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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | My favorite mid-life crisis car ever: a 1976 Alfa Romeo spider. No power, the body eventually fell apart, couldn't be locked, and I became very adept at replacing accelerator cables along the side of the road. Ah, but the car had perfect balance, could drift a turn with perfect control, and the engine internals were never touched in 266,000 miles. My next Alfa, a 164S sedan, wasn't nearly as fun or dependable. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | My wrap sheet reads like this:
63 Austin Healey Sprite
56 Ford PU - 302/C4
55 Ford PU - Flatbed, 292
53 Ford PU - 390
68 Mustang Coupe
Marriage - Citation, 71 Ford PU, Geo Prism,
48 Ford PU - 6 cycl/4 sp non-synchro tranny
55 Ford PU - 327, Mopar clip, tilt front end, shaved doors, lowered.
Divorce - Chrysler Wagon, 68 Dodge Polara
Marriage - 90 Voyager, 00 Silverado ext cab, V6
Ovation and Adamas obsession takes over... |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | mike
do you have any of those ford truck parts laying around? I have a 55 that needs restoration bad
along with my 68 pontiac catalina convertible |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | All I have left is a "toolbox" tray that fits behind the seat of a 48-51 Ford, some scars on my knuckles and the ability to ""double-clutch".
Recovery from my practice marriage resulted in a total liquidation of cool stuff.
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I sold my GL1800. Lot of Harley guys made lots of fun about the bright yellow beast....until the realized that they were always staring at quickly vanishing tail-lights.
While not a sport bike, it was very quick (0-60 in just under 4 seconds about a 130+ top end), could catch a wheeler (my ears are still ringing from my wife slapping my helmet so hard it hurt), and nimble in the corners (the new guys on the Ninjas didn't know what went past them, but hey they were new).
I may have to get another one someday as I don't think my wife will ride on anything else. Oh, Waskel, you left out plugging in the Gerbings and arriving at your destination toasty warm....IN DECEMBER.
Harley's are the Taylor's of Motorcycles (except they break more)...you know, they have a sound everyone thinks they want to be cool, while Goldwings are the Adamas, pure form and function and LOTS OF PLASTIC |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | wow a 48 and a 55
very nice
after this house project I will be able to have time to wrench again. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Jeff, I forgot about the Gerbings, good point.
My philosophy is, riding a bike is fun. Being uncomfortable doesn't make it more fun. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Fastest car I ever owned was a 1967 Cougar XR7 GT-E with a 427. It could beat my best friend's 396 Camaro SS until he learned how to drive. Fastest car I ever lost a drag race to was a 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt, essentially a limited run production drag racer. I have always lusted after a '56 Ford pick-up, but guitars and motorcycles keep getting in the way . . . |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Heated seats on motorcycles? What's this world coming to? I have no use for them in cars, since I'm hot all the time, but a lot of people swear by them. New cars are getting to be computers on wheels. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | The only time I ever really use the heated seats in the Cruiser is the 2a.m. drive home from a gig on a cold night and my lower back hurts from moving gear and standing for 4 hours straight . . .
Hit that lil' switch and "ah-h-h-h-h-h-h" . . . |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Heated seats on motorcycles? What's this world coming to? I have no use for them in cars, since I'm hot all the time, but a lot of people swear by them. New cars are getting to be computers on wheels. Don't forget the optional airbag!!!! |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Nothing like stopping for a break when it's 38 degrees, and a mix of rain and light snow... with high wind... walking into the gas station and just unzipping the outer shell, and announcing "damn it's warm out there :) " Never liked heated seats on anything. Vest and Gloves work fine for me. I use Widder vs Gerbing... but it's all good.
I agree "Harley's are the Taylor's of Motorcycles (except they break more)...you know, they have a sound everyone thinks they want to be cool, while Goldwings are the Adamas, pure form and function and LOTS OF PLASTIC"
Goldwing is the standard for 2-up cruising comfort, and I've even seen my share of guitars strapped on the back, or in the trailor (the one being pulled by the Goldwing), but they are not for me. Just don't like the ride.
Harley's... I've test rode, and they are just hard to justify. Performance and handling (not race performance, just performance) are important to me, and the only model I feel remotely safe on is a V-Rod, but it's way under-everything'd and way over priced for my taste.
