BS: Motocycle advise

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Raptor
Date: 06 Nov 12 - 06:52 AM

Because of Lawrences crash he led the doctors to come to realize the importance of the crash helmet something that saved my life.
I shall raise a glass to him.
Thanks Jon Dudley for bringing him up I'd not herd of him till you'd mentioned him and I looked him up on Wiki.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,Jon Dudley
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 10:35 AM

Indeed we do Henry. Indeed we do.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 07:30 AM

We all know what became of T.E. Lawrence.
=(:-( D)

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,Jon Dudley
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 07:01 AM

Motorcycling is one of life's great pleasures - and dangers. Maybe that's what makes it so damned exciting. I've been riding for nearly fifty years and a serious 'bike accident with a friend after two weeks on the road has made me fairly cautious ever since. The freedom that a 'bike gives on the road even in these overcrowded isles is unsurpassable...so is the discomfort on a rain-lashed day with the prospect of a 250 mile ride ahead of you. The feeling of elation upon arrival at the end of a long journey is euphoric because you've been totally involved the whole way. In a car there is a degree in which you can 'turn off', but with a 'bike, it's very different, it's complete involvement. Sadly I don't have the facility to put into words the feeling of being at the edge of life that motorcycling brings...for that I recommend you read T.E. Lawrence's 'The Mint'.

As always-ride safe. And assume that every car driver is out to get you. Even then you may be unlucky.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: maeve
Date: 04 Nov 12 - 08:34 AM

Raptor-
"... I'm still dealing with my traumatic brain injury and not able to work."

It must feel very strange coming across this thread again. Still and all, I'm glad you are still here and with a loving companion!

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 04 Nov 12 - 07:52 AM

The woman I live with has a brother in law that got himself all jellied up with tattoos and a Harley. Wrecked it and broke both of his wrists. His wife had to wipe his butt every time he took a crap for a few months. She should have made him go around crusty and stinkin'.
=(:-( ))

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: gnu
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 08:14 PM

Big bikes are for big drivers and big situations. I can drive any damn thing. But I wouldn't drive a bike suited for a specific use in another use except on odd occasion. Too many people think too many bikes are just bikes. There are classes of bikes and biking and varitions of places you can drive each "successfully". Hog... highway. Moped... downtown. Ya gotta find the balance, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 08:07 AM

One associate a few years back offered the opinion that a HOG is the equivalent of a 1950 Buick. Only old people drive one. The ones I've seen recently tend to support his opinion.

Another fellow, a buddy of the first one, offered the opinion that the biggest disadvantage of a HOG was that when you tipped one over (moving or not) you have to wait for the two healthy buddies you need to help stand one back up to quit making jokes about the situation before they'll help.

(SOME riders can stand one up by themselves, but lots of people who ride one can't, and even a little bit of road rash can put you in the latter group even without any serious damage.)

In the glory days of the big bikes, lots of police departments used them for patrol. There are a lot fewer depts who have any bikes at all now, but most of them are into mid-sized Honda rice burners or something similar - comfortable enough to ride on the highway (and carry all the cop equipment) with enough better maneuverability to be somewhat useful in unusual situations.

The people who call themselves "the real bikers" now, at least in my area, are more likely to ride a fairly light to mid weight KOW Crotch Rocket or similar. They say it's more fun. I don't have much of an opinion either way.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 04:37 AM

I wanted one so badly as a teen. Then people I knew got killed or lost a limb. So I decided they aren't for me. Too many bad drivers out there. Deer. Objects that fly up and hit you. Too dangerous.
=(:-( o)

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Raptor
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 03:14 AM

I just saw this thread again. What irony.
After my very near fatal accident on the Harley over a year and half ago I'm still dealing with my traumatic brain injury and not able to work.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 10 Jul 10 - 07:43 AM

Well the price on the Beemers are good, but they wouldn't do me much good when they're in Denmark.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Old Vermin
Date: 10 Jul 10 - 06:37 AM

Also see Rotax-engined and other ex-military machines are still to be had

http://www.thexmod.com/item_detail.asp?id=4940&title=Motorbike%20-%20Harley%20Davidson%20MT350

http://www.gunbus.co.uk/bmw-i54.html

etc

I thought about getting a motorcycle licence a couple of years ago.
Deterrent was risk of damaged wrist/elbow/knee/ankle from a minor tumble. A 'Catter I know broke her arm at the elbow years back and can no longer play guitar. She did later win the National singing acapella, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 10:22 PM

Those were interesting, Vermin. I never knew the US used Kawisakis in Vietnam. No wonder they lost the war.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Old Vermin
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 07:16 PM

e.g.
ex-military bikes

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 07:07 AM

You can't trust guys who drive cars!

