New Motorcycle Thread

[White Peacock]

We had an old thread on bikes/riding in the Transportation forum, but hopefully we'll be able to keep this one more active in the Open Topic forum. I've noticed we have a fairly decent sized motorcycling population here at OKC Talk, and springtime is upon us, so let's talk bikes!

Below is a potatocam shot of my 30 year old GN250 with my buddy's CB500F in the background. I've only been licensed to ride since November, so I'm still pretty terrified of everyone else on the road every time I go out, even if I'm having a blast riding at the same time. I just picked her up from the shop where I had a side kickstand mounted; one of the previous owners must have broken it off, as there was just a hole in the frame where the mounting points should have been. Wedman Motorsports did a fine job.

Imgur

[jerrywall]

Here's Maria.



She's my double deuce (02 Softail Deuce). I also have a Yamaha Virago that my wife rides sometimes when she's not riding with me as a backup bike. I can't stand the idea of not having two wheels beneath me.

[White Peacock]

Here's Maria.



She's my double deuce (02 Softail Deuce). I also have a Yamaha Virago that my wife rides sometimes when she's not riding with me as a backup bike. I can't stand the idea of not having two wheels beneath me.

Nice bike! Our would-be backup bike is a Vulcan 750, but it needs an immense amount of sh!t done to it before it's roadworthy, including a title 42. So that might end up being a shed bike until I can bring myself to want to bother with the title paperwork. My wife will have the honor of picking out our next bike, so we'll likely end up with something along the lines of a Ninja or a CBR, although I prefer my sportbikes to be naked.

[Rover]

One of the best kept secrets in towns is Darwin Motorcycles, a custom builder. Darwin builds Brass Balls bobbers and choppers. They have won several world championships in the production bike category at Sturgis. Local owner who builds them here in OKC in a shop just west of downtown.

Brass Balls Cycles

[White Peacock]

One of the best kept secrets in towns is Darwin Motorcycles, a custom builder. Darwin builds Brass Balls bobbers and choppers. They have won several world championships in the production bike category at Sturgis. Local owner who builds them here in OKC in a shop just west of downtown.

Brass Balls Cycles

Well kept secret indeed; this is the first I've ever heard of them. They've got some ace looking machines! All of them well outside of my price range, unfortunately.

[Urbanized]

We had an old thread on bikes/riding in the Transportation forum, but hopefully we'll be able to keep this one more active in the Open Topic forum...

Hey now...my Motorcycling in Oklahoma thread went 4 pages between late September and December of last year...not too shabby in the winter if you ask me!

[White Peacock]

Hey now...my Motorcycling in Oklahoma thread went 4 pages between late September and December of last year...not too shabby in the winter if you ask me!

True that. I just assumed it died out due to the subforum it was in.

[Urbanized]

You might be right that it could see more activity in this sub forum. Mods are welcome to merge mine into this one if they want to.

[RadicalModerate]

Just last night I watched the American Pickers episode in which the bearded guy was on the cusp of acquiring an Actual Authentic Non-Restored H-D Knucklehead. Right after that, they were also unable to purchase an Original Flying Merkel. I was real happy with my '65 Panhead back in the early to late '70s. nuf sed. ('specially on account of this is a NEW motorcycle thread rather than the alternative.)

[RadicalModerate]

Here's Maria.



She's my double deuce (02 Softail Deuce). I also have a Yamaha Virago that my wife rides sometimes when she's not riding with me as a backup bike. I can't stand the idea of not having two wheels beneath me.

tonight, for me, it is a 5Vegas Cask Strength Torpedo with a taste of Christian Bros. on the side. =)

[rezman]

True that. I just assumed it died out due to the subforum it was in.

As well, that could have been just because it was winter time.

[White Peacock]

I did a solo ride around Overholser yesterday; that's a pretty relaxing ride.

[CaptDave]

Spent Daytona Bike Week with Victory Motorcycles and I really like their 2015 Gunner. Haven't been on a bike in over 25 years, but I'm thinking about that one....

[White Peacock]

Spent Daytona Bike Week with Victory Motorcycles and I really like their 2015 Gunner. Haven't been on a bike in over 25 years, but I'm thinking about that one....

That is pretty damn sweet. I dig how the tail light is integrated flush into the fender.

[bluedogok]

Congrats on the new "old" bike, it's a great starter.

Here's mine on the Peak to Peak Highway.

[Urbanized]

...I've only been licensed to ride since November, so I'm still pretty terrified of everyone else on the road every time I go out, even if I'm having a blast riding at the same time...

I'd recommend continuing to take safety classes. I've now taken 4 MSF classes and the DPS (Highway Patrol) class, and I have taken away new skills and confidence every time, even with 10 years of riding and many thousands of miles, and even though some of the classes were repeats. I especially recommend the "ready to ride" course for experienced riders, held at OSU-OKC. BTW...it's free!

[Urbanized]

Oh...and also I oddly (disturbingly?) like watching motorcycle crash videos on YouTube. You can learn an awful lot about what NOT to do as far as passing, lane use, speed, visibility, etc., and if they don't convince you to ride with care, nothing will!

[rezman]

Oh...and also I oddly (disturbingly?) like watching motorcycle crash videos on YouTube. You can learn an awful lot about what NOT to do as far as passing, lane use, speed, visibility, etc., and if they don't convince you to ride with care, nothing will!

