The General Motorbikers Discussion Thread

[DarkReaper]

Originally Posted by Spectre;1142077
Yup. :grin: Short version - you [I

can[/I] ride an unprepped Goldwing 1000 at midnight in an ice storm with 2 inches of solid ice on the roads, but it's going to take you at least five hours to go twenty miles. Your hips, legs and ankles are going to hurt like hell, and if you're smart, a number of people will wake up the following morning with motorcycle tracks across their front lawns by the street or in the median (because you can actually get some traction there and you can't on the street).

Motorcyclist first, driver second.

Hmm, it was so cold once that the starter button on my CBR was frozen shut and I had to pushstart the thing

Luckily it was only a 5km ride home, 20miles would have been murder.

[Spectre]

I had to chip 2" of ice and snow off the bike just to get to the starter button that night.

And it was probably the least pleasant ride I've ever had, including my crashes. In hindsight, I probably should have called for a tow or taken a taxi home and come back for the bike later.

On the other hand, I did still get the bike home - and except for the engine area, it still looked like a giant rolling icicle.

[hansvonaxion]

Luxury.

I once had to ride backwards through the snow so that the hot exhaust would cut a tunnel for me to move through.


Changed my front brake pads today, can you believe I went to the store and bought one set and it wasn't until I got home and looked at them that I realised I had half as many as I needed!? What a tool.

[KaJuN]

^ You steak and kidney lock opener!

Another thing I love about Okinawa is that motorcycle parts stores are everywhere. Back where I lived in the states it was at least a half hour drive to get to the nearest one.

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by KaJuN

Another thing I love about Okinawa is that motorcycle parts stores are everywhere. Back where I lived in the states it was at least a half hour drive to get to the nearest one.

I'm waiting for the day you pop into a motorcycle shop and leave with the Motocompo in your avatar.

[KaJuN]

Me too, plus the Stig helmet I saw in a shop a few weeks ago.

EDIT: I just realized I have 5000 posts. My soul was accidentally unearthed from a shallow grave by Viper007Bond.

[Karoug]

This is what you are supposed to use when there is snow about:

+ YouTube Video

Kajun: I don't think there was anything accidental about your souls unearthing! Viper007bond knew exactly where to look for it!!

[BlaRo]

Fun fact: Lamborghini helped build a motorcycle:

AUTODROME Cannes is proud to present an extremely rare Lamborghini Motorbike designed in collaboration between Lamborghini and the French leading-edge racing bike constructor Boxer-Bikes.

Boxer Bikes has been famous since the seventies for their racing and sophisticated motorbikes, hand-built with extensive use of aerospace-technology, ultra lightweight frames and offering the highest performance on two wheels. In 1986, when Lamborghini decided that a motorbike would bear their name, Boxer was chosen as the only partner capable of building the most desirable motorbike of the period : the Lamborghini Design 90, powered by a state-of-the-art, 4-cam, 4 valve per cylinder straight-4 engine.

The price asked when this machine was presented was twice as high as the one of a famous high-end motorbike of the period. This price factor, in addition to the availability in extremely limited series contributed the myth of "the Lamborghini motorcycle". As specialists know, the Chief Engineer for this bike was Claude Fior, famous for his unique high-tech racing bikes, and that unfortunately died too young in 2001. Claude Fior also created many technical new systems for racing bikes. The most famous was the double-triangle front suspension, comparable to racing cars fully adjustable suspension.

With 125-130 BHP and less than 180 kg, a radical and voluptuous style, this motorcycle was only a dream for millions of Lamborghini and motorbike enthusiasts. The consensus is that probably only five of these exclusive motorbikes were ever built with the complete fibre-glass aerodynamic bodywork, sharing the same inspiration as the world-famous "25th Anniversary" Countach.

The concept of this motorcycle is dramatically different from what was the standard at this period : the frame is all hand-made from light alloy square tubes, assembled with aerospace welding techniques. Even the fuel tank is in aluminum for lighter weight. Furthermore, front and rear suspension angles are adjustable - a typical racing specification, very unique for a road-bike - and many parts are made from solid machined ultra-light alloy.

All elements are of racing or high-end provenance, like the Brembo Gold-Series brakes, and the Fournalès "air-oil" rear suspension. This rear suspension system is of the highest technology, using the elasticity of compressed air as a spring, and thick oil flowing through calibrated holes as damping system.

Oh, the 1980s. Street Hawk approves:

[BlaRo]

Fairly awesome: Neil Peart and the man who wrote the story behind "Red Barchetta" go on a motorcycle ride together.

+ YouTube Video

Neil is an avid motorcycle tourist, and wrote a book about his 100,000 mile journey that I'm really interested in checking out. Also, he only happens to be one of the best drummers from one of the most kickass bands on the planet.