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 06:32 AM

And the lesson is...

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 09:39 PM

The last memorable ride I can remember taking was on a 74 cubic-inch Harley Super Glide, on a lonely country road on a late summer evening. I had two girls on the back and a case of beer on the handle bars. We came around a corner--not going very fast--and hit a patch where cars had been dragging round rock out onto the county road from a driveway.
                The bike went sideways, and we all just kind of stepped off. The girls caught a ride with a couple of guys in a car, I had to hire a fellow with a pickup to haul my bike home, and we weren't able to save even one bottle of beer.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 09:13 PM

AH the quiet PUDA PUDA PUDA PUDA of the R69 BMW . A whisper of shear understated confidence !!!

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 09:11 PM

Good one Richard !!!

biLL   *LOL*

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 09:03 PM

A Harley shouts "Potato potato potato potato potato potato..."

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 09:01 PM

A Harley doesn't purr ... it coughs and cranks

now this machine purrs

biLL .... |-)

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Raptor
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 09:03 AM

I'll say it again to buy something or not to buy something becaue others have one or don't is not what its about!

There is a distint ride a harley gives you that all the japoneese bikes have been unsucessfuly tring to copy for ever. That is why more people ride them than ever before. I want a harley for me not for how it looks.

Its the only engine that purrs!

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 08:44 PM

Haverfordwest to Oxford and back in a day in 1970 was a very long ride on a 650 Bonniville ..I should have gotten that older 1960 R50 BMW the garage near the pottery was selling . Long rides on a 250 BSA Strafire were also memorable !!! Ah memories of riding in Briton as a young person !!!

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 05:48 PM

I brought a BSA Bantam from Nottingham to Kent once, and it had a silly narrow mock racing seat, so by the time I got there I was riding standing up.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 04:03 PM

Bit of a thread drift, but I wondered about peoples stories of 'adventure biking' around the world?

When I was in my late teens I almost learned to ride purely for the purpose of traveling (I was especially interested in riding across Eastern Europe as the Berlin wall had recently come down.)

At that time I hadn't heard of adventure biking, I just thought the plan sounded really good. But I didn't have a boyfriend at the time, and couldn't get any friends interested in an adventure like that. And I wasn't motivated enough to go for it on my tod, so I didn't.

Seeing Charlie and Ewan a couple of years back however, reminded me that it was a really good idea....

So, anyone fancy sharing their biking travel stories?

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 09:58 AM

100

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 09:56 AM

Damn, Rig, that last sentence put me right off.

Sorry, a Vespa can mean one of two things. Either you are a necrophiliac mod wondering whether Roger Daltry is going to die before he gets old, or if it's modern you are unable to aspire to anything that rides better.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 08:46 AM

There are lots of them around here, mostly with gray beards and Harleys that differ in the sense one will be black with red trim, and the next will be red with black trim. And they stay in groups dressed in Levis and leathers. But to their credit, their women seemed to be fed well.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 08:44 AM

.. and just for the record I've never felt the personal obsession to own a motorbike, or any kind of car;
or even get a tattoo or body piercing..

[.. though i'd love to be able to afford a genuine classic Telecaster !!!]

..but i'm a big heavy mean self-assertive c@nt no motorist should ever risk messing with
when I'm out on my bicycle.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 08:35 AM

"one who likes marketed mainstream new country music"

Hmm, I think you won the argument...

