So is anyone Riding?

My 'Priller is parked in the garage....sad to say. Going to be a
while before I can get back on her. I was wondering if I could get
the doc to set my knee brace at about 110-degrees so I could
ride....but that would be like having a suicide clutch. If I started
to fall to the left I'd be fooked!

Aside from the rain, we've had some good days for getting in a few
miles on the bikes. I just hope someone out there is getting to enjoy
them.

Also - has anyone seen the new concept power-cruiser from Honda? It's
pretty radical looking. I kind of like it. Power cruisers are
finally starting to become real power cruisers.....bikes that perform
and still have a somewhat laid back feel to 'em.

Anyway.....I don't think there is any Moto GP or AMA on this weekend
so I guess that is out, too.

--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

You can always two up with me on this ride to Mexico this coming week.. LOL.
See .. you could lean back on that sissy bar, prop your ol' leg on the
highway pegs and we'd look like a "green taxi" going down the highway with
on door open... How's that.. Hurry up and get better.. damn.. I need a piece
of pie..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

I ride a little almost every day. Obviously, not during the heavy
rains, but I putt-putt around otherwise. Mostly just city errands.

I saw the VTX-RUNE' like bike in the August Cycle World. I
had been discussing the Rocket3 over on rec.motorcycles, and
this was my related post.

Comments welcomed!

Thanks - Gary


Well, I was here a while back, rambling about the Triumph R3.

I did finally pickup the August Cycle World after it appeared on
my local newsstand.

I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed with the article.
Actually, not disappointed, more like unsatisfied. I thought the
information was lacking detailed specifications. It seemed as if
the R3 information was shortened merely in order to report on
the styling changes suggested by Craig Vetter. "I didn't get a
copy with a missing page did I"?

I wanted some performance stats on the R3. Although, the perf-
ormance characteristics were mentioned in the article narrative, I
would have like just some simple 1/4 mile & roll-on timings.

I guess, as I'm writing this, it seems stupid to me that I really have
concern for his, because I almost never hot rod the Valkyrie I now
own. I guess it's just my curiosity.

Additionally, my worst fear was confirmed in the R3 article. "What
could that fear be" - you say. Well, it's that Triumph didn't see fit
to outfit the R3 with a hydraulic clutch. I had thought that by the
time a bike had reached this size, with the accompanying clutch
strength necessary, it would absolutely no longer be cable. Please
correct me if I misunderstood, this may be enough reason for me
to no longer consider the R3 as replacement.

The other misunderstanding that I had(which I did see discussed
in length on this group) was the 1,000@60mph & 3,000@80mph
issue. "Huh", exactly how does that work?

I could see 2,250@60mph = (3,000 / (80 / 60)) or,
I could see 1,333@80mph = (1,000 / (60 / 80)) but,
I can't quite seem to generate the numbers given in the article. I
have made the assumption that the R3 ratios are linear<g>.

Unlike others in this group, I do like the looks of the R3. I don't
especially care for that "fish gill" looking thing on tank left, and I
have not yet seen the bike personally, but they say it looks better
real than in the pictures.

So, that's about the extent of my contribution/interruption. I do
welcome the 4C's(critiques/comments/clarifications/corrections),
which I'm sure will be forthcoming.

On another, somewhat unrelated topic, did anyone notice the
Honda VTX1800 prototype, following the R3 article? What is
going on at Honda? Is every bike they make eventually going to
resemble the Rune'? Maybe they'll have the Rune' sportbike,
the Rune' scooter, the Rune' dirt bike, the Rune' ATV, and my
favorite, the Rune' Jet Ski(aka Aquatrax in Honda speak).

Perhaps this strategy will spread even to the Rune' Civic, the Rune'
Accord, the Rune' TL, the Rune' MDX, and finally, the Rune' NSX.