I don't fell so bad now. I watch them too. It's bad enough when you mind your manners, but a lot of those guys take WAY too many chances, and as you've seen, many of them loose.

[Urbanized]

It actually gives you some reassurance and confidence in what is covered in MSF and other motorcycle training classes. In most of those videos the motorcyclist is clearly wrong/reckless. Even in the ones where a car is obviously at fault the motorcyclist is almost always ignoring visual cues or the likelihood that the car will make a harmful move. In those cases training will teach you to remove yourself from the situation before it turns bad.

[ctchandler]

I have to also mention a saying that I learned "Dress for the slide, not the ride". I know, it doesn't sound very nice, but it's true. Wearing the proper riding attire will go a long way in minimizing injuries when (not if) you go down. And I am a firm believer in classes. I took a class provided by the Edmond Police and it was really good. I was amazed at how much more I enjoyed riding after the class.
C. T.

[RadicalModerate]

Congrats on the new "old" bike, it's a great starter.

Here's mine on the Peak to Peak Highway.

(Waxing Nostalgic) . . .
We used to love to run the Peak-to-Peak Highway just about every weekend. Sometimes we went all the way from Estes Park to Idaho Springs, but usually we would hang a left on one of
the various "side canyon" roads that eventually led back to Boulder. The South St. Vrain was especially nice, as I recall. As good as all that was, I have to say that the best trip ever was over Trail Ridge Road. (this was all done on a 1970 BMW R75/5 . . . I wouldn't have trusted the Sportster I bought, later, to complete the trip. btw: The Honda 750 that a pal of mine was riding started having minor carburetor breathing issues near the crest of Trail Ridge. The BWM had no issues at all. =)

[rezman]

That's good advice C.T. and Urbanized. I have about 40 years of motorcycling under my belt, but I can always learn something new. You never know when something WILL happen. Like those three riders who were mowed down up by Tryon last weekend. A motorist went off the road to his right, over corrected and went back on the road to his left across the center line and took out the three motorcyclists who were coming from the opposite direction. Unfortunately, there is nothing in defensive motorcycle riding techniques that would have saved those guys. I've had plenty of folks come over in my lane over the years, and I love riding the two lane roads , but the one thing that is always in the back of mind is when is someone going to cross that centerline and it will be my turn.

[Urbanized]

I have to also mention a saying that I learned "Dress for the slide, not the ride". I know, it doesn't sound very nice, but it's true. Wearing the proper riding attire will go a long way in minimizing injuries when (not if) you go down...

ATGATT - All The Gear All The Time - Motorcycle Safety | atgatt.org

On the Triumph board I frequent, a common refrain is "I'd rather sweat than bleed." I'll admit to playing it a little bit more loosely than I should, especially on my scooter, where I often wear shorts and even no helmet at times. On the Bonnie that's never the case.

[RadicalModerate]

That's good advice C.T. and Urbanized. I have about 40 years of motorcycling under my belt, but I can always learn something new. You never know when something WILL happen. Like those three riders who were mowed down up by Tryon last weekend. A motorist went off the road to his right, over corrected and went back on the road to his left across the center line and took out the three motorcyclists who were coming from the opposite direction. Unfortunately, there is nothing in defensive motorcycle riding techniques that would have saved those guys. I've had plenty of folks come over in my lane over the years, and I love riding the two lane roads , but the one thing that is always in the back of mind is when is someone going to cross that centerline and it will be my turn.

After I moved to Oklahoma--and bought a "Rat Dresser" '65 Panhead, from a much older guy who was either retiring from motorcycles or stepping up to a better model--I got a job hauling paving equipment all over the place. I distinctly remember one afternoon when I was hauling a Permit Load (wide, bulldozer) from OKC to a spot south of Stuart. I was on Highway 1. It's a narrow two lane, with some gentle curves, and, as I headed east I encountered some biker gang going the other direction. I eased the rig as far to the right as I could without completely leaving the pavement and watched as the ones crowding the centerline flew by, oblivious to the fact that they were mere inches from the properly flagged edge of the blade. Later, I got severely clipped by some asshole out by Draper Lake who crossed the centerline and wrecked me, my girlfriend and my '71 Shovelhead. I'm not sure what the Karma is here . . . yet, I lived to wonder about it. =)

Edited to Add: As much as I used to love that indescribable feeling provided by riding a motorcycle, I am ashamed to say that even if someone gave me one of those super-slick and dependable new Harleys, I'd probably sell it: With all the cyberaddled idiots on the road today riding it would be like playing Russian Roulette. And, by all appearances, it's not going to get any better any time soon. (don't take that as dissin' Modern Motorcycling . . . I simply choose to enjoy it like a spectator sport these days.)

[jerrywall]

ATGATT - All The Gear All The Time - Motorcycle Safety | atgatt.org

On the Triumph board I frequent, a common refrain is "I'd rather sweat than bleed." I'll admit to playing it a little bit more loosely than I should, especially on my scooter, where I often wear shorts and even no helmet at times. On the Bonnie that's never the case.

Shorts? Never for me. Even with jeans I've got scars on my leg from pipe burns. I true to wear leathers when possible. Helmet I'm more on the border. Around town, the helmet restricts my vision and hearing so much that I feel it increases my chance of a wreck significantly. Long road trips/highway? Helmet.