Jim,
You are right about the RZ wobbling. I didn't really notice it until I went back to it after wadding my VFR down in the KY twisties. I had kept the RZ and started riding it again after totaling the VFR. I couldn't believe how bad it handled after riding a more modern machine. I promptly sold it and bought my buddy's 900RR.
I don't know about Nicky repeating. There are several other good contenders and it's very hard to stay on top.
Your right about the Duc. It's a bit expensive and a bit fast for my current taste. But it is absolutely beautiful. Honestly, I think the Honda GB500 is the ticket for me. Looks cool, can be tricked to look nearly identical to a 1965 racer, it's relatively slow, sounds cool, blah, blah.
I must be getting old!
Enjoy,
TIC |
Hey Tom, nice to hear from you.
You have an affection for 2-strokes too? I got to prep TZ's for a couple of years in AMA and the early Formula USA series. I had never even ridden a 2-stroke before that. Simply amazing performance and straight forward technology. I have been a 2-stroke admirer ever since.
CBR900, what a great bike. Hard to keep the front wheel on the ground though.
The entire VFR series were some of the nicest handling bikes of their time.
RZ350, stock RZ's wobbling across racetracks all over the US and Canada. Those things were dangerous in stock form. Almost got killed by an RZ wobbling uncontrollably across my line out of the last turn at Savannah.
That Ducati is going to put a crimp in your music budget.
Think Nicky can repeat?
Jim S. |
Hey Jim S.,
I've been a fan of the Hayden's since they burst out on the National scene. Living here in Cincinnati and growing up in KY, of course I'm a Nicky fan. I love hearing his drawl when he does his post race interviews with the motoGP press!
Early this summer my sister was telling me that a new nurse at UK hospital had a brother that raced motorcycles. She thought he was "racing in Europe" or something like that. I asked her the new nurses name and it was Hayden! Turns out Nicky's sister works in the ward with my sister. It was nice that Nicky had his whole family at the last race where he secured his championship. Not bad for a good ol' boy from Owensboro!
BTW, I about jumped out of my shoes when Rossi crashed! I didn't have anything against Rossi, but it was a nice turn of events after that crap Pedrosa pulled on Nicky in the previous race.
Currently bikeless since I don't have a garage. Previously had dirt bikes, then a tricked out RZ350, tricked 1990 VFR750 and finally a CBR900RR. Once I get my new house built I'll probably get some type of cool bike that ain't so fast. I'd really like to have a tricked out GB500 or possibly a small bore 2-stroker. Of course, that yellow Duc 748 looks good too......
Enjoy,
TIC |
CCycle - Yeah, Roadracing is a small world. In 1990 there were about 10,000 racing licenses with all the sanctioning bodies. Figure at least half of those were duplicates (some people had 5 or 6). Maybe 5,000 or less racers total. A very small, elite, group we were :>).
I remember some of the YSR racing series's. You guys took it more seriously in the South and West. In our region, every now and then there would be a race for the 50's during lunch.
We raced the WERA endurance series 89-92, then got into AMA 92-94. Rode with Michael in 90 before he went Emgo Suzuki. Michael probably knew Roger, but I can't put a face with the name. Brad rode with us in AMA 92-93 and some earlier endurance stuff. They are both Dallas-Ft. Worth.
We got to race the bigger bikes and the National Series but, in the end, we all end up the same - BROKE! You just saved yourself the financial roller coaster.
Was a lot of fun though.
Nice system BTW. That is a serously dedicated listening room. Want to sell and sponsor a race team?
Jim S. |
Stilljd: I've met Michael Martin, don't remember Brad Sawyer. Do you know Robert Marsh (ex-AMA)? it's a small world.. I did a ton of endurance racing and YSR50 racing, not a lot of big bike sprint racing because I was broke back then... I wore my yellow jersey for a whole year because I was either going fast or sliding on the ground... |
2000 Suzuki Hayabusa modified for those 200+ MPH days! |
Chris,
Happen to know Michael Martin or Brad Sawyer? They raced CMRA about the same timeframe.
Jim |
Now I'll really make you guys laugh; I use to race YSR50's on MiniGP series in Texas with Nicky and Tommy Hayden when they were really really young (early 90's). I've owned 6 YSR's, enduranced races them for 4 years with both the MiniGP series and CMRA (now renamed) at the time...
