What are some great types of Sport bikes?

[JavaBrewer]

I'm lead to believe that simply twisting the throttle will result in a DNF and a loss of $200. You're right, I'll bet some of these guys are just dumb enough...

A couple gals in the class who look like they'll do well. One guy has never been on two wheels (motor or not), ever. He's like 40+. That should be interesting, but seriously I hope he is successful.

[nostatic]

there were two women in my class. Neither had ridden before. One did great, the other dropped the bike about 10 times. You never know...

[LeeH]

You guys are bringing back a lot of memories with this thread. My wife and I met through motorcycling. It was really a big part of our lives for many years. She was an MSF instructor for a couple of years, too and has lots of great stories.

I lost my taste for motorcycling after a close friend of ours was nearly killed on his way to work one day - just two miles from his house. He was in the hospital for six months. More than 10 years later he can walk briefly with a four wheel walker, but frequently uses his power chair. He'll tell you today that if he suddenly retained full use of his limbs he'd run right out and buy another motorcycle.

[Rob Channell]

I heard a motorcycle mechanic say one time "There are OLD motorcycle riders and there are BOLD motorcycle riders, but there are no OLD, BOLD motorcycles riders."

Also remember that no matter how good you ride and how good your reflexes are, there will be some idiot out on the road with you. I had an incident when I was in college. The guy looked right at me and then pulled out in front of me. It was a Ford Escort with Chrome rims and curb feelers. He did $700 damage to my $400 bike and he didn't have insurance, or a job. I was lucky and only got a bad burn and some bruises. Oh, yeah, I do not recommend riding in shorts and flip flops, either. Guess I'm lucky to have lived through my stupidity.

[scottmandue]

First the disclaimer, don't buy a bike YOU'LL KILL YOURSELF!!!
Second, be it known that I am an "outside the box kind of guy" and an old motorcycle rider.

I'm thinking of selling off my two ratty POS bikes (1980 Honda XL500 & 1975 Triumph 750 triple - not running) and getting one of these:

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/DRZ400SMK5/Default.aspx

Before you laugh too hard this bike will kick most superbikes and supercars in 0-60 times, sure it tops out around 70 or 80 but it looks like alot of fun.

and if you lay it down you don't have to call a friend to help you pick it up.

[scottmandue]

Okay after poking around the Suzuki site (a dangerous place to be)
I think I have changed my mind...
Definitely a SV650

[nostatic]

the DRZ400 looks like a cool bike. I'd take the new Husky 610 over it though...

http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2005/05_SM610S.html

Or better yet, the Aprilia (if they make it)

http://www.maxmoto.co.uk/aprilia_mxv.shtml

[nostatic]

here is the SM version (v-twin goodness...I'd be on this in a heartbeat):

[rob justice]

After a couple of years (5) without a bike - I deceided to take the plunge again - Missed out on a Ducati 916 by £20 and maybe it wasn't such a bad thing atleast until I build up some insurance NCB. Ended up buying a 92 Honda CBR600 FM. Great little bike, 150 MPH, 55-60 MPG and 0-60 in approx 3.2 seconds. Acceleration is what I find the most fun but dislike the amount of car drivers who try to cut me up - and not by mistake.
Whilst giving the bike a service, found this little set up inside the air box, pretty neat.

[singpilot]

Moraga. I went to college there! Lost several CC Sheriffs on everything from a CL350 to a CB750/4 those 4 years commuting the back roads to Oakland for my night job. Would vary the route thru Orinda or Canyon to keep them on their toes.

Go to a motorcycle salvage yard (Fremont Cycles is a good one for you, I am there at least once a month). 80% of the salvage cert bikes there have paper plates on them and less than 200 miles. Various states of smash. That will open your eyes.

Having said that, and having ridden continously for 35 something years, and only having had one incident (involving a CB450, a levee road in the Delta, a hot summertime pool of coolant on a bridge, and a swim in the river with the bike), I can say take the MSF course, and buy something recent, but not necessarily new (let someone else suffer the depreciation), and have fun.

I presently have 9 bikes, and the toughest part of a nice day in SoCal is deciding which one to take on a ride or the commute to Vegas.

Michael.
'96 VFR750F Interceptor
'93 CB750SC Nighthawk
'89 K100RS SE ABS Flying Brick
'88 VT1100C Shadow
'87 CBR1000F Hurricane
'85 VF1000R Interceptor
'84 VT500FT Ascot
'83 FT500 Ascot
'82 FT500 Ascot

[scottmandue]

Sure nostatic those are sweet bikes and nicer than the Suzuki...
but parts, where do you get parts?

[scottmandue]

singpilot, want to buy my XL500? Cheap?

[nostatic]

Originally posted by scottmandue
Sure nostatic those are sweet bikes and nicer than the Suzuki...
but parts, where do you get parts?

from my local Aprilia dealer. Worth the wait

[5axis]

This spring I rode the Blue Ridge Parkway top to bottom, then made my way to the dragon and Cherohala Skyway and back to Chi town. 2400 mi in 6 days. 2 days of rain riding, including the dragon in the rain. My old 1985 K w 90K miles ran perfectly and managed to drag the pegs in the wet... gotta love the metzlers.

Not bad for a $4K investment.

[singpilot]

Scott; as you know, the XL500 has the same single cylinder engine (with a kick starter) that my FT500's do. The engine is bulletproof (once you get it running).

5axis; that ride was what the Kbikes were designed for. I tried Dunlops and Avons on mine before going back to the Metzlers. All the bad traits went away when I did. I have my own changer / balancer, so experimenting with tires is easy for me. Love the pics!

Am at the Kentucky Derby tonight; one of my airplanes is flying the owner of the winning horse. His flight attendant bet $100. on his horse "because the owner had good karma...".

My karma was not so lucky. At 55 to 1, she karma-d home with $5500.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by nostatic
the DRZ400 looks like a cool bike. I'd take the new Husky 610 over it though...

http://www.husqvarnausa.com/2005/05_SM610S.html

Or better yet, the Aprilia (if they make it)

http://www.maxmoto.co.uk/aprilia_mxv.shtml

I'd disagree here. For a dirt bike I'd definitely go with a ricer, Honda, Yamadog, Kawi, and finally the Suzuki. Dirt bikes need loads of parts, and most reviews of the Husky are pretty poor when compared to the Japanese offerings. KTM is a very cool bike but you will pay more money for equal (or less) performance. I believe the Honda CRF450 and Yamaha YZ250F are about as good as it gets in dirtware these days.

I'd love to get a SM CRF.

[nostatic]

yeah, what do you know...you bought a Triumph of all things.

oh, wait...

[Don Ro]

Originally posted by nostatic
here is the SM version (v-twin goodness...I'd be on this in a heartbeat):

I'm with you...that's a sweetie!
.
Meanwhile, one of my 8 rides. 'Have two of these gray market strokers...this one's an '88...other is a '90.
.

.
http://ymedc.introweb.nl/en/archive/enduro/enduro.shtml
.

[Steve Carlton]

Actually, you get what you pay for with KTM. Maybe more. There's quality in the components beyond the Japanese stuff. And even though the Japanese stuff is faster in expert hands, the KTMs are faster with less proficient riders. Or so I've been told by my KTM-expert friend...

[350HP930]

Just don't end up like these guys . . .

http://users.pandora.be/ralf.geven./blade1.mpeg

http://movies26.enwhore.com/brandnewbike.wmv