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Personal growth is hard when you leave no room (time) for it.

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

wuuuut, do want. I always thought the Repsol paint job was the best looking paint on any sports bike. I always wanted one, but also don't want to advertise for oil companies for no reason, so it's very confusing.


AI Vision Explained (and How to Avoid Paying for It) — FortNine

Motorcycle AI Vision is coming. But what is it really worth?

#motorcycle #LLM #AI

This entry was edited (4 weeks ago)

Neil E. Hodges reshared this.


> Got a Ninja 1000SX.
> Eventually got into regularly doing 100+ MPH on Eastern Washington Interstates.
> Downsized to a CBR650R because I realized that 100+ MPH is a bit TOO fast.
> Still ended up around 100 MPH sometimes.
> Was doing something around 80 MPH on a Western Washington State Route where the speed limit was 55 MPH, and Labor Day morning traffic was light.
> Got a speeding ticket and just paid it because I know what I did.
> Stopped going so fast.

🗑️ #motorcycle

This entry was edited (4 weeks ago)
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

I have GPS proof of doing 155 in Nevada on a BMW K1200GT. When he pulled me over the only thing he wanted to see was the motorcycle endorsement on my license. After he saw it we chatted about bikes for about an hour and he wrote me for 5 over.

Right after that I got rid of that bike and now I ride dirt.

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Well for that speed ticket. Know where speed control will occur or what we know, where a traffic control installation is...
Or cling to the speed limit. Hence no need for a speedier machine.....

in reply to Adam Hunt

There have been windows for bicycle riding, but none long enough for the kind of motorcycle riding I want to do. :(


Neil E. Hodges reshared this.


Learning how to ride motorcycles (and riding them frequently for a few years) has significantly improved my #bicycle handling skills. :3 #motorcycle #cycling

reshared this

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

My motorcycle riding has made me a more defensive driver as well.
in reply to murph :amigacheck: :fedora:

@murph
Absolutely!

Getting into bicycling and motorcycling gave me a whole new perspective on road travel. They made me acutely aware of how small vehicles use the roads and position themselves, and that significantly improved my car driving.



I ordered steel brake lines for my CBR650R back in April, and only now did I have the energy to look into it. After calling The Moto Connection and not getting anyone, I called HEL Performance directly. They said that their business with The Moto Connection was terminated shortly after I'd placed my order, and said that I'd have to either go through The Moto Connection or #PayPal to resolve it. Thankfully, they did sell me the same part directly for the amount I'd originally paid, even though the part is more expensive now. :)

I filed a dispute with PayPal, but they denied it because it had been too long since the transaction. Then I called The Moto Connection and left a message about wanting to cancel my order. I'll keep calling throughout the week, but if they don't get back to me by Friday, I think my only recourse is a chargeback through my credit card. :(

#motorcycle

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Finally got a hold of The Moto Connection this morning and they quickly refunded my original order. 👍


Shannon Prickett reshared this.


This entry was edited (1 month ago)

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While my first non-scooter #motorcycle was a used #KTM 690 Duke, I probably would never buy a KTM bike again.

Maybe if I did more of my own maintenance, I'd be singing a different tune.

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Was it maintenance-heavy? Or did you encounter mechanical issues?
in reply to Dave Heinemann 🇦🇺

It was a bit too rough, rowdy, and kind of clunky. Made learning how to ride less fun. :/

Neil E. Hodges reshared this.


. @clover and I went to our local #Honda and #Kawasaki dealer so she could check out the '24 CBR650R, and the one they had on the floor had the new #eClutch. The older salesperson said he rode a '24 CB650R (one that sold before it arrived at the shop) and really liked it. He even said it was so much better than Honda's #DCT! #motorcycle


Spirited sportbike riding is a lot of physical work! I spent all day on my CBR on Saturday and while I wasn’t going more than 10 over the speed limit, I was really dancing in and out of the twisties. My thighs are still tired from gripping the tank! :laughing: #motorcycle


Harleys follow the classic American muscle car tradition of "huge displacement for lots of torque, but limited ability to rev out to produce high horsepower." :P #motorcycle
This entry was edited (1 month ago)

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Ah, the pretty touring bike with no range... I'd love one, but I'd also love one that could actually take me places.