I have sold my guzzi and moved on to Kawasaki Z1000 (Arata Ti full exhaust, PCIII, CRG levers, Ohlins..) and just recently a another Kawasaki ZX-14R because you can really never have enough HP (dyno at 186hp with 109ft/lbs of torque) on tap... (mods waiting to be installed, full Brock Ti pipe, PCIII, TRE, etc...). After all these years I'm going to see about some track days so I can enjoy the true potential (or at least my limits) of these bikes.. I encourage any motorcyclist to lookup the local race organizations and do some open track days. This is the only true way to understand you bike at that limits in a safer environment.
Keep the rubber side down..
Chris |
Mfsoa,
Pedrosa, maybe? Rossi's coming back with something to prove though. He will be hard to beat. I am a Nicky fan. I don't think he is the most talented, but he is a hard worker. Nicky's dad Earle had just started Nicky and Tommy on 125's in WERA (you only had to be 12 yrs. old on 125's or 80's) when I was racing in WERA, so I knew them a little bit. So, I still root for the Hayden's out of respect.
This thread made me think of all the bikes I got to race or ride. It is a longer list than I ever would have expected.
Nrchy, Mid-Ohio has the "Vintage Days" the week before the AMA race weekend. I have a friend that went every year and always enjoyed the variety of bikes that showed up. Close for me, but a long way for the West Coast guys.
Jim S. |
If we can get enough (whatever that means) response we could try to do something central to the respondants.
I'm all for it... |
If anyone is serious about a biker/audiophile rally or meet, please do count me in. |
Huge MotoGP fan here, and I do like Nicky. Not always the fastest on a single lap, but mature for his age on and off the track.
I too have grown weary of watching Suzuki's dust the field in AMA.
My celebrity claim to fame: My neighbor (Anthony Fania)is the lapper that Aaran Yates drop-kicked at Daytona a few years back.
Is anyone else particularly psyched about next season with the 800's? I am, it'll be fascinating to see if the machines click with certain rider's styles. But I think the pip-squeak (affectionately!) Pedrosa may have an advantage. |
Nrchy, I keep revisiting this thread because I get a kick seeing what you younger guys are riding these days - as do the other Agoners who lurk here. You can see my bike list somewhere above. When I lived in Laguna Beach about a decade back, my 60 yo neighbor went out and bought a new Ducati, making me and the other 40+ yo's quite envious. Bob had the bike about two months before he laid it down on Laguna Canyon road at about 60 mph on a rainy day. He managed to avoid serious injury and sold the bike as soon as it was fixed. That episode wasn't lost on my usually indulgent wife.
So, no two-wheelers for me at this point of the journey. But my tweaked E46 M3 handles almost as well as my Super Sport did, goes verrrrrry fast and, when it starts to rain, I can put the top up. Still, I really enjoy bikes and would like to take a ride on a contemporary superbike.
I will be at CES so if Agon bikers decide to ride in I'd love to see your machines.
Enjoy the holidays and see you LV. |
Nrchy,
Ok, I will mount my 1.6'S on my wifes YSR and meet you in Daytona the 1st weekend in March. You'll have to bring amplifaction, and someone else a player. :>)
You will represent the Classic camp, me, Tboooe, and Mfsoa the RR's. We need volunteers for Cruiser, Chopper, and all the other camps. |
Okay 5323 people have looked at this thread, and 120 have replied, or maybe 120 people have looked at it 43.6 times, but anyway...
When are we going to have the AudiogoN first annual bike rally??? I'm working on the Victory Motorcycle Club rally for next summer already, so what's one more? |
Jim s. I still religously follow bike racing, mostly World Superbike and MotoGP. I dont really like following AMA that much for some reason (probably because a lot of the tracks look horrible and dangerous). I want to like Nicky Hayden but I cant get into him. For Americans I like Colin Edwards and Kenny Roberts Jr. My favorite Euro riders are Pierre Francisco Chili but he retired and Careless Chucker Carlos Checa. But the best has to be Noriyuki Haga...he's a nut!
