
I moved out west to Arizona and saw a bike for sale for about $800. Older Yamaha, but it seemed alright. Go to pay for the bike, do so, and as I am getting on the guy tells me "Oh yeah I dropped it twice but its good."
Well shit. I wrecked that thing about ten miles down the road taking an ugly ass turn and wrecked the shit out of my foot.
Lesson learned: Don't "budget" this sort of thing. If I had saved up a bit more I could have gotten a decent bike and not fucked myself up fiercely. You will regret it if you do the same.
Listen, I understand some people love harleys, but what the fuck.
They're not that great of a motorcycle, they're double the price they should be, and most (not all I admit) of the harley owners are elitest pricks. Which is ironic because the reputation is supposed to be the fight the power individuality.
I try really hard to be an equal opportunity motorcyclist, as I really really love motorcycles and I think we're on the road for the same reason. But the amount of harleys I see sit in the garage with smug owners who won't wave back unless they see their emblem or hear their potato-potato makes it tough sometimes.
Fun fact: When I rode my Shadow, everyone thought I was riding a Harley.
The main reason I'm looking at a HD now is that I'm not that big of a fan of the Suzuki/Yamaha/Honda offerings in the 1600-1800cc range.
Listen, I understand some people love harleys, but what the fuck.
They're not that great of a motorcycle, they're double the price they should be, and most (not all I admit) of the harley owners are elitest pricks. Which is ironic because the reputation is supposed to be the fight the power individuality.
I try really hard to be an equal opportunity motorcyclist, as I really really love motorcycles and I think we're on the road for the same reason. But the amount of harleys I see sit in the garage with smug owners who won't wave back unless they see their emblem or hear their potato-potato makes it tough sometimes.
Fun fact: When I rode my Shadow, everyone thought I was riding a Harley.
The main reason I'm looking at a HD now is that I'm not that big of a fan of the Suzuki/Yamaha/Honda offerings in the 1600-1800cc range.
I know I'm a triumph whore now, but I get so many compliments on my bike because people thought they fell off the earth. Also they were founded before HD so you can always grin when people talk about the history and tradition of HD.
And somewhere on motorcyclist they did a head to head and the T-Bird came out on top
I just got back from a 294 mile road trip to Rachel Nevada. This town is famous for two reason. The first is that it is the best town to try and get a look at Area 51. Second reason is that the Aleinn was copy and recreated on the X-files. The ride was nice if windy as all hell. Food was good and the lady behind the bar was pleasant to talk to. I included pic's I took on this trip.
[IMG][/img]
Mega Playboy on
Trying to help out my step dad check out his youtube channel
I took the Team Oregon Basic Rider Training last weekend. True to Oregon form, it was pouring rain Sunday morning, and as a new rider I didn't have nearly the proper gear to be riding in it. By the time it came to take the riding test, I was shivering uncontrollably, and couldn't keep my mind focused enough to pass.
I do get to pay for a retake though, and I'm trying to do what I can to improve my chances. One thing I was wondering is how much bike selection is going to help. They put me on a Kawasaki Eliminator, and while I liked the styling of it, it didn't feel like I could really shift my weight to counterbalance very well. I have the choice of trying the test on the little cruiser again, or trying on a bike I've never ridden before. Everything that was on the test I was able to do at least 50% of the time in practice, so it's not like I *can't* pass on this bike. I just can't help wanting to blame something other than my lack of skill.
Rotten luck on the weather for you on the test. I was plagued with georgia winter morning weather, but it wasn't too cold that I couldn't ride. They had us on Honda Nighthawk 250's with terrible terrible clutches.
My riding experience isn't that varied, but I still find that the Ninja 250 is one of the easiest bikes I've ever ridden. The seat height, ride position, and controls are all very newbie friendly, and still fun once you find a good corner.
Listen, I understand some people love harleys, but what the fuck.
They're not that great of a motorcycle, they're double the price they should be, and most (not all I admit) of the harley owners are elitest pricks. Which is ironic because the reputation is supposed to be the fight the power individuality.
My Dad's got two VRODs, they're pretty interesting bikes. It's a weird thing, though, since the non-Harley guys still think you're a douche and the Harley guys don't consider it a real Harley so they think you're a douche too.
