Topic: The Motorcycling Thread

[Brig]

Wait 'til Brig notices the socks and sandals...

I did, too!   

[Triple Bob]

Wait 'til Brig notices the socks and sandals...

I did, too!   

I was gonna say. You look like you're about to sell me life insurance. 

[ktm525]

Hey that is the pre/post ride uniform although these days it is flip flops if warm and socks/slides if it is not.   

[Ontariodriver]

I'm not sure this would work. you need flexibility on a bike for corning and stuff.

 https://www.cycleworld.com/story/motorcycle-news/italdesign-patents-smart-seatbelt-tech-for-bikes/

Italdesign Patents Smart Seatbelt Tech for Bikes
Computer-controlled system senses when it’s better to release the rider.

 

[ktm525]

Yesterday I saw my first ever wolf while riding. I saw some movement about 50m ahead in some tight trees and it didn't move like the usual deer/moose. I stopped as I thought it may be a bear. A few moments later a large grey wolf trotted away another 50 or so metres turned its head and just watched us for a bit. No pic which sucks but my first ever wolf sighting.

We see lots of deer, moose, the odd black bear, a few grizzlies (fortunately at range never close) but this is my first wolf. Like a giant coyote. 

[Gurgie]

Yesterday I saw my first ever wolf while riding. I saw some movement about 50m ahead in some tight trees and it didn't move like the usual deer/moose. I stopped as I thought it may be a bear. A few moments later a large grey wolf trotted away another 50 or so metres turned its head and just watched us for a bit. No pic which sucks but my first ever wolf sighting.

We see lots of deer, moose, the odd black bear, a few grizzlies (fortunately at range never close) but this is my first wolf. Like a giant coyote. 

Can you out-run them? Guess it depends on the trail? 

[PJungnitsch]

From what I remember they have a weird run, maybe because of the big ass paws they have

[Triple Bob]

From what I remember they have a weird run, maybe because of the big ass paws they have

"Hey Wolf! Why the big
























































paws?

[PJungnitsch]

 

[Fobroader]

Had a great ride yesterday, out on my own for hours

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[ktm525]

Beautiful day for a ride. I lost the clutch master in the FE501 (fortunately near the start) and my buddy graciously offered up his KTM 500 EXC. He rode a dual sport conversion KTM 300 two stroke. I was only nervous about one thing and after I berated DKaz about old tires...

[Triple Bob]

Thinking of getting a KTM Duke 390 for some local fun.

The YouTube rabbit hole lead me to videos on counter steering.

I’ve not been a street bike guy but I’ve logged tens of thousands of kms on dirt bikes in various types of riding, including trails, logging roads and northern two lane highways (the lawfulness of which is for another post).

I have no conscious memory of counter steering other than instinctively counter steering out of fishtails. 

Is it just me?  Was I doing this without knowing it?

Most people do it without thinking about it, it's what you naturally do to turn a bike. It helps to know you are consciously doing it when you go into a corner too hot, then you can push and lean more to get around. Rather than grab the brake and target fixate on what you are about to hit.

[ktm525]

Push a little harder and hope for a low side slide.

[dkaz]

Beautiful day for a ride. I lost the clutch master in the FE501 (fortunately near the start) and my buddy graciously offered up his KTM 500 EXC. He rode a dual sport conversion KTM 300 two stroke. I was only nervous about one thing and after I berated DKaz about old tires...

You know what’s worse than 10 year old tires? 13 year old tires.

[ktm525]

They were ridden mostly of single track but there was a high speed 20km pavement/gravel transit. The tires were horrible with NO sidewall flex. Didn't kill me though as I think tube type are more forgiving. The tires are being tossed in the junk pile week though. The owner had mistakenly mounted them and we needed a spare bike quick as we were burning daylight.

 

[Jaeger]

Let's play a somewhat hypohtetical game.

Assume:

1) There seems to be a snowball's chance in hell of getting a Triumph Trident 660 this year.  Fully pre-sold inventory with lengthy waiting lists.
2) That spousal approval / resignation to the inevitable seems close, and I don't want to want to lose that momentum by waiting until next year.
3) I really don't love any other of the 600-ish cc bikes - I know I'd always wish I'd got the Trident. (CB 650R, MT07 etc. - they don't suck, I just don't got that loving feeling.)

