Posted on 02/15/2023 7:32:13 AM PST by Red Badger
Because it’s not a motorcycle?
I started riding dirt bikes and rode some street bikes. Don’t have a motorcycle now but can’t force myself to remove the motorcycle endorsement from my drivers license!
You never know!!🏍️
Btw, I always liked Sporters...I saw one in AZ 5 months ago, an early 90s all stock, and had 700 miles on it. It was like brand new and not too expensive. ☺ I had to stop myself from buying it.
OK, OK, half a car.
Btw, I never wore a helmet when I was younger. Helmets just weren’t cool. As I got older, looking down at the pavement going by, I started to see the pavement as a giant grinding wheel...lol. Helmets can be pretty cool after all.☺
Yeah, it’s pretty much only back roads for me now, too, maybe the less-traveled highways. The city (Tucson) is big enough that you pretty much have to use the major streets to go anywhere, and it gets crazier every day. I see people run intersections five seconds into the red every day, and stop signs are treated as mere suggestions. I’m not sharp enough for that kind of traffic now, and probably never was, just lucky.
I have to agree with you there.
Unless Harrison Ford is up there too.
I can kind of understand why people put stereos into their motorcycles... but it never really made sense for me. Too much road and engine/pipe noise to actually enjoy the music - and a disturbance to those around especially when you pull up to a stop. Several years ago I bought a helmet with bluetooth speakers and a microphone built in. It has touch controls on the outside left of the helmet for volume, or skip, or answer/hangup so your right hand stays on the throttle. I can stream music or radio from the phone and control the volume and even answer calls. I didn’t find it a distraction though actually holding a conversation while cruising was not a good idea for either party.
Being practically deaf, I don’t have that problem.
I have to turn off my hearing aides to keep them from squealing from the wind noise!......................
It’s why I now like the little dual sports, 250 class...For fun, I’ve driven 50 miles on a Saturday just cruising around residential neighborhoods and 30mph side streets. A local lake 4 miles away has a great 30mph scenic loop around the lake. It’s one of my ride targets. I’ve done the fast thing, now I like the slow thing.☺
During my teenage mini bike/enduro years I didn’t wear one. Finally bought the 450 in 91. During the following 4 1/2 year stretch, the longest it sat was an 11 day stretch in Jan 93(?). 31 mile round trip commute. Always wore a helmet off the farm. Coldest was -3F I think.
Switched steel fab shops in 95, which took me down about 9 miles of county road with some curves. One cold overcast morning I came around a curve and the bike came right out from under me. Not ice. It was pea gravel that blended in perfect with the asphalt. Bike and I slid right into a grassy ditch. Windshield and right muffler was trashed. My helmet was scatched up pretty good, but that was it.
That’s probably the direction I’m headed too. Any suggestions as to makes/models? I haven’t started researching smaller bikes yet.
I have a soft spot for Yamaha dual sports. The XT250 to be specific. They’ve been basically making the same engine for decades. Air cooled, nearly bullet proof and needs little maintenance. Electric start, 75 miles per gallon, fuel injection, real low seat, yet high engine clearance for off road trails. In my opinion, it’s the perfect fun bike. But it’s not a freeway/interstate commuter.
Thanks.
You’ll have to hold on, I didn’t take delivery yet. Its still at the House of Harley Davidson. As much as I want to, we’re expecting 8-10” of snow tomorrow.
I believe Panniers is French for butt ugly saddlebags.
IMO the V rod is the most beautiful bike ever.
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