Who has a motorcycle?

[AAslag]

Have a 64 Harley Duo Glide. 6-volt electrical system, kick start and manual spark advance. An antique when it was was new, as it is now. Well over 100K on the odometer. Vibration ruined the jewels (speedo jewels, that is) years ago. Originally a Maryland cop bike purchased by the officer that rode it. Lots of fun, and lots of work. Just like an old Jag or Porshe you have to like turning wrenches.

I have seen brand new Harleys with base gasket leaks and bad fork seals.
And I have seen old Hondas that had been stored improperly for years fire up with minimum effort.

50 bucks bought me a 1974 Honda 750-4. It had been stored for years and the gas had jelled and all four carbs had to be cleaned out. had the tank chemically dipped. Coated and painted the tank. Bought new fuel lines, screens for the bowls and a new battery.

I had a fire extinguisher standing by, but that **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** thing thing fired up. I couldn't believe it. Gave it away when I moved to live nearer to my job that I'm now furloughed from.

I sold a 79 Harley shovel-head for nearly twice what I paid for it.

Have a need for speed! Get a rice rocket, or a BMW. Ride em hard and put em away wet, and they will still be there for you.

Want a conversation piece. Get a Harley.

 

[yzf6]

if you're getting a new one you really can't go wrong with any 600cc sportbike, they're all nearly exactly the same in performance.. but you may not wanto get a brand new one for a first bike, that plastic on the sides is expensive to repair.

hey patmack, what kinda toy are you gonna replace the gixxer with? i'd buy yours if i could, the only thing better than a 04 1000 is an 05 1000!

 

[FracCapt]

I've owned 7 bikes over the past 13 years. I started out with a GPZ550. The bike I had the longest was a GSXR750 that I owned for a bit over 7 years(bought it brand new), and sold it about a year ago with nearly 100k miles on it. I had a 'busa for a little over a year...and it was just too much bike. I had a tendency to go very fast on it, so I finally decided I to get rid of it. It was a fun bike, but not when you have to share the roads with the bluehairs in Florida.

I agree with what others have said about ALWAYS wearing a helmet and leathers. I've dropped two different bikes, one at almost 60mph and the other at 45mph on a windy road in California. On the latter, I ended up in a ditch off the side of the road with a broken ankle, slightly torn up leathers, and a slightly damaged helmet. Had it not been for the helmet, it would have been a badly damaged head. The first one I dropped was while trying to avoid a car that pulled out on a straight road. I walked away from that one, but my leathers were trash.

I had one bad accident, where somebody turned left in front of me. I was going way too fast, and ended up not being able to avoid hitting her(it was either hit her or go into oncoming traffic). I slowed to about 40 before impact, though, and ended up hitting the right rear quarter panel on her car. I was launched over the car, and the next thing I remember I was laying on the road with lots of people gathered around. I wasn't feeling any pain at the time, which worried me. I was trying to take my helmet off, and a guy stopped me...then he peeled it off by undoing the strap and pulling the bottom apart. It split nearly right down the middle. Apparently, it was already split...he just helped it apart.

I ended up with a concussion, a slight neck injury, 2 broken ribs, a broken arm, and a broken leg. Had it not been for the helmet, I would have been dead on impact. The leathers helped me avoid road rash as well, but unfortunately couldn't prevent the broken bones.

I don't have a bike at the moment, but I am casually looking for another. I'm a bit hesitant to be riding with all the idiots driving around Florida, but the urge to ride seems to be winning the battle.

 

[psysicx]

I was looking at a used yamaha 600 for 3500 is that a good deal.

 

[Nolife]

Mis-statement

Someone said real men ride Harley's. That's wrong... real men walk along side of their broken Harley's. I rode exclusively for 8 years ( Yamaha, Ducati, and Moto Guzzi) and can't tell you how many times I've stopped along side a broken down Harley to help the guy out. If only people would learn.

BMW, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, and Triumph, all are bit pricey but will last your lifetime. Now you have to decide twin, triple, or in line four. Personally I like the sound of either a German or Italian twin.

 

[KlingonLRDRVR]

psysicx,

I think the Kawi bike you are thinking about was about a 1976 or so 900. Had a picture of one on my wall hung right next to the Farrah Faucett poster.

KlingonLrDRVR

 

[crash-proof]

I got a Suzuki Intruder VS800, kinda looks like a HD Sportster. It makes for a great first time bike, extremely easy to ride and got great looks to boot, kinda like a mini-chopper. Killer acceleration too...but I think it's geared too low, if you're doin anything above 70mph it's screamin.

That said...it's easy to outgrow your bike and mine feels kinda cramped already. I'm thinkin of goin to a Shadow 1100 if I can sell the Suzi.

 

[yzf6]

I was looking at a used yamaha 600 for 3500 is that a good deal.

is it a sportbike or cruiser? and what's the year/miles?

 

[domyalex]

I'll vote too on the gear and helmet MUST have; I too had an accident with a dude turning left in front of me: basically I flew over the car and landed on the other side of the intersection (estimated speed at impact around 60... I know...). The people who ran to help me were amazed at seeing me alive. Got a micro fissure at the hip and a bad ankle for 6 weeks.

Anyway, a common today's 600cc (R6, 636, GSX-R 600 etc.) is definetly NOT a begginer bike; just like in airplanes you have to be ahead of it or it'll kill you.
I have read nothing but good things about the SV 650 as a bike to start on; if you like more the sportbikes and inline four, the Yamaha YZF 600R ThunderCat (NOT the R6) is great and you can find it really, really cheap. It's a 600cc but with only 86hp or so (compared to the 100+ of other 600cc of today). It will do around 11.3-11.5 and top speed is in the 150 area. The thing I liked the most is that it's extremely confortable, you can ride it for hours and you'll feel no aches of any kind. I cannot say the same for my buddies who rode Gixxers, R6 and R1 that are definetly more track oriented.

