motorcycles

[HARDKOREBJ]

know of any good ones out there.i`ve been looking at a few.i still going to try and make a good decision.

 

[OUTSIDER]

It depends on what kind of person you are....are you a cruiser or a racer..do you like modern or retro ?

I'm a crusier with a little racer thrown in so I tend to go for jap bikes but the new triumphs are good and reliable from what I here, BMW's are good, the Jap big four makers are good.

I suggest you go to the news agent and get a copy of Bike (a Brit mag) they really test bikes and have a small guide in the back.

Sorry to be anti American at a time like this but I've read a lot of US bike mags and they suck compared to UK magazines, UK mags regularly test bikes long term and thrash them to bits on road and track.

Most US riders seem to like Harley's so you might like to start with them, anyway good luck and happy roads from on biker to another

 

[Handy-Andy]

Try this link it's for the British mag MCN , they've got review's on over 195 bike's . Check out the rest of the site it's got good info and new's http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes/detail?sectionID=52475&documentID=4516

Like Outsider said , it's all down to you ,what you like and what you want out of the bike .

Gimme me a Ducati 996...if I had the money

 

[Comshaw]

http://www.maxturbine.com/home.html:)

 

[Comshaw]

http://www.maxturbine.com/home.html

Sorry 'bout that last one try this.

 

[Always]

HARLEY HARLEY HARLEY HARLEY!! Or a Triumph Bonneville, those are neat....

 

[Guest]

Hi there,
My hubby has been riding bikes for years and works with them, as well. I'm sure he could help you out, if you need/want it. Just let me know.

 

[Chuckus]

I prefer crotch rockets myself. I do like sport tourers as well. Hell I like em all........but my preference is something along the lines of a

Kawasaki ZX9, GSXR 750 (for short fun bursts and short duration rides of less than 6 hours)

I love Ducati's also...........

it is all a matter of taste and what you are looking for.

I love em all. I just like riding motorcycles.

 

[OUTSIDER]

know of any good ones out there.i`ve been looking at a few.i still going to try and make a good decision.

Come on dude, pull your finger out and talk to us we can't help if you don't tell us what kinda dude you are...??!!.

 

[Handy-Andy]

So then HARDKORE , have ya seen owt ya like ? are ya gonna let's know how it's goin' on the search for a bike ?


Yeah Chuckus GSXR750 Nice bike , one of my friend's as one that used to be raced , now that's fast , very fast come to think of it


Seen this beaut in this week's MCN , A Gilera 600 , Damn it look's nice , might just have found my new bike .

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

For what purpose?

Dirt (MX, Enduro, Trials, Trails), street, road, cruising (posing), racing (dirt?, street?), touring??

The cool thing is there are very good bikes for all of these pursuits, but you've got to narrow it down a little.

STG

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

It depends on what kind of person you are....are you a cruiser or a racer..do you like modern or retro ?

I'm a crusier with a little racer thrown in so I tend to go for jap bikes but the new triumphs are good and reliable from what I here, BMW's are good, the Jap big four makers are good.

They all have their idiosyncracies - BMW's are okay but they can be rather quirky and have their own sets of problems (Airhead Paralevers have shaft problems, Oilheads sometimes do quirky things like pop oil sight glasses, etc.). UJMs ("Universal Japanese Motorcycle" ) can be good for a lot of people, but I dislike the splashy graphics on most, and they change the bikes so often that it can be aggravating for those that want to keep their bikes for more than a year or two. Some UJMs keep the same basic foundation for quite some time (Hondas are particularly good about this).

Sorry to be anti American at a time like this but I've read a lot of US bike mags and they suck compared to UK magazines, UK mags regularly test bikes long term and thrash them to bits on road and track.

Motorcyclist and Cycle World are good, as is Motorcycle Consumer News. For classic bikes the Brits have the best mags though, with Walnecks being the only US mag that can begin to compare.

Most US riders seem to like Harley's so you might like to start with them, anyway good luck and happy roads from on biker to another

Ahem! (Clears throat) - more non-US bikes are sold in the US than in the rest of the world. Yeah Harleys are popular here, but so is every other kind of bike. Someday I may own an American bike, but only if I have every other bike I want to own. Right now I have a Euro bike and an Asian bike, and if KTM does right by me with their LC8 I will own another Euro bike.

