I've been kicking around the idea of ditching the cage lifestyle altogether and selling my car. My biggest concern has been the issue of transporting my bicycle but I think I've found a solution for the Duc.
http://www.cafemotos.com/johnnyrack/racks.html
You guys that are running cageless (Patrick, Rich & Rich that I know of) ... I'd appreciate any words of wisdom to help me make an informed decision.
gracias,
Guillermo
Very cool. But it looks like you will need to buy a BMW or Kawasaki. :-\
I bet with a few cases of beer RichD could fabricate something for your S2R. [drink]
I did it in Austin for about 6 months last year - and that was through the winter. It can be done but you have to do a lot more planning and anticipate the weather. Plus, it's a lot easier on a multistrada...
Quote from: BarneePhife on July 02, 2008, 02:48:42 PM
Very cool. But it looks like you will need to buy a BMW or Kawasaki. :-\
I bet with a few cases of beer RichD could fabricate something for your S2R. [drink]
Actually, I contacted the guy who's making these. He owns an m750 that he has a mount for that he thinks will work on the S2R. If I order it and it doesn't work, he offered me a full refund including shipping.
I do have a black lab that would love to be in a sidecar. I'd call it the Sammy Sidecar 9000. [beer]
Quote from: factorPlayer on July 02, 2008, 02:56:02 PM
I did it in Austin for about 6 months last year - and that was through the winter. It can be done but you have to do a lot more planning and anticipate the weather. Plus, it's a lot easier on a multistrada...
... but what about a black 1098s? (my next bike) ;D
What did you do in bad weather?
COMING IN JUNE!
DUCATI M620, 750 & 900
i sold my car at the start of this summer.
i dont mind only having the bike for my transportation (unless its out of service haha)
sometimes i wish i had some sidebags for grocery shopping and the such but its livable for me.
it also made my decision easier knowing i am moving to nyc in the fall and wont need a car.
do it! [thumbsup]
Do it!
I don't think it is that hard.
Like mentioned above, it takes a little more forethought... and weather is something you adjust to and plan for.
These days with doppler radar maps it isn't that hard.
In the winter my heated gear keeps me warmer than most peeps in their cars.
I rode my 1098 for almost a year straight... but it is nice to have a spare bike (or two) for when maintenance is required.
It's not for everyone, but if you're thinking about it maybe it's for you...?
Quote from: dallas2r on July 02, 2008, 03:03:31 PM
... but what about a black 1098s? (my next bike) ;D
What did you do in bad weather?
!098s (and other superbikes for that matter) are great for riding in winter since the underseat exhaust make good bum and thigh warmers. Unfortunately, you can't turn it off in summer. >:(
The fairing should also help with wind protection. Winter gloves or a handguard(?) might help. Be careful with those cold tires.
cdc
Quote from: CountPuggula on July 02, 2008, 04:22:26 PM
I rode my 1098 for almost a year straight... but it is nice to have a spare bike (or two) for when maintenance is required.
+1 on a spare bike for when you're wrenching on the pimp ride
i only cage when it's below 40, rainin, snowin, or the wind is up around 30 mph. but for me it's a huge money saver because it's 58 miles round trip to work. even the maintenance cost on the bike (tires, service, etc.) is cheaper than driving the truck at $140 a week in gas alone. not inc maintenance.
If you need to get rid of your car, I know a guy who can talk to a guy...
Quote from: calscrazy on July 02, 2008, 05:10:03 PM
i only cage when it's below 40...
I bought Gerbings heated pants liners, jacket liner, heated gloves, and a thermostat controller for the rig.
February 2007 I rode through the NewMexico mountains at altitude Heading for the west coast.
I could tell it was dangerous cold outside. The air slipping around my balaclava was
COLD cold.
In the suit (which was my Gerbings, wool/polyproplene longjohns, wool socks (non electric), my perforated leather jacket and leather pants) I was
TOASTY.It was 17°F outside. 15° below freezing.
1098S cruising at high speed, ten hours a day, due west...
And I KNEW at that point I had the gear to be warm in any Texas winter commute to work.
ditch the car, man, and pick up GRID!!! it's awesome...and that's all the car-driving you need! and it's WAY more fun once you get a little drunk! [thumbsup]
Quote from: McKraut on July 02, 2008, 06:14:55 PM...and pick up GRID!!!....
WTF is a "grid"?
I'm sure I'm not cool or somethin' because I asked that...
