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Motorcycles, anyone?

BimmerFan

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V-Series Cadillac(s)?
CT5-V BW 6spd
I just sold my C6 Corvette. I bought it on a bit of a whim and to use on track because I don't want to drive the BW on track (too expensive to risk and too fast for my weenie self). As it turned out, I only went to the track once (had a great time, but it really exposed the limitations of a non-Z06 Corvette) and every time I thought about driving it to work, I picked the more comfortable and safer Cadillac instead. Despite my other thread when I asked about what second car to buy for possible track duty, which I'm still pondering, I'm also toying with the idea of another motorcycle.

I've been riding since I was 10 (Honda 50 trail) and real motorcycles since I was 19 (a few Hondas, mostly BMW) and gave it up a few years ago d/t issues with carpal tunnel and tendonitis. Right before Covid, I bought a retro CB1100 on a whim, but sold it after less than a year. Worries about distracted cage drivers, deer critters (I hit one once) and my own infirmities with joint pain and just general declining facilities. But dang, there are days I really miss it, riding. Just for an hour on nice country roads...

So I'm unseriously thinking about a Goldwing, something I've never had before. Low riding position (I'm short) and very comfortable, good for two-up should the wifey want to go with me, and good performance.

I'm curious what others think about this. I've never had an accident (hit the critter but stayed up) or been down on a motorcycle, but I have had some close calls and I lost a friend to a motorcycle accident, although honestly it was totally his fault and avoidable if he hadn't been so aggressive.
 
Get an Ariel atom instead 😎
 
There's a reason why, we in the front-line medical field, call them donor-cycles. If you've been this lucky thus far, I wouldn't push it any further. Distracted drivers are getting worse & more plentiful. Don't become a statistic.
 
Many years ago, i saw an arrticle about a crazy cycle driver in Los Angeles.

Lunatic decided to drive away from a police officer and ran away riding an FJ1200 which was at the time one of the fastest bikes. Guy was running 120mph right through red lights, barely clearing an accident with a city bus.

Officer quit, too dangerous. Don
 
There's a reason why, we in the front-line medical field, call them donor-cycles. If you've been this lucky thus far, I wouldn't push it any further. Distracted drivers are getting worse & more plentiful. Don't become a statistic.

Good yet sobering thought. Since we're neighbors, where do you work? If God-forbid something happens to me, I'll go there and ask for the guy with the cool car. ;)
 
I don't fault an EMT/Medical professional for holding negative views of motorcycles just like I don't fault a LEO for having a skewed view of society, its just a distortion of the larger world. A good, attentive rider can mitigate most of the risk, but a rare few can manage all that and still enjoy riding.

Like Bimmer, I've been on two wheels since around 10, both dirt and street.Got a GSX-R 750 back in 1994 when I lived in SoCal but then once we recognized we we're going too fast on the street, starting racing in 2001 and largely gave up on street riding soon after that. About five years ago I added Street Glide for two up touring with my wife which we REALLY enjoy, but that is a totally different scene than my core moto love.

I still have a number of race bikes that I use to instruct at track days and once and a while race them. Lately I've been interested in a street bike bike for some leisure riding and on my mental list it the Triumph Street Triple, KTM Duke, or MT-09. Not into the GS/ADV scene, its worse than Harley folks 🤣
 
I have the best of both worlds. The wife and I ride on my Harley Road King. Harley baggers are so popular because they're great for what they are. Its has adequate power (if you're not trying to pass someone who's going over 80) and they are comfy and surprisingly agile. All Harleys have very low seat height, which is also very appealing to my 28" inseam.

I wanted a real bagger, but I absolutely hate fairings. Road King was my only option, but its a great one.

While contemplating how much more to spend on extra speed for the HD, I realized I could just purchase a whole 'nuther bike that was already fast. The Ducati XDiavel. Its their "cruiser", but it has the same engine the Panagale of the day had. It also has low seat height, and with new handlebars and a windshield, its also all-day comfy to ride.

I am lucky enough to live in Austin, so I have beautiful country roads right in my back yard.

I highly recommend both. The Harley is ridiculously heavy, but so is a goldwing. And it sounds phenomenal.

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I am lucky enough to live in Austin, so I have beautiful country roads right in my back yard.

I highly recommend both. The Harley is ridiculously heavy, but so is a goldwing. And it sounds phenomenal.
How do you tolerate being in the liberal capital of TX? Insane ideas like defunding the police?

Good God, I can hear Harleys for well over a mile from my home in the Hill Country 6 mi west of Boerne. Don
 
Its difficult. I live in Williamson County, but I'm still in the outer fringes of the City of Austin. It is truly sickening to see the trainwreck that is local government.

And even though Bandera County is right in the heart of motorcycle country, they hate us. The only 2 tickets I've gotten in the region were in the same place. Now I learned my lesson - and I won't be back to Bandera County again if I can help it.
 
