the only bike with more expensive parts than a hardly

i've ridden a decked out touring k1200, supposedly the cream of the crop, and the power was anemic, and the ride was hard as a rock

10/21/2009 10:23:20 AM

Gonna try rebuilding the starter today. Got new brushes, electric parts cleaner and some waterproof grease.

Here's to jumping head-first into shallow water WOOO!

10/21/2009 4:57:59 PM

^^ doesn't it have 100-105 hp? That's hardly anemic, even in a touring bike.

No, it's no Concours 1400, but like I said, I don't care about a touring bike having that kind of power.

10/21/2009 8:03:11 PM

it makes the difference between a fun ride and a dull one, 100hp on a bike that weighs 800-900lbs with a rider isnt much

10/22/2009 9:21:59 AM

I've ridden a concours 1000 and it was anything but anemic. It was ~100hp stock and weighed in at ~800lbs with me on it. I thought it was pretty damn quick, especially for a touring machine. That being said, I'd imagine the BMW would have a flatter power curve, so maybe that contributes a bit, but I'd imagine it would be a similar bike in terms of speed. I know Duke said he didn't give two shits about power, so this is all irrelevant, just my experience.

10/22/2009 12:50:43 PM

^^ that's true if you only have one motorcycle. if I have a 600cc race-replica as a "toy" bike, though, I really don't care if my distance/everyday mount has 85 hp or 185 hp.

10/23/2009 1:57:18 AM

R1150R (or R1100R)




R1150GS (don't especially care for the R1100GS...love the R1200GS, but it's still expensive)





R1100RS (or R1150RS)

Wonder if the ergos would be more sporty than I'd want for my purposes?



I dig these all a lot. Someday, I want a kickass BMW GS, but I think I'll get a couple of cross-continent pavement-only rides under my belt before I incorporate the off-pavement stuff, so I'm okay with these other bikes for right now.


and then I'll need something like:



or



(had a 750 just like it before...loved it...would just get a 600 this time, though)



Sorry for the OEP-like bike porn if any of you are still on dial up or have a really suckass internet connection.




oh, and I guess I'd take an R1100RT or R1150RT if I found one for a can't-refuse price...but while it would be a fantastic tool for the job, they just don't give me quite as much of a boner.



[Edited on October 23, 2009 at 3:09 AM. Reason : RT]

10/23/2009 3:03:06 AM

got to give it to the BMWs, they are not afraid to be, uhm, different. They are defenitinely love-them-or hate-them as far as styling goes. They are pretty innovative compared to the rest of non-exotic bikes. Im yet to ride one with paralever and telelever suspension. For some reason I am predjudiced against teh boxer angine in paerformance motorcycles, I think the POS Ural i used to have has something to do with it (I know the technology came a long way in the latest boxers, but there is also something about the cylinders sticking out that makes me irrationately uncomfortable). Reliability of the boxers is almost legendary at this point.

I always loved those inline twins they have, f800 & 800GS





k1300r is a pretty wild looking beast too



[Edited on October 23, 2009 at 3:44 AM. Reason : .]

10/23/2009 3:44:04 AM

The other officer in the tactics shop in my squadron rides an F800GS. Nice bike--I just dig the traditional boxer-engined BMWs. No particular reason (other than my granddad being a BMW dealer back when I was a little kid)...I just like them.



In other news, I have a brand new set of A-stars leathers that I have owned for a few months and haven't even taken the tags off of, yet. Criminal, isn't it! I've pretty much either had my daughter or been in Arizona since they arrived in the mail (the former being a very good "problem" to have, as it took a LOT of time, money, and effort to get her up to NC to spend time with me)...just have barely had a chance to ride, much less do a track day.

10/23/2009 3:50:33 AM

Dammit, I have a couple of BMWs and a couple of GSX-Rs that I'm interested in picking up, but I won't be back to NC for a week and a half.

Oh well, I guess the prices are only gonna get lower through the rest of the fall/winter (well, I doubt I find any better deals than a couple of these, but the deals like this should get more plentiful).

10/25/2009 4:05:52 AM

there will be plenty of better deals in a few months

10/27/2009 8:50:23 AM

I talked to a guy today about trading my 86 VT500c for his 89 EX500. It looks as good or better than mine and runs better too. He's older and said he wants a cruiser because the riding position hurts his wrists. It's a really sweet bike. Any real reason not to do the trade?