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 08:28 AM

The Harley rider of today is a symbol of coporate Amerika, of the 3000 sq ft house with the 3 car garage (oil consumption), of 55 inch tv screens, of someone who supports the war over in the mideast, one who likes marketed mainstream new country music, a supporter of the politikal machine. To me it is a symbol of everything that has gone wrong these days.

That's why I said if you want a bike that is a statement of non-conformity get a Vespa. It's energy efficient, it is quiet, unassuming, it symbolizes individualism, it's not corporate Amerika. Hell, and when your sitting around at home you can get out and play your Chet Baker albums. Now that to me is lifting your nose from the brown.

biLL .... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Raptor
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 08:04 AM

I've been watching and there are a lot more sportbikes on the road than crusers. And for the record my tele is louder and more obnoxious than any harley!

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 07:47 AM

"the Harley has become a big status symbol of the middle aged lower and upper middle class who stick to their pack en-masse on weekend rides"

Most of the bikes we get around here (and we get quite a few because of the bendy country roads and nearby coast) are ridden by disparate groups. Maybe a pair of sports bike enthusiasts taking advantage of the curvy roads here or there. Or perhaps a dozen eclectic bike enthusiasts tearing off for a Sunday jaunt to the coast for some chips and beer. Or even the couple of trikes (I haven't seen them lately) with beefy tattooed geezers wearing WWII helmets.

To be honest, I haven't seen much of the kind of homogeneous group "anti-conformity" conformity described above. And I never have been impressed by Harleys, too flashy for my taste. Personally, I prefer my 'rebels' to be individualists. But I can appreciate the appeal for those who DO get a kick out of big tribal group gatherings. Even if it does only amount to the purchasing of a fantasy persona for the weekend - let 'em have their fun!

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 05:28 AM

its no different, in fact cut from exactly the same designer dirty worn cloth,
as the embarrassingly trite rebel posturing and quaint anti-social noise making
of the last 30 odd years of the Heavy Metal & Punk culture scene.
All about safety in numbers, and dress code orthadoxies, and 'badboys'n'girls' behavioural conformity..

Understandable amongst 13 year olds coming to terms with life as 'individuals' within a normative peer pressure society
and the myriad lifestyle choices and experiments
available to them to discover..

but somehow a creative deadend and a bit pathetic & sad amongst us over 50's..

...unless, maybe, you're just pissing about with the codes & conventions
and having a self aware laugh at the absurdity of conformist conservative 'prefab' rebel behaviour modes..



ahem....


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486946/

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 06 Jul 10 - 12:16 AM

"but I can see why they'd want to make a statement against conformity"

but's that's just it ... they are conforming to the new middle class values ... it's all about "look at me", their material gains in life, the big expensive harley, the expensive harley apparell ... much like the upper class investment banker in his BMW, or Mercedes and the Lacosta golf shirts on a weekend ride to Newport Rhode Island or Bar harbor Maine.

The days of the biker and his Harley being the symbol of non-conformity and rebelling against the norms of society are long gone ... the Harley has become a big status symbol of the middle aged lower and upper middle class who stick to their pack en-masse on weekend rides ... making as much noise as they can ... all and all so they can be noticed. They are certainly not lifting their noses from the brown, they are lifting their noses to all who don't own a Harley. As Ebbie says, 'and they think we really care'.


biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 09:48 PM

No. Any WWII period 'bike is going to be silly money.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,erbert
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 08:48 PM

My old Dad started off on military surplus motorbikes back in the late 40's/early 50's
when all he had was a factory worker's pay-packet of probably less
than a fiver a week.

Is that still a feasible way to get good quality bikes cheap for beginners ?

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 08:16 PM

I suggest a self-cocking snook myself, whatever ta' hell that is.

Go ahead and buy the H-D.....That's what you've wanted all along isn't it? Jsst folks to say buy it? Have fun and all that but unlike the Fender, do not delude yourself that the Harley is the best thing to be had because it just ain't so. It may be all it takes to satisfy you as the image is strong but every Japanese ride can outdo every model across the board.

Have fun whatever you do.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 08:02 PM

Well, I don't know about cockin' none a' them snooks, but I can see why they'd want to make a statement against conformity.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 07:42 PM

Ah, no-one listening, as usual.