Was hoping to go for a long #motorcycle ride tomorrow, but I'm still feeling the brain fog and dizziness from this cold. :(


Riding with @clover. 👀 #motorcycle
This entry was edited (2 months ago)



Middleweight ADV bikes are competent off pavement, but uninspiring on pavement. #motorcycle
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

My Multistrada 950 is quite competent on road, but definitely gives up something off road when compared to a Tenere, Tuareg, or DesertX.
I’ve heard the DesertX doesn’t really compromise, but I’ve not tried one myself.
This entry was edited (2 months ago)


Seeing Ian struggle with how the bike so readily stalls under power reminds me why I got rid of it. :( #motorcycle

I don't understand how #Honda can sell it in this state. >:(

I Took a Stock Honda CRF450RL Enduro Riding - It Didn't Go Well (EP.3)

The Honda CRF450RL is a nice dual sport for some highway, fire roads, and desert terrain. It has a fatal flaw - stalling - for enduro type riding or singletrack. Where is my KTM, Husqvarna or Beta when I need one - those bikes are so much better for true enduro riding.
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

My KTM 500 EXC-F (2023) suffered the same until I replaced the ECU with an aftermarket. Think the emission standards are making it hard to tune correctly.


Meanwhile, I rode for several miles on the shoulder of I-90 with a conglomeration of several unrelated groups of riders to get around one of the worst traffic jams I've seen, and nobody batted an eye. :P #motorcycle

Also, there was a husk of a burned-out car on the freeway near Snoqualmie Pass. :(


Got my first speeding ticket this morning. 🙃 #motorcycle

I was doing 75 on a 55 MPH freeway and got caught by a speed trap. Gotta love holidays. 😢




Got my first speeding ticket this morning. 🙃 #motorcycle

I was doing 75 on a 55 MPH freeway and got caught by a speed trap. Gotta love holidays. 😢


in reply to SeaFury 🦜🍉

Have a nasty cold, possibly COVID. Been stuck with it since last week. :(
This entry was edited (2 months ago)

Neil E. Hodges reshared this.


I used to have a liter bike, but going 110+ MPH on public roads just to hear/feel it sing just didn't seem right to me after doing it for a while.

I'm plenty happy going 80-100 MPH on my CBR650R, and so is the bike. :3 #motorcycle

The More I Ride, The Less I Want a 1000cc

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

What's the point if you need electronic nannies to make the bike rideable? With only 94 crankshaft horsepower, my CBR650R's cable throttle is plenty adequate.
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

I also rarely trigger its ABS because I know how to use my brakes (but I'm glad to have it just in case). :P
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

I think the reason so many manufactuerers offer so many bikes in the 650-800 range is that's really the best displacement for a road going machine.


Carburetor vs Fuel Injection - Why Motorcycle Riders Should Think Again


Modern motorcycles are switching to fuel injection, but why? It's not the reasons we think, and that makes us reconsider a carburetor in our future.


#motorcycle

Unknown parent

Neil E. Hodges
You don't need a carburetor for that. The EFI CRF450RL I traded in a while back had the same issue and had a knob for both setting the idle and kicking the RPM up to start to begin with. It would sometimes just die when giving it throttle if you didn't get both the idle right and have the knob pulled for long enough. :(
This entry was edited (3 months ago)


I wouldn't mind test riding or renting a BMW R-series bike to see what they're really like. :3 #motorcycle
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

about a year ago I said something similar and then one followed me home.


Apparently all Harley-Davidson Revolution Max engines are going to be manufactured in Thailand soon. #motorcycle
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

doesn’t surprise me. It’s the motor H-D sells most of outside the US. I will never tire of big V-Twins but the Revolution Max is quietly making waves, the Panamerica has changed the game for that motor.

If quality is maintained it may be H-D’s big chance to move into the global dual sport category with a great opportunity to do well.



Motorcycles are great for when you want to go fast without throwing away power by lugging around a fully furnished living room. :P #motorcycle
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Having the fireplace along is nice in winter though!
This entry was edited (3 months ago)

in reply to Ariadne Conill 🐰:therian:

Probably should do it soon. Wildfire smoke is already making Central Washington not fun to be in or near. :(

Dave Heinemann 🇦🇺 reshared this.


Finally got to ride my #Yamaha Tenere 700 on gravel roads on Friday! Took it on the Mountain Loop Highway to reprise a photo from when I first started doing raw photo editing. While it's not perfect, I've come so far since then! :) #photography #photog #photo #motorcycle

(By the way, there was wildfire smoke in the area at the time, so any photos will be a little off in the colors.)