And yes, the weather is nice here is CA. Its nice coming home again. I am hoping to get to Laguna Seca for this year's Motogp. I used to go there every year but family, responsiblity, etc has made it more difficult. |
Mfsoa,
I believe they still do Mad Sunday. You can also take a bike around the old Nurburgring (spelling?) course for a couple of dollars. No speed limit.
Tboooe,
Big change in weather from MN to CA. AEH? (not exactely sure how to spell that upper Midwest/Canadian pronunciation.
You guys still follow bike racing? Nicky Hayden "World Champ", who would have thought?
Jim S. |
Jim, I was actually living in MN for a time (work). And turn 1 is nuts!!!!
mfsoa, I love your VFR. My favorite bike is my RVF400. There is someting about the 4 four design that is so cool. |
Boa2,
Do NOT answer "It's not the motorcycle" |
Tboooe,
Re Isle of Man TT - I used to work w/ a Brit who told me that they have "Mad Sunday" there, where they leave the "track" open and let anyone out on it!
Don't know if that's still (or ever was) true but can you imagine??!!
'98 VFR800 |
Tboooe,
Yeh, a lot of people put FZR600 motors in the 400 chassis to race. Strangely enough, it didn't work as well as most expected.
Were talking shop, is that OK, or are we hijacking a thread?
How the heck did you end up at Brainerd? What did you think of turn 1?
Love and Respect,
Jim S. |
Jim S., Yes LAguna Seca is an incredible course! I got to rige on it right after they re-paved it and it was an amazing experience. Going down the corkscrew is something that has to be experiencsd. I have no idea how the racers' bikes do not bottom out the suspension. On the opposite end of the spectrum was my expeirence at Brainerd in Minnesota. That really is a "road" course. The uneveness of the surface made riding fast a scary proposition, not to mention the different surfaces on the track. Those AMA racers have bigger you-know-whats than me!
BTW, i used to the the FZR600. Rock solid chasis. The 400 was defnitely a classic for us wanna be racers. |
No honey, your butt looks perfect! Repeat after me, No you look good in/on everything/anything. |
Thanks to a suggestion by my wife, who used to show horses professionally, I "steered away" from counter-steering. Steering by rotating the hips and tensing the inner thigh allows for much better control--especially at higher speeds--than does counter-steering. We used to run a motorcycle dealership, FWIW.
My wife's favorite T-Shirt says "Does this motorcycle make my butt look fast?" |
Tboooe,
That's so cool. Laguna is classic. I'm in the Midwest, and while I've been to Laguna, I didn't get to ride. We were before your time. I quit in 94.
I'm with you on rides, I liked the FZR400 the best. No, I loved that bike.
Jim S. |
Jim. S, I was AMA but that was a few moons ago and many many crashes. I still try and do a track day at Laguna Seca now and then. I am not be very fast anymore but I look good in my Doohan replica ARAI helmet...
The YSR is awesome. I used to scream around my block on one. It is so fun just getting the knee down and pretending I am actually fast... |
Fun counter-steering experiment. At my local ducati dealer, the sales rep and I asked about a half dozen riders to show us their hand motion when counter-steering. No two riders did it the same. Everybody says to do it, but when asked to demonstrate, no two riders in our (very small) test group did it the same. Demonstrations included: rotating both hands in the vertical plane, rotating both hands in the horizontal plane, pushing both hands sideways, pushing both hands sideways and down and lastly and my favorite, "... I refuse to play this game." Let's meet at CES and ask people how to set SRA, whether tubes are better than vinyl, whether vinyl is better than cd, and how to counter-steer... just for fun. Happy Holidays. Jeff |
All I have left is my wifes YSR50 that we used as a pit bike. Old, but "Minty" though.:>)
Tboooe,
AMA, CCS, WERA or ?
Jim S. |
isle of man??? that is one crazy race. doesnt someone die there every year? it wouild be cool just to go and maybe putt around the course (i would be too scared to go too fast) |
Hey, how about an audiophile group trip to the isle of man? We could talk bikes and audio and really drive everyone around us completely bonkers. : ) The merits of synthetic oil over non-synthetic. Slipper clutches and the virtues of the Norton Featherbed frame!!!Don't get me started. |
Yesh, the Keith Code video & Keith Code's travelling motocycle school. The only time I ever seriously hi-sided a motorcyle was late braking into a lean on one of his track Ninja 600s. Went over the bars and sprained both hands foolishly landing on my palms. Best lesson I ever learned on a bike. |
jj2468...countersteering is so "counter" intuitive. Have you seen Keith Code's "Twist of the Wrist"? It is a really good video that goes over the concepts of countersteering. |
Suzuki SV650. My first motorcycle. When I dial in countersteering and how to set up a cartridge properly, I'll be good to go. Jeff |
SEGWAY.
