I don't know a thing about motorcycle engine differences when it comes to how the bike rides. I've heard that many people don't like v-twins for racing because they apparently do some kind of torque thing when shifting under hard acceleration which makes it hard to keep control. Is this true and are inline twins or inline fours better ?
You want to have a go on my RD350LC. If you have to brake quickly and stop in top gear, you might as well leave it there and get a taxi home because it's not going back into neutral any time soon.
FortNine's video seems to suggest that Harley-Davidson's mantra of a ton of torque at low revs is actually worse for the drivetrain parts than the high revs of other bikes. #motorcycle
What's the usual convention when you want to ride a 600, but your legs are so long that you're always standing so that your knees will be comfortable? An aftermarket seat that's taller? #motorcycle
Went on a little spin over Snoqualmie Pass, through Yakima Canyon, and back over Chinook Pass on the way to SoSo Cycles in "Tacoma" (really Fife). Riding my #Triumph Bonneville with the aftermarket scrambler bars really hammered home how awkward the bars were, so I wanted to talk to someone familiar with cafe racers and so on. Mark at the shop gave me some great suggestions and sent me on my way. (Album) #motorcycle #photography #photog #photo #photos #mywork
I was worried that Chinook Pass might be closed, and the lack of traffic heading east as I headed west didn't help. Thankfully, it ended up being open and not too busy.
Got a couple of #motorcycle handlebar options on the way for making my #Triumph Bonneville's seating position more sporty. I stopped by a European motorcycle dealer yesterday and they recommended trying a drag handlebar after seeing the scrambler bars on the bike now.
Yep, always scary when that happens. Always assume drivers miss noticing you and be especially wary when you are in their blind spot: if at all possible, preemptively accelerate out of it. I made it a habit of only passing trucks when I can get out in front of them: I don't want to get stuck beside them.
I usually add tension when the chain feels too loose (the motorcycle manufacturers usually provide recommendations for tension), and lubricate when it looks too dry or starts developing rust spots.
That's pretty neat that they managed to cram a hybrid system into a motorcycle. Higher displacement performance at 250cc class fuel economy is pretty nice. I'd be interested in a model that had performance roughly the same as a 250-400cc bike but the fuel economy of a moped :).
I used to think my #Triumph Bonneville T120 was slow, but recent rides like yesterday's to #Lake #Chelan taught me that all I had to do to make it fast was use more of the engine's rev range and engage my core when cornering. It's so much fun now! (8 photos here. More from yesterday's ride to come.) #motorcycle #photography #photog #photos #Washington #WashingtonState
The #Honda VFR 800 looks cool, but since I already have my Ninja 1000SX that is comfy and produces more torque and power, it really doesn't make sense to think about it. #motorcycle
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I've always heard they're uncomfortable when idling at a stop light, but actually very smooth when riding, but never been on one; sounds like that hasn't been your dads experience? I'd love to know the details.
I sort of get the appeal of Harley's: U.S. made (if you're from here anyways that's an appeal maybe), they look gorgeous, that weird engine sound from the offset pistons, but I also always worried that the engine design would just tear them to pieces over time. All that vibration can't be good for it no matter how much you engineer around it, right? I dunno, I'll keep eying them from a distance and then buying reliable Honda's that will never break down, I guess.
I wish we got the bigger Japanese cruisers here in Australia. These days, I think we've just got the Kawasaki Vulcan S, and Honda Rebels - no V-twins. Muscle cruisers don't do much for me personally.
There are still plenty of older used Japanese V-twins on the market though.
@sam I've never ridden a Harley, but by all accounts, they seem about as reliable as any non-Japanese brand ever since AMF sold the company in 1981. The AMF years seems to be when their reliability was at its worst and they became widely known for leaking oil everywhere.
I wouldn't have any reliability concerns about owning a modern Harley, especially as they're still relatively simple, and both parts and mechanics are everywhere.
On the other hand I remember reading a review of "modern" Harleys a couple of decades ago or more when they changed their engine design to balance it out more and eliminate the vibration.
I love the aesthetic and design of Harley bikes, but between the outrageous prices, vibrations, and heavy clutch lever, I don't know if they're the bikes for me.
I'll definitely get me an Iron 883 someday though. It's always been a dream bike. I've got to at least try it, and I'm sure it won't be hard to sell if I end up not liking it.
I still found my Honda CRF300 Rally a bit too vibey in the bars and ordered a Crampbuster at the recommendation of @kev. Finally got it and installed it today, then took the bike for a spin. Seems to make a big difference!
If you haven't seen them, it's a plastic lever that clips onto the throttle tube. It lets me hold the throttle open with the weight of my wrist and almost no grip on the tube itself. Seems a world of difference.
Your dad might find them helpful - there are Harley models.
I have Throttle Rockers (nearly the same product) on my two big bikes and would never choose to go without one going forward. The looser grip not only saves my hand, but also lets me feel the feedback from the bars in turns for better handling.
You saying you're faster on your #ebike than I am on my non-boosted #bicycle is like me saying I'm faster on my #motorcycle than you are on your e-bike. It's not a meaningful comparison. #cycling #ebikes
I really don’t care whether someone is riding a “regular” bicycle or an e-bike. I care that they’re out, getting some exercise, and doing so safely - that they aren’t riding outside their abilities.
Whether they’re faster or slower than me is irrelevant; it’s not a race. Just enjoy, be considerate, and don’t push your boundaries too much.
Only two stroke I've had is a red Jawa 350 TS. It wasn't supposed to be premix but was as the mixer never worked properly. It went surprisingly well, stopping on the other hand was a different matter.
I feel like most of the statistics that tout the danger of #motorcycle riding come from the demographic of people who typically ride motorcycles: risk-takers. Either young hotshots who "pretend race" on the road, or old guys who have a propensity of riding drunk. If you ride with care, learn good technique, and make good decisions, the risks within your control are much less. The skill ceiling is pretty high and the learning curve is long, but that's what makes it worth it to me. :)
That said, the risks outside of your control (other people on the road, road conditions, etc.) are definitely more hazardous when riding a motorcycle than when you're driving a car. Gotta be on guard and plan accordingly when out there!
And anyone who says that #motorcycle riding in the street is dangerous because of cars, they're just saying that cars are dangerous to everybody around them, which is true.
When riding in Toronto I always used to remind myself to be as aware and as in-control as a fighter pilot. These days I'd re-imagine that as an acrobatics air-show pilot. I never had an accident on my bike (5 years with only a bike, 10 more as my main summer vehicle), unless you count slipping on gravel and dumping during a 360° turn in the back yard so I could back into the garage, and that only broke a tail signal light post.
Ended up at the front of a sportbike group from Skykomish to Monroe. The guy behind me gave me a fist bump while we were all stopped at the first stoplight in Monroe.
Turned in a long and twisty downhill yesterday and noticed a mixed group of 3 riders turning in behind me (one adv, one sports bike and one classic). I was in the flow and picked good lines, sometimes gaining a bit, then them catching up again. When we got down I indicated they could pass me, thinking they'd be faster than me. Then I was stuck behind them going slower than me till a turnoff a few km down the road 😁 #motorcycles
Bruce Crosby
in reply to Neil E. Hodges • • •Dave Heinemann 🇦🇺
in reply to Neil E. Hodges • • •I've always got an eye on the Ninja 1000SX. Fantastic bike, I'm sure you'll agree. 😉
But I also feel like I'd get myself seriously hurt jumping from ~24 HP to 140 HP. I'll have to work my way up there.
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