OT: Motorcyclists on DFO?

[crash]

[quote name="Lazmo" post="1605184" timestamp="1507202822"]

[quote name="crash" post="1605133" timestamp=
Hey Crash, the pipe looks very cool.
Got to sample my new pipe again tonight. Since the VStrom is an OHC 90 degree v-twin it sounds very Ducati-esque. It doesnt have the whir of the desmo valvetrain or the rattle of the dry clutch but it is 90% there, which is great, because Ducs are my true love. I'm crazy for that exhaust note. Regardless, it is better than the sewing machine/water pumpsville that it was. So, yeah, very happy.[/quote]
Ya know, I'm not sure how I've not owned a V Strom! I like v twins a lot. Reliable ones are even better. And the motor is just unbreakable..

 

[crash]

[quote name="Lazmo" post="1605184" timestamp="1507202822"]

[quote name="crash" post="1605133" timestamp=
Hey Crash, the pipe looks very cool.
Got to sample my new pipe again tonight. Since the VStrom is an OHC 90 degree v-twin it sounds very Ducati-esque. It doesnt have the whir of the desmo valvetrain or the rattle of the dry clutch but it is 90% there, which is great, because Ducs are my true love. I'm crazy for that exhaust note. Regardless, it is better than the sewing machine/water pumpsville that it was. So, yeah, very happy.[/quote]
Ya know, I'm not sure how I've not owned a V Strom! I like v twins a lot. Reliable ones are even better. And the motor is just unbreakable..

 

[Lazmo]

Ya know, I'm not sure how I've not owned a V Strom! I like v twins a lot. Reliable ones are even better. And the motor is just unbreakable

Crash, yeah, Im not sure either, as I it seems youve owned almost every bike in existence. Didnt you own a Multistrada, Im pretty sure you did?

Yeah, the VStrom is great. It wasnt on my radar, but quite a few of my riding buddies are motorcycle journalists/photographers and they were crazy for the 650cc version and hassled me into buying one, after I sold the Guzzi. BTW, apparently the new 1000cc version has a lot of its issues resolved.

A few months ago, I had a 400km ride, over the Great Dividing Range with two of my moto journo mates. One was on an Aprilia RSV4 (200hp) and the other was on a thinly disguised BEARS Sportster (100+hp) with lots of trick track bits, while I was on my stock 67hp VStrom. It was endless corners and I was able to stay with them no problems. OK, I had to really hustle the thing, climb all over it like a praying mantis and wring its neck, but it kept up. Same thing on the way back, it did the job no sweat, and of the three bikes, I certainly had the most comfy bike.

 

[crash]

It's always more fun to ride a slow bike fast then a fast bike slow! Thank you Peter Eagen...
I did see a really nice Honda Hawk 650 fs this weekend. Really tempted. Just haven't had a paycheck since July. Had to resist!!!!

 

[Lazmo]

You're worse than me...

 

[Powertone]

I still have my H-D Road King Classic, but probably need to find it a new home. My saddle time has been limited over the past two years. Perhaps I am feeling mortal as I get older, or maybe it is all the texting drivers and the drivers on opiates that are making it just too risky on the roads.

 

[Bandit]

Looks great as is! Was wandering the HD shop last week. Ya know, that was the one big twin that really called me. Simple, comfortable, not a lot of extra crap I wouldn't want on it. Congrats!

Thanks Crash! My first Harley, and mainly because it was so old school simple.

 

[Bandit]

I still have my H-D Road King Classic, but probably need to find it a new home. My saddle time has been limited over the past two years. Perhaps I am feeling mortal as I get older, or maybe it is all the texting drivers and the drivers on opiates that are making it just too risky on the roads.

Nice bike. Shame to let others wreck you fun. I just look at all the distracted people on the road as challenges to stay alert.

 

[Lazmo]

Well it's still winter up here in Oz, but today was like spring had sprung.

Took the VStrom out for a minor caning on some of my favourite backroads.

