Why I like Motorcycles

In Australia I've always ridden 'large' motorcycles, generally over 750cc, of the sports bike variety. Sorry,, even I being in my 50s, I can't get my head around cruisers.

Here in Laos, bikes over 250cc are pretty thin on the ground, as the government are hesitant to import them. Those you do see are snuck across the border from Thailand with fake documents etc.

The roads here are very substandard. Even in the countryside anything over 100kph for any length of time you'd be taking your life in your hands. Probably the ideal bike is a 250cc road/trail.

 

The most fun I ever had on 2 wheels was in Europe. I had a weeks worth of leave and rented a Suzuki Bandit touring Germany and Belgium. It was only 600cc and the forks were a little on the soft-side, but plenty of power without being a heavyweight like the motorcycle I have now. It had a small "trunk" mounted in the back, too small to carry much so I slept outside many nights wrapped up in a sleeping bag with the stars as my roof. There's definite advantages to smaller bikes in some areas, as you say a behemoth cruiser or full tourer in Laos sounds like it would be impractical. Global trekkers typically use enduros, as you say as much of the World is sparsely paved on a good day.

 

There's a documentary about a group of Australians who ride the highest motorable road in the world in the Himalayas on Royal Enfields. It's worth the look. Called something like "Riding the Highest Motorable Road in the World" or words to that effect.

 

I agree that every motorcycle is worth talking about but also recognize that some people have prejudice and bias that prevents them from addressing the specifics of the motorcycle, its qualities and short-comings, in an objective manner. Prejudice either for or against a motorcycle brand really destroys the individual's ability to look at all motorcycles based upon the actual merits of the motorcycle.

Loved the movie the World's Fastest Indian and I've always been a huge fan of motorcycle racing. My older brother was a flat-track racer at Ascot Park during the late 1960's and early 1970's. People like Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, and Jay Springsteen were greatly admired by me personally. That said racing should be on a racetrack, not on the street, and I'm highly opposed to street racing. If a person wants to race motorcycles then take it to a race track.

Of course I'm a bit of a hypocrite considering I was involved in street drag racing in the 1960's but I grew out of it realizing the dangers.

Also of interest I was involved in a project to go to Bonneville with a 50cc "streamliner on fuel" in the late 1990's. Working at Boeing we had the top aerodynamic and aerospace engineers involved in the project. We even wind tunnel tested our streamliner using a 1/10th scale model created by stereo-lithography. Unfortunately we didn't check with the SCTA that sanctions the Bonneville speed trials and our design was a monocoque body carrying the structural loads and they demanded a "frame" constructions and wouldn't allow us to run even though we had finite element analysis showing our design was far superior to a frame based design. The calculated speed of this motorcycle with a supercharged 50cc motor with only a 10% nitro-methane fuel mix exceeded 175 mph but it never ran because it didn't meet the SCTA "rules" that excluded monocoque designs. Had we run it as a 50cc we had plans for larger motors up to 175cc.

 

I have jumped out of many a plane...none of which were "perfectly good".

The funny thing is while skydiving doesn't make me nervous, the thought of driving a motorcycle does.

 

When I purchased my M109 about 7 years ago { spring 2006 } I went to the dealer
afterwards for a filter and to look around.Suzuki had a massive scooter called a
Burgman.The dealer told me the thing was Interstate ready.I think it was supposed
to do 120 mph.It looked like it might be able to handle touring.
But why screw around.The Burgman had like 2 sizes.I see where they have 3 engine
sizes now.Why screw around with a putter.A scooter is basically for short jogs around
town and running errands.A scooter can't do but one thing.Putt around town.Maybe attempt
a few blocks on some unbusy highway.Go to the islands and you need a Moped.
A moped usually does between 20 and 35 mph.
A scooter may be able to hit 60 mph.Why screw around.
If I feel like a steak,why settle for a hot dog.
If you feel like a motorcycle why settle for a Scooter.
If you feel like a scooter,why settle for a moped.
If you feel like a Harley,you aren't feeling right.And that's a fact,Jack !

 

The movie actor Ewan McGregor { Trainspotting } did a documentary series with
his riding buddy titled - Long Way Down - { 2007}. I saw the first 2 series.
Or maybe the first and last series.In the first one McGregor and his buddy buy the
best enduro type bikes they can locate and go on a 3 month trip starting from their
native Scotland into Europe and then into Africa and finally Cape Town.
They encounter about everything that can wrong with transversing bad roads
to near impossible roads to impenetrable roads and conditions.It was really
neat watching them handle all the different cultures as Bikers.
They obviously had to learn on the spot how to adapt.
Most often involving food they were offered wherever they went.
They forced down some pretty weird dishes and beverages.
I wonder how a Harley guy would handle such.No I don't.
Harley guys can't even take a joke about their precious Pride & Joy { Bike }.

 

I've been both a scooter rider and motorcycle rider and we can throw in moped rider (I own a 1964 Motobecane Mobylette) often at the same time and two wheels is still two wheels IMHO.

