Why I like Motorcycles

because they are. Motorcycles,I mean.

 

I've been riding motorcycles all my adult life. Mainly European models. My first motorcycle was a Bultaco Lobito. In the early 1980s I bought a basket case Bultaco Metralla and turned it into a very quick café racer, complete with a 360cc Bultaco Pursang motor. Would sh!t all over Japanese 750s in the twisty bits. Fantastic handling (Marzocchi suspension) and brakes (Brembo).

Had a couple of Japanese bikes, single over head cam 500/4 Honda and a Z900. Then onto Euro bikes. BMW R90s and a BMW R65LS which I turned into a competitive track bike. Then a Moto Guzzi Le Mans MkIII which I binned. Then a Moto Guzzi Le Mans MkV (my favourite all time bike). Well fettled and astonishingly fast. An absolute beast to ride in the city but on the open road brilliant. Not quick like the Japanese superbikes, but very fast over a long distance. I owned this one for 11 years but also binned it in the rain coming home from the Phillip Is World Superbikes, two hours from home. One of the saddest days of my life.

Next a 2002 Triumph Sprint RS 955i, in rare Lucifer Orange paint work. Lovely bike, ticked all the right boxes but I wasn't passionate about it like the Guzzi. Sold it when I moved overseas.

Looking at another Guzzi when I move back to Australia.

 

The added feature of owning a motorcycle should be obvious.Meaning
gas mileage.Most motorcycles average around 40 miles per gallon,driven
according to the owners manual.Meaning no open throttle or fast starts.
I think about this quite often.That when I go into the Big City,I'll automatically
save Half on gas.Which works out to about $ 10 bucks per 100 mile trip.
That's nothing to laugh at.That's 2 or more 6-packs of Beer.Maybe 5 new movie
rentals. 2 complete lunches at McD's.An entire loaded Pizza.
Half a bottle of nice red wine.A full bottle of low cost Red.
If just once a week that means over $ 500 bucks a year.

 

we drive cars but we ride motorcycles

There is no fun in hopping in your car and going for a drive. Generally there is a destination and purpose in mind. On a bike, yes it can be your daily transportation but for most, it tends to be a 2nd vehicle. You grab your keys, grab your girl and say let's go for a ride. You need no destination but tend to find something along the way. You try different routes and many times it's the long way. You find small family run restaurants vs the big chain restaurants. You notice more and are more aware.

Sometimes just riding alone is sort of Zen like. It's also fun to ride in a small group with 2-4 other bikes

 

Turns an otherwise boring commute into a struggle for survival.

 

Took me new bike out for a nice spin today. It was a near perfect fall day.
I bought the bike last week and checked the oil a couple days after taking delievery.
It uses one of those little glass windows instead of an oil dipstick.DRAT.
Last time I saw that was over 12 years ago and my Kawasaki Nomad cruiser.
Which was a piece of crap bike.
Anywho ... turned out the bike was Overfilled with oil.That little glass window
showed full.It should be half full after proper starting { 3-5 minutes and 2-4 minutes
resting using the bikes centerstand } Make no mistake that window showed full.
I called the dealer to see what the service mngr. would say.Even though I just
met the service mngr. the day I bought the bike,I kinda knew he would never admit
that maybe they didn't actually run an oil check after assembling the bike.Just set the
bike up with fluids.Plus the tires were not inflated to the correct psi. The rear is supposed
to be 42 and the front 36.Well after a 20 mile stretch the day after I bought it the rear was
36 and the front 30.Service Managers cannot be trusted.They basically exist to protect
their precious dealerships.
Any who ... I ran the bike and warmed it up and drained the oil in a new cheapie
black plastic oil pan { under $ 3 bucks at Wal*mart } and used an empty Mobil One
gray motorcycle quart container to fill up a quart at a time till there was 4 quarts.
I had about a half quart left over.Meaning the bike was more than a half quart over.
No biggie.However a full quart would have meant Foaming.I explained that to the
service mngr.I told the service mngr. I was probably gonna drain the oil and see
exactly how much was in the bike.Good thing I didn'tfollow the service mngr. advice.
He kinda swore that the bike wasn't a quart over.He almost guaranteed.
The bike shifted much different today.It clicked in with no trouble and acted seemless
going thru the gears.The first 100 miles the bike was shifting different.It was smooth
but not as tight and precise.Today shifting was like butter.Like a guy said on YouTube.
You don't even know you've shifted,almost.Plus as I told the service mngr.,the bike
seemed to throw off a slight burning smell.I said,maybe it's the black powdercoat on the
engine fins.But today there was no smell at all.
I say it was all because the bike probably was shipped with a quart [Honda
sometimes bench tests new models and most Goldwings going thru the Marysville
Plant { closed } ] and the dealers just put in the oil per spec sheet.Forgetting it
probably has around a quart in it.I mean,a dry engine could eventually develop
moisture problems.
I'm sorry to say this but I've had basically nothing but problems when it comes to
having one of my bikes serviced.Motorcycle mechanics used to garner $ 44/hr.
It's up to $ 66/hr. the last 3 years.It's a complete rip off.When I had a new front tire
put on my Rune,it took 3 trips to get it right.And even then it wasn't balanced right.
Plus whoever worked on it got greasy fingerprints all over the front end.

