slow hand

I ride a 2007 Yamaha R1 on the street, and a 2001 Yamaha YZ-250 off-road.

Just getting into MTB riding for fun, fitness and adventure.

Who here rides motorcycles, and what do you ride?

John
Memphis

dminor 

I actually don't ride any more but have not given up on the idea - - just too many other things going on. I still own my old race bike ('71 TS 125 Suz with factory race kit) a '77 IT 175 Yam and my dad's old TS 250 Suz. My dream bike - - that I WILL own someday - - is a Yam RZ 350.

ed 

I ride other peoples bikes can't afford my own.

I would LOVE to get a big ol' freakin beast to bonk around on in the dirt. I'd also love to have a flat black Fat Bob.

GROWLR

Hey Slow Hand,

I ride a 2003 Aprilia Tuono, street only obviously. Though I do throw some saddlebags on and tour on it every summer. Great fun.

I too am just getting into bicycling for fitness, fun and maybe a little adventure. Just bought a Rockhopper 29er.

Was planning on doing lots of riding on it this summer though my plans were trashed yesterday as I broke my foot. Now I'm just hoping I can stay in shape somehow for the next six weeks until I can get to working out again. Oh well...

Ruins my motorcycling plans this summer too. Not to mention golf, hiking, fishing <sigh> RANT/

John
Colorado Springs

thegooddoctor

I still ride mcycles a bit for fun but less and less as priorities change. One of my favorite bikes I ever had was a RZ 350 Kenny Roberts ed. I bought it for $200 (very beat up) from a co-worker who wanted to buy his girlfreind an engagement ring. After a full restoration that thing screammmmmeed. The variable valve timing and longevity of the engine, light weight and wicked high rpm power make these things ultimate canyon cruisers. Having owned a lot of crotch rockets through my younger years this bike made me realize what a game changer this bike was in it's time. When I sold it, the kid that came to look at it just about peeed his pants when I started and revvved the engine. His wallet was out in a hearbeat.
I am currenlty finishing up a '67 BSA 441 Victor (aka victim). A clunker by modern standards but another classic for the time.
Funny thing is, all the bikes I have restored have been $ losers. My wife just laughs whenever I start drooling over some neglected bike I see in someones yard.
Two Wheels Good.

samburger

After I join the Army my money accumulated from Basic Training is going towards a down payment on a Harley Sportster 883. Hopefully one similar to this guy: https://www.harley-davidson.com/used_...bmLocale=en_US

dminor 

You are now my official hero. You own/have owned two of my favorite bikes of all time. Did you have chambers/GYT parts on the RZ?

So what's next - - a Goldstar street-tracker?

4evrplan

You going to take that off-road?

thegooddoctor

Is it OK if I foward your post to my wife?! Like I mentioned, from a monetary standpoint they have always been losers but maybe I need to improve my haggling skills and change that..na, easier just to watch them move on like some ex-girlfriends.
For chambers, found supertrapps that were in excellent condition and made the RZ scream even louder than stock. The stock pipes were probably the least impressive component on the bike and since they were only specced to meet USA regulations, were easy to toss out. All else came ready to race from the factory.
Usually I at least try to keep things stock. I like my neighbors so the few times I rode the bike before selling it I was compelled to let them know I was going to make some noise. Inevitably their kids would come running to see what contraption the crazy neighbor was going to be starting this time. I cant figure out what a GYT is, probably because I am getting old.
Last years bike was a '87 BMW R100GS . It was fun but didn't stir my soul much and that is when I decided my obscession with mountain biking was a lot more fun and safer than my obscession with motorcycles. I have since been poking along assesmbling the Victor and plan on selling it soon. It's going to be running in about 4 weeks.
Next I will likely save up for a new mountain bike.

dminor 

Or maybe not old enough . That was Yamaha factory designation for anything hop-up and stood for Genuine Yamaha Tuning. Back in the day - - before RMs, YZs, KXs, etc. - - the factories used to sell race kits to make stock bikes race-worthy. In Yamaha's case, they were called 'GYT Kits.' Usually consisted of barrel/piston/head, chamber, larger carb and sometimes a lighter-flywheel magneto.

Sounds like the RZ in KR trim already had much of the GYT except the pipes.


