Motorcycle Thread, 2017: What are you riding?

[Scream And Fly]

It's now riding weather everywhere, so I thought this is the perfect time for a new motorcycle thread.

I've always felt that even a very short ride on the bike is one of the best ways to clear my head of stress. And the time of day I always like riding most is at the beginning of the early evening, right before the sun begins to set. I'm writing this because since getting pneumonia months ago, I finally felt well enough to get on my bike out of a short ride. It was almost a revelation to me; how I almost forgot what it felt like. I really enjoyed that short ride.

I bought this Kawasaki KLX-250SF back in 2009, and it has become my favorite bike to ride. It's based off the KLX-250, which is a street-legal off-road bike. The SF version was a hypermotard conversion, with 17-inch wheels and a slightly different suspension. It has a top speed of about 95 MPH, which is fast enough to cruise on the interstate without trouble.

It's a single-cylinder four-stroke, which is not surprising for what it is, but what is surprising is that it does not have fuel injection. That's something I really wished it had, but throttle response and power are pretty good.

Post up your bikes on this thread and let's get a nice long discussion on bikes going here.

[XstreamVking]

My son just bought a street legal suzuki DZ 400. Been riding around on it when it's cool out, and it is a blast. Haven't been street riding for years and I am liking SR31 and the C-78 road out to Alva/Labelle. Not much traffic and a nice 2 lane road. I get nervous on the interstate and any 4-6 lane road. Too easy to get run over. That's a cool looking bike Greg, as always, your stuff is really nice. Starting to customize the DZ with a led blinker/tail light /tag mount delete, and some other stuff like new knobby tires etc. Want to take it up to Longboat Key and the outer islands where i have a 2nd house. Try and post a pic of the bike soon....

[JPEROG]

I have a few bikes but seem to ride my Ducati Hypermotard 1100S pretty much on a daily basis to run errands with or just cruise along the inter coastal with. I agree with Greg, its an easy way to change your attitude if you are feeling down at all or want to clear your head "being in the wind is always good-just like the boats" but wheeling the bike out of the garage is easier then launching the boat.

Joe

[rock]

Been riding for years and have owned all sorts of motorcycles. The last few have been Harleys which are well suited for us old guys. Unfortunately I have lost too many acquaintances due to any number of reasons. Ya gotta pay serious attention if ya wanna ride the street and ya gotta have a clear head. Lost a close friend at Sturgis this year. All you riders be careful.

Rock

[JPEROG]

Been riding for years and have owned all sorts of motorcycles. The last few have been Harleys which are well suited for us old guys. Unfortunately I have lost too many acquaintances due to any number of reasons. Ya gotta pay serious attention if ya wanna ride the street and ya gotta have a clear head. Lost a close friend at Sturgis this year. All you riders be careful.

Rock

I agree 100%-lost a good friend six months ago to a lady pulling out "I never saw him" deal. Ride like you are invisible and you are always better off to be in a group.

Joe

[XstreamVking]

Amen to that Rock. Lost a few buds myself over the yrs. I ride like my head is on a swivel. You never know what these idiots will do. Most are absorbed with the damn phone or the heads down, crash display on the dash. (the gps/music screen on the dash) Maybe the 2 worst things to ever be allowed in cars.

[flattracker60]

I agree 100%-lost a good friend six months ago to a lady pulling out "I never saw him" deal. Ride like you are invisible and you are always better off to be in a group.

Joe

Not sure I agree about the being in a group comment. If everyone in the group rode like me (smart), I'd agree. Seems like no matter how "adult" the group is, the group always has a bonehead that I don't wanna be anywhere near!

Sorry to hear about your friend....been there done that.

I'm riding a 2017 FZ-09 and my fathers (who just had a stroke) '09 SG.

Dress for the crash, not the ride.

