The Unofficial Motorcycle Thread!

[Tom55555]

These are my three favorite bikes. I learned how to ride on the 250. The V65 was an 1100 that went 0 to 110 in about 5 seconds, I had it for eight years, I'm surprised I lived (my wife loved it). I bought the KLR650 which is my current bike because the V65 was just too fast. Going 145 is crazy.

The 250 tought me to fly. The 1100 thought me to know my limits. The 650 tought me to have fun. LOL

 

[Krazeehorse33]

So Don I’m curious. What is your favorite electric bike and why?

 

[DonTom]

So Don I’m curious. What is your favorite electric bike and why?

It really depends on what I am using the bike for. I cannot say I have a favorite. I like the Energica for longer trips because of the fast CCS DC charging and also like that it has a reverse. But it's way too heavy to take the way I take my Zero DS on these RV trips. The Zero DS would be better for the RV trips for many other reasons too, such as having more places to store stuff and better for gravel as found often in RV Parks as it's a DS (Dual Sport tires, etc). The Energica is more of a heavy freeway bike that you don't want to take anywhere unpaved.

My other Zero, my Zero SR with power tank is also more for pavement. Has the most range of all my electric bikes, but that means it's heavy and has less storage space. It has three times the range of the bike I take on these RV trips. Has three times the battery. But the range of my DS has NEVER been an issue on any of my RV trips. Besides, smaller batteries charge faster.

-Don- Ladson, SC

 

[Krazeehorse33]

is the saddle height much taller on the DS vs the SR? (Too lazy to google)

 

[DonTom]

is the saddle height much taller on the DS vs the SR? (Too lazy to google)

It's higher, but I cannot say I notice it. The seat height on the DS is 33.2". It's 31.0" on the SR.

You can get all the Zero specs here.

For Energica, see here.

-Don- Ladson, SC
https://www.energicamotor.com/

 

[Krazeehorse33]

Do you notice a little more suspension compression on the DS as soon as you get your weight on it vs the SR (Effectively equalizing the seat heights)?

 

[DonTom]

Do you notice a little more suspension compression on the DS as soon as you get your weight on it vs the SR (Effectively equalizing the seat heights)?

The way I ride, I really don't notice much of anything about either bike. I could easily forget which one I am riding.

-Don- Ladson, SC

 

[Boat Bum]

I just found a pointer to this in another thread, this is my 1983 FXSB Lowrider purchased new, never dumped, still have it with < 25k.

 

[Krazeehorse33]

Nice ride. I saw an 85 Sturgis parked one day last week. That’s a little rare too.

 

[Old_Crow]

Nice Shovel. My wife had an '85 FXEF which was a Superglide FatBob. It was basically a Shovel bike that they put an Evo motor in. Still had a 4 speed trans and chain final drive.



I had a pair of FLT's. One, an '82 Shovelhead (with a 92"stroker kit) and one an '87 Evo version of the same bike.

 

[Boat Bum]

Nice ride. I saw an 85 Sturgis parked one day last week. That’s a little rare too.

Could that Sturgis have been an earlier model? My understanding was they did away with the Sturgis model in '82 when they put the double belts on that year's Lowrider (FXSB). I bought one of these but was rear-ended and traded it in for my current '83 Lowrider.

The primary belt on mine was problematic and after it broke for the third time locking up my rear wheel at 45 mph I had it changed out to a chain, the secondary is still a belt.

I noticed some love for the KZ900, I had two of them, first one stolen at my job in Boston. That's me on the right circa 1978ish.

 

[Krazeehorse33]

I may be wrong on the year. Damn those Kawi's were a blast!

 

[niget2002]

Current bike is an 05 883l.

I'm in the process of repainting it in HOK kandy green and putting a 4.5 gallon tank on it. This is the first paint color I tried and decided I didn't like it. My daughter and I took this to Big Bend national park from Dallas last summer.



I pick up a 15 fxdc on Father's day... My mom has 1 too many.

 

[DonTom]

My daughter and I took this to Big Bend national park from Dallas last summer.

I went to BBNP as my very first long ride on my 1971 BMW R75/5. I purchased it in May of 1971 and went to BBNP in June 1971. I left from San Mateo, CA (near San Francisco).