Just had my 12k service done...$580 yikes!
Sounds like you need to get $100 worth of tools and do that stuff yourself.
There's one for sale around here that's slightly cheaper than the average going rate for them, and I'm kind of interested. I still have my Kawasaki Ninja 500 back up at home where I usually live, but it'd be nice to have a cheaper, smaller little bike to get me around town and to visit friends when I'm down south every once and a while. It's cheap to run and most importantly, cheap to insure so when it's sitting here not getting used it isn't going to cost me an arm and a leg. The other advantage is that I plan on lending it to a friend when she starts learning to ride a motorcycle at some point this year, and I know the 125's make great newbie bikes.
Oh and before the inevitable comes out, I'm not a big guy by any stretch (5'6", 150lbs) so even though its a tiny bike it shouldn't be that hard-up on power when I'm riding it.
Listen, I understand some people love harleys, but what the fuck.
They're not that great of a motorcycle, they're double the price they should be, and most (not all I admit) of the harley owners are elitest pricks. Which is ironic because the reputation is supposed to be the fight the power individuality.
My Dad's got two VRODs, they're pretty interesting bikes. It's a weird thing, though, since the non-Harley guys still think you're a douche and the Harley guys don't consider it a real Harley so they think you're a douche too.
Ugh, at least HD is trying to do something different and more performance oriented. Those bikes look pretty cool but when I sit on them they just don't feel right.
Just had my 12k service done...$580 yikes!
Sounds like you need to get $100 worth of tools and do that stuff yourself.
Valve adjustments by myself? That seems intense. I have so far changed the oil on my bike, I'd like to learn to do a bunch of things on it but for major service checks (12k and 24k are mine) I'm taking it in to have somebody who knows what they're doing.
musanman on
0
webguy20I spend too much time on the InternetRegistered Userregular
Listen, I understand some people love harleys, but what the fuck.
They're not that great of a motorcycle, they're double the price they should be, and most (not all I admit) of the harley owners are elitest pricks. Which is ironic because the reputation is supposed to be the fight the power individuality.
My Dad's got two VRODs, they're pretty interesting bikes. It's a weird thing, though, since the non-Harley guys still think you're a douche and the Harley guys don't consider it a real Harley so they think you're a douche too.
Just had my 12k service done...$580 yikes!
Sounds like you need to get $100 worth of tools and do that stuff yourself.
I have two coworkers that both have Harleys. One is the standard cruiser style Harley, looks pretty cool and the guy that rides it is as nice as could be, so breaking stereotypes yay!
Other guy, who is also a nice guy, has a night rod. The blacked out version of the VROD. My god that bike looks bad ass. He let me check it out and while its not a bike I would buy it is awesome watching him ride it, very Mad Max.
I know I'm a triumph whore now, but I get so many compliments on my bike because people thought they fell off the earth. Also they were founded before HD so you can always grin when people talk about the history and tradition of HD.
Actually the people are correct about Triumph falling off the face of the earth, the Triumph Engineering Co Ltd died off in 1972 when it was formed into the Norton Villier Triumph (NVT) Cooperative, and it in turn died off when they're bikes could no longer compete due to a strong british pound, inefficient manufacturing processes, and frankly antiquated designs. I consider the new Triumph company to be a succesor to the original Meridien company but certainly not a direct continuation (given there was no production for roughly 5-7 years and the headquarters were bulldozed in 1984). But having ridden the new Triumphs I can certainly admire the new ones, all the fun and without the Lucas, Prince of Darkness riding on your shoulder. Harley doesn't count to me as well as they were a branch of American Machine and Foundry from 1969 to 1981 and the bikes branding declared them as such.
Infact the only motorcycle manufacturer that can claim the title for longest continuity of product is the Royal Enfield corporation of India. They started as the Indian branch of Royal Enfield Motors but had full production rights at their factory and simply continued production after the headquarters collapsed in 1971. As a result the company has had direct evolution of one model since 1931 and has had a functioning factory since 1893.
Of course the only reason I'm typing this is because I have to wait for the lifts to clear in the shop, old bikes can be massive maintenance hogs, why I bought a 1969 CB750 is a real mystery...
