Motorcycle BS Thread

[Motorpsychology]

Good points. I definitely prefer the look of a naked bike over something with full fairings. But I also don't think I'd be too picky in that regard. I'm more corned with the way something works than the way it looks.

What kind of performance is left on the table from the factory with bikes? Similar to cars in that 10%ish power gains are easily attained through the aftermarket? Or is it a more intricate endeavor?

Also, what's the market like nowadays? I'd imagine it's stupid like everything else. If not more so.

Thanks for entertaining my questions.

Japanese bikes have good aftermarket support and routine maintenance is simple to DIY.

Until you get to the bigger displacements, Fuel mapping, sprocket swaps, iridium plugs etc don't have much bang for the buck. I'd trade up to a higher performance bike when the smaller one gets boring.

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[Motorpsychology]

Love hearing everyone’s stories! And seeing the bikes you all have or have had!

below is my bike it’s not much but I have a complete blast with it!


also everyone in here makes me feel so damn young ?haha

 

[Doc]

Well said !

 

[Superspirit]

Granddaughter has that, "omg, I hope no one at school sees this on Facebook!" look!
Nice FZ's!

Nothing I post goes on f...ckbook. if my forum posts end up on f...ck book I'll erase every one of em.

 

[choculat50]

Rode off road as a kid. Had a moped from 14 until I got a regular drivers license. Had a Honda night hawk 450 for a summer while in training in the Navy. Had a Honda 500 interceptor for a few years while living in Hawaii in the Navy. Had a minor accident on it an got a second car. I stopped riding until my kids were older. When my twins were coming up on driving age I got rid of the supercharged cobra a got a Harley. I have had 7 Harley's over the last 12 years an currently ride a street glide. it will probably be the last bike I have.

I’m like you have owned 6 Harley’s in the past 14 years.. finally settled on an older Road King Classic.. paid off so loving it.

 

[Rhino]

well said man

 

[Rhino]

Good points. I definitely prefer the look of a naked bike over something with full fairings. But I also don't think I'd be too picky in that regard. I'm more concerned with the way something works than the way it looks.

What kind of performance is left on the table from the factory with bikes? Similar to cars in that 10%ish power gains are easily attained through the aftermarket? Or is it a more intricate endeavor?

Also, what's the market like nowadays? I'd imagine it's stupid like everything else. If not more so.

Thanks for entertaining my questions.

i know you can tune most bikes but tbh the 390 is just eh its fun as it is but as i said you will get bored of it fast so either do as the other guy had suggested and when you get bored either trade it in or sell it for a bigger bike or get something like a 400cc thats fun enough and will be enjoyable or get a dual sport they are not the most comfy or best on highway but they are a complete blast to have and rip around and in my opinion a great second bike for when you want a more street setup bike

 

[Rhino]

Summer of 1963, my very first ride was on the back of a Cushman Eagle. It belonged to a fiend or relative of a neighborhood kid. I was 13. Offered the kid a cigarette, but he still would'nt let me ride it solo. First real MC ride was in my senior year, and the older guy from across the street bought a new Triumph Bonneville upon returning from Viet Nam. begged and borrowed several other bikes until I got my 1976 Honda CB 550 My first bike, and as a newbie I was unfamiliar with how fast tires wear compared to cars. I took off in the summer of 1978 for Maine with the rear wear bars clearly showing, figuring they would last until I got home. 300 miles into the trip the rear blew out. The new tire took good chunk of my money, and the rest of the three week trip was very frugal. I sold that bike the following year to buy a wedding ring for my new bride. Still married to her! Bikeless until '81 when I bought a new 1980 Kawasaki KZ 750, the "E" model, which was the forefather of the GPZ. Everybody wanted the metric cruiser-style 750 LTD, and the dealer was only too happy to get rid of the oddball "E": $2995 retail, I rode away for 2 grand all up out the door; set up, tax , title included.
I still have that bike, although it's in pieces right now as I'm s l o w l y refurbishing it. Bought a new 2001 Kawasaki ZX11 in '02. Last year for carburetors. At the time it was the fastest production bike sold in the US. Had that until 2018 when I bought my current 2017 Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS (DL 650).
after som fifty-odd years of riding all over the upper Mississippi Drifless area's paved roads, I wanted something more gravel capable than a crotch rocket.