 

that's a broad brush with which you are painting. I have some buddies in the repair business both auto and bike. They are reputable. Yes, there are some bad ones and even my buddies have had complaints from people who have no clue and are surprised at how much repairs cost when vehicles have not been maintained. The first reaction is they are being ripped off and will complain to all who will listen.

Clearly that is not your case but I also doubt that your case is not the norm. Not everyone can tear down a vehicle to the nuts and bolts like I can in my garage (it's my hobby) or has the ability to do that. That creates a need for shops and if you feel you're getting bad advice or given the run around, then sit down with the service mgr and discuss it but in a calm manner.

 

I used to ride when I was younger. Learned to ride on GSX750...But, having only one eye and being married with children...i've been disallowed from owning a bike. I would, however, love to own a 1968 Triumph Bonneville...blue and cream....Just love the look of that!

If only I could get my wife to look at it as a piece of art...or investment. Yeah, that's the ticket..."an investment!"

 

When my wife graduated from university she wanted to give herself a reward. Two choices, jump out of an airplane or get her motobike licence. She had been my committed pillion for a number of years, so she chose the latter. I bought her a Suzuki 250 sports bike to learn on, and then later a Ducati 600 Monster.She became the perfect riding buddy.

 

call me chicken or whatever but I never will understand the desire to jump from a perfectly good airplane

If my car breaks down, I can walk
If my boat sinks, I can swim
If my plane breaks, or parachute doesn't open ............. well, you understand

 

That's an interesting repertoire.

My friend's father use to restore Bultacos and Guzzis. They were some of the first bikes I had the chance to look at up close.

 

Scored me first takedown on me new CB1100 yesterday.It was a newish Harley.
One of those greenish brown 1200 sportsters with aftermarket exhaust.
I was out for a quick jaunt to run an errand and the weather was amazing.
because I want to get the bike broken-in before winter.Fall is a perfect time.
Cooler weather therefore the bike won't be exposed to the heat of summer.
I had just past the 300 mile point about 20 minutes earlier.I heard a bike pull
up behind me,at a traffic light.It was a Harley and the guy made a point of blipping his
throttle.Why do Harley guys do that.? I NEVER blip my throttle.What's the point.
Good way to foul plugs also.So I made the decision after that blipping that I was
gonna mount my first challenge.I was gonna slowly pull off and let him get an
even hole shot and then I was gonna gun it.I pulled real hard in 1st and 2nd and
left him way behind.I could hear he was racing also,because his exhaust was
loud and in acceleration.I had to worry about stopping because I reached the next
light quicker than I figured.Thanfully the brakes on this new Honda are the best
I ever pulled.The Harley guy caught up to me at the next light,after I stopped
and he pulled into the next lane,right next to me.As the traffic started up I quickly pulled
into his lane and right behind him.He was trying to showoff by going as fast as he could,
I figured he was in 2nd gear.I stayed in 2nd gear also and kept right up with
him as I slowed down and kinda looked over his way.I was hoping we would both
hit the next traffic light together so I could yell out to him ... " How come those Harley's
don't move.Whadaya gotta do to make that bike GO ? ". But he turned into the
left hand{turn only} lane,as I was heading home and going straight.
I whipped that Harley's noodle,but good.I could almost feel that Harley's attitude
as he turned into the next lane { left turn only }. I surely must have humbled him.
Now he knows how uncool having a Loud Harley is.How he only gipped himself.
His Harley ain't fast,or even stops that well.It's just what it is.
A not too well engineered bike that sells like hotcakes because it appeals to
the beast in macho men who lust after the Harley image and loud noise.