If you took the average aesthetics of any major manufacturer, you know who I think comes out on bottom?
BMW.
And this is coming from a V-Strom rider.
BMW does have the "crazy prototype" thing going on with its dual sports or something. It's like they are so awesome with motorcycles that they can afford to make a bunch of non-traditional models that still kick ass.
Ugh, at least HD is trying to do something different and more performance oriented. Those bikes look pretty cool but when I sit on them they just don't feel right.
I'm with you, I don't think the seating position is comfortable at all. I like footpegs I can stand up and stretch on.
why I bought a 1969 CB750 is a real mystery...
Because they're rad, that's why. I really need to finish rebuilding my CB550.
There's one for sale around here that's slightly cheaper than the average going rate for them, and I'm kind of interested. I still have my Kawasaki Ninja 500 back up at home where I usually live, but it'd be nice to have a cheaper, smaller little bike to get me around town and to visit friends when I'm down south every once and a while. It's cheap to run and most importantly, cheap to insure so when it's sitting here not getting used it isn't going to cost me an arm and a leg. The other advantage is that I plan on lending it to a friend when she starts learning to ride a motorcycle at some point this year, and I know the 125's make great newbie bikes.
Oh and before the inevitable comes out, I'm not a big guy by any stretch (5'6", 150lbs) so even though its a tiny bike it shouldn't be that hard-up on power when I'm riding it.
If you want small, why not get a cub, wave, or sonic?
Ugh, at least HD is trying to do something different and more performance oriented. Those bikes look pretty cool but when I sit on them they just don't feel right.
I'm with you, I don't think the seating position is comfortable at all. I like footpegs I can stand up and stretch on.
why I bought a 1969 CB750 is a real mystery...
Because they're rad, that's why. I really need to finish rebuilding my CB550.
HD's are built to incorporate a gut If you wanna stand up, get a dual sport. I'm planning on picking up a Husqy TE510 when I get back to North America, can't wait.
So it's the summer riding season and the squids have been out in force. I'm currently without a motorcycle and all I can do is roll my eyes from the safety of my car.
Today, however, I saw something special. Something that brought tears to my eyes.
I don't see that ending well. If you can't make it out, it's two gentlemen in short sleeves, the first wearing what appears to be a baseball helmet, and the second wearing a bicycle helmet.
While they're on a scooter, it's fast enough to go at least 50 mph. Which, in this state, makes it subject to the same requirements as a motorcycle.
So thinking about taking a little road trip. Might head down to bourbon country, stop at a couple distilleries and stay the night. Then head over to St Louis and crash there...never been but it's about the right distance to be able to come back in one trip (cincinnati). Anybody from any of those places got any advice?
I dropped my bike pretty hard yesterday putting it on the center stand . Not sure how it got away from me but it just tipped over and slammed down onto the frame slider. I'll need to replace the rear turn signal and a chrome accent piece, and the fairing got scratched up pretty good (but I'm probably not going to pay for that).
My frame sliders have a bar in there so if something bends it's not the frame, but I'm still a little concerned something happened...what should I look for damage wise?
Posts
So: I'm 5'11", ~130 lb. I'm going to be in upstate New York, so a scrambler would make sense (lots of beautiful little back roads) -- I am absolutely enamored with standard bodies though (Triumphs, droool). Because I'm so light, I was figuring on a 250cc, although I'm hearing good arguments for 500ccs -- that said, I'm mostly going to be tooling around on rural upstate roads and don't exactly need a whole lot of speed. I love the look of vintage bikes, but am not quite mechanical-minded enough to justify buying an old bike that will take a lot of maintenance.
Also, I know aesthetics aren't important, but I really, really don't like the look of Japanese bikes.
I'm obviously going to be buying used; my budget is a little up in the air, but I'd like to keep things around the $1000-1500 mark if that's possible (should be doable for a 250, right?).
WHAT BIKE SHOULD I BUY AAH
thanks.
Remember to budget an extra $500+ for gear, if you don't already have it.