???
nah man...i'm just a gamer nerd...it's a racing sim/game that i downloaded (because i'm a pirate...arrrgh) for my PC a week ago. i've been racing a BOSS mustang 302...good times. you need a decent system to run it, though.
i do have a amd athlon x2 3800+ (socket AM2) (with heatsink and fan) and a nvidia BFG 7600 GT OC (pci-E) that i'm not using, if anyone needs them...
Quote from: McKraut on July 02, 2008, 07:04:43 PM
nah man...i'm just a gamer nerd...it's a racing sim/game that i downloaded (because i'm a pirate...arrrgh) for my PC a week ago. i've been racing a BOSS mustang 302...good times. you need a decent system to run it, though.
i do have a amd athlon x2 3800+ (socket AM2) (with heatsink and fan) and a nvidia BFG 7600 GT OC (pci-E) that i'm not using, if anyone needs them...
Aaaahhh, good to see you're not wasting your life [cheeky] [laugh]
i like to think of it as honing my motor skills...
Back in the 80's in San Diego I went for over a year with my R90/6 as my sole form of transportation. And don't let anyone fool you, February and March in San Diego is very rainy, and cold at night.
I always wore 2 piece leathers (V-Pilot Jacket and Pants) and kept a rainsuit and rubber golashes in my Krauser side cases. I could ride in full-on down pours and stay dry underneath (oh, I also had waterproof gauntlet gloves).
The real challenge is keeping on the road in the rain. GO SLOW.
Quote from: McKraut on July 03, 2008, 04:08:37 AM
i like to think of it as honing my motor skills...
Enhanced hand/eye coordination is essential for mad riding sillz. [moto]
Quote from: McKraut on July 03, 2008, 04:08:37 AM
i like to think of it as honing my motor skills...
They have "Track Days" for that... [cheeky]
I haven't owned a cage for over a year now. Sold my truck to have extra cash to take a week and a half bike trip through the midwest and somehow ended up in north carolina... then did a thousand mile day on my zx7r to make it back in time to go on a sunday morning ride here....
now i've got a kid on the way and the need for a cage is suddenly coming at me head on in my lane with highbeams flashing...
Quote from: Duc L'Smart on July 03, 2008, 06:10:26 AM
They have "Track Days" for that... [cheeky]
but in GRID i can launch of the track over an embankment...and watch as my Viper flips and rolls and metal comes flying off it....in beautiful slow motion, and while drunk! it's quite entertaining...and the online multiplayer is the shit, too. i recommend this game. [thumbsup]
Thanks for the comments everyone (on topic and off). Everything sounds rosy and workable now but I'm wondering about the things I'm not taking into account. Was there anything that you came across after you made the commitment where you were kicking yourself?
grocery runs kind of suck if you're like me and like to do it like once a month and load up on stuff. if you eat out a lot or order in (or have a grocery store next door), that wouldn't be a huge deal. and as previously mentioned it really helps to have a backup bike.
Quote from: Deals Gap Dragon Slayer on July 03, 2008, 06:31:07 AM
I haven't owned a cage for over a year now. Sold my truck to have extra cash to take a week and a half bike trip through the midwest and somehow ended up in north carolina... then did a thousand mile day on my zx7r to make it back in time to go on a sunday morning ride here....
now i've got a kid on the way and the need for a cage is suddenly coming at me head on in my lane with highbeams flashing...
Damien (sp?),
Glad you made it over to this board! Hope to see you soon at a ride, etc... Kids seem to increase to need for a car. Not sure why but I am looking into it. [laugh]
fastwin
Quote from: dallas2r on July 03, 2008, 08:00:27 AM
Thanks for the comments everyone (on topic and off). Everything sounds rosy and workable now but I'm wondering about the things I'm not taking into account. Was there anything that you came across after you made the commitment where you were kicking yourself?
Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free?
Don't you have friends with cars/trucks/trailers?!?
Quote from: Duc L'Smart on July 03, 2008, 08:34:33 AM
Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free?
Don't you have friends with cars/trucks/trailers?!?
Yes I do, friend. ;D
They can also double for wheelie bars! [thumbsup]
Quote from: Duc L'Smart on July 03, 2008, 08:34:33 AM
..... Don't you have friends with cars/trucks/trailers?!?
