motorcycles

[Mudpuppy]

We finally agree on something. And I knew it was in Novi...I figured either Novi or Royal Oak...but Royal Oak doesn't have enough room near downtown for an alley...so if it wasn't on the west coast, it had to be Novi. Yuppie mecca.

It's bound to happen.

Royal Oak is the mecca of idiots that don't know how to ride motorcycles - every Thursday night in the summer they ride 5 minutes to Royal Oak to hang out and tell how great they are doing 180mph on I696 during rush hour traffic in a reckless manner. Like my original AMA coach told me - any idiot can use the wrist to twist the throttle, it's what you do in the corners that matters. And Royal Oak is the "legendary" bar scene with all the up starts, etc. It's a complete waste of time and space. Only time I go to Royal Oak is to go to the Oxford Inn for ribs.

[MICHAEL]

It's bound to happen.

Royal Oak is the mecca of idiots that don't know how to ride motorcycles - every Thursday night in the summer they ride 5 minutes to Royal Oak to hang out and tell how great they are doing 180mph on I696 during rush hour traffic in a reckless manner. Like my original AMA coach told me - any idiot can use the wrist to twist the throttle, it's what you do in the corners that matters. And Royal Oak is the "legendary" bar scene with all the up starts, etc. It's a complete waste of time and space. Only time I go to Royal Oak is to go to the Oxford Inn for ribs.

I have been riding bikes/motorcycles since I was in my early twenties, Hot bikes up until about 15 years ago! I was a biker before biking became fashionable!
Now every Tom Dick and Harry has a Harley!

I remember when you couldn't give a Harley away.... lol and you were luck to make it home from the purchase in one piece! They have come a long way, since those days, but more importantly they have created this Bad Boy Image, that everyone is going for! Fake tattoo's , and pony tails ect ect.. lol

IT use to be when you saw a guy on a bike, you gave a hands up/wave, like hi brother lol. But now you can get tendonitis from doing it dozens of times just going to the local 7/11 up the street. This WAVE thing needs to GO!! (

I don't have a bad boy Harley, but do ride a Goldwing that I have not long ago went from Modesto Ca, to Kansas city in two days 1800 miles. I love bikes, always have, and always will, but not into the imagine bad boy biker thing... look at me!! lol

I would be happy if when I hit the road, everyone else would disappear, as I go through the beautiful mountains of Colorado ect..

I would like to see that Wave at each other thing go away!! Way too many bikes now on the road, maybe more big bad leathered up fake pony tailed bikers then cars... lol

[Aslan]

Now every Tom Dick and Harry has a Harley!

Tru dat. I tease my dad because I tell him that everyone turns 50 and buys an Ultra Classic...then they turn 65 and get a Gold Wing. Ever since Orange County Choppers...the number of bikers has EXPLODED!!! And anyone thats ridden as long as I have (since I was about 11)...thats NOT a good thing. Riding takes years and years of practice. I've seen far too many new bikers get a brand new bike and dump it in less than a month. I've had my current bike since 2004 and only dumped it once...and I wasn't on it at the time...the stupid parking lot was tilted and the bike fell over as I was walking away from it.

[Mudpuppy]

It's been really good for the used bike market. Used bikes are extremely cheap due to some idiot stopping by the local bike shop and buying a bike not knowing how to ride and the wife being ticked off. 3 months later after he drops it after panicking when hitting some gravel he gets scared and sells it for 1/2 of what he bought it for. I have been riding since I was 8 so I am with you - long before it was fashionable. I don't follow trends. There are a ton of bikes on the road and now in Michigan no helmet law - bad combination. I only ride 1 way - ALL GEAR ALL THE TIME (AGATT). My personal choice but I know road rash really sucks (from experience).

Now if we could build a road track with a sweet bowling alley (not like one of these listed) I would definitely just move there. Ride at day and bowl at night. Good to go.

Iceman you moved a few notches up in my book (you were already top 10 so that's saying a lot). You ever ride the dragon on that goldwing?

What kind of bike are you riding Aslan?

People say bikes are dangerous. No people that don't know how to ride or drive are dangerous. I thought I was an A+ rider for a long time until 1 day I decided to take my R6 to the track - humbling experience. First lap on the track I seriously thought about pitting out, putting the bike on the trailer, taking it home and selling it. I was so overwhelmed with the fact I didn't know very much about riding. Glad I dug in and did lap 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. onto about 30 track days to date. Learned boat loads on the track that directly translated to street riding - probably saved my life a dozen times if not more on the street. Rider education, at least here, is a joke. Anyone can get a 200hp bike and get licensed to ride on the street - scarey.

