Thread: Motorcycles

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I think it is notsomuch modern technology! They do have electronic ignition and modern design carburetion, though. Neighborhood put-put cool!

I meant that the Engine was built 7 years ago so its not like owning and maintaining an original with all the attendant reliability issues, It looks old and classic but it has newly built equipment. Gives that "Motorcycle Diaries" feel with some peace of mind, put-put cool is exactly what it is

Here's what it would look like sans panniers and with a retro saddle

Ah, but of course! Disc brake and they cobbled an electric starter on as well! Dunno about the chrome turn signals. They would go better black or green, IMO.

Talking of buying bikes, I'm currently restricted to 47bhp for another two years, plus I'll be paying for my XJ6 for the next three. Once I can ride 'full sized' bikes, though, I'd really love a BMW S1000...just not sure if I prefer the original S1000 RR supersport or the newer, naked S1000R (which looks lovely in red)!

Originally Posted by diesel

I meant that the Engine was built 7 years ago so its not like owning and maintaining an original with all the attendant reliability issues, It looks old and classic but it has newly built equipment. Gives that "Motorcycle Diaries" feel with some peace of mind, put-put cool is exactly what it is
Here's what it would look like sans panniers and with a retro saddle

Some years ago a little brother of my work mate was backpack traveling in India. For some reason he ended on buying Royal Enfield with diesel engine there. I don't remember the price but very very cheap it was.
Then he drove it all the way from India to Finland. Must have been such a hell of an experience, sort of once-in-a-lifetime. With the bike like that.

However, he couldn't registerate it here until major changes and modifications because the bikes they sell in India are made of whole different parts (brakes, exht. pipe/silencer etc) than the ones they sell in EU so finally it became more expensive.

Here in eastern Missouri we have what is called PMS....Parked Motorcycle Syndrome. We have had only a couple of days above freezing this month and that's only up to about 50 deg F for about an hour. Of course I've been at work during that time.

I own a Z 750 and although the temp today was only about 33, I started it up and took her out. It always feels good but with temps like that today it was like driving with a full time Ice Cream Headache...

Because of the ethanol gas I at least start mine up once a week and let her warm up...

For you blokes that like the Royal Enfields (I'm one of those myself) we used to have a bloke here in Australia that did a nice little modification to them that makes them soooo much better for people like me who think that anything under 750cc is a bicycle....Carberry Royal Enfield used to turn them into a 1000cc V twin. He could break into the US and UK markets with them though, and even though he made them for sometime, in the end the price point ($22000 shop made or $15000 if buyer had a donor bike) was just a bit too high for the small Australian market. I live with the hope that Royal Enfield will one day do it as a factory bike.


Mick

Oh man, I feel like the most massive dick in the world!

I was filtering down the middle of two lanes of stationary traffic; loads of space, fine. Up ahead, I spot another biker, who's just sitting there looking all casual like. He passes a couple of cars and then decides to wait, and I'm thinking fair play to him, yet there's a clear route, still, right down the middle. So he tucks in to let me past and then follows me out.

This is all good, I'm having whale of a time—I don't always get much opportunity to practice filtering skillz and it's normally pretty clear at the times that I ride. Trouble ahead though—it's getting narrower up towards the lights and I should probably just sit and wait a little way up there, until the lights turn green. Let me just squeeze past this van and car right here, though. Hmm...this is pretty narrow, how am I gonna do this eh? Legs up, legs down, I can't really decide— crack!

Oh shit, I just clipped both of these guys' wing mirrors with mine in some massive lapse of judgement! I stop and turn immediately and raise my hand, nodding to the van driver in apology— clunk! What the...?! Oh, that was my clutch hand! Feeling pretty stupid now, with the other biker waiting behind me but the guy in the van just nods at me...

I give a quick apology to the other dude too, who also doesn't really appear to care that I just whacked his mirror one and by this time the lights are green and my engine's still not running! I get the bike started, but it looks like the guy in the van is letting me go in front (nice guy! He actually looked familiar, I don't know if I know him or not, but if I do, that could be pretty embarrassing!), though I'm just getting my bearings here so I nod and gesture for him just to go ahead— clunk! Using my clutch hand by accident.

Bear in mind, this has all only taken a few seconds but by now I just want the ground to swallow me up! The van is inching but not going, being kind enough to wait for me to go ahead of him, while it takes me a couple of goes to get the engine running, this time. Finally I manage to pull away (with no one hooting me!), and try to wave an apology to the other guy again as he passes me, but he's just oblivious and doesn't give a damn!

Anyway, the other biker just cruises on past me, no doubt thinking what a massive idiot I am, and I go on my way, albeit with mirrors that are now showing my own reflection and nothing behind me.

I don't believe I did any damage whatsoever to either vehicles or my own mirrors, so all is good, but I certainly felt like an enormous tool and have learnt my lesson for the future. a) Know how wide my mirrors are; and b) if in doubt, wait.

My bike is still morphing. First shot is current, second is an older shot (roughly MSPainted) to show an exhaust design I'm thinking of.