Author Topic: The Motorcycling Thread (Read 458137 times)

ktm525 · « **Reply #1400 on:** January 13, 2019, 11:34:41 pm »

I like the BRPs but they are HEAVY. About 350lbs if I recall or put another way 100 lbs heavier than my Husky FE501. Even Honda's latest attempt at a proper dual sport enduro is a little disappointing in that the 450L is 40 lbs heavier than the Husky. Honda can do better.

If I was going old XR I think I would prefer the air cooled version for added simplicity. Not sure how much weight can be stripped off but the suspenders would need oodles of work for sure.

dkaz · « **Reply #1401 on:** January 14, 2019, 12:00:43 am »

My 4 stroke Vino 125 had backup kick start, saved my butt a few times.

ktm525 · « **Reply #1402 on:** January 14, 2019, 12:17:37 am »

Quote from: DKaz on January 14, 2019, 12:00:43 am

My 4 stroke Vino 125 had backup kick start, saved my butt a few times.

I assume auto so no bump start available?

rrocket · « **Reply #1403 on:** January 14, 2019, 12:25:01 am »

Quote from: ktm525 on January 13, 2019, 11:34:41 pm

I like the BRPs but they are HEAVY. About 350lbs if I recall or put another way 100 lbs heavier than my Husky FE501. Even Honda's latest attempt at a proper dual sport enduro is a little disappointing in that the 450L is 40 lbs heavier than the Husky. Honda can do better.

If I was going old XR I think I would prefer the air cooled version for added simplicity. Not sure how much weight can be stripped off but the suspenders would need oodles of work for sure.

It was heavy...it was no woods racer. But for the wide open where I was riding, it was insane doing an honest 150km/h off road!

ktm525 · « **Reply #1404 on:** January 14, 2019, 11:30:30 am »

Quote from: rrocket on January 14, 2019, 12:25:01 am

Quote from: ktm525 on January 13, 2019, 11:34:41 pm
I like the BRPs but they are HEAVY. About 350lbs if I recall or put another way 100 lbs heavier than my Husky FE501. Even Honda's latest attempt at a proper dual sport enduro is a little disappointing in that the 450L is 40 lbs heavier than the Husky. Honda can do better.

If I was going old XR I think I would prefer the air cooled version for added simplicity. Not sure how much weight can be stripped off but the suspenders would need oodles of work for sure.
It was heavy...it was no woods racer. But for the wide open where I was riding, it was insane doing an honest 150km/h off road!

An uncorked BRP at full throttle is a thing to behold! At least in a straight line with minimal bumps lol. There is a very low mile 1992 XR600 for sale here in Northern AB.

blur911 · « **Reply #1405 on:** January 14, 2019, 11:34:15 am »

Quote from: ktm525 on January 14, 2019, 11:30:30 am

Quote from: rrocket on January 14, 2019, 12:25:01 am
Quote from: ktm525 on January 13, 2019, 11:34:41 pm
I like the BRPs but they are HEAVY. About 350lbs if I recall or put another way 100 lbs heavier than my Husky FE501. Even Honda's latest attempt at a proper dual sport enduro is a little disappointing in that the 450L is 40 lbs heavier than the Husky. Honda can do better.

If I was going old XR I think I would prefer the air cooled version for added simplicity. Not sure how much weight can be stripped off but the suspenders would need oodles of work for sure.
It was heavy...it was no woods racer. But for the wide open where I was riding, it was insane doing an honest 150km/h off road!

An uncorked BRP at full throttle is a thing to behold! At least in a straight line with minimal bumps lol. There is a very low mile 1992 XR600 for sale here in Northern AB.

BRP = Bombardier Recreational Products

johngenx · « **Reply #1406 on:** January 14, 2019, 11:38:56 am »

Billet Racing Products...

ktm525 · « **Reply #1407 on:** January 14, 2019, 11:48:42 am »

Big Red Pig

johngenx · « **Reply #1408 on:** January 14, 2019, 11:58:45 am »

We can’t forget...

BRaaaaaaaaP

dkaz · « **Reply #1409 on:** January 14, 2019, 12:06:51 pm »

Quote from: ktm525 on January 14, 2019, 12:17:37 am

Quote from: DKaz on January 14, 2019, 12:00:43 am
My 4 stroke Vino 125 had backup kick start, saved my butt a few times.

I assume auto so no bump start available?

Yea, although bump starting a motorcycle without a hill seems like a pain. I had to bump start my Mazda 3 about a year ago when the battery was dying.

blur911 · « **Reply #1410 on:** January 14, 2019, 12:16:55 pm »

Quote from: DKaz on January 14, 2019, 12:06:51 pm

Quote from: ktm525 on January 14, 2019, 12:17:37 am
Quote from: DKaz on January 14, 2019, 12:00:43 am
My 4 stroke Vino 125 had backup kick start, saved my butt a few times.

I assume auto so no bump start available?

Yea, although bump starting a motorcycle without a hill seems like a pain. I had to bump start my Mazda 3 about a year ago when the battery was dying.

Found out the hard way, several times, that a DRZ with a totally dead battery cannot be bump-started even if you push it all the way up the hill.

ktm525 · « **Reply #1411 on:** January 14, 2019, 12:26:06 pm »

Quote from: johngenx on January 14, 2019, 11:58:45 am

We can’t forget...

