quote:

Originally posted by Kamo Gari:
Well, someone has to be different! A likeness of my '87 Kawi ZX-10, AKA Ninja 1000R AKA GPz1000 (in Europe). She's a bit of a beast. I like beasts...

The ZX10 - a bike that truly redefined what SPEED was about.

It's hard to describe what a modern 2009 superbike is really like. 160+ horsepower, 430# wet weight. Nothing comes close to it. Nothing. A Bugatti Veyron with 1001 horsepower and an impressive 10.2 second, 141 mph quarter mile time costing a cool $1MM still isn't as quick through the quarter mile.

And yet you can buy a Gixxer 1000 for $10k.

The world gets redefined on the Japanese superbikes. 0-60 times in the sub-3 second mark. Quarter mile times just under 10 seconds. Top speeds limited at 300kph (186mph) by gentleman's agreement. Bikes that go from 0-100mph in 6 seconds and 70-120 in about 5... The brain rewires itself and you stop thinking about how "I want to be there..." and you begin thinking "I AM there..." - because you are.

Roller coasters become a waste of time and money. They aren't a thrill at all.

There simply is nothing on this planet short of being in an F16/18/22 or an F1 car that can remotely compare to the absolute immediacy of performance.

I don't own a Superbike. My drivers license won't last. I used to own a ZX11 - I am horribly glad to not own it anymore. 100mph was loafing to that bike. It didn't get fun until well over 150mph. I'm quite comfortable with my R12GS and it's measly 100hp.

And I still have zero points on my license.

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
From this year...



Yes, I've seen the promised land...

Robert:

They aren't overly pretty, but look effective. Who makes those aluminum lockable saddle bags?

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
From this year...



Yes, I've seen the promised land...

Robert:

They aren't overly pretty, but look effective. Who makes those aluminum lockable saddle bags?

There's a half dozen makers of the Aluminum boxes for the GS's. Those one's are Touratech Zega's - the special smaller sized ones. I got a steal on them and just couldn't pass them up. Great bags.

Jesse, Micatech, Happy Trails, Metal Mule, Hepco Becker also make alum cases.

The GS - it's kinda like a Harley...except the accessories aren't chromed.

Do you have other pictures of your trip to Alaska? I'd like to see some if you don't mind, and have the time to post.

Must have been some ride from Anchorage to the bay, on that loooonngg, gravel road.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Matherne:
Do you have other pictures of your trip to Alaska? I'd like to see some if you don't mind, and have the time to post.

Must have been some ride from Anchorage to the bay, on that loooonngg, gravel road.

Absolutely. But be warned, I took a LOT of pictures! I'm in the middle of working on the ride report - I'm up to day 7 of 21...

By the time the report is done it will likely have near 1,000 posted pictures. I'm good with that though.

The quick summary is: My wife and I trailered from So. Cal. to Seattle, dropped the trailer at a friends house, and then rode from Seattle through BC, YT, and Alaska to Prudhoe Bay...and back!

Helluva trip.

http://www.sport-touring.net/f...p/topic,41536.0.html

PS: You're not on a 56k modem are you?

Crazy, maybe, but I am looking for a used Honda Trail 90 or 110 in good condition. Any ideas?

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:

quote:

Originally posted by Kamo Gari:
Well, someone has to be different! A likeness of my '87 Kawi ZX-10, AKA Ninja 1000R AKA GPz1000 (in Europe). She's a bit of a beast. I like beasts...

The ZX10 - a bike that truly redefined what SPEED was about.

It's hard to describe what a modern 2009 superbike is really like. 160+ horsepower, 430# wet weight. Nothing comes close to it. Nothing. A Bugatti Veyron with 1001 horsepower and an impressive 10.2 second, 141 mph quarter mile time costing a cool $1MM still isn't as quick through the quarter mile.

And yet you can buy a Gixxer 1000 for $10k.

The world gets redefined on the Japanese superbikes. 0-60 times in the sub-3 second mark. Quarter mile times just under 10 seconds. Top speeds limited at 300kph (186mph) by gentleman's agreement. Bikes that go from 0-100mph in 6 seconds and 70-120 in about 5... The brain rewires itself and you stop thinking about how "I want to be there..." and you begin thinking "I AM there..." - because you are.