I don't have any digital photos of my CB550, this is off the internet:

2017 V-strom "D'Elle" & 1980 KZ 750E "Kayzie"

2001 Kawasaki ZX11 (ZZR1100 in ROW): "Zeex"

Rode to Mid Ohio Sports Car Course for Vintage Motorcycle Days 2016:

awesome story man!

 

[Rob09]

I did the Australian usual.

Started at 4 on a family members 50cc.

Messed around with Aussie "Postie Bikes", Honda CT110's.

Went to my first serious bike, 2001 YZ250, then YZ250F's and the whole "motocross/FMX scene".

Then went enduro with the first Italian Husky WR 2-Stroke's ('07ish?). I only got a road licence at 30. Good call, any earlier and I'd prob be dead

Then figured one would be fun as a supermoto. It was. Jut a bit of a pain in the arse too. I actually commuted 50km each way (often in rain) on that bike, more times than I care to remember. Sketchy as buggery. No grip, semi-slicks, no weight, no good.

Then I figured I was an adult, so I needed a Ducati. Always wanted an 848, since I saw the first review. Basically replaced everything I could with Carbon Fibre. K&N, exhaust, tuned, custom suede seats, with quilted red stitching. I loved that bike.

But I wasn't an adult and after a few close calls (never MY fault) with police, other vehicles and tree's, I sold it to a bloke who'd followed me on a Ducati forum. No haggling, transferred money sight unseen, and collected it via courier a month later.

Bought another Husky WR.

Then tearing down tarmac on off-road tires got old, so I decided I needed another supermoto. So why not pull out all the stops and go SXV. Couldn't find a 550, so 450 had to do. This was right after I became a dad and the thought of not coming home scared me. Then it got stuck on full throttle one time and that was it. Fun bike, just too temperamental and it wasn't the right time for either the ongoing maintenance, or not coming home.

Bought another Italian Husky WR. See the trend here? This one caught on fire too. Twice I think.

Anyway, as I was about to sumo this one too (2T supermotos are so much fun under 100km/h on twisty roads) I came across a 200km old TE511 for sale cheap. So I bought it, rode it twice and thought, "You know what this needs????? Supermoto wheels!" This was a great bike. Could switch between sumo and dirt setup. It was fast, fun, stable as a sumo. I got bored quick.

So I started looking for an MV. Found an F3-800 with sub-1,000km. Went to town again with crap, carbon everywhere, exhaust and whatnot. Got the same sinking feeling as I did with the Ducati. Riding it was a blast, handled well, went well enough, just started to push a little too hard on the street. So I sold it.

That was about two years ago. I don't know what, if anything is next.

Maybe a Vespa?

 

[Rhino]

I did the Australian usual.

Started at 4 on a family members 50cc.

Messed around with Aussie "Postie Bikes", Honda CT110's.

Went to my first serious bike, 2001 YZ250, then YZ250F's and the whole "motocross/FMX scene".

Then went enduro with the first Italian Husky WR 2-Stroke's ('07ish?). I only got a road licence at 30. Good call, any earlier and I'd prob be dead

Then figured one would be fun as a supermoto. It was. Jut a bit of a pain in the arse too. I actually commuted 50km each way (often in rain) on that bike, more times than I care to remember. Sketchy as buggery. No grip, semi-slicks, no weight, no good.

Then I figured I was an adult, so I needed a Ducati. Always wanted an 848, since I saw the first review. Basically replaced everything I could with Carbon Fibre. K&N, exhaust, tuned, custom suede seats, with quilted red stitching. I loved that bike.

But I wasn't an adult and after a few close calls (never MY fault) with police, other vehicles and tree's, I sold it to a bloke who'd followed me on a Ducati forum. No haggling, transferred money sight unseen, and collected it via courier a month later.

Bought another Husky WR.