10/29/2009 8:59:04 PM

If it starts, turns and accelerates to your satisfaction, you only need worry about secret rust.

10/30/2009 8:51:03 AM

Do the new inspection laws for cars apply to bikes? As in, do I need to have a bike inspected to get plates? I can't imagine so since you need registration to get an inspection, but I'm just making sure.

11/2/2009 2:46:35 AM

no, the bike stickers dont even have a bar code to scan uinto the system

11/2/2009 4:00:57 PM

Got the EX500 today. I love it so far. Much, much different than the bike I had.

11/3/2009 7:34:27 PM

Quote :

"I have a brand new set of A-stars leathers"

I watched a show on hoe they made alpine stars leathers. They use an entire cow! They put like testing sensors in all of the racers suits to test riding conditions, bending and stretching of the leather. The leather is stitched so that it makes it elastic around important areas of needed stretch. Definitely a good choice of suit. I am pretty sure Frank Thomas probably uses a half of a cow if we're doing the comparison

But Frank Thomas is a decent suit for the price too. A friend of mine wrecked in races about 6 to 8 times before it started ripping apart. Maybe Alpinestars wont rip until the 15th wreck I dunno

11/4/2009 8:24:21 AM

Quote :

"Got the EX500 today. I love it so far. Much, much different than the bike I had."

The EX is a wonderful little bike. If I bought a 500 twin, that would be the one. But a fatass like me is better suited with an SV650.

11/4/2009 9:23:21 AM

^EX500 was a fun starter bike. Once you go to a v-twin, there is no going back to a parallel-twin (other than for commuting n shit)

[Edited on November 4, 2009 at 9:55 AM. Reason : sp]

11/4/2009 9:54:45 AM

nIgor!

11/4/2009 10:25:47 AM

This is my 3rd bike. 1st was a CB250, then a VT500C Shadow, now the EX500. Compared to the other two, it is just incredible. The power, brakes, transmission, suspension, clutch, and smoothness are all better. I know it's small, and I don't really want anything with too much much anyway, but it just feels really, really capable compared to everything else I've owned. It's been a lot of fun in the past 24 hrs.

It has a small gas drip up front when I hit the brakes hard. I about shit myself thinking "leaky tank" but pulled it off and found a bunch of CA emissions shit. The tank is solid, so there's a weak part in there somewhere, though I've yet to find it. I can probably just circumvent the whole system for decreased complexity anyway.

11/4/2009 5:05:09 PM

When in doubt, cut it out.

Man, BMW sure does make some ugly motorcycles. I mean, I enjoy looking at a fine piece of engineering, but those monstrosities aren't even symmetric. Some engines just deserve to be hidden under plastic fairings...

At least these things kept your feet warm:


[Edited on November 4, 2009 at 8:24 PM. Reason : .]

11/4/2009 8:20:48 PM

I am not ready to ride in the cold.

11/4/2009 8:58:49 PM

pussy

11/4/2009 9:04:07 PM

oh man, I dig BMWs...specifically the R-series machines (with the horizontally-opposed twin). I guess they are kinda love it/hate it.

11/4/2009 9:21:21 PM

Dat 190% flat 4

11/4/2009 9:35:56 PM

Do they tilt when you rev it? I've ridden goldwings before and didn't notice any problems with the boxer engine, other than having no place for my big feet.

Speaking of which:
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/1450764984.html


[Edited on November 4, 2009 at 9:43 PM. Reason : .]

11/4/2009 9:40:57 PM

That K100 also beats that R Series in total mirrors.

[Edited on November 4, 2009 at 9:44 PM. Reason : I don't think I've ever seen a cafed GW, now I know why.]

11/4/2009 9:43:41 PM

I don't know, it's kinda growing on me. I saw it in person at a show a while back. It's about the only cafe'd bike I might consider heading cross country on. Of course I'd have to add some saddle bags...and a windscreen....and a better seat....

11/4/2009 9:49:48 PM

and then it wouldn't look like a huge cafe bike anymore...it would be a Valkyrie, except for really ugly.

11/4/2009 9:53:58 PM

i hate most motorcycle drivers. DOES IT HAVE TO BE THAT FUCKING LOUD? DO YOU HAVE TO DRIVE LIKE A DICKHEAD?