I will explain again.

The activity of which Ebbie complains is a statement that burdensome conventionality does not have universal sway. I rather sympathise with that. Do you remember the relief when the Stetford banality of the 50s gave way to the 60s?

As far as the middle-aged comfortably off are concerned, it is an attempt to lift their noses from the brown - a lifetime of conformity attempting to achieve. Do you not see why they would wish to cock a snook?

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 01:19 PM

So true Ebbie !

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 01:08 PM

And they don't even have a clue as to how UNimpressed we are!

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 12:51 PM

I'm with Ebbie.

there is fun in enjoying the trmrndous freedom which a bike can provide ... I myself will plead guilty in experiencing the exhilaration, and that zen feeling one does have when riding a bike alone down some country road on a bright sunny morning.

But this current trend of bike clubs consisting of middle aged enthusiasts who purposely tune their bikes to be as loud as they can crank them, ascending through streets of some selected populated target en-masse I find shallow, immature and whose soul intend is to draw attention to oneself to display their material gain of owning a Harley Davidson.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 12:44 PM

Yeah, it is all of those things, but a lot of folks do that in cars too.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 12:10 PM

I wasn't intimating in any way that riding a bike isn't fun. I can easily believe that it is exhilarating and comes with a tremendous sense of freedom. A nephew of mine rode around the country with two friends of his and he says it was an experience he will never forget.

My rant was in connection with roaring as loudly as one can through city areas or any other place where you 'want to wake up the people.' I think it is self-revealingly immature, rude and obnoxious.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Mr Red
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 10:48 AM

learn to skid on an older/small bike.
And learn to read a car driver's intentions.

It is worth noting why car drivers "Didn't see you, PAL".

We all run on about 80% prediction and 20% confirmation.

We know what a road looks like, a quick squint confirms it is concrete, dirt, mettled, or sealed. The same squint tells us there is something there or the road is empty. But through the front door pillar even a small car can look like it is hardly anything which can be interpreted as "insignificant". Yea, yea, given 1 second and more it is all obvious. But as I always maintain, IQ is related to speed. So a quick squint equates to dumbosville. If the car attacks a junction - beware, if you saw it in a car you would beware, on a bike, double that.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Raptor
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 08:56 AM

Why do It? (get a Harley)

All my life I wanted to get a Telecaster!

I did it cause I wanted one, not giving a shit how many others have one, I got it cause it's the best guitar in my opinion.I never play it cause i play the Guildsall the time. but I wanted one

Not getting something because everyone has one is just as bad as getting something to be diffrent I do things cause I want to not because of what others will see me as.

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 08:48 AM

The first motorcycle I ever rode was an 80 cubic inch--approx: 1,333 cc flat-head Indian Chief. It was a handfull, with a three speed transmition on the side of the fuel tank, and a foot operated clutch.
          The first time I came to an intersection, I slowed down to stop at a red light and put my foot down, which took it off the clutch, and I shot on through the intersection. But we lived through it and...
          I'm not sure I see what the size of the engine has to do with it, but we do things differently in the colonies.

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Jul 10 - 04:22 AM

I still don't see how anyone can suggest a 750 or 800 cc bike for a beginner!

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST,Riginslinger
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 09:30 PM

I guess my earlier comment about the Urals got deleted, but anybody can find it on their web-page.

---

Here 'tis. -Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Motocycle advise
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 09:53 AM

"If anyone is thinking of getting a Russian combo, check out if it has a powered sidecar wheel - If so they cannot be switched over to the left of the bike - Which is a current legal requirement in the UK."


This had been nagging at me, so I looked it up. The more expensive models have what they call a "Drive Assist" for the side car. I suspect this works something like the differential lock on a farm tractor, but they dont' give a lot of information.
I tried to look up a site for the UK, but they don't seperate it from the rest of Europe. I looked up Austrailia, however, and they have the side care on the opposite side from North America, so there's obviously a way to do that.
Interestingly, in typical Russian fashion, you can buy the motorcycle as a solo, with no sidecar, but it still has a reverse gear--only 4 speeds forward.