Anything else that really appeals to me is up a class in displacement, power and price (100-110hp versus 80 for the Trident, 14-15k versus 10k for the Trident) and probably not really a beginner's bike.

Bot those that I DO really like a whole lot include:

1) Triumph Speed Twin
2) Ducati Monster
3) Kawasaki Z900 RS

Yeah, I know that's two retro-styled bikes and one thoroughly contemporary sport naked - hey, I like what I like.  And these by and large don't require a line-up to purchase.

Any thoughts, experiences, known plusses or minuses to these three from the group?

The Ducati Scrambler 800 is something of an outlier.  I saw a new 2020 nicely discounted when out shopping this past weekend and fell for it even in the utterly obnoxious yellow and black colourway.

[rrocket]

1) Lack of  Triumph dealer network could be a problem. But probably not where you live.

2) Ducati $$$$ service costs.

[Triple Bob]

Let's play a somewhat hypohtetical game.

Assume:

1) There seems to be a snowball's chance in hell of getting a Triumph Trident 660 this year.  Fully pre-sold inventory with lengthy waiting lists.
2) That spousal approval / resignation to the inevitable seems close, and I don't want to want to lose that momentum by waiting until next year.
3) I really don't love any other of the 600-ish cc bikes - I know I'd always wish I'd got the Trident. (CB 650R, MT07 etc. - they don't suck, I just don't got that loving feeling.)

Anything else that really appeals to me is up a class in displacement, power and price (100-110hp versus 80 for the Trident, 14-15k versus 10k for the Trident) and probably not really a beginner's bike.

Bot those that I DO really like a whole lot include:

1) Triumph Speed Twin
2) Ducati Monster
3) Kawasaki Z900 RS

Yeah, I know that's two retro-styled bikes and one thoroughly contemporary sport naked - hey, I like what I like.  And these by and large don't require a line-up to purchase.

Any thoughts, experiences, known plusses or minuses to these three from the group?

The Ducati Scrambler 800 is something of an outlier.  I saw a new 2020 nicely discounted when out shopping this past weekend and fell for it even in the utterly obnoxious yellow and black colourway.

Speed Twin hands down, but I'm not sure what cc that is.

Call Rider's Plus first and get their list of 'beginner bikes'. You will be uninsurable on anything else.

[Jaeger]

Pretty sure the Speed Twin is 1200cc.

[Fobroader]

Let's play a somewhat hypohtetical game.

Assume:

1) There seems to be a snowball's chance in hell of getting a Triumph Trident 660 this year.  Fully pre-sold inventory with lengthy waiting lists.
2) That spousal approval / resignation to the inevitable seems close, and I don't want to want to lose that momentum by waiting until next year.
3) I really don't love any other of the 600-ish cc bikes - I know I'd always wish I'd got the Trident. (CB 650R, MT07 etc. - they don't suck, I just don't got that loving feeling.)

Anything else that really appeals to me is up a class in displacement, power and price (100-110hp versus 80 for the Trident, 14-15k versus 10k for the Trident) and probably not really a beginner's bike.

Bot those that I DO really like a whole lot include:

1) Triumph Speed Twin
2) Ducati Monster
3) Kawasaki Z900 RS

Yeah, I know that's two retro-styled bikes and one thoroughly contemporary sport naked - hey, I like what I like.  And these by and large don't require a line-up to purchase.

Any thoughts, experiences, known plusses or minuses to these three from the group?

The Ducati Scrambler 800 is something of an outlier.  I saw a new 2020 nicely discounted when out shopping this past weekend and fell for it even in the utterly obnoxious yellow and black colourway.

Speed Twin hands down, but I'm not sure what cc that is.

Call Rider's Plus first and get their list of 'beginner bikes'. You will be uninsurable on anything else.

Is that a thing about being uninsurable on bigger bikes?? I've just never heard of that before here