11/5/2009 9:51:55 AM

No, it doesn't need to be that loud, but that's the way many of them come nowadays. you have to shop around to find a reasonably quiet one anymore.

And it's not driving like a dickhead, it's probably driving like someone who wants to stay away from traffic, and therefore, stay alive.

There are exceptions to both statements, but they are just that - an outlier in the dataset.

11/5/2009 4:11:11 PM

Quote :

"I am not ready to ride in the cold."

My jacket keeps me mucho warm, but my hands have been fucking freezing

waiting for my new gloves to be delivered

11/5/2009 5:39:31 PM

Yeah, I need some wool socks. Otherwise I'm good. I've got this big head condom that fits under my helmet.

11/5/2009 6:10:24 PM

yeah the only thing that ain't cutting the cold are my gloves, which sucks because they are supposedly decent "winter motorcycle gloves"


left raleigh at 4am tues. morning to go to charlotte, and by the time i got to mebane my fingertips were literally blue. stopped at the walmart in burlington for some hand-warmers, that kept the necrosis away but man i need some better gloves


suggestions of tried and true gloves that are good at 80mph in freezing weather?

[Edited on November 5, 2009 at 6:55 PM. Reason : fwiw, bike has no fairing or windshield ]

11/5/2009 6:54:59 PM

Quote :

"DOES IT HAVE TO BE THAT FUCKING LOUD?"

LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES

11/5/2009 7:41:37 PM

Southpark just did an episode on this: http://www.southparkstudios.com/

I have to rev mine to keep it running at stoplights(more often than not). I get so many "fuck you" looks. Haha.

[Edited on November 5, 2009 at 10:18 PM. Reason : .]

11/5/2009 10:16:35 PM

fermat just posted this in CC

11/6/2009 3:32:32 PM

I'm off to test my new gloves. 48 degrees and falling

11/6/2009 6:51:41 PM

^ Let me know how those are please. I may be in the market for some new ones. I am looking at http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/11/97/3962/CITEM/Fieldsheer-Polar-Gloves-Closeouts.aspx?SiteID=em_Nov_02_Gen_FS_Gloves&WT.mc_ID=35795&WT.i_e_dcsvid=1546439416
in conjunction with http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=437 possibly to see if I can stay toasty even in the 20s this season.

11/6/2009 7:44:40 PM

TOO
FUCKING
COLD

but seriously, my hands stayed warm, but my fingers became painfully cold pretty fast, but I'm not sure that could be avoid without maybe mittens and/or handlebar wind deflectors in my case, as I have long, skinny fingers. I know my hands were plenty warm because I didn't have any of the pain in my right hand from my jammed thumb that I had just from regular gloves while riding around in warmer weather during this past week.

11/6/2009 9:34:46 PM

it's not even cold out yet and your complaining.

GOOD LUCK ahahahhaa

11/7/2009 9:28:08 AM

i have these...they were $4 (on sale for $5 with a 20% off coupon) with free shipping and my hands feel fine after a 60mph 15-minute ride in ~47-48°F weather



[Edited on November 7, 2009 at 10:12 AM. Reason : .]

11/7/2009 10:11:34 AM

^^ it was just my fingers. that's it and that's all, mang

11/7/2009 11:42:34 AM

I'm going to buy a new rear tire on Monday. Damn nails

I have a Pilot Power up front(in really good shape), and I'm debating on getting another PP in the rear, or getting a 2ct.

11/7/2009 2:56:21 PM

I've always kept my front and rear matching.


I rode the SV for about 50 miles today. Little bit on the cool side, but not terrible. I might break out my cold weather riding suit next time (although I'm afraid that might be TOO much)

11/7/2009 8:24:45 PM

Yeah, it'd still be basically a matching front and rear, just single compound front and dual compound rear is all. Just wondering if it justifies the additional 15 or so that sportbiketrackgear charges.

11/7/2009 9:44:00 PM

got a line on a sweet K1200GT 07 3k miles, probably $3k with a trade up on the FJR

11/9/2009 9:51:22 AM

R60/2 (?) that lives down the street

11/12/2009 10:00:20 AM

i'd let Jeepman ride in my sidecar

11/14/2009 8:55:02 AM