Along with the benefit of having no valve float, a lot less horsepower is needed to run a Desmodronic valve train vs a conventional valve spring arrangement.
Maggie’s SH Motorcycle Thread
- Thread starter my human host
- Start date
Note the elaborate tie down system, LOL. They started in Brooklyn NY and went to Lansing Michigan. If you don't know Jack Pine was an 800 mile 3 day event thru the woods, rivers and sand. Think about taking a 650cc machine with basically no suspension off road and thru rivers for 3 days. Jack Pine has a good website if you want to see more. Dad finished second one year and I have his Jack Pine cowbell here somewhere.
That bike was a 1950 Thunderbird and he also rode it from NY to California and back in the early 50's.
I literally have thousands of photos from this time period of bikes and racing if you guys are interested. I also have Dads notes on bike set up and letters from Triumph of England to him for set up suggestions. Also paperwork for meets showing results, he raced several times a month.
Ordered said, will update on after some miles.Helmet comm and audio are a gamechanger for all rides. I started with a Nolan N-Com system in my older Nolan N104 which was really nice, but 1 speaker went out and there's no replacement available unless I wanna spend $$ on their stuff that's not exactly available in the US.
I'm looking at a Cardo PackTalk Pro and a newer helmet (still deciding on helmet.) Yeah it's pricey, but it has JBL speakers and apparently really good noise canceling tech for the microphone. Connectivity seems to be a non-issue as it connects via Bluetooth or mesh networks with other riders.
I don't ride in packs, so I'm just more interested in listening to music, audiobooks, and making phone calls LOL. We'll see. I'm 97.3% sure I'm gonna upgrade my 2013 BMW ReichBike to something more up to date with the current computer doo-dads touring motorcycles have. Stay tuned for that
R
Anyone use one of these . I'm in the process of building one .
Steel from CNC shipping skid , harbor freight 12 volt winch and viola .
Steel from CNC shipping skid , harbor freight 12 volt winch and viola .
Bought a couple of weeks ago, hardly ridden. 2002 XR400R. Third one I own. Check out the forks, Emig triple clamps CRF250R forks. Bike is like me: a little heavy and kinda slow.
Good catch. Nothing wrong with slow and steady!!View attachment 8657540
Bought a couple of weeks ago, hardly ridden. 2002 XR400R. Third one I own. Check out the forks, Emig triple clamps CRF250R forks. Bike is like me: a little heavy and kinda slow.
Scott Summers dominated the GNCC racing series back in the 1990s on an XR600R. He was a beast back then.View attachment 8657540
Bought a couple of weeks ago, hardly ridden. 2002 XR400R. Third one I own. Check out the forks, Emig triple clamps CRF250R forks. Bike is like me: a little heavy and kinda slow.
BLAST FROM THE PAST: SCOTT SUMMERS
Before 4-strokes were great woods racers, Scott Summers took a heavyweight trail bike and changed hare scrambles racing.
dirtbikemagazine.com
Nice score. Not sure if they're still around, but A Loop used to make a seat/tank conversion to get modern ergos on these bikes.View attachment 8657540
Bought a couple of weeks ago, hardly ridden. 2002 XR400R. Third one I own. Check out the forks, Emig triple clamps CRF250R forks. Bike is like me: a little heavy and kinda slow.
WOW, I haven't seen one of those for years. Great find if you just got it, nice shape to boot.
Mike
Scott Summers dominated the GNCC racing series back in the 1990s on an XR600R. He was a beast back then.
BLAST FROM THE PAST: SCOTT SUMMERS
Before 4-strokes were great woods racers, Scott Summers took a heavyweight trail bike and changed hare scrambles racing.
Guy was a beast!!!
I just bought the 2023 Harley FXLRS
I've owned the 2014 Concourse a couple of years
I've owned the 2014 Concourse a couple of years
Attachments
I still own both. There's not many curves to hit around St. Louis.
I turn 50 in two years so thought I'd get a jump on things.
I started collecting 1911's bought a Harley
Next year I'll need to pick up a Corvette and some New Balance shoes
Last edited:
First ride of the season! I usually just ride the Pipeline and trails but they’re still clogged with snow. So I hit the highway for a bit. It was spitting snow, but I just put heated grips on and they’re awesome.
In the middle of changing sprockets, chain, and tires.