Roller coasters become a waste of time and money. They aren't a thrill at all.

There simply is nothing on this planet short of being in an F16/18/22 or an F1 car that can remotely compare to the absolute immediacy of performance.

I don't own a Superbike. My drivers license won't last. I used to own a ZX11 - I am horribly glad to not own it anymore. 100mph was loafing to that bike. It didn't get fun until well over 150mph. I'm quite comfortable with my R12GS and it's measly 100hp.

And I still have zero points on my license.

I wish I could say the same about the points. Nothing much to add to your post, as we're in agreement, except for a personal note on what you said about getting interesting over 150. When I jump on the throttle on mine in 3rd, get off it quick then whack it wide open and stay on it, it gets interesting and fun as hell at much lower speeds. That said, I normally take it easy. Mostly. I'm getting too old for that shit. Almost!

Cheers,

KG

P.S. A 'Busa will do far better than 186.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifrk6JeCafo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgIxOYHV7Mk

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Matherne:
Do you have other pictures of your trip to Alaska? I'd like to see some if you don't mind, and have the time to post.

Must have been some ride from Anchorage to the bay, on that loooonngg, gravel road.

Absolutely. But be warned, I took a LOT of pictures! I'm in the middle of working on the ride report - I'm up to day 7 of 21...

By the time the report is done it will likely have near 1,000 posted pictures. I'm good with that though.

The quick summary is: My wife and I trailered from So. Cal. to Seattle, dropped the trailer at a friends house, and then rode from Seattle through BC, YT, and Alaska to Prudhoe Bay...and back!

Helluva trip.

http://www.sport-touring.net/f...p/topic,41536.0.html

PS: You're not on a 56k modem are you?

Alas, I have been unable to pull up your pictures. I don't know what hsp my modem is, but I use somekind of phonecard to access the internet as I live in the sticks, and it just can't handle the job.

Congrats though on your ride, as it really is quite an achievement. I bet doing it was a high point in your life, one you can look back on with a sense of pride, and adventure.

Regards,
Larry

If you really meant retro, Triumph bonneville, yup the new one's don't leave oil on the deck, & you won't need chewing gum or wire & pliers with you, sounds just like the ones I worked on as a kid, had a second hand Thruxton 05, traded it for a spanki'n bonny 08

I had a Triump Bonneville when I was rowing tourists down rivers in Utah in early 70s. Read a book about all the drugs, booze, and wild women in Europe......sounded good to me......sold bike to finance getting to Europe......had a great time until I got drunk on vin ordinaire and fell off a wall by the Seine River in Paris, that ended the fun part, but it produced another great story for after dinner campfires.

Back to the Bonneville, I actually had a pretty good one, electrics worked pretty well, which was unusual and it only leaked a minimal amount of oil around the crankcase. Fun bike in the mountains and back roads of Utah. "Those were the days, my friend."

I must say Charlie, you've lived some interesting times. Just got back from S. Utah and it is breath taking for sure and you made a living there for a while, plus the motorcycle thing, pretty cool.

I spent some time in Europe as well, but I think my time there was a bit more regulated, as I was there on Uncle Sam's dime...but I can recall some sangria induced escapades which still make me smile. Wish I would have had a motorcycle back then.

While I was rowing out of Vernal, in the N. part of the state, I think the Southern half of Utah and the Northern half of Arizona are just about the prettiest places in the world to my tastes.

Running the Grand and hiking the various desert canyons are mystical experiences, but way past my abilities now. One time on a river trip, we stopped late afternoon, and made camp below the South Rim village, I hiked up to the South Rim, got thoroughly drunk with some German tourists in a bar in El Tovar Hotel (I think, been a while) there, and hiked back down to our campsight near Phantom Bar before dawn. Hell, I couldn't walk a mile of it now.

Some time after the above mentioned episodes, I lived as a caretaker/watchman on a ranch not too far outside of Kanab, Utah, it had been the sight of many westerns. Gorgeous area. I think it has been chopped up in "ranchettes" now, too bad really. I would have killed to own it but it was way out of my financial league back then. Now that I might could afford it, it's not the way it was, but, then, neither am I.