BRaaaaaaaaP

Big thumpers don't Braaap, More like UUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHH

dirtyjeffer · « **Reply #1412 on:** January 15, 2019, 01:02:35 pm »

it looks like BMW will continue with a few scooter models...their C400x and C400GT look pretty decent, and they still have the C650GT if you want a maxi-scooter.

personally, i like the looks of the C400GT.

dkaz · « **Reply #1413 on:** January 15, 2019, 02:07:30 pm »

Quote from: dirtyjeffer on January 15, 2019, 01:02:35 pm

personally, i like the looks of the C400GT.

I sat on it at the motorcycle show, felt good. Looks really good too.

Triple Bob · « **Reply #1414 on:** January 18, 2019, 08:21:33 am »

Quote from: rrocket on January 13, 2019, 01:00:36 pm

Quote from: johngenx on January 13, 2019, 12:46:53 pm
^^ Yeah, no way you'd burden a motocross bike with electric start. Those old two strokes were pared down to nothing to shave every gram. And it worked. Look at the weight specs of those bikes, and it's shocking how light they were with very little or no use of exotic materials.

I'd moved up from my 80 to a 125 and loved the bike. Full sized chassis but super light with an engine that was Jekyll and Hyde. I scored a session on a CR400 and figured it would actually be easier to ride thanks to more cc's meaning a wider more useable power band. Whoops, nope. It was just a lot angrier! You had to ride the 400 exactly like a 125, keep it at full steam. You were just going a hell of a lot faster.

I loved Hondas approach to the CRs. "These are race bikes, you want easy, buy an XR."
Yea, 2 strokes weren't bad to kick at all. I'm guessing Bob doesn't have much experience with those. It was really no big deal to kick and as you said minimal, minimal weight.

Now 4 strokes is a whole different game! And could be a bear to kick even with a decompression lever. Especially so after warmed up.

Ah, you didn't say it was for a race bike, that's different. And yes I've kickstarted bikes before. Used to start my Dad's old dirt bike when I was a kid. Had to jump on it with two feet. That was a four stroke I think, ridiculously hard.

rrocket · « **Reply #1415 on:** January 18, 2019, 09:51:51 am »

Quote from: Triple Bob on January 18, 2019, 08:21:33 am

Quote from: rrocket on January 13, 2019, 01:00:36 pm
Quote from: johngenx on January 13, 2019, 12:46:53 pm
^^ Yeah, no way you'd burden a motocross bike with electric start. Those old two strokes were pared down to nothing to shave every gram. And it worked. Look at the weight specs of those bikes, and it's shocking how light they were with very little or no use of exotic materials.

I'd moved up from my 80 to a 125 and loved the bike. Full sized chassis but super light with an engine that was Jekyll and Hyde. I scored a session on a CR400 and figured it would actually be easier to ride thanks to more cc's meaning a wider more useable power band. Whoops, nope. It was just a lot angrier! You had to ride the 400 exactly like a 125, keep it at full steam. You were just going a hell of a lot faster.

I loved Hondas approach to the CRs. "These are race bikes, you want easy, buy an XR."
Yea, 2 strokes weren't bad to kick at all. I'm guessing Bob doesn't have much experience with those. It was really no big deal to kick and as you said minimal, minimal weight.

Now 4 strokes is a whole different game! And could be a bear to kick even with a decompression lever. Especially so after warmed up.

Ah, you didn't say it was for a race bike, that's different. And yes I've kickstarted bikes before. Used to start my Dad's old dirt bike when I was a kid. Had to jump on it with two feet. That was a four stroke I think, ridiculously hard.

Yep..you got it!

4 strokes can be a bear to kick! Though they are easier now..with automatic decompression valves for starting...which I'm guessing you dad's didn't have!

Sir Osis of Liver · « **Reply #1416 on:** January 18, 2019, 09:54:09 am »

My 1990 DR650 was kickstart. It was fine as long as the decompression valve didn't stick. If it did, it would try to launch me over the handlebar.

rrocket · « **Reply #1417 on:** January 18, 2019, 09:57:04 am »

Quote from: Sir Osis of Liver on January 18, 2019, 09:54:09 am

My 1990 DR650 was kickstart. It was fine as long as the decompression valve didn't stick. If it did, it would try to launch me over the handlebar.

My XR650R decompression valve was REALLY loud. You'd very slowly push the kicker until you heard a loud metallic PING!

Then you knew it was ready to kick for real! Fortunately I never had any mishaps with it.

ktm525 · « **Reply #1418 on:** January 18, 2019, 10:21:32 am »

Forget the art of driving a manual car the art of kickstarting a big bore bike is a nearly extinct art. I still remember the sequence with the CR500. A quick twist of throttle, release, nudge kicker to get a piston in the right part of the stroke and then slight hop upwards and explode with the right leg with a nice commited full extension kick. Paid dividends to have a clean jetted bike lol.

rrocket · « **Reply #1419 on:** January 18, 2019, 10:23:59 am »

Quote from: ktm525 on January 18, 2019, 10:21:32 am

Forget the art of driving a manual car the art of kickstarting a big bore bike is a nearly extinct art. I still remember the sequence with the CR500. A quick twist of throttle, release, nudge kicker to get a piston in the right part of the stroke and then slight hop upwards and explode with the right leg with a nice commited full extension kick. Paid dividends to have a clean jetted bike lol.

I know how to do it...and don't miss it at all!