So I'm at work last night, (10:30 pm to 6:30 am) and the topic of motorcycles comes up. The conversation began while I was reading an article in Army Times, about new bikes that are coming out or have just recently come out. The four bikes that were showcased were the new honda CBR 1000RR, Aprilla Shiver 750, KTM Super Duke 990R, and the Suzuki B King (1,340cc naked version of the Hayabusa). I've been in the Army for almost four years now, and as much as I love being a soldier, some of the acts of stupidity that I've witnessed almost defy imagination.
I couldn't wrap my mind around why the Army Times would showcase such hugh end bikes. The Hayabusa and CBR can exceed 190 mph and 170 mph respectively. The Aprilla was the only bike that I would even consider owning. When I stated that these bikes had too much power, and unless you were on a track, wouldn't be able to get half of the horsepower or torque (legally) out of the bike, my coworker told me I wasn't a real biker.
He owns a GSXR 1000, and even though he emphatically stated that he's afraid to take it over 100 mph (not that you need to on the street), still insisted that all of the extra horsepower was a must. I showed him the 696 that I plan on purchasing when I get back stateside. He wasn't impressed, but at least he could respect other brands than just crotch rockets.
He then attempts to show me what his bike looks like... He goes to HONDA'S website, and then says, "I can't find the GSXR." [bang] After I steered him to SUZUKI'S website, I then had to listen to him rant and rave about how great his bike is for the next half hour.
I may be prejudiced when it comes to motorcycles, but I respect all brands, because there really is a motorcycle out there for everyone. But it irks the crap out of me to be lectured by a self-proclaimed subject matter expert, who can't even remember which company manufactures the motorcycle they own.
Tools...
I'm with you Adam. I can't figure out why 900CC isn't still the top size bike. The old ZX-9R was killer fast. Everything since then is just stupid.
B king a naked hayabusa?
[roll]
i suppose in the same way a monster s4 is a naked 916.
Quote from: Adamm3406 on July 05, 2008, 03:29:00 PM
I couldn't wrap my mind around why the Army Times would showcase such hugh end bikes.
How bout because its not affiliated with the army, it's a commercial product, just another publication catering to their target market....which is the same market those bikes are trying for BTW.... The 18-26 YO male.
Congratulations on breaking the code with your buddy there on post that squids don't know anything but they read rags that tell them their bike is the best thing since sliced bread and that they MUST have the highest displacement superbike thats produced in order to feel like a "real" biker"
Of course they most likely have never been on a track, think that less chicken strip means your faster, ....squids through and through,
I don't know man. Just a while ago my 15 year old daughter and I were killing time at the local bike shop (she's hot for a 250 ninja) and I sat on a zx10r for a few minutes. Felt sorta like I did the first time I strapped on a stainless Beretta and walked around in the woods - sorta cool. I'd kinda like to have one.
Of course YRMV. ;D
LA
Quote from: LA on July 05, 2008, 05:27:06 PM
...and I sat on a zx10r for a few minutes. Felt sorta like I did the first time I strapped on a stainless Beretta and walked around in the woods - sorta cool. I'd kinda like to have one.
Of course YRMV. ;D
LA
Pffft.... Shoulda sat on the ZX14! That's the shiznit!
[roll]
if your at work... instead of sitting around talking about bikes you should be working. Get back to work Beeattch!
100 mph...on a gsxr1000. :o
Quote from: Adamm3406 on July 05, 2008, 03:29:00 PM
I couldn't wrap my mind around why the Army Times would showcase such hugh end bikes. The Hayabusa and CBR can exceed 190 mph and 170 mph respectively. The Aprilla was the only bike that I would even consider owning. When I stated that these bikes had too much power, and unless you were on a track, wouldn't be able to get half of the horsepower or torque (legally) out of the bike, my coworker told me I wasn't a real biker.
Just wanted to cut + paste this post I made from another thread about naked 1098's, it sorta follows what you're saying:
True, but you know us; (humans) more, More, MORE!!!
Motorcyles sorta stop making sense when the power starts getting out of control. 1/2 the people who own literbikes probably don't even belong on them, and don't realize just how much brutal power there is sitting between their legs. But guess what? They look good on 'em!!!
-I'm convinced that they could come out with a 300hp naked and they'd sell like hotcakes. People, as a general rule of thumb IMO, LOVE excess. Probably the same reason why the jackass who stuffed a chevy 350 big-block V-8 into a motorcycle frame is laughing all the way to the bank...
-But hey; I'd take a 1098 naked anyday!! :P
Quote from: LA on July 05, 2008, 05:27:06 PM
I don't know man. Just a while ago my 15 year old daughter and I were killing time at the local bike shop (she's hot for a 250 ninja) and I sat on a zx10r for a few minutes. Felt sorta like I did the first time I strapped on a stainless Beretta and walked around in the woods - sorta cool. I'd kinda like to have one.
