Well said.

The problem is, a couple guys require you to be slavishly biased pro-BMW, and if you're not, then you're a non-objective naysayer who wishes for failure. Those people obviously have mental issues, not being able to differentiate what is or isn't objective, but that is their problem.

I agree. It's a WSBK thread. And yes, Byrne has less adjustment than Spies to make. Half of Spies GP experience was Stateside, so he's way behind Byrne. Last guy that could regularly win on a Privateer Duc was Hodgeson (and before that, a brief but brilliant runof 5 by Bostrom)

Will be cool to watch.

i envy you guys and your first race anticipation.
our supercross group hits the ground the first saturday of the year and doesn't stop until may.
this weekend, we're doing round #6.
we've already seen stewart fight with his suspension, and three riders fight in the pits (1 suspension, 2 probations).
the riders, bikes and point standings are settling in, and now the attention has turned to gripes about the track layouts.
all the pre-season rumors have been confirmed or verified as false....everyone is busy with the craft of racing...and it's getting predictably boring.
the next milepost marker is daytona, although there are races before then.
daytona always marks the spot when the top handful in the standings really put their heads down. if you're not "in it" when daytona rolls around in march, you're toast and just taking up space on airplanes and in hotels.
the big thing in supercross isn't the horsepower, it's suspension.
not nearly as much fun to follow ("Wow dude, check out that mid-range valve stack!"...just doesn't blow air up one's skirt).
looks like it might rain tonight at anaheim. that always gets everyone excited because a supercross race in the mud means "all bets are off" and just about anyone can (and sometimes does) win....so our biggest excitement is the fact that things might not be the same as they always are.
i'm going to ask the AMA & FIM to change the schedule. There just isn't enough bench racing time anymore!

Moved back to "Spin City", did we?

You do that... it's becoming stressful even for someone like me, not being gainfully employed and all...

Although it's settling in to be - predictably boring - as you say, I still love the show that Reed is putting on... chasing Stewart. Falling in Huston and literally starting from LAST to finish Second... kinda exciting... :D

And watching Stewart is not really boring to me either... you are just to jaded from having been involved for way to long... ;)

Philistines!

Hmmm, maybe it was just poser windbag fishing stuff. Very possible. That or retroactive spinning on ignorance. Hard to tell apart.

Careful, Roger... you are now in territory where I usually get Nastygrams form the self-righteous chief of the Board Police, telling me that I am "driving the Dr. and his valuable information" away...

Of course, then there are the PM's that tell me to just keep going... hmmm.... choices.

IIRC no bhp have been posted yet for the racing model so I wouldn't hang on to or hang anyone by the 175 bhp numbers.

The production bike's numbers are reported at 190 crankshaft horsepower so its in the playing field of the current superbikes. The CBR is regularly the lowest bhp superbikes despite winning the best sportbike title numerous times esp. for best handling and best overall package.

BMW has always aimed for best overall package so hopefully they maintain that focus. At least this is more aesthetically pleasing than the latest Honda offering. IMO all of these superbikes are so OTT for the average trackday rider like me that bhp really doesn't matter. It matters even less on the street. I was going to buy another ZX10R for the track but the BMW will keep me on hold for another season.

WSC

Corser had some moments of brilliance on the Petronas effort, significantly under-powered as well. I expect the BMW to be in the hunt with similar bhp to the other race models and for Corser/Xaus to get some podiums and perhaps a late season win(s) when prudence comes into play for the front runners in the championship.

IMO it's Haga's title to lose; best bike on the grid, best team, most focused company, and tons of experience. All of the real competition are in rebuilding efforts. Biaggi is completely out of the game with the error-apparent Aprilia that is sitting at the bottom of the timing charts. Spies has the disadvantage of learning the new tracks and developing a new bike but I think he's going to be in there to the end with Haga. Byrne, flashes of brilliance but I don't think he can take it to Haga; I will leave it as he is an unknown at this time. If his consistency continues he could put the screws to Haga's best chance since the R7. Ten Kate - big unknown.

That is not a nice thing to say to anyone at anytime. I would like to see you in the flesh, walk by a couple of bikers at a table and say that about them. I'd like to be sitting at that table, that would be a laugh for sure - though my money is on you not saying a thing.

I spose you'll come up with some reverse pshyc about this statement too.

Jon, you clearly need more sleep! Relax, have a beer or two and then just smile and enjoy your new pup!