[hansvonaxion]

Considering how random this thread is right now, I guess it's a good time to just give props to Casey Stoner. I haven't followed MotoGP for a while but I did see the Aus GP. Here's hoping he can sort out the bike (or get a competetive ride) and he gets over his mystery, energy sapping illness (see image below) for good.

Oh, and Lamborghini should stick to cars!

[nsx_23]

2010 Honda Phantom

2010 Honda Shadow Phantom Specifications:

Model: VT750C2A
Engine Type: 745cc liquid-cooled 52° V-twin
Bore and Stroke: 79mm x 76mm
Compression ratio: 9.6:1
Valve Train: SOHC; three valves per cylinder
Induction: PGM-FI with automatic enrichment circuit, one 34mm throttle body
Ignition: CD with electronic advance, two spark plugs per cylinder
Transmission: Wide-ratio five-speed
Final Drive: Shaft

Suspension
Front: 41mm fork; 4.6 inches travel
Rear: Dual shocks with five-position spring preload adjustability; 3.5 inches travel

Brakes
Front: Single 296mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear: Drum

Tires
Front: 120/90-17
Rear: 160/80-15

Wheelbase: 64.5 inches
Rake (Caster angle): 34o
Trail: 161mm (6.3 inches)
Seat Height: 25.7 inches
Fuel Capacity: 3.9 gallons, including 0.9-gallon reserve
Colors: Black
Curb Weight*: 549 pounds

WANT

[Spectre]

Dear Harley - that is how you do a 'Night' edition.

[Karoug]

Originally Posted by hansvonaxion

Considering how random this thread is right now, I guess it's a good time to just give props to Casey Stoner. I haven't followed MotoGP for a while but I did see the Aus GP. Here's hoping he can sort out the bike (or get a competetive ride) and he gets over his mystery, energy sapping illness (see image below) for good.

Considering he has won both races since his comeback i'd say that there is nothing wrong with Stoner or his bike..

edit. That Honda looks good! Needs a bigger engine though.

[hansvonaxion]

Originally Posted by Karoug

Considering he has won both races since his comeback i'd say that there is nothing wrong with Stoner or his bike..

It seems he's healthy, but as far as the bike goes, they were talking about it during the broadcast. Rossi's riding talent is beyond doubt, but he and his team are particularly good at setting up a bike. I doubt Stoner has that ability yet. They were saying that Stoner would say the bike was fine but then make the same changes that Hayden made and find improvement. Stoner just ups his game and rides around the problems.

Just look at the standings;

Fiat Yamaha
Fiat Yamaha
Ducati Marlboro
Repsol Honda
Repsol Honda

Next Ducati is his team-mate Hayden (former world champ) in 14th place. And Stoner took 3 races off.

I'm Australian so feel free to call me biased, but I think he's showing some amazing talent.

[matyas]

Here is something for you bikers: (hopefully not double posting)

+ YouTube Video

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by Spectre

Dear Harley - that is how you do a 'Night' edition.

Well, Harley didn't exactly fuck up their Night editions - it's not exactly hard to mess up painting a motorcycle flat black - they just overcharged for them, like usual. After all, we know how much those Night editions really strained their research and development resources!*

*Getting Earl to drive his C/K 3500 to Autozone was the tough part. But when everybody had to chip in for some Duplicolor General Purpose DA 1605 Flat Black, that was the real pain in the ass. Steve from Marketing still hasn't coughed up his $4.75, that cheap bastard. Better jack up the MSRP by $700 to cover for that!

[hansvonaxion]

Originally Posted by matyas

Here is something for you bikers: (hopefully not double posting)

Actually recently I saw a midget riding a monkey.

Wasn't the first time either.

Call me insensitive, but damn it was funny. And the first guy I saw was on a kids mini dirt-bike, those things can hammer off the line.

[Karoug]

Originally Posted by hansvonaxion

Loadsa text

But that Ducati is designed for Stoner and it is exactly like he wants it to be.
If he would move to another team chances are that the same phenomenon would occur. But there is no denying his talent, if he would have been healthy he probably would have been this years champ.

[Spectre]

Just passing this on - seems that hondaparts-direct.com has permanently shut down.

That's the bad news. The good news is that http://www.beaverdamhondakawasaki.com/ seems to have Honda parts cheaper than Service Honda (for one, the shipping is a lot cheaper.) Thought this might help someone.

[hansvonaxion]

Originally Posted by Karoug

But that Ducati is designed for Stoner and it is exactly like he wants it to be.
If he would move to another team chances are that the same phenomenon would occur. But there is no denying his talent, if he would have been healthy he probably would have been this years champ.

Maybe, but he must have a pretty strange riding style if another WC finds it hard to even crack top ten. I can't remember such a difference between two good riders on the same bike. Would like to Rossi and Stoner on the same bike...

It was just a random shout out.