Posted on 07/15/2007 7:30:18 AM PDT by BraveMan
Well it is always a roll of the dice. My accident happened making a turn in rural North Pole Alaska with nary a car in sight. Now here in my AZ home the thing that would scare me is all of the octagenerians driving on the streets. Stay alert, wear a helmet always, and ride like everyone on four wheels is out to get you....cause they are. And hey, unless you are on the sidewalk or a bike path you are almost as much a target on a bicycle
Mark that is the whole key. Never let up for a moment when other vehicles are around you. NEVER.
That motor is the most manufactured motor of all time. It was available in 50, 65, 70, 90, and 110 cc versions, that I know of, possibly even more versions than that. Mine had pushrods and cast iron barrel and cast iron valve cover. Later versions were overhead cam designs, all aluminum with a cylinder liner, and I think some had 4 valves. I know there are kits to convert your gearbox to an 8 speed. There are probably kits for even more gears than that.
There has been variations of the honda cub in production somewhere in the world continuously since it’s inception, somewhere around 1957. It is currently in production in china.
No other motor vehicle comes close to the production numbers of the honda cub and variants. It is the two wheeled version of the ford model T.
And I think you’ve done an admirable job of explaining why.
Well....I’m partial to two wheels over a two speed hair dryer.
I’m afraid you are woefully ill informed. I ride a harley superglide with a dual front brake conversion. 50 percent of the time, I use only the front brake, and only one finger on it. And that is with harley stock brakes and plain old black rubber brake lines. If I had a pair of aftermarket 6 piston differential bore calipers and stainless braided brake lines, I’d be locking up the front wheel all the time even with only one finger. In the mid seventies, harleys had a reputation for having the best brakes there are. I'm sure they slipped a little in the eighties when the japanese started to really kick up their quality, but harley is still up there in the pack somewhere.
Yep - they get t-boned or head on crash, and these morons want to say “not wearing a helmet is a factor”. Right.
I have been told that if I could survive riding a 400cc kickstart Yamaha for seven years in Knoxville that I have had more than enough experience in riding in an adversarial environment.
I'm surprised that all motorcycle deaths don't happen without a helmet, or at least a higher percentage than what is quoted here.
Hmmm... kinda like of saying "yes, you can do a 8 second quarter mile on a Harley with a supercharger." :)
I think with bikes, the lycra wearing crowd were mentioned,
What were you riding???
I’d admit to have problems riding some road bikes out on the highway,
But cruisers for the neighborhood??? Mountain Bikes??
I think, with bicycling it depends on what one rides and obviously where.
You ain’t old.
You rock!
And if you keep this silliness up, I’m gonna lose patience and call you names.
Many harleys come with dual front brakes. My particular model did not. I opted to buy the harley kit that adds a second front brake, identical to the one already on the front end. Essentially, I have the front brake setup off of a harley electra-glide, or a sportster sport, or a superglide sport, except the sport models I just listed have the higher grade braided brake lines and probably better pad material as well. Mine is one finger stoppable. I’ve never ridden an electra-glide, but I can only assume it is also one finger stoppable since it has the exact same rotors, pads, calipers, brake lines, and master cylinder that my bike has. I really don’t know why I did the conversion kit. The brakes were fine the way they were. It’s just that harley has this offer when you buy a new bike...at the point of sale, you can order any parts you want and they will install them free...no labor charge, and a 15% discount on the price of the part. So I took full advantage of that and ordered a ton of stuff. I went a little nuts I guess. The brake was one of the things I got. In hindsight, I’d say the braided brake lines would’ve had more impact on brake performance than adding a second rotor. I’ve ridden sportsters with the braided line upgrade, and the difference is very impressive. My next upgrade will involve the drive belts. I want a dry clutch and belt primary.
“Some would rather live a shorter life to the fullest, than a cowardly, fearfully existence for longer.”
I’ve never been in that situation, but I think if I was seriously injured on my bike I might just decide to give it up. I wouldn’t presume to judge, in any case.
And, btw, I do ride a streetbike and I have been down on the pavement. Just not badly.
What’s odd here in the Phoenix area is that most of the helmet-wearing bikers that I’ve seen were riding Japanese bikes, while the Harley riders don’t wear helmets. Is that a national trend?
You asked what I was riding, well, the motorcycle was a harley superglide. The bicycle was a little kids mountain bike, way too small for me. I did not plan on riding bikes. But a horde of little kids begged me to ride with them and that was the best bike they could scrounge up for me. It was in the country, pitch black darkness. WE were riding around and around a bon fire playing tag on bicycles. WE started to stray from the light of the fire. I got caught up in trying not to get “it”. I went into the shadows of a shed or barn or something and rode straight off a retaining wall that I didn’t know was there. I never saw it. Landed on my face on who knows what. I broke my neck, my nose, my cheekbones, and my upper jawbone. Luckily the break in my neck was not serious enough to paralyze me. I have 4 titanium plates holding my facial bones together and I have no idea how many screws and pins...somewhere between 15 and 20 I think. The main concern of the medical personnel was not my wellbeing, but instead to chastise me for riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
Well, those F ing a$$holes can kiss my A. I got hurt on a bicycle. But even if I had been hurt on a motorcycle, F* them to he11. I should point out that the second hospital was very professional and I have no complaints. But the first hospital needs to be shut down and razed to the ground.
I just like pushing the envelope and riding on the edge ~ there is a difference between being bold and aggressive and being fool hardy. >:-}
The old heart is still pumping ~ old curmudgeons are hard to kill off. >:-}
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