The Motorcycle Discussion Thread

[Dayze]

I figure there are some motorcycle guys/gals on CP, so I thought we could have a place to talk all things Motorcycles.

Tire Mount and Balance Prices (as of 10/29/16)

Prices based on if you remove the wheels yourself and bring the wheels and new tires with you:

Cycle Gear - $35 per wheel if you buy tires from them. $58 per wheel if you buy tires elsewhere
Rawhide - $65 per wheel (assuming it would be the same at other HD dealers. they book it at 1/2 hr per wheel)
C R Cycle Tires (DeSoto) - $30 per wheel

Cheapest I've found my Michelin Commander II's. Seem like they have good prices on other brands too.
http://www.jakewilson.com - Free 3 day shipping on orders over $75

[stanleychief]

Originally Posted by Graystoke

Both very sweet rides! My buddy had a Multistrada and it was a sweet bike. However note, if you don't wrench on your own bikes, expect to put out coin to have Ducati's serviced. I think he paid $1200 for the 15k valve etc. interval.
I bet you have enjoyed that V Strom. Great bikes as well

I love my V-Strom, it has been a wonderful bike. If it had more grunt on the highway, I would seriously consider keeping it.

[Perineum Ripper]

Originally Posted by Dayze

'15 RG Special?

Yes sir..pretty excited about it

[Dayze]

Noice.



You getting her soon?

[Perineum Ripper]

Originally Posted by Dayze

Noice.



You getting her soon?

Looking at getting her in March..that is when my birthday is and the girlfriend is pushing me to do it..she really likes it

[Dayze]

You'll love it.
You have a RK now, correct?

[Perineum Ripper]

Yes sir an 01 Road King Classic..good bike..very reliable and great for the riding I do..just want a new bike with better everything and that fixed fairing will be nice for long trips and having Navigation and a radio is something I'm looking forward to

[stanleychief]

Originally Posted by mac459

A good bike along those lines is the FJ-09 by Yamaha..it is a triple cylinder bike that is a sport touring bike..cheaper option if you want to look into that..I thought about getting one but decided I wanted a big fairing and full touring bike

Just spent the last few hours catching up on new reviews and model updates for the sport touring category. I do like the price of the FJ, and I'll definitely give it a look. The BMW and Ducati offer quite a bit more power, and comfort goodies for the extra money though. I was hoping the Japanese bikes would have caught up by now, but they are still lagging a bit in this category. KTM has some cool offerings, but most reviews point to that being a much stiffer ride and less 'road-friendly' than the others. I'll be test driving them all though. Paper stats are one thing, but riding them is the real test.

Speaking of paper stats.. just for grins, I've included some specifications for some of these bikes. One thing is for sure, none of them are slow! The BMW is the fastest though, especially on the 60-80 test. For comparison, the newer version of my V-Strom (with more torque & hp) does 60-80 in 5.4 seconds. I'd bet mine is a good 2 seconds slower than that.

[Perineum Ripper]

Yeah the FJ is missing a lot of cool electronic and other features which sucks..those BMW bikes are awesome..I really like that 1000XR

I think any bike you chose out of those will be a damn good bike..obviously if you can afford the BMW and the maintenance fees for it that would be awesome

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by mac459

Yes sir an 01 Road King Classic..good bike..very reliable and great for the riding I do..just want a new bike with better everything and that fixed fairing will be nice for long trips and having Navigation and a radio is something I'm looking forward to

yeah, I never thought I'd really enjoy the radio. I thought "man, I just want to hear the bike and the open road". lol. Well, that was true...but man, having that radio is awesome. you can click off some serious miles just listening to your favorite tunes out in the country etc. You'll love it. Mine doesn't have Nav, but I imagine that would be an awesome thing to have.

I think the Specials have a little better rear suspension if I'm not mistaken. At least, I 'think" I read that at one point.