Range; 450 blocks on a ten cent electric charge.
No maintenence.
Safe and fun.
Try one |
Foggy was an awesome rider! My favorite during that era was Aaron Slight and John Kocinski. |
2002 Ducati Monster S4 Fogarty Rep. Only 300 made. Comfy, loud and fast. Commemorates Foggy's 4 World SBK titles. |
I stopped riding in the late 1980's due to kids, wife, and a corporate job which kept me traveling most of the week.
Prior to that I owned a Honda 350, Harley Sportster, and Harley SuperGlide. However, the most thrilling motorcycle I ever owned was a 1973 Kaswasaki 750 H2 from 1973-1975. At that time, the fastest (and most unpredictable) production motorcycle. 0-60 in 4.0 seconds and 1/4 mile under 12 seconds. Going straight and fast it was fine, but that's about all it did right. |
Strictly speaking, I don't "have" it yet, but I am now
# 11 on the waiting list with my dealer for the new Ducati 1098 with expected delivery to take place in sunny February.
I have never been so wild about Ducatis, but this bike to me really looks gorgeous and specs suggest it won't be hard to pass SUVs.
For me, the perfect commuter car. |
1968 TriumphTR6. Single carb 650. Unrestored mint. Doesn't leak. Always starts.
2003 Honda F4i. This is a terrific commuter bike. I've logged 12k miles on I-95 on this bike. Probably the best all around bike I've had. I've had BMW's--R1100RS (nice bike as I recall), K100RT (crap), R60/5 (nice in its sluggish way).
I've also been the frustrated owner of a Norton Commando Fastback. It no doubt could be a sweet ride, but damn if it didn't always act up.
Not sure if there is other bikes in my future. I think bike money has turned into amp money lately. |
I have 3 bikes from my racing (or crashing) days.
1997 Honda RVF 400 (400cc V 4)
1998 Honda NSR 250 (2 stroke)
1997 Honda CBR400r (400cc inline 4)
All of these bikes are imported from Japan. My favorite is the RVF. My dream bike is still the Honda RC30. |
Wow, how do you have a bike from 1976 with 22,000 miles. I put over 8,000 miles this year! You need to listen to your system less and ride more!!! : ) |
1976 Kawasaki KZ900 in-line 4 with Kerker pipe, finned covers everywhere, bars, and the rest is stock. Last of the spokers! Still in near mint condition at 22k miles! |
'67 BSA 440 Victor, '71 650 Bonneville,
'98 R1100GS, '00 KLR650, all fun. |
Honda VFR and Harley Davidson softail (Night train), with a custom paint job from Harley...the Honda is the most fun ride ever, but the Harley is great with a passenger...umm umm good... |
started with a kawi 400 a long time ago. went to a '78 moto guzzi 1000sp and then to a '80 zuke 1000e when it was top of the heap. I still have it in a 1075 cc pro-street format. I also have a Kawi Nomad...best all round bike i've ever owned.. and a pro street 96 inch custom harley.
Included in the mix in rough order of appearance has been a H-2 750 Kawi, a 78 naked gold wing (a 100 mph sewing machine there), 2 kawi zx-11s, a 1260 kaw that ran 9.70s all day long, a 1150 es zuke, a turbo GS1100 punched out to 1325 that wound up being converted to a 7 sec top gas car tire bike, an 00 zuke TL1000R redone in a tricolor candy red, and an 01 kawi ZZR1200 that i piped, grafted a zx-12 inverted front end onto it and redid it in black and candy red. |
I'm not a rider but I did help my brother to purchase a 1943 Harley Davidson WLC 45 about 25 years ago and fully restored it to its WWII Candian glory in that same time frame. |
Marco
Thanks for the links - there is nothing better than a world tour on a bike.