STG

 

[OUTSIDER]

They all have their idiosyncracies - BMW's are okay but they can be rather quirky and have their own sets of problems (Airhead Paralevers have shaft problems, Oilheads sometimes do quirky things like pop oil sight glasses, etc.). UJMs ("Universal Japanese Motorcycle" ) can be good for a lot of people, but I dislike the splashy graphics on most, and they change the bikes so often that it can be aggravating for those that want to keep their bikes for more than a year or two. Some UJMs keep the same basic foundation for quite some time (Hondas are particularly good about this).

Motorcyclist and Cycle World are good, as is Motorcycle Consumer News. For classic bikes the Brits have the best mags though, with Walnecks being the only US mag that can begin to compare.

Ahem! (Clears throat) - more non-US bikes are sold in the US than in the rest of the world. Yeah Harleys are popular here, but so is every other kind of bike. Someday I may own an American bike, but only if I have every other bike I want to own. Right now I have a Euro bike and an Asian bike, and if KTM does right by me with their LC8 I will own another Euro bike.

STG

All makes have their problems, Hondas used to have shit camchain tensioners and uesless cylinder heads (no bearings tut tut), Suzuki used to have shit electrics....ect...ect

Having bought some US bike mags I can tell you they read like VCR manuals and have no humour in them at all, buy a copy of Bike magazine or performance Bike magazine and marvel at the difference.

Yeah you guys buy a shit load of bikes thats for sure but you guys also seem very rabid about not buying Japanese bikes or loving them and hateing Harleys.

Anyway this is all rather moot cause the guy who started the thread and has never came back to answer any of the comments which I think is just fucking plain rude, you can bet your ass that had this thread been about wwf or wcw then he'd have broken his red-neck to answer it.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Having bought some US bike mags I can tell you they read like VCR manuals and have no humour in them at all, buy a copy of Bike magazine or performance Bike magazine and marvel at the difference.

BTDT - the humor and the slang is mostly Brit, both of which go over the top of my head half the time. I probably have more Brit classic bike mags than US mags as I love those classic bikes (I used to own a '59 TR TT and a '68 TR T120, and now I want an 850 Commando - I've always lusted after Nortons).

I read the bike mags for the info, not the humor or the shots of guys doing burnouts and wheelies. That gets old after a while.

Yeah you guys buy a shit load of bikes thats for sure but you guys also seem very rabid about not buying Japanese bikes or loving them and hateing Harleys.

I think you are confusing HD riders with the rest of the motorcyclists in the US. There may be an old Panhead parked next to my BMW and Suzuki, but it isn't mine and I wouldn't ride it - well maybe just once just to say I did.

The US biker only rides a HD view is a stereotype that is false. There are a lot of HD riders here, but that is because up to now there were a lot of aging Baby Boomers with more money than brains who wanted to live out a teenage fantasy of being a big bad biker dude.

Most of the motorcyclists in the US ride non-US bikes, there are very few US made bikes that are worth riding for any other purpose than looking cool to the HD crowd. But if that is what turns their crank (and for many it is) then more power to them; riding a bike in the US is mostly about fun, and very little about transportation - and if their idea of fun is posing then who am I to begrudge them that?

STG

 

[OUTSIDER]

STG what I was trying to point out is that from what I read and seen about Bikers in the USA they tend to be much more polerized about their choice of motorcycle.

And it's more than just jokes and burn outs in those mags I was talking about, Bike in particular is very well respected.

 

[HARDKOREBJ]

I LIKE>>

cruisers or road bikes.i would like to find one that would be great to travel with.i would like to bike across our great nation and meet all kinds of great people.

 

[OUTSIDER]

Re: I LIKE>>

cruisers or road bikes.i would like to find one that would be great to travel with.i would like to bike across our great nation and meet all kinds of great people.

Fuck me....we thought you were dead

Right now you've answered the question then I'd say go with a harley or one of the jap super cruisers like the honda goldwing, the USA is a big place ( stop making that face I know I'm stating the obvious ) and comfort is king on a long cruise, I mean theres no point in having a bike that'll do 200mph but gives you wrist ache after 20 miles.