[largecar91]

I've been riding for well over 40 years and I still look at every car as they are going to pull out in front of me. Been down several times and luckily I keep getting back up. Got over 108,000 on my old Ultra and I just redid the motor with a big bore kit, heads, cams, header. Now I got it running like I want and I am chroming it out.

[Scream And Fly]

Been riding for years and have owned all sorts of motorcycles. The last few have been Harleys which are well suited for us old guys. Unfortunately I have lost too many acquaintances due to any number of reasons. Ya gotta pay serious attention if ya wanna ride the street and ya gotta have a clear head. Lost a close friend at Sturgis this year. All you riders be careful.

Rock

I'm really sorry about the loss of your friends, Randy. I agree with you, as much as l love riding, I have definitely drastically reduced the amount of riding I do these days. Just way too many drivers that don't pay any attention to what they're doing. So many drivers will just casually ride right on my rear wheel it seems, not giving any thought to the fact that a simple fender-bender in a car could be fatal to a rider. And when you wave them to move off, they become more aggressive. It's aggravating.


@JPEROG Joe I am so jealous of your Ducati. What an amazing bike. Can you post a picture of it? I've always wanted a Ducati. A two-wheeled Ferrari. Just incredible bikes.

[JPEROG]

I'm really sorry about the loss of your friends, Randy. I agree with you, as much as l love riding, I have definitely drastically reduced the amount of riding I do these days. Just way too many drivers that don't pay any attention to what they're doing. So many drivers will just casually ride right on my rear wheel it seems, not giving any thought to the fact that a simple fender-bender in a car could be fatal to a rider. And when you wave them to move off, they become more aggressive. It's aggravating.


@JPEROG Joe I am so jealous of your Ducati. What an amazing bike. Can you post a picture of it? I've always wanted a Ducati. A two-wheeled Ferrari. Just incredible bikes.

Its dirty and is dressed like a pack mule but like I said, its my errand runner on a daily basis and the bags make it useful. These bikes come with a lot of trick parts right from the factory and it makes right at 100 horsepower with the few things that I've done to it. Fun bike-

Joe

[427Man]

Cars, boats and motorcycles have been a big part of my life. My brother got me started with bikes at 15 with a 1974 Yamaha DT125 Enduro. Many bikes have come and gone over the years. Harleys, Nortons, Ducatis, Hondas, Yamahas, Suzukis, Kawasakis and a Truimph. Currently I have a Norton Commando, Norton Atlas, Ducati Multistrada, Bimota DB-3, Kawasaki ZRX1200R, Honda CBX and a Honda CL350. A few pics from over the years...

[vnemous]

Well by the time I turned 22 and had grown up I started riding Harley, Before that I had lots of other bikes, Unfortunately see lots of Monday morning new articles of bike riders who were killed or badly injured over the weekend, Always bring a bike to Florida for the winter. Have a soft sport of the dresser. Current stable.

[RNM018]

I've got my 2012 Sportster for sale now . I'm looking for a ZRX1200 to replace it with .

Rich Martin 018

[JPEROG]

I've got my 2012 Sportster for sale now . I'm looking for a ZRX1200 to replace it with .

Rich Martin 018

Rich,

You will like that bike. I had a green one "2012" that I bought new-muzzy 4 into 1 and jet kit the day I picked it up and sold it with 11,000 trouble free miles. Can't beat the sound of a 4 into 1 at 7K and up. If anyone has interest in a very nice 91' sturgis with 8,000 miles I have one for sale "this is the bike that Willy G. started the Dyna platform with".

Joe

[JPEROG]

I did the Harley deal (33 bikes and 2 Harley Trucks) over the years. This was my favorite-01' Screamin Eagle roadglide that I bought new and built up. Anyone that knows Harleys can look at this and tell that it was the real deal. Had a 126 inch Kendall Johnson S&S that made just over 160 hp. Fifteen years ago this was a badass peice and it broke a lot hearts as there were very few "fast" baggers back then. Now I am on to stuff that I don't need to spend so much time and money to customize and polish.

Joe