Motorcycle peeps...q's (kinda lengthy)

[Tacoma]

Poor Brett.

But yeah, what's wrong w/the shaft?

 

[Cody]

He also likes the belt.

he told me belts just slow things down....

he's a mixed up kid I tell ya

 

[spencurai]

Shafts have some funky centrifugal characteristics where they can torque you sideways in corners and cause traction issues ( http://www.largiader.com/paralever/ ) ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swingarm ). It is not a big deal but I prefer to have something quiet, reliable, and durable. Every shaft bike I have ridden has a distinct clunk between on throttle and off throttle/coast which bugs the hell out of me too. The last and least important is the aesthetics of the bike are ruined by an enormous metal torque-tube that runs down the side of the bike as opposed to a belt with an attractive pulley.

I know...pretty minor stuff, but metric bikes are coming with belts more and more these days. Check out the new 1300 from yamaha if I didn't already have its fire-breathing older brother, that would be my choice for the next bike.

my bike

gallery of the new 1300
http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/products/modelgallerylib/528/1/0/gallery.aspx

belt drive
fuel injection
liquid cooling
excellent muscle.

OK..back on topic...

When are you picking up the vstrom Cody?

 

[N-Smooth]

i'd like to have a bike again one day just for sunday cruises with the wife. i will NEVER daily drive a motorcycle ever again

what out for deaf old ladies in cadillacs... i was struck by one and it wasn't the most fun i ever had
and audi wagons that try to run you off the road... i kicked the guys door in while i was moving

 

[spencurai]

Best mantra ever...

"I am invisible on my bike"

When that motor starts...nobody can see me except for cops.

 

[Cody]

what do you guys think of this?

http://www.cbxmanmotorcycles.com/Hyosung-Cruiser-Motorcycle-GV-650-Avitar-Cruiser.aspx

 

[BlackSheep]

make sure you ride it first.

 

[Cody]

it uses the same motor as the SV650 I was looking at. I think I may go down and ride one. I really like the look of it.

 

[Tacoma]

You're not really going to drop that much coin on a Chicom bike are you?

 

[Cody]

whats chicom?


hmmm

http://www.umamerica.com/site/usa/motorcycles/cr/features/features2.html#usa_motocr2

wonder whats going on here....

edit: nevermind. they are rebadging the hyosung bike

 

[Tacoma]

Chinese Communist.

I have noticed a huge influx of cheap Chinese bikes lately.

 

[Cody]

What about Korean bikes?

I've done a bunch of reading on hyosung and most people seem to have a pretty high oppinion of them.

 

[Greg]

Ask Hickey about cheap bikes... I wouldn't waste the time & money. Get a Honda/Suzuki/etc if you want something that will last.

 

[Tacoma]

Hey, Greg: on the topic, what are you running? I seem to remember some sweet dual headlights.

I'm looking at KLR650's, and Suzuki Dr650's and Dr400s's (?). Not sure I need a friggin' 650, but the KLR has a sweet 6gal tank... but the Suzukis have better forks.

 

[Greg]

Hey, Greg: on the topic, what are you running? I seem to remember some sweet dual headlights.

I'm looking at KLR650's, and Suzuki Dr650's and Dr400s's (?). Not sure I need a friggin' 650, but the KLR has a sweet 6gal tank... but the Suzukis have better forks.

I ride a 2001 Suzuki DRZ400. I want a KLR so bad, but I can't justify 2 bikes. And I don't want to sell the DRZ to gain the KLR, I think I'd miss the more technical riding.

Headlight upgrade

What kinda riding you planning on doing?

 

[Tacoma]

I'm planning on mostly expedition type stuff.... Take off from here, and head out to the hills... kind of nice not to have the heft and hugeness of a truck sometimes..... I'll need to carry a small paintbox, some food/water, and a pack maybe. That's why I like the huge tank on the KLR, but I'm not sure if that's gonna be just a bit too much bike....

I'll have to compare the loaded weights and whatnot. If it's not a huge difference I'd rather have the extra range. I'm not going to be doing trials or anything.

 

[Greg]

I'm planning on mostly expedition type stuff.... Take off from here, and head out to the hills... kind of nice not to have the heft and hugeness of a truck sometimes..... I'll need to carry a small paintbox, some food/water, and a pack maybe. That's why I like the huge tank on the KLR, but I'm not sure if that's gonna be just a bit too much bike....

I'll have to compare the loaded weights and whatnot. If it's not a huge difference I'd rather have the extra range. I'm not going to be doing trials or anything.

KLR's are cheap (compared to other similar expedition bikes), but you can build a Honda XR650L that might fit the bill. I know you can get huge tanks for them too, it's not going to be as highway friendly, but will do much better in the dirt.

 

[Tacoma]

Cool. I've yet to check into Hondas... although I can remember looking at a XR650 locally that just looked huge to me, heightwise. I've got maybe a 34" inseam.
Actually, I think I'll head over there tomorrow and see if I can check that out. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll have some trade-ins or something hahahah

 

[Hickey]

Ask Hickey about cheap bikes... I wouldn't waste the time & money. Get a Honda/Suzuki/etc if you want something that will last.

Werd. Not worth your life when the wheel falls off.

 

[Tacoma]

hahah I saw that today. Nice bike. NOT!