Topic: The Motorcycling Thread

[dkaz]

Excited for my motorcycle street skills course this weekend. The beginners course I took from this place helped me so much, I'm really looking forward to getting a lot out of this course.

Which school? I'm always looking for advanced riding courses. I did one last year in Vancouver, it was an absolute boot camp.

[Fobroader]

Excited for my motorcycle street skills course this weekend. The beginners course I took from this place helped me so much, I'm really looking forward to getting a lot out of this course.

Which school? I'm always looking for advanced riding courses. I did one last year in Vancouver, it was an absolute boot camp.

Alberta Safety Council, did my beginner course with them, awesome staff.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[Triple Bob]

I find parallel twins with a normal firing order to be the dullest, least interesting character engines on the market.

Interesting, I was gonna pose a question, but I'll start another thread.

[DriverJeff]

They make a Z400 with similar styling that's much cheaper.

While nothing (mainly) wrong with the Z650, I'd spend the extra and get the Honda 650 for the sweeter sounds of the I4. And I prefer the styling too (but understand why some would prefer the Kawi styling).

If you're now considering parallel twins, the Yamaha MT-07 sounds far better and is well loved by owners. Cheap, too.

If a Z400 can be had for much cheaper than a Z650, that's where I'd go.  The 650 is okayyyy-ish, but not as exhilarating as its styling would suggest.  The 400 is so light and compact, it's just a hoot to throw around, yet still with enough power to be fun -- especially while learning.

I'm not a fan of the CB650R -- waaaay too much money and really not that fun to ride, either.  It's smooth and looks pretty good, but seems lacking in character to me. 

Z900 is a LOT of engine.  You're making me miss mine.  Turbine-smooth and sizzling power.  It would be a far more hooligan-friendly machine than an MT07, that's for sure.

What about the looks of a XSR700 instead?  Proven drivetrain.  Better styling.  Should be enough of them around to find a bargain? 


And also...  Jaeger, I might have an insurance solution for you.  PM sent. 

[Jaeger]

Much appreciated Jeff! Messaged you on IG.

[ktm525]

How hot is too hot? Planning to ride BC Tuesday-Thursday but temps are pushing into the low 40s...  Solution we think is to ride 5:30am - 10:30 am. Large lunch, drink beer in shade and siesta until about 8:00pm and then ride 9pm-12pm. Also we are going to try to keep high 7000' during the hot time. AS much as I hate to lose the daytime views riding up a mountain ridge in the dark has a certain appeal.

We will see if I am man enough..

[PJungnitsch]

An evaporative cooling vest will help a lot if you have to ride in the heat/break down somewhere, etc. That and a large zip lock bag to wet it down every so often

[ktm525]

How hot is too hot? Planning to ride BC Tuesday-Thursday but temps are pushing into the low 40s...  Solution we think is to ride 5:30am - 10:30 am. Large lunch, drink beer in shade and siesta until about 8:00pm and then ride 9pm-12pm. Also we are going to try to keep high 7000' during the hot time. AS much as I hate to lose the daytime views riding up a mountain ridge in the dark has a certain appeal.

We will see if I am man enough..

Yeah that sounds good. Evenings are ok here.  What are you riding?? Birt bike trip or o e the roads?

"street legal" enduro bike (KTM 500 and a 501 Husky).  10% single,50% double, 39%forestry service road and 1% pavement.

Set an alarm for 5:00am and deal with it I guess. I do have about 7500 lumens on the front so there is no reason not to ride in the dark.

[Fobroader]

I rode all weekend for my course, it wad hotter than hell

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[Triple Bob]

How hot is too hot? Planning to ride BC Tuesday-Thursday but temps are pushing into the low 40s...  Solution we think is to ride 5:30am - 10:30 am. Large lunch, drink beer in shade and siesta until about 8:00pm and then ride 9pm-12pm. Also we are going to try to keep high 7000' during the hot time. AS much as I hate to lose the daytime views riding up a mountain ridge in the dark has a certain appeal.

We will see if I am man enough..

Sounds good. Personally I would avoid the beer though, it could affect your judgment, even slightly.

[ktm525]

How hot is too hot? Planning to ride BC Tuesday-Thursday but temps are pushing into the low 40s...  Solution we think is to ride 5:30am - 10:30 am. Large lunch, drink beer in shade and siesta until about 8:00pm and then ride 9pm-12pm. Also we are going to try to keep high 7000' during the hot time. AS much as I hate to lose the daytime views riding up a mountain ridge in the dark has a certain appeal.

We will see if I am man enough..

Sounds good. Personally I would avoid the beer though, it could affect your judgment, even slightly.

12-8 pm. 8 hours from bottle to throttle? I am ok with having a couple beers as I am sure 8 hours later they will be looong metabolized.

[dkaz]

I rode all weekend for my course, it wad hotter than hell

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

I'm closing in on 10,000 km on my bike since January 15 and nope, I'll drive a nicely air conditioned car when it's above 35 out thanks. Or squid 6 minutes to the LRT station. 

[ktm525]

Stay high young man!

[Jaeger]

What is the purpose of hand guards on a street bike? They can look real cool, but do they serve any purpose on the road?

[dkaz]

Bug/rock guards? Deflect wind when it’s cold out? In the latter case I’d go full on with those snowmobile hand covers instead.

[Triple Bob]

What is the purpose of hand guards on a street bike? They can look real cool, but do they serve any purpose on the road?

They do work pretty well in keeping the cold off your fingers.

[PJungnitsch]

Rain as well, bugs, rocks. The better ones protect your levers in a tip over too

[Jaeger]

Cheers folks - I figured they were for bashing through bush, as I mostly see them on off-road / ADV type bikes.

What is the purpose of hand guards on a street bike? They can look real cool, but do they serve any purpose on the road?

Well, obvious: To keep your blunt lit between stoplights.

    Reminds me of an unreasonable search case I did.  Guy was pulled over and claimed cops had no just cause.  But he was smoking a giant blunt the size of a cigar.  With the window down.  With a marked cruiser right beside him. For several blocks.     Things you shouldn't do when you have an unregistered hand gun in your vehicle. 

[Jaeger]

^^^Ah, the plain sight doctrinal exception to the warrant requirement.  Sounds like a slam dunk.

It was. Also reasonable suspicion of impairment due to massive blunt / window down / didn't see cop right beside him for several blocks. 

[Jaeger]

New old stock 2018 Duke 690. Loaded with a bunch of accessories that have bloated the price. Asking 10k, which seems high to me for a 3 year old bike, but then there aren't any other new 690 Dukes around and many of the used ones are only 2k or so less. Thoughts?