I really have been inpressed with Victory, but I have to say they no longer make a bike I'd be interested in. They do the "find a niche, build for the niche, move on" routing. Great for business, not so much for building brand loyalty. The number of trailors and campers being pulled by Vic's is staggering. You could easily lug a Marshall stack and a couple of guitars and your rig with no issues.
My next bike, Moto Guzzi Norge. First bike in nearly 30 years of riding that I am willing to buy just based on the pictures and reviews. This was the first photo I saw..
http://www.motoguzzi.it/servonline/news/dettaglio.asp?indice=215
There actually is a common thread between Motorcycles and Guitars, maybe others but I can't think of any where it's so obvious, especially today.
Victory and Guzzi and some others build bikes much like Ovation and Hamer builds guitars. That attention to detail and engineering for the best form and function. I am involved on a few motorcycle forums, and it's funny how the "marketing" and "service" and availability topics are almost identical as they are here.
Yes Jeff, that was such an excellent analogy. |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | ive allways wanted a norton comando..jason |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | You've got some great cruisers there, Miles! Have you had time to explore NW Washington yet? |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by JeffreyD:
I am trying to find a bargain on a DL650. Looked at the DL1000, but I am not long-legged enough I just noticed your post.
I've got a DL1000. Bought one of the first ones back in 2002. It is an absolutely wonderful bike! Best ever.
But I'm not riding much anymore. If you are interested, I'll cut you a smoking deal. I wouldn't worry about the seat height. Its the same as the 650. I had an SV650 before I got the Strom, and the Strom certainly took some getting used to. But after a few weeks, it was no problem at all.
I have an original '02. It has just under 20k miles on it. New chain and tires last year. Tires will probably need replaced in a few thousand more miles. Insanely well cared for...I am a Mechanical Engineer and do all my own wrenching. Oil never went over 2k miles, valves were lovingly adjusted at 14k miles, etc. If you are interested, I also have a full set of Givi luggage I could include. |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | Thanks Jeff....I sent you an email, but not sure I am diehard enough for an airline flight to NE then a fall ride home, but you never know.
The Motoguzzi's have truly been transformed. That is a gorgeous machine. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | C'mon, Jeff... I-80 west, take a right at Ogden.
Only about 1500 miles. Hurry before snow falls!
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | It was in the 90s back there this week. If you make it over the Rockies, you're home free. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | How 'bout you buy Omaha a bus ticket, and he delivers the bike to your house? |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The Rockies have been great as well. I just rode out to Mendocino, California and back two weeks ago on my big BMW. 60's and 70's most of the way. I use the heated grips, but never the seat, and although I have a heated vest, I rarely use it. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
I use the heated grips, but never the seat, and although I have a heated vest, I rarely use it. See, Mark? I don't even have a heated seat!
btw, BB, I hope you understand the Harley jests were just that. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by The Wabbit Formerly Known As Waskel:
How 'bout you buy Omaha a bus ticket, and he delivers the bike to your house? Replace the phrase "bus ticket" with "chartered Lear jet" and you are THERE! |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | No offense taken, Wabbit. If I had to go back to one bike, I would have to keep my Low Rider Custom. 65,000 miles and never a bit of trouble. Ever. On my ride to Nova Scotia last July on the BMW (K1200LT), it needed tires in Boston, brakes in Moncton, lost the clutch slave cylinder in Cape Briton, barely able to limp back to Denver (still at about 90 mph), then needed a new clutch plate and all new rear end seals and bearings. The bike now has just over 50,000 miles. I love the performance of BMW, but they're expensive. The Harley just keeps running and running, and is still worth almost 90% of what I paid for it new in 1992 (not at all like Ovation, as some have pointed out). |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | (not at all like Ovation, as some have pointed out).???
Huh? I find that to be the one consistant that most Ovations I have seen (not including way over priced or way under priced) seem to hold their value nicely. 1977 Viper cost about $425 with case. Today's average value for an excellent condition Viper... about $425, sometimes more, sometimes less. I'm sure others have more info. I know many complain because the guitar they bought in the 70's for 700 bucks, is only worth 700 bucks today.... but that's good value holding in my book. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Have you seen this? Talk about a road trip!
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OT: 2006 Suzuki 1000
