Who rides motorcycles?

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I told my buddy "the FJR is so heavy to roll out of the barn backwards, it is fine once you get going though." He said, "shut up and start lifting your wife's weights!"

LOL

 

[deserteagle71]

I'm 77 and I know I'm approaching the time I will need to give it up too. I'm going sledding this morning and realize I've lost some of the few skills I acquired.

I'm a bit older than you but I don't feel I've lost any of my riding "skills" that I developed over a lifetime on two wheels. It's my old carcass that is failing me. My reaction time that used to be milliseconds...seems like now it would have to be measured in minutes. Used to be able to "flat track" a bike, sliding around corners using body language to keep it on its wheels. No more. My body just won't respond in a timely manner any more when I do ask it to respond. I'm running over boulders and ruts and other obstacles I used to be able to avoid. My "skills" are still there - but my body is too slow to utilize them!

 

[the old grind]

I just sold this '89 FXSTS with <14k mi on it, .. if you wonder why I sold it. The buyer runs a custom bike shop and plans to restore it.

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[not2old]

I'm a bit older than you but I don't feel I've lost any of my riding "skills" that I developed over a lifetime on two wheels. It's my old carcass that is failing me. My reaction time that used to be milliseconds...seems like now it would have to be measured in minutes. Used to be able to "flat track" a bike, sliding around corners using body language to keep it on its wheels. No more. My body just won't respond in a timely manner any more when I do ask it to respond. I'm running over boulders and ruts and other obstacles I used to be able to avoid. My "skills" are still there - but my body is too slow to utilize them!

I can agree with that. Particularly when sledding, I tell my body "quick do this" and my body replies with words I shouldn't use on this site. On my dirt bike I tend to go slower and avoid the difficult maneuvers.

 

[3930dave]

I told my buddy "the FJR is so heavy to roll out of the barn backwards, it is fine once you get going though." He said, "shut up and start lifting your wife's weights!"

LOL

A Righteous Burn.... that I'd take all day long, from somebody who gives away well taken care of MCs !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I just sold this '89 FXSTS with <14k mi on it, .. if you wonder why I sold it. The buyer runs a custom bike shop and plans to restore it.

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Going to a Good Home. That matters to some of us; and often comes up on JLenoGarage.

Can't do w/o $, but it's only one factor....

Rgds, D.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I'm planning to get my Arctic White Buell 1125R back on the road this year. Fingers crossed.

 

[3930dave]

I'm a bit older than you but I don't feel I've lost any of my riding "skills" that I developed over a lifetime on two wheels. It's my old carcass that is failing me. My reaction time that used to be milliseconds...seems like now it would have to be measured in minutes. Used to be able to "flat track" a bike, sliding around corners using body language to keep it on its wheels. No more. My body just won't respond in a timely manner any more when I do ask it to respond. I'm running over boulders and ruts and other obstacles I used to be able to avoid. My "skills" are still there - but my body is too slow to utilize them!

Note to Self....

1) Win a major lottery.

2) Develop a MC Rider Enhancement Exoskeleton, that works well enough to get banned on race-tracks.

3) Sell it at or below cost, to riders wanting to Ride Longer.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I know some older riders move from motorcycle to trike and enjoy them. I suppose if they are used to riding large, heavy, bikes like Wings or dressers, 2-up, yet are struggling to hold the bike up at a stop, but they still want to be on a Wing or dresser, a 3-wheeled version of the same bike lets them continue.

But other than parking lot fall overs from not being to hold it up, I don't see how they would be any safer than a motorcycle? Plus you're still out in the heat, cold, rain, dust, only w/o the fun of leaning, which is what motorcycles are all about in the first place.

Trikes remind me a bit of driving a tiny convertible car... open-air, sitting In a transport machine.

Any fully-faired MC has a lot more weather protection than the small stuff I'm riding. I don't go out of my way to ride in monsoons, but I'll trade weather protection for weight... so Trikes (cost aside) aren't really my thing..... Yet.

I can see where they give a possible option for continued riding, to people who can choke down the price. Everything has gone up lately, but a few years back, the starter BRP Sypder was in the ballpark of $10,000 CAD. I don't consider 10k (even CAD) to be small money, but there are plenty of 2 wheel MC at significantly higher MSRPs.

