Do you ride a Harley, or a Vespa?

[W5GA]

I don't ride anything anymore. Too much of a chore.


Mac vs. PC: The stereotypes may be true



The report found that 67% of Mac users have a college or advanced degree, as opposed to 54% of PC users. Mac loyalists are 80% more likely than PC users to be vegetarians, and, unlike PC fans, would rather ride a Vespa scooter than a Harley.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/04/22/mac.pc.users/index.html?hpt=T2

[WØTKX]

I'm bi-rider and bi-computer. :snicker:

[KC2UGV]

An unscientific survey by Hunch, a site that makes recommendations based on detailed user preferences, found that Mac users tend to be younger, more liberal, more fashion-conscious and more likely to live in cities than people who prefer PCs.

All I needed to read...

[ka4dpo]

I used to race Desert bikes in the 70's but I no longer ride. I have all of the scars I will ever need.

[W3MIV]

Used to ride in the seventies. Had a Honda 360, which was the perfect size bike for me. Hawgs were just too damned heavy and I hated the hemorrhoid-pounding. Bike had enough power and was nice and quick. Had a boating accident in which I very severely mangled an elbow, resulting in weeks in traction in a VA hospital and then months in open and closed casts. Rehab, etc. Couldn't ride, so I sold the bike during the gas crisis in '74 for more than I paid for it new. Had almost 50k miles on it, but the high mpg carried the day in that market.

Never bought another because I liked it too much and figured I would end up killing myself on one. Too much like open-cockpit flying. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwweeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! is not conducive to longevity.

Nice to now be an old fart and look back. Or, it is much better to walk around on the lawn than to lie there staring up at it.

[W4RLR]

Nice to now be an old fart and look back. Or, it is much better to walk around on the lawn than to lie there staring up at it.Or to be on top of the sod, yelling "Get the hell off my lawn, you damned kids!"

[WØTKX]

I had a bunch of Honda Twins that I got dirt cheap. One of the best? A little CB-360 with a small fairing and bags. I rode a lot a miles on it, had it for about 8 years. Very easy to maintain, it never gave me any grief at all. I've been tempted to buy one again when a really cherry one shows up on Craigslist. Excellent little bike, it worked as a small tourer. I had another CB-350 tricked out as a small "bobber" all blacked out, no chrome.

Traded the bobber straight up for an Yamaha RD-400 two stroke screamer that was incredibly fast, and produced a neato blue smoke contrail. WingaDingdingding, buh bye!

[KG4CGC]

Comparing a PC to a Harley? OK.
OK then. The Vespa will do 65 mph, doesn't leak oil and gets about 70 mpg. It's as comfortable in the city as it is on the open road.

[W3MIV]

I like Vespas. Rode them in Europe and Bermuda. Wish I had one now as a toy. Don't think I'd really like to do 65 on one, though. That speed on the Honda was a nice cruising speed and, unlike the Hawg, it was pretty smooth under my butt. Never had any real maintenance issues with it. Friend of mine at the time had a shaft-drive Bimmer twin. That was a really nice bike, but way outta my league cost-wise.

[KG4CGC]

Granted, 65 is not a comfortable speed on a Vespa but it will cruise all day at 50.

[WØTKX]

BMW vs Honda. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. :yes:

[KG4CGC]

BMW vs Honda. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. :yes:
A leaky air box will cause the jets to be off as if you are running the wrong sizes. Remember to seal up your air box joints.

[n2ize]

I ride a 1979 Peugeot moped. I haven't rode it in years however because it is in my parents garage, it has a flat, and, I can't get to it because it is blocked by a ton of lumber and junk. One of these years if I can get to it it will be interesting to clean out the old gas...which has probably turned into solid varnish by now, put in some fresh gas, and see if it can fire up. Last I used it was running fine.

[KG4CGC]

John, you should check out the Facebook Moped page. A lot of oldies there.

