Any Motorcyclists?

[matt-fender]

Any motorcyclists here?

Be interesting to hear some stories, what's the funniest thing you've ever done ( or attempted ) on your ( or a friends ) motorcycle :D


:popcorn:

[witeshark17]

I don't have one now, but I enjoy driving motorcycles a lot. Nothing odd to report though... With motorcycles, that can be a good thing... :popcorn:

[jcolyn]

I started riding at 14 and have had several bikes.

I currently have 2 early 60's BSA's, a 850 Norton Commando, and a 53 (same year I was born) Harley panhead.

All in running condition though I don't get to ride as often as I'd like to.

I also have my Granddad's 37 Indian Chief but don't ride it since it needs work. It ain't for sale....

The only stunt I ever pulled was to ride an unfamiliar course on a 450 Ducati and ended up in 30-40 feet of ocean while stationed in Hawaii in the 70's.. was able to recover the bike but had to completely strip down the engine and clean it out..

[wilee-nilee]

Used to ride many crotch rockets from 2 strokes to 4, nothing funny about it really.

[bug67]

First bike was a 2004 Ducati Monster 620:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m132/bug67/Ducati/DSCN0889.jpg

Sold it so I could get a 2005 BMW R1200GS:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m132/bug67/BMW/100_1836.jpg

Current bike is a 2009 Triumph Street Triple R:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m132/bug67/Triumph/100_2128-1.jpg

Just sold the BMW and am picking this up this Spring:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m132/bug67/Triumph/2011-triumph-tiger-800-studio-10.jpg

Don't know about any good stories but here are a couple of interesting ones:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=607958

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=13412570#post13412570

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=585861

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=470330

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157782

P.S. Here's something that may be of interest:

http://ubuntuforums.org/group.php?groupid=506

[Spr0k3t]

I don't have a motorcycle, but a scooter... I take it out on the highways so I'm not that different, just don't have to change gears is all.

Funny stories, nope. I'm more of a serious rider than some of the kids out there.

[matt-fender]

Just thought i'd ask as never seen any posts on the community side of things, i've been riding 3 years recently passed my full test. thought i'd ask about funny stories as a saw a lad riding around decorated in tinsel and christmas lights earlier on this morning!!

EDIT: Some nice machines there bug! Thanks for the link to the group have joined :P

[Sean Moran]

http://p1.bikepics.com/pics/2007/12/25/bikepics-1126561-800.jpg

Not really any funny stories to tell, other than the first bike I ever learned to ride on. It was a Honda QA50, rather like the one pictured above, only blue. I was only five years old, so I could just get my tip-toes on the footpegs and change gears by half sliding off the seat to get the toe under the shifter, (lucky they were only a 3-spd w/centrifugal clutch), but I couldn't for the life of me touch the ground and still keep the bike somewhere reasonably close to upright enough for a go or a stop.

So my Dad used to hold the bike vertical so I could take off or stop. All just laps around on the front lawn of our house, so it was just a matter of calling out to Dad to catch me, and then slowing down and almost stopping somewhere near where Dad was standing by the verandah so he could catch the bike and keep it all nice and upright.

Trouble was, if he had to go inside to answer a phone call, and I wanted to get off, the only solution I could find was to take a jump off the bike and a roll on the grass, leaving the little Honda to plough through my Mum's rose gardens and into the side fence. Smack, crack ... oops.

It didn't take too many more dismounts of that style before my Mum worked out that it was better for her roses and our front fence (asbestos and fragile) when someone called to speak to Dad, to just take their number and tell them he'd call back later.

<----------------------------------------ooo000ooo---------------------------------------->

Now I'm all growed up, this was the last bike I had. Another Honda, this one a water-cooled 125 2-stroke. Bought her in December last year, named her Dao whic means 'star' in language Thai. According to the speedo', which may or may not have been calibrated somewhere near to the actual displacement of tarmac metres per hour, she was good for 160km/h, or basically she did the ton ... just. (100 mph)

Light bike and light rider (I'm 70kg), took off like a shower of the proverbial from the lights providing I wasn't dragging rucksacks or laptops or cartons of beer around on the back.

