Motorcycles/Scooters, who here rides? Post a pic of your ride
polycounter lvl 7
I've got a 90 FZR600 and a 1972 CB500
I love to ride them both at speeds I reallly shouldn't be riding. Massively theraputic though.I always end up with a big smile on my face.
I love to ride them both at speeds I reallly shouldn't be riding. Massively theraputic though.I always end up with a big smile on my face.
Replies
I got into motorcycling this year, best decision I've ever made. Very therapeutic indeed.
This is mein gs500e, planning to hop on a bit bigger/meaner bike next season
Sandro, I've got 2 CB550 parts bikes waiting to be cafe'd.
I want to make something like this
2009 KTM 690 Duke.
Best bike i've had so far, fun even while going slow.
Sounds like cool project. Cafe racers have very badass and troublemaker kind of vibe
Wish I had a little garage or workshop space, would love to give modding a shot.
@Stephen
She's a beauty. Cool scenery too, would love to ride there
@Xoliul
Is that exhaust blowing fumes directly to rear wheel? :O
If your over 21, then have you looked into the Direct Access Scheme? Does away with a lot hassle and is more intense/compacted training.
Love the Triumph bikes, especially the Street/Speed/675/675R
ZX6R 2009 6700 km,Monster Black Edition,stripped all the decals though cause i hate them lol,comes with full Ohlins suspension/steering damper,fully original on the pic,though i changed the can for a Termignoni ^^
And my trustworthy mudbasher:
Yamaha WRF250 R 2003 (weekend basher in the Peaks(UK) and H&H events)
its my 2012 triumph street triple R.
first motorcycle i've ever owned - and its amazing!!
Can't wait to start track days, next season!
2011Ninja 250 with some minor cosmetics
I wish some of you guys lived around here. It would be fun to ride with polycounters.
BTW awsome bikes guys and great photo rawkstar, get that knee dragging!
I paid about 800 comprehensive last year, but decided to switch to TPFT for half of that amount this year. I don't have many options in insurance company because I've only been here for a year. I do have 7 years of experience + 4 years no claim, which reduces the price.
Sandro: It splits at the end, two openings point away from the wheel.
Cammandor, that is one beautiful SV. I've always wanted one of those.
I can imagine a day when you'll be able to build your own chasis in any given 3d package, and have it sent to the printers to fire off a life size piece.
HEHE Loud pipes,saves lives!
@Xoliul: whereabouts in the UK are you m8? i moved to the UK about 2 years ago,im in the Cheshire East/Manchester area
I would add that there were two occasions were loud revving did save me from a potential accident. Both cases were people on cell phones not paying attention in traffic and the revving got their attention real quick. The little "beeps" on bikes don't cut it.
It gets more dangerous to ride every year it seems because of all the distractions (stereos, cell phones (including idiots that text and drive), eating while driving, watching babies in the back while driving, videos while driving, and combinations of the above).
Very true indeed!
I always base all of my descisions on the fact that they wont see you,safety first...i lost one of my best mates already a couple of years ago,since then i really calmed down quite a bit whilst driving my bikes(except offroad ofc...BRAAAAPPP!!!) :poly124::poly124:
70 MPH high side in a corner. My helmet hit the ground many times during that wreck. \
Helmet was trashed but my head was OK. BIke was so-so.
Grumpntug, your bike is new fangled compared to my CB500 and 550
I've been riding for almost a year, and I'm looking for a bigger bike, but this little 250 still has more than I do through the corners.
I have a helmet and choose when to wear it. I don't wear it sometimes (especially on scenic routes in our area with low traffic). If I have to be in city traffic or heavier interstate traffic, or on a longer trip with chances of weather changing (helps limit wind noise), I wear it. I mentioned it because I believe bikers should have choice. I am a member of ABATE (biker rights group). I've been through the AMA beginning, intermediate, and advanced riding courses, and was past road captain and Director of my local Harley Owners Group. I always stressed safety, but most of us in our (and neighboring states) believe that bikers should have choice.
There are two types of bikers. Those who have wrecked and those who will wreck.
I hope that those who haven't yet will have their helmets on when they do.
I don't preach it one way or the other, it's a choice like you said.
OK, more bikes people, post more pics. You guys have some awesome rides.
BTW bad news on my CB, valve guide seal is dead and cylider 1 is soaked in oil.
Blech :P more engine work.