.... and I give a hand wave and a nod to anyone on two wheels (even though I'm a "despised" Harley rider LOL).

Yes, they all have different purposes and capabilities but they're all fun to ride.

 

Forgetting not the Great American Showman,Evel Knievel ended his career being
despised.Because it was found out he was an extremely obnoxious,arrogant prick.
Beat the guy who wrote his story with a baseball bat.Got 6 months.
Yes,Evel ,was the prototypical Harley guy.
Live a little,Learn a lot.

 

You don't know a thing about scooters, do you. (That's not a question.) There are plenty of maxi-scoots that are fully highway-capable...offhand, a Suzuki Burgman, a Honda Silverwing, a Yamaha Majesty, an Aprilia Scarabeo, or even a Kymco GTi 300 come to mind! They all have more in common with a Goldwing than they do with, say, my mother's LS650!

 

God and goddess...do you EVER have any FACTS to back up your BS?!?!?!?! A Burgman 650 is a maxi-scoot. It's fully highway-capable (as is the smaller 400cc Burgy), will cruise all day at 80+MPH, and tops out past 100. (I think it's governed to 115.) Even the 400cc Burgman will top 100MPH. It's also HUGE...it's as big as a touring bike! Anyone claiming that it's only suited for "putting around town" is STUPID. Even my little 244cc Qlink Commuter will run 65MPH with no trouble.

- - - Updated - - -

Are you on drugs?

 

We should note that Evel Knievel originally rode Norton motorcycles and "he was an extremely obnoxious, arrogant prick" from day one. He changed motorcycles because the Harley was better suited for his stunts but he never changed being an extremely obnoxious, arrogant prick. My older bother personally knew Knievel when he first started doing stunts on his Norton and never liked him because "he was an extremely obnoxious, arrogant prick."

 

I like motorcycles, too, but they sure have killed or maimed a lot of friends. Including an engaged AF vet less than 2 weeks back from Bahrain who used his severance and savings to buy a spanking new Sportster. DOA from a head-on.

 

The vast majority of motorcycle fatalities are caused by people driving cars (I believe that 80% of fatalities are from a car making a left hand turn into the motorcycle's path) so don't blame the motorcyclist. Blame those that drive cars without paying attention to what they're doing that run over and kill the motorcyclists.

 

I didn't blame the motorcyclist. In the case I mentioned, it was a drunk who crossed the median to meet my pal head-on in the early morning hours when there was very little traffic. Still, it doesn't matter who gets the blame if you're too dead to enjoy the settlement.

 

I've logged close to 70,ooo miles the last 12 years and never once have seen this
Burgman on an Interstate.A couple times in the city.NO 650 is worthy of a Touring
motorbike.The fist Bike I bought in around 1975 was a Yamaha 500cc.
I loved that bike.But I dint know any better.I went from Springfield,O. { visited an
ole college sweetheart } for the weekend and had to be back in Cleveland,O. for
work on Monday.It was Sunday and I waited.But the weather never broke.Just kept
pouring down.The only way home was the Big Interstate.I had a wind breaker as
outer covering.It was near worthless.It was going to be an almost 3 hr. drive home.
I ended up stopping at the famous of sites for most travellors.A Stuckeys.
I bought a cheapie poncho { weatherproof } as It was getting dark.
I toughed it out and made it back home,to my sweet bed and near passed out.
I think I took a shower because my back was stiff as a board.
I had absolutely no context to compare that first bike a 500cc to what is needed
for something longer than an hour on the Interstate.
I don't know how a 650 cc Burgman could possibly hit 120 mph,except for the
fact that is isn't heavy.Any bike for Interstate travel need have some bulk and
weight.The ergonomics of a Burgman for touring is all wrong.From what I can
remember sitting on a Burgman was like sitting in a chair,kinda laid back.
Totally off for touring.
Plus they sit too low.A Touring bike has to have a high enough seat height
to see the road properly like my Old Valkyrie Tourer.I just ran a search and some site
stated that Burgmans have ALL pluses.Like No engine heat.Explain how a bike covered
in all that plastic where the engine is actually hidden is maintenance free and runs
smooth as daisy's in may.It's an automatic Tupperware machine on 2 wheels.
Plus it can't go far with a 4 gallon tank.How is one supposed to move real quick
on the Interstate when a big Tractor-Trailer is in a hurry and steamrolling down the road.
Granted Bikes will fool ya.Like the Ural which is no wonder of technology,actually
handles like a trooper off road in backwoods WITH their sidecars on { they have
2-wheel drive capablilty }.Then again most Japanese Dirt Bikes are solid as a rock
in that catagory already.Forget the silly sidecar theatrics.
Plus most Ural dealers don't have those sidecar units properly adjusted.
They are sold Improperly adjusted so the rear wheels aren't perfectly even
across the back axle support.That is why so many Ural's are seen even with
passengers,tipping over on certain turns.
Things are what they are.Bikes are as good as people swear,and as cruddy as
reported.Same with dealers.The Goldwing may be the only true exception to this rule.
They rule the road and have dilligently,honestly,and all crapola aside
for going on 30 + years.I Gar-on-tee that no other model motorcycle is owned,riden
by more old-times and seniors than the Honda Goldwing.
Because it's hard to hoodwink that group.They are the same group that grew-up
w/o knowing what Fast Food joints were or even what Pizzas tasted like.