Seems like an excellent excuse to use the girlfriend's
gas car if you need a full set of wheels [evil]
Plus, having just a motorcycle as your primary transport could also help quickly weed-out the weenies, "
I've got to ride on the back of your motorcycle...Seriously ?" Talk about a litmus test [evil]
Quote from: Cher on July 03, 2008, 10:13:44 AM
Plus, having just a motorcycle as your primary transport could also help quickly weed-out the weenies, "I've got to ride on the back of your motorcycle...Seriously ?" Talk about a litmus test [evil]
hey now...sometimes that is
necessary
the only time i regret it is when i feel the urge to pick up fast food to take home and cause of the bike i cant get a drink haha
Quote from: rsoffar on July 03, 2008, 10:41:12 AM
the only time i regret it is when i feel the urge to pick up fast food to take home and cause of the bike i cant get a drink haha
umm...hello? why don't you have one of these:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/HANDLEBAR-MOUNT-BEVERAGE-HOLDER/GP_2002152_N_111+10211+600014745_10111.jcw
hahahaha that is a good question.. why do i not
Quote from: dallas2r on July 02, 2008, 03:03:31 PM
What did you do in bad weather?
I rode. wasn't much fun but it's doable.
Quote from: McKraut on July 03, 2008, 11:26:47 AM
umm...hello? why don't you have one of these:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/HANDLEBAR-MOUNT-BEVERAGE-HOLDER/GP_2002152_N_111+10211+600014745_10111.jcw
well you'd need one a bit bigger to accomodate most of the 40oz+ soft drinks fast food places sell these days. but great idea.
I was having trouble visualizing it 'till I came across this.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/bakerfoto/A71.jpg)
:o
Cool gas mask...
Quote from: Cher on July 03, 2008, 07:17:40 PM
:o
Cool gas mask...
FUNNY!!! -That's the first thing that caught my eye too...
Love the iron skillet too! ;)
When it starts sparking, you know you're getting near maximum lean angle.
Kinda like curb-feelers for Harleys
Quote from: NorDog on July 03, 2008, 06:09:54 AM
...Back in the 80's in San Diego I went for over a year with my R90/6 as my sole form of transportation. And don't let anyone fool you, February and March in San Diego is very rainy, and cold at night...
hey, I rode a burgundy 1975 R90S in San Diego between 1987 and 1990... "worked" at a cafe called Java downtown, and lived in a converted banana warehouse 2 blocks from work. only had a car in '90, but it just sat out in front of the warehouse.... rode rain or shine, no helmet, and rarely even eye protection. even rode home from SDSU event when it was hailing, with ripped jeans and sunglasses [thumbsup]
have to swap SD stories at some point... had a blast, but didn't do a damn thing for 3 years...
As for the "cage-free" thing, seems like a weird question. what do you need a cage for? i have one for the wife and kids to tool around
onin, until little Cher and Cher are old enough to get their own bikes ( or, as I like to call them, Cher and Cher alike ).
seems like if you solve the bicycle thing, you're done. eat fast food at the fast food place, buy small amounts of groceries ( also, they should be vegetarian and organic. the vegan stuff doesn't spoil as quickly ), and work from home if the weather gets too bad, or hitch a ride, take a bus or public transpo ( if it snows, I take the train ). other than that, as has been pointed out, live weather radar is your friend. makes it easy to time things on those pesky "isolated/scattered thunderstorm' days...
word,
The Svoloch
I can't do this. I have too much shit to haul around. I have two farms, a house... make that two houses counting my Dad's house that I'm trying to unload from the estate. Too much stuff to deal with... this is a cue for George Carlin's great "stuff" routine video. One of the best of all time! [thumbsup] I seriuosly envie those that can dumb it down to scooter carry stuff. It reminds me of my days in Austin in the 70's when I rarely used my car and did most of my "business" via bicycle. Rain or shine, hot or cold, it was bicycle powered. OK, I busted out the CB750F or the Guzzi 850 LeMans occasionally but mostly it was self powered. I think with $4/gallon and rising gas prices we will all be doing that once again! :P Time to air up those bicycle tires!
Quote from: Cher on July 03, 2008, 07:17:40 PM
:o
Cool gas mask...
Personally, I love the mailbox on the back end!
"hey, I rode a burgundy 1975 R90S in San Diego between 1987 and 1990... "worked" at a cafe called Java downtown, and lived in a converted banana warehouse 2 blocks from work."
Lord, I used go in there for Vietnamese coffee between 1988 and 1990. It was on G Street if I recall. Not far from GP Motorcycles (which is now a Ducati dealership). This was during my motorcycle only days on the R90/6.
yep, I was working there that whole time... Small world. Rode around with a bunch of other characters on beemers, triumphs, ducatis. I weighed about 130 at the time and had hair down to the middle of my back...