[n2ize]

John, you should check out the Facebook Moped page. A lot of oldies there.

Thanks

[w2amr]

Comparing a PC to a Harley? OK.
OK then. The Vespa will do 65 mph, doesn't leak oil and gets about 70 mpg. It's as comfortable in the city as it is on the open road.Sure, If you don't mind looking like a little girl.:snicker:

[W3MIV]

Sure, If you don't mind looking like a little girl.:snicker:

Oooooooh, I'll scratch your eyes out, brute!

[KG4CGC]

Sooo, Mac users are little girls now?

[N8YX]

That which I ride is fast as hell and has dual headlights.



'DSG sez "No pictures", however. :-|

[KG4CGC]

http://www.freedommopeds.com/Trikes.html

Check out the fourth one down painted orange. It's a Chinese knock off trike version of a Ruckus.

[w2amr]

I kind of like this sporty model.
http://www.wheelchair-deals.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/center-electric-wheelchair.jpg

[KG4CGC]

I kind of like this sporty model.
http://www.wheelchair-deals.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/center-electric-wheelchair.jpg
I don't see the hangers on that for your sacks and tubing.

[WØTKX]

Does it come with loud straight pipes?

[N8YX]

Just got back from a ride on the re-tired Connie.

Went to a couple area bike shops to pick up accessories for this:

4100

I'm having as much fun riding it off-road as I do riding the motorcycles on-road.

[KG4CGC]

Nice lines.

[W4RLR]

Sooo, Mac users are little girls now?Hell, I've been called worse lately.

[N8YX]

Nice lines.
It has a VX-7R mounted to the handlebars. :rofl:

Perhaps I ought to go full-tilt and install an FT-817? :chin:

[NQ6U]

BMW vs Honda. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. :yes:

I used to ride one of these:

http://www.rcycle.com/BMW_R60_Rh_finished.JPG

[KG4CGC]

It has a VX-7R mounted to the handlebars. :rofl:

Perhaps I ought to go full-tilt and install an FT-817? :chin:
Go with an onboard gen running off a wheel with a voltage regulator. Then you'll really be talking full-tilt.
I set up on of those little gens to run the lights. They don't think you need the voltage regulator. Got going and started to hit 20 mph and I blew the bulbs!

[KG4CGC]

I used to ride one of these:

http://www.rcycle.com/BMW_R60_Rh_finished.JPG
Excuse me. I have to go clean up now.

[W3MIV]

I used to ride one of these:

http://www.rcycle.com/BMW_R60_Rh_finished.JPG


Nice, but early R60. The one my friend rode had a blockier and larger tank, and the lights and signals were modern. I think his was around 1970 or '71. Damn fine bikes, but pricey.

[N8YX]

Go with an onboard gen running off a wheel with a voltage regulator. Then you'll really be talking full-tilt.
I set up on of those little gens to run the lights. They don't think you need the voltage regulator. Got going and started to hit 20 mph and I blew the bulbs!
I would love to set up a generator hub on the front wheel but I doubt they're made in 32-hole, 9mm QR size. With 6-hole disc brake mounts to boot.

One of the things I'm looking at is another set of wheels - Mike of "LaceMine29" fame will build a pair with 36-spoke Hope hubs, 33mm SunRingle rims and DT Swiss spokes for $645. These will get the all-mountain tires. The OEM DT Swiss front rim could be set up with said hub and equipped with a set of road/trail tires for cross-country/trail work. Planet Bike makes a nice set of 1w generator-powered "Blaze" headlights that would be ideal for this application.

The customization process is ongoing.

[N8YX]

Let's see - Shimano to the rescue:

http://harriscyclery.net/merchant/370/images/large/HUH10A.jpg

I need another brake rotor for my heavy-duty rims, thus I may be able to use the existing one then go with a new Shimano Center-Lock setup for this hub.

Intriguing...