Of course YRMV. ;D
LA
LA, after your sleek black S4Rs , I think you would be disappointed.Yes they are extremly fast, and the insurance is alot more . I don't think they are a bike for the twisties like your S4Rs . I've set on one and it seemed like a lifless hunk of metal. No soul like a Ducati.
Quote from: RobJohn3 on July 05, 2008, 07:20:37 PM
100 mph...on a gsxr1000. :o
It should do that in 2nd gear !
There's just no excuse for ignorance . That being said ,is it up to those in the know ( us ) to set our misguided brethern straight or just let them live in their world of fallacy and folly ?
I have had discussions with the nerdewells and found that they aren't just ignorant , but insulent and unable to comprehend what a higher level of thinking it takes to separate their prejudiciouses and misconceptions from the real and the fantasy they have lived with for so long it has become part of their social fabric.
We are the lucky ones. We have discovered Ducatis. We know the joy that the rest of the motorcycle world may never know. So let's be ever thankful that we are not those that are the posers or the squids . We are the chosen ones to experience Ducati and all that it has to offer . So let's try to be alittle more tolerant of those that wil or may never know true motorcycle Nirvana
"" He owns a GSXR 1000, and even though he emphatically stated that he's afraid to take it over 100 mph (not that you need to on the street), still insisted that all of the extra horsepower was a must. I showed him the 696 that I plan on purchasing when I get back stateside. He wasn't impressed, but at least he could respect other brands than just crotch rockets. ""
He's full of shit ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! , or he's one of the next Darwin candidates , Like most of the tools on liter bikes. It's been my experience that 95 percent of the owners can't ride them and don't have a clue about the RAW power that is under them when they are sitting on the bike.I think their reasoning is " If I have a bike this big" everyone will automatically think I'm a rider"........ Sadly enough if you put a half decent rider on a ninja 250 and let them ride with the "Big Boys" , they probably could not keep up with it, They would be too damn busy braking and riding the clutch while attempting to turn the wheel around the corners.
"" He then attempts to show me what his bike looks like... He goes to HONDA'S website, and then says, "I can't find the GSXR." bang head After I steered him to SUZUKI'S website, I then had to listen to him rant and rave about how great his bike is for the next half hour. ""
Again I wave the BS flag!!!! Who the hell owns a bike and doesn't know who the hell the manufacturer is? Nobody is that damn stupid. I'd bet good money that he does not own a bike, and I'm not a gambler.
Drunken Rant over......................
Quote from: muscle_cars_only on July 05, 2008, 09:35:33 PM
Nobody is that damn stupid.............
Drunken Rant over......................
Oh YES they are!! My drunken rant over......... ;D
first off, let me thank you for what you do. [thumbsup] it is people like you past, present and future that make this country what it is. i am forever grateful for the people in uniform, who sacrafice so we here can enjoy the freedom that you protect. [clap]
thanks
ron tartaglia ;D
second, i always run into people who don't have bikes and spew all kinds of stuff about how they have bikes or had them and love to hear the stories that they tell. sometimes i like to ask them, simple questions that any one who rides would know. things like " whats the tranny shift like 1 up and 5 down?" unless they ride a moto gp transmission, they usually screw that one up :o and another one i ask is " oh does that model have self canceling blinkers?"
i get real joy in pointing out the dummies who insist that they ride.
the ron [evil]
But don't you guys know?
The more excess power that you're unable to utilize, the bigger your manhood! [thumbsup]
I guess some of you didn't get the memo... [roll]
Thanks Ron, I appreciate the sentiments, and I'll take your advice about the gearing and blinking questions. ;D He may be completely full of shit, but I tend to trust people. Another thing he told me that didn't sound right at all, was that once, he decided to open her up and see how fast she would go. He said he hit 95 mph in 2nd or 3rd gear (plausible). I then asked him if he kept going up through the gears (wanted to know how stupid fast he went), when he said yes, I asked him how fast he was going... His response : "At least 100, it was definitely at least 100 mph."
I kinda let that one go. [roll] If he only gained 5 mph over the next three gears, he either chopped the throttle, and had zero rpms, his speedometer was broken, or he's a moron.
As annoying as this conversation was, I do slightly enjoy them because it reminds me how much smarter I am than certain people. There's always a silver lining... ;)
i say your friend is tellin' you stories...
he doesn't even know who makes the bike he rides? ??? [roll]
I can tell you from experence (13+ years) that our line of work is a breeding ground for posers and squids. In my experience it is best just to smile and nod. having ducatis in the army goes bothh ways i have had guys tell me how expensive my bikes are and how they are so fast or how they are slow and break down all the time. if any of these genuses even have bikes they normally havent had them for long and are not long out of the MSF cours if at all. so be careful who you take bike advice from.
