I've seen this before and it's about the most rad thing ever. The shoulder harness bits are simply awesome. However! I don't want anything covering up my giant-ass A* pauldrons.
I've been seriously considering selling my car and using the money to upgrade my bike and riding all year round.
My bike is a 2002 KZ1000P, with 64k on the odometer. Everything else on it is stock.
My car is a 1998 Honda Accord two door, and I could probably get close to 3 grand for it.
With that money, i would replace the front forks, new tires, new brakes, new coat of paint, take off the top box and add a passenger pillion and footpegs and invest in some quality rain gear and some mesh overwear.
I live in Northwest georgia, where it typicaly gets around 40 in the winter and 90's in the summer.
Anyone used a motorcycle as their sole method of transportation? Am I being crazy in even thinking about this?
I can think of times where I was glad I have a car. Like groceries, heavy rainstorms, going anywhere with more than one person, etc.
I got my helmet back today. I don't think they did anything to it, the mounting plate still wobbles when I lift and close the visor. Which is what it was doing before it just popped off, which is why I had it RMA'd for repairs. :P
Anyone used a motorcycle as their sole method of transportation? Am I being crazy in even thinking about this?
I used a bicycle as my sole transport for a couple of years, and rented cars on the odd occasions when I needed one. It has the added advantage that you can rent something only as big as you need, or as big as you need if you're buying furniture or something.
Whether that's economical for you depends how often you need a car and how much it would cost you to rent one.
Anyone in this thread think they can give me a hand? :? I'm trying to find a throttle cable that'll fit a Honda CM185T, and so far it's proving fucking impossible.
Try talking to MotionPro (http://www.motionpro.com/). I've been told they can do custom cables for pretty much the price of regular cables.
I agree, the guys down there are super helpful and the owner is one of the most stand up guys I have ever met.
I hear that. I've been taking the car lately due to me being sick as a dog the past week or so, and I miss the bike already. I will probably hit the mountains tomorrow.
Speaking of old bikes, I've been considering getting a lightly restored Honda CB550 or CB500 as a first bike. It's a bit more than I was hoping to spend (I want a $1200 beater to start on but am having a hard time finding one that runs), but on the other hand it's not something I'm likely to trade in anytime soon.
What do you guys think of starting out with a vintage bike? I'm mechanically inclined but not experienced with motorcycles, if that makes a difference.
Do any of you chaps have any experience with heated hand grips? I'm getting geared up (quite early, but I'd rather not wait until it's cold) for the winter riding season, and could use some thoughts on them.
Do any of you chaps have any experience with heated hand grips? I'm getting geared up (quite early, but I'd rather not wait until it's cold) for the winter riding season, and could use some thoughts on them.
Yes my bike has them, they're the best thing ever. I wear the same gear and can ride in 15 degrees colder than I could without them. (this puts me at about 30 degrees with my gear...but I don't like riding with the ice out)
Do any of you chaps have any experience with heated hand grips? I'm getting geared up (quite early, but I'd rather not wait until it's cold) for the winter riding season, and could use some thoughts on them.
Yes my bike has them, they're the best thing ever. I wear the same gear and can ride in 15 degrees colder than I could without them. (this puts me at about 30 degrees with my gear...but I don't like riding with the ice out)
What grips do you have? I'm looking at slip-ons, possibly Oxford? They seem to be the gold-standard.
Do any of you chaps have any experience with heated hand grips? I'm getting geared up (quite early, but I'd rather not wait until it's cold) for the winter riding season, and could use some thoughts on them.
Yes my bike has them, they're the best thing ever. I wear the same gear and can ride in 15 degrees colder than I could without them. (this puts me at about 30 degrees with my gear...but I don't like riding with the ice out)
What grips do you have? I'm looking at slip-ons, possibly Oxford? They seem to be the gold-standard.
Mine are the factory grips from Triumph on my 05 Sprint. I don't know how the Oxford grips work but mine wrap around underneath the rubber and have two heat settings. They get nice and toasty through the rubber, but I've been told if I were to try to change my grips they would lose effectiveness.
What I would give for a classic Triumph, Norton, or BSA. Then what I would give again for non British electrical. However, the profile of those bikes, the sound, and the history make it all worth it.
Speaking of old bikes, I've been considering getting a lightly restored Honda CB550 or CB500 as a first bike. It's a bit more than I was hoping to spend (I want a $1200 beater to start on but am having a hard time finding one that runs), but on the other hand it's not something I'm likely to trade in anytime soon.
