Anyone here ride motorcycles?

[Will]

Just wondering if anyone else here is a fellow motorbike owner. I currently have an 2005 R1.

[dwjj]

Old post, but what the heck. You have a Duc now? What kind?

I've got an ST2 and wife has a 900SS. (whole assortment of stuff in the past)

[Will]

Coool yes I have a 1098 now. I got it in March, previously had a 2005 R1. I love my ducati. Glad to see a fellow Duc head is also a MINI head :)

[dwjj]

My first was an '87 Paso. Ever seen pics? I still miss that bike. Wouldn't hold up to todays standards, but lots of fun. And oh so different from anything around that time.

1098. gawd. nice? someday... I dropped in the shop (doing valve adjustments) and they had a tricolore. Everything is sold already, tricolore heading to Portland.

I'm a basic gearhead. I actually don't have a MINI yet, but decided a couple months ago just waiting to get a couple things paid off, that kind of thing (taxes were a killer this year!). My brother has an MC40 w/JCW. I love driving it when I get the chance. Haven't had a fun car for a LONG time. Wife has had an '87 GTI, '89 Maxima. Last one I had was a '69 Camaro (ground up, every bolt...) Had bikes the whole time though.

[Jeffy]

I ride a Honda CBR 929RR. I've stuck with Honda since '90, because they never break-maybe I won't impress anyone since it's a commoner's bike, but I wouldn't pay for anything else. I'm 44, so I don't race, but I enjoy carving corners and zipping down straights, just not as rabid as I used to be. Plus, I'm tired of riding bashed up bikes and being a regular at my orthopaedist. Most of my co-workers ride Harleys, so one of these days I will ride with them and get a shot of my bike amongst theirs, plus enjoy the wondering stares I would generate. Have fun on your Ducs, you're motorcycle brothers to me no matter which kind you ride. -Jeffy.

[justintime]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XUc1J9ftA8

I would hardly call your bike a commoners bike haha. I love the cbr :]

[dwjj]

Well, we've got two Harleys too. They're a different kind of fun!

Will-do track days, or race?

[Will]

Hey Jeffy we should get together some time to ride. Not sure where you are located but getting together can be part of the ride :)

I've had a Honda Hawk GT - great bike, really fun and trick I might be looking for one since its such a fun bike to throw around in the twisties.

Then I moved up to a Honda SuperHawk - another really fun bike and a V-twin with nice torque.

Then I got a CBR929 - super easy to ride fast, I did lots of track days with it and I loved it.

Then I got a CBR954 - again a really easy bike to ride fast, very neutral not scary and comfortable to boot

Then I went against everything I had stood for before seeing as how I was a hardcore Honda guy. But I fell in love with the black '05 R1. It was a great bike and wicked on the track. I think I was still faster on the 954 but the R1 had more feedback which at times was good and other times really scary :)

Then it happened to me... I saw the most beautiful thing I had ever laid my eyes on in a magazine ( no not Miss March ). The Ducati 1098... I had to go see on in person and did that same day at KCI. My jaw dropped and I got goose bumps. I'd always wanted a Ducati, ever since I saw the 916. But they were always just outside my price range or what I was willing to pay for a bike. this year the price went down to 14.9 vs 17-19 last year which was not far off for what i paid for the R1 12k. So I took the plunge and been loving it.

Its really a fun bike and unfortunately my track day last month was rained out. I mostly do track events although I might not do very many now with the Ducati. I had it fall over in the trailer and it cracked the right mid fairing.... Just for that one piece alone its 729 and takes weeks to come over from Italy since they dont house any parts here in the states. So I think I will be pretty much enjoying it around here on our nice hill country roads.

I really dont have anyone to ride with although my neighbor just got a cruiser the M109 by Suzuzki which is really nice. So if you guys want to get together sometime I'd really enjoy that.

[justintime]

oh, my bestfriends older brother (has an r1) is moving from california to stay with him for the summer. he is looking for people to ride with. so if yall ever do anything let me know and ill inform him.

[Jeffy]

It's interesting to find out that you actually had a bike like mine. I like bikes like your Duc, but have never been smitten because of $700 fairings not stocked in the U.S., and any other part you need or repair made. Thanks for the invitation to ride. I normally ride alone because I live in Yancey and because so far in my experience riding with other sport bike pilotos, it usually becomes a race. I need to quit that- I nearly pitched it about 3 weeks ago and am having complications with my right foot, which I was dragging till getting fully back on it and in control. My wife hates me on my bike(long story), and says if I wreck and don't die, she'll kill me. What that means to me is that I've got someone who really cares about me. I do tend to keep my bikes a long time, 10 years each, except my first one, which was a beginner's bike. Do you do your own Desmo valve adjustments? Interesting valve train! -Jeffy.

