Topic: The Motorcycling Thread

[dkaz]

Hayabusas must be safe for beginners then.

In all seriousness, I managed to accidentally wheelie a CB300F once. lol.

[rrocket]

Honda 250 dual sports get a bump to 300cc..

https://www.motorcycle.com/mini-features/2021-honda-crf300l-and-crf300-rally-announced-for-europe.html

[Jaeger]

Not a bike for a newbie, but damn, that's a solid deal.  Gotta love new old stock.

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1445015588

Ooh that's nice, do it Roger!

Technically any bike can be a beginner bike. 

Not gonna lie - I freaking love it.  But it looks a bit of a hooligan from the reviews.  Front  end just wants to come up in the first three gears. Consistently described as a seriously FUN ride, though. Maybe if I rode it in rain mode for the first year. 

I said I would do that with the FZ-09, lasted a week in rain mode... 

If you're going to get a powerful bike as a first bike, at least get one with a long wheelbase so that wheelies aren't inevitable.

That's the thing - while the base model of the FTR is just as powerful as the top dog, it lacks some of the tech - multiple driving modes / lean-sensitive ABS / traction control / wheelie mitigation etc. - that I would likely need to make this choice remotely rational.  And I'm not going to find one of those for $14k.

That said, when the time comes I will ride everything - what I think I like may not be what I actually like.  The FTR is a very tall bike compared with the Scout - that alone may put me off.  The Scout definitely presents are more "friendly and approachable" even in its most powerful trim - which is plenty freaking powerful.

[Fobroader]

I...I like a motorcycle, but I am embarrassed by it as its almost a scooter, its like admitting that I have a crush on Hilary Clinton or something. Sigh, my name is Fob, and I really like the new Honda Trail 125



I know it would be utterly useless with the traffic around here and I would look like a Russian circus bear on a bicycle, but there is something about it that I find fascinating.

[blur911]

^ I like it, but I also have one of these, so I might be biased.

[Fobroader]

I am also a fan of the grom and Z125.....whats wrong with me?!?!?!

[Arthur Dent]

The Honda Trail 125 is awesome. The Super Cub is cool as well.

You are safe though. Canada gets none of Honda's new, cool small stuff. 

[PJungnitsch]

That's still the family car for much of Asia

[Fobroader]

That's still the family car for much of Asia

I think the wife would kaibosh any/all plans of taking her and the dog out for a rip on some sketchy ass scooter thing.

[blur911]

I am also a fan of the grom and Z125.....whats wrong with me?!?!?!

Small light bikes are fun, in the right environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWUSYOXTHn0

[Fobroader]

I am also a fan of the grom and Z125.....whats wrong with me?!?!?!

Small light bikes are fun, in the right environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWUSYOXTHn0

I just think doing something like this would be a great time, as a beginner, a bike with the same power as my snowblower sounds like a good way to learn how to trackday without getting dead

https://youtu.be/Evk_IE8cOV4

https://youtu.be/IQl05z7HSPA

[blur911]

I am also a fan of the grom and Z125.....whats wrong with me?!?!?!

Small light bikes are fun, in the right environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWUSYOXTHn0

I just think doing something like this would be a great time, as a beginner, a bike with the same power as my snowblower sounds like a good way to learn how to trackday without getting dead

https://youtu.be/Evk_IE8cOV4

https://youtu.be/IQl05z7HSPA

A friend (ex-motorcycle racer) and I were just screwing around in the church parking lot a few days ago with my RV50.   
We commented that it would be a hoot for a few guys to get bikes like it and go racing off road.  Rules would be:  no real MX bikes, sub-100cc, if you're too fast you have to race with a rum and coke in one hand...

[Fobroader]

I am also a fan of the grom and Z125.....whats wrong with me?!?!?!

Small light bikes are fun, in the right environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWUSYOXTHn0

I just think doing something like this would be a great time, as a beginner, a bike with the same power as my snowblower sounds like a good way to learn how to trackday without getting dead

https://youtu.be/Evk_IE8cOV4

https://youtu.be/IQl05z7HSPA

A friend (ex-motorcycle racer) and I were just screwing around in the church parking lot a few days ago with my RV50.   
We commented that it would be a hoot for a few guys to get bikes like it and go racing off road.  Rules would be:  no real MX bikes, sub-100cc, if you're too fast you have to race with a rum and coke in one hand...

F#$kin eh!!! Now thats a racing series I could get behind!!!!   

[Fobroader]

I really like this new KLX300 that Kawi is bring out for this year, I tried a 250 at the dealer and it didn't have enough onions for any kind of highway travel, this should fix that. Thinking this would be a fun little dual sport without worrying about any stupid carbs

[dkaz]

I really like this new KLX300 that Kawi is bring out for this year, I tried a 250 at the dealer and it didn't have enough onions for any kind of highway travel, this should fix that. Thinking this would be a fun little dual sport without worrying about any stupid carbs

The KLR has had fuel injection since its reintroduction in 2018. Honda CRF250L is also fuel injected as is the Yamaha XT250 and just discontinued WR250. You're right though, carburetors are antiquated and dumb.

[blur911]

You're right though, carburetors are antiquated and dumb.

I took offense to reading that....but I can't  come up with a good reason why.    They really can be a PITA

I don't mind a carb on a single cylinder "simple" bike.

[Triple Bob]

That said, when the time comes I will ride everything

Unfortunately the 'test ride' options are very limited in ON, especially for a beginner. You basically have to go on reviews and sitting on it.

[blur911]

That said, when the time comes I will ride everything

Unfortunately the 'test ride' options are very limited in ON, especially for a beginner. You basically have to go on reviews and sitting on it.

They used to be great.    I remember going to the Picton fairgrounds where most of the big name manufacturers would get together and have a weekend demo and motorcycle celebration.   I got to ride 2 beemers, a Suzuki SV1000 and a Kawi Z1000 one day.  The demo ride for the BMWs was pretty sporty too.
Harley used to be decent for setting up demo days at dealerships, but I have no idea what's going on nowadays, with them or any others.

[dkaz]

You're right though, carburetors are antiquated and dumb.

I took offense to reading that....but I can't  come up with a good reason why.    They really can be a PITA

I don't mind a carb on a single cylinder "simple" bike.

I'm sure I ran my Vino 125 too lean but I had no freaking clue on how to rejet the carb. I'll take the convenience of fuel injection thank you. People are scared it might leave them stranded out in the bush but I'd trust a fuel injection system over a carburetor system anyday.

[dirtyjeffer]

That said, when the time comes I will ride everything

Unfortunately the 'test ride' options are very limited in ON, especially for a beginner. You basically have to go on reviews and sitting on it.

^^  "Demo Days" are pretty much non-existent nowadays (even before COVID)...they are VERY costly to the manufacturer, the dealership and in all likelihood, didn't amount to much extra in terms of sales (which is why most MFRs stopped doing them...i went to numerous ones over the years, including a few Harley ones...the employees were always friendly, approachable, knowledgeable, and non-judgy...there was always a few motorcycle "enthusiasts" who would show up on their Ducati sportbikes then on the HD bikes when they talked amongst each other back at the dealership ("the thing redlines at 6k, what a POS" type nonsense).