A Little 10-year-old girl was walking home, alone, from school one day, when a big man on a black motorcycle pulls up beside her. After following along for a while, turns to her and asks, "Hey there little girl, do you want to go for a ride?"
"NO!" says the little girl as she keeps on walking.
The motorcyclist again pulls up beside her and asks, "Hey little girl, I will give you $10 if you hop on the back."
"NO!" says the little girl as she hurries down the street.
The motorcyclist pulls up beside the little girl again and says, "Okay kid, my last offer! I'll give you 20 Bucks" and " a Big Bag of Candy if you will just hop on the back of my bike and we will go for a ride."
Finally, the little girl stops and turns towards him and Screams Out...
"Look Dad" "You're the one who bought the Honda instead of the Harley ..."
"YOU RIDE IT!"
V65 Chopper
This seems like a crime ... yet, less of a crime than Honda discontinuing these bikes. Better that they find new life in strange customizations than disappear from the face of the earth.
German Engineering
Really enjoyed riding those BMW bikes yesterday, despite the misfortune on the way home.
I felt right at home the instant I got on them, unlike the Speed Triple. I'm not into the sport bike posture.
I liked the R1200R but don't think I'll be able to afford it. The F650GS was okay and more affordable -- under 10k, but not as peppy as what I have now, so what's the point?
Funny story ... the salesman started up the R1200R, gave me a quick overview, and went back inside. Before I pulled away I noticed a flashing light on the dash that read "Brake Failure". I left the bike running, went back inside and spoke to the salesman.
"I noticed there was a 'Brake Failure' light on the dash."
"Oh, that!" he said, "If it's blinking it means you're sitting still and the brakes aren't engaged. If it stays on, it means there's a 'Brake Failure'. I don't know why they did it that way."
Crazy Germans!
Oh, and I had the hardest time getting used to the turn signals. They don't work like every other bike I've ever ridden. To turn on the left signal, hit a button on the left handle. Right turn signal is a button on the right. To cancel the turn signals is a button, above the turn signal button, on the right handle. Just distracting, I'm not sure what the rationale was for this design decision, but I'm sure, like everything else, I would just get used to it.
I felt right at home the instant I got on them, unlike the Speed Triple. I'm not into the sport bike posture.
I liked the R1200R but don't think I'll be able to afford it. The F650GS was okay and more affordable -- under 10k, but not as peppy as what I have now, so what's the point?
Funny story ... the salesman started up the R1200R, gave me a quick overview, and went back inside. Before I pulled away I noticed a flashing light on the dash that read "Brake Failure". I left the bike running, went back inside and spoke to the salesman.
"I noticed there was a 'Brake Failure' light on the dash."
"Oh, that!" he said, "If it's blinking it means you're sitting still and the brakes aren't engaged. If it stays on, it means there's a 'Brake Failure'. I don't know why they did it that way."
Crazy Germans!
Oh, and I had the hardest time getting used to the turn signals. They don't work like every other bike I've ever ridden. To turn on the left signal, hit a button on the left handle. Right turn signal is a button on the right. To cancel the turn signals is a button, above the turn signal button, on the right handle. Just distracting, I'm not sure what the rationale was for this design decision, but I'm sure, like everything else, I would just get used to it.
I wrecked it today!
I give myself a dumbass award today. I'll tell you about it, but first, the backstory.
I took a little ride today to my local Triumph dealer. I test drove the Speed Triple, and while I liked the power curve, and I already knew I liked the looks of it, I decided the seating position doesn't suit me. At least, the stock position.
While I was there, I stopped into the BMW dealership next door and test drove the R1200R and the F650GS. i loved the handling and the power of the R1200R, though I was surprised at the vibration at idle. The F650 did surprisingly well, and seems like an able commuter bike, which would suit me well. I think the BMW "Beak" front end is fugly, however.
As I was riding the third bike, the F650GS, it started to rain. I didn't mind much. Came back to the dealership and talked dollars and cents, monthly payments, etc. Took his card and told him I'd check with "the minister of finance" and get back to him. Very low key ... they must hear this every day.
On to the dumbass award...
Back onto my own bike, the rain still falling gently. A 20 mile ride back home through city streets. Coming up to an intersection, I faced a red light. I moved into the right turn lane and glanced to my left as I braked gently to a stop. I was going maybe 20 mph.
Fwoop. Suddenly I'm on my right side, my bike grinding to a stop on its side. What happened?
My right leg pinned under the bike. The woman behind me stopped her car, got out and ran toward me. "Are you okay?"
A sharp pain in my right side, where my elbow jabbed into my ribcage when I landed. "I'm okay."
"It's leaking!" she yelled, "It's leaking gas!" She sounded frightened, ran back to her car, and left. Afraid it was gonna blow, I suppose.
I freed my leg from under the bike and stood up.
A remembered Skert's lesson on lifiting a bike, and began to pick it up. A man stopped his white Humvee behind me, hazards on, ran to me and helped me pick up the bike. He caught it as I lifted it, ensuring it wouldn't topple over when I righted it.
We looked over the damage.
Driver and passenger pegs on the right side mangled. Mufflers scratched a little on the right side. My new levers were unscathed, as was the grip. The windshield was scratched, and the brackets bent. The handlebars are cockeyed -- when I'm driving the bike straight, the handlebars are turned slightly to the right.