Glad you agree with choice. I am willing to bet (large sum) that I have twenty to thirty riding miles minimum for every mile of the the person posting here than has ridden the most miles. Let's all post when we got our motorcycle license and how many miles we've ridden average per year. I'm quite familiar with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation statistics also. Newer riders (less than five years ) occupy a much higher percentage of the statistics. Riders that did not take the AMA course occupy a higher percentage. In single rider accidents, rider error was at least 66% of the cause. Those that were drinking occupy a much higher percentage. The failure of motorists to detect motorcycles is the predominating cause of accidents (see my above post about stereos, cell phones, eating, etc.). Bikers with a lot of experience, on a cruiser, that have taken AMA safety courses (and update their education) occupy a much, much smaller proportion of the statistics. Also, I live in an area that fortunately has fewer bad accidents. My "old saying is" that "I go to church every time I get on my bike cause I'm praying to make it back safe." Experience teaches you to spot trouble and trouble locations. When I was helping with safety training we used to take a rider in a car (as rider) and drive ten miles--having them record any danger signs (obstacle on road, motorist, etc.) An experienced rider in the back did the same. We knew that the person was in danger when they recorded few problems. We would then share this information at meetings. Alas, there are no guarantees as you note.
Everybody ride safe (and wear that helmet if you choose to do so). You'll never hear me say some wisecrack to a rider wearing a helmet (nor anything about their ride).
Honestly this is a huge argument for wearing a helmet. No matter how educated, experienced or qualified to ride a bike you are without a helmet you simply can't plan for the unexpected.
As someone who drives a car, even without distractions it can sometimes be very difficult to see bikers, especially bikers driving erratically or weaving through traffic, worse yet idiots who drive between cars during traffic jams.
Yeah, I just don't see any reason for it to be a choice. Wearing seat belts shouldn't be a choice either. Its just dumb as hell not to and has nothing to do with your ability as a biker, but everything to do with how fragile human beings are when they crash into cars, hit the pavement at 70mph, etc.
Sorry, I don't mean to derail this further but its a bit personal for me. I lost a family member a couple years back and he wasn't wearing a helmet, not to say that decided his fate, but you can't help but wonder.
This is a large misunderstanding for non-motorcycle riders who think this is unsafe. It usually ends up more safe for the motorcyclist as long as they aren't going more than 15mph faster than the stopped/slowed traffic.
My biggest concern isn't a car sideswiping me or pulling out in front of me (I don't haul ass all the time) but it's a 2000+ lb vehicle hitting me from behind. Fender benders happen all the time with people talking on phones, texting, or just not seeing a stopped vehicle. But if I were to receive a 'fender bender' on my bike, I'd probably be in really bad shape, I've heard of broken backs and paralysis from a biker being rear-ended at a stoplight. A friend of mine just had a bad fender bender and he was in an SUV. The person hit him doing 30+ mph and I imagine he'd be dead or mangled if he was on a bike.
Anyways, it's legal here in California to lane split and I feel much safer having my own area to drive without a truck riding right on my ass and a stopped car a ways in front of me.
Source?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lane_splitting#Legal_status
I'm not an expert on the law but that seems a bit iffy at best.
On the official California Highway Patrol site:
It's definately legal, haha. The test for the license goes into depths as to when you can do it, but I've seen many riders, including police officers on motorcycles, lane splitting at 50-60 mph, though I don't.
It's not legal in B.C, Canada. Nor was it legal anywhere in Canada in 2009.-This may have changed.
The discussion whether certain laws in certain countries/states are good/bad is not why this thread is started..
The position of the motorcyclist in traffic has been the source of similar discussions for decades worldwide.You can agree or disagree with certain things,though the general motorcyclist just rides his bike because it is one of his passions,and he/she loves doing it.
Personally,after racing in the national speedway series,and roadracing series for over 10 years,i think every motorcyclist in the world would benefit of following additional courses in addition to his driving licence.This benefits the perception of you as a motorcyclist in general,and also hones your skills what to do in situations that come unexpectedly.
Now,lets get this thread on track again by posting the pics and specs of some of the bikes you guys/galls ride...
My 2012 YZF R125, I will upgrade to an r6 next summer. I've passed my driving test yesterday, so I'm not restricted to 125ccm anymore
It is good to see however that a lot of people here are taking a sensible first bike and working up to heavier models. In Belgium I see a lot of beginning bikers who think it's good to start with something like an R6 and that it just takes some self-control... Then they trash their bike after a few months. It's such a silly mentality really.
Cbr250ra (left), VFR (right)
I used to have it's anscetor the 1984 VF700 Interceptor.
Can't find a pic of my old VF so here's a substitute.
In that same style also not a pic of my GSX550 but I did own one of these in the past. Yeah, I've been riding for awhile.
My first bike and first crash was on a 50cc dirt bike. Think I was 6 years old? -I'll look for a pic to add to this post
Edit:
hmm no luck so far, but here's what I remember it looking like
I'll never forget the accident I had. With it being my first and all.
I was playing around on an obstacle course my cousins made in the forest, down in Montana. I jumped over a small dirt mound that shot out on a gravel drive way, lost it on the landing, and had the bike lay up on my leg .. searing a nice piece of flesh off my inner calf.
For some reason or other, my best/fav memories from my childhood involves me doing something reckless or getting hurt in some way.