Topic: The Motorcycling Thread

[rrocket]

Can you get a KTM 300 for under $3,500 though? Seems to be the theme of the video although the title doesn’t indicate it.

He called Honda the "best built dirtbikes in history". As much as I love Honda, I'm not sure that's true anymore.

And yes, you can get the 300 for $3500, though I typically see them for $4500 on the low end. Worth the premium in suspension alone. 300cc 2 stroke engine is spectacular.

I'd also take a DRZ400 or a KDX220 over an XR400.

[ktm525]

Can you get a KTM 300 for under $3,500 though? Seems to be the theme of the video although the title doesn’t indicate it.

Sure. The older ones trade hands at these values although you rarely see them on selling sites as they are spoken for among riding groups. The Honda would start tat that price but to bring it up to rideability would get you to a much higher price. Wait, that is Fort Nines business..   Small bike? KDX 200/220 over XR 200/250 all day long.

Up to the Goldwing now. Agree with that one although is this vid just a Honda love in?

KLR. Agree with that one but again laughed at the "find a stock one" advice. Again Fort Nine can sell you the farkles.

[dirtyjeffer]

the point of the video isn't to sell farkles...he's basically saying, instead of spending $16k on the new BMW ADV bike, buy these bikes instead and have a great tool for many different types of riding...also, i think his videos are catered more for the mainstream buyer, not the people who look forward to wrenching on their bikes, so he likely keeps things simple for regular people...plus, entertainment value.

[ktm525]

Buy cheap bikes so they have money to spend at Fortnine! If a sap buys a new BMW he has no moneies for farkle shopping. Brilliant.

[dkaz]

I haven't seen a brand new BMW without all the farkles.

[Arthur Dent]

I sort of a want a Gold Wing to balance out my 250.

[ktm525]

I haven't seen a brand new BMW without all the farkles.

Oh I agree but I think they are farkled up at the selling dealer and rolled into the payments.

[ktm525]

I sort of a want a Gold Wing to balance out my 250.

That would be awesome. I would rock a Goldwing.

[dkaz]

I’m amazed by how many vintage Gold Wings I see riding around.

[ktm525]

Gasoline is cheap right now.

[dkaz]

7 L/100km average for the older Gold Wings. It’s not too bad. The new Gold Wings have been averaging 5.5 L/100km, that’s in the upper limit for “keep on riding with not a care in the world for fuel costs” territory.

[rrocket]

Some Goldwings came with reverse.....

[dkaz]

All the new Gold Wings have reverse. Gold Wing DCT has forward walking speed assist as little as 1.6 km/h.

[rrocket]

All the new Gold Wings have reverse. Gold Wing DCT has forward walking speed assist as little as 1.6 km/h.

The old ones had it too...

[dirtyjeffer]

when i tested one about 20 years ago, i was amazed at how "light" it was (in that, the center of gravity felt like it was one foot off the ground)...now, i'm sure if you loaded it up with gear and put a passenger on the rear seat, that changes things...but i was impressed with how easy it was to drive considering they aren't small bikes...and that engine. 

[rrocket]

when i tested one about 20 years ago, i was amazed at how "light" it was (in that, the center of gravity felt like it was one foot off the ground)...now, i'm sure if you loaded it up with gear and put a passenger on the rear seat, that changes things...but i was impressed with how easy it was to drive considering they aren't small bikes...and that engine. 

I used to go to dyno days often enough.  One time there was a guy there with a Wing.  Everyone cajoled him to dyno it.  He did....torque curve from the flat six was as flat as a pancake!

[PJungnitsch]

Yeah I thought the same thing, was surprised it made that much difference.

The passenger seat is quite the thing too. I rode back there once when I was taking motorcycle training and the owner wanted someone in the back while he did the course. It felt like you could literally go to sleep up there without falling out, even going around pylons.

[dirtyjeffer]

when i tested one about 20 years ago, i was amazed at how "light" it was (in that, the center of gravity felt like it was one foot off the ground)...now, i'm sure if you loaded it up with gear and put a passenger on the rear seat, that changes things...but i was impressed with how easy it was to drive considering they aren't small bikes...and that engine. 

I used to go to dyno days often enough.  One time there was a guy there with a Wing.  Everyone cajoled him to dyno it.  He did....torque curve from the flat six was as flat as a pancake!

yea, i've never seen the sheets, but you can certainly tell by riding it...it takes a bit of getting used to if you are accustomed to high revving bikes (it tops out around 6000 RPM? - similar to a car)...if you're at a light, and "give 'er", you can easily spin the rear wheel (newer ones likely have TC though)...it's an odd feeling doing a little burnout on a big bike like that...and it's so effortless...i never really understood why anyone would buy those bikes...until i rode one.

[blur911]

when i tested one about 20 years ago, i was amazed at how "light" it was (in that, the center of gravity felt like it was one foot off the ground)...now, i'm sure if you loaded it up with gear and put a passenger on the rear seat, that changes things...but i was impressed with how easy it was to drive considering they aren't small bikes...and that engine. 

I used to go to dyno days often enough.  One time there was a guy there with a Wing.  Everyone cajoled him to dyno it.  He did....torque curve from the flat six was as flat as a pancake!

yea, i've never seen the sheets, but you can certainly tell by riding it...it takes a bit of getting used to if you are accustomed to high revving bikes (it tops out around 6000 RPM? - similar to a car)...if you're at a light, and "give 'er", you can easily spin the rear wheel (newer ones likely have TC though)...it's an odd feeling doing a little burnout on a big bike like that...and it's so effortless...i never really understood why anyone would buy those bikes...until i rode one.

I tried out a Valkyrie on a demo day.   The engine felt and sounded like a 1.5 liter version of my 3.0 liter 911 engine with the same rev range.    It's tire made black marks too

[rrocket]

when i tested one about 20 years ago, i was amazed at how "light" it was (in that, the center of gravity felt like it was one foot off the ground)...now, i'm sure if you loaded it up with gear and put a passenger on the rear seat, that changes things...but i was impressed with how easy it was to drive considering they aren't small bikes...and that engine. 

I used to go to dyno days often enough.  One time there was a guy there with a Wing.  Everyone cajoled him to dyno it.  He did....torque curve from the flat six was as flat as a pancake!

yea, i've never seen the sheets, but you can certainly tell by riding it...it takes a bit of getting used to if you are accustomed to high revving bikes (it tops out around 6000 RPM? - similar to a car)...if you're at a light, and "give 'er", you can easily spin the rear wheel (newer ones likely have TC though)...it's an odd feeling doing a little burnout on a big bike like that...and it's so effortless...i never really understood why anyone would buy those bikes...until i rode one.

I tried out a Valkyrie on a demo day.   The engine felt and sounded like a 1.5 liter version of my 3.0 liter 911 engine with the same rev range.    It's tire made black marks too

Have you ever seen the infamous "Odin" dual supercharged Valkrie?  I think only one video exists these days....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eM-2gp7bFY