Budgeting is a little tricky right now -- I have a pretty nice wad of cash, but it may or may not have to last me
But then the things it would have to last me for are totally optional (cigarettes, eating out, movies, basically entertainment budget)
soo
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
I never finish anyth
My friend got a 2005 Honda Shadow 600cc for 2,500 USD. It's a great entry-level cruiser that doesn't destroy the budget (even though he got a sweet deal on his) and is common enough to find service/parts for. Windshield is a big recommendation for highway riding, but a used bike might come with one. Gear is up to your style, but I would wear all gear all the time.
Edit: beaten.
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
Your entertainment budget may eventually be dedicated to gas money :P
What about them, specifically? Personally, I think Suzuki's Boulevard M109R and M90 are the best looking cruiser's I've ever seen. They don't have a very traditional appearance, but they're pretty damned sexy.
For naked sport bikes, I like the appearance of the Ducati Monster.
My opinion on faired bikes are all on a case-by-case basis. I generally dislike it when they try to imitate the appearance of a full-blown supersport (right down to the color scheme), but that might just be my bias against most of the idiots I see buying/riding them (both the imitators and the real things).
BMW.
And this is coming from a V-Strom rider.
BMW does have the "crazy prototype" thing going on with its dual sports or something. It's like they are so awesome with motorcycles that they can afford to make a bunch of non-traditional models that still kick ass.
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
Doc: The S1000RR skews BMW's appearance so badly (as does the f800st). Perhaps you should say median appearance
That said, I've been looking at Honda CBs based on a recommendation from my stepfather, and the older CBs look almost exactly like my ideal bike.
What's the difference between 500cc and 600cc for a beginner? In the course I took I rode mostly on a Kawasaki Vulcan 250, so I'm familiar with the clutch on those bikes. How are the Kawasakis for reliability?
I never finish anyth
Very little. Cruisers are not as high-strung as the sport bike engines, so the 500-600cc class are all super choices. You can't go wrong with Honda or Kawasaki.
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
My first bike was an 07 Shadow 600 VLX. I sold it in the spring, but it will always be special in my heart. You should be able to pick one up for under $3500. Great bike!
Looking at getting a HD Fat Bob now, though >_>
They're not that great of a motorcycle, they're double the price they should be, and most (not all I admit) of the harley owners are elitest pricks. Which is ironic because the reputation is supposed to be the fight the power individuality.
I try really hard to be an equal opportunity motorcyclist, as I really really love motorcycles and I think we're on the road for the same reason. But the amount of harleys I see sit in the garage with smug owners who won't wave back unless they see their emblem or hear their potato-potato makes it tough sometimes.
As with most things, you can blame the baby boomers for fucking up a good thing.
I moved out west to Arizona and saw a bike for sale for about $800. Older Yamaha, but it seemed alright. Go to pay for the bike, do so, and as I am getting on the guy tells me "Oh yeah I dropped it twice but its good."
Well shit. I wrecked that thing about ten miles down the road taking an ugly ass turn and wrecked the shit out of my foot.
Lesson learned: Don't "budget" this sort of thing. If I had saved up a bit more I could have gotten a decent bike and not fucked myself up fiercely. You will regret it if you do the same.
Fun fact: When I rode my Shadow, everyone thought I was riding a Harley.
The main reason I'm looking at a HD now is that I'm not that big of a fan of the Suzuki/Yamaha/Honda offerings in the 1600-1800cc range.
How bout a Triumph Thunderbird
I know I'm a triumph whore now, but I get so many compliments on my bike because people thought they fell off the earth. Also they were founded before HD so you can always grin when people talk about the history and tradition of HD.
And somewhere on motorcyclist they did a head to head and the T-Bird came out on top
I do get to pay for a retake though, and I'm trying to do what I can to improve my chances. One thing I was wondering is how much bike selection is going to help. They put me on a Kawasaki Eliminator, and while I liked the styling of it, it didn't feel like I could really shift my weight to counterbalance very well. I have the choice of trying the test on the little cruiser again, or trying on a bike I've never ridden before. Everything that was on the test I was able to do at least 50% of the time in practice, so it's not like I *can't* pass on this bike. I just can't help wanting to blame something other than my lack of skill.
My riding experience isn't that varied, but I still find that the Ninja 250 is one of the easiest bikes I've ever ridden. The seat height, ride position, and controls are all very newbie friendly, and still fun once you find a good corner.