Next month I'm looking at picking up something a little more conservative, and most probably a boring old 4-stroke just for tonking around the village, rather than long distance high speed touring.









http://www.pasacafe.com/gallery/img/hondacbr/dao01.jpg

[Naiki Muliaina]

Got a little Rieju 125 RS2 black myself. Used purely in town and I never really get anywhere with a limit above 50mph. No point in me getting anything bigger. :)

[cpmman]

Best laugh I had was in South Wales when my nephew on his GSXR 1100 and my Divvi 900 kept being overtaken in the villages when we reduced speed to the 30 limit but a plonker in an EVO kept his foot down. After about six episodes of retaking on the open road we saw a little man standing behind a field gate in a village. Sure enough about 2 miles out of the village the EVO was parked up giving his details to the men in blue.

Not funny but great fun is my XT660R in the Spanish mountains

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kFDq-wnLts

[TBABill]

A picture of my bike is under my name to the left, and it is a Triumph America 865cc cruiser. Being in the US, many people are unaware Triumph even makes bikes anymore. My buddies are all big chest thumping, beer drinking, rowdy Harley riders (yes, that's an accurate description of them!). They swear that anything but a Harley is not a motorcycle.

Anyway, the funny things about the fact that I have a Triumph are all the looks and comments my bike gets at the gas stations and convenience stores because it is different. They all crack comments when someone takes an interest in it. So one day I had heard enough and decided we should just see how big and bad their bikes were since mine is "only" an 865cc bike. So we lined up at a stop light on a straight stretch of road (Harley's don't take curves well so I gave them the benefit of going straight) and we were just going to see what all the bikes could do.

Guesses at the result?? I kept having to look back over my shoulder to see if they were coming along or not. My "little" bike with 865cc and about 525 lbs left them struggling through the gears. V-twins just don't rev very high so while they were shifting I was revving mine up and pulling away. The America is by no means fast, but up against a Harley it more than holds its own. And I'm smart enough to never race the sport bikes :) Now all the guys can do is complain that the bike doesn't weigh enough, isn't American, blah blah blah. I love it and I also get 50+mpg while they go slow and make a lot of useless noise ;) Actually I like the noise, but it's fun to poke fun at them.

[bug67]

"...Triumph..."

I love my Triple so much, I sold the BMW to get it a stable mate! :p

The America is one of two "cruisers" I would ever consider owning. Of course the other being a Rocket III.

[mips]

I owned two KTM offroad bikes a while back, 200EXC & 125EXC.

I will never in my life ride bike on the road though, there are simply to many idiots out on the roads and as a biker you stand no chance against a 1Ton+ car. Also know of way to many people that have died riding bikes or are now in wheelchairs.

[iponeverything]

Love to ride, had a few accidents. It almost killed me once when I was being stupid.. It is defiantly not a toy, I have friends that have died on bikes far too young.

[frenchn00b]

Well, motorbiking is cool but be vigilant and please drive carefully guys. Really please.

Sad video:
http://www.troutman.org/ftp/pub/motorcycle/videos/RedLightBike.wmv

http://www.troutman.org/ftp/pub/motorcycle/videos/UpOnOne_City_Madness.wmv

[handy]

I've owned 14 of them that I can remember, both on road & off, 2 stroke (Mach III Kawasaki!) & 4 stroke.

I much prefer 4 stroke, though working on 2 strokes is easier as there is next to nothing inside the motors in comparison to a 4 stroke.

As far as funny stories go, its too long ago now for me to remember. I certainly do remember some involved with the police, but I'll leave them out I think. ;)

Below is a photo of a Ducati 350 Silver Shotgun, which was a bike that I owned, unfortunately mine didn't look as good as the one in the photo.

Also there is a photo of the last of the big bikes that I owned, that photo is of my GS1000E which was so comfortable, incredibly fast & handled perfectly. I expect these days that bikes will do all of that & weigh half as much as the GS did:

[rich52x]

Soon to be rider here :D Hopefully doing my CBT & getting a scooter later in the year :)
My brother's a seasoned rider, he's got a rather beautiful 2002 ZX6R, which he's told me some stories about. The most unlucky thing to happen to him involved this road with a 30mph limit he always used to do about 60-70mph on, on his way home from work on his 125, but the day he got his kawasaki, he was doing 43 on the same road and was caught by a mobile speed camera van. 3 points and a fixed penalty.

Unlucky :P

[mips]

Below is a photo of a Ducati 350 Silver Shotgun...

Wow, she's a beaut!

[handy]

Wow, she's a beaut!

