motorcycles, who here rides one?

[Gonefishing]

My first chopper was a basket case Royal Enfield... and after spending months putting it together I ended up with a couple of short rides, and many many hours of pushing that POS. I imagine there's no contrast between that old thing and a new one, but just the same name would keep me from even trying one out.

 

[david_42]

I've only seen one Royal Enfield. The owner lived at the top of a hill in SF and said about 90% of the time she could get it started by riding it down the hill. If I remember correctly, the front brake was about the size of a mini-bagel.

 

[NZGirl]

2006 VTR1000 - Honda v-twin - red

It's my eighth bike (I think)...

I've been riding since I was 19 - I'm 36 now.

 

[farmbrewernw]

Does anyone have or have tried one of the new Royal Enfields?

I wasn't going to be snotty about it but since others have said this is a bad bike I just have to know why you want one? I haven't seen or heard of them but after checking out their website I was unimpressed. You know you could buy an old Honda and get it way cheaper and you would be a lot happier.

 

[hopdog]

I wasn't going to be snotty about it but since others have said this is a bad bike I just have to know why you want one? I haven't seen or heard of them but after checking out their website I was unimpressed. You know you could buy an old Honda and get it way cheaper and you would be a lot happier.

Oh I have no intention of buying one. I think they are cool looking. An old-timer friend of mine was looking at them.

I have my sights set on something that is a little more comfortable road machine than my on/off.

 

[TampaTim]

That's a cool bike, I've always wondered how it would compare to a dl1000 or 950adv though. And I guess a 1200gs would be in the same class as well.

What are the wheel sizes and are they tube type? Also with the exhaust being right under the bike, have you had problems smacking things?

Somecallmetim got the wheel sizes and specs right.

In my opinion, based on fact sheets, some good old bench racing, the Uly'd eat the Strom's lunch. The KTM I don't know enough about to make a statement about. I believe I did read that the engine specs were close. Also, the Triumph Tiger is pretty damn sweet, and makes roughly the same amount of power.

As far as the muffler goes, the Uly has a high ground clearance. Not a problem whatsoever. Even the "small" Buells in the lineup have the mufflers underneath. I haven't seen any owners on the boards complaining of any issues with that. Plus the muffler is engineered to be a jacking point. It's pretty strong. If you bottom a Uly out...you are not a sane rider!

 

[farmbrewernw]

Oh I have no intention of buying one. I think they are cool looking. An old-timer friend of mine was looking at them.

I have my sights set on something that is a little more comfortable road machine than my on/off.

Fair enough they do look cool, I'm always hesitant with a bike I'm not sure I could readily get parts for however.

 

[Desert_Sky]

Mine.....

Although I pussed out this year. I rode all winter last year, but not doin that again. Once the morning temps get back above 45 Ill get back on it for my commute

 

[z987k]

The Uly is on my shortlist. They have standard sportbike sized rubber, tubeless 17 inch wheels 180 out back, 120 up front. The air cooled-hydraulic valved engine & belt drive are pluses in my book. Plus it looks cool. I would be buying for the pavement.

The Uly, Strom, & GS are just tall streetbikes IMHO, I wouldn't want to take them down more than gravel roads. That said there are folks that do take them off the beaten path, you need to be a skilled rider to keep them upright. I've helped a few guys pick up their GS's on logging trails, it's not alot of fun (although we do laugh about that sort of stuff around the campfire). The KTM has a bit more dirt cred, but still a it's still a pig. Then again I like my gutless litte KLX250...


Heres a nice ride report from a big group ride I was on this summer. 3 & 1/2 days 1100 miles in the UP...

CannonTrek III - 1100 Mile DS, 3 1/2 Days, 15 Start, 8 Finish - ADVrider

I don't know a ktm owner that isn't a damn good rider. I usually end up following their tail lights all day. In fact I rode with a guy on a 950 the other day and I was playing hell to keep up on my 650. All dirt and some gravel.

 

[z987k]

Somecallmetim got the wheel sizes and specs right.

In my opinion, based on fact sheets, some good old bench racing, the Uly'd eat the Strom's lunch. The KTM I don't know enough about to make a statement about. I believe I did read that the engine specs were close. Also, the Triumph Tiger is pretty damn sweet, and makes roughly the same amount of power.

As far as the muffler goes, the Uly has a high ground clearance. Not a problem whatsoever. Even the "small" Buells in the lineup have the mufflers underneath. I haven't seen any owners on the boards complaining of any issues with that. Plus the muffler is engineered to be a jacking point. It's pretty strong. If you bottom a Uly out...you are not a sane rider!

Never ridden with a dirt rider eh? :rockin:
I've eaten a lot of rocks with the bash plate on my klr, and I would be that has more clearance than a uly. The small front tire is a bit of a downfall for the uly in my book. When I get a dual sport, I need to to be able to do everything but go 150mph.

For all around the ktm is much better than the strom, but quite a bit more $$$ to. But I'm more biased towards seeing all of the country/world, not just what is next to the roads.

 

[bzwyatt]

wrong thread...

 

[gizmodog51]

74 R60/6 BMW
02 1100 vee star yamaha..waiting a clutch/starter repair
04 R1150 BMW

that vee star is a great engine with a poor starter design

GD

 

[badlee]

2009 Yamaha X1-r

 

[morticus]

2009 Triumph Daytona 675.

 

[rs4life]

2009 kawasaki er-6n

 

[twalte]

2009 Road Glide

 

[MidTNJasonF]

I have been riding a just shy of a decade now I guess. A little over 100,000 miles on the road so far. I average about 10,000 miles a year since I ride year round. It is pretty easy to get the miles in when you do a couple Iron Butt rides a year.