 

Depends on the roads. I'd always tour on sports bikes, my Moto Guzzi LeMans MkV was my favourite. I'd always keep off the main roads, preferring the back roads away from traffic and police, choose the twistiest roads possible.

Every year we'd head down to Phillip Island for the World Superbike races. In a straight line on major roads it's a 800-900 klm trip, possibly done in one day. But these roads are too well police patrolled during Phillip Island week. We'd skirt around the major roads and head into the Australian Alps for a bit of fun. No traffic, no police and some of the best motorcycling roads in Australia. We'd take two, sometimes three days, and about 1200-1400 klms to get down the Island.

The best I've ever done on the Guzzi was 2500 klms in three consecutive days, via some pretty windy roads, alone.

 

I agree with one thing.Back in the mid-70's when I bought my first new motorcycle,
I'd always look around for other bikes.During that time it was fashionable to have
Real Choppers.I'm talking hardtail Harleys { panheads mostly } with the most unbelievable
extended front ends { forks out the wazoo with springer and girder models everywhere }.
really dangerous,but highly IN custom bikes.}
I remember seeing quite a few Moto Guzzi.usually travelling in 2's or 3's.
They looked like the real thing.Huge tanks and bullet-proof engines.Colors of
bright yellow or Red { Italians like reds and yellow }. I shore nuff wanted me one them bikes.
But I just knew they were like really expensive and needed quite a bit of experience to
handle.I don't know what the cc's of those mid-70's Guzzies.I seem to remember
the number 800.Like 800 cc Moto Guzzi.
The 750 cc. Guzzies match up well with the Triumph Bonneville,but with
less power and handling.That Guzzy California seems pretty ready Freddie.
Whereas Cycle World gave my Honda CB 1100 { BEST Standard of the year }
the Moto Guzzy 1400 California got one of Cycle Worlds 10 best bikes.
Back in October of 2003 - Cruiser - Magazine awarded the Honda " Rune "
best cruiser.

 

More of Fool's fact-free bloviating...a 650 Burgy is not light. In fact, it's just shy of 600lbs dry! It will go 200+ miles on a tank...the EFI twin will pull down 55-60mpg. I have seen several maxi scoots on highways, Burgys, Silverwings, & Aprilias!!

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moto_Guzzi_Le_Mans

Guzzi released the 850 Le Mans in 1976 and along with the Ducati 900ss became the iconic Italian bikes. I had a 1984 Le Mans MKIII for about 12 months then a BMW then my 1990 Le Mans Mk V. Loved the MkV.

 

OK, i'm home and can tear the idiocy apart piece by piece now...

Unsupported opinion with no factual basis.

You getting caught in the rain on a 500cc bike from almost forty years ago has NOTHING to do with a Burgman! Are you on drugs?!?!

The fact that you do not know something has no bearing on the truth. The truth: a 650 Burgy is 600lbs! Like most scooters, it is streamlined, much moreso than most cycles.

Actually, perfect for it.

Total pablum. A Burgy has a seat half an inch HIGHER than a Valkrye!

Like almost all scooters, the seat lifts up for engine access. Body panels are simple enough to remove, if necessary.

It will run more than 200 miles on a tank...the EFI twin pulls down 55-60MPG.

On a Burgy 650? Simple: give the throttle a twist!

A Ural has NOTHING to do with a Burgman, Again: have you been drinking?!

I ask yet again: are you intoxicated?!

 

a landing is just a controled crash.

 

Obvioulsy if yer car breaks down on any Interstate,don't even think about
Hitchhiking { which is against the law in most every state on the Interstate }
I think yer reminiscing about the good old days of the 60's.
Where Hippie Hitchhikers were everywhere.I oughta know.I was one.

 

Not many Magazine reviews of the Burgman 650 to accurately identify how good
or what the minuses are.The - Rider - magazine staff took the bike on a 1,000 mile
jaunt to some Bike expo and they got a little over 43 miles per gallon which came to
176 mile range on it's 4 gallon tank.Any touring model really needs a 6 gallon tank
or more.
YouTube has a video of some person on a Burgman literally zipping thru traffic
in some German town.The person riding was acting like a nut.Constantly lane
splitting.In fact,going between parked cars and traffic with barely a few feet distance.
Kinda like the way YOU relate to others on this thread with yer belligerence and
constant hostility towards me.Grow up.I take it you were night born.
" He was prepared for anything,from a frightened calf or fawn, to a belligerent
lion, but he was not prepared for what he saw. "
- The Night-Born - by Jack London

My guess is that your are full of bear and ready to pick fights herein,but
not just simply look in the mirror.

 

And as usual, you post no facts, you post no evidence, you post only rambling word salad garnished with ad hominem personal attacks. Weak, even by YOUR low standards.