 

[HARDKOREBJ]

i would get a harley if i could

they just a little to high for me.maybe someday i will get a hogg.i want something in my budget.

 

[OUTSIDER]

then maybe you need to look at the Jap stuff, they have some middle weight bikes that are great and even some 750cc or 600cc cruisers that won't break the bank.

You could buy a wreck and rebuild it if you have the time or the knowledge ?

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

I'm an avid - ride daily - biker. And based in NYC no less.

I'm now 48 and have been riding since I was 12. Never, ever been without a bike in my life.

I just bought a brand new Kaw 1200 ZRX - the naked sport bike. Voted all around best bike by numerous (many) bike mags. It's a mo fo for sure. Just ran her up the New Jersey Pike yesterday with spurts up to 120 or so. Easy doin's for this bike.

I'm a bit old fashioned - don't dig too much plastic - but not so old fashioned that I want a Hardley or a curizer. I've told others - "the day I ride a bike that has a flag pole on it and only does 95mph tops it the day I quit riding."

But - to each there own. Hardley's are okay - for looks and sound - but they suck for everything else. The motor design dates to 1935 and has barely changed. Anybody who is an engineer will tell you - the design is inefficiant as hell.

Triumphs (the new ones) are expensive and esentially Jap clones that don't work quite as well. But, they do carry that Euro mystique. Big deal - twice a much money for that. And slower than their Jap equiv's.

Beemer's are great!!! Big money and slow though.

Jap curizer's are good - yet pretender's to Hardley's. If you don't mind that, go ahead. They are comfortable, reliable transpo.

Bike sales are up in the US despite the economy. Deals are to be had.

Go for it - two wheels rule!!!!!!

 

[HARDKOREBJ]

yes

i may just do that.i don`t know to much about rebuilding one.that could be a new hobbie of mine.it would be a great learning experience.

 

[Chuckus]

Yeah Chuckus GSXR750 Nice bike , one of my friend's as one that used to be raced , now that's fast , very fast come to think of it

Yepir a friend of mine has a 2000 GSXR 750. The last model year of one I drove was a 1998. Man what a difference fuel injection makes, that damn thing is fast as hell. The 98 was fast but damn that 2000. You can get on it a bit and it pulls the front wheel up a bit, not all the way.......smooth acceleration and shifting and nice broad power.

I like the GSXR for a pure sport bike. Like the Kawa ZX-9 for more of a sport-sport touring feel. I have ridden what Sparky K has and man those damn things are wicked. Kewl looking sport standard, all the punch without all the flash.

Heya Spark, how you like the power of the 1200 ZRX?

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Re: I LIKE>>

cruisers or road bikes.i would like to find one that would be great to travel with.i would like to bike across our great nation and meet all kinds of great people.

I don't much like cruisers if that isn't already apparent, but if you want the epitome of cruisers then get a Harley. The new Honda (VTX) is interesting as is the Royal Star - as far as Cruisers go. The Honda Valkyrie Interstate would probably be an interesting combo of a cruiser and a touring bike - but it is huge! It makes Harleys look like tiny toys. Be aware that big heavy bikes are a good way to get killed if you don't have much experience riding them.

If you want to go touring then here are some suggestions for "sport" touring bikes:

Honda ST1100
Kawasaki Voyager
BMW RT
Ducati ST2 or ST4

As "sport" bikes go, these are heavy for spirited "sport" riding but about right for fun touring, even two-up touring. Lighter than full blown touring bikes such the Gold Wing, Harley Road King or the BMW LT, they can be a lot of fun to ride and still provide a lot of long distance riding comfort. The to p three of these bikes are used by the LD/Iron Butt riders to cover a lot of distance in short periods of time.

A little sportier, but still touring capable bike is the Honda VFR. Another possiblity are the Adventure Touring bikes like the BMW GS (what I own), the Triumph Tiger, etc. - if you want to explore dirt roads/off-pavement tracks and still have big bike speed and touring comfort then these bikes can do that (but be aware, they are not ture dirt bikes, just street bikes that are barely dirt capable. As such, they can get out of shape real quick when ridden off-pavement, and learning off-pavement riding on them is not recommended - use a small dirt bike for that).