 

take it to the track. The life you save could be my child

 

Generally speaking I'm talking taking off while first at a light and a no traffic ahead
on a straight road.Not in the city but out on a highway road.I agree the few times
I dragged in the city was a bad choice.I'm also not talking Launching the bike
or slipping the clutch.I don't wanna burn thru a clutch.
There are only a few places on my normal route to the Big City that I feel
are excellent places to race another bike.The ideal spot is a highway with a concrete barrier
and a nice half mile straight stretch.No oncoming traffic to cause an accident.
The advertised 0-60 mph of my new bike is 3.3 sec. which just so happens to be the
time of a 2010 Triumph Rocket { 2nd only to a V-Max as cruisers } and the
MV Augusta Strata.Considering the Honda CB 1100 is far and away the easiest
bike I've ever owned to shift and also the best braking.It's totally fun and breezy.
But it is Fast.After all a Motorcycle is an engine,first.
That is why I have no preference for any Harley.They're basically an image.
Not much in the way of engine performance or engineering.
Now the V-rod is quite a motorcycle.It's DOHC design and quick revving
engine smokes any standard Hog.

 

Years ago, I lost a friend to street racing. Yes, I've built and owned cars specifically for the drags and that's where I ran them.

One miscue of a sensor which thinks your kickstand is down, the engine cuts out and Foolardi becomes a flying object. Or, do we ever really know what the other rider is going to do or their capabilities?

 

I have an automatic sensor built into my driving or riding.I always think defensively.
yes,there are problems with running fast.First is ya gotta stop.Then there's the
worry about maybe missing a gear then downshifting and going into a lower gear while
the bike is travelling to fast.Or you wanna slow down and go into a gear that you
know is past the bikes redline.The rear tire could lock up.because the rev limiter
is not defeated.The engine could pop a valve because it's spinning past the rev limit.
The Rev limiter just stops the spark { interrupts the signal to the coil }.

 

I rode my motorcycle to work today, a rarity as typically it means I leave the kevlar pants at home... and for a large company, over 2,000 employees; there are very few riders. More bicycles are parked than motorcycles. Therefore if a co-worker is on a Harley Davidson or a metric, it really doesn't matter to me....maybe I'll draw the line at a Vespa or something. I'm not going to nod and wave to someone on a Vespa.

 

There are some bikes you don't have to spend lots of money on, or ride fast to be cool. This is one of them:

 

Here in Vientiane I get around on a locally made 125cc 4 stroke motor scooter. I've done 25,000 klms of trouble free riding in six years. Cheap to run and heaps of fun. Driving a car in the city is a nightmare.

 

For me riding is always "Zen" like and I completely agree that riding is about the journey more so than the destination.

It's also a great life teacher as well. As my older brother once reminded me, "For every mile of highway there are two miles of ditches."

 

The latest Triumph Bonnyvilles are pretty good.The worst bike I ever owned
back in 1977 was a Triumph Bonnyville.It was a kick start.The thing vibrated all
to hell.had those great lucas gauges and nice tank.Shoddy brakes.
Didn't wanna kick over.Literally vibrated those bolts which seemed everywhere.
I was passed about a month ago by a Triumph Thruxton,I believe.It wasn't a standard
Bonnyville.It sounded good and seemed fast and agile.I kinda liked what I
saw as the bike passed me going 75 mph or so.

