I've been out of bikes for nearly three years now. Its amazing how much has changed! Went to see a Kawi dirt bike, and the guy was telling how to use the launch control? It was extra nice to do a 2nd gear launch wide fn open, but it also seemed to take the fun out of a hard well executed launch. Pretty soon I reckon they'll be racing RC motos to keep it extra safe
You should read Steve Anderson's posts in the EBR liquidation thread. Erik was working on very similar bikes for EBR's next model range, also with parallel twin engines, except they'd likely have been lighter and more powerful.
You should read Steve Anderson's posts in the EBR liquidation thread. I did, and it made me sick as the time I found out Erik had two or three working prototypes of the Griffin.
The R/C race bikes are pretty cool. A lot going on there.
Power levels for some bikes have risen to where they can be nearly unstreetable. The plus with selectable maps is that compromises don't have to made to suit a wide range of riders/conditions. Traction control can be tuned down or turned off. ABS isn't really a thing to me, so long as it's unobtrusive. Locking up the rear is no thing...losing the front can suck. They're aids, not a crutch. Just like the myriad of driver aids in many cars today...they don't make better drivers, but may help bad drivers from being worse.
The 1250 Super Duke is pretty awesome, but its just not a favorite. A bit too exotic, perhaps Mmm ,put a tuber headlight and S1 flyscreen on and it's complete!
Been reading reviews of the Aprilia V-4 bikes- personally, I'd have to get something other than an inline 4. Gotta have character! That 2002 Triumph Sprint ST I had a while back was hella-sexy and a shit-ton of fun, but it made me realize I USED to be fast. I'm quite content with my '77 Beemer nowadays.
The engine is monstrous though it's thought to be quite docile to cruise around on.
Badwebber "Rubberdown" showed up at BITA 7 on his new Super Duke R. He said he's already done a couple of near-Ironbutt rides on it. Apparently it's content to be ridden as docile as you want, or to be the screaming banshee it looks like it would be.
When I look at a KTM, I think that whoever styled it was fascinated by a basket of used razor blades.
A combination of faceted stealth angles and origami is the new cutting edge styling
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Apparently it's content to be ridden as docile as you want, or to be the screaming banshee it looks like it would be.
That's what is said. Impressive for something with 180bhp.
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That 2002 Triumph Sprint ST I had a while back was hella-sexy and a shit-ton of fun, but it made me realize I USED to be fast. I'm quite content with my '77 Beemer nowadays.
I've seen a fair amount of grey haired guys at the track still moving rather quickly.
I like the idea of taking a honda 4 cylinder to 640 CCs, and making it turn past 20,000 RPM. Then putting it into a frame using XB suspension, brakes, and wheels.
The SuperDuke is actually very comfortable, the engine is a monster, gobs of torque, and tons of HP. I was thinking an 1125R fairing might look good in front...
if you like twins , it hard to beat a modern BMW R series .beginning in 1994 BMW completely redesigned the twin . GRunt and revs . i own a '94 R1100rs and a '07 R1200s and they are fantastic machines . do some research (like our BUELLS , don't believe everything the M/C rags say about them ) they are really good real-world m/c's .
I like BMW...but my interest has mainly been the K bikes.
The wife likes the K100 best...though only when cafe'd out.
The Kawasaki ZRX1200 is a retro bike with modern power I've liked. It shares a trait with the Triumph Speed Triple that I don't like. They carry their weight in a manner that makes them feel heavier than they are.
Oh yeah. That, the CB1100, and the RD350/400 are the only bikes in existence we mutually like.
Instead of Buell she would have liked a Ducati (I've long been a Monster 900 fan...just wouldn't own one). Instead of the DR650SE she'd rather a DRZ400SM (was rather annoyed at my decision).
I like simple engines, and would prefer torque over a revvy type.