Motorcycle love

I'll rant here again, apologies.
Today Im heading from WS to HP to do some back to school shopping at the Dillard's Outlet.
On 311 I see three sportbikes roll up behind me, one is a 'Busa, one is a GSX-F (think that's the model, like a GSX-R, but not fully faired), and one is an older sportbike from mid-90s.
Well I notice that two roll up quickly on my 7 and just hold there in my mirror. I dont understand what they're doing, as they were traveling faster than me, but have now dropped to match my speed and actually start to slow just a bit.
Then comes the third bike, passes them in the right lane, then passes me in the left, then moves back to the right lane and is going just a bit faster than me.
Then the two that are holding steady at my 7 o'clock take off, racing each other.
Eh, whatever.

Then they slow down and do it again.
And again.
And again.

At one point they've held up traffic doing a whopping 55mph before blasting off again.

Jackasses.
 
Took Big Arnge out Sunday for my first ride of Autumn, my favorite riding season. She seemed to enjoy it.

IMG_0008-XL.jpg


I must be getting old, though. My butt can't enjoy more than 2 or 3 hours of saddle time. I used to do 10-12 hour day-rides routinely.
 
May not be age. May be “used to do...routinely”.
Agree... Your body gets used to it somewhat. Then again, if your "used to" bike was a touring bike and your "3-4 hour" bike is an adventure, that could make a lot of difference. Minor (or major) changes in the ergonomics can make a big difference.
My ninja ZX6R-636 was 60 minutes, stretch knees, then 45, then 30 then every 20. My R1200RT is 90 minutes, then change butt to passenger seat for a few miles, than good again for another 90 in the driver's seat... I'm sure a different seat would even remove that limitation.
Put me on a V-twin with forward controls and I'm ready to get off and do almost ANYTHING other than ride in 30 minutes. I get a sore back, wrists and neck and jaws (neck and jaws tension is probably stress from vibration and having to listen obnoxious exhaust, combined with sluggish handling) during a 30 minute demo route and can't wait to get off.
 
I'm 58 and hope to ride at least another 20 years! What is it that they say? "you don't stop riding because you get old, you get old because you stop riding!" I ride a road bicycle about 2 hours a day to try and stay in shape. Riding that skinny little seat for a couple of hours makes my ST1300 seat feel like a Barcalounger! I can do 12-14 hour days on it no problem. Lots of guys go with Sargent , Russell Day Long or other custom seats but I just let the stock seat break in my butt. Like Jim said earlier though, the only way to get used to long rides is lots of saddle time.
Nice KTM!

Took Big Arnge out Sunday for my first ride of Autumn, my favorite riding season. She seemed to enjoy it.

IMG_0008-XL.jpg


I must be getting old, though. My butt can't enjoy more than 2 or 3 hours of saddle time. I used to do 10-12 hour day-rides routinely.
 
Took Big Arnge out Sunday for my first ride of Autumn, my favorite riding season. She seemed to enjoy it.

IMG_0008-XL.jpg


I must be getting old, though. My butt can't enjoy more than 2 or 3 hours of saddle time. I used to do 10-12 hour day-rides routinely.

Awesome bike!
I did a tour in CA on one. Man I loved it. What a machine!

But, dang, it had about the most painful seat I had ever ridden on! After 10 minutes I was hurting! It seemed to have curve that landed right on the pelvic bone, and right where there are seem on your underwear. (Usually wear seamless but was not prepared as it was not planned).
Dude later replaced it with an aftermarket one and it was much, much better.

Edit: that seat doesn't appear to be stock though!
 
Last edited:
May not be age. May be “used to do...routinely”.
This.

I'm definitely not saddle-tough. Don't ride nearly as much as I used to.

But, having a 36" inseam makes it hard to get any support under my thighs, so all my weight ends up right on my butt. At least the KTM has a good standing position so I can shake everything out.