I was back in BBNP a few years ago in my Y2K RV. Here are a couple of photos I took during a hike (Mexico across the river):

Those bikes of yours look quite nice.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

That bike vibrated sitting still and got worse the faster you rode.

A buddy of mine (George, a retired motorcycle cop from NYC) let me ride his new HD SwitchBack several years ago. We traded bikes for a few miles; I had my 2013 Triumph Trophy SE (TTSE). I hated everything about the Switchback. Everything was a hassle on that bike, even stuff that should be simple such as putting the sidestand down. Took a five minute lesson to get the sidestand down! It also vibrated like crazy, even at above 100 MPH. I expected it to be better at a higher speed, but it wasn't. I couldn't wait to get my TTSE back!

George purchased a new TTSE a few days later.

I was a Harley hater for many years and then . . .

A year or so later, George purchased a new Harley Roadglide Special. Again we traded bikes. I loved the feel of that Harley with the then new (2017) M8 engine and larger frame! The day after, I purchased my RoadGlide Ultra. That was the first Harley I have ridden that I actually enjoyed riding. It is now the most comfy bike I own for a long distance ride out of all ten of mine. The only bike I would consider for a ride of more than a thousand miles. It also gets a good fifty MPG with the six gallon tank. Good for around 300 miles of freeway--unless I stay at 85 MPH all day, then the MPG is very poor, just as it is on all motorcycles.

The story of the design of the M8 was an interesting one. The prototype of it had 100% balancing. HD engineers found it way too smooth, so they reduced the engine balancing to around 65% or so, just so "riders will know they are on a motorcycle". It really does have a great feel to it (not even the slightest bit harsh, no matter how you ride or accelerate from any speed), but I will always be curious what the 100% balanced one would feel like to me.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[niget2002]

The Dyna Switchback is much like the FXDC I'll be getting. They do vibrate a bit more than the touring or softail options. I wasn't surprised when HD got rid of the Dyna line a few years ago. Honestly, a lot of people confused the Dynas with the Sportsters because they were so similar in appearance.

My dad's first few bikes were Dynas. He's a big guy at 6'5" and people always asked him why he bought a little sportster. Usually took them a bit to realize he didn't.

I don't ride nearly enough to warrant a larger touring bike. Honestly, I'd really like to get back on another Softail Night train. The counterbalanced engine on those things are buttery smooth. The wife and I could ride all day (and did on numerous trips pre-kid). I even used to tow a small trailer with it with our camping gear.

The Dyna will be mostly to allow me to ride longer distances with the kids. As they get older, the little sporty will just be too small for two of us on it. My wife also refuses to ride on the Sportster, but is willing to go on short rides on the Dyna with me to dinner (so she says).

The current plan is to hang on to the 883l and do a Hammer 1275 100-110 hp upgrade to the engine. I already splurged on a set of the progressive piggy-back rear shocks after one of our first long trips a few years ago. It's also the trip that made me upgrade to the Mustang seat. The thing corners like it's on rails (for a Harley).

I rode a lot of sport bikes through college. I still enjoy playing in the twisties from time to time, but I try not to push the bikes much beyond their limits anymore.

 

[DonTom]

but I try not to push the bikes much beyond their limits anymore.

Well, I have always ridden motorcycles much like a little old lady.

But perhaps that is why I am still alive after 57 years and several hundred thousand miles of motorcycle riding. Several years with ONLY my 1971 BMW and no other vehicles--other than a non-motorized bicycle.

I still ride often. Yesterday's ride was on my 1971 BMW down Monitor Pass with a couple of buddies, George & Bert. George was the retired NYC motorcycle cop I mentioned and Bert is a recently retired NHP (Nevada Highway Patrol) officer. All three of us were on BMWs, my 1971 R75/5, George's new GS and Bert's new RT1250. I rode Bert's new BMW to Markleeville, CA which is very close to the east end of Monitor Pass and he rode my 71 R75/5. I was very impressed with his RT1250 and he was surprised how well my old BMW performed (Mikuni carbs jetted for 5K feet, dual plugged, electronic ignition--a lot of non-stock stuff--runs much better than when new in 1971).

We stopped for lunch at Lake Topaz. NV side. Nice casino restaurant with view of the lake.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[niget2002]

Well, I have always ridden motorcycles much like a little old lady.

But perhaps that is why I am still alive after 57 years and several hundred thousand miles of motorcycle riding. Several years with ONLY my 1971 BMW and no other vehicles--other than a non-motorized bicycle.

