Motorcycle economy

[fishman]

Hey my first (and last /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif) bike was a Suzuki GS550T. Lots of fun but not so good after 100 miles or so. Got about 45 mpg out of it with a full fairing and saddlebags. Wish I could justify getting another, but too many responsibilities right now and can't afford to end up a grease spot on the road just yet. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[AMP762]

Technically only old f--ts and non motorcycle people refer to a sport bike or sporty bikes or performance bikes as "crotch rockets". That term will immediantly identify you as a non-motorcycle person. The only people who use that term are squids, Harley riders, usually with the adjective "rice" attached and middle aged guys who buy their first bike (usually a cruiser or Harley) and of course the uninformed non-motorcyclist population.


Well I am an old f--t who uses the term crotch rocket, been riding about 30yrs,and have an old VF1100C Honda,which will do more than I will these days. If this one breaks and I can't fix it I guess I'll have to retire cause I really havn't seen anything out there I'd trade it for.IMHO

Don't worry, nothings going to be alrite /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Paul

 

[TresCrows]

"Well I am an old f--t who uses the term crotch rocket, been riding about 30yrs,and have an old VF1100C Honda,which will do more than I will these days. If this one breaks and I can't fix it I guess I'll have to retire cause I really havn't seen anything out there I'd trade it for.IMHO"

It isn't that there are no nice bikes, it is just that the bikes have become so specialized and so big, I think, maybe I am wrong. I miss the medium and small size bikes regardless of catagory. Even Harley used to market the sporty Sprints and the Baja dirt bikes and even a few motorcrossers, now they just build huge fat cruiser machines. Not everyone needs a huge bike if commuting or running short errands is the intended major use. Honda sold zillions of Honda CB350s and what the motorcycle world needs again is a modern CB350 that is trick enough to interest techy young people and is still friendly/comfortable enough to use for just scooting around . That bike was the bike that made "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" moniker stick. I loved my Honda 350 /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif and I met all the cool girls with it at least until I took the helmet off and they saw that I was like a nerd /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. Oh well, the 350 still liked me.

Your VF1100 was an old school muscle cruiser I think not unlike the V-Max, is that right? I vaguely remember those. During the early 80s I had a Honda CX500 Sport which was a longitudinal V twin with a shaft drive. I liked that bike, wish I still had it. My wife and I traveled many a mile on that thing and had a lot of fun. It was not very fast but it was versatile, fast enough to stay with traffic (remember, the limit was 55 then) but it could have paced 75 now but it might have been slightly strained two up into a headwind at such speeds. I have seen them with over 100,000 miles on them still running good.
I got some older friends who have a Harley Sporster Sport, it is a Sport I think cuz it has a tachometer /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif and a decal saying so. They are in their late 70s, when he quits riding it I intend to buy it if I can. Not really a Harley fan but I kinda like the Sportster, just something different from the bikes I usually get for a change. Doubt it gets good mileage though but what the heck, it should vibrate enough to give a decent massage /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. J

 

[ducati996]

<font color="red">Your VF1100 was an old school muscle cruiser I think not unlike the V-Max, is that right? I vaguely remember those. During the early 80s I had a Honda CX500 Sport which was a longitudinal V twin with a shaft drive.. J</font>

The Vmax is still in production (from 1984) and the strange thing is it was never a huge seller, but just enough were made to keep them being production...you dont see an over abundance of them around...
I feel they make a perfect two up rider...reliable as heck, maintenance free and bullet proof, plenty of power....I actually enjoy this bike more than the Ducati most times /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
My favorite part is the Dale Walker 4-2 exhaust which sounds like a big block chevy motor - and when the throttle cracked
The big block sound gets everybody paying attention...I use the throttle more than the horn to wake up the Idiot driver who follows to close or pretends they dont see me- They will always hear me, even over their Boom Box systems...
I'm hard pressed to want any other bikes than the ones I have now...For me I have found my bike utopia with them..

Duc

Vmax1
Vmax2
Vmax3
996

 

[TresCrows]

Pretty Ducati. Yep, that V-Max is a muscle cruiser /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. They are kinda strange, the fuel tank is under the seat and the thing that looks like a tank is the airfilter, funny that. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

If Ducati ever actually builds their new Sport Classic series I might get the cafe racer or the faired race replica. I simply refuse to pay more tha 15,000 for something with two wheels so we will see /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. If they do that stupid internet only sales thing like they did with their last retro special I am out on that as well. I am kinda old fashioned, I like to go to a shop and sit on them and kick the tires.
If the bike I had now was exactly(exactly) the same but said Ducati or Buel on the side it would get more respect, thing is, it faster than all but the top of the line Buels, faster than the Duke Monsters except for that liquid cooled one, faster than all but the largest SS Dukes, cost a fraction of the others and gets better mileage and is jet smooth. You know I paid 3,800 for that thing--NEW. It was two year old overstock and was sitting in the rear corner of a huge discount bike shop in Oklahoma all covered with dust (it was filthy) and so many bikes shoved in it was impossible to walk back there to look at it. He wanted 4,400 dollars and I talked him into 3,800, they run about 6,500 at most shops. This is the second one I have had, I had a blue 99 naked version I stupidly sold--why--beats me. I have spent another 1,500 on it. Installed double intake cams in place of the exhaust cams--wow. I tell you what, I take that back on the Dukes, this thing will out run any Duke but the race replica Dukes like yours /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif and the guy down the road with the Buel goes the other way when he sees me coming /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif.
I got a friend with a V-Max, I guess I forgot they still make those. There is a V-Max "club" here and they do some of the local rides. Around here there are unofficial ride outs attended by everything from sportbikes to Harelys. Those V-Max guys really intimidate the Harley crowd cuz 1) they make more noise 2) cuz when they get on the gas the rear tire leaves a smoke trail /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. J

 

[JimR]

I believe everyone should own a motorcycle once in their lifetime. At 40 plus miles to the gallon, I ride my Wing as often as possible. Ride safe and hard.

 

[ducati996]

It will be my last Ducati - They have changed the looks on the new ones and its just not the same....Mine has been good to me, and I intended to hold on to it. It will be the last expensive bike I buy. The Japanese offer much more for the dollar, always did even when my 996 first came out...its a choice thing, and something about a v-twin and lots of maintenance /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm glad we have some bikers as well as the our Tractor interests on this forum...I do enjoy seeing the pictures from everybody..I could talk about bikes and tractors until I grow old and die and live a full life doing it!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Duc