Amiga.org
Coffee House => Coffee House Boards => CH / General => Topic started by: on October 02, 2007, 05:03:16 PM
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Hi guys,
Any motorcycle riders here? I seem to recall a couple of pictures in the Amiga.org gallery of a few bikes, thought I'd ask.
Wayne
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Do bicycles count?
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Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
Do bicycles count?
Does it have a non-human powered engine? If not, then nope :)
Wayne
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Yeah, I have been riding daily since 1980. I have had many bikes but as of 1990 I have only been riding BMWs. Good luck so far except one ABS modulator repair a couple months ago costing $2800.00. Over all that has been the only major cost since riding the beemers. The new models as of last year no longer use the servo assist(power brakes) so the costs should be much lower.
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Just bought one myself. First bike in about 15 years. Bought a Honda VTX 1300c and I'm just getting started and waiting on the MSF course for beginning riders to remind me of the minor details. Just don't know when said courses hit $225.00 USD.. Last time I took one (1990), it was $20.
Any suggestions?
Wayne
Oh yeah, and btw, http://flickr.com/photos/segwayne/sets/72157602213401798/
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Yeah, they want money for everything anymore. But its worth it, Wayne!
(http://Http://www.Visualcode.org/images/c13.jpg)
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VTX: A friend at work has one like that. Nice bike, he says it has great power for two. :-D
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Wayne wrote:
Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
Do bicycles count?
Does it have a non-human powered engine? If not, then nope :)
Wayne
It does have a beautifully muscled human powered engine... the V8 of the human powered engines :-)
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I've never had a bike, don't even have a license to drive one, but I'm bit by bit saving to buy my dream motorcycle. It'll probably take another 10 years until I have the time and money to buy it and get my license, but eventually I will ride my very own Harley Davidson Heritage Softail.
I fell in love with that model some 15 years ago and I'm still determined to buy myself one. :-)
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I got a bike... slowly going through the steps of learning to ride... Shouldn't be more than a year before I have a full license (only just started)
But I do have my bike... I got a 1979 Kawasaki Z 1000 :)
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Hi McVenco.
I can't blame you. The Heritage Softail is a beautiful bike and the one that got me into the idea. The problem is, the cost of one is insane (more than my Dodge truck).
Honestly? If I were you, I'd look at the Honda VTX 1800 Retro ()Here's a good example on e-bay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-Honda-VTX-1300-Retro-LOW-MILES-MAKE-OFFER_W0QQitemZ120162757119QQihZ002QQcategoryZ50010QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).
It's not a Harley Davidson, but it's about 1/3 the price, more powerful, and doesn't overheat leaving you on the side of the road on a hot summer day.
What I bought was an orange 2006 Honda VTX 1300c. Slightly smaller, but more power than I'll ever need, better on gas, better on insurance, and I love the color...
Wayne
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If riding a lot of miles I would choose the Honda like Wayne says. Costs are a lot less. I Know the the Honda rides smoother than the Harley. But If you must have a Harley Davidson for name alone, what can you say. :-)
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It's not that I want a Harley just for the name, but for a certain feeling it gives me. Same reason why I use an Amiga for playing games, rather than playing the same type of games in a Java applet on a no-name pc.
I have a car, which I need for my work (can't drag all my stuff around on a bike), so the bike will only come out for a little touring in the weekends. And what I want on those trips is a certain feeling and, quality and reliability or not, I'm pretty sure a Honda doesn't give me that.
And overheating or misc other trouble? Meh, that's just a little flaw you are willing to take when driving such a beautiful thing. Same goes for classic cars, you can't expect driving around in one of those without any trouble at all everyone once in a while. It's just all part of the game :-)
And you must admit: whatever exhaust you mount on that Japbike, it will never sound as a Harley does :-D
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I certainly can't argue with the "because it's pretty" aspect of wanting a Harley. Out of several I was looking at, I bought mine specifically because it matched the color of my truck more than anything else. It was pretty no doubt, and it was the model I wanted, but the color was the cincher.
And you must admit: whatever exhaust you mount on that Japbike, it will never sound as a Harley does
As for sound, I would almost disagree. When you're riding the machine, wearing your helmet (which is strongly recommended), you can't hear any difference between a Harley and a Honda with a good set of Vance and Hines pipes.
I do however understand the mental orgasm aspect of wanting a specific bike. Like I said, I wanted a Heritage as well. I just didn't want to spend all my time working on my bike as opposed to riding it.
Here's the thing though. On a good summer "bike night", a nice Victory, Suzuki, or Honda will get you laid at the exact same rate of speed as your 3x expensive Harley.
Would have taken a look at BMW bikes as well but 1) we don't have a dealer here and 2) not so much into sport touring as opposed to cruiser touring.