(broken attachment removed)

 

[jptrickster]

Here's a couple from yesteryear
66 Triumph trophy 500
(broken attachment removed)
'47 Harley Servi car
(broken attachment removed)

 

[crash]

Hadn’t been riding due to a disc injury. Now 9 months postop. Got out for the first long ride. 120 miles rough backroad. Scooter posse ride to the earthquake capital of the world. Parkfield, California. On the San Andreas fault. Great ride. Knarly, twisty country road. Best kind! We were having lunch when a big pack of Harleys rode in. Ended up with all as one big group. Pretty funny. They made more noise, but we outnumbered them! Good to be back on riding!!!

 

[piccupstix]

Great story on many levels, pics too.

 

[Lazmo]

Hadn’t been riding due to a disc injury. Now 9 months postop. Got out for the first long ride. 120 miles rough backroad. Scooter posse ride to the earthquake capital of the world. Parkfield, California. On the San Andreas fault. Great ride. Knarly, twisty country road. Best kind! We were having lunch when a big pack of Harleys rode in. Ended up with all as one big group. Pretty funny. They made more noise, but we outnumbered them! Good to be back on riding!!!

Bill, fantastic. It's great that your neck is sweet for a decent ride. Particularly a knarly, twisty, rough backroad on small wheels.

Scooters, Harleys, whatever; they are two wheels and fun can be had on either... or anything in between.

Bikes are bikes.

Great news about your recovery.

 

[crash]

Particularly a knarly, twisty, rough backroad on small wheels. Bikes are bikes.

And it was some really nasty, patched, potholes roads! If I can hang on those, I think I’m doing OK. The jarring was tough. Hit a rough spot while cranked way over in a corner, thought I was going to lose the front end.It *did* cause me to back it down some.......

 

[Drumbumcrumb]

In the last 5 years I have witnessed 2 bikers being killed on the road.

Florida is very dangerous for bikers, the people down here have questionable driving skills. I always wanted to get a motorcycle; not any more...

Motorcycle fatalities are so high in Fla that you’re exponentially more likely to receive an organ transplant in that state than many others. (I imagine Cali is high too) Now, you’re talking about a lot of good riding weather so the numbers are skewed but still... Thatd freak me out if I lived and rode there.

 

[Drumbumcrumb]

Rider for 20+ years... Lots of good fun on lots of bikes, from a 250cc Suzuki Marauder (first ride) to Honda ACE to GSXR600’s (couple of those!) to a 1700cc Midnight Star (huge bike, I’m the guy who set your car alarm off with the straight pipes) to my most recent flat gray Yamaha FZ8 heavily modded for a Euroracer look. Bikes are like cymbals, you start thinking hmmm, I need one of THOSE. Press repeat.

Favorite bike of all was probably my 2006 GSXr 600, in the rare white and gray color. That was the first year they did the new style “winged” tail and the shorty pipe. Damn that bike was a rocketship, had her at 156 on a late night run vs a supercharged Cobra. He held his own except for the turns. I’ll never forget glancing down and seeing that 156 on the speedo and the digital odometer going like a stopwatch on fire! Ah, to be young again.

I only went down once (on the 05 gixxer 600 I had before the 06) about 5 feet out of my driveway. I was living at the bottom of a steep hill... Well some nitwit cager came down the street the night before and didn’t slow down for the hill-to-flat transition, popped his oil pan and left a foot wide streak of fresh oil right down the middle of the street. I didn’t know this at the time I left my driveway, leaned in and goosed the throttle to take off up the street... WHAM. Bike was slammed to the ground with me on it, fractured my elbow and fractured MY oil pump (poked it right through the fairing on that side too). Wore a sling for a while, and got me a new gixxer!

 

[Nubs]

2013 Street Glide in Midnight Metallic (it's not black):

 

[Stretsch]

I was hoping this old thread would come back! 21 year break from riding ended this spring for me - I got a metric cruiser in the style of an old Indian. 1500CCs gives plenty of torque - I am loving it!

 

[crash]

I was hoping this old thread would come back! 21 year break from riding ended this spring for me - I got a metric cruiser in the style of an old Indian. 1500CCs gives plenty of torque - I am loving it!

Hey! Kawasaki Drifter! I had one of those. Great bike. One of my favorite ever, out of many.

Do you Know about https://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/ ? Great group with a lot of knowledge.

 

[Redbeard77]

I've been riding since I was a kid. I've had dirt bikes, sport bikes, cruisers, different brands, I love 'em all! The comment about bikes being like cymbals is a good comparison.