AATW
SFC V
The only thing worse than army squids are Navy squids (squid squids? Squid squared?) And we have a lot of them. It is because of these guys that i have to feel like a criminal each time I check into a new command and tell them I am a motorcycle rider.
Sometimes all you can do is just shake your head.
Quote from: XJDAVE on July 06, 2008, 11:23:02 AM
The only thing worse than army squids are Navy squids (squid squids? Squid squared?) And we have a lot of them. It is because of these guys that i have to feel like a criminal each time I check into a new command and tell them I am a motorcycle rider.
Sometimes all you can do is just shake your head.
Take the new Sportbike Rider's Course yet? I did mine last Wednesday. Its a good time and a nice little refresher. Got some pretty serious lean angles in, too.
Got mine in 2 weeks. I asked what their definition of a "sportbike" was and no one could tell me.
"what do you ride"
"Ducati Monster"
"That is a sport bike"
"How/why, explain? My insurance says it isn't"
At this point, i was handed to another person. The 5th person was able to explain that feet in front = Non-sportbike, otherwise it's a sport bike.
For those who don't know, the Navy (Marine Corps too I think) has instituted a "Sportbike Rider Safety Course" that is required for all sportbike riders to maintain/get base stickers. The MSF basic rider course or the advanced course do not count. Must be taken every 3 years. So, heads up, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, This is probably coming your way soon.
Quote from: Adamm3406 on July 06, 2008, 01:46:10 AM
Thanks Ron, I appreciate the sentiments, and I'll take your advice about the gearing and blinking questions. ;D He may be completely full of shit, but I tend to trust people. Another thing he told me that didn't sound right at all, was that once, he decided to open her up and see how fast she would go. He said he hit 95 mph in 2nd or 3rd gear (plausible). I then asked him if he kept going up through the gears (wanted to know how stupid fast he went), when he said yes, I asked him how fast he was going... His response : "At least 100, it was definitely at least 100 mph."
I kinda let that one go. [roll] If he only gained 5 mph over the next three gears, he either chopped the throttle, and had zero rpms, his speedometer was broken, or he's a moron.
As annoying as this conversation was, I do slightly enjoy them because it reminds me how much smarter I am than certain people. There's always a silver lining... ;)
This guy is an idiot with shit for brains.
Quote from: XJDAVE on July 06, 2008, 06:22:48 PM
Got mine in 2 weeks. I asked what their definition of a "sportbike" was and no one could tell me.
"what do you ride"
"Ducati Monster"
"That is a sport bike"
"How/why, explain? My insurance says it isn't"
At this point, i was handed to another person. The 5th person was able to explain that feet in front = Non-sportbike, otherwise it's a sport bike.
For those who don't know, the Navy (Marine Corps too I think) has instituted a "Sportbike Rider Safety Course" that is required for all sportbike riders to maintain/get base stickers. The MSF basic rider course or the advanced course do not count. Must be taken every 3 years. So, heads up, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, This is probably coming your way soon.
As soon as the word "Ducati" came out of my mouth, they signed me up. It helps that I'm good friends with the Traffic Safety guys on my base. Dropped my chit 2 days prior. Cancellation? Get Gilbert on the phone.
The MSF BRC and ERC are both great for anyone who has a bike. If you haven't taken at least the BRC, you should.
The MSRC is still worth your time. Yeah, the classroom is a lot of ORM bullshit. What Friday afternoon brief isn't? But seriously, the MSRC is geared for riders who might eventually do a track day. They teach body positioning and line choice for the real world. And it counts for a BRC/ERC requirement for another 3 years.
Worst case scenario, you get paid for a day of riding your bike. Beat that. I dare ya.
Oh, and take some sun screen.
[edit:] Also, I think people should know why the Navy has enlisted the help of the MSF to create this course: Of the roughly 24,000 motorcyclists in the Navy, roughly half of them ride "sport bikes."
Of the 33 motorcycle related fatalities so far this fiscal year (since 1 October 2007) 31 of 33 have been "sport bike" riders.
I can tell you from experience any of the current liter sport bikes will easily do 100mph in 2nd. In fact once they hit their powerband it happens exceptionally fast. As to top end, the ones I've ridden belonged to friends and weren't mine to abuse, and the traffic conditions would have made it dangerous to do so. That said I've only held any of them at WOT to about 105, I never needed 3rd gear to do it. [bacon]
I was up at Palomar mountain today. I got about halfway up and had to stop as they were stabilizing a guy on an SV who crossed the double yellow and hit a Ford Explorer head on. I went back down the mountain and waited for the helo to fly him out. While I was there I watched a guy on a Japanese superbike ride up in a T-shirt and tennis shoes and an Icon back protector. He stopped his bike and must have got his tennis shoe laces caught on his pegs or something because he fell right over with the bike on top of him. Then the guy next to me on another Japanese superbike, with fresh dirt embedded in the right side of his fairing, goes to take off and falls damaging the left side of the bike. His friends lift the bike off of him. He starts it up and proceeds to almost T-bone another motorcyclist driving down the road. After the South Grade opened up I rode to the top and stopped at a friends house and watched the ambulance roll once more. As I rode down the grade once more there was another bike being hauled off on a flat bed and another guy being air lifted out. I think I'm done riding the mountain on the weekends until the summer is over. After August the temperature drops from 72 down to 70 and everyone puts their bikes away for the winter in San Diego.