My perpetual project bike, "Hooptie", has the best seat I've ever experienced, built by a semi-retired guy in east Tennessee:

IMAG0172-XL.jpg
 
Awesome bike!
I did a tour in CA on one. Man I loved it. What a machine!

But, dang, it had about the most painful seat I had ever ridden on! After 10 minutes I was hurting! It seemed to have curve that landed right on the pelvic bone, and right where there are seem on your underwear. (Usually wear seamless but was not prepared as it was not planned).
Dude later replaced it with an aftermarket one and it was much, much better.

Edit: that seat doesn't appear to be stock though!

The KTM v-twins are great machines, in a class of their own, really.

Yep, that seat is by Seat Concepts. Much better than stock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NKD
Loved this thread!
Always wanted to learn to drive a motorcycle, and this bunch of posts and pics made me look up classes in the area, and I see that it says the class is physically demanding and I must be able to hold up 300 pounds and push a bike 120 feet....not sure I can do that!
Might have to let this part of the bucket list go....
 
Loved this thread!
Always wanted to learn to drive a motorcycle, and this bunch of posts and pics made me look up classes in the area, and I see that it says the class is physically demanding and I must be able to hold up 300 pounds and push a bike 120 feet....not sure I can do that!
Might have to let this part of the bucket list go....

What class is that? The Motorcycle Safely Foundation class? If it is, the pushing a bike 120 feet is a new one on me. And, a 300lb motorcycle is a very lightweight bike and would be very easy to hold up.
 
Loved this thread!
Always wanted to learn to drive a motorcycle, and this bunch of posts and pics made me look up classes in the area, and I see that it says the class is physically demanding and I must be able to hold up 300 pounds and push a bike 120 feet....not sure I can do that!
Might have to let this part of the bucket list go....

 
Which course? The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic Rider's Course https://www.msf-usa.org/brc.aspx doesn't mention anything like that. They provide small, lightweight bikes for the students & the MSF is pretty much the gold standard for rider safety training.

Don't give up yet.
 
Which course? The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic Rider's Course https://www.msf-usa.org/brc.aspx doesn't mention anything like that. They provide small, lightweight bikes for the students & the MSF is pretty much the gold standard for rider safety training.

Don't give up yet.
I'll check that out. The one I read about was by looking up "motorcycle riding lessons in nc" or something similar. It was in either Aberdeen or Fayetteville.
 
Yeah, but she looks young and fit, two things I'm NOT.
Definitely look into the motorcycle safety foundation classes. These classes are taught at a lot of community colleges and are reasonably priced. Also if you end up getting a bike in the future the class is a waiver to the skill part of the endorsement test and saves you money on insurance. When I took mine there was a police officer in it with me pushing 400lbs and he didn’t have any trouble. If learning to ride is a dream or yours don’t let that dream die, there is nothing that compares to being on two wheels.
 
Yeah, but she looks young and fit, two things I'm NOT.

Indeed, there are plenty of excuses to not do something.
I could make a list ten pages long.
Plenty of people older than you and fatter than you riding motorcycles all over the world every day. Likely millions.
It’s perfectly ok to say “I have no interest or motivation to try riding motorcycles”.
 
Indeed, there are plenty of excuses to not do something.
I could make a list ten pages long.
Plenty of people older than you and fatter than you riding motorcycles all over the world every day. Likely millions.
It’s perfectly ok to say “I have no interest or motivation to try riding motorcycles”.
Oh, I'm not saying I'm not going to do a class....it should be interesting...maybe entertaining for the others in the class! LoL. And I like a challenge!
 
Definitely look into the motorcycle safety foundation classes. These classes are taught at a lot of community colleges and are reasonably priced. Also if you end up getting a bike in the future the class is a waiver to the skill part of the endorsement test and saves you money on insurance. When I took mine there was a police officer in it with me pushing 400lbs and he didn’t have any trouble. If learning to ride is a dream or yours don’t let that dream die, there is nothing that compares to being on two wheels.
I'm not sure I want to actually get a bike, though. I just want to know I can drive one. But reading all the posts, it seems like once you do it, you might have to keep on doing it...right? LoL.
Also, I'm pretty sure I'd be too much of a wuss to actually get out on the road on a bike with all the nut cases in their cars not paying attention...
 