Then tearing down tarmac on off-road tires got old, so I decided I needed another supermoto. So why not pull out all the stops and go SXV. Couldn't find a 550, so 450 had to do. This was right after I became a dad and the thought of not coming home scared me. Then it got stuck on full throttle one time and that was it. Fun bike, just too temperamental and it wasn't the right time for either the ongoing maintenance, or not coming home.

Bought another Italian Husky WR. See the trend here? This one caught on fire too. Twice I think.

Anyway, as I was about to sumo this one too (2T supermotos are so much fun under 100km/h on twisty roads) I came across a 200km old TE511 for sale cheap. So I bought it, rode it twice and thought, "You know what this needs????? Supermoto wheels!" This was a great bike. Could switch between sumo and dirt setup. It was fast, fun, stable as a sumo. I got bored quick.

So I started looking for an MV. Found an F3-800 with sub-1,000km. Went to town again with crap, carbon everywhere, exhaust and whatnot. Got the same sinking feeling as I did with the Ducati. Riding it was a blast, handled well, went well enough, just started to push a little too hard on the street. So I sold it.

That was about two years ago. I don't know what, if anything is next.

Maybe a Vespa?

This story was so funny with you going back and forth with the sm wheels with everything haha

 

[Rob09]

This story was so funny with you going back and forth with the sm wheels with everything haha

Asperger's my man, even I find it funny. My wife, not so much

 

[Rhino]

Just hit 10k miles on my bike! Also got a yoshi exhaust system I’ll need to rejet my bike again here soon to a 170 jet instead of the 155 I also need a rack on the back so I can carry things lmao that little white box is pizza haha

 

[JesseS]

I have been riding since 1962, my 1st bike a Hodaka Ace 90, and my current is a 2013 Honda F6B 1800. I have had almost every bike you can name (well, almost), from an Aerial Square Four to Harley's, BMW, BSA, Kawa 1200, plus assorted dirt bikes. I loved my VTX 1300 but for all around speed, comfort, cornering ability, and fun, my F6B is my favorite.

Hodaka Ace 90 (stock photo but mine was the same)

My Honda VTX, with tons of mods and new paint, on the road to Sturgis.

And my F6B, on the way to the East Coast with friends.

I had a 1971 Honda 750/4 K1 in Germany and put 100K on it riding all over Europe for 9 years.
I put 125K on my VTX in 10 years then bought the 2013 F6B, which I still have.

 

[JesseS]

well today was a fun ride into work! my klx was low on fuel and i knew that but i wasnt to far from the gas station and i had reserve so i really wasnt worried about it tbh! buuuuuut it turns out my reserve isnt working... as i was riding along i felt the bike chug for a sec so i switched it to reserve because i was about 2miles ish from the gas station so i wasnt worried but the bike completely shut off and wouldnt start it tried to but it wouldnt so off i went pushing my bike..... got to ride down a hill! but that was short lived as it was a bowl and i had to then push it up a steep hill and made it to the top walked about half a mile and saw a dude working on some old ford drag car and asked if i could just have a tad bit of gas to see if it will start? the dude was super friendly and use to race dirt bikes and came over and took a look at my bike for me and gave me some gas! we couldnt see any issue besides the fact the reserve wasn't working for some reason but we could hear the little bit of gas down in there??? i offered to give him some cash for helping me but he said no need to worry about it and have a good day! i was late to work but i still made it in thanks to him!


thing i learned is dont trust the reserve on a 19 something year old bike!


anyone else do something this dumb lmao

Yep, on my VTX I was headed to work, knew I was low but reserve was good for 50 miles, started missing 20 miles from work, reached down to switch to reserve, and $hit! I was already on reserve, forgot to switch back after last time I used it and refilled, no wonder I was getting such great range on the tank. Lucky I was right at an exit, costed off the ramp right into a station

 

[Blmpkn]

Sold my grom last year, but bought a 2000 suzuki savage a month or so ago.

Slapped some mini apes on it, currently prepping to paint the thing a gold flake base with brown candy over the top, gonna put on a big ol harley sissy bar on it, and a mega obnoxious upsewpt pipe with a cocktail shaker muffler. Would like to find some shocks an inch shorter too.

Also need to address the infamous savage leak head plug leak and get an aftermarket timing chain tensioner.

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