With that said riding motorcycle is very similar to flying airplanes; it's a helluva of a experience! IF done properly it'll give you many, many years of happiness and feelings that others can only dream about.

And now I must decide if I get a 1000cc or pay for my CPL... <sigh> ....

 

[Flyin Tony]

I have like 7 or 8, But there made for the Dirt

 

[Headwind]

Paid for my first (Honda) as a mewspaper boy in 1965. First Harley in 1967 (250cc Sprint) Triumph Bonneville in 1969, Sporster in 1970 & 1972, Kawasiki 900 Z1 in 1973. Still riding today (Harley Ultra) and like all brands.

HEADWIND

 

[Herculeus]

Flyin Tony do you ride desert or motocross?

 

[52Vincent]

Any British bike riders out there? Gotta love those leaky Brit. bikes.
This is what I ride.
<------

 

[CandlerWun]

I've owned 7 bikes over the past 13 years. I started out with a GPZ550.

I also started with a GPz550. It was a fun bike, and it had no fairing. Anyway, how about a 'standard' or 'naked' bike as opposed to a cruiser or full-on sport bike? These bikes are great, handle well, are generally less expensive, and don't have lots of expensive plastic bodywork to replace when you drop it (you will--it will probably be in a parking lot or at a stop sign, but it'll happen). I currently ride a 1989 Honda Hawk and that thing is a blast, but it's kind of a rare bike and a little hard to find. If I had the money, I'd go for an SV 650 (either the S model or the standard...I like naked bikes but I also like low handlebars). My wife has one.

If you like the looks of airplane engines, how about a Moto Guzzi? I had one that always reminded me of a radial engine. Josh M.

 

[flyguy75000]

Anybody out there riding a Suzuki M109R?

I'm seriously contemplating putting up the Honda on Craigslist and buying one of these. They look pretty sweet and from what the reviews say, this 1800 cc engine will leave a "Hardly" in its dust. I've seen some pictures with 280mm and 300mm rear tires, and the thing looks like amazing. The only thing I dont like is the headlight fairing looks ridiculous. Hopefully there is a way to change it out.

Just wondering if anyone has one, and if they have have any feedback.

Thanks

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

Harleys

90% of all Harleys are still on the road. The remaining 10% made it back.

Buy a Honda. You meet the nicest people on a Honda.

 

[oops!]

I ride a 1999 CBR 900rr... I love it but it was my first street bike and like the others have said "don't get something fast first"
I wrecked it the second day I had it doing wheelies in a big parking lot. helmet saved my life and I walked away with a broken collar bone and one hell of a big bill to fix my bike.. I have much more respect for it now and don't act so stupid while riding but I could never have anything other than a sport bike. being on call all the time doesn't leave me with enough time to go for a long cruise so I prefer the canyons

 

[Flyin Tony]

Flyin Tony do you ride desert or motocross?

Both, it was good times I won some big races but had 1 to many bad crashes

 

[Daytonaflyer]

Double post

 

[Daytonaflyer]

I bought a Suzuki M109R Limited Edition

Anybody out there riding a Suzuki M109R?

I'm seriously contemplating putting up the Honda on Craigslist and buying one of these. They look pretty sweet and from what the reviews say, this 1800 cc engine will leave a "Hardly" in its dust. I've seen some pictures with 280mm and 300mm rear tires, and the thing looks like amazing. The only thing I dont like is the headlight fairing looks ridiculous. Hopefully there is a way to change it out.

Just wondering if anyone has one, and if they have have any feedback.

Thanks

Hey Flyguy75000,
I just bought a brand new Suzuki M109R Limited Edition yesterday. It's an amazing bike; it'll leave a VRod in the dust.
I got the 2007 because of the awesome deep blue color with racing stripe, and I got a pretty good deal too on a brand new one. It's really powerful. The 1800cc engine is more powerful than Suzuki's 2000cc engine on their other bikes.

I've only ridden it a few miles, but so far, it's awesome. It's incredibly smooth and handles bumps and vibration great. It gets warm fast, so your butt will be hot.
Turning radius is a little wide compared to my 650 cruiser, but it rides low, so you don't really notice the 700 lbs much; even pushing it into the garage was pretty easy. Shifting is good, neutral was easy to find. Braking was very good too.

The passenger rear seat is included when you buy...and it changes out easy so you can take a girl riding. There is also a gas gauge, which is nice.

It has a slightly forward-leaning seat position that turns out to be incredibly comfortable. If you're less than 6' tall, it will probably be too long of a bike for you. I'm 6'1" and 265lbs, and it fit me perfectly. I didn't notice my rear getting sore at all like my smaller bike.

The only thing I really didn't like was that the ignition is located on the left side of the engine, so you can't turn off the key without releasing the clutch. Therefore you must turn it off using the kill switch if it's parked on a hill and want to leave it in gear. Also the key gets really hot!

I got insured through Progressive for $410/year (about $480 without multi-bike discount). Which includes their mid-level coverage. Interesting thing: when I listed it as the M109R limited edition, insurance quote was $760/year, but when I listed it as the VZR1800, which is what the owner's manual says, and what came up when I typed in the VIN#, the price was only $410.

I'll let ya know more when I ride it longer.

My bike:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn157/daytonaflyer/IMG00122.jpg