Author Topic: My New Motorcycle  (Read 9162 times)

grnidone

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My New Motorcycle
« on: March 23, 2012, 03:43:21 PM »
I wanted to start small.  I will have it delivered this weekend and I can honestly say I haven't been this excited since I got my 10 speed bike when I was a kid.

I think I need to make a motorcycle jacket out of some pink satin to go with it:

Pictures here:

http://www.nextechclassifieds.com/listings/view/303095/

My next purchase to make it more practical and be able to take Sebastian with me:  http://www.scootboot.com/
« Last Edit: March 23, 2012, 04:53:26 PM by grnidone »

dogboy

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2012, 03:53:29 PM »
niiiiice!!!!

Brad

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2012, 04:04:53 PM »
Very nice.  Enjoy that.

grnidone

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2012, 04:54:09 PM »
I think I'm gonna start a biker gang called the 'Flaming Chiffons.'

Like I said...I'm excited...

Rupert

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2012, 05:11:47 PM »
Yeesssss.  Love the crash bungs! 

Have fun... it will be a blast.  We have had some sunny weather over in the UK, and mine has been out every day for a week.
... Make sure you live before you die.

dogboy

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2012, 12:38:13 PM »
>mine has been out every day for a week.
Yeah, me too.  Spring is in the air; I've fallen in love with mine all over again too:)
« Last Edit: March 24, 2012, 03:24:58 PM by dogboy »

Drastic

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #6 on: March 24, 2012, 01:57:46 PM »
Very cool, enjoy!

dogboy

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2012, 03:26:42 PM »
And don't forget to wear gloves (and obviously a helmet)! Those little wheels aren't all that stable.

grnidone

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2012, 08:09:11 PM »
>don't forget to wear gloves (and obviously a helmet)!

No kidding.  I never realized that 30 miles per hour (48 km/ hour) was so fast until I rode this.  I'm used to a bike I pedal, or riding a motorcycle with someone else.  I've never had a "front row seat" like this before.  The state of Kansas says only that you must wear eye protection if you ride one of these.  I'm wearing my motorcycle helmet and gloves no matter what, though.  I kind of value my head.

I was surprised to learn that this little moped is actually a collector's item.  I guess not that many were made, and few are in this good of condition.

It has:

kick start (no pedaling to start)
a tiny little reserve tank for gas in case you run out
49 cc 2 stroke engine (but I don't have to mix the gas and oil, it does that itself)
an automatic transmission with two speeds (I'd *never* heard of that on any kind of motorbike before)
the gas tank holds half a gallon of gas

It's fun just for putting around town.  And since Russell, Kansas is all of 5 miles in diameter total, it's all I really need.  It seems stupid to use a car most of the time.

littleman

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #9 on: March 25, 2012, 12:15:52 AM »
About three years before I had my driver's licence I use to ride in the streets of San Jose on a 200cc Vespa scooter.  That was a lot of fun.  The 200 cc two stroke engine was peppy but it had small wheels so it could get squirrelly.  I was a dumb kid and never wore any protective gear.  I guess in retrospect I'm pretty lucky nothing ever went wrong.

I've been really itching to get myself a street-bike today.  I live too far away from riding areas and am too busy with the kids to ever go dirt bike riding but I'm wary of the drivers here.  Have fun Grnidone, you probably live in an ideal place for riding.

dogboy

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #10 on: March 25, 2012, 01:08:01 PM »
>automatic transmission with two speeds

Are you sure it's actually automatic? Or do you select the gears without using a clutch? If it's the latter, then what you have is a centrifugal clutch, not an automatic transmission.... but who cares:)  I used to have a 2 gear centrifugal clutch on my first bike - a honda 50 I got for my 4th birthday:)


>I'm wary of the drivers here
I moved out to Palo Alto for 5 months a bit ago with only a motorcycle.  I used to drive it into the city on weekends on the 101, as well as over the mountains and up the coast, just to stretch it's legs.  The combination of the crazy traffic, lane splitting, and having a bike that always somehow finds an excuse to go triple digit when no one's paying attention, made the experience one to remember for sure, but one I recommend with caution.


>I've been really itching to get myself a street-bike

I have to admit, as much as I absolutely love my S4RS, there's a new lady coming to town soon that is turning my head, and that I dream about... say hello to the 2012 1198cc Panigale Superbike, with 195 horsepower, shown here in it's limited edition 'Tricolore' livery...



...I have no idea how those italians cram that much sex appeal into a machine, but once again, they did.  I am smitten.

Brad

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #11 on: March 25, 2012, 01:30:52 PM »
>gloves
>helmet

Good. Good.

Look out for gravel. I hate gravel.

dogboy

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2012, 01:49:36 PM »
>Gravel
oh yeah, LM, this happened on the entrance ramp at Mtn View and 101... bike, meet gravel, dogboy meet pavement... thank god for sliders, jackets, boots, neckbraces, gloves:)


...gloves and a helmet are just a must for anything on concrete.  

But at some point, if you are just running around a midwestern town on a scooter sized vehicle, I don't think you need to go on a safety pup rampage:)  Just make sure you are visible.  Maybe even look into little strobe lights if you aren't always staying up with traffic. Not sure how you are classified, but some might be illegal, so look into it before you assume you are classified as a bicycle.

but now that he said that, where you are, I think gravel will your worst enemy too.  Little front tires are likely to snowplow when turned and then kick out.
« Last Edit: March 25, 2012, 02:07:01 PM by dogboy »

dogboy

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2012, 01:59:32 PM »
...so where have you taken your new ride? Been off pavement yet?

buckworks

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Re: My New Motorcycle
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2012, 08:40:12 PM »
Quote
just running around a midwestern town on a scooter sized vehicle

A cousin of mine got hit by a truck when he was doing exactly that, just out doing errands for his mom.

His helmet saved his life, but he had road rash beyond imagining, and one of his feet was amputated.

It's true that every cloud has a silver lining, though: he ended up marrying his physiotherapist.