Started with this. 05 VTX 1300R. I miss this one.

14278984925_be6bfae0e7_c.jpg


Turned it into this.

44898891782_26fcf90a33_c.jpg


Wife wanted something more comfortable so got this. 99 Goldwing SE

30010733807_516d1e179f_c.jpg


Then upgraded to this. 2010 Goldwing audio comfort. Wife is very happy. She can ride all day on the back. The 99 she needed to stop more frequently.

44898802072_5ebc14d726_c.jpg
 
My 70 year old neighbor has this bike. A 2007 VFR in this color scheme. This is the only year for this color. I told him when he is ready to get rid of it I want first option to buy. He said his kids don't want it. I grew up on dirt bikes then went to sport bikes. I took about a 20 year break after a bad accident and swore I was done. They are fun and the wife loves to ride. We did a trip to Maine that was 10 days 3500 miles. It was fun.

44948437981_ac0be1c7e5_c.jpg
 
Took Big Arnge out Sunday for my first ride of Autumn, my favorite riding season. She seemed to enjoy it.

IMG_0008-XL.jpg


I must be getting old, though. My butt can't enjoy more than 2 or 3 hours of saddle time. I used to do 10-12 hour day-rides routinely.
I see that dragon on there. :D
 
I should really take that off, because I've been all around The Dragon but never ridden it because of all the crazy. The previous owner put that on there.
I agree, each bike needs to earn it's own sticker, etc. I won't even transfer an Iron Butt license plate backer to a new bike until I complete a certifiable ride on that specific bike, even though the rider is accepted into the organization, not the bike.
 
I always wanted one of those 700 Nighthawks. I'd give a testicle for either one of these Kawis-

Kawasaki%20Z1R%20%202.jpg


kaw-1000r.jpeg


kawasaki-gpz750-84-539039.jpg


For that matter, I still think about finding another KZ650 to replace my '77 & do it up right. Brace the frame, updated suspension & brakes, 810cc big bore, GP750 cams & the 6-spd out of a GPZ550.

myoldKZ650.jpg
 
The nighthawk was nice and smooth. Stock it wouldn't come close to the interceptor. However I had the suspension reworked and it would corner as good or better. It was a nice light bike. I wish I had one of them back.
 
Started with this. 05 VTX 1300R. I miss this one.

14278984925_be6bfae0e7_c.jpg


Turned it into this.

44898891782_26fcf90a33_c.jpg


Wife wanted something more comfortable so got this. 99 Goldwing SE

30010733807_516d1e179f_c.jpg


Then upgraded to this. 2010 Goldwing audio comfort. Wife is very happy. She can ride all day on the back. The 99 she needed to stop more frequently.

44898802072_5ebc14d726_c.jpg
Is that a little trailer on the back of the yellow bike? Does it make it harder to drive with that on there?
 
Is that a little trailer on the back of the yellow bike? Does it make it harder to drive with that on there?
Yes that is a trailer. Going down the road you don’t know it is there. You notice it in the hard curves as it pushes you a little. Nothing terrible you get use to it. You have to get the trailer set up right so it will track straight. That is where all our camping gear goes.
 
Yes that is a trailer. Going down the road you don’t know it is there. You notice it in the hard curves as it pushes you a little. Nothing terrible you get use to it. You have to get the trailer set up right so it will track straight. That is where all our camping gear goes.

Where was that picture by the lake taken?

.
 
I'll check that out. The one I read about was by looking up "motorcycle riding lessons in nc" or something similar. It was in either Aberdeen or Fayetteville.
Fayetteville police department has their basic safety course a couple times per year. It consists of classroom and riding. I’ve taken it and highly recommend it.
 
Back
Top Bottom