What do you guys think of starting out with a vintage bike? I'm mechanically inclined but not experienced with motorcycles, if that makes a difference.
I started out with a '79 Twinstar (pic on last page) and it's going great for me thus far. It's mechanically sound but fixing the smaller problems with it have been a good opportunity to get in touch with my inner grease monkey. If you think you can find parts for it when things do need fixing I say go for it. It's been a fun learning experience for me and I imagine it'll be the same for you. Just don't expect it to be a flawless, fresh-off-the-showroom-floor bike and get in touch with people who can get parts for you around where you live.
Do any of you chaps have any experience with heated hand grips? I'm getting geared up (quite early, but I'd rather not wait until it's cold) for the winter riding season, and could use some thoughts on them.
I've tried a set of heated handgrips on a BMW 650GS and compared them to the heated gloves I use on my own bike, and I much prefer the heated gloves once the temperatures really drop. They work much better at keeping your entire hands warm and not just the palms. The heated hand grips definitely worked better with some sort of hand protector/wind deflector however, and they're obviously easier to use since they're always installed and you don't need to muck around with wiring and a dedicated set of gloves (although that also means you can use the gloves across several different bikes).
I'd say if you ever find your hands get cold really easily, you want to drive in really cold weather, or if you have multiple bikes, look at a set of Gerbings gloves. Otherwise, go for the heated grips.
Here in San Diego this morning, I rode behind a dude on a white cruiser with a Hyrulian Crest "tramp stamp" over the rear fender. Comic Con is in town, so which one of you dudes was it? He exited I-15 North at MCAS Miramar so he probably wasn't an attendee.
I've been seriously considering selling my car and using the money to upgrade my bike and riding all year round.
My bike is a 2002 KZ1000P, with 64k on the odometer. Everything else on it is stock.
My car is a 1998 Honda Accord two door, and I could probably get close to 3 grand for it.
With that money, i would replace the front forks, new tires, new brakes, new coat of paint, take off the top box and add a passenger pillion and footpegs and invest in some quality rain gear and some mesh overwear.
I live in Northwest georgia, where it typicaly gets around 40 in the winter and 90's in the summer.
Anyone used a motorcycle as their sole method of transportation? Am I being crazy in even thinking about this?
I moved from Newnan, GA (mid west) to San Diego so that I could use my motorcycle as my primary transportation. Been doing that for three years now.
Having a bike as your only (primary) transportation is a matter of how comfortable you are with the idea of not always being in the most comfortable conditions physically. You'll have to be mentally prepared to be caught out in rain, extreme heat, or have to sit in traffic for extended periods of time. After that, it's a matter of accepting that you won't have the practical benefits of a car, those being storage space, passenger space, and towing capacity.
If it still sounds like the route you'd like to take, I say go for it. Be prepared to buy rain suits and so forth for differing conditions, as there is no such thing as a universal gear set. If it's water proof, it likely doesn't breathe well... or at all. If it breathes well, it's likely not waterproof, and won't hold together as well in an accident. If I ever get around to finishing my summer/winter gear sets with a set of pants, and pick up a rain suit, I might start thinking about riding year round.
Totally forgot about this thread! Figure I'd drop in here to see what people thought, I've got an '09 GSXR 750 and last week I picked up ANOTHER nail while cruisin to work. After 3 sets of Michelin Pilot Power 2CT's in 7000KM I'm a little frustrated by the whole thing, but that's another issue. This time around I'm considering the option of installing a set of more highway friendly rubber because of the amount of straight line riding I do. Those new Pilot Road's are REALLY appealing, but has anyone here got any first hand experience with them? Asking on a sport bike forum is a pointless task, as everyone immediately jumps on recommending the best of the best of the best almost race quality tire (and of course, mad sick HID headlights yo).
I ride fairly casually, but do get into the corners pretty hard (never beyond a reasonable limit). The hard center, with the soft edges seems like a perfect combination for a "spirited street tire". What do you guys think?? I'm not looking for a track quality rubber, but I do plan on taking some advanced rider training courses next year.