It would go around the tighter corners better than a Ducati SS, due to its shorter wheelbase & stick with a the first Honda CB 750s all the way up to 90 mph before they could start to get away (on the straights, they, like everything else of the time had no hope in the corners).

That little Silver Shotgun was an absolute rocket. It used to rev' so many thousands of rev's past the red line that I blew the rings out of it twice from over revving. I was young... ;)

It would rev' so high due to the desmo' valve system which eliminated valve bounce & the two sets of points which made sure there was always a good spark.

There was about 3/4" of foam padding on the seat, so when you hit a rough part of the road, it was like someone was whacking you in the balls/bum with a cricket bat, as the brilliant marzocchi suspension was VERY firm, it was certainly no touring bike. Not comfortable to ride like the GS1000, it really was just a racing bike with lights.

[frenchn00b]

I love my Triple so much, I sold the BMW to get it a stable mate! :p

The America is one of two "cruisers" I would ever consider owning. Of course the other being a Rocket III.

Indeed to rather walk or to seel your BMW motorbike on ebay ?... :D ;) link (http://www.troutman.org/ftp/pub/motorcycle/videos/the-wrong-bike.wmv)

[m_duck]

That Ducati looks (and sounds) like it would be a fun ride!

I've been riding since I was 16 - which I suppose wasn't that long ago... I've been riding a Kawasaki Z750 for the past few years, though don't get out on it as much as I'd like to.

[ecr959]

Hey everybody ! I'm gonna join this thread. I just got my permit 2 weeks ago, I'm gonna get my MSF course in a week, AND THEN .... I got a 2009 Suzuki GZ250 waiting for me at a car dealer. Already got a deposit on it. I'll share photos and look forward to friendly advice about maintenance and riding in the city.

[Sava]

Not a motorcycle, but I have a Piaggio scooter. Back home in my country I have another 1 too, also a scooter I guess 'coz it's only 125cc?

[cpmman]

Not a motorcycle, but I have a Piaggio scooter. Back home in my country I have another 1 too, also a scooter I guess 'coz it's only 125cc?

Scooters usually have a deck for the feet rather than footpegs and usually are automatic gears or twist-grip operated gears. My garage currently contains a Ducati 1198s, two Yamaha XT660R and a Peugeot Jetforce 125cc Compressor scooter (that's the one with a supercharger - two-up @ 85mph!)

Two wheels better than four (apologies to George Orwell and Animal Farm).

[gutterslob]

Currently a Triumph Speed Triple.
Owned a few others, broke a few limbs, smoked a lot of fat bankers in Porsches with my old R1 and Gixxer.

Not much else to add. Pics are on another comp. I'll upload some later if I remember.

[ecr959]

Hi everybody.

Well, I took the Rider course, picked up my license, got my Suzuki GZ250 home in one piece, and for the past week I've been prowling the neighborhood, practicing slow turns and quick stops.

I'm having a ball, and I'm a complete beginner at 56. Great fun.

[DLM955]

Hi everybody.

Well, I took the Rider course, picked up my license, got my Suzuki GZ250 home in one piece, and for the past week I've been prowling the neighborhood, practicing slow turns and quick stops.

I'm having a ball, and I'm a complete beginner at 56. Great fun.

Were the same age and I still love to ride.....
Just goes to prove,you can always learn something new!! Bought my first street bike in 1976 Honda CB500T and I've been hooked ever since.Back then you filled your tank with under $5, now 4gallons $15.
Ride safe and like they say look out for the other guy..........
.

[ecr959]

Ride safe and like they say look out for the other guy..........
.


Thank you, DLM. I am a little nervous yet to take the bike into traffic on the avenue. But I drive cars for over 25 years, so its just the feeling of not being protected enough, thats what takes getting used to. No safety belt and air bags on this thing. I have heard from another NYorker at another forum, he has exactly the same bike, Suzuki GZ250, he says he gets on the highway and cruises at 55 to 65 mph. Pretty good for this small engine.

[RayChangTW]

I used to have a Kymco Grand Dink. It has power mirrors that stick out of the steering column instead of on stalks on the handlebars. I was going in a left turn in the mountains and the road was rough. The left mirror had finally had it and broke off. After hitting the ground it just happened to go through a rain-drain hole in the retaining wall. I looked back and stopped, peering over the wall. I saw it tumble--spinning really fast--bouncing a few times and then broke on the rocks at the side of a stream about 150m below. It looked so funny, I was laughing so hard that I couldn't ride for a minute or so.