We must have known some of the same people. The guys at GP were friends of friends of mine, but I had no money for anybody to work on my bike at the time ;)
Definitely need to compare notes...
Quote from: The Svoloch on July 04, 2008, 08:42:31 PM
yep, I was working there that whole time... Small world. Rode around with a bunch of other characters on beemers, triumphs, ducatis. I weighed about 130 at the time and had hair down to the middle of my back...
We must have known some of the same people. The guys at GP were friends of friends of mine, but I had no money for anybody to work on my bike at the time ;)
Definitely need to compare notes...
Too funny,
I was living there too at that time.
I didn't have a bike back then...
A buddy of mine rode a Beemer K75 and was always hanging around with the peeps and wrenches from Brattin Motors...
...Years later Gary bought the place and it is now "San Diego BMW".
yep, used to go out to Brattin to look at bikes... it was out on el cajon blvd... small world indeed...
Quote from: The Svoloch on July 05, 2008, 07:07:23 AM
yep, used to go out to Brattin to look at bikes... it was out on el cajon blvd... small world indeed...
Brattin is where I spent much of my time bench racing and swapping lies. Became best friends with the service manager at the time, Brad Luther. He and I still stay in touch.
Harry Brattin bought the dealership back many years ago, and then sold to Gary to retire. I'm sad to report that Harry Brattin was killed while riding. He and his wife were touring Europe, or maybe South America, I forget. Very sad. He was a nice man, though I didn't really know him that well.
Yes, we must compare notes. Any other San Diego ex-pats running around?
This photo was taken about 19 years and 60 lbs ago outside of Brattin Motors. They were the Truimph dealer back before Triumph went out of business. When this photo was taken there was no such thing as Triumph anymore, but the logo was still on the outside wall.
(http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll176/nordog59/87sc4DMF.jpg)
I rode 2 years straight, only driving the (now ex) wife's car when the roads were frozen, which added up to about 30k commuting miles. Best combo, heated grips + heated vest + waterproof gear. I have (had) a 2 piece set from BMW that was easy to put on and never leaked. I was on a F650 at the time with 3 hard bags, which made it a cinch. As far as getting rid of a car completely, I think it comes down to whether it's paid off. It doesn't make financial sense to sell it only to get another a year or two later.
What's up with the 'stache?
(http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=393;type=avatar)
i heard him say something about going for the "rollie" look....
(http://www.eschmidt.com/Rollie%20Fingers%202.jpg)
Jeez, how much pot has that dude been smoking? Not Patrick, the dude in the A's hat! [laugh]
Quote from: fastwin on July 10, 2008, 07:42:01 AM
Jeez, how much pot has that dude been smoking?
Maybe that's the look Newslacker's going after [thumbsup]
Quote from: fastwin on July 10, 2008, 07:42:01 AM
Jeez, how much pot has that dude been smoking? Not Patrick, the dude in the A's hat! [laugh]
hey...what's wrong with pot?? never hurt anyone....
mmm popcorn [popcorn]
mmm bacon [bacon]
So, umm, when does the cage go on CL?
Quote from: Duc L'Smart on July 11, 2008, 12:11:49 AM
So, umm, when does the cage go on CL?
no kidding, i could use one of those... :-\
Quote from: Duc L'Smart on July 11, 2008, 12:11:49 AM
So, umm, when does the cage go on CL?
Just bought my Johnny Rack today to transport my bicycle and I want to wait and try it out to make sure it works alright. I won't get it for another 3 weeks, so it'll be a month before I list the cage. [thumbsup]
Quote from: dallas2r on July 02, 2008, 02:31:28 PM
I've been kicking around the idea of ditching the cage lifestyle altogether and selling my car. My biggest concern has been the issue of transporting my bicycle but I think I've found a solution for the Duc.
http://www.cafemotos.com/johnnyrack/racks.html
I did not know they made such a product and that has been a holdup for me going cageless as well :) Thanks dallas2r!
Quote from: McKraut on July 10, 2008, 04:07:33 PM
hey...what's wrong with pot?? never hurt anyone....
mmm popcorn [popcorn]
mmm bacon [bacon]
what'd you say man?................I'm sorry what?.......................you're funny dude...............what?
Yeah, I'm still fine.....really!