Going to take the courses to become a licensed MSF instructor next month. That should be fun and interesting. Looking forward to helping some new riders get a safe and educational start to their motorcycling life.

Daily ride:
1998 Honda VFR800Fi in street ride trim

and in long distance tour ride trim.

Former now retired street ride:
1996 Suzuki Bandit GSF600S

Classic bikes and Project bikes:

1982 Honda CX500 Custom

1973 Honda CB350 - Currently disassembled Vintage Race bike. I need to stop building new brewing gear so I can work on and race this again.

1972 Honda CB450 - Also currently disassembled waiting for a build, thinking street tracker on this one.

 

[timcadieux]

I MISS my bike, I had a Yammy Fazer in Belgium, left it there I moved back to Canada. Haven't picked up a new one since being back, no time plus wife isn't working since she's home with the new baby so I'm trying to keep expenses low. Used to take that puppy for a spin on the Ring road around Brussels, zoooooom!

Getting to work and back was a pinch because I could white line...woohoo!

 

[grasshopperfirestarter]

87 Harley Softail with apes and straights

Grasshopperfirestarter is his name

One loud beast

 

[Zuljin]

Okay. Motorcycle helmets. Go.

I've had a KBC and a Nolan.

The KBC was okay. It got to be kinda noisy and the padding got mashed down. The clear visor also started making things look kinda rainbow oil spill sheeny and wavy. I had it 3 years and wore it a lot. Usually while motorcycling. It was time to get a new one. I got a Nolan.

The Nolan N90 was great until the tinted visor started scratching inside the helmet. It's never been dropped. I don't know what happened. It's gotten worse and the clear visor is worn where the anti-fog shield was. I took it off because it wasn't really doing anything anyway. It's getting noisy as well. All that and at near 3 years old, it's time to replace it too.

I'm looking for DOT, modular (flip up face), integrated tinted visor with clear visor, removable padding and good ventilation that can be closed off in cold weather. A one piece full face would work if I could take it off and on without jacking up my glasses. That was a problem with every full face I tried on, and I wear small wire rim flex frames. Under $400 would be nice too. Not black. Prefer not Chinese, not for a helmet. Japanese, Korean, German and Italian is okay. I think the only USA helmets are Seer, and those are motorcycle cop style. No face protection. Simpson is car racing only, I think.

This sounds like a familiar post

 

[pellis007]

02 Harley Heritage Softail Classic. I broke my ankle/leg on my 09 Ultra Classic and felt I needed a lighter bike until my ankle/leg completely recovered. So I sold it and got the Heritage. I love the Heritage, but someday, I know I'll go back to a tourer. Mine is the one in the foreground with the blue cooler.

 

[twalte]

87 Harley Softail with straights
View attachment 99440

I bet that livens up the neighborhood. I'll bet it sounds great!!

 

[MidTNJasonF]

Okay. Motorcycle helmets. Go.

I've had a KBC and a Nolan.

The KBC was okay. It got to be kinda noisy and the padding got mashed down. The clear visor also started making things look kinda rainbow oil spill sheeny and wavy. I had it 3 years and wore it a lot. Usually while motorcycling. It was time to get a new one. I got a Nolan.

The Nolan N90 was great until the tinted visor started scratching inside the helmet. It's never been dropped. I don't know what happened. It's gotten worse and the clear visor is worn where the anti-fog shield was. I took it off because it wasn't really doing anything anyway. It's getting noisy as well. All that and at near 3 years old, it's time to replace it too.

I'm looking for DOT, modular (flip up face), integrated tinted visor with clear visor, removable padding and good ventilation that can be closed off in cold weather. A one piece full face would work if I could take it off and on without jacking up my glasses. That was a problem with every full face I tried on, and I wear small wire rim flex frames. Under $400 would be nice too. Not black. Prefer not Chinese, not for a helmet. Japanese, Korean, German and Italian is okay. I think the only USA helmets are Seer, and those are motorcycle cop style. No face protection. Simpson is car racing only, I think.

This sounds like a familiar post

These days I only wear Shoei. I started wearing HJC and had a Bell. The HJC were ok but fit, finish, and long term durability of the materials fell a little short. I have crash tested an HJC and it did its job admirably but it was heavy and the wind noise was rough. The Bell was absolute junk wore it about three times before selling it for a quarter of what I paid for it.

I used to think Shoei and similar premium helmets were overpriced but the ones I have owned had just fit better, worked better, and lasted longer than other brands.

I have also personally witnessed two nasty crashes by Shoei clad riders. Both had major head impacts and one had major chunks missing from the helmet. Neither rider had any head injury, not even a headache.

 

[grasshopperfirestarter]

Twalte, I always push it half way down the alley before cranking over! Better to annoy them and not my immediate neighbors...

 

[twalte]

Twalte, I always push it half way down the alley before cranking over! Better to annoy them and not my immediate neighbors...

It wouldn't bother me one bit...I'd have to insist that you wick the throttle a few times every morning.

I used to smile every time I heard my neighbor start up his Deuce...thing sounded sweet. Used to set off alarms any time we were in a parking garage.

 

[grasshopperfirestarter]

Well now you made me wanna tear up north on PCH. Vroooooooooooooooom!

 

[Ki-ri-n]

Just got my 1st one today
I was only able to ride it from the dealer to home. Hopefully I'll be able to put on some miles real soon.
'13 Harley-Davidson Breakout

 

[Rockindaddy]

Just got my 1st one today
I was only able to ride it from the dealer to home. Hopefully I'll be able to put on some miles real soon.
'13 Harley-Davidson Breakout

Nice looking bike. I ride an '08 Road King. Here's a pic of my bike & my SWSBO.

 

[Ki-ri-n]

Nice x2. You're definitely a lucky guy!

 

[Zuljin]

I like that color combo.