Custom Shocker motorcycle

[SHOCKvalue]

I'm not a sport-bike guy. Never even ridden one. So, no offense intended.

There just isn't enough space on a motorcycle to adequately hide or offset the look of a horizontally-opposed twin engine. ;)

Although they either did a decent job in that top picture or went to a different engine design in order to wrap it in plastic.

No offense taken at all.

Top two BMW's there are sport-tourers, not really sportbikes. Sport-tourers look like sportbikes to many, but are actually bigger bikes physically, with more relaxed ergos, and hard bags as factory options/accessories. If a person likes the curves/hills, and likes to take multi-day trips, they're the bike for you.

And all BMW K bikes have I-4 engines (top pic where you referenced the lack of exposed cylinder heads).

[RoyalShock]

I've seen a number of sport-touring bikes, but neither of those look to have the touring characteristics one would expect, like more substantial rear suspension and a "flatter" angle to the exhaust pipe to allow room for saddlebags. They look like typical sport bikes to me. But since I don't pay much attention to that genre, perhaps there is something I'm missing?

[SHOCKvalue]

Well, the ST segment is fairly loosely defined. Some trend towards the sport side of things, others to the touring side. You're probably noticing the latter, and not realizing what the former are if that aren't loaded up with bags and luggage for a trip.

As for the higher exhaust canisters, they're like that for cornering clearance, and hard bag systems are usually recessed on one side to fit around the canister itself.

The single-side swing arm setups (that I think you were referring to) have been used by BMW for decades, and sport-touring sort of originated with that brand. Most non-cruiser bikes designed for any sort of distance riding have driveshaft final drive systems rather than chains or belts, so that usually makes for a fairly heavily-built one-sided swingarm.

[MoValley John]

About the time my wife and I were first dating I owned a KZ 1100. It was a fine bike and a chick magnet. Boy, I loved that bike. And yes, I looked good on that bike! I blew the front tire and dropped it on the freeway. I missed getting run over by a semi by a mere few feet. I was wearing a helmet and only suffered extreme road rash, but nothing else. The first motorist that stopped to help was stunned when the first thing I said was "Is my bike okay?"

Since then, I have feared motorcycles... Until about five years ago. I really want one now and I'd consider buying the Shocker bike. It is a great looking bike and would be a heck of a conversation piece here in Omaha. I only have one problem. My wife said I can get a motorcycle whenever I want, I just have to have the house paid off, all my kid's college totally funded and another million in life insurance.

I guess my only hope is to start playing the Powerball...

[The Mad Hatter]

About the time my wife and I were first dating I owned a KZ 1100. It was a fine bike and a chick magnet. Boy, I loved that bike. And yes, I looked good on that bike! I blew the front tire and dropped it on the freeway. I missed getting run over by a semi by a mere few feet. I was wearing a helmet and only suffered extreme road rash, but nothing else. The first motorist that stopped to help was stunned when the first thing I said was "Is my bike okay?"

Since then, I have feared motorcycles... Until about five years ago. I really want one now and I'd consider buying the Shocker bike. It is a great looking bike and would be a heck of a conversation piece here in Omaha. I only have one problem. My wife said I can get a motorcycle whenever I want, I just have to have the house paid off, all my kid's college totally funded and another million in life insurance.

I guess my only hope is to start playing the Powerball...

You never know, you might be able to get the shockernet community to raise the funds for the house, college fund, and life insurance just for the pleasure of knowing that the Shocker bike is touring around Omaha.

[MoValley John]

And while you guys might not be aware, Creighton also tried auctioning off a fine, highpowered motorcycle. Here is a picture of their offering:

[ShockBand]

+ 1000, MVJ.

[Aargh]

Then there's the Missouri State entry

[shock]

I think Matty P bought the Creighton bike. I saw him headed to Colorado the other day. :D

[WstateU]

I think Matty P bought the Creighton bike. I saw him headed to Colorado the other day. :D

"Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!"

[fastbow]

So you guys seem knowledgeable about bikes, and since there's nothing going on basketball-wise, I'll float a question here.

My wife needs a new car, and she told me that if she gets a Lancer Evo X, I can have a motorcycle to offset the poor fuel economy. There's two I have my eye on, and I'm wondering which would be better for a motorcycle noob: the Aprilia Mana 850, or the Honda CBR250R. The Honda is just a little 250cc bike, whereas the Aprilia is the world's first automatic transmission motorcycle. Any advice for me?

[shock]

250s are always way underpowered

[MoValley John]

So you guys seem knowledgeable about bikes, and since there's nothing going on basketball-wise, I'll float a question here.

My wife needs a new car, and she told me that if she gets a Lancer Evo X, I can have a motorcycle to offset the poor fuel economy. There's two I have my eye on, and I'm wondering which would be better for a motorcycle noob: the Aprilia Mana 850, or the Honda CBR250R. The Honda is just a little 250cc bike, whereas the Aprilia is the world's first automatic transmission motorcycle. Any advice for me?

Most of the fun of a motorcycle, other than actual touring, is the shifting. Get yourself something that makes you look good and is big enough to have some fun. Even if you're not in the market, you want to look irresistable to the ladies and 250 CC is too small and ain't gonna do it. You don't have to go huge and you don't need a crotch rocket, either, you do need more than 250 cc, however.

The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is a good looking bike, easy to ride, light and not too big once you've ridden just a bit. In fact, if you go too small, you'll always wish you had more power. Plus, even an ugly guy can look good on it. With this bike you don't need to buy all the HD leathers and crap- you will look like you belong on the bike without looking silly like so many phony Harley dudes. While not a high end bike, as an entry point it's a great way to get into biking for around $8,000. Cheaper if you buy used. Chicks will dig you and you can direct that newfound ego towards your wife. It's all good!

[ShockerGorilla]

Either one will kill you in an accident.

[SHOCKvalue]

So you guys seem knowledgeable about bikes, and since there's nothing going on basketball-wise, I'll float a question here.

My wife needs a new car, and she told me that if she gets a Lancer Evo X, I can have a motorcycle to offset the poor fuel economy. There's two I have my eye on, and I'm wondering which would be better for a motorcycle noob: the Aprilia Mana 850, or the Honda CBR250R. The Honda is just a little 250cc bike, whereas the Aprilia is the world's first automatic transmission motorcycle. Any advice for me?

What sort of riding are you wanting to do? That'll determine a lot of things. The two bikes you mentioned really have nothing in common, so I'm curious.

250's are fine for around town and limited highway duty, if you're on the lighter/smaller side of average build. Riding at speed for any distance will probably get old in a hurry though, due to the RPM you'd have to rap it out at to keep any sort of speed. There is actually an entire road racing class/series dedicated to the Ninja 250's (and I'd guess the new Honda would be included as well), so they can carry some speed on a closed course, but not in a fashion that translates over to the road-use very well.

Don't know much about the Aprilia you referenced, but their dealer network - nationally - is very sub-par. The Wichita franchise was only around for a couple of years and bounced from an owner that had no business at all selling bikes, and on to another one that was financially unstable and is now out of business. These days, the closest dealer is in Salina, with a firm that also sells commercial yard equipment and light construction equipment. They would probably know less about your bike than you would.

And I don't know what Aprilia is specifically referring to by "automatic", but they're definitely not the first bike not requiring manual shifting. Moto Guzzi had an "automatic" bike decades ago, and the Yamaha FJR1300 has been offered in an auto for several years. The new Honda VFR is also available in a shiftless variant. Besides, shifting is part of the fun of riding a motorcycle, isn't it?