I agree, S. Utah, N. Arizona absoultely stunning and the best motorcycle riding I've found yet.

Wish I could do the things I did ten years ago physicially. Too bad youth is wasted on the young.

Take care,
Larry

Hey guys, I will post a few pictures of our trip to the Grand Canyon and Southern Utah. We began our trip in Prescott, Arkansas, and put a little over 4000 on the Stratoliner when we were done. Both my wife and I feel that it is our best road trip yet on the bike.

I hope you enjoy the pictures and are encourged to tell us about your trips and stuff you are doing on your bike.



Regards,
Larry

This photo is taken at the Continental Divide in New Mexico.

These photos were taken in Bryce Canyon National Park in S. Utah. We stayed at a bed & breakfast in Panquitch for a while, I think we actually enjoyed this area as much as the Grand Canyon.

This photo was taken in Zion National Park.

This picture was taken at the S. Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Matherne:
This picture was taken at the S. Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park.

Looks like the canyon was flooded at the time....thanks for sharing the photos of your trip....what fun that must have been...you came close to my place as you headed west...wish I had known...I assume you came down I-40 and through Holbrook....about 70 miles from me....

You're correct on all accounts. I too wish we could have visited a while. The area was so much fun to ride, I'm sure we will do it again. I would like to ride the west coast next time and we would probably ride through you're neck of the woods to get there. I will let you know next time.

Larry

Thanks for the great pictures Larry. They are making me homesick.

Glad you enjoyed them, I had a great time taking them.

Regards,
Larry

Very retro springer:

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
Very retro springer:

WoW, that is one super clean machine. Very nice. I have a friend who had a simular springer, probably not as nice as yours, but it was stolen from his hotel parking lot in Hot Springs, he replaced it with a Fat Boy, but still mourns his springer.

Larry, unfortunately it isn't mine. But I sure like it. I've looked at lots of Road Stars and some Harleys. Do you have an opinion of Royal Stars?

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
Larry, unfortunately it isn't mine. But I sure like it. I've looked at lots of Road Stars and some Harleys. Do you have an opinion of Royal Stars?

I really don't know much about them at all. I sat on a few and they seem to be top heavy to me. Ask your dealer to let you ride one, or find one who will let you ride. I think functionaly they are good bikes, just not my style. You should ride several models from several brands before you make up your mind. About all you can find out on the showroom is how they look and how they come off the kick stand. The latter will often tell you something about how it may handle IMHO. Good luck, finding the right bike is part of the fun.

IMHO, the japanese seem incapable of understanding the concept of keeping a motorcycle, or building one with any resale value after three years. My Electra Glide Classic is a 1998, one of the 95th Anniversary models. It still starts and runs/looks like new, and I get "the wave" every time I ride it.
When I gas up I get a WWII vet every now and then come over to me and start telling me he "rode a motor" in the war. I had this one guy relate stories to me about cruising the length of Italy as the army advanced northward as a courier. Pulled out a picture of him on this WLA with the side boot and Thompson. I asked him if he wanted a ride, and his wife says "Yes, he does, and I want one too!". Every summer a bunch of us go over to the VA Nursing Home and take some of the oldtimers for short laps around the grounds. I get all teary eyed typing this and seeing those proud gentleman taking what might be a last run in my mind's eye.

A Harley-Davidson, you see, is more than a motorcycle. It's part of who we are in this country, and a link to those who rode a hundred years ago.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
IMHO, the japanese seem incapable of understanding the concept of keeping a motorcycle, or building one with any resale value after three years. My Electra Glide Classic is a 1998, one of the 95th Anniversary models. It still starts and runs/looks like new, and I get "the wave" every time I ride it.
When I gas up I get a WWII vet every now and then come over to me and start telling me he "rode a motor" in the war. I had this one guy relate stories to me about cruising the length of Italy as the army advanced northward as a courier. Pulled out a picture of him on this WLA with the side boot and Thompson. I asked him if he wanted a ride, and his wife says "Yes, he does, and I want one too!". Every summer a bunch of us go over to the VA Nursing Home and take some of the oldtimers for short laps around the grounds. I get all teary eyed typing this and seeing those proud gentleman taking what might be a last run in my mind's eye.

