I need help with my NaNo-planning

[Svenskaflicka]

I've asked this question at the NaNo-site, but I'll ask here too.

The hero of my NaNo-story, Kiyaro Shiburo, is a very tough and macho guy. He wants to become a Hollywood actor, like Jean-Claude VanDamme, Steven Sieagal, and Chuck Norris. He's a great homophobe, and is very keen on always looking cool and manly. No frills for this guy! Your typical Lone Rider.

And when it comes to riding, I imagine him on a motorcycle of some sort. Not a Harley - and not one of those modern Ducati-ones that looks like buns-on-wheels! I've been adviced on perhaps a vespa, which WOULD be quite suitable for inner-city travelling in Kyoto, where the story takes place. But is a vespa cool and manly enough for this guy?

I've made a short list of possible vehicles. I'd be very grateful if someone wouldn't mind taking a look and giving me some advice.

What would be a suitable vehicle for a macho teenager with rich parents?





PS! He likes to drive fast...

 

[Guest]

What would be a suitable vehicle for a macho teenager with rich parents?





PS! He likes to drive fast...

An SUV.

 

[Guest]

I think a Vespa would do the job, but I'm not all that hot on bikes and the like.

Not much help, sorry!

Lou

 

[oggbashan]

In Kyoto, a Japanese superbike would be appropriate, such as a large Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki or Yamaha.

However if his parents are rich and he wants to make a statement, an exotic classic would be better.

I suggest a Vincent Black Shadow. 120 mph in 1955 and it looks a real mean machine, totally different to modern superbikes.

It was a V-twin like Harleys but in a totally different league.

Current price for a good one about 20,000 pounds sterling, and add the cost of the services of an expert motorcycle mechanic weekly.

Og

PS: Yes, I've ridden one but could never afford one.

 

[Guest]

Flicka, unless you are planning to write an awful lot about the vehicle, it doesn't matter that much for NaNo. Keep in mind the whole ms. is a first draft. All sorts of details can wait. Just have fun writing everyday. P.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Thank you, Lou, ogg and P. CV, he doesn't have a drivers' license.

P is right, and I'm not going to write THAT MUCH about the bike - but I want to know the characters, and this bike is going to be important to Kiyaru. I'm even considering including a scene where he drives Biwa on it, and she doesn't like the high speed - I might even write about them hanging out, Kiyaru tending to his beloved bike, boasting about it being "a 1948 Vincent Black Shadow" (I think I'll go with ogg's idea, cause I really like that bike. Powerful, fast, with a touch of danger, and a supercool name. Just the thing for Kiyaru!), and Biwa asks him why he's bought such an OLD motorcycle, couldn't he afoord a new one?

I think it says a lot about their different characters, and their relationship -and you can imagine Kiyaru's reaction to a comment like that from the boy he thinks of as "wussy"!

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Svenskaflicka,

Are you certain you want your hero on a VESPA?

To most people, that would conjure up images of Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck cycling through Rome in "Roman Holiday." They mostly make Scooters:


http://www.blech-schilder.de/vet14.jpg




If your hero has rich parents, how about a classic like the Indian Motorcycle.


http://www.itsmadeforyou.com/indianmotorcycles/photos/46_Chief_sml.jpg

The 1946 Chief


http://www.itsmadeforyou.com/indianmotorcycles/photos/47_Chief_yellow_sml.jpg

The 1947 Chief


http://www.itsmadeforyou.com/indianmotorcycles/photos/51_Chief_red_sml.jpg

The 1951 Chief




For something a bit more modern, there is the Buell, that's a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, but he would have to have very rich parents. The price-tag is about $10,000.00!

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/04buell_xb12s.jpg



Or perhaps your hero is an ecologically-aware speed-freak. The new eCycle is an American company that puts out a hybrid gas/electrical bike which can go 80 mph (0 to 60 in 6 sec.) while claiming to get 180 miles to the gallon.

http://www.ecycle.com/images/pics/hybrid.jpg


More on the eCycle


Whatever you do, I would seriously rethink the Vespa


PS Here's what Ogg was suggesting:


The 1948 Vincent Black Shadow.

http://www.motorrad-bild.de/images_textbildarchiv/titel/fahrbild_winni_metisse.jpg


The 1955 Vincent Black Shadow was even featured on a stamp.
http://www.sunpoint.net/~kake2/stamps/images/VINCENT.JPG

 

[oggbashan]

Oops, Burley,

The stamp is a Vincent Black Shadow.