[Aslan]

What kind of bike are you riding Aslan?

1995 Honda VF750 Magna

They don't make it anymore...a remnant of the old "muscle bike" era of the 70s, 80s, and early 90s.

Now that I ride all year long...and as much if not more for daily transportation than for bike shows, bike clubs, rallys, etc...My next bike will probably be sport touring...probably the Honda ST1300. I really like the Yamaha Road Star Warrior...which is more like a modern big twin version of my Magna...but I think I'm gonna move from cruiser to sport with my next bike. There are some nice Kawasaki and BMW sport touring bikes...but I've always been a Honda man myself, always had good luck with them, and the ST1300 meets my needs.

[Mudpuppy]

1995 Honda VF750 Magna

They don't make it anymore...a remnant of the old "muscle bike" era of the 70s, 80s, and early 90s.

Now that I ride all year long...and as much if not more for daily transportation than for bike shows, bike clubs, rallys, etc...My next bike will probably be sport touring...probably the Honda ST1300. I really like the Yamaha Road Star Warrior...which is more like a modern big twin version of my Magna...but I think I'm gonna move from cruiser to sport with my next bike. There are some nice Kawasaki and BMW sport touring bikes...but I've always been a Honda man myself, always had good luck with them, and the ST1300 meets my needs.

Yes I know the Honda quite well. I like all kinds of bikes. The 95 was a very capable machine and still relevant today. I wouldn't mind riding that bike at all. But if you do decide to buy something newer like a sport touring you will be absolutely amazed at how different it is riding the newer technology - maybe you already have. Knowing you the design of the new bikes was probably yours or something. My 2000 R6 was 106hp and 8 pounds lighter than my 2006 R1 at 200hp. It's like riding the same bike with twice as much power and better handling. The 00 R6 was super top heavy - easy turn in but very difficult to muscle out of a corner. The 06 R1 is very balanced in and out and the extra power makes it effortless. Now I just need full Ohlins suspension. But really my 06 R1 isn't relevant technology anymore with the newer bikes all having slipper clutches, electronic controls (like traction control or riding modes, etc.), cross plane, etc. etc.

[MICHAEL]

I was into speed for many years,,, ninja’s, 100R,,, Suzuki 1100, Gatana 1100, ect ect.. I use to go the the drag strip just for the thrill of it, and open it up!! Also a blast in the mountains laying into the curves, and fighting the feel of gravity against me and the bike!! I have hundreds of stories just on that subject, mountain riding! But this is a bowling thread! LOL

When I got my first gold wing, I tried all the tour bikes that were out there, and price of no matter at all!!!
Hands down the gold wing filled the sport/tour category I was looking for, after I changed the suspension to a progressive one! I made my own trailer, and will post a picture of it a little later.

ONLY cost about 450 bucks with the cargo carrier, and it pulls like its not even there!

Made one trip from Missouri to California, on a 100R ninja, with a belly dancer on the back that I was
Dating at the time… You talk about tough!! 1800 miles with a chick on the back leaning into me all the way!! Aaaaaaa,,, the good old days of youth,,, I was in my 30’s!! About half way there I wanted to teach her how to drive the bike, and me on the back,,,, That was a lot of fun! She could drive a stick so she knew about the clutch and how it works... we went about half mile after a few starts and stops... lol... I was one wild son of a gun back then, ready to try anything!!

[Aslan]

Yeah...thats too many balls to take to the lanes Iceman. You're gonna make JaMau's head explode.

Here's mine:
1995MagnaSTOH2.jpg

It's after I first bought it. I never actually kept the windshield on it...only used it once. Won Metric Cruiser division at Boomer's in Waterford.

[Zaxmazr]

ICEMAN, if you ever got pulled over would you tell the officer you have a heavy arsenal of weapons in there? hahahaa

[MICHAEL]

ICEMAN, if you ever got pulled over would you tell the officer you have a heavy arsenal of weapons in there? hahahaa

LOL.... LOL,,, you think my son (soon to be police officer would give me a ticket, for simply taking my wife's, and my bowling balls!!! lol she brings 4, and I bring only 5 most of the time. ( I made that trailer out of a basic Harbor Freight package,,, made the tonge longer and a few other modifications, it pulls like a DREAM!!