I know others have been (un)fortunate to have seen the Valkyrie
Rune' on the street, but I have yet to see one in my area. I did
visit my Honda dealer to see the new bike, sometime ago when
they became initially available. It's OK, but I don't want anything
to do with it. I was told by the salesperson - "We got in 6 initially,
but we've only got two remaining". Now, this says to me one of
the following things:

.. 6 arrived(but we returned 4), we have 2 left.
.. 6 arrived, we sold 4, we have 2 left(intended inference).
.. 6 arrived(but we are a multi-facility dealer, and we sent 2 to each
of the other 2 locations, which haven't sold theirs either), we still
have 2.
.. 6 arrived(but 4 of them are in crates), we have 2 left.
.. 6 arrived(but we put 4 of them in a warehouse we share with V-
rods and Boss Hosses), and we now have 2.

At least I have seen a few Vrods & Boss Hosses on the street.

Thanks, for you patience. I feel a little better.

Gary Walker - Dallas

 

Well if it is any consolation your not the only one not riding. About 4
years ago I was in the back of a friends T-shirt shop looking at his
collection of old cars. He pulled back a tarp and said "I'll bet you
don't know what this is." I had to tell him I did. It was a Norton 750.
It was complete but it was covered with a sticky lent for the T-shirt
printing process. He finally agreed to sell it to me on the condition I
would ride it and not just sell it for a profit. I had every intention
of riding. Nortons are really nice when put together right.

It took me a year to get the bike in shape. I tore the bike down to the
frame. I fixed some frame damage, added some needed frame bracing and
powder coated it in yellow. (It has a yellow frame, black tank with
yellow "Norton" stickers on the tank. It also has a black gunfighter
seat with yellow trim.) I installed upgraded isolastics, fixed the oil
tank mounts and rebuilt the transmission (which can be a trouble spot if
you plan to really ride a Norton.) I started riding it and found it to
be the perfect Norton. The gunfighter seat dropped my butt down (the
stock seat is pretty high) and with the drag bars installed the seating
position was reminiscent of my old BMW R90S. I had a blast because I
live N.E. of Dallas and I have access to some pretty nice twisty roads
that people who live in the city would have to ride for an hour to find.

Then the bottom fell out of the economy and the company I was with went
bust. All extra curricular expenditures were cut. I have not been able
to tag, insure or inspect my bike for the past 2 years. So I am
effectively grounded until I can find employment or until I can win the
lottery both of which are about as likely. I have been surviving as a
contractor but the money is never enough to pay for the basics much less
any thing else. The good news is I have managed to hang on to the Norton
and I have resisted the urge to sell it. I know if I sell it it will be
gone and so will the money. I keep it and hope for a better tomorrow.

This is not a sob story. It is just another "I'm not riding too
commiseration!" I hope you get healed up and back on the road real fast.

James

 

Yep. Ride to work nearly every day. This past week has been the
exception. I opened the garage door on the morning of the first big
rains and it was just barely spitting a little. I almost rode anyway and
then talked myself out of it because it'd been so long since it'd rained
that the roads may have been slick. All day long... nothing... I could
check out the office window and think about overcast and 80 and taking
the long way home. I wasn't even off the campus property after work
when the skies opened up. I was glad I was in the truck.

I missed an impromptu ride around Hmy 4 with some friends this morning.
I was looking for my steering head spanner and hadn't read e-mail until
it was too late to catch them.

 

Must really be frustrating to just look at it. Surely you're going
around the block occasionally to keep the mechanicals in shape. Right?

 

Actually the battery sulfated and I was working on an intermittent
ignition switch problem when the Lucas lump of a switch fell apart in my
hand! It REALLY needs new tires too. The tires are OEM Dunlops and are
as hard as bricks. (It just needs a few little things. (I keep it turned
over and yes it is very frustrating to see it sitting there.)

 

If it would make you feel better about it, I'd be happy to volunteer
to ride on the left side of you. Then when you started to fall, I'd
kick you to the right.

I wouldn't even charge you for the trouble.

Hey, I'll race you to Hico...last one there buys!