A cop stop and asked if I was okay, asked what happened. I said I slipped on an oil slick, pointed it out to him. He asked if I was okay, I said yes.
Cranked the bike for about a minute. It started. I imagine it was flooded at first.
Rode the bike home, without event.
Further inspection shows a goose-egg on my elbow, no broken bones. My helmet smacked the pavement, so I'll be buying a new one. Right shoulder of my leather jacket scuffed
I Just offer this as a reminder ... watch for oil slicks in the rain. I know this, I am always extra careful in the rain, but in a moment it got away from me.
Be careful out there.
I'm thankful it didn't happen on the test drives ... I plan on going back and test driving other Triumphs in the future -- a stupid stunt like that might've blacklisted me.
I took a little ride today to my local Triumph dealer. I test drove the Speed Triple, and while I liked the power curve, and I already knew I liked the looks of it, I decided the seating position doesn't suit me. At least, the stock position.
While I was there, I stopped into the BMW dealership next door and test drove the R1200R and the F650GS. i loved the handling and the power of the R1200R, though I was surprised at the vibration at idle. The F650 did surprisingly well, and seems like an able commuter bike, which would suit me well. I think the BMW "Beak" front end is fugly, however.
As I was riding the third bike, the F650GS, it started to rain. I didn't mind much. Came back to the dealership and talked dollars and cents, monthly payments, etc. Took his card and told him I'd check with "the minister of finance" and get back to him. Very low key ... they must hear this every day.
On to the dumbass award...
Back onto my own bike, the rain still falling gently. A 20 mile ride back home through city streets. Coming up to an intersection, I faced a red light. I moved into the right turn lane and glanced to my left as I braked gently to a stop. I was going maybe 20 mph.
Fwoop. Suddenly I'm on my right side, my bike grinding to a stop on its side. What happened?
My right leg pinned under the bike. The woman behind me stopped her car, got out and ran toward me. "Are you okay?"
A sharp pain in my right side, where my elbow jabbed into my ribcage when I landed. "I'm okay."
"It's leaking!" she yelled, "It's leaking gas!" She sounded frightened, ran back to her car, and left. Afraid it was gonna blow, I suppose.
I freed my leg from under the bike and stood up.
A remembered Skert's lesson on lifiting a bike, and began to pick it up. A man stopped his white Humvee behind me, hazards on, ran to me and helped me pick up the bike. He caught it as I lifted it, ensuring it wouldn't topple over when I righted it.
We looked over the damage.
Driver and passenger pegs on the right side mangled. Mufflers scratched a little on the right side. My new levers were unscathed, as was the grip. The windshield was scratched, and the brackets bent. The handlebars are cockeyed -- when I'm driving the bike straight, the handlebars are turned slightly to the right.
A cop stop and asked if I was okay, asked what happened. I said I slipped on an oil slick, pointed it out to him. He asked if I was okay, I said yes.
Cranked the bike for about a minute. It started. I imagine it was flooded at first.
Rode the bike home, without event.
Further inspection shows a goose-egg on my elbow, no broken bones. My helmet smacked the pavement, so I'll be buying a new one. Right shoulder of my leather jacket scuffed
I Just offer this as a reminder ... watch for oil slicks in the rain. I know this, I am always extra careful in the rain, but in a moment it got away from me.
Be careful out there.
I'm thankful it didn't happen on the test drives ... I plan on going back and test driving other Triumphs in the future -- a stupid stunt like that might've blacklisted me.
Riders who switch bikes more likely to crash
Whoever coined the phrase, "it's just like riding a bike," probably never switched motorcycles. That's because even experienced riders can be pretty wobbly when they hop on an unfamiliar bike, according to data from the country's largest motorcycle insurer, Progressive.
The study of almost 2 million motorcycle policies over a five-year period finds that riders who switch bikes are nearly 70 percent more likely to crash than riders who keep the same bike.
"Most people already know that riding can be especially dangerous for new bikers," said Rick Stern, a Progressive motorcycle product manager who is also a rider. "But our data shows that the less familiar you are with your bike, the more likely you are to be involved in a collision, regardless of your experience."
Harley-Davidson Motorcycle News and Information
The study also found cruiser riders who switch to sport bikes are three-and-a-half times more likely to crash. That's more than double the risk they'd have than if they just switched to another cruiser.
Read full story from www.1st5ive.com
The study of almost 2 million motorcycle policies over a five-year period finds that riders who switch bikes are nearly 70 percent more likely to crash than riders who keep the same bike.
"Most people already know that riding can be especially dangerous for new bikers," said Rick Stern, a Progressive motorcycle product manager who is also a rider. "But our data shows that the less familiar you are with your bike, the more likely you are to be involved in a collision, regardless of your experience."
Harley-Davidson Motorcycle News and Information
The study also found cruiser riders who switch to sport bikes are three-and-a-half times more likely to crash. That's more than double the risk they'd have than if they just switched to another cruiser.
Read full story from www.1st5ive.com
Motorcycles Keep You Young
About.com posted this article claiming that motorcycles keep you young.
I don't need science to prove this; I know it's true.
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