[Dayze]

Stanleychief - have you ever looked at the Kawi Concours?
Might not be applicable if you're wanting to do pavement/gravel etc. But its another one of those bikes that seems to do everything well. Fast, nimble, some storage, good suspension.

[Dayze]

Here are those 2v Valve Adjustment vids
3rd comment on the forum:
"It got me through my first valve adjustments no problem.
posessing the video and a workshop manual you should have nothing to fear."

Overall Reference:
http://www.ducatisuite.com/valves.html
Thread by a guy who did it himself:
http://www.ducatimonster.org/forums/...nt-myself.html
Actual Vids:
http://www.ducatitech.com/info/tuneup.html

[seaofred]

Originally Posted by Dayze

yeah, I never thought I'd really enjoy the radio. I thought "man, I just want to hear the bike and the open road". lol. Well, that was true...but man, having that radio is awesome. you can click off some serious miles just listening to your favorite tunes out in the country etc. You'll love it. Mine doesn't have Nav, but I imagine that would be an awesome thing to have.

I think the Specials have a little better rear suspension if I'm not mistaken. At least, I 'think" I read that at one point.

When the new came out about Victory, I went to see what I could get out of mine for a new SG. They had a 16' Special on the floor. The only differences were Navigation, adjustable rear shock, and a hydraulic clutch.

[Dayze]

yeah, after browsing and shopping last year I remember coming away from it that the primary difference between a stock RG/SG and a Special was essentially Nav. I didn't realize that about the hydraulic clutch though. Don't think I've ever ridden a bike with one.

I also remember HD was pretty 'proud of the difference between stock and Special. and when I found out what Special entailed and looked at the price difference, I was like 'wat'? i do like the pin striping on the Specials too., however.

[kcfanXIII]

Originally Posted by Dayze

yeah, I never thought I'd really enjoy the radio. I thought "man, I just want to hear the bike and the open road". lol. Well, that was true...but man, having that radio is awesome. you can click off some serious miles just listening to your favorite tunes out in the country etc. You'll love it. Mine doesn't have Nav, but I imagine that would be an awesome thing to have.

I think the Specials have a little better rear suspension if I'm not mistaken. At least, I 'think" I read that at one point.

I love having a stereo on my bike. Had one on my bikes for about 5 years now. If I end up getting that fat bob, I'll probably get at least a 2 channel set up to mount on the bars. There's little better than cruising down some back roads and blaring some music. Just mile after mile. Man, I ****ing hate winter.

I have a 4 speaker handle bar mount set on my Road Star, but when I got in my accident, the right channel quit working. The fairing is still off from that, need to get it to my fiberglass guy. I had planned to drop a stereo in the fairing this winter, but I've put that on hold until I figure out if I'm getting this Harley or not.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

I love having a stereo on my bike. Had one on my bikes for about 5 years now. If I end up getting that fat bob, I'll probably get at least a 2 channel set up to mount on the bars. There's little better than cruising down some back roads and blaring some music. Just mile after mile. Man, I ****ing hate winter.

I have a 4 speaker handle bar mount set on my Road Star, but when I got in my accident, the right channel quit working. The fairing is still off from that, need to get it to my fiberglass guy. I had planned to drop a stereo in the fairing this winter, but I've put that on hold until I figure out if I'm getting this Harley or not.

Yep. I never new how much I was missing w/out one. I mean, my sporty and other bikes without one were fine around town, but a nice 200-300 mile day with tunes.....can't beat it.

My brother just bought a '12 SG with quite a bit of goodies . It has a nice after market radio with a folding face plate and a spot inside it for a USB drive etc. Man, I don't know if it's the radio, or if it has an amp or upgraded speakers or what, but his radio sounds awesome. WAY better than mine (Stock set up...I think my buddy I bought it from upgraded the speakers though). I have a little hard time hearing mine at 65+ w/out totalling cranking it. I rode my brothers and it's nice and clear and you don't have to crank the volume. Mine has almost zero bass (not than I'm looking to thump down the road or anything). His you can actually hear the beat of a kick drum etc. Hmmm.