Got it partly put back together after the pic. Service manual calls for riveted chain and bought a cheap chain breaker/ riveter that gave up the ghost after one rivet. Waiting on the good chain riveter now.
Bike is a 2002 Honda Magna with 16k on it. Tires were too old. 2011 front 2010 rear. Putting commander 2 on front (they don't make a 3 in front size) and commander 3 on rear.
Got it partly put back together after the pic. Service manual calls for riveted chain and bought a cheap chain breaker/ riveter that gave up the ghost after one rivet. Waiting on the good chain riveter now.
Bike is a 2002 Honda Magna with 16k on it. Tires were too old. 2011 front 2010 rear. Putting commander 2 on front (they don't make a 3 in front size) and commander 3 on rear.
Recommendations for a company to ceramic coat an exhaust? Decided I’m gonna splurge and buy the exhaust I really want. Cashed in a few vacation days to make up the cost difference and cut down on my family guilt. 
Unfortunately, Carpenter Racing no longer offers their Rocket III system with a polished finish, and I don’t want the raw stainless look.
Sent a quote request to JetHot, but looking for other recommendations to get quotes.
Unfortunately, Carpenter Racing no longer offers their Rocket III system with a polished finish, and I don’t want the raw stainless look.
Sent a quote request to JetHot, but looking for other recommendations to get quotes.
Recommendations for a company to ceramic coat an exhaust? Decided I’m gonna splurge and buy the exhaust I really want. Cashed in a few vacation days to make up the cost difference and cut down on my family guilt.
Unfortunately, Carpenter Racing no longer offers their Rocket III system with a polished finish, and I don’t want the raw stainless look.
Sent a quote request to JetHot, but looking for other recommendations to get quotes.
Watch ceramic coating. After a lot of heat
Cycles, the ceramic can start
To crack and flake off. And it’s a mess trying to strip it.
Jet Hot your best bet. Non-ceramic coating that has some elastic properties. They actually do a coating that is exactly the same as cast
Iron in appearance that is great For show vehicles.
Sirhr
Have had the Quota since I bought it new 2001.
Just bought the V11S 2001 used with only 6K miles. Much more sporty!
Just bought the V11S 2001 used with only 6K miles. Much more sporty!
Those are gorgeous!
One of the bikes I really regret 'not' buying was a California in sort of a low, long cafe style. What a gorgeous machine. It was at Motorcycles of Manchester in NH used and really cheap. Low miles. Almost brand new. I ended up with a 750SS Duc which I loved. But the Guzzi would have been a way better bike.
I didn't know Guzzi made an 'adventure' bike. That is stunning!!! What a cool machine!
Cheers,
Sirhr
While I am thinking about it...
Any of you Colorado guys know when Rt 34 I think its called in Colorado opens? It runs between Ft. Collins and then sort of South towards Denver and Pikes Peak. It's a bucket list road for me and I am going to be out that way soon and want to ride it. But shows closed on my map apps. I have heard 'usually' by Memorial Day. But any first hand knowledge?
Cheers,
Sirhr
Any of you Colorado guys know when Rt 34 I think its called in Colorado opens? It runs between Ft. Collins and then sort of South towards Denver and Pikes Peak. It's a bucket list road for me and I am going to be out that way soon and want to ride it. But shows closed on my map apps. I have heard 'usually' by Memorial Day. But any first hand knowledge?
Cheers,
Sirhr
You are thinking of Trail Ridge Road, which heads west from the east entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park to the west entrance, at Grand Lake. Head out as early as possible to avoid the traffic - there are losts if gapers on the road. Also, if you hit the road after 0800 or 0900 you need a reservation. Definately a worthwhile ride and quite vertiginous, if that's a word. And yes, the opening target is Memorial Day weekend, but sometimes earlier or later depending on the snowpack depth.
Shoot me a PM if you'd like some company on your ride. I could also show you some other mountian roads around here - it's a true playground for riding.
I had heard that only 100 or so Quotas made it to the USA back in the day. In any case they are rare. Obviously a competitor to the BMW 1100-1200GS bikes, which dominated the ADV category then, as now.
It's a unicorn for sure. Probably also pretty much free of electronics and gee-gaws like ABS and FI....
Incredible machine!
I have 2 Africa Twins. A 2017 DCT, and a 2020 Adventure DCT.
Love both, but the seat is just too high. I had a link installed on the 2017 and it made a world of difference.