Totally forgot about this thread! Figure I'd drop in here to see what people thought, I've got an '09 GSXR 750 and last week I picked up ANOTHER nail while cruisin to work. After 3 sets of Michelin Pilot Power 2CT's in 7000KM I'm a little frustrated by the whole thing, but that's another issue. This time around I'm considering the option of installing a set of more highway friendly rubber because of the amount of straight line riding I do. Those new Pilot Road's are REALLY appealing, but has anyone here got any first hand experience with them? Asking on a sport bike forum is a pointless task, as everyone immediately jumps on recommending the best of the best of the best almost race quality tire (and of course, mad sick HID headlights yo).
I ride fairly casually, but do get into the corners pretty hard (never beyond a reasonable limit). The hard center, with the soft edges seems like a perfect combination for a "spirited street tire". What do you guys think?? I'm not looking for a track quality rubber, but I do plan on taking some advanced rider training courses next year.
There are some pretty amazing sport touring tires out there. I have continental contimotions on there and they've been lovely. They have the bands in the middle and are softer on the outside. There are also the dunlop roadsmarts, but when I went the guy said really the whole market is super competitive right now so just get the cheaper ones at the time because you can't go wrong.
Pilot Road 2 2CT and Pilot Road 3 2ct are fine tires. They have great wet traction, tire life, and the odds of someone riding over the tires traction on the street is doubtful. Have run the 2ct's on my F4i with great success.
I run a Pirelli Diablo Strada on my rear and a Diablo III on the front of my 1000RR currently. I have had great results and never had any problems with traction in the wet or dry.
Dunlops are good too but I am not a fan of how they heat cycle. I find that towards the end of their life the traction isn't all that great but superb in the beginning. I ran some on my old 2005 GSX-R1000.
All tires have seen Bay Area Highway use in all weather and the bay area mountain roads. Crashes are almost always rider error so picking the right tire to fit your budget and needs should be the main focus.
I just bought an 82 Yamaha XS400 Maxim. It's only got 9200 miles on it, and has been sitting in a shed for probably 20 years. After spending the last few days cleaning everything up, (the brakes and fluid were VILE) it's almost ready to go through inspection. Did I mention that it was only 750 and runs pretty damn well? I'm pretty stoked on it.
I just rode home (about 20 miles) in a torrential downpour. I had my helmet, riding jeans, and boots...but elected to not take the jacket with me as it was about 100 degrees. I regret that decision, my nipples are super chaffed!
So, a friend at work came up to me yesterday and was all like "Look what I bought!"
She shows me her phone, and I see a picture of a bright red Ducati 1098.
Now, this is a girl who I don't think is even 5', and is maybe 100lbs soaking wet. She's also never ridden before.
She insisted she didn't want a "bitch bike", and so that is what she ended up going with. The fact that the dealership sold it to her, I think, is damn near criminal. Why would you ever do that? Someone without their license, and you're going to sell them a bike that is essentially one of the most powerful ever built?
They even offered to let her give it a test ride around the parking lot, despite her lack of experience. She didn't, but wtf?
Maybe I'm over-reacting because she's my friend and I don't want her to wind up dead, but good lord, that is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen a person do. But I'm honestly more annoyed at the dealership, and the friend of hers that helped her pick it up, because they all should have known better.
InkSplat on
Origin for Dragon Age: Inquisition Shenanigans: Inksplat776
Must be a good salesman to sell a new rider a bike that costs as much as a nice car!
No, the buyer just has more money than she knows what to do with, and that she didn't have to earn herself. :P She found it online and went to another state to look/buy. The salesman pretty much just had to take her money.
Origin for Dragon Age: Inquisition Shenanigans: Inksplat776
Posts
Problem solved!
My bike is a 2002 KZ1000P, with 64k on the odometer. Everything else on it is stock.
My car is a 1998 Honda Accord two door, and I could probably get close to 3 grand for it.
With that money, i would replace the front forks, new tires, new brakes, new coat of paint, take off the top box and add a passenger pillion and footpegs and invest in some quality rain gear and some mesh overwear.
I live in Northwest georgia, where it typicaly gets around 40 in the winter and 90's in the summer.
Anyone used a motorcycle as their sole method of transportation? Am I being crazy in even thinking about this?
I got my helmet back today. I don't think they did anything to it, the mounting plate still wobbles when I lift and close the visor. Which is what it was doing before it just popped off, which is why I had it RMA'd for repairs. :P
I used a bicycle as my sole transport for a couple of years, and rented cars on the odd occasions when I needed one. It has the added advantage that you can rent something only as big as you need, or as big as you need if you're buying furniture or something.
Whether that's economical for you depends how often you need a car and how much it would cost you to rent one.
