Yah so, fat girls and scooters

[DiDueColpi]

They're both fun to ride until your friends find out.
I've got a 57' piped, ported and carbed NSU prima that goes everywhere, a 57 Lambretta 150 ld and a Burgman 650E.
Anyone else doing scooters here?
If you know me, a 6hp scooter and a nitro hemi are reasonable.

Cheers
Fred

[MGBV8]

Nope. Last scooter I rode was was a 250 Vespa when I was 12.  Been riding motorcycles for 42 years, trail, motocross, drag race...last 20 just puttin on my Wide Glide.  I really want a Honda 919, too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Hornet2005.jpg

Scooters are great for getting around the pits, though. Would be awesome at VIR.

[Spitfire 350]

Carl,
That Honda looks like fun, but self preservation tells me to stay away from it. I'll just keep boppin' around on my old '93 Sportster 1200.

[britcars]

Never rode a scooter but been riding bikes for 51 years.  Learned to ride on a friends 51 Harley 45 with foot clutch.  Had a number of British bikes, one Ducati and on to the Japanese bikes starting with a 69 Honda 750. Bikeless right now after selling my Kawasaki Concours last years.  Spring's here though and I'm getting the itch.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Just got the two dual sports all set to go, two VASTLY different bikes, a 650KLR and a CRF450X. Love 'em both. (Gave up on the heavy bikes, can't see any more long cruises in my future and even if I do the KLR will do the job just fine.)

But you know, if they ever widen the road and put in a sidewalk I'll have the old Motobecane and that little spring start Honda out of the shed in a heartbeat. Oddly enough, if you ignore the world at large there is something strangely liberating about putting up to the hardware store on a 2 wheeler that isn't likely to see the top side of 35 mph and costs pennies to operate.

Jim

[britcars]

Jim, I've been looking at the KLR for a while now.  My son has a BMW F650GS that I drove a bit when we made our second Alaska trip. That's nice too.  Big shift from the Concours to the F650 but at my age I too don't see any very long bike tours in my future.

[MGBV8]

The KLR is a heavy tank of a dirt bike.  In my dreams, at 200 lbs lighter than a KLR...

http://www.ktm.com/us/enduro/300-xc-usaeu/highlights.html#.U1KKu6I4zhY

[BlownMGB-V8]

For light weight the CRF is a great choice too. Not as light as that KTM 200 but an established and reigning BAJA champion:

http://powersports.honda.com/2014/crf450x.aspx?cid=main_reprise/google/LG_Motorcycle_Trail/LG_CRF450X/crf450x&mkwid=sHWxksYNo|dc_pcrid_24954625642_pkw_crf450x_pmt_p

More of an offroad bike that can be licensed, and with the personality to match it's a tad bit high strung.

The KLR though is more of a street bike that is competent on the trails. Yes it is heavy. At about 400 lbs you don't want to be picking it up any more than you absolutely have to and if the wheels are uphill you are going to need help. But in return it is about as solid and dependable as you'll find and is pleasant to ride in almost any circumstance short of extreme off roading or motocross. You'll be able to go where your buddies go, just maybe not quite as fast. But when the trail hits pavement you will be the one with the sweet ride. It has a definite cult following too, and a well developed forum. Unlike most bikes it's been around for a long time and is still popular.

I like them both. The KLR is smooth and easy and great for running errands. I've fitted mine with leather saddlebags. The CRF is a maniac and just too much fun. I'm working on a double sprocket setup for it.

Jim

[kayakjack]

I haven't had a bike for quite a while.  This pic is when I got started.
Later on I picked up a Norton, and a few others over the years.
Notice the MG TD behind me.  I still have motorcycle on my driver license!

[BlownMGB-V8]

Is that an Atlas? I had one...

[kayakjack]

It's a Triumph Tiger, Jim.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Had one of those too...

[britcars]

Rode a lot of British bikes but never had a Triumph.  Had a 59 AJS 500 twin, Norton 850, several BSAs including a 500 Gold Star and a 441 Victor, Royal Enfield 750, Ariel 650, a Ducati 450 single and a string of Japanese bikes.
My itch for another bike has been dampened the past few days, frost at night, cold winds and snow flurries on Sunday!

[MGBV8]

Ha, you haven't lived 'til you've rode a Kaw 750 Triple two stroke.  

[BlownMGB-V8]

The 500 was quicker...

[MGBV8]

Nope. the '72 Kaw 750 I rode was good for 12 flat in the quarter (a second faster than the 500).

Blackwood Special:

[MGBV8]

That's a 427 Chevy with a 10-71 blower. Almost enough?

[tbo]

Carl. You finally made me laugh right out loud..Any video of that monster machine and the guy with the nerve to ride it? Tim

[DiDueColpi]

Now that's a bike!! That's the coolest thing I've seen in a while.

But if you want a real thrill.
 "Suzuki water buffalo".
I had a 72 with drum brakes.
You hit the throttle and waited..and waited..and waited..and then suddenly it took off like you had been rearended on the freeway.
Once the power band was over it would slow down faster at full throttle than it would if you hit the brakes.
Which isn't saying much as the brakes were rubbish.
My buddy had the Kawi triple and we both decided to hand port our bikes.
Somehow made both of them equally slow.
Kept going on mine to "fix it" until the only way to start it was by pushing it with a car.
Fortunately I've learned a few things since my teens.
My little 57 NSU 150 will do an honest 64 mph on a tune that is very easy to live with.

Cheers
Fred

[BlownMGB-V8]

I kinda think his beard might foul the throttle plates...

[Dan B]

Jim had one of those "water buffaloes" too.  He tried to ride it with the kickstand down.

[britcars]

I've been trying to figure out where you put your butt and your feet on the big block supercharged rig.  Don't think it would be much good in the twisties.
Don't know if some of you are old enough to remember a guy named E.J. Potter.  He was probably the the first guy to mess around with v8's in bikes.  Some of his other conversions were interesting too.  I wonder what he would have built if he had turned his attention to MGs?

http://thekneeslider.com/e-j-potter-the-michigan-madman-r-i-p/

[kstevusa]

Phil, I remember seeing EJ pictures in Hot Rod Mag.  His stops were colorful also!  He just put the bike on the stand (rear wheel off ground), reved and pushed it off stand to launch.

[roverman]

Sooo coool, that V8 bike, never needs a kick-stand ! I'm soo old.... We grew-up on Cushmans and Mustangs,(no-not the flying kind).Why not BV8 bikes ?  onward, roverman.