[Will]

LOL you wife sounds like mine. She tells me the same thing then again... she also tells me she upped my life insurance.

Nope I dont do the valve adjustments. I am mechanically challenged so I am not so good at working on my own vehicles. I can however tear down a computer and tell you whats wrong with it :)

In my younger years I used to be kinda like what you described, when riding with a group I would always try to get and stay ahead. Usually I could and would easily out ride people, I think mostly because I do (did) a lot of track days so I was very comfortable riding fast while most guys haven't done or do track days.

I have also been known to do some stuntn, riding wheelies for miles and rolling on the front wheel for about 20 yards for a rolling stoppies. However in my old age I have settled down a bit and I mostly like to just cruise and enjoy the experience... the wind buzzing.. the engine sound... the smell of the exhaust and surrounding scents. Much like taking out the MINI with the sunroof down :)

One of the guys at work is the regions president for the BMW LT club. They do some really nice rides and I am gonna join them on the next one. They welcome anyone and folks come down from all over even as far as Houston. I'll post when that comes up so we join them. We could even just motor in the MINI's.

[dwjj]

Do you do your own Desmo valve adjustments? Interesting valve train! -Jeffy.
I do all mine. We have 2 valve motors. The 4 valve are a bit different-haven't done one of those yet.

It really isn't that hard. And saves 700 bucks (X2!). Makes having them MUCH cheaper. I googled and found a couple good pages on the web, stripped the bike, and just took my time the first couple of times. I think if you had someone show you a couple things, then it would be much easier. There's also a video available. Takes me a couple afternoons (with a trip or two to the dealer to get shims). Most of that time is stripping bodywork and putting it all back together. The 900SS needs MUCH less taken off to do it. The ST2 has to have a LOT taken off.

[dwjj]

About wives-I've got to relate a story. I used to have a Paso when we lived in NC. Sold it, was going to get a newer one. Instead, we ended up moving to TX and the money went in to the house. Go a while without-kids...

She used to be bad about the bikes. I've had them since I started driving, so they were around when we started dating in High School. When a time went without a bike (I think she was thinking "she won"), I'd get the fever again, and eventually managed to get one. She had me do a will, promise to wear all leather (not just a helmet), etc etc. Not happy.

A few years (and a few Triumphs) later, she still sees me having fun. She proclaims she'd like to learn to ride. She says because "if something happens, someone needs to be able to get the bike home", but I think she realizes she's been left out and wants to participate. Takes the MSF. I buy here a broken FZR600 and put it back together. Cheap, she won't worry about dropping it. (light, handles well, actually not uncomfortable, not overpowered, doesn't scare her-actually turns out to be a frikkin genius thing on my part thank you very much!!!)

A little time goes by. Hey-she's actually liking to ride.

She wants a cruiser. Buy a sporty from a friend and a Speedmaster for myself. We start having fun doing that sort of thing, meet some different people.

FZR looking long in the tooth, and I still have a Triumph Daytona. Hey honey-look how cool a yellow 900SS looks. I find one on ebay, we fly to Daytona Beach and I ride it home (did the iron butt on it). A little time goes by. Hey-this sportbike thing is fun too... She does a couple track days. I've seen her pop little wheelies (by accident I swear! yeah right). I manage to upgrade to a Duc (oh THAT was why you wanted me to get one! So you could have one! Buying her one first worked out-she sees through it, but doesn't seem to mind too much).

We get bigger Harleys. We go to a few rallies, have fun. So she switches off between her Duc and her Harley.

She starts working at the HD dealer. Rides to work every day.

Funny how some things happen. And how frikkin lucky I am. Thank you very much!

[Jeffy]

Well, those were a couple of entertaining posts- one wife raises your life insurance, the other becomes a knee dragger herself! My wife threatens to buy a bike, but it's only to aggravate me. I'm a hypocrite- I don't recommend bikes to people who don't already ride because I'm afraid they'll hurt themselves (Gee, just like me). I see a BMW bike club going through Hondo on weekends fairly frequently. I wonder where they go because hwy 90 is straight and boring. I do all my wrenching on everything, including computers. The only thing I leave to someone else is tire replacement, but I just bring the wheels and tires. Speaking of that, last year I rode from work at Lackland AFB 50 miles home on a flat front- amazingly stupid. 15mph because the bead had broken and the tire was wandering side to side in the rim, threatening to throw me for a loss. I didn't want to leave the bike anywhere out in the country, but took a chance on dropping it and screwing it up. The next morning the mechanic asked me how far I rode on it like this, as it was mis-shapen. This is one thing motorcycle riders always have- stories. -Jeffy.

[justintime]

im not gonna lie, im probably eventually gonna squeeze a few more of those nose weelies out of you :dancing

peerpressure :thumbsup :D

LOL you wife sounds like mine. She tells me the same thing then again... she also tells me she upped my life insurance.

