[nicholasn]

Originally Posted by ksa

Here’s mine that gets less than 100 km of use each season. lol

Dude, get out and ride

[ksa]

Originally Posted by nicholasn

Dude, get out and ride

This is what we have for 6-8 months out of the year and the riding season is full of messed up drivers that do not know how to behave around a motorcycle. That coupled with having a bunch of fast cars makes it quite difficult to get any proper use out of the bike. I also do not have a ‘crew’ to ride with so that doesn’t help and finally the wife is always unhappy when I am out with the bike.

Anyway, all that = next to no riding typically.

[M2 Ziggy]

My first bike just passed cbt in uk I’m restricted to 125cc until I get full licence.

[M5Rick]

No bike at present so no pics but I'm very impressed with the new Triumph 660 Trident I saw in a Vauxhall showroom. Triple cylinder 4 stroke water cooled, triple discs with upside down front forks and mono shock rear,3 into one exhaust with under bike exit, comfortable well padded seat in the traditional riding position and a LED single binnacle instrument pod for a tempting price. Anyone got one?

[M2 Ziggy]

I am also interested in the trident 660 as my first big bike when I get full licence or maybe a used street twin

[M5Rick]

^ I'm eying up the ones for sale with just a couple thousand miles on them or an ex-demo.

[ksa]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

No bike at present so no pics but I'm very impressed with the new Triumph 660 Trident I saw in a Vauxhall showroom. Triple cylinder 4 stroke water cooled, triple discs with upside down front forks and mono shock rear,3 into one exhaust with under bike exit, comfortable well padded seat in the traditional riding position and a LED single binnacle instrument pod for a tempting price. Anyone got one?

Right before I got my Ducati Monster I actually went and looked at the Trident. Couple of things steered me away from it. First was availability, or lack there of. Wasn't available immediately. But more importantly it felt too small for my statue to me personally. The sales guy said it looked fine but he's got to right? lol. I am 6.1 and 220lbs on the muscular side and I thought I looked funny sitting on it.

It's a great bike and great price point for a brand new Triumph but just wasn't right for me. I would have felt self conscious whereas I don't on the Ducati. I would love to have a Scrambler or even more so a BMW R-Nine T and my first choice the new Harley Sportster and while I can go and get either of them whenever, I just can't justify it based on the lack of use the one I have gets to begin with.

[whitemamba]

2010 Victory Vision

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ksa

Right before I got my Ducati Monster I actually went and looked at the Trident. Couple of things steered me away from it. First was availability, or lack there of. Wasn't available immediately. But more importantly it felt too small for my statue to me personally. The sales guy said it looked fine but he's got to right? lol. I am 6.1 and 220lbs on the muscular side and I thought I looked funny sitting on it.

It's a great bike and great price point for a brand new Triumph but just wasn't right for me. I would have felt self conscious whereas I don't on the Ducati. I would love to have a Scrambler or even more so a BMW R-Nine T and my first choice the new Harley Sportster and while I can go and get either of them whenever, I just can't justify it based on the lack of use the one I have gets to begin with.

I see. I'm 6' at 175 and felt the bike was just right for me, my feet with m/cycle boots easily on the ground,the UK bars are at the right height and I kind of felt at one with this machine.

[ksa]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

I see. I'm 6' at 175 and felt the bike was just right for me, my feet with m/cycle boots easily on the ground,the UK bars are at the right height and I kind of felt at one with this machine.

As soon as I read the first line I said to myself this bike would be perfect for you. And then read on and saw that was indeed the experience you had. So yea, it's a gorgeous looking bike otherwise and pricing (at least for us in Canada) is super attractive so you can't go wrong with it.

[nicholasn]

Originally Posted by ksa

This is what we have for 6-8 months out of the year and the riding season is full of messed up drivers that do not know how to behave around a motorcycle. That coupled with having a bunch of fast cars makes it quite difficult to get any proper use out of the bike. I also do not have a ‘crew’ to ride with so that doesn’t help and finally the wife is always unhappy when I am out with the bike.

Anyway, all that = next to no riding typically.

That all sounds like you're searching everywhere for reasons to not ride. I'll grant the weather being a deal breaker half the year but idiot drivers are everywhere and aren't stopping other bike owners on this thread from riding. Too many toys means they don't get played with often enough, and bikes in particular need to be ridden regularly unless you are extremely diligent about putting them away for the season. It's not good for riders to take long breaks either as you have to rebuild your fringe maneuverability skills every time. Also nobody was born with a "crew" to ride with but it's not hard to find some people and form one...

[VertigoAtHome]

Any Norton guys out there?

Preview of my 1975 Norton 850 Commando MK3 restoration. Engine and gearbox are complete, frame will be complete next week. Still a ways to go, more pics down the road.

[VertigoAtHome]

Originally Posted by grannyknot

Here's a Suzuki T500, 2 stroke, 500cc I restored a number of years ago, pretty bike but the vibrations were unbearable.
I think it was a 1962 or maybe 63

Suzuki 500's were made from 1968 to 1975. My dad bought a new one in 1972. I was 17... he put maybe 10 miles on it, I rode it all summer until I crashed it. You're right ... massive vibrations, lots of noise and smoke. No match for a Kawaski Mach III H1 500 but pretty quick relative to other bikes of the day.

[RichF90M5C]

Two of my current bikes….

