LMAO <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

First off I'm not a "teen" and unless Dan complains or locks the thread, I frankly don't care what anybody thinks. Nuff said.

Here's picture of the new to be released (later this year) twin cyl. BMW 800 gs.

6 speed, ABS, more than 80 horses. Prolly 11 or 12 out the door. If you can get one.

nice rides men. i will still smoke you all in the twisties. end of story <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> me and kim can ride some .... twisties <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Reconseed,

If you really want to see what your bike can do I recommend you get it on the track. Trackdays and racing schools are worth a look. They help your street riding a ton in terms of knowing what your bike can do. You don't want to be labeled a squid :-)

Riding on the track is just awesome!!!

This is my race school


This is racing at Mid Ohio

Raker13,

Thanks for posting the New GS. I have had my eye on it for some time. I am drooling...

I went and checked out the new Ducati 1098 and Speed triples and the dealer showed me the pics of the new GS. Decisions Decisions!!!

Jeff

for sure man, the bay area is known to have some of the best twisties around.

Nice pictures everyone. I'll go to the track someday. I've always been drooling over the gray market 400cc bikes like the Aprilia and Honda RVF, etc..

I know it is some steep competition out there. The Duc1098 is as powerful as the japs and the same price now.The speed triples are incredible and the new mini speed based on the 675 Daytona is awesome and a good buy. That 800 GS though is a really nice practical bike. Repliracers are fun in the fast corners but you have to look at what kind of riding you do. If you do a lot of commuting and town miles having your bum in the air like a horny female monkey is not the way to go.
My 919 kills faster bikes around town but on the highway that wind gets tiring.
I bet the speed3 is the same. The GS can do commuting and backroads but might not be a great choice for the interstate.

Some other bikes are the Suzuki Vstrom ,it is not nearly as cool as the GS but is about half the cash and just as capable.

If I was going to do some long distance highway miles the new Kawi Concourse with a 150+HP engine from there Hayabusa killer and all the touring comforts would be nice. It is also half the price of the BMW version and just as nice.

If you like the GS but want to be able to do the highways as well the Buell Ulysses is a good choice. The new Buell streetfighters have dropped the old sporty mill for a nice Rotax.

I don't like the big heavy harlys except for touring but some of the new Sportys are great little city bikes. I especially like the Nightster. Also the Triumph
Scrambler is a nice classic looking bike with modern running gear for about 8 grand.

Anyone else as excited for MotoGP as I am?!?!?

I never did manage to get a pic of my brothers bike that I was telling you guys about before I left home, but I did write down the model #. It’s an 80’s Kawasaki GPz1100. He bought it from a guy in the classifieds for $800. It’s not quite road ready yet, and needs some work on the brakes, etc. Here’s a pic I found on the net that looked closest to what it looks like:

Finally getting around to posting my Bike!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Mine is a Honda VTR1000 - SuperHawk, which I consider a GREAT bike for me. Honda is fine and I respect Honda's great reputation for reliability and performance. Mine has all that! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
But, I am not that tied to motorcycle brand loyalty - or cars either. There are lots of great choices IMO. And I pick what works best for me based on a broad range of criteria. I like a lot of different bikes from a lot of different companies. Reconseed's Kawi looks nice, similarly, I like some of the R-1's and other Honda's out there.
For passion (not for practicality), I really like the new 1098. I have always loved the 916 series. I was pretty sad when the 999 came out. Way too ugly for a Ducati (great performance or not). But, much happier with the new 1098. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
I love the MV Agusta's as well - SEXY.
There are others.....

Performance is important, but in the real world all of these sport bikes are just freakin' crazy fast. For the real world, price and looks start becoming relevant to me, because performance is (mostly) "ALL-GOOD". I don't street race. Fast, yes, but my own way. I try to be safe while speeding - I didn't just say speeding.. I meant "at speeds".... yeah - that's what I meant. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Most non-riders don't get how fast these bikes are. Acceleration and decceleration are amazing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />

More importantantly, many first time riders (often) don't get how dangerous these bikes can be. They are VERY fast and VERY nimble. They also stop very fast relatively speaking, but at the speeds they are capable of achieving, "THINGS" can happen.

I have been riding for MANY years now. I actually rode for about 7 years as daily transportation.

I get a lot of younger people asking my opinions about bikes. They are usually asking if I know much about a particularly fast bike they have heard of - such as a Busa. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />
I try to help, but inevitably, I tend to preach a little along the way to those who asked my opinion and who are considering their first bike purchases about certain common issues:

- Road conditions - Very easy to not see sand or gravel or wet spots when heading into a corner or turn. And many similar issues.....

- Other Drivers - On the freeway, most cars are like they are sitting still to me. Even if they cut me off and pull into my lane, I can usually EASILY manuever around them. This is surprisingly uncommon as car drivers seem to often not see motorcycles (????????) - One nice advantage to a screaming loud V-Twin! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> However, on roads where cars pull out of drives or parking areas, there is often nothing you can do unless you are very focused at looking out for such drivers.

- Temptation to show-off, race, and similar.

