Who rides motorcycles?

[deserteagle71]

Great old man's bike. I'm getting a kick out of the map taped over the fuel tank.

Old man...that's me!

I ride some of the most remote country in the lower 48 so GPS and maps are essential - sometimes roads I was intending to ride turn out to be closed for one reason or another. The map taped to the gas tank gives me a larger picture of the area I'm in - and in some places where roads are iffy I also roll up some 2' x 3' topo maps and fasten them to the handlebars, as seen here. At Whitmore Point on the Arizona Strip.

 

[CalG]

I got my first bike when I was 18. A Honda CB750. In later years, I had a Honda Interstate Goldwing. I've maintained the MC endorsement on my drivers license(s) (just in case) but I only have a mini bike now to pick up the mail down front and patrol the property. I'm 71 now but still miss the road.

I'm 73, have a sport bike, an Italian lightweight, and a Vespa.

GET OUT THERE!

 

[CalG]

A friend that was on the county sheriff's department said most of the officers think they sound good and don't want to piss off a group that does do some events yhat benefit local causes.
I don't see how that should give them a pass on violating noise ordinances.

I think they should get a pass!

Talk to those that ride, then you might understand.

Still, My bikes move by with a whisper.

 

[Bocephous]

That's what my friend made clear, ultimate traction comes from new, square, knobbies. Once they start rounding off they still work but not nearly as well. LOL he knew I needed all the help I could get!

As well as skill it took a lot of strength to ride that heavy bike like that two-up. I recall an ad Honda ran with Scott standing holding up a XR650L in his arms.

It's amazing what top riders are capable of be it dirt, trials, or track.

XR600R. About a 50lb weight difference. Still beastly strength.

 

[Bocephous]

Yup. Especially as you age and your balancing ability and reaction time deteriorates. Seems like not so long ago I had (all at one time, fit the bike to the terrain) a 600, a 500, a 400 and a 250. Now that I'm about to turn 80 years old I'm down to one bike - my little (and light) XT225.

View attachment 5336822

That's amazing, off-roading or riding at all at 80. Hats off to you, sir.

 

[CalG]

I just came across a great quote:

"It's better to suck at riding dirt bikes
than it is to be good at sitting on the couch!"

yup!

 

[big e]

This is the only 2 cylinder middle weight dual sport. Reviews are pretty good. With exceptional commendations on street riding. The Himalayans are heavy offroad and the a DR is always a good choice. I went with the Husky/KTM line strictly for the lightweight aspect. At 72 yrs old picking one of these things up is a challenge...and I do drop them, usually at low speed or no speed...
In my research I saw some light older bikes and I went out and test road a couple but in the end the new bike bug bit me.

Re: 2 cylinder middleweight...
There's the new KLE500.
(I don't post much so I hope this link works)

 

[scootr]

Just got back from 50 miles of twisty back roads on the Speedmaster. Cooling off, it was hot, 85º in the shade. We will have 1 or 2 more cooling spells before it gets too hot to ride and the season ends for us fairweather riders Just begged off on a group ride tomorrow up the mountain. Gonna be 88º on the mountain...I think not

 

[big e]

It's time for my 400 hour service so I got on to refresh my memory on the job... and... well... couple hours later I'm still looking at motorcycle posts.
Time well spent!
Photo of my buddies DesertX and my Vstrom in the bottom of a Southern Ohio ravine. In the back is a friends cabin from 1860's where we would do "turkey camp".

 

[scootr]

It's time for my 400 hour service so I got on to refresh my memory on the job... and... well... couple hours later I'm still looking at motorcycle posts.
Time well spent!
Photo of my buddies DesertX and my Vstrom in the bottom of a Southern Ohio ravine. In the back is a friends cabin from 1860's where we would do "turkey camp".

View attachment 5357350

Could ya imagine living there? Nice .... Must be a mighty nice road in there judging from those bikes and tires

 

[Milo]

Photo of my buddies DesertX and my Vstrom in the bottom of a Southern Ohio ravine. In the back is a friends cabin from 1860's where we would do "turkey camp".

Very nice! My kind of motorcycles at my kind of place.

 

[big e]

Could ya imagine living there? Nice .... Must be a mighty nice road in there judging from those bikes and tires

For sure. It is a special place in spring with all the migrating birds. Many warblers and the last spot I heard a whippoorwill. Kinda their northern range extent. Flying squirrels live in the cabin walls which is a weird nocturnal roomate to have when ya gotta get up to hunt turkeys at 5! But it has a nice side by side ******* and a little creek waterfall for showers.
Can't believe somebody used to convince a team of horses to go down there on the regular. Moonshiners?
Anyway, 80/20 plenty good for this ride. I will endevour to have tires that you find more enjoyable next time!

 

[RayIN]

Tractoring away refers to a motorcycles ability to climb at low speed...it's a torque and gearing combo that's attractive to anybody who's not racing up hills etc. A bike with tractoring ability doesn't stall when the going get hard and the rpms are low. It just keeps on going like a tractor.

My new Honda is in limbo...It's almost all fixed up. Still have the front fork upgrades to install...but that's about it. I had a problem where I dropped it and strained my back picking it up. I'm 72 yrs old so no surprise. As nice as the Honda is I probably shouldn't ride it alone which is what I do most. So I bought another much lighter bike that easier for me...and the Rally sits. I may sell it. Are you interested? It definitely tractors uphills.

Many decades ago I owned a Harley Davidson 250cc Sprint. It was heavy and slow, but in 1st gear it would pull steep hills with that 1 cylinder chugging along.
The Sprint was advertised as a road bike and off-road bike, it was good at neither.

 

[not2old]

Many decades ago I owned a Harley Davidson 250cc Sprint. It was heavy and slow, but in 1st gear it would pull steep hills with that 1 cylinder chugging along.
The Sprint was advertised as a road bike and off-road bike, it was good at neither.

They looked like a good off road bike to me. I was riding a 1966 Yamaha 100 Twin in the dirt with all street equipment.

 

[Tinhack]

I'm 73, have a sport bike, an Italian lightweight, and a Vespa.

GET OUT THERE!

That was an old post. I'm 75 now and still don't have all my arthritis under control. I'm not sure I could even squeeze the brake and clutch levers anymore. I've gone all electric on yard/tree maintenance tools because I can't even pull start a gas engine anymore. The modern wonder drugs are helping but the doses are six months apart. Ride while you can.