A Harley-Davidson, you see, is more than a motorcycle. It's part of who we are in this country, and a link to those who rode a hundred years ago.

Rich

Good on you for taking the old folks around on your bike; that's cool stuff.

As far as your 'if you don't ride a HD, you ain't American' inference, however: what a bunch of bullshit!

you are from Kennedy land, that figures...

At the end of WWII the world was in shambles. Every returning GI had the dream of a home and school if he wanted. Everyone in the small town I grew up in had a good job, and the wives stayed home and took care of the children. Over the last half-century we have exported most of the manufacturing jobs to the Pacific Rim nations. Today we are a debtor nation, at our current rate by 2020 the US will have to repudiate the debt (est 7 trillion dollars today) and nationalize all foreign businesses and properties. That will be followed shortly by a sort-of World War III.

Check yourself out: what country made:
1. the clothes on your back
2. the vehicle you are driving/riding
3. the appliances in your house
4. a lot of the food you ate today
5. the toys your kids play with
6. what country does your tech service on your
computer come from
7. when you call your bank does the phone ring
in Bangladesh

The bullshit comes from people like you who don't understand "Buy American" is more than an ad campaign. Beyond Microsoft we don't offer the world much these days.

By the way, those old guys turned down, to a man, rides on japanese bikes. You probably wouldn't understand that either.

Rich

Looks like a good time to post a picture of my new Yamaha Raider. 113 cubes of raw power. Handles like a dream. Great Jap. enginering. Oh the photo is taken in front of my Son's apt. in New Orleans. This my fourth Yamaha since 2003, I still own three of them. Love them all.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Matherne:
Looks like a good time to post a picture of my new Yamaha Raider. 113 cubes of raw power. Handles like a dream. Great Jap. enginering. Oh the photo is taken in front of my Son's apt. in New Orleans. This my fourth Yamaha since 2003, I still own three of them. Love them all.

How perfectly un-American of you.

Very nice ride. Of course, you should sell it for something slower, much more expensive and prone to breakage.

When American products can meet the performance standards and price point of imports, I'll be there with my checkbook. What I won't do is get beat buying some overpriced, underengineered piece of crap so I can be seen by folks like yourself as some sort of consumer patriot. Smashing Japanese compact cars in the 70s in protest of dwindling quality and sales numbers did about as much for the US auto industry's competetiveness as those manufacturers' idiotic decisions to keep producing shit vehicles when other foreign companies got their act together and saw that lower prices on flat-out better products was the way to EARN them their market share, through customer satisfaction, loyalty and repeat business.

IS, you keep on believing what you do, and buying what is right for you, and I'll do the same.

BTW, nice cheap shot WRT where I live. If it weren't for the people in my home state doing what they did a few hundred years ago, you'd not have yours. But you keep bashing away if it makes you feel better.

I may be more unamerican than you know. My favorite shotgun is a Browning Citori 20 ga. (made in Japan), my favorite rifle a new edition Winchester mod. 95, made in Japan. My favorite .22 a Browning T-Bolt, I think it was made in Japan, but maybe Belgium. My favorite pistol is a Sig. 220, German designed, not sure where it was made, but for a German company. My favorite revolver though is a S&W model 57 mountain gun, made in the good ole USA. Maybe there's hope for me yet.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Matherne:
My favorite revolver though is a S&W model 57 mountain gun, made in the good ole USA. Maybe there's hope for me yet.

S&W, as in the company out of, gasp, Massachusetts? That ain't America!

Sorry, but you get a failing grade, and nope, there's no hope for you. You aren't alone, however: I drive a Toyota, my boob tubes are Sonys, I carry a P220 Sig, and shoot a Benelli as my main duck gun. In the stable I also have a Browning A5 made in Japan, and an SKS made in China. Toss in that I had quiche, sushi and curry for lunches last week instead of McDonald's, Subway and KFC, I'm damned surprised that I haven't been dragged off in chains and charged with being un-American myself, now that I think of it...

