Motorcycling in Oklahoma

[HangryHippo]

By the way, you could cafe the HELL out of that bike.

What does this mean?

[Urbanized]

Café racer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Urbanized]

Honestly, though, after digging around via GIS trying to find good examples of cafe conversions on that bike I think it works better as a scrambler or a street tracker owing to the lines.

[HangryHippo]

Café racer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Interesting. Thanks for the link.

[White Peacock]

One of the nice things about chain drive is that you can play around with your final drive ratios. You mentioned a commuter bike. Say you ride in mostly in town traffic ... Surface streets, stop lights, etc. You can drop 2 or 3 teeth on the rear sprocket to give you more low and mid range punch.

Yep, I've considered tinkering with sprockets. I know a ratio change on the TU250X produces almost universally positive results. Seen more complaints about tinkering with the GN250, though, so it may be at its prime ratio from the factory.

[White Peacock]

Is it the one at OSU/OKC? I took it a few years ago and learned a tremendous
amount. You'll take the riding exam there then go to the ODOT to take the
written.

I've not taken the advanced course.

I ride a 2007 Suzuki Boulevard C-50T. Couldn't be happier.

This was at Brown's Driving School at SW 119th and Penn. I assume the curriculum is much the same, since both places are providing the MSF BRC course. However, at Brown's, successful completion includes both the written test and the riding test, so all you have to do at DPS is get it registered.

[White Peacock]

Honestly, though, after digging around via GIS trying to find good examples of cafe conversions on that bike I think it works better as a scrambler or a street tracker owing to the lines.

I agree. The upturned position of the tank makes it look more like a cruiser than a UJM (despite being a standard in terms of riding position), so while you can do lots of great looking things to it, proper cafe doesn't really work. Like I said before, I'm looking to go more of a brat style with it.

[Urbanized]

Great choice.

[rezman]

Yep, I've considered tinkering with sprockets. I know a ratio change on the TU250X produces almost universally positive results. Seen more complaints about tinkering with the GN250, though, so it may be at its prime ratio from the factory.

You're probably right being that it is a small bore bike. Already set up for running around town, which was it's intended audience. But it's nice to know you can play with it.

Back when I used to ride dirt bikes a lot, I had a '77 Maico 450. .. A big bore 2 stroke single with a 40mm Bing carb , set up for cross country. It was a hand full, but damn fast. I finally had to put a 36mm Mikuni on it to make it a little less wild. When I sold it it had a 12/56 sprocket set up and was good for around 100 across the dirt.

Back to the street though. I like the idea of having a smaller bore bike to flick around on in town. Don't know if I'll ever get one, But I always did like the Triumph Bonneville .

[Urbanized]

I've got one. I recommend it.

[White Peacock]

A black T100 Bonneville is probably my #1 lustworthy bike at the moment. I was jonesing for a new Indian Scout, but after riding cruisers around in the MSF class, I'm not a fan of the forward controls, so I may just scratch that one from my wish list. Beautiful looking machine though, that Scout.

[Urbanized]

A black T100 Bonneville is probably my #1 lustworthy bike at the moment...

Here's mine (lots of mods since this photo):

[White Peacock]

That's a damn fine machine. I've heard some complaints about the rear suspension being uncomfortably stiff. Any truth to that?

[rezman]

I like it Urbanized.... Blued pipes and all. What year is it?.

[bluedogok]

A black T100 Bonneville is probably my #1 lustworthy bike at the moment. I was jonesing for a new Indian Scout, but after riding cruisers around in the MSF class, I'm not a fan of the forward controls, so I may just scratch that one from my wish list. Beautiful looking machine though, that Scout.

I grew up riding on (what was then called) enduro bikes, never got used to forward controls. When I took the class to get the endorsement (after Texas forgot to transfer it from my OK license) I rode one of those little cruisers and was constantly putting my feet in the wrong spot. On the duck walk I would get cramps in my hips from the weird angles.

When it came time to replace my Sprint I was focused on the Tiger 1050 which is an even more enduro like position but ended up with the C14.

[Urbanized]

That's a damn fine machine. I've heard some complaints about the rear suspension being uncomfortably stiff. Any truth to that?

It really hasn't bothered me, though many Bonneville owners upgrade to Ohlins or another shock. I think most of the complaints tend to come from guys who are used to sport bikes and the associated performance characteristics.

I like it Urbanized.... Blued pipes and all. What year is it?.

Thanks. It's a 2013. The headers have settled down to mostly a golden color. That photo was taken when the bike was still really new. I have 4K+ on it now, and that's with a commute of less than a mile and little time to ride in good weather months. About the same number of miles I've put on my car in the same period. Toss in another 1500 or so on my scooter and I do more than 50% of my time on two wheels.

[White Peacock]

I grew up riding on (what was then called) enduro bikes, never got used to forward controls. When I took the class to get the endorsement (after Texas forgot to transfer it from my OK license) I rode one of those little cruisers and was constantly putting my feet in the wrong spot. On the duck walk I would get cramps in my hips from the weird angles.

You just described my MSF experience. The only bike I've ridden beforehand was my GN, which has standard riding position controls, and that's what I'd gotten myself used to. It feels unnatural for me to get the bike going, then throw my feet forward. Shifting was more difficult, and using the rear brake was more difficult.

On the flipside, I don't think I would like the sportbike riding position either. Feet beneath me feels much more natural and safer than the other positions.

[White Peacock]

Went to DPS/tag agency and got my new license with my M endorsement, so I'm fully legal now. Of course this happens right before an arctic blast blows into town. Hopefully I can get some riding in this weekend at least.

[rezman]

What's nice about Oklahoma is that you can usually ride 9 months out of the year. The cold snap will come next wek and then we'll have another few days to get out again. We're lucky. A lot of people up north already have their scooters put up for the winter. I plan to get out and scoot around this weekend as well.

As far as riding position goes, My street bikes have always been standards, sport tours, or cruisers. I've never owned a lay down crotch rocket. My current VTX has floorboards, which gives it a little bit of a standard feel , even though it has mid-forward controls.

[bluedogok]

I'm going to try and get some miles on tomorrow before the cold hits us late Sunday, no mountains though since they have had some sporadic snow. I need to keep the batter charged up since I don't know where my Battery Tender is in the garage. It's on the trailer somewhere since my wife took care of moving it when I was sick. About the only thing that I would want to do to it is a Sargent seat and maybe some bar risers. Hopefully next spring I will have my strength back to handle the heavy beast.

[rezman]

Got out for a couple hours around town today. Only 54 miles worth. Waited for the wind to die down a little bit & wound up being a nice little ride. Down to Bricktown & Robinson area then over by the airport, back north around Lake H, & back home.

[Prunepicker]

Went cruising tonight and the cold front hit about 8:30pm. Wasn't ready for it.
Brrr.

[rezman]

Went cruising tonight and the cold front hit about 8:30pm. Wasn't ready for it.
Brrr.

Hope you had the wind to your back

[Prunepicker]

Hope you had the wind to your back

Only on the way out. LOL

[Urbanized]

I've still been riding to work since the cold snap, but wishing I hadn't procrastinated on buying a Powerlet jacket liner and glove liners. I had the power points installed on my bike this year but haven't yet sprung for the heated gear. Maybe Santa Claus will bring it...