Its difficult. I live in Williamson County, but I'm still in the outer fringes of the City of Austin. It is truly sickening to see the trainwreck that is local government.

And even though Bandera County is right in the heart of motorcycle country, they hate us. The only 2 tickets I've gotten in the region were in the same place. Now I learned my lesson - and I won't be back to Bandera County again if I can help it.
Right now, there's lots of nasty construction going from RT46 into Bandera. Lack of attention could be extremely costly/dangerous.

I've used the shooting range at Bandera for 12 yrs. It's up for sale now, supposedly will remain a range but suspect significantly higher prices.

A couple I know has two private ranges, one about 35 yds, the other 90. So that's where I'll be going plus half the distance to it. Don
 
I've been riding for 60 years, mostly sport touring bikes or naked bikes that I converted to sport touring duty with wind protection and hard luggage. I tried roadracing but quickly learned that I'm not coordinated enough to run at 10 tenths without occasionally making the tiny mistakes that lead to crashes. Running at 7 - 9 tenths on twisty roads provides a much wider range of challenges than the track, and I find it safer and more satisfying. (I've never crashed except on the track.)

I ride only for enjoyment, never for transportation. I keep my urban riding to the absolute minimum and tuck in behind a car on busy two lane roads to minimize the risk of the left turning driver, even if it slows me down. I feel the residual extra risk of riding is worth it when everything is perfect. And if it isn't, I don't ride.

The one bit of advice I have to offer is to make cornering ABS an absolute requirement. Knowing that you can hammer on the brakes while cornering and the electronics will slow you as quickly as possible is great for peace of mind. I didn't realize how much this worried me on the mountain roads of the Pacific Northwest, where you can seldom see through the whole corner, until I got one of the first bikes that had it, an '09 Honda CBR 600RR. I rode that as my second bike for 10 years but once I passed 70 the riding position became a bit too much to tolerate. I replaced it with a KTM 790 Duke and get out for day trips to my favourite twisty roads a few times a year. The pleasure of those rides more than justifies keeping a bike I don't ride often or far.
 
I don't fault an EMT/Medical professional for holding negative views of motorcycles just like I don't fault a LEO for having a skewed view of society, its just a distortion of the larger world. A good, attentive rider can mitigate most of the risk, but a rare few can manage all that and still enjoy riding.
Don't get me wrong -- I think motorcycles are great. (I'd own one except I know I'd be mortally injured in no time flat.) Rarely is it the rider's fault when something bad happens. Moreover, the margin for error to escape major injury is so very small. I've just seen too much badness both professionally & in my personal life. If someone wants to/enjoys riding, have at it. I'll be keeping an eye out for ya & stay safe!
 
Don't get me wrong -- I think motorcycles are great. (I'd own one except I know I'd be mortally injured in no time flat.) Rarely is it the rider's fault when something bad happens. Moreover, the margin for error to escape major injury is so very small. I've just seen too much badness both professionally & in my personal life. If someone wants to/enjoys riding, have at it. I'll be keeping an eye out for ya & stay safe!
I was working for Third Fleet out of NAS Pt Mugu, CA, 82-85.

I had a Suzuki GS650 as my daily driver.

Going out the gate on a beautiful day in the left lane of two. A pickup was stopped af a feeder road. Thought I had eye cotact with him. Boy was I wrong. He pulled out and came right at me as though I didn't exist. I moved to the right hand lane, He still came at me. Had to pull to the curb and stop the cycle with one foot on the road, one on the curb.

Caught up with him and pulled him over. He simply didn't give a damn. Creep. Don
 
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The discussion of motorcycle safety usually elicits a lot of hyperbole, I've dealt with it for over 40 years. I'm not here to argue with statistics and suggest that bikes are just as safe as a car, but on an individual basis, an experienced and well trained rider can significantly reduce the risk in dozens or hundreds of ways.

Apologies for being for being very stereotypical here, but there is a huge difference in potential outcomes between a sane/sober, experienced rider giving full attention to quick risk assessment of myriad opportunities for failure and an 20 year old on a 200hp superbike leaving no margin, or a middling (operating skills) 55 year old Harley rider that's been bar hopping all day. No question, motorcycles are not for everyone, but I get a little fatigued on the narrative that riding is a somehow a death sentence and there is nothing one can do about it.

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a ride! '” ~ Hunter S. Thompson
 
That's beautiful !!

I don't envy you when cleaning those laced rims............. :)
Thanks, and all that chrome and those white walls. It's a labor of love tho.
 
I was working for Third Fleet out of NAS Pt Mugu, CA, 82-85.
C3F has better digs now. Top of Point Loma in San Diego on the north facing side. I prefer riding the VFR up there when I have meetings...lane splitting transforms commutes up Rosecranz and Catalina! Otherwise, the Blackwing spends a lot of time stuck behind other drivers in Point Loma.
 

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