 

As much as I appreciate that offer, it's just too of a threat to my
manliness to ride two up with another guy for that length of time.
Rest assured, though, when I can get back on the bike for a period of
time we'll squeeze in a few miles and go get that pie.

My treat, this time!


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

I read some good ride reports, but nothing about the stats, either.
Maybe in the next issue we'll get to see some raw numbers. I'm not
purely a numbers guy. I like both the ride report and the numbers.

I'm not sure about that. I've never quite understood the whole
purpose of the additional strength required to operate a clutch. It
obviously has to do with the mechanics of the tranny - such as the
size of the clutch plate, etc. Perhaps someone can explain it.

It's always mystified me that those Harley's and Iron Horses have
ridiculous amount of resistance on the clutch lever. I couldn't ride
one in traffic....I guess I am not manly enough. My hand would get
tired after about two or three squeezes.

Don't tell me it's because of the power of the bike because that is
bullshit. Jap bikes put out more HP and more torque and their
clutches are quite easy to squeeze.

I saw the bike at the Int. Motorcycle Show last Dec. I didn't like
it. It looks too much like a tractor engine stuffed into a motorcycle
frame.

I've seen a coupe of Rune's on the street. They are OK looking bikes.
I like some of the styling, and don't like some of the styling. I
would not pay $30k for one of those bikes. Come to think of it, I
won't pay $30k for any bike. ;-)


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

That was a good story! I love to hear about stuff like that. It
never happens to me.....and I'm not sure I could pull off such an
elaborate re-build of a bike. That's just a bit beyond my mechanical
skills.

Hopefully you will find a better source of income and be able to get
back on the road again with your Norton. I will wish you luck to do
so!

PS - don't sell it....you would just be kicking yourself in the ass if
you did.


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

Homeless bikes used to make their way into my life all the time. I had a
guy I worked with approach me and asked me to buy his bike. He had a
Yamaha 175. It was street legal and had a clear title. The only thing
wrong with the bike was it had been riding around, tied down, in the
back of this guys truck for about a years. It was red and the plastic
was faded. I told him I wasn't interested. At the time I had 4 bikes
taking up garage space. I told him it wouldn't be fare because all I
could give him for the bike was $50. He said SOLD! It was a great bike
that I had absolutely no use for. I ended up selling it to a high school
kid for $200 and he was thrilled.

I seem that I have to go through every bike I have ever owned before I
feel comfortable with it. Maybe it is because most of the bikes I wanted
came in 2 boxes, a grocery bag and a Styrofoam ice chest! My Ducati 860
GT started out as 3 separate bikes.

Bikes that are all apart make an amazing pile of parts!

Also, when I was working at the BMW shop a guy came in and wanted to
sell his BMW R75/5. My boss asked him why he wanted to sell and he told
him that he had bills to pay. My boss told him that he wouldn't buy his
bike because if he did, the money would be gone, the bike would be gone
and the same bill would be there next month. A month later the guy came
in and said "thank you." It was true. He found the money somewhere else
and he still had his bike.

James

 

Replies interspersed....

I guess I'm interested in both, and kind of a numbers guy.

Well, if you happen to perform s Deja group search on:

"Cycle World loves new Rocket III"

not only will have days of reading, you'll have exhaustive documen-
tary(opinion) on the basics/realities of clutch activation. I just like
having a liquid clutch. I don't suggest one is better/worst than the
other, just what I prefer. It's like I prefer cast wheels. I don't know
if one(cast/spoke) are better than the other, just prefer cast.

I guess so they separate the men from the boys<G>. I have been on
one Sportster that had a very strong clutch pull, but I think that was
caused by corrosion.

Based on my readings, and the sales the Rune' is experiencing(-
suffering), you would have to pay any more that 20K, perhaps
less.

 

Well the supposed advantage of a hydraulic clutch is that it is
supposed to create less wheel spin when downshifting. It also gives
you a mechanical advantage over a cable clutch from a force
perspective.