Some thoughts on the Tenere 700:

  • It feels like a sail in the wind, but it's not quite as tippy as a dual-sport. It's not as "flickable" as a dual-sport at any speed, but it does feel more stable at low speeds if I "point" my legs down.
  • The motor feels a little "sleepy" to me. It has decent torque down low, but I can feel it petering out over, say, 8000 RPM. For context, my CBR650R pulls harder the higher in the revs I go, which has become my preference.
  • The gearing is super low, such that first on it is like second on a "normal" street bike. It makes sense when you consider what the bike is for.
  • Aside from the wind, it's definitely more stable at speed than any of my street bikes thanks to the big wheels, which is perfect for touring and uneven surfaces.
  • Since I'm tall, the wind buffeting at speed is pretty bad. I'm used to some, but when the whistling starts becoming prominant, it's not my favorite. I do have a bolt-on visor extension for the windshield on the way.

The bike is pretty good at what it does, but I'd definitely choose one of my other bikes for street riding.



I definitely prefer having peak torque toward the top of the rev range. :3 #motorcycle

Neil E. Hodges reshared this.


I might be the one person who likes the look of a #Honda CTX1300. :/ #motorcycle


Neil E. Hodges reshared this.


These are the bikes on my radar. (The CRF450RL is only on there for reference.) At the moment, the ranking is:

  • Yamaha Tenere 700
  • Honda XL750 Transalp
  • Kawasaki KLR650
  • Honda XR650L
  • Kawasaki KLX300
  • Honda CRF300L

I know the bikes aren't all in the same category, but I'm just looking for:

  • 21" front wheel.
  • Not horrible on the freeway.
  • Reliable and reasonably easy to work with.
  • Durable.
  • Reasonable weight.

What do folks think? :3

#motorcycle

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Finally had a go on a mates CRF300 the other weekend I've got to say it was a lot of fun. Reminded me of the CRF125 I had over in Australia. Obviously more power (which was welcome) but still light and nimble and loads of fun on gravel roads. I didn't do much tarmac and so can't say what it would be like there.

Having said that, on your list I'd personally go for the Tenere. I love the Transalp, always wanted an original, but the Tenere just seems a bit better overall from what I've read

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Always liked the look of the Ténéré but had no luck to try one yet. Great bikes for sure.


I think I want to sell the CRF450RL. I can work with how tall it is, but the engine is extremely high-strung. Even after warming up, it wants to stall when giving it even moderate or more throttle, which is the "flame-out" issue that reviewers have been complaining about for years. If I can't trust the engine, I can't trust the bike and I don't need that when touring (on-road or off-road).

(The luggage is plenty good and I plan on keeping it for whatever in the future.)

#motorcycle

Nuno Dantas reshared this.

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Maybe a KLX300 or CRF300L? Their engines are "normal" and I'm on good terms with the folks at my local Honda and Kawasaki dealer.
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Or a KLR650. Definitely need to do some test rides to figure this out.
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

I have been very happy with my vstrom 650. It has an engine tuned for very friendly power delivery and some tech specifically for anti-stall.

The 800 is kind of ugly and requires premium fuel, but I can't speak to how it rides. I have no regrets with the 650. Riding as one this is plenty of power for everything you would do on road or off.

in reply to Petrichor Squirrel

That looks pretty nice. The 650 and 800 have both been on my radar, but I kind of want a 21/18 wheelset since I already have street bikes.

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

I bought a Chinese dirtbike decades ago. I had a lot of fun on it, but sourcing new parts was so difficult when things broke that I eventually just left it by the road with a sign that said "free"

Neil E. Hodges reshared this.


Are motorcycles experiencing a resurgance among younger of-age generations today? :3c #motorcycle

(And I'm not talking about Harley sales!)

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Harleys are for x-ers and boomers, lol

the offerings from Japanese manufacturers are all great, and there is something for everyone out there.


in reply to GP-u-Moto

The manual says 2-3mm. It was more like 7-10mm before I adjusted it! :P
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Well 2-3mm seems like a very small amount of play. Most bikes that I worked on (and that is alot) were 1/4" or 6.25 mm. Sounds to me like the guys that pulled them out of the crate (or final sales check -up) did not set the play correctly and only checked to see if the throttle was binding.



Kind of wild how loud a little #Honda #Grom can be with an aftermarket pipe. :P #motorcycle


If I were to ever get a #Ducati, it'd definitely be one of the V-twin models. The V-4 ones are crazy overkill. :P #motorcycle
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Well I don't discriminate. I wouldn't have said no to an old #ducati916 but since I am a VFR owner I wouldn't have said no to a V4 Ducati either. V4eveR!