Valve adjustments, new plugs, air filter, new rear brake pads...plus labor and all the fluid changes / cable adjustments
Pretty excited, I'm getting a new seat for the summer and will hit the road hard the next couple months!
My Dad's got two VRODs, they're pretty interesting bikes. It's a weird thing, though, since the non-Harley guys still think you're a douche and the Harley guys don't consider it a real Harley so they think you're a douche too.
Sounds like you need to get $100 worth of tools and do that stuff yourself.
There's one for sale around here that's slightly cheaper than the average going rate for them, and I'm kind of interested. I still have my Kawasaki Ninja 500 back up at home where I usually live, but it'd be nice to have a cheaper, smaller little bike to get me around town and to visit friends when I'm down south every once and a while. It's cheap to run and most importantly, cheap to insure so when it's sitting here not getting used it isn't going to cost me an arm and a leg. The other advantage is that I plan on lending it to a friend when she starts learning to ride a motorcycle at some point this year, and I know the 125's make great newbie bikes.
Oh and before the inevitable comes out, I'm not a big guy by any stretch (5'6", 150lbs) so even though its a tiny bike it shouldn't be that hard-up on power when I'm riding it.
Ugh, at least HD is trying to do something different and more performance oriented. Those bikes look pretty cool but when I sit on them they just don't feel right.
Valve adjustments by myself? That seems intense. I have so far changed the oil on my bike, I'd like to learn to do a bunch of things on it but for major service checks (12k and 24k are mine) I'm taking it in to have somebody who knows what they're doing.
I have two coworkers that both have Harleys. One is the standard cruiser style Harley, looks pretty cool and the guy that rides it is as nice as could be, so breaking stereotypes yay!
Other guy, who is also a nice guy, has a night rod. The blacked out version of the VROD. My god that bike looks bad ass. He let me check it out and while its not a bike I would buy it is awesome watching him ride it, very Mad Max.
Origin ID: Discgolfer27
Untappd ID: Discgolfer1981
Actually the people are correct about Triumph falling off the face of the earth, the Triumph Engineering Co Ltd died off in 1972 when it was formed into the Norton Villier Triumph (NVT) Cooperative, and it in turn died off when they're bikes could no longer compete due to a strong british pound, inefficient manufacturing processes, and frankly antiquated designs. I consider the new Triumph company to be a succesor to the original Meridien company but certainly not a direct continuation (given there was no production for roughly 5-7 years and the headquarters were bulldozed in 1984). But having ridden the new Triumphs I can certainly admire the new ones, all the fun and without the Lucas, Prince of Darkness riding on your shoulder. Harley doesn't count to me as well as they were a branch of American Machine and Foundry from 1969 to 1981 and the bikes branding declared them as such.
Infact the only motorcycle manufacturer that can claim the title for longest continuity of product is the Royal Enfield corporation of India. They started as the Indian branch of Royal Enfield Motors but had full production rights at their factory and simply continued production after the headquarters collapsed in 1971. As a result the company has had direct evolution of one model since 1931 and has had a functioning factory since 1893.
Of course the only reason I'm typing this is because I have to wait for the lifts to clear in the shop, old bikes can be massive maintenance hogs, why I bought a 1969 CB750 is a real mystery...
There's nothing as crazy as the Brammo Enertia.
I'm with you, I don't think the seating position is comfortable at all. I like footpegs I can stand up and stretch on.
Because they're rad, that's why. I really need to finish rebuilding my CB550.
If you want small, why not get a cub, wave, or sonic?
HD's are built to incorporate a gut
PSN - sumowot
Today, however, I saw something special. Something that brought tears to my eyes.
I don't see that ending well. If you can't make it out, it's two gentlemen in short sleeves, the first wearing what appears to be a baseball helmet, and the second wearing a bicycle helmet.
While they're on a scooter, it's fast enough to go at least 50 mph. Which, in this state, makes it subject to the same requirements as a motorcycle.
You see the squidiest squids down there.
My frame sliders have a bar in there so if something bends it's not the frame, but I'm still a little concerned something happened...what should I look for damage wise?