Noting in this statement is false or overly harsh... anyone not being able to look at an issue from several different angles and accepting the fact that there other opinions, facts and realities out there, shows some sort of ignorance, the inability to discern or just a simple lack of understanding... more often than not, I am guilty as charged as well. Yet, at some point or another, I usually realize it.

I have apologized on the record many-a-times for being wrong and defending my position vehemently...

I am the first one to side with Roger on the argument of obvious mental issues for the people in question... and I'd do that in person as well. If I have something to say, I say it...

it's only 7.47am here - I spose there is a Bar open somewhere in the world right? that's been reason enough before.

IF someone had mental health issues then bagging them in front of the world might not be the best idea - in terms of getting well - you don't see that?

I think some are being a little flippant about the subject.

Bub is good - little fatty boom ba lalla now, damn he is a whinger though - must get it from his mother :)

the interesting part is that he's chasing stewart...yet he's ahead of him.
the only thing stewie can do is keep winning each race, cutting down reed's lead by 3 points each time.
at the same time, the only thing reed can do to keep the top spot in points is to chase stewart, finish second and hope for some luck.

so...the guy who keeps finishing first (stewie) is actually second, but the guy in second (reed) is really in first. stewie will have to win two more races before he can catch up to the leader, if the leader keeps finishing in second and stewie keeps winning.

stewart is riding for the team that reed was on last year, and reed is riding on the suuzki team that carmichael left to go cage racing.

aw hell, just go look at the chicks in the pits.

I surely hope I don't have a mental illness! I admit loving BMW and have high hopes for them in the future.

Also I can understand that I'm putting my ass on the line a bit, when I say that BMW might even win the race at PI.

But I wouldn't say so if I didn't think so, i.e just because I love BMW. From what I've read on crash.net and other sites the tests of the S1000RR have been good. We still know too little of the race-bike to say that there's "no chance!". Also, the times they are putting out are not bad.

"Corser claims to have been circulating in the low 1min 36secs. The quickest race lap at the Valencia WSBK meeting last year was a 1min 35.131secs, set by Noriyuki Haga." ...and this on... "We used standard tyres throughout the test but, if conditions had been better and more rubber on the track, I'm sure I could've gone faster..."

Although, I think that my personal thoughts on this, how this race might turn out might be "out there", I still don't think that it qualifies for being "mentally ill"!

I'm mentally ill but won't admit it.

I have been told on more than one occasion that I might have been .....er....ah.....mentally ill......esp when waiting for those guys on their GSXR's to catch up here in the White Mountains of Arizona.....................Just sayin..........

I have been totally diggin the Supercross this season. Reed has been totally on the gas, Stewart looks like Hannah of old flapping from the handlebars, they obviously need to get that Yammie sorted out, Villapoto is flying and so is Josh on the JGR bike. Its been great so far, and to top it off the Lites division has been kick-a$$, those dudes are out for blood every event, although I will admit the Westies look faster! I can't wait til tomorrow night!

You get hurt one time and things get interesting, as it was again with Steward... he comes back and wins 3 in a row... and things are even more interesting.

I love watching it, no matter what... still trying to score some good tix for the san diego event... unfortunately, my usual source is already maxed out SIGH

There is nothing wrong with loving them - hell, I have 4 bikes with the roundel, a sure sign of being a true hater, eh?

The issue was the fact that some are blind to the shortcomings of said brand. Also, the issue was that someone who was bashing anything non-telelever and non-shaft driven into the ground with NO FACTS whatsoever and reasoning that would make a 2 year old monkey look smart.

Yet, when someone else starts pointing out these shortcomings or would approach the poster(s) in question with facts and reasoning, they were immediately branded a BMW-Hater and nay-sayer.

I think we all have a mental illness... it's called an addiction... to motorcycle riding, I am ok with it...

- There are shortcomings??? ;-)

- I guess we have to be ok with it.. There's no known cure!!! :eek:

Well, there is a well known surpressor, it's called Marriage.

Been tried and true for many...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1234068194.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1234068210.jpg

Well that may be true for some, but my GF has the same illness... and I think my two month old daughter may have caught it too!!!! ...so I guess I'm doomed! :eek:

Here's a lap of the Island in the seat courtesy of California Superbike School Aus - One of the Instructors. Starts coming out of T12 onto the straight - enjoy!

http://www.superbikeschool.com.au/images/stories/PhillipIslandTrackLap.wmv

I guess the only way to find out if BMW can make a chain and forks work better than the new front ends and shaft improvements of late, is to buy one of the new one liter bullets. The HP2 is sooooo much fun already as compared to the R11S, K12S, and R12S.........that its hard to believe a fork and chain can add very much..........but what the heck, may as well try one out from the initial batch coming (sept-nov) this very year. Of course with only 175 RWHP it'll be a slug to some, but perhaps us old people can get you'st to it.