I race downhill now because my wife would freak at the thought of me racing flat track and MX again .

samburger

Haha no, not if I can help it. I always wanted a dirt bike when I was a kid but my dad wouldn't let me get one because we're a mechanically challenged family & he saw it as a backwards investment of sorts. But the reason I wanted one was to ride it up & down the neighborhood streets because what I really wanted was a motorcycle. I'm still split between a Sportster & a Wide Glide though. Any motorcycle gurus out there who can offer their advice?

MNRon

Owned two RD400s, before the KR special that was water cooled... Current bikes in the garage: '05 Suzuki DL650 (Wee Strom), '02 Kawi KLR650 (second one, wife rides this one), '07 Yamaha FZ6 (son rides), '78 Yamaha DT250 (street legal and runs well, but not very pretty), '79 Honda XR250R (not street legal, but a great woods bike considering it's age), and two non-runners - '73(?) Yamaha DT175 and a '63 Honda 150 Dream (waiting for restoration).

Love two wheels of any sort... but gotta say no to cruisers.... like my bicycles, my motorcycles have to handle. ;-)

thegooddoctor

You are a brother! The RD's are great and run forever, much like the RZ. Check out Kenny Roberts doing the Mile last year on a restored TZ750. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgjXjcTB_pQ
The camera work stinks but the sound! It's amazing to realize he raced on that bike with about 130 hp against other bikes that had what... about 80hp? I'm with you on the cruiser style bikes. Just not my thing I guess.

C_Heath

2001 Yamaha Vstar
2006 Yamaha Zuma
2003 Yamaha Grizzly 660
2000 Yamaha Beartracker

Im partial to Yammys.

I ride the road bike about 15 miles per year because of the things I see on my bicycle makes me wonder how I havnt been hit on it (or them) yet. I had a lady 2 years ago pull out of an intersection in front of me and I was doin 45. I almost cleaned her out. I just dont enjoy it as much as I use too since the kids came and Im ok with it.

samburger

I don't like the sitting position on crotch rockets. When I'm on a motorcycle, I like to be leaned backwards more so than forwards. I've also considered getting a BMW R 1200 R or similar style bike, because I am still young & like the maneuverability of crotch rockets, so I think that bike or a similar style would be a good combination of a neutral sitting position & good handling. Anyone know of any other bikes like that? That bike & the Suzuki B-King are the only I'm aware of that also have enough power to keep me satisfied, but I'm not a motorcycle aficionado.

dminor 

Honda Nighthawk might be right up your alley. They perform decently, handle decently, yet give a bit more upright riding position - - bikes dubbed by the magazines as a UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle), meaning that it was fun and sporty without being so single-purpose like a crotch-rocket, cruiser, etc.

BTW, Doc is right - - the pure music of KR's TZ is to die for.

Johnny Law

i have an 86 LS650 Suzuki Savage.. mint condition with only 5k miles on it.. thinking about making it a bobber.. but i dont know if i can find the time.

samburger

Nighthawk would be perfect if the engine was about 350cc bigger. 250cc might keep me entertained for a while, but I'm a fast learner & I know I'd get bored, & I hate having to upgrade. Kawasaki Versys looks perfect for what I'm looking for. Decent power, upright sitting position, good all-arounder bike for commuting, fu, & even some light touring. But I've got a while to decide so I'll just have to test ride all the bikes that look appealing to me &, just like a mountain bike, buy the one that feels the best.

Siu Blue Wind

I have a .....


oh nevermind.

Darth_Firebolt

buell firebolt xb12r. :]

cryptid01

motorcycle thread with no pics wtf

Here's my 530. I ride enduro & dualsport.

Darth_Firebolt

i used to have a 360. that thing was quick.

slow hand

...and King Kenny can still haul the mail when he wants to!

When you have 5 min or so, take the time to watch this video.

The sound of that TZ-750 dirt tracker is absolutely hair-raising!

Lot of motorcycle road racing royalty there - KR, Valentino, Colin Edwards, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k8hJ...=youtube_gdata

dminor 

No, no, no. I'm talking earlier 650/700/750 Nighthawks (sorry, my age atwork again). Inline four. It would take a while to outgrow that.

Siu, you and I KNOW what you have and you'd better shut up . Suffice to say, guys, she is the coolest thing on two wheels.

OK cryptid, you win. But some photos of my own. . .

samburger

Oh yeah I any of those would be perfect. If I can just find an older Nighthawk in my area (wherever that may be) after I graduate basic training & have AIT (17 weeks total, after I sign the contract in at least another month). If I can I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Otherwise I'll probably find a lightly used Versys or V-Strom or F 650 GS, depending on which feels better. Can't wait though.