| Author |
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Stirz007
| | Posted on Thursday, April 07, 2011 - 06:42 pm: | 
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I've told the story before, but Spatten nailed it.
I was on a group ride last fall - the road captain was riding a Big Dog (or close enough) - chopped, raked, 100+ ci. twin with maybe a 240-260 rear end. I got tired of following a bunch of Tri-Glides and dressers (who were following a manure truck up the hill at 40 - seriously - it was killing me) up the nice twisty Canyon section and bolted out ahead. After I cleared the herd, I backed off so my bud could catch up. Next thing I know, the RC was right behind me and actually tried to pass - he was doing everything he could just to keep it on the road - I really thought he was going to biff it just so he could stay in front. My bud told me that he almost did lose it a couple of times trying to catch me. BD's are not too bad in a straight line, not so good for chasing an 1125 up the canyon. |
86129squids
| | Posted on Friday, April 08, 2011 - 01:19 am: |
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Stirz- that RC was actually a dangerous douche...
Nobody I know who claims to be a RC would do such stupid crap while leading a group... |
Strokizator
| | Posted on Friday, April 08, 2011 - 02:01 am: |
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I rode with a group led by a road captain just once. I've seen Cinco de Mayo parades move faster than this bunch. About 5 miles was all I could take before peeling off to go my separate way. |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Friday, April 08, 2011 - 08:35 am: |
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You've never ridden with OUR Road Captain(s).  |
Sayitaintso
| | Posted on Friday, April 08, 2011 - 10:17 am: |
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You've never ridden with OUR Road Captain(s).
I'm guessing they dont ride Big Dogs. |
Hybridmomentspass
| | Posted on Friday, April 08, 2011 - 01:01 pm: |
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speaking of RCs etc, I went on a memorial ride two years ago, it was split into two groups - sportbikes (the man who died rode sportbikes), and cruisers (his parents etc)
I, of course, went to the sportbike group (1125).
After 10 miles I peeled off.
I felt bad for leaving a charity ride like that, but I couldnt take it anymore.
It was spring/summer - people were mowing grass etc - when the group came upon grass in the road on a straight they'd slow to 10mph. The would speed up in teh straights (without grass), but then really slam on the brakes at a curve.
Horrible.
Also the guy made a wrong turn :/
So its not just cruisers that have terrible, dangerous RCs |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Friday, April 08, 2011 - 02:19 pm: |
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quote:I'm guessing they dont ride Big Dogs.
Good guess. |
Stirz007
| | Posted on Friday, April 08, 2011 - 05:49 pm: |
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I don't want to hijack this to a Bad RC thread, but yeah... the guy was nummy - and yes, there's more.
So on the initial pass of RC, Tri-glides and pooperwagon, he almost takes himself and me out. Sidebar: Tri-glides apparently do not handle well on twisty roads. The folks riding the two or three in the group couldn't hold a line for sheet. Anyway, the poop spray is hitting my lips, the RC is not in any hurry to get around it and I say enough of this crap.
I'm maybe 50 yds back of the RC: I check mirror, look over left shoulder, signal and pull into the other lane when it clears and gas it. Just as I get even with the RC, he finally decides to pass - and since he's the RC, there's no need to signal or even check if anyone is coming up from behind (after all, I'm the RC and everyone follows ME!!). Dude almost crapped his pants as I blast by him just as he swings out to the left.
Later, he wants to give me his WTF speech in front of his buds - (not one on one). So I apologized for scaring the crap out of him, but then mention that it could be a good idea to at least check your six before sticking it out there and that it was good that "at least one of us was watching" - I think my apology lost some value after that...
If you are going to buy a BD and take it up the canyons, you should at maybe take the time to learn how to ride it.... They're kinda purdy if you like that look, but they don't handle for crap, not a daily rider and a tad spendy. Not sure about other parts of the world, but around here there are lots of guys out there stuck with a bike they don't ride and $20K left on the note. Tons of listings for used Big Dogs - not too many takers. |
Pwnzor
| | Posted on Friday, April 08, 2011 - 10:23 pm: |
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I'm a fan of Jesse James bikes. I'm from Long Beach, met the guy a few times, partied with some of the same people... cool bikes.
 |
Moxnix
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011 - 12:28 am: |
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Am I too late for the rat bike cafe racer fad? |
Jaimec
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011 - 09:14 am: |
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I wonder what that Rotary bike feels like when you thumb the starter?
I remember the Boss Hoss I rode felt like it wanted to throw me to the ground when I first cranked the engine. Anyone who's ever ridden a MotoGuzzi or a BMW Twin knows what I'm talking about. |
Sifo
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011 - 11:25 am: |
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I think your right foot might get warm on that bike. Also your left foot, both arms, both legs, and everything else below your neck! 
I do like the originality of it though. Totally worthless, other than as a show piece IMO. Beautiful paperweight though. |
46champ
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011 - 12:50 pm: |
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Has anyone ever seen the bike with the Rotec radial in real life? I have a question has anyone seen it move under its own power? The reason I asked is where do they take the power from. Under the bullet shaped cover up front is the crankshaft where the prop bolts on all the drives on the other side are accessory drives i.e. mags, prop gov, generator, starter etc, none of them have the torque loading capability to actually move something. |
Rudy
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011 - 01:12 pm: |
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The engine was modified to work in that configuration. A machinist rigged up a drive extension off of the crankshaft out the backside. More info here: http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/07/06/radia l-motorcycle-engine-modifications/
There's another radial powered motorcycle out there, too, but this one has the motor mounted with the crank mounted transversely: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/19/1258/motorcycle-a rticle/customs-jrl-cycles--radial-chopper.aspx |
46champ
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011 - 01:22 pm: |
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Rudy thanks for the link all questions are answered with a few pictures. |
Sifo
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011 - 01:30 pm: |
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It's been done at least 3 time. I have no info on this one though.
 |
Strato9r
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011 - 03:28 pm: |
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Last fall, a customer of ours asked if I'd ride his BD out to a Show N Shine and hang a for sale sign on it, as his back can't take riding any more. It was certainly a nicely built bike, but yeah, I hated how it handled, hated having my feet out in front of me, hated the 240 out back.....but hey, it's not my cup of tea. All I could think of while riding it the thirty or so miles out to the show was how sweet it would be to have that huge torque monster of an engine and that six speed in a Spondon framed cafe racer. I guess with the chopper fad having run it's course this time around, there won't be a shortage of powerplants to work with..... |
46champ
| | Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011 - 03:50 pm: |
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guess with the chopper fad having run it's course this time around, there won't be a shortage of powerplants to work with
It would be nice to think that would happen, but the question comes up what happened to the choppers from the first go around? It was like they got sucked into a chopper vortex, when the fad came around again 15-20 years later they didn't redo already ruined bikes, no they ruined more. |
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