Motocycle Wars and Opinions

Yes, I should have added that to the Ducati and Harley list. Both of my
Speed Triples have been truly excellent motorcycles, and between you and Tim
Morrow, both have gone to far better homes where they have served well.
I read somewhere here where the Speed Triple might become a Sprint in your
future. The Sprint is a better bad weather motorcycle, but I think the
character of the ST3 is a real winner.

And you, Andrew. Good to see you continuing to get in the miles and making
friends.

My e-mail is now LWallerstein "at" btcommercial.com
I have another buddy coming down on a Norton Commando around the time you're
down here, so at the very least, I can rent a bike, and chase you guys
around a bit. I keep the license current.

Regards,
Larry

 

Depends on how many miles you put in. I remember my dealer thinking I was
kidding when I scheduled my VFR 800 oil change for the day after I picked up
the bike. He was shocked when I showed up the next day with 650 miles on
the bike. Most of my bikes had about 3,000 to 4,000 miles on them when I
re-sold them. When I was riding, I was RIDING!

Several hundred miles so I could get a feel for the motorcycle.

I'm not sure what has you so upset, Troy, but you need to relax a little and
enjoy the Holidays. If you don't like my post, feel free to ignore it if
you wish.

I guess it meets everyone's needs. I really enjoyed researching and buying
the "latest and greatest" and other people really enjoyed getting a
relatively new, and well broken in motorcycle. I"m still in touch with most
people who purchased motorcycles of mine, and they are all very happy with
their choices, and their purchases. I'm pleased that I could have the
excitement of a new motorcycle, sometimes the first one to hit the area,
like my first Speed Triple, and to be able to put great motorcycles into the
hands of others who appreciated the price break. Everyone won.

It's funny. Certain things, like careers, wives, sedans, socks, I keep
just about forever. But sports cars and motorcycles seem to be something I
like to change. I used to feel defensive about it. Now I just enjoy it,
and am very appreciative that my work has enabled me the economic freedom to
do so. Life is good.

I've never understood all the bashing that sport bike riders do to Harley
motorcycles. Harley Davidson has maintained a time honored push rod
engine, that people love the sound and feel of for many, many years, and
both under Davidson, and under Jeff Bluestein turned the stock into an
excellent performer, and created a marketing "cult". Pretty amazing market
positioning. The bikes, while neither fast, nor good handling, have
charisma and a dynamite sound and "feel" to them. But from a sport biker's
perspective those things don't matter as much, I understand. However, I
think you fail to appreciate just how small the entire motorcycle
"community" is, and how little its members need to bash each other. You
can't imagine how many comments I've gotten about "turning in my organ
donor's card" now that I'm "off motorcycles" Motorcyclist have to do a
better job of appreciating their membership in a small, much maligned
community.

You seem to be working through an issue. I'll leave you in peace.

I've ridden both the EX500 set up for the track, and Denise's SV650. I
liked them both, but I prefer more torque and horsepower. Not to take away
from either the Kawa or the Suzi. Both great motorcycles.

This is a comment from someone who obviously has NOT spent time riding with
Harley owners. When I was riding through the rain in Oregon on my Speed
Triple (now Andrew's) several years ago, I didn't see ANY high end sport
bikes going through Grants Pass in the rain. But I did see several Harley
riders, grinning and waving, and braving the elements. I suspect there is
quite a bit more love of two wheeled freedom and the open highway among
Harley riders then you would give them credit for, whether they are
dentists, or Hell's Angels, both of whom I've ridden with, and enjoyed.

I actually didn't consider you at all when posting. And based upon content
so far, that works out well.

I'm assuming that you are talking about yourself here? I've missed a year
or so of postings. But assuming so, I thought you did very well with your
929, except for chain maintenance, and I would assume you do just as well
with your SV650. Good for you.

I used to ride with people who were quite accomplished riders, mostly people
who raced, or taught riding classes, and I felt the need to keep up with
them. That was my problem, not theirs.

Recapturing the feeling of earlier years when I rode slower motorcycles has
been a good feeling. Whether that will translate into actual riding or not,
I don't know yet. I still enjoy track days, just in cars now, and I'd like
to reconnect with the outdoors more, if I return to riding. I'll ignore
your ongoing potshots. Those are your problem.

 

I forgot that there were wars going on between newsgroups. I happen to know
people who post in each of the newsgroups, and it seemed more economical.
But if that bothered you, why didn't you drop out the offending newsgroups
in your reply?

 

Thirty eight years of riding motorcycles on and off does make me feel like
an "old guy" among motorcyclists. Plus, I think the Alzheimer's has
already set in. Did I say that, already?

 

I didn't sense that I had anything to vindicate myself for. I was simply
establishing credentials before stating opinions.

And meeting people in these groups has been a very nice part of my life.

 

yeah but keeping a bike for 60 days hardly qualifies as the chance to

sure...zip outta the state on the interstate, zip back the next day....tons
of miles...pretty uninteresting riding though isn't it?

how can I ignore such well placed bait!

I agree! Bob once mentioned I go through bikes quickly, and he was thinking
me keeping them around for a year or 18 months was short...the mighty sv is
going on 24 months already! I'm ready for....keeping it!

I used to feel guilty about having a really nice bike and being a 22 year
old kid...I got over it as well. Life is good.