I'll agree with the Dr. on that. Lot's of ways to skin a cat. I'm not married to either one.
Pros and cons to each. I'm just saying, that I haven't spent years blindly worshipping the roundel and mocking bikes with telescopics and chains, and then immediately jumped on the bandwagon the second the chain and forks are faired by something with a roundel. That is the only thing I'm saying is mental illness. And ONLY to people who are that narrow minded and hypocritical.

Chewie, I talk pretty much the same way in person and on here. Not sure what basis you have to blather about what I would or wouldn't say in person. I'm friendlier in person, but only because 90% of folks you meet in real life aren't so hypocritical as a very very select few are here.

Nothing wrong with being a fan. I've had up to 5/6ths of my bikes be BMWs before and run a shop specializing in BMWs. I'm not sure how someone not at least a little narrow minded or mentally off could think I'm not a fan or want BMW to fail. I've put my money and career where my mouth is on that, and have left a much more lucrative field to work on mostly beemers. I walk the walk just as much as I talk (which is admittedly a-lot / too-much) I just don't buy into slavish, lockstep, all-hail-the-roundel, knee-jerk automatic praise. Or disparage people who don't blindly march in lock-step with me. Proud of that too.

Whats up with the Dellorto sticker on the bike? Are they making the throttle bodies?

F I shreddr

I'd like to see some bigger pictures :cool:

It'd be nice if chewie could pre-digest those images for us.

I'll look into it for yuz OK? - jeez, gimmee a minute or 2 - strewth, the things I have to do :)

Hey Chewie, any fires around your area? The news coming out of Victoria is a bit grim.

We are away from it (150kms?) but we have a light ash covering the cars here, the wind has just come up and must be from the ocean and has cleared the sky a little. We live opposite a parkland area (a small rd between us) and the wind yesterday was whistling right through the parkland to us - we dont want fire here but then who does.

Marysville was pretty much taken out completely. Heard that some residents were told to stay, but that place is a town sitting under huge trees - news is they cant even get into some places yet - 35 confirmed dead throughout the state - grim indeed.

Yesterday was a freaky day.

My Mrs Bro is over in Churchill fightin' as we speak. edit) he's a firey

Leave early or stay and defend - man you really are living on one chance only if you stay aren't yah? Scary stuff!

http://images.watoday.com.au/2009/02...cile-420x0.jpg

news - http://media.smh.com.au/?rid=45924

yep, sort of
 

Well, they have used the same kind of fuel injection that dellorto makes for the M-cars. So dellorto, i guess, has developed this new set of injection system for the bike! ;)

Awesome (and scary) photo Chewie.

Best of luck with that and hope it stays at least that
hundred fifty klicks away.

Cheers Rog'

I think in that video link I put up you can see a fire move up a hill, like it came out of a flame thrower - very dry, plenty of undergrowth, crazy winds = who knows.

I wont be staying and defending here, I'll be off down the road to the lake. It would have to get pretty crazy for us to get affected but then when you see ash in the air (gets picked up from the fire, goes up high and then drops down somewhere else) you sought of screw your nose up look outside and wonder what the heck is going on!

Thanks though, just need to see how the poor buggers up in the North and West go, hope the weather changes.

...don't ever count out a fire, Chewie...

this one started about 60 miles to the east of San Diego and it reached the city limits of El Cajon (20 miles east) within 2 days... and kept coming!

This is downtown San Diego in front... with the harbor and North Island Naval Air base...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1234074474.jpg

True enough, I know you guys in the West get your fair share too!

Wow.... Just watching the news. 6 significant fires in Victoria. 65 perished, many more expected when they can go through the rubble of burnt out homes. 700 homes lost so far. One fire with a continuous front of 80 ks.

Stay safe Chewie and family.

(Sorry for the hijack, but this is a bad day for thousands of Victorians)

No, don't be sorry... I (and I am sure many others) feel your pain... I too hope that all with turn out well for you guys down under...

Since I have been living in San Diego, we have had 2 fires in which THOUSANDS of homes have been lost... close friends of mine were affected and I can only imagine what it must feel like.

My thoughts are with you guys!