Show Me Your Ride!

**Mr. Kilt** · 28th February 07, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by Hamish

A car IS a necessity where I now live Matthew, but that does not mean I know anything about what makes it work! On the other hand, I do enjoy driving once I am behind the wheel, but would much prefer that I didn't have to be there in the first place!

You must find people like me rather baffling, Ham. I drive for a living, so you'd think that on holidays I'd rather fly somewhere. Well, in April Karen and I will embark on a road trip that will take us somewhere between 3500 and 4000 miles (5600 - 6500 kms) over a 2-week period. There is nothing I enjoy more than being behind the wheel, and I can take 'em apart and rebuild 'em, too.

Flying is great if time (or location) is an issue, but give me four (or two) wheels any day!

**Dreadbelly** · 28th February 07, 07:16 PM

Um, I don't ever want to fly again if I can help it. I'd rather ride a train or better yet, a car.

A comfortable car.

**Andrew Green** · 28th February 07, 07:33 PM

Laotou:
Are those old Dneprs (K-750, M72), or are they CJ750s?
Freakin' sweet either way... I am looking to get one of the older military bikes myself... though I personally want a KMZ/Dnepr K-750, without the sidecar.

I am rather surprised (then again, should I be?) by the amount of 2 wheeled fanatics on here. Glad to see cyclists... much more fun than putzing around on 4 wheels (at least when the weather permits... and I have ridden in some nasty stuff...so no, I am not just a pansy about it).

Dreadbelly:
You seem to be relatively familiar with the old triples.
Did you own one of the old widowmakers or something? You mention compound fractures... which makes me think of the H1/KH500, as those were generally the worst handling of the bunch (especially the early H1s from those more experienced with them than I am).
The '77 KH400 is generally regarded as the most rideable of the triples, and it still scoots off fast enough to get your blood pumping and put a grin on your face.

Props to those who use the shoedabakers... no healthier way to get around... save for maybe bicyclng.
Although I still argue my case for motorbikes!
Good times though.

I take a few days away from the board, and it explodes!

**Dreadbelly** · 28th February 07, 07:52 PM

My first street legal bike was a Honda CBR 600. I learned to ride on a bike where you had to reach down and shift gears with a screwdriver jammed in to the place where the foot peg was.

I am aware of the triples only through reputation and Hunter S. Thompson, but that isn't to say I haven't rode some scary beasts at times. My last motorcycle was a Kawasaki by name and engine only. It wasn't street legal, and was basically a stripped down and naked Ninja. Nitro injector. Anything not needed was chopped off for speed. Most of the faring and the body was gone too. It would do zero to 60 in about 3 seconds. I actually rode cross country once or twice on this very beast, going from Washington state to South Carolina, and did it once in less than 3 days. It had lights, but I could yank them off if I had to. This bike died tragically. Somebody plowed through a red light doing about 60 miles per hour. And broad sided me. Haven't had the money or the means to buy another bike since. And my gimpy leg, I don't know if I could hold a bike up any more. I did have a purple Honda motorscooter for a while. Also had a Jawa 125, and while you may laugh, it was a SWEET ride. Comfortable seat, nice bars, and it rode smooth as silk. Hardly any vibration. I have a body made for cafe racers. I am short and squat and can hunker over the gas tank with out a lot of pain or discomfort, like a lot of tall guys seem to have.

I walk with a cane for a reason.

I'd love to get a sidecar ride. Like a Ural. With three wheel drive.

Of course, my heart still pines for a Ducati. Or a Vincent Black Shadow. HST said it was better to be shot out of a cannon than be squeezed out of a tube.

**Andrew Green** · 28th February 07, 08:34 PM

Vincent Black Shadow...
is there any bike more coveted among the collector crowd? Beatiful piece of work.
If you want a sidecar rig with 2WD (rear and sidecar wheel driven)... don't get a Ural, as I have read (from people who own, ride and love Ruskie iron) that they aren't streetable in that fashion... more or less tries to shoot you in a straight line...differential is locked. The Dneprs on the other hand that DO have 2WD option (largely in military models like MB650, or the civilian MT16) have a limited slip style diff that will transfer to the slipping wheel when needed, good for about any weather, and even some interesting off road situations. I THINK that you can engage/disengage it at will too. Plus the bikes were semi-automatic clutch after the MT9, which is interesting.
However, if you just want a sidecar rig, a Ural is the more reliable of them in the modern sense.

I could talk bikes until the sun goes down.

I've been hit riding once, it wasn't very serious, and I am glad for that. It was still quite hair raising. I can't imagine what it would be like to get plowed by someone. I think I would kill the car driver if I was able to get up.

**ccga3359** · 28th February 07, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew Green

Vincent Black Shadow...
is there any bike more coveted among the collector crowd?

Yes, the Vincent Black Lightning.

**Andrew Green** · 28th February 07, 08:40 PM

I have actually never heard of that one.
Was it the Shadow's predecessor?

**Dreadbelly** · 28th February 07, 08:42 PM

I was in the California redwoods, in those lovely S curves, somewhere around the pacific coast highway. I had the bike open. I don't know how fast for sure.

I hit a leaf or some gravel. I don't know what happened, but I laid the bike down at or near triple digit speed.

Leathers and helmets save lives! And skin!

**ccga3359** · 28th February 07, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew Green

I have actually never heard of that one.
Was it the Shadow's predecessor?

Stripped down Shadow, very rare. Race ready, 125mph in 1948.

**Dreadbelly** · 28th February 07, 08:56 PM

No. Sorry, the bathing suit picture was ol whatsisname breaking a land speed record for ANYTHING on wheels. (And a combustion engine) He hit 150 mph. He had previously hit 149, but the force of the wind actually tore the leather suit from off of his body, splitting the seams.

He greased him self down to protect his skin, put on a bathing cap, the trunks, and then proceded to ride like the proverbial bat out of hell. He broke the 150mph mark, something previously thought impossible.

There was only 15 or 16 of the Lightnings produced, and they could go from 0 to 140ish in the space of 1 mile. Whatsisname broke the 150 mph mark in the one mile mark test. The bike could have probably gone faster, but the engine would likely explode at some point.