I dont have a lot of experience beyond my usual riding but do have fond memories of:
- driving from London to Brussels on Christmas Eve, 1997, in POURING rain the whole way. Realized, upon reaching the border, that I left my passport (??!?!) on the kitchen counter and they actually let me through. Best dinner ever when I finally arrived. Cold lobsters, foie gras, Sauterne, champagne - wonderful.
- driving from London to Nice, on to Portofino, to Florence to Rimini and then down to Siena on my newly delivered Yamaha R-1, Summer of 1998.
- driving my Triumph Daytona 900 up towards Ireland, and taking a ferry to Belfast, after which I drove across the country stopping at the cliffs on the Atlantic side. Spectacular! One of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Even better, managed to snag a ferry ticket, last minute, to stop off in the Isle of Man and watch the TT races on the way home.
My recent adventures are simply battling my way in and out of Manhattan every day, but I will check out the links.
Thanks again. |
Whoops, screwed up on the markup tags on Helge Pedersen's Website. If you are ever interested in going on some really amazing world tours, this is the man to go with. Check out his book, 10 Years on Two Wheels. They also occasionally do some great multimedia presentations at the major bike shows (Daytona Bike Week & BMW National are both pretty regular if he's in the country). Marco |
So any more info on studded tires, Mr Rainier trips, motcross winter setups etc greatly appreciated. Could I get one of the old school GS Beemer bikes and put studded tires on it? Any idea how long they last? Stud Insertion Tool (that one's too easy, isn't it?)...and lots of other great stuff. If you are asking about longevity of studded tires, don't know. Call Aerostich and find out. I don't use them, but have seen others at SnowCamp who do, and tell me they are very effective. For more GS and Dual Sport jewelry, some very useful, the bible is Touratech (this is the US distributor, but the company is based out of Germany). Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask about The BMW GS Evolution. Lots of folks love the older airhead BMW's for their lightness, simplicity and reliability, and ease of maintenance, as well as greater prowess off road when the going gets tough. They retain their value very well too. But, coming from a sport bike background, the newer Oilheads (identified as the Telelever Generation) are sooooo much more fun on the pavement. Virtually everything about performance has improved, but with it comes the added weight and complexity of technology. You may be bored with the 50hp on tap of the older bikes. Another bike I'd consider for those purposes is the newer KTM Adventurer, either the 950 or 980. If you want to read some real-world experiences in a forum format of these types of bikes, and that style of riding, check out ADVRider. They are not as restrained as on this forum, and moderator is a different species altogether over there, so be prepared. There is a big GS list at Micapeak, but it is a subscribers list, and will generate a whole lot of unwanted bandwidth in my experience. If you want to watch a couple of goofballs actually do a bit of good in bringing some legitimacy and respect, to this realm of our sport, into the public eye, check out the "Long Way Around" series that is recently on DVD. If you want to check out someone whose done that kind of thing on a more serious level, without the benefit of support vehicles and TV crew, check out my friend, [http://www.globeriders.com]Helge Pedersen's Site[/url]. If you want to see some very serious talent on two wheels, watch a Trials competition. Those guys rule! Speaking of James Bond, as you did, I saw the guy who did all the stunts for that recent Bond film with the BMW...French stunt rider Jean-Pierre Goy - He did several lenghty demo rides that were just not to be believed at BMW's 80th B'day bash in Tahoe. I'll see if I can find some snapshots I took of him, but they won't do the experience justice. Marco |
Marco
I was already a fan but now you have my total respect.
Re "studs" yes, an excellent idea. I have been thinking on the trickier days this winter, that perhaps I also need a winter bike, in addition to the sports bike.
Although I love the sport bike on the clear, cold days, I really do hate it when I have to submit to public transportation.
I have told my wife and and friends that my risk of an anxiety or claustrophobia induced heart attack on the bus or train is far greater than the risk of death driving a motorcycle in the winter.
Then I thought, hey - if bad guys can drive motocross bikes down ski slopes while shooting machine guns in James Bond movies, why cant I get through a little snow and ice?
So any more info on studded tires, Mr Rainier trips, motcross winter setups etc greatly appreciated. Could I get one of the old school GS Beemer bikes and put studded tires on it? Any idea how long they last?
For the others, the new Triumph 675 Triple seems like a killer bike and I will report more upon delivery, hopefully in 1-3 weeks.
best
cwlondon |