When you get to the retirement stage and SS has run dry because all of those jobs you stood by and applauded when they went to some other country because they could be made cheaper and your company looted the pension fund...
Call the Chinese/Japanese/German Embassies and ask politely if they feel like sending you some money because they have your children's jobs over there.
Is there someone in your immediate family or circle of friends whose job went overseas just this year?

HD quality, I can't say there. My 1998 Electra Glide Classic has nearly 113,XXX miles on it and has had a leaky head gasket (3mos after I got it) replaced (under warranty) and three batteries. Go to the Yamaha or whoever dealer and ask him if they still make parts for 1998 bikes. Ride what you can afford I always say.
When your kid comes home and says "they outsourced my job to India, can the wife and your grandkids and I come live with you guys, they're foreclosing on the house..." just remind him that they do better/cheaper over there and be glad to do his part to make this a better America for the survivors.

Just In: Teddy Kennedy has set a new all time record; he hasn't had a drink in over a month!

All that was good about the eastern seaboard states pretty well moved west during the great expansion. There's a quote for you; "the cowards never started, and the weak died on the way...".

regards,

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
When you get to the retirement stage and SS has run dry because all of those jobs you stood by and applauded when they went to some other country because they could be made cheaper and your company looted the pension fund...
Call the Chinese/Japanese/German Embassies and ask politely if they feel like sending you some money because they have your children's jobs over there.
Is there someone in your immediate family or circle of friends whose job went overseas just this year?

HD quality, I can't say there. My 1998 Electra Glide Classic has nearly 113,XXX miles on it and has had a leaky head gasket (3mos after I got it) replaced (under warranty) and three batteries. Go to the Yamaha or whoever dealer and ask him if they still make parts for 1998 bikes. Ride what you can afford I always say.
When your kid comes home and says "they outsourced my job to India, can the wife and your grandkids and I come live with you guys, they're foreclosing on the house..." just remind him that they do better/cheaper over there and be glad to do his part to make this a better America for the survivors.

Just In: Teddy Kennedy has set a new all time record; he hasn't had a drink in over a month!

All that was good about the eastern seaboard states pretty well moved west during the great expansion. There's a quote for you; "the cowards never started, and the weak died on the way...".

regards,

Rich

I have no plans to count on the SS program, the US--or any other government--to provide for me or mine for retirement. Financial planning for retirement started many years ago.

As far as the unemployment question: as a matter of fact, yes. My brother's position at an investment firm was outsourced to India a few years ago, and he actually had the task of training the people who were taking his job. Did I like hearing that? You know the answer. But I do understand, and so does he, that economics are economics. A job that pays a US worker $60K can buy two, or even three positions overseas in many instances.

That sucks, and has been, is and will continue to be a major issue in where our economy heads, I believe. But it is what it is. You think my not buying a rice burner would have saved his job? Come on... I'm just not willing to knowlingly buy what is often a vastly inferior product that will cost me more in the long run, in some attempt to 'do my part' to support the American motorcycle manufacturer, or TV maker, or auto plant. Sorry; it's just not going to happen. Please note that I am referring to *inferior* products or services. All things equal? Hell yeah I'll choose American every time. But you tell me: how often is that the case with consumer goods these days? I'll bet in your home you have dozens, if not hundreds of items that were NOT made in the Good Old US of A, if you really want to nitpick. Does that make you unpatriotic? Not in my book. Maybe just a savvy consumer, or someone, like many, who has little choice at this point... Sad, but true.

As far as your HD: that's great, and good for you, and I hope it makes it 1M miles. Seriously. I've ridden a few, and they're fun. What I don't see, or appreciate in one of your posts, is the suggestion that my loyalty to my country and people, or my patriotism, is defined by what kind of bike I like to ride. Plus, can you wheelie your whateverglide in 3 gears?

BTW, I saw another post where you said you served in the armed forces. Just wanted to say I appreciate and thank you for that, and your sacrifices. That goes without saying for all who have served our great nation.

Lastly, TK was a source of great embarrassment, shame and rage for me and many of my friends and family, and indeed, for many MA residents.

But Ted is dead, so it's all just water under the bridge now... Cymbals, please!

+1 Could not have said it any better Kamo.