Any way to lower the 2020? With all the electronics, I’m just not sure. I love riding this bike but hate stopping because it’s right at the upper limit of my ability to put my feet down. Any uneven surface is a challenge to stop on.
Thoughts?
Love both, but the seat is just too high. I had a link installed on the 2017 and it made a world of difference.
Any way to lower the 2020? With all the electronics, I’m just not sure. I love riding this bike but hate stopping because it’s right at the upper limit of my ability to put my feet down. Any uneven surface is a challenge to stop on.
Thoughts?
My pan am had the adaptive ride height and I lowered it an inch. I definitely feel more confident with it now. Just make sure if you lower it, that you won't hit the tire when you bottom out the suspension.
Advrider.com will have way more knowledgeable people than here.
Shame they turned into a bunch of woke Jack offs.
Easy fix , isn’t DCT for people that can’t shift gears? So you don’t have to worry about the boot not fitting under the gear shifter
The local cops had a mare's leg type aluminum case strapped to their BMW police motorcycles, with a flip open top and lockable, that carried their AR rifles.
Anyone know where to get one of these?
Anyone know where to get one of these?
Probably. When they switched back to Harleys (probably have a big maintenance budget) from BMWs, I tried to buy one of the BMW bikes, but it was all a massive trade and I missed out.
Trident 660 bought new earlier this summer. Pushing close to 4k miles now.
Between this thread, and a similar thread on another site, that has pages and pages of pictures of a wide variety of bikes, I'm starting to see a lot of similarities between the bike threads, and the hotties in the Motivational Pic thread.
They're all a little different, and some are more in line with my preferences than others. I'm older, past the point where I want to accumulate any more than I already have, but I sure would like to take a ride on most of them, enjoy the experience, then give them back, and move on with the rest of my life.
They're all a little different, and some are more in line with my preferences than others. I'm older, past the point where I want to accumulate any more than I already have, but I sure would like to take a ride on most of them, enjoy the experience, then give them back, and move on with the rest of my life.
It's a love hate thing, it's going bye bye to fund a trip on the other one to Alaska, great bike, just not great in flatistan, down here you need warp drive to avoid the nut jobs trying to kill you on the interstate.
Gentlemen, Ladies or Transformers,
I am not man enough to ride a motorcycle on any road with any cars because high school. I have a question.
What part of physics causes people to get death wobbles while riding their motorcycle? I think that the tires act like gyros while spinning.
Do the wobbles start because the two tire gyros?
I am not man enough to ride a motorcycle on any road with any cars because high school. I have a question.
What part of physics causes people to get death wobbles while riding their motorcycle? I think that the tires act like gyros while spinning.
Do the wobbles start because the two tire gyros?
Lefty Jason,
Thank you for your help.
Yes, death wobbles are caused by the gyros. It seems that death wobbles are also caused by lack of knowledge about the motorcycle itself.
I understand the freedom of a motorcycle ride and I wish all of you motorcycle riders the best of luck on your journeys. You won't ever see me on a bike but I'll be the one driver making sure that you know that I am looking for you and won't do anything stupid to ruin your ride. I promise.
Again, thank you.
Thank you for your help.
Yes, death wobbles are caused by the gyros. It seems that death wobbles are also caused by lack of knowledge about the motorcycle itself.
I understand the freedom of a motorcycle ride and I wish all of you motorcycle riders the best of luck on your journeys. You won't ever see me on a bike but I'll be the one driver making sure that you know that I am looking for you and won't do anything stupid to ruin your ride. I promise.
Again, thank you.
You don't have enough juice with almost 1300cc? Always wanted to try the smaller version of that up here. Also, my FL buddies loved those Distanzias. I hated them, ran a set on my DRZ 400SM, and they were toast in 700mi. Outside edges looked they had been dipped in oil, nice rainbow ring, and no grip left, though plenty of tread. Guess they just couldn't take the heat cycles on our coarse, rough pavement. Loved them on gravel though.
I had to move the bikes and cars around in the to allow for HVAC access above the garage. I parked the Paul Smart over by the 50yo R90s. I think they look good together.
oh it's crazy fast, but the wind screws with you especially behind a tractor trailer, at anything over 75ish, and down here, yeah flat spots,,, those tires were bought just to burn because I had good DS tires on it , factory ones, but 3500 miles max down here... my 890 is way more comfy in the wind, and that's what I'm riding to Alaska next year if I survive that long.