[N2CHX]

2010 Kymco Quannon 150 crotch rocket. Will do 75 and at 55 gets about 100 MPG.

Also, 1999 orange GT hardtail mountain bike.

[N8YX]

2010 Kymco Quannon 150 crotch rocket. Will do 75 and at 55 gets about 100 MPG.

Also, 1999 orange GT hardtail mountain bike.
Pics of hard tail or GTFO. :rofl:

[w2amr]

I used to ride one of these:

http://www.rcycle.com/BMW_R60_Rh_finished.JPGNice. Big buck machine now I'll bet.

[NQ6U]

Nice, but early R60. The one my friend rode had a blockier and larger tank, and the lights and signals were modern. I think his was around 1970 or '71. Damn fine bikes, but pricey.

Exactly right, Albi. Mine was a '68, the last year BMW made the style pictured. I liked it better than the '69-'73 version of the R-60.

That's not my bike in the picture, mine wasn't quite as cherry (and the pin striping was a little different), although it came pretty close.

[N2CHX]

Pics of hard tail or GTFO. :rofl:

Taken on my first ride of the season last year, in Lockport not far from where you and Nicki and I met to eat.

http://forums.hamisland.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=4101&stc=1&d=1303605647

[KG4CGC]

Hey Kelli! I've been wanting to ask you about your impressions of your 150. How do you feel on it? Nothing like hitting some twisty, windy roads and just going :)

[N2CHX]

Hey Kelli! I've been wanting to ask you about your impressions of your 150. How do you feel on it? Nothing like hitting some twisty, windy roads and just going :)

I fell in love with it from the moment I saw it and I'm still in love with it. It's a soft ride with just enough vibration from the single cylinder to make a girl feel great after a long ride, lol. Seriously, I like it a lot. It lacks a bit of power when it's really cold out, but when it's above 45 it screams. It did vapor lock on me up in the hills when it was really cold too, but removing the gas cap and putting it back on fixed that. My ride to work is all twisty, windy country roads. The bike just seems to go wherever you want it to with no real effort. Turns are sweet, although I admit I was pretty nervous at first and since the gears are 1 down 4 up, I did scrape my sneaker on the pavement making a left-hand turn at a stop sign a couple of times. Other than that, and that's just operator error, it handles really, really well. The only thing I don't like is the fact that you deliberately push the RPM's up to 8 or 9,000 for cruising at any speed. It just seems insane.

[W4RLR]

I ride neither. I rode Hondas when I was young and foolish. My sister OTOH is a Harley rider.

I also prefer Macs to PCs.

[N7YA]

I ride neither.

I read Sonny Barger's book (founder of the Hells Angels), near the end of the book, he mentioned how he wishes he would have started riding a Honda in the beginning because they are more reliable and far more comfortable than Harleys. He mentioned how he hated being on the side of the road working on his panhead while Honda riders rolled on by.

How ironic is it that when i started writing this post, i was watching Daniel Tosh, then South Park came on...the episode about annoying Harley riders ruining everyones good time. They dont bother me that much, but i think the open road can be enjoyed without having to spend 30k on a trend...which is what most Harleys and riders thereof, have become. Sonny currently rides a Gold Wing...somebody want to go make fun of him?







....for the record, the South Park episode thats on right now is the one where the JA's are running around killing dolphins and whales, then yelling "FUCK YOU DERPHINS!! FUCK YOU RAYRS!!". South Park had redeemed themselves a little.

[N8YX]

Sonny currently rides a Gold Wing...somebody want to go make fun of him?
One of the more prominent members of a local chapter of one of the Big Four rides a Honda VTX1300 and his OL/SO/wife rides an 1100 V-Star.

We got sick of push-starting his '79 FLH chopper. He got sick of having to ask us to do so at every venue we hung out at.

[KG4CGC]

The Harley knock offs out of China have gotten pretty popular. Mainly 250 and 300cc's.

ETA: http://www.supersportz.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1028