Nope I dont do the valve adjustments. I am mechanically challenged so I am not so good at working on my own vehicles. I can however tear down a computer and tell you whats wrong with it

In my younger years I used to be kinda like what you described, when riding with a group I would always try to get and stay ahead. Usually I could and would easily out ride people, I think mostly because I do (did) a lot of track days so I was very comfortable riding fast while most guys haven't done or do track days.

I have also been known to do some stuntn, riding wheelies for miles and rolling on the front wheel for about 20 yards for a rolling stoppies. However in my old age I have settled down a bit and I mostly like to just cruise and enjoy the experience... the wind buzzing.. the engine sound... the smell of the exhaust and surrounding scents. Much like taking out the MINI with the sunroof down

One of the guys at work is the regions president for the BMW LT club. They do some really nice rides and I am gonna join them on the next one. They welcome anyone and folks come down from all over even as far as Houston. I'll post when that comes up so we join them. We could even just motor in the MINI's.

[justintime]

oh ya, ive been looking for a ninja, but shopping for one has also made me start shopping for new insurance...
500 on insurance monthly :confused: :rolleyes:

[dwjj]

I use progressive. Did a lot of shopping. Amazing how much it varies. It also pays to check insurance before you decide on a bike. Keeps a bad shock from happening.

[justintime]

I use progressive. Did a lot of shopping. Amazing how much it varies. It also pays to check insurance before you decide on a bike. Keeps a bad shock from happening.

ya, when I checked it was quite a shock.. made me realize why not alot of people have them :rolleyes:

[dwjj]

Wanna hear something funny? Ducati ST2 is a (cough) touring bike with some insurance companies because it has bags, and must not attract a lot of the "high performance" (squidly) crowd. Of course it has basically an 851 frame, mine has Ohlins suspension, removeable center stand, and enough performance to keep me happy.

So my insurance is <$300/yr. Not bad for a Duc. Wife's 900SS was a LOT more, so we have liability on it.

[justintime]

300 yearly? or monthly? me being under 25 doesnt help either :rolleyes:

[dwjj]

$300 a year (really) Of course, I'm quite a bit past 25, clean record, multiple bike discount, driver training, etc etc. So it pays to not only shop insurance companies, but bikes too.

Harleys are expensive. Theft and replacement cost.

[justintime]

$300 a year (really) Of course, I'm quite a bit past 25, clean record, multiple bike discount, driver training, etc etc. So it pays to not only shop insurance companies, but bikes too.

Harleys are expensive. Theft and replacement cost.

WOW is all I have to say :eek2

[Jeffy]

The trick is to buy a used one, so you only have to pay liability insurance. If you're going to buy a used one, make it a Honda- they stand up to more abuse than the others(just my own observation.), so you won't get a used lemon. Better yet, don't buy a bike- you could kill yourself on one! Just stick to pick up trucks. Then you can help people move from appartment to appartment. Also, the back end can serve as drunks' beer can receptacle and you won't notice your truck is full of crushed beer cans till one flies out and hits that cop driving behind you. You also could drive one of those Minis- no one knows they're fast till they get beat by one. If you're going to drive fast in either your pickup or Mini, wear a helmet- safety first!
Some of the contents of this post may be b.s., so pick and choose what you think is sincere. -Jeffy. :D

[justintime]

haha ya, im def. looking at used. psh.. I was thinking about sticking a bike motor in the mini, even they put at more horsies :p :p

The trick is to buy a used one, so you only have to pay liability insurance. If you're going to buy a used one, make it a Honda- they stand up to more abuse than the others(just my own observation.), so you won't get a used lemon. Better yet, don't buy a bike- you could kill yourself on one! Just stick to pick up trucks. Then you can help people move from appartment to appartment. Also, the back end can serve as drunks' beer can receptacle and you won't notice your truck is full of crushed beer cans till one flies out and hits that cop driving behind you. You also could drive one of those Minis- no one knows they're fast till they get beat by one. If you're going to drive fast in either your pickup or Mini, wear a helmet- safety first!
Some of the contents of this post may be b.s., so pick and choose what you think is sincere. -Jeffy. :D

[weezer2282]

haha ya, im def. looking at used. psh.. I was thinking about sticking a bike motor in the mini, even they put at more horsies :p :p

A turbo Hyabusa motor would be a hoot. :thumbsup

[justintime]

or possibly two :thumbsup

A turbo Hyabusa motor would be a hoot. :thumbsup

[Jeffy]

Before BMW came out with this second generation Mini, I used to toy with the idea of putting a liter-class bike engine in one of the old Minis. Of course the engine is more fun and challenging to manage in the bike! Watching a tallented rider carve up a winding road is a thing of grace, kind of like watching a good horse running. Watch a Moto GP race- those riders are magicians! -Jeffy.