Biker Thread

[snakebit]

I also ended my affairs with bikes because riding around here sucks. Too hot, too rainy, no mountains, few twisties. Also kind of stupid to ride with an expensive violin strapped to one's back, which I did for a few years.:nono:

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

I gave up 44 years of motorcycles July 3rd 2002 out on route 128 near Cape Ann. Guy in a Toyota accelerated through a stop sign and left my wife, me and my 3 month old Goldwing scatered all over the intersection. :(

[snakebit]

Ow. Hope there was no permanent damage to either of you.:no:
The only riding we do anymore is on the trails when we vacation in Moab. I rent a dirt bike and wifey gets a 4-wheel ATV. Fun, challenging terrain and awesome scenery!:cool:

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Folded my wife's right hand backwards all the way. Broke a couple of my ribs. Nothing else. Effectively, we walked away from the accident. Didn't break any bones in her wrist. It just disloacted it and folded it back. They had it back in place before we left the hospital that night. Just kind of spoiled 44 fun years. However, we needed to replace the motorcycle to continue our year of roaming the USA so, while she was in rehab in Michigan getting use of the hand back, I found the 99 10AE with 6K on the clock and bought it. Loved it but felt it was way underpowered....................... The rest, they say, was history. ;)

[snakebit]

History unfolded well!:cheers2:

I'd been down a couple of times on a bike and only managed to lose some skin on my legs. If my hand had gotten folded back it likely would have ended my career.:hang:

I saw a vid on the Ariel Atom that shows it's arguably faster around a race course than a superbike. I bet I can spank most Harleys in my FFS Miata, though that's not really the point. And my Miata keeps me dry and comfy.:driving:

[Snakeoil]

Oh geez, I can see I started one of those cars vs. bikes things. Didn't mean to.
Tom, when we talked, you never mentioned getting bowled over on your Wing. Can't be fun. Glad you were not severly injured.
Took my Shin, the wife and dog to an open house at an HD dealer in the middle of nowhere. Wife bought the dog a hat. Now he looks like Gomer Pyle with an Afro. Rain caught us on the way up and nailed us hard on the way back. Was very glad to be able to stop and put the top up along the way. Saw many a rider (temps in the high 80's today. Not typical upstate NY weather) ducking the rain as we headed home. Poor bastards.
Continuing the theme I inadvertantly started, last time I was at Pocono with the bike, I was told the car guys do not like the bike guys. I did not get that feeling at all. The car guys in the hotel all wanted to see my bike and had all kinds of questions. Most were Winston Cup guys and I really had little interest in their iron. But I was polite.
I love the Miata because it is damn near a bike. I checked out the Ariel Atom website as I had not heard of one before. What a neat little car. A bit overpriced thought, don'tcha think? Hey Tom, have any interest in putting something like that together when I retire? I was thinking a new flat 6 Goldwing motor, with a SC in a tube frame Atom-like vehicle, only more street friendly with a horn, lights and other minor requirements for registration. Probably could TIG it up out of mild steel tubing and use Miata suspension stuff. For looks I think it should look like Miller Special from the Indy days when they were as sexy as they were fast. But a two seater so the wife coul play too. With all the leniency given to bikes wrt directionals and lighting, it should be a snap to keep it looking like an Indy car and still pass inspection.
Hmmmmmm, might retire early. This could be fun.
Rob

[Snakeoil]

Sorry, just realized what I did. Did not mean to turn this into a general discussion, BS type forum.
Rob

[mageep]

Oh geez, I can see I started one of those cars vs. bikes things. Didn't mean to.

Just my $.02 but I think these are good conversations to have. I, for one will continue to ride my Duc until something I don't want to think about happening happens. At least this dialogue is stable. Someone started a 'bikes are stupid' thread on another forum I watch. Talking about how all of us that bike are the bane of human existence, etc. Eh, whatever.

I checked out the Ariel Atom website as I had not heard of one before. What a neat little car. A bit overpriced thought, don'tcha think?

Funny that you should think that, because after watching the Top Gear clip, I was thinking quite the contrary! You have to pay 6-10x that for similar 4-wheel performance.

COnversely, I have researched building a Factory 5 Cobra, as an example. To do it PROPERLY would be within $10-15K of the Atom, and I can assure you you'd have WAAAY more than $15K into an F5 Cobra in sweat equity! The Atom comes assembled! ;)

Sure, the collection of parts might be had for less, but...

I guess I see it like the pharmaceutical model, where it costs $2 billion to make the first pill, and then about $1.10 for every one thereafter.