Larry! Its the holidays and I'm home....bored...finished my shopping this
afternoon....and I'm buying parts for the trackbike on ebay, so I have lots
of time to take well placed bait! Besides, bashing Hardleys is just NORMAL,
and YOU'RE the one who cross posted this over into AMS.

I got a Hardley buddy at work...not even a dentist! He keeps hitting deer
and stuff...last time I let him ride my 929 he couldn't figure out how to
shift it without using his heel....amusing as all hell to watch. He ended up
skipping the ride because he couldn't shift the bike into first. True story.

Nice guy...but thats enough proof of the competence of Hardley riders for
me...explains the racing effort in the 90's as well.

Hey...it ain't be mounting the fatboys there Larry-O.

Good for me! The goal this year is to use the 650 as a trackbike in the
spring, and then use the same tires to ride the Cabot Trail in June. Sound
good, or are you primarily a west coast kinda rider?

come on Larry! Cut me some slack!

I was at Laguna Nov3, and there was a guy there who was cool! He was using a
M3 to tow a trailer containing his F4i...two days after Laguna he was doing
Sears with the M3...a day or two after that he was doing Thunderhill with
the F4i again. Now THAT is a cager and bike guy. He carried extra rims for
the car with the good tires on the trailer with the bike...pretty neat...you
could do something like that...good idea no? I'll offer it for free as long
as you stop talking about mounting fatboys in a sportbike group.

 

Never. As a matter of principle I will BS/fight/argue/make fun of anyone
most anywhere, even if its some of the wackjobs who populate the nether
newsgroups.

 

Hey, Mike!!

Happy Holidays to you, as well. Are you still riding?
Is there still a RATS, and if so, who is leading the rides these days?

 

Bob: It is simply amazing how your turn in the barrel caused a complete
agreement between all members of motorcyling that it was important that you
live, and that we all support you.

The drawbridge is down over the moat anytime you want to come by. It is
awfully good to hear from you.

 

Thanks. Missed everyone.

 

Apparently you can't. Have at it.

Again, whatever floats your boat. I've been out of the "flaming" and
"trolling" world for a while, and I no longer see the value in it.

I'm pretty busy out here this coming year. But it sounds like a July ride
here might be forming up.

 

What would Larry envision in terms of a "July ride"? I'm curious...Mike F
considers 2 miles down to the local bar about the max distance for his
Buell...plus the wife won't let him get much out of earshot anyway....to me
a nice ride for a day might be 300-500 miles...tired when complete, but
feeling good. A "vacation" type ride, which is what I am currently planning
for June, looks like Columbus Ohio to Sydney Nova Scotia and back, with
perhaps a 1 way between Columbus and Denver....so call it 5000 bike miles in
the month of June...I'll be tired of riding in general by the time I'm done,
but it'll be a nice ride.

What does a July ride consist of?

 

Larry:

Still riding. Let me see.

1968 Honda CB90, got it almost new from my Dad, rode it off-road
and on-road until 1971 for about 20,000 miles, gave it to my brother.

1988 BMW K75c, purchased new from Cal BMW, put 65,000 miles on it,
sold it in 1997 to buy the T595.

1990 BMW R100G/S, purchased new from Cal BMW, put 35,000 miles on it,
crashed by my good friend in 1995 at Windy Hill on Skyline Boulevard.
Yes, he's still my friend. Got $800 for salvage, and the difference
to low blue book from my friend.

1997 Triumph T595, purchased new from Cal BMW, put 77,000 miles on it,
sold it to buy the 955i.

1987 Yamaha YSR50, purchased from ba.motorcycles legend Reed Kennedy
in 2002, restored from racing to street trim, still needs a little
more work, mostly cosmetic.

2003 Triumph 955i, purchased new from Cal BMW, put 15,000 miles on it,
still riding it.

So, that leaves me with the YSR50 and the 955i.

Regards:

Mike Nelson

 

Larry:

Oh, yeah. See http://www.bayarearatpack.com/

Regards:

Mike

 

Don't know. Andrew mentioned he was coming down to California in July.
I need to be in San Jose the last week of the month, as we are having our
first Grand Prix. There are no plans at this point.

You might also look at Mike Nelson's posts on RATS. Pretty neat rides.

 

Marv sent me an invite. My Gerbing's are in the shop....But....Mary is
getting me a Killamanjaro for Xmas!

 

I'll be down the week before the Laguna GP races which are july 8-10th.

I'll be looking to ride anytime between say the 6th and the 9th, I think I
have a sat and sunday hotel res, in Jamin's hotel, (dont remember which
one.) I will be willing to ride as long as Mary is content to go on wine
tours.

I am dying to see you, holly and Xlax.

 

I agree...

 

I was wondering whether it was crazy to find some more garage space and get
a semi-project, like maybe a restorable oldie like...a 1928 Indian Scout 45"
or I dunno, but something that requires more than a few oil changes, and
tires every so many miles....
My list might look like:
1. Some Vincent twin, if the price were somewhat reasonable
2. Velocette Venom or Thruxton
3. Matchless G50
4. Norton Manx ( as IF)
5. Indian Scout ( oldie!)
6. Norton Commando or Atlas
7. BMW R50
8. Zundapp KS 750
9. Greeves dirt bike ........but wait aren't they making a comeback?:
http://www.greevesmotorcyclesltd.com/
10. well you know there are so many more...


--
Jim Stinnett
VTR1000
R1100RS
YZF R1
http://moto-rama.com

 

Nice list but where's the Gold Star ?