[VertigoAtHome]

Originally Posted by RichF90M5C

Two of my current bikes….

Dude, you have it covered! I have a '17 Duc SS, and a '97 748 that gets some love a few times a year. Came close to buying a Pikes Peak a couple times... mostly buying vintage now.

[RichF90M5C]

Originally Posted by VertigoAtHome

Dude, you have it covered! I have a '17 Duc SS, and a '97 748 that gets some love a few times a year. Came close to buying a Pikes Peak a couple times... mostly buying vintage now.

I’ve had over 30 bikes, and that Pikes Peak stirs up emotions that I can’t even explain! Best bike I’ve ever owned, by a country mile.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by nicholasn

That all sounds like you're searching everywhere for reasons to not ride. I'll grant the weather being a deal breaker half the year but idiot drivers are everywhere and aren't stopping other bike owners on this thread from riding. Too many toys means they don't get played with often enough, and bikes in particular need to be ridden regularly unless you are extremely diligent about putting them away for the season. It's not good for riders to take long breaks either as you have to rebuild your fringe maneuverability skills every time. Also nobody was born with a "crew" to ride with but it's not hard to find some people and form one...

I know you wrote this several weeks ago, but I wanted to comment that this is an excellent post, which captures the difference between riding a motorcycle vs. being a motorcyclist.

This past Sunday in on the rural roads near my home, a husband and wife lost their lives due to a motorcycle accident. The accident was very gruesome and my neighbor witnessed the aftermath before EMT could arrive to offer assistance; he is experiencing some PTSD after witnessing the scene. It was a head-on collision between a large touring bike and a BMW car or SUV (the news article was not clear on that point). A third motorcycle rider was also involved, he was the trailing rider of the two-bike group, who was struck by flying debris from the initial crash and caused him to leave the roadway as well. His injuries are considered critical but not life threatening. The accident was 100% preventable and seems to be the fault of the motorcycle rider, who crossed the double solid line on a slight curve and crossed into the path of the BMW. Both vehicles caught fire; I saw the burned roadway the following day but had no knowledge of the event that caused the torched tarmac until later this week.

That accident event stirred my response below.

The key errant point in the post from ksa you responded to is "the riding season is full of messed up drivers that do not know how to behave around a motorcycle". This is ABSOLUTELY the wrong attitude to have when riding a motorcycle. Motorcyclists fully understand that automobile drivers "do not know how to behave around a motorcycle" and NEVER expect automobile drivers to "behave" when we are riding. The art of riding a motorcycle in traffic is to expect automobile drivers to never have enough situational awareness or care to make your ride safer, in fact it is completely the opposite. A motorcyclist never relies on other drivers and other road users to take responsibility for his safe riding environment, never. A motorcyclist learns to prejudge each and every vehicle that is near him based on prejudice and assess the risk that vehicle poses to create a collision. The prejudging is based on numerous factors that must be innately processed in microseconds; the motorcyclist has the sole responsibility to make his driving environment as safe as possible for himself.

[nicholasn]

Originally Posted by wasemunck

Sorry for bumping into an old conversation. It's understandable to feel intimidated by motorcycles, but they can also be a lot of fun. It sounds like you have your eye on some great bikes, and it's always good to research before jumping in.
First, I recommend taking a motorcycle safety course. They teach you everything you have to know about riding, and you'll get to practice in a controlled environment.

Thanks for your recommendation, ChatGPT.

[fraschusa]

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

Have owned over 30 street bikes from mild to wild since I got my license back in '86.
Have a K5 GSXR-1K with fully built turbo engine with a GT2870 240rwhp on pump@8psi and 300rwhp+ @13psi on C16. It's my daily,lot's of fun. Has never been beaten in a highway roll...

Also have an '00 Busa that my wife bought me as a wedding present brand new in '00. All original bodywork. Been through 5 different engine setups over the past 20 yrs. Currently has a built-to-the-hilt ex-Pro Street engine with a GT3582R turbo puts down 475rwhp at 21psi and over 550 at full kill. AMS-1000 boost controller off Co2,WEGO 3,all the goodies.

Recently sold my all time favorite; stock wheelbase '09 Busa I put together with a Carpenter Racing 1441cc engine,BST carbon fiber wheels,and lots of hidden shit to make it the ultimate 240rwhp 130ft/lb daily driver and weekend street racer. 9.0's@162mph on pump gas w my 220lb ass riding. Loved that bike,went to a good home though.

Also sold THE bike of my childhood dreams since I saw it on the cover of Cycle magazine in 1986: Suzuki RG500 Gamma. Never sold in USA. 2-stroke square 4 engine that I had custom Jolly-Moto expansion chambers,Katana 600 wheels,GSXR-750W brakes,etc. Also a gift from my wife as and engagement present back in '97. Wish I kept that fucker as they're rarer the hen's teeth

Then my L3 GSXR-1k,head/cams built for Sunday mountain runs. Made 194rwhp and was a blast.

That RG 500 is such a screamer.... love that bike! One of these days I'll hunt one down. Glad you got to enjoy it for awhile.

[fraschusa]

Too many to count...I still have a few, incl. a '76 R60R BMW...but the racing rigs were the best and the most fun. Chasing M5s and other quick cars on the Autobahn was great fun too.

[DementedF10]

2007 Ducati S4rs. Love this bike!!

[Jo3f1sh]

Miss my old S4R terribly.