As for the wheels? Cast wheels are definitely better from a technical
perspective, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Cast wheels
are lighter, stronger, and require less maintenance. Spoke wheels
look better, in some cases, but are heavier and require periodic
tweaking of the spokes.

Does that mean that spoke wheels suck? Not really, it's just a matter
of what you like.

Well I guess I am a wuss, then.....but I don't think I could ride one
of those bikes in heavy traffic.

Even so, $20k is a lot of cash for a bike. If I was going to shell
out $20k for a bike, and I just don't see myself doing that, I'd go
for the Aprilia Mile Factory....about $18k.


--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

Sweet bike.

 

The hydraulic clutch is a great idea. It eliminates the inevitable drag
associated with traditional cables. It can be tuned to actuate a heavier
load and they give a more positive, direct feel. Some after market
suppliers are making hydraulic clutch upgrades for classic Triumph twins.

Clutches (and brakes) have come a long way in 30 years. My Norton has a
clutch that is built on the principles of a compound bow. The pull at
first is very hard but then eases as it is pulled back into full
position. Combine this with a pretty tall first and you have a bike that
will bring tears to your eyes in slow traffic.

Spoke wheels tend to offer less drag at high speed than cast wheels.
Wire spokes cut the air where the wide spokes of a cast wheel tend to
act as paddles. The main reason for cast wheels, apart from esthetics.
is lower manufacturing cost. It is much cheaper (in man hours) to cast
and finish an alloy wheel than to manufacture, assemble and true a spoke
wheel.

I kind of like the Rocket 3 Triumph. I liked it better in pictures than
I did in person. Up close it looked like one more oversized offering. I
think the wide expanse of fuel tank put me off a little. I think I would
like it better in a color other than black. The engine is reminiscent of
the Sunbeam twin built in England during the 50s. (It was not a huge
commercial success.) For all that I still like the concept. I like the
fact that a manufacture of sport bikes has jumped into the cruiser
market in such a big and unique way. I like the fact that they didn't
try and "cruiserize" a sport bike but built something new. Myself, I
can't imagine spending over $17,000 on a bike but the guy at the Harley
dealership tells me that people do it all the time.

James

 

drag, but it may be a great reason to stay out of the heat.

Worked on RoadKillSafari bonii yesterday, and while it's not the searing
white hot heat of the Nevada desert that Waco enountered, the south
Texas coast has it's own type of summer misery: 100 degrees, 100%
humidity. The time/temp sign at the little bank in Clute simply said
2:04 / 100+ and close enough to the Gulf to be totally humid but not
close enough to get any seabreeze relief; that's another 20 miles south
to Surfside. What happens then not even a cool vest will help. In the
desert, there is evaporation to trigger the cooling effect, but when the
air is fully saturated with water, nothing evaporates and a cool vest
becomes a warm rag. Toss in a couple of short rain showers and you
have an environment where steam is literally coming off the streets and
sidewalks. Tropical paradise? Just tropical. After being stopped in
traffic together waiting for a train to go thru, I rode to the festival
grounds with a motor officer who had worked the morning group bicycle
ride. He kept a towel on the dash of his Kaw patrol bike to constantly
wipe the sweat off his brow. Even the natives were suffering.

Did manage to pick up some kills including my primary target which was
the worlds largest mosquito statue, an inflateable 3 story tall beast
that is the centerpiece of the Clute Mosquito Festival, available for
only three days each year. It would seem they take the mosquito part
seriously, as in the middle of the fairgrounds was a large drainage
ditch with culverts, virtually guaranteeing the participation of their
celebrated insect. I didn't stick around to find out and headed for
Pelican Island and SeaWolf Park. the RoadKill rally provides good
reason to ride places I wouldn't ordinarily have gone and having been
there, some I just don't feel the need to go back again.

Whitefish, Montana and the cool mountains sound real good about now.

 

that rune has been sitting there a long time now.
i'd much rather have the trump rocket for the pure fun of it rather than
just something that looks interesting to some. the rocket III will be a
unique item for some time to come.