A lot depends on the ergonomics of the bikes; some of these bikes can be just right for the purpose, but they just don't fit your body - they are usually made for the average guy, not a 6'6" guy like me, so you have to go by what fits you physically. There are some things you can do, bar-backs, custom seats, custom foot pegs, but the bike should basically fit with only minor adjustments needed.

The image and capabilities of the bike have to fit you also - I wear ballistic nylon and cordura not leather, I wear a full coverage helmet not a beanie and an ear-ring, so my BMW fits my self-image better than a Harley. YMMV.

As for capabilities, if this is your first bike, I recommend against going out and buying a 180 MPH sport bike, or a 700+ pound Harley - both are good ways to get yourself killed before you learn how to properly handle them. If it is your first bike, or even if not, I strongly recommend taking an MSF course - especially if you haven't before.

If possible you might want to rent a bike you are seriously considering - that would cost about $150-$200 for a day and it is better than short 1 hour ride to get a handle on a bike.

STG

 

[Comshaw]

posted by STG:
Someday I may own an American bike, but only if I have every other bike I want to own. Right now I have a Euro bike and an Asian bike, and if KTM does right by me with their LC8 I will own another Euro bike.

Yep, sounds just like me, until I got a peek at the new Harley V-Rod.
It has the Harley v configuration, but that's where the similarities to the standard H-D end; 1000cc, belt drive, fuel injected, water cooled, aluminum tube frame, 107 hp at the rear wheel and (this will make died in the wool H-D riders cringe) all metric! Take a look at it. Way back in 1971 I rode an FLH that a friend had. I swore I'd never get on another H-D until they produced a bike that didn't shake like an earthquake and take a bank roll big enough to choke a horse to make it acceptable in the power department. Well I think it's time I ate my words and threw a leg over this machine. I might even think about buying one, as long as the dealers can avoid the standard 4 or 5 thousand dollar ego fee that is.

As for riding, do me a favor, if you've never been on a bike, take some classes. What I've learned by losing skin and collecting bruises and contusions can be avoided by a bit of training. There are a lot of good riding classes out there. Try one or two, it's worth it, if only to keep from learning about road rash early in your riding career.
Now about a bike. Cruiser on a budget? A Honda 1100 Shadow, Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan, Suzuki 1400 Intruder, all can be bought used for a very decent price. But keep in mind, if your going to do any long distance riding, get one that fits, put on a saddle that will be comfortable for those 500 to 700 mile days, and has enough power to keep you out of trouble. A windshield is an absolute must. If you ever run into a swarm of May Flies on the highway at 70+ you'll understand what I mean.
I'd also suggest saddle bags and a sissy bar. The bar comes in handy if your carrying a passenger, or a back pack, on those long hauls.

I took a short ride here last month with a friend; 1200 miles in three days. We covered parts of three states, Washington, Idaho and Montana.
I was on I-90 East of the Vantage cut (the cut is where the Interstate crosses the Columbia River). I was cruising at a steady 80 mph when another bike pulled up beside me. It was a Honda 1100 CBR Black Bird. The guy looked over at me, waved, shifted and accelerated. 45 seconds later he dropped over the horizon, about a mile in front of me. My estimate of his speed was around 160 mph or so. That guy either had balls the size of melons, or a brain the size of a grape. Imagine hitting a jack rabbit at that speed. SMUT, bye, bye world!
Anyway there are so many good bikes it's hard to point to just one.
Me? I ride a 18 year old Yamaha Venture. I love it. The wife rides a 700 Suzuki Intruder. She loves it. I'm like Sparky, can't stay away from the things. They're an addiction for sure, one that I don't really want to be cured of!

Comshaw

 

[OUTSIDER]

You know harley riders have a saying that when the world ends the last man on it will be riding a harley......will he fuck, he'll be riding a honda C90 cub, those things run forever and about two years ago a guy rode one around the world !!!!!

BTW check out a book called "the travels of jupitor" I htink thats the name.