I still ride often. Yesterday's ride was on my 1971 BMW down Monitor Pass with a couple of buddies, George & Bert. George was the retired NYC motorcycle cop I mentioned and Bert is a recently retired NHP (Nevada Highway Patrol) officer. All three of us were on BMWs, my 1971 R75/5, George's new GS and Bert's new RT1250. I rode Bert's new BMW to Markleeville, CA which is very close to the east end of Monitor Pass and he rode my 71 R75/5. I was very impressed with his RT1250 and he was surprised how well my old BMW performed (Mikuni carbs jetted for 5K feet, dual plugged, electronic ignition--a lot of non-stock stuff--runs much better than when new in 1971).

We stopped for lunch at Lake Topaz. NV side. Nice casino restaurant with view of the lake.

-Don- Reno, NV

The world takes all types. As long as you're enjoying the ride, I'll never question how you do it.

Dad is about to turn 66. He just did the 110k mile checkup on his current street glide. I lose count... He's either on his 3rd or 4th street glide.

The bike I'm buying from mom just topped 90k miles. It's twin in the above photo is her 'new' bike. It's an identical bike, but with only 10k miles. Dad is moving all mom's custom parts to the new bike and then I'm buying the leftovers.

I'm only 43. I barely rode most of the last 11 years because I always had two car seats with me. Just the last 2 years or so have I been riding a bit more as both kids can now ride with me.

The daughter and I have gone on a few 1600+ mile weekend trips so far.

My son is still a bit too antsy to ride more than a few hours in one day. It's hilarious as you can tell he's starting to get bored when he starts singing to himself through the helmet mic.

 

[DonTom]

The world takes all types. As long as you're enjoying the ride, I'll never question how you do it.

Dad is about to turn 66. He just did the 110k mile checkup on his current street glide. I lose count... He's either on his 3rd or 4th street glide.

The bike I'm buying from mom just topped 90k miles. It's twin in the above photo is her 'new' bike. It's an identical bike, but with only 10k miles. Dad is moving all mom's custom parts to the new bike and then I'm buying the leftovers.

I'm only 43. I barely rode most of the last 11 years because I always had two car seats with me. Just the last 2 years or so have I been riding a bit more as both kids can now ride with me.

The daughter and I have gone on a few 1600+ mile weekend trips so far.

My son is still a bit too antsy to ride more than a few hours in one day. It's hilarious as you can tell he's starting to get bored when he starts singing to himself through the helmet mic.

I am the slowest rider of all I know in sharp twisties. But when my buddies were racing down very windy Monitor Pass (and George is 79 years old!) I was enjoying the very nice scenery down Monitor Pass. We have a spot to meet again right next to Hwy 395 at the bottom. But their wait for me is never more than a few minutes. I ride a bit chicken, as I have seen deer, foxes and coyotes cross the road up there with no advance warning. And for those who think coyotes are smart, you have never watched one cross a busy road! Darwin takes care of much of it, luck gets the others across, certainly not their brains!

I wouldn't want to hit any of them at a high speed--if it cannot be avoided completely.

I am 72, of the riders I know, I am one of the youngest and slowest!

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[niget2002]

I rode a lot with my dad shortly after college when I had the 1200c. His sensibility kept me out of trouble most of the time.

We did crest a hill in a sweeper on a backroad in Arkansas doing around 80 one time to find a coon dog trotting down the middle of the road.

I dug through my photos and found some pics of the older bikes I had.

1999 Kawi EN500. This was my first bike. I had it 4 years through college and put 20k miles on it. I only lived a few blocks from campus. I used to try to keep up with the A&M sport bike club when they went on their Tuesday night rides. That was my '77 C20 I had as my first truck in the background. Wish I still had it.




Bought this after getting my first paycheck out of College. 2003 HD 1200C. Had it for about 2 years and put 20k miles on it. Took it all the way to Georgia and back by way of Nashville from Dallas.



This is the 2006 Nighttrain I had when the wife and I met. Had it 3 years and put 33k miles on it. Did 15k the first year of ownership.



Then the babies started being born, and I haven't ridden but 30k miles in 12 years on the 883l. To be fair. It sat for nearly a year and a half because the rear master cylinder went out on it and I couldn't afford to repair it.