Bastages...

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Scotteq

Diamond Member
Apr 10, 2008
5,276
5
0
Probably a PITA to maintain, but these are the best looking bikes at a decent price...

http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com/models/classic-g5.html

If you're loaded, I like the new Indians...

http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/ind...f=Chief Classic Features&category=Motorcycles



Not *THAT* old....


Though if you want to stick to unfaired bikes: Ducati Streetfighter S is *highly* capable, and to Drool for... :wub:


http://www.ducati.com/media_gallery/streetfighter_s/index.do
 

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
9,867
23
76
It's possible that I might be gay. I've started looking at Sportsters.

I want a Japanese bike but they try to make them look like Harleys. If I buy a Japanese bike that looks like a Harley, they'll make fun of me. If I buy a Sportster, they'll make fun of me.
If I post about it on ATOT...

buy a night train or some type of dyna, that way you wont be riding a chick bike. my mom has a 1200 sporty. or, if you want a sportster, buy an old pre- 1965 model. those are just cool.

custom_harley_sportster.jpg
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,875
10,684
147
If gas gets to $5 a gallon, I'd save about $110 a month riding a bike versus driving my truck.

Buying a bike to slowly accumulate gas savings is a really dumb idea. Buying a bike as an all weather commuting vehicle is even dumber, especially if you have to navigate through yahoo, rush hour traffic.

Tell us the real reason you want this, not the one you're telling your wife.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
Buying a bike to slowly accumulate gas savings is a really dumb idea. Buying a bike as an all weather commuting vehicle is even dumber, especially if you have to navigate through yahoo, rush hour traffic.

Tell us the real reason you want this, not the one you're telling your wife.
I am not sure about slowly, my truck gets 13 MPG, a bike about 40.
It will cut my commute down to since I can split lanes.

My wife wants it as much as I do. She wants to take weekend trips to the coast. She'd rather I got a Harley though.
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,875
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It will cut my commute down to since I can split lanes.

I once got two tickets in just under 20 minutes doing that-- one on Sunset Blvd and the other on the Coast Highway in Malibu. I had just got my Mach III Kawasaki back from the shop. I was so happy, I didn't even care.

My wife wants it as much as I do.

Every married man's dream, 'tis true . . . but we're talking about bikes here.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,152
10,615
126
Aren't they built in India and based on 1955 technology, only somewhat updated, to boot?

Yea, they are. That's why I mentioned them being a PITA to maintain. It's like British mechanical works, without the quality control :^D

Little futzy stuff breaking, and constant adjustments. You have to have the right temperament for that kind of thing. For me, having a brand new 55 bike would be worth it. I'll own one, one day... :^)
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
I once got two tickets in just under 20 minutes doing that-- one on Sunset Blvd and the other on the Coast Highway in Malibu. I had just got my Mach III Kawasaki back from the shop. I was so happy, I didn't even care.



Every married man's dream, 'tis true . . . but we're talking about bikes here.
What were the tickets for since lane splitting is legal here?
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,875
10,684
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Yea, they are. That's why I mentioned them being a PITA to maintain. It's like British mechanical works, without the quality control :^D

Little futzy stuff breaking, and constant adjustments. You have to have the right temperament for that kind of thing. For me, having a brand new 55 bike would be worth it. I'll own one, one day... :^)

If they weren't now trendy collector's items, I'd love to have an old single cylinder BMW. Truly slower than molasses, and I would not give one good damn about that.


BMW-3-LOGO.JPG
 
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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,152
10,615
126
I was thinking something more on the lines of this. Perfect for rampaging through Philly :^D

85H7f.jpg
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,875
10,684
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What were the tickets for since lane splitting is legal here?

They were for busting up between two vehicles that were side by side in adjoining lanes, which is what I took you to mean by lane splitting. CA highway patrol, two different officers. Mid 1970's, maybe that's the difference.

When I told the second cop I'd just been busted for the exact same thing, he told me that if I'd told him that before he'd started writing the ticket, he'd have let me go.

I didn't care, I'd had cabin fever waiting for my bike to get fixed. Nothing was going to wipe that shit-eating grin off of my face that sunny Saturday.
 
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olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
They were for busting up between two vehicles that were side by side in adjoining lanes, which is what I took you to mean by lane splitting. CA highway patrol, two different officers. Mid 1970's, maybe that's the difference.
I didn't start riding till 1980 but it was legal then.
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
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I didn't start riding till 1980 but it was legal then.

Here's the current statute.

21658. Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction, the following rules apply:



(a) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.



(b) Official signs may be erected directing slow-moving traffic to use a designated lane or allocating specified lanes to traffic moving in the same direction, and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of the traffic device.

Amended Ch. 450, Stats. 1975. Effective January 1, 1976.
I lived in LA in 1973 and 1974. But even this subsequently amended law strongly indicates that moving out of a lane to bust between two vehicles, each occupying a lane, is a no-no, given the bolded and the subsequent, "within reasonable safety" only after "nearly as practical entirely within a single lane."

You live somewhat more inland, right? Your officers are possibly more relaxed in their interpretation of this than the CHP in and around LA was back then.

Link: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21658.htm
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
I suppose we could go riding together and if you buy something really embarrassing then I could just keep my distance :p
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,875
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It's possible that I might be gay. I've started looking at Sportsters.

I want a Japanese bike but they try to make them look like Harleys. If I buy a Japanese bike that looks like a Harley, they'll make fun of me. If I buy a Sportster, they'll make fun of me.
If I post about it on ATOT...

My very first bike was a Harley. It was a tad smaller than most. Here's a 38 second vid of my exact bike:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHmVUIjcGG0&NR=1


Gawd, I love the internets! Apparently it was one year only in this exact configuration.

No battery, just a magneto. Three speed shift right on the handlebar, Sturmey-Archer sty-lee! <---- Points if you get the reference.

It could take the 50cc Hondas all day, all night, Marianne!

Two stroke, but no oil injection. That black plastic cap on the gas tank? When you took it out, it had a long tube that held, iirc, the exact amount of two-stroke oil for one full tank, or one gallon, I forget. One of those two, and you'd better have had that oil with you, as most service stations did not carry it

Nevertheless, I had one ton of fun on this bike. I "courted" my first real g/f on it. I managed to nearly off myself on it.

I will never forget taking a steep curve around Ridley Lake at too much speed, leaning over as far as I could go and rubbing rubber off the non-hinged foot peg, which would send me back further upright and left me drifting further to and across the center line as the blithely unaware oncoming car kept coming at me.

Yeee-haw! :biggrin:

Good times, my friends, good times. :p
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
I have to fly to LA tomorrow and will be back Tuesday. I'll be buying this Kawasaki Concours.

concours.jpg
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
I have to fly to LA tomorrow and will be back Tuesday. I'll be buying this Kawasaki Concours.

concours.jpg

I looked at the Connie too, and decided on the FJR. But, welcome to sport touring :) Connie has its issues, but overall its a decent bike. If you and wifey like to two up alot, it will serve you well.

Oh, and pray kpass doesnt flake out on you while on the road ;)