The picture above the stamp is NOT. It is a parallel triple - a Norton or Triumph I think.

Vincents didn't usually have fairings except the last few - Black Knight, Black Prince.

Og

PS. The Indians are nice, but compared to a Vincent they were SLOW and lumbering.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

You are absolutely correct, Ogg, at least as far as I can tell.

A case of right page, wrong image, and I picked one labeled:

Mein "Traumbike" 1968: Triumph-Bonneville-Métisse

http://www.motorrad-bild.de/images_textbildarchiv/marken/rickman/bsa_metisse/t120_metisse.jpg

When I should have picked the one labeled:

Technische Daten Vincent Black Shadow Baujahr 1948

http://www.motorrad-bild.de/images_textbildarchiv/marken/vincent/black_shadow/black_shadow_stsr2.jpg


Since you seem to know your bikes,

why was this called “the plumber’s nightmare” — appearance, or maintenance?

I can’t tell because of the German text.

http://www.motorrad-bild.de/images_textbildarchiv/marken/vincent/black_shadow/vincent_a_twin_mr.jpg

Erster 1000er Vincent-V2-Motor 1937: "plumber`s nightmare"



As for the Indian being slow or lumbering, perhaps I am prejudiced.

My first ride was on an Indian's pillion.

 

[Alex De Kok]

Originally posted by Virtual_Burlesque
My first ride was on an Indian's pillion.

Not my first pillion ride, by any means, but once, when my Triumph Tiger 100 (1954 model) was out of service, down at the coffee bar, I accepted a lift from a friend on his Indian.

Big handfull of throttle, dropped clutch. I wasn't settled. Visualise me with my feet rapidly rising to the level of his ears, then swinging back down as he changed gear!

Scary!

Alex

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I have DEFINITELY ruled out a vespa - that's not his style at all! The E-cycle is a nice touch, but the design is a nightmare - that's what I call buns-on-wheels! It looks like a glazed donut on wheels!

I had my mind on a Ducati Monster bike, but the more I think about it, the more I like the Vincent Black Shadow.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Inspiratation!

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/060303top.jpg

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/060303bottom2.jpg


http://www.motorcycledaily.com/060303bottom1.jpg

 

[oggbashan]

You are absolutely correct, Ogg, at least as far as I can tell.
...

Since you seem to know your bikes, why was this called “the plumber’s nightmare” — appearance, or maintenance?

That version of the Vincent's 1000cc engine had external oil pipes. Accidental knocks to the pipes combined with the poor oils available in the 1930s and 40s led to frequent blockages. The Vincent was a high-performance machine and all those oil pipes were essential. If they blocked the engine could seize up - very dangerous at 120mph.

On later Vincents some of the oilways were internal but keeping them freeflowing was still essential. It was said of the early Vincents 'One hour on the road equals three in the workshop - but that one hour was worth it.' For later Vincents that changed to 'two hours in the workshop'.

The Indian's pillion seat was comfortable. The Vincent's wasn't and at over 100 mph felt very scary. Every pimple in the road felt like a boulder. The Vincent I rode used to develop a steering wobble at 90 mph. That wobble would vanish at over 100 mph if you could keep the bike upright and on the road while accelerating from 90 to 100. If you couldn't keep the bike upright and on the road it didn't matter - you'd be dead.

Og

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Ogg,

I am trying to visualize you more grown up wearing a leather helmet and goggles instead of that cake on your head.

 

[oggbashan]

Ogg,

I am trying to visualize you more grown up wearing a leather helmet and goggles instead of that cake on your head.

Goggles - Yes.

Helmet - No. Helmets were for wimps. A flat cap would do for up to 50 mph. Over that speed - bare-headed.

I wear a helmet now. That avoids trouble with the police and people don't recognise me. They do recognise the motorcycle and laugh at it - a 1957 BSA Bantam Major.

Og