I agree, the guys down there are super helpful and the owner is one of the most stand up guys I have ever met.
I have the biggest motobonner right now.
What do you guys think of starting out with a vintage bike? I'm mechanically inclined but not experienced with motorcycles, if that makes a difference.
Yes my bike has them, they're the best thing ever. I wear the same gear and can ride in 15 degrees colder than I could without them. (this puts me at about 30 degrees with my gear...but I don't like riding with the ice out)
What grips do you have? I'm looking at slip-ons, possibly Oxford? They seem to be the gold-standard.
Mine are the factory grips from Triumph on my 05 Sprint. I don't know how the Oxford grips work but mine wrap around underneath the rubber and have two heat settings. They get nice and toasty through the rubber, but I've been told if I were to try to change my grips they would lose effectiveness.
I'll still have the Kawi to beat around on, but the Triumph will be ridden a lot during the warmer months.
Then stored in a vault, with a cover, fully winterized after the first frost.
I've tried a set of heated handgrips on a BMW 650GS and compared them to the heated gloves I use on my own bike, and I much prefer the heated gloves once the temperatures really drop. They work much better at keeping your entire hands warm and not just the palms. The heated hand grips definitely worked better with some sort of hand protector/wind deflector however, and they're obviously easier to use since they're always installed and you don't need to muck around with wiring and a dedicated set of gloves (although that also means you can use the gloves across several different bikes).
I'd say if you ever find your hands get cold really easily, you want to drive in really cold weather, or if you have multiple bikes, look at a set of Gerbings gloves. Otherwise, go for the heated grips.
I'm sure it'd be difficult but not impossible.
If it still sounds like the route you'd like to take, I say go for it. Be prepared to buy rain suits and so forth for differing conditions, as there is no such thing as a universal gear set. If it's water proof, it likely doesn't breathe well... or at all. If it breathes well, it's likely not waterproof, and won't hold together as well in an accident. If I ever get around to finishing my summer/winter gear sets with a set of pants, and pick up a rain suit, I might start thinking about riding year round.
Craigslist, dude. Don't buy a used bike from a dealer.
Believe me, I've been trying. At this point I'm going wherever I find a decent bike.
Still ridin'
And sweatin'
I ride fairly casually, but do get into the corners pretty hard (never beyond a reasonable limit). The hard center, with the soft edges seems like a perfect combination for a "spirited street tire". What do you guys think?? I'm not looking for a track quality rubber, but I do plan on taking some advanced rider training courses next year.
There are some pretty amazing sport touring tires out there. I have continental contimotions on there and they've been lovely. They have the bands in the middle and are softer on the outside. There are also the dunlop roadsmarts, but when I went the guy said really the whole market is super competitive right now so just get the cheaper ones at the time because you can't go wrong.
I run a Pirelli Diablo Strada on my rear and a Diablo III on the front of my 1000RR currently. I have had great results and never had any problems with traction in the wet or dry.
Dunlops are good too but I am not a fan of how they heat cycle. I find that towards the end of their life the traction isn't all that great but superb in the beginning. I ran some on my old 2005 GSX-R1000.
All tires have seen Bay Area Highway use in all weather and the bay area mountain roads. Crashes are almost always rider error so picking the right tire to fit your budget and needs should be the main focus.
Homeless: pics? I'll be posting some once my bike is delivered on Friday. It's getting a going-over from a local vintage bike garage.
Is there like a place for motorcycle folks to find things other than craigslist and cycletrader?
Ebay?
She shows me her phone, and I see a picture of a bright red Ducati 1098.
Now, this is a girl who I don't think is even 5', and is maybe 100lbs soaking wet. She's also never ridden before.
She insisted she didn't want a "bitch bike", and so that is what she ended up going with. The fact that the dealership sold it to her, I think, is damn near criminal. Why would you ever do that? Someone without their license, and you're going to sell them a bike that is essentially one of the most powerful ever built?
They even offered to let her give it a test ride around the parking lot, despite her lack of experience. She didn't, but wtf?
Maybe I'm over-reacting because she's my friend and I don't want her to wind up dead, but good lord, that is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen a person do. But I'm honestly more annoyed at the dealership, and the friend of hers that helped her pick it up, because they all should have known better.
No, the buyer just has more money than she knows what to do with, and that she didn't have to earn herself. :P She found it online and went to another state to look/buy. The salesman pretty much just had to take her money.