Wayne
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I agree, except the part about getting laid. I know some guys at work that bought Harley's and could get laid if they were the last guy on earth. As for me, I like the way cruisers look and owned a couple in the past(yes Harley's) but was never really comfortable riding them. I am much happier on a sport type bike as I likes the twisties. I mainly ride the Bmw's lately because maintenance is so easy and the shaft drive is a necessity if you ride 25-30,000 miles a year commuting like I do. On the weekend I can pop off the trunk and bags and its a fun sporty ride. NOTE: I like all bikes, I am just noting my particular need or preference. If I had enough money I would have one from each manufacture and several styles. :-D
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Just realized. Mine looks an awful lot like a Harley Dynaglide.
Wayne
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Wayne does this qualify as a bike? 35cc Four Stroke. 235MPG
(http://Http://www.Visualcode.org/images/c23.jpg)
Here is my Cruiser. :-o
(http://Http://www.Visualcode.org/images/c22.jpg)
(http://Http://www.Visualcode.org/images/c21.jpg)
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Wayne wrote:
Just bought one myself. First bike in about 15 years. Bought a Honda VTX 1300c and I'm just getting started and waiting on the MSF course for beginning riders to remind me of the minor details. Just don't know when said courses hit $225.00 USD.. Last time I took one (1990), it was $20.
Any suggestions?
Wayne
Oh yeah, and btw, http://flickr.com/photos/segwayne/sets/72157602213401798/
Congratulations! If I remember correctly, I believe I was one of those "encouraging" you to ride a few years back. Glad you decided to get a bike!
I also ride daily (2001 Suzuki Bandit 1200), weather permitting. In fact... Amigas are only my second preferred hobby to motorcycles. ;-)
That Honda is an excellent bike, BTW. My pops bought a Shadow 1100 way back in 1987 (a similar engine design), put over 60,000 miles on it and it still runs great. Eats most Harley's at a fraction of the price. :-) (Although, he did pick up a new Street Rod a year back. Nice bike in many respects, though the handling and braking characteristics are a little unsettling IMHO.) Keep them serviced and they'll last forever.
As far as a few "refresher" tips,
* Look where you want to go! Probably sounds like common sense (and something I'm sure you already know), but it's all too easy to "target fixate" in an uncomfortable situation. Many bike accidents are of the "rider failed to navigate corner" type... so in the event a corner sneaks up on ya, just look through the turn, push the bars and chances are you'll be fine.
*Pay extra close attention to cars turning left in front of you. This is another common bike accident. Watch the drivers, try to make eye contact, etc... and another thing -- waggle your bars a little when you see a car which may be turning left in front of you. There's a scientific reason why this action (essentially the headlight "flickering") can alert a driver who otherwise might have missed your presence and darted out in your path.
*If you can, stay either ahead, or behind other vehicles in lanes next to you... never beside.
*Stay relaxed on the bars, and try to constantly monitor yourself for signs of tension. Much easier to steer the bike (or make quick actions) when you're relaxed.
Sorry, I realize this is all basic, common sense stuff... I just want to share some of the smaller things that I believe have kept me safe on the road.
There are a few excellent books out there, which I *highly* recommend. "Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough, and "Twist of the Wrist II" by Keith Code. Even though I had already been riding for years, both books were a tremendous and valuable aid -- as I see it, you can never learn enough.
Have fun!
Ride safely...
Damion
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@amiga92570
I've been salivating over this beauty (http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/bike.jsp?b=k1200rsport) (in blue metallic please) for quite a while now. Problem is (outside of the price tag), though in my imagination I'd be blazing through the Arizona desert at 100mph, the reality is I mostly commute to and from work, with the occasional weekend duty in the twisties... so the K might be just a bit excessive for that kind of riding, LOL. I *have* been eying the FZ1, though.
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Hey D,
Thanks very much for the tips. The MSF course spent two days (21 hours total on a Kawasaki 125 "Eliminator") drumming those very basics into us, and grading us (on a very steep curve) for little things like "where are you looking" even more than how well we made the turn.
It was a grueling 10 miles over those two days, but I had a GREAT time. Can't say I learned a lot (if anything) because I had ridden before, but the consistent practice and feedback was invaluable.
Wayne
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Hi this is me at Knockhill Scotland on my Honda VTR1000 SP-1 (or RC51 in the US) in the red leathers/bike
(http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/1753/daddyneedoon238gk.jpg)
Sadly the bike is no longer with us. I sold it to buy my latest mountainbike!!!
I'm looking at buying the gixxer 1000 in spring '08
Paul
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1984 Yamaha XJ750 D, fuel injected, reliable, 22 Km/litre, 130,000 Km on the clock. The Amiga of Bikes ;)