Quote from: me on July 06, 2008, 09:35:33 PM
I was up at Palomar mountain today. I got about halfway up and had to stop as they were stabilizing a guy on an SV who crossed the double yellow and hit a Ford Explorer head on. I went back down the mountain and waited for the helo to fly him out. While I was there I watched a guy on a Japanese superbike ride up in a T-shirt and tennis shoes and an Icon back protector. He stopped his bike and must have got his tennis shoe laces caught on his pegs or something because he fell right over with the bike on top of him. Then the guy next to me on another Japanese superbike, with fresh dirt embedded in the right side of his fairing, goes to take off and falls damaging the left side of the bike. His friends lift the bike off of him. He starts it up and proceeds to almost T-bone another motorcyclist driving down the road. After the South Grade opened up I rode to the top and stopped at a friends house and watched the ambulance roll once more. As I rode down the grade once more there was another bike being hauled off on a flat bed and another guy being air lifted out. I think I'm done riding the mountain on the weekends until the summer is over. After August the temperature drops from 72 down to 70 and everyone puts their bikes away for the winter in San Diego.
i live in alpine. (if you live in san diego then you know where that is) and it seems to me that every knuckle head with a bike feels they have to swarm alpine every weekend of the summer. its nice up here. we have tons of windy roads. but in the summer those windy roads are like asteroid belts of retarded bikers. they pretend there on a course or something. and it is very uncommon to see anyone (outside of harly riders) with anything considered "Gear" on. SD = Squid Central.
Quote from: BomberHead on July 06, 2008, 09:48:12 PM
i live in alpine. (if you live in san diego then you know where that is) and it seems to me that every knuckle head with a bike feels they have to swarm alpine every weekend of the summer. its nice up here. we have tons of windy roads. but in the summer those windy roads are like asteroid belts of retarded bikers. they pretend there on a course or something. and it is very uncommon to see anyone (outside of harly riders) with anything considered "Gear" on. SD = Squid Central.
I love alpine. Nice little town...
Quote from: me on July 06, 2008, 09:35:33 PM
I was up at Palomar mountain today. I got about halfway up and had to stop as they were stabilizing a guy on an SV who crossed the double yellow and hit a Ford Explorer head on. I went back down the mountain and waited for the helo to fly him out. While I was there I watched a guy on a Japanese superbike ride up in a T-shirt and tennis shoes and an Icon back protector. He stopped his bike and must have got his tennis shoe laces caught on his pegs or something because he fell right over with the bike on top of him. Then the guy next to me on another Japanese superbike, with fresh dirt embedded in the right side of his fairing, goes to take off and falls damaging the left side of the bike. His friends lift the bike off of him. He starts it up and proceeds to almost T-bone another motorcyclist driving down the road. After the South Grade opened up I rode to the top and stopped at a friends house and watched the ambulance roll once more. As I rode down the grade once more there was another bike being hauled off on a flat bed and another guy being air lifted out. I think I'm done riding the mountain on the weekends until the summer is over. After August the temperature drops from 72 down to 70 and everyone puts their bikes away for the winter in San Diego.
WOW!!! are you sure you weren't in the twilight zone???? I would never ride there.. it's cursed! [evil]
Quote from: BomberHead on July 06, 2008, 09:48:12 PM
and it is very uncommon to see anyone (outside of harly riders) with anything considered "Gear" on. SD = Squid Central.
Wow...never heard that one begore !!!
Quote from: me on July 06, 2008, 09:35:33 PM
T-shirt and tennis shoes and an Icon back protector.
I have seen this more than a few times here in Virginia. Is it a fashion statement or something?
Quote from: XJDAVE on July 07, 2008, 06:51:40 AM
I have seen this more than a few times here in Virginia. Is it a fashion statement or something?
Right along with wearing a bulletproof vest.
Quote from: Hedgehog on July 05, 2008, 03:46:11 PM
I'm with you Adam. I can't figure out why 900CC isn't still the top size bike. The old ZX-9R was killer fast. Everything since then is just stupid.
MARKETING.
And, as pointed out previously, Army Times, and similar pubs are hitting the target market - 18 - 24, regular paycheck with no other financial responsibility.
It still ain't no 620 - 140 mph!!! [roll]