Custom Shocker motorcycle

[WstateU]

Either one will kill you in an accident.

Oh Lord!

[MoValley John]

You can drown swimming, you can have a fluke billiard accident and end up with a cue stick up your arse, you can be struck by lightning or even die while watching a parade. Innocent people die each day at the hands of drunk drivers, even pedestrians walking on the sidewalk.

Riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous, I came inches from dying on one, so nobody knows that better than me. That said, we all make choices on how we want to live and what risks we are willing to take. My neighbor across the street is a safety freak. This was the first year he allowed his kids (now in sixth and eiighth grade) to light fireworks. This is no lie, he made them wear safety glasses, a hard hat and fireproof gloves that looked like oven mitts. They looked like complete idiots. Actually, that family is a household of complete idiots, so they really looked the part.

I don't recommend simply throwing caution to the wind, but at the same time, if you don't live a little, are you doing anything other than sitting around waiting to die?

[MoValley John]

Besides, shifting is part of the fun of riding a motorcycle, isn't it?

Yes it is!

http://www.autospeak.com/grpsndc/up2speed.wav

[MoValley John]

Maybe it's just me but I always loved the sound and feel of downshifting without the clutch.

I need to stop this motorcycle talk, it's getting my mind in a bad, bad place. I just might have to attempt a renegotiation with my wife! :whistle: :D :shock:

[SHOCKvalue]

Dang MVJ, you're really infatuated with what makes you look good, as opposed to what actually meets the intended use. Alas, I guess that's how the HD/cruiser/chopper thing blossomed.

There's really nothing a cruiser does that can't be done better by another respective genre of motorcycle, but that's a whole 'nother bag of worms.

[RoyalShock]

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?

Being a cruiser guy myself, I'll basically echo MVJ. You'll love a mid-size cruiser like the 750 Shadow or 900 Vulcan (I ride a Classic but they also have a custom for a "cooler" look):



Anything less than a 750 will surely leave you wanting more on the open road. But if fuel economy is a big issue for you and you're just going to tool around town, a smaller bike might be better. The 750-900cc bikes will get you 40-45 MPG. With a smaller bike you'll be in the 50mpg neighborhood. Of course, how you drive it can make a difference.

[MoValley John]

Dang MVJ, you're really infatuated with what makes you look good, as opposed to what actually meets the intended use. Alas, I guess that's how the HD/cruiser/chopper thing blossomed.

There's really nothing a cruiser does that can't be done better by another respective genre of motorcycle, but that's a whole 'nother bag of worms.

No, it's not all about the looks, I really loved to ride. I wish my wife would break down and let me get another bike! As a lead nurse in a trauma center, she just isn't so keen on what she calls donor cycles.

That said, you can't ignore the fact that while you're out there doing it, you might as well look good at the same time. If not, everyone would still be riding the ugly bikes from the early- mid 70's.



Keep in mind, we all know the saying about fat chicks and mopeds...

[RoyalShock]

Be nice, MJV. Up until two years ago, this was my ride ('81 Honda CX500 Custom, had it since around '87):

[MoValley John]

And you upgraded why??? Oh yeah, because your new bike was bigger, but mostly because you looked damned good on it!

[RoyalShock]

I had an intermediate bike for a year ('96 Yamaha Virago 750):



I really do prefer a bike with a little more character than what "everyone" is riding. But now that my wife wants to come along, I've had to conform a bit, moving from the older "custom"-look cruisers to the newer "classic"-look cruisers that look a little better dressed out.

[RoyalShock]

Oh, and the real reason I upgraded at first was because I planned to ride more and needed more power for highway riding. That 500 could really rev, but 60+ MPH wasn't comfortable for long.

[MoValley John]

So you don't like the feel of having your arms vibrating for a half hour after you're done riding?

[RoyalShock]

So you don't like the feel of having your arms vibrating for a half hour after you're done riding?

20 years ago, OK. Now, not so much!

[EAGLE]

Honda also made the 450 &750 Hawks in the 70"s as automatics. My choice is the Magnificent HONDA GOLD WING !!!!!!!! I wish I had mine back!! :band: :band:

[MoValley John]

Honda also made the 450 &750 Hawks in the 70"s as automatics. My choice is the Magnificent HONDA GOLD WING !!!!!!!! I wish I had mine back!! :band: :band:

When I was young, I had a big Kawasaki, I also owned a smaller Yamaha and Honda prior to moving up to the KZ 1100. Back in the day, I used to both scoff at the Gold Wing and drool over it. It was one of those things where you laughed at these old farts riding around, at the same time, you dreamed of the day you would tour with your wife on a machine that was fully loaded and so comfortable.

The Honda Gold Wing was a fine piece of engineering. The only motorcycle to ever successfully merge the freedom of a Harley Davidson with the amenities of a 45 foot Winnebago.