IS, I have nothing against HD, just their riders who somehow think they are superior because they ride them. There is nothing I can do for the country by buying HD. By the way if you think the sum of HD products are all made in the USA, you are badly mistaken. The salesman who sold me my machines were all American, as are the mechs, the owners, etc. Yamaha is providing American jobs with their products. As for affordability, by the grace of God, I can afford what I want, I prefer Yamaha over HD. This weekend if the weather permits, my wife and a small group of friends are going to make a little weekend ride. They all will be riding HD, why would I have a problem with that?

I have not knocked HD's reliabilty, as they are reliable machines, and I could have bought a lot of HDs with the price of my Raider, I just didn't want one.

Larry

Honda Goldwing; in my opinion the finest motorcycle ever built and built in Ohio....until 2010, when the plant will close. Shame. Buying a Goldwing was buying American. I do not believe there is any bike that beats the Goldwing in terms of cost, ride, dependability, and reasonable maintenance. I do not have one; wish I did.

BITW,

apparently not, if the plant is closing.

My HD reference is just one that fit here. Not buying American Made products is exactly what is wrong with this country. People use the quality VS price mantra. The QC did not just pick a day to tank. We allowed business and government to outsource less expensive goods, a year at a time. Once the foreign quality was there, we began to outsource more durable goods, and then more expensive durable goods.
The motorcycle industry is a prime example. The industry let the japanese small bikes in and abandoned that market segment. Their attitude was "let the japs build tiddlers, when they are ready for "REAL" motorcycles they will come to us...". Problem, the Japanese began to apply their quality standards to larger bikes, and then the 750 Honda came out. The market had transferred their allegiance to overseas brands.

During WWI large numbers of shoe factories opened in the US. Several in Cape Girardeau, Mo, where I was born. My grandmother worked in on during WWII. Her kids were all grown or in HS, so she stayed on. One day some guy named Phil Knight came by and said "close these all down, we're moving to China...". Poof, they were gone, and tennis shoes aren't any cheaper.

The $$$ went overseas with the jobs. That is my point: the $$$ went overseas with the jobs. Honda has a plant in Ohio. Why? What will happen to those employees next year when that plant closes?

We have allowed our industry to go offshore, and the jobs and profits followed them. We are not a country of profitable manufacturing jobs anymore. Not as a basic source of good paying jobs that let people buy homes. Today we have two-income families, a lot of them three job families. The only job sectors we haven't outsourced are the legal profession and medical. We're working on the medical, is your new family doctor's name Boonkapthor Nambeesh?

Just do me one favor guys, when your job goes overseas, please come here and post that you are okay with that; because it's more efficient for the rest of us that way. When they foreclose on your kid's house, and they, their spouse, and two/three children move back in with you; remember: "it's all about choice and quality VS cost...".

The other thing, read Forbe's Magazine online. Somewhere, they have the "Tipping Point" thread. They track companies bailing out, and at some point in time, the actual company that moved out that tipped the US economy into an unsolvable world wide depression will be listed.
Write them and tell them you understand...

As a matter of fact, our families do shop American. Probably the biggest ticket foreign made item(s) on the place are my CZ rifles and the Jaguar convertible. Man, it would be nice if they were both marked "Proudly made in the United States of America, by American workers...".
I wanted a Corvette, but they disdain building a sports car with a small backseat or trunk. The rifles, get anyone here to build anything close in caliber choice; and I'm there.

Rich

"Not buying American Made products is exactly what is wrong with this country."

I could not agree more. But there is a complication here. Trying to find an American made product is a near impossibility. From appliances, to tools, to clothes, to condoms, and in many cases even frozen and canned sea foods.

My bike is a Honda VTX1300R. Why? Simple. For what I was able to spend there was no other choice (other than another Japanese bike). My cars, both older models are GM products. Were I to be shopping for another car now, it would be tough not to consider the Asians.

Even the service industry is off shore which really pisses me off. XM radio, in the Caribbean; US Airways, in the Philipines. The President of the United States, Indonesian.

First motorcycle was CZ 250 for me, sold it got married and we bought Honda CBX 750 and travelled Austria, Germamy and France. That was great bike.
Sold it before moving to USA, now I would go with KLR650 - hey I would go with any motorcycle