- "Focus" on riding. One great thing about motorcycles is that there are not many side distractions from riding such as cell phones, radios, conversations with your friends in the vehicle, etc. Use that "ability" to focus to help stay safe. Don't allow situations to occure to distract from the focus. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

- Helmets. Texas used to have a helmet law, but it was removed during the mid-90's. I thought it was pretty funny when I lived in Austin and they revoked the helmet law. In the city of Austin, it is a "Law" that you must wear a helmet on a Bicycle, but not on a motorcycle. I started riding a motorcycle when helmets were required by law. I appreciate the benifits of a helmet. I actually even like just the superior eye protection. The wind at "speeds" makes my eyes tear even with good wrap-around glasses - still get air blowing in my eyes. However, I do appreciate that it is a nice feeling to ride with the wind blowing in your face. I like it too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> But, I am a pretty strong believer in the benifits of helmets in most riding situations. It is worth the safety IMO. I do find myself riding without one in some low-speed around subdivision and similar cases. But, EVEN More care, focus and caution without a helmet.

-----------

I can't get over how many young first time riders feel they need a Hayabusa! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> - They need to learn to ride on something simple and light-weight first IMO. Honda F3 or F4 or SV650 are all great bikes with plenty of power and speed and better handling for 1st timers IMO. But, I will try not to get carried away there.

There is a phrase/quote that is often used in reference to power:

"Power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely."

This applys well to motorcycles.

The Busa is rediculously fast and powerful. It is also pretty heavy and not the best handling bike. Potential death for many people/kids (IMO).

I am not trying to single young ones out here, but I do remember being young. And I was pretty conservative compared to most. The temptations to show off and street race are often too tempting with regards to motorcycles.
These temptations are probably the largest danger in motorcycling.
And don't drink and ride!
Hanging around with other guys and also if and when girls are around can often lead to "egging on" and just generally hard temptations to resist. Pushing the limits - especially in the "wrong" situations is a recipe for problems. When the situation involves a motorcycle capable of 150 - 190 mph. That situation is flirting with death.

A cool head and sensibility NEEDS to be priority.

Bikes are VERY fun to me. We need to do our part to keep it fun by keeping deaths and bad accidents out of it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Deaths and accidents unfortunately "Will" happen, but hopefully not from carelessness, showing off or general stupidity.

- Just throwing out my two cents. Sorry for preaching and my soap-box stand.... carry on.......


--------

I am constantly talking to non-bike owners and having to explain in various ways how fast "typical" sport-bikes are.

For perspective (I say):

Cars measured in 0-60's:

5.5 - 6.0 is respectible for decent sports cars and performance sedans

5.0 - 5.5 is pretty good, but you generally are going to start paying $35,000+ and often $50,000 - $80,000 these days to start getting close to 5.0 (with a few exceptions)

Sub-5.0 - Is generally starting to be very high end and semi-exotic - including prices!

Anything under 4.5 is generally VERY high end exclusive exotic and you can pay $150,000 - $1,000,000 for such speeds!

Yet for your typical sport-bike 600's, 750's 1000's, doesn't matter, Sub-3.0 is mundane - yawn. Typically, 2.7 - 3.0 is pretty easy and the only reason most motorcycles don't go faster is because you can't give full throttle or your front wheel comes off the ground.


That is price to performance ratio!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />



Anway, I love my Superhawk. It might not be my first choice for looks, but I like the looks a lot and much better than most. I also made a "steal" on it back in about 2000 (???). I bought for about $7,000 with only about 2,0000 miles on it and in garage kept showroom condition and with a great after market full exhaust system upgrade worth close to $900 - $1,000. I still keep it clean.
Mine might not be the fastest, it is not "cutting" edge, or even very new, but it is [censored] fast with TONS of mid-range torque that I find very usefull for street riding. Also, it just "fits" me well and I find it very comfy in seating position, over-all size and lean angle. I am 6'2" and don't care to squeeze into a bike or lean over too much as I really am a street rider and don't really ride on track - although, I think I would really like to try some track time some day (????). My bike isn't real heavy, but for track, I would probably be looking for something even lighter and smaller. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> For street, I like mine a lot. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Also, I LOVE my sport-tuned V-Twin sound with aftermarket D&D's. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

It was about 70 yeasterday and sunny. So, I took it out for a while and finally snapped a pic to post here. I never really took any pics of my bike (????) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />


Here is my bike:



The picture doesn't show the seat cowl that I would normally have on for when I solo ride. I think it looks nicer with the seat cowl on. But, I was in a hurry. I had it off because my wife rides on back and prior to yesterday most of my rides had been taking my wife and myself to the gym. So, it has been off for a while.

.

Great post knife guy. Superhawks are total sleepers. If that exact same bike was made in Italy it would have been 20 grand.

I think every 16 year old should be given a Kawi 10R which can go 100MPH in first gear! No helmet laws. Weed out the dumb and the ones with slow reflexes before they get in a car that can hurt others. Also pizza delivery would be in nanoseconds. If I did not have my 919 I would find a dropped 10R or R1 etc and strip off all the plastic ,put on a renthal bar and a bigger rear sprocket and harley headlight for a 175HP murdercycle. Maybe nitrous as well?

I saw a beautiful custom chopper with a Vtwin out of a RC51 which is like a superduperhawk. Yes I have had a couple drinks.

I always wear a helmet but I hate helmet laws. If the only person I am hurting is myself it is none of your [censored] business.

lol
OMG thats great!
thats micro evelotution for you!
ahahah.
oh man...