 

I own a 1976 Triumph Bonneville and it is an excellent motorcycle. Admittedly it's a bolt-up restoration so the factory problems, like electrical problems, were fixed during the restoration.

At the same time a friend of mine had a 2008 Triumph that had an electrical problem that the dealer was never able to fix. He finally traded it in on a new Harley because the Triumph left him broken down on the road too often.

Something I've learned about the British is that they don't seem understand either fluids or electricity. Great on coachwork and mechanical designs but when it comes to simply things like preventing an engine from leaking or of having electrical systems that don't fail they just don't seem to have a grasp on it. This is why Lucas Electronics that was used on many British vehicles was called the "Prince of Darkness" and where the workers motto was "To work after daybreak and home before dark" LOL

BTW Anyone doing over 75 mph on a US highway is breaking the speed limit and I hope they get busted repeatedly if they keep doing it.

 

Not so sure about British engineering.Even though I came really close more than a
couple times the last 2-3 years in purchasing a Triumph Rocket { arguably the fastest
cruiser nest to the V-Max }.Plus the Rocket has a smooth and efficient powerband.
It Goooooooooooes.That's what I like about my new bike { a standard }.
It has the most straight,linear powerband of any bike in recent memory.
No dips or curves.Just straight-line linear power.My Rune,if not careful can take
off almost out of my hands.Massive torque and unRedlined RPM's.
But it;s also massively heavy.Great straight line cruiser like my previous
Honda { VTX 1800 }.
I was thinking Thruxton the last year.But then the new Triumph cruiser
Thunderbird was too imporessive to pass up.The one thing holding me back,
was my Suzuki dealer { where I bought my M109 and is also a Triumph
and Ducati dealer }.One of the sales guy is a real prick.he's totally unimpressed by anything
other than a couple Ducati models.Like that's all he interested in talking about.
I hate that.Any motorcycle is worth talking about.I think I've always had a Jay Leno
philosophy about Motorcycles.I just love talking motorcycle.Any motorcycle.
Well not so much Harley.because that is what Harley relies exclusively on.
That THEIR bikes are the only ones worth talking about.
Like I said ... I hate that.
Hate can be a beneficial thing,if done properly.
Like I don't hate motorcycle guys who like to race their bikes.
You really need to get a grip.
May I suggest the really Great Motorcycle movie starring Anthony Hopkins :
- The World's Fastest Indian - { 2005 }. The true story of New Zealander Burt Munro
who spent years refining and personally hand crafting the internals of an Indian
engine in an effort to set a new land speed record at the Bonneville Salt
Flats in the late 60's.

 

To me the scooter culture is separate from street motorcycles. It doesn't mean I despise them or hold some weird grudge. We all share the road afterall. I just don't recognize the rider as part of the motorcycle culture. I will ignore them on the road, a far cry from trying to run them off of it. I'd give up 2 wheels entirely if my only choice was a high MPG, hipster scooter. I want at least 650cc under my control, and yes some of the more exotic scooters are capable of touring. Just a sub-culture to two wheels, same with bicycles I suppose. A sub-culture all it's own.

2 wheels does not a motorcyclist make.

A Harley-Davidson on the other hand is even a sub-culture to the general motorcycle culture...again though, I will throw a nod and a wave their way in passing or at a stop. sometimes they reciprocate, sometimes they see the plastic rice burner and don't acknowledge the affirmation back. I still regard them as true motorcyclists, whether they reciprocate or not. At gas stations, I'll frequently go out of my way to acknowledge their ride..."nice ride" that sort of thing. I could not distinguish a knucklehead from a panhead or shovelhead, H-D's are a mystery to me. Every rider wants to be told...."sweet ride man." and I will go out of my way to give them that affirmation. A scooter...? I dunno, I'd have to really force myself on that one..but in fairness your ride is alright by me.