I shudder to think what it cost, but when I got a guided tour of the storage garage for the local HD dealer, there was a VRod trike build that had recently been finished. It was owned by a disabled Canadian Forces vet. I know what being able to ride means to me, so from an extreme distance, I can see where Project Cost can end up not @ the top of the list.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I'm planning to get my Arctic White Buell 1125R back on the road this year. Fingers crossed.

Public Commitment.... can help push a project forward !

Post up, how goes.....

Rgds, D.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Public Commitment.... can help push a project forward !

Post up, how goes.....

Rgds, D.

Bike is mint, but needed a motor, so I have a new motor and an old motor that is 95% good. I'll get pics and progress posted here

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

1125cc Rotax V-Twin

 

[TractorTYMe]

I didn't know Buell used Rotax engines too?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I didn't know Buell used Rotax engines too?

Buell had Rotax design a motor for them, for the 1125. They now use that motor in a 1190cc platform for the new Buell bikes. Here is my new motor from a shelf at Vance and Hines. Complete with wiring harness. Erik had them build it for a race bike, at about the same time Buell went bankrupt. They never got paid, kept the motor, and I bought it in 2021

 

[TractorTYMe]

Now that's a Buell that is highly interesting. Never was much for the HD motors in the other Buells....but this makes it worth it.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Now that's a Buell that is highly interesting. Never was much for the HD motors in the other Buells....but this makes it worth it.

It's a unique bike for sure. I have a lot of NOS parts that I hoarded when I bought it. Rare color too.

Once I get the old motor out of it, I'm going to disassemble it and see what is salvageable for parts. I'm guessing a lot, since it was running and riding until the day I pulled the stator cover and saw the flywheel nut completely off, and some carnage in the left case. You would not have known it by listening to it, so I'm guessing most of the engine was spared.

I'll probably pull the heads on the new motor and lube some things up before firing it, as it has sat for 15 years

 

[3930dave]

OK Clover....

When I saw your previous post about a new-motor (after having seen your recent post about doing valve adjustments), I was thinking... OK, just a time-thing obviously (not a skill limitation)..... Not that harvesting/managing Time is trivial.

NOW, seeing your last pictures.... a Vance and Hines race motor !!!! I only have one question:

Who is your lawyer ?

Pending damage to my not-that-old laptop from the drooling I just did, means I'm considering legal action !

As you know... fun bike, even with the stock motor (a buddy had one).

Rgds, D.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

OK Clover....

When I saw your previous post about a new-motor (after having seen your recent post about doing valve adjustments), I was thinking... OK, just a time-thing obviously (not a skill limitation)..... Not that harvesting/managing Time is trivial.

NOW, seeing your last pictures.... a Vance and Hines race motor !!!! I only have one question:

Who is your lawyer ?

Pending damage to my not-that-old laptop from the drooling I just did, means I'm considering legal action !

As you know... fun bike, even with the stock motor (a buddy had one).

Rgds, D.

Yeah, I've not had time the past few years. Now I'm retired and ready to get back to bringing this bike back to life.

I'll have my motocross bike finished this coming week, I hope. Then I can get on with the job of splitting the Buell in half.

Then I'll do a quick post mortem on the current engine, followed by a quick inspection of the valve train and cylinders of the new mill. I also bought a couple recall kits for recalls on the motor, so I can install them, in case V&H did not.

She will need new tires as these are the ORIGINALS. I also have a NOS swing arm that set me back $800, because there is a small scratch on the current one. The previous owner didn't buy a wide enough rear stand, and scratched it... It takes a special stand due to its width. Complete with new bearings!

It will be awesome to revive one of the few American sport bikes ever built. Nothing sounds cooler than a big V-twin cafe bike.

 

[caver]

About 20 miles south of Battle Mountain Nevada.

 

[3930dave]

View attachment 2714002View attachment 2714002

About 20 miles south of Battle Mountain Nevada.

Beautiful, and terrible pic @ same time !

Terrible, because of what I'm looking at out my bay-window just now..... riding season is a looonnngggg way off.....

Rgds, D.