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Showing content with the highest reputation on 04/22/2021 in all areas

  1. I enjoyed the video shared by Bertimus. The Reatta shown is, indeed, an amazing specimen. I'm partial to the Claret Red color and the repaint appears to be professionally done. My only critical comment is that the person who prepared the video didn't seem to deploy the same level of attention to the interior as obviously is the case with the exterior. I know this is a vehicle with over 117K miles, so the use of the CRT is apparent, though pocked and marked more than others of the same use, but dust on the air vents? Why not use a little more interior detailing? The glass and engine compartment seems impeccably cleaned. Overall I enjoyed the video including the "whine" of the supercharger during limited road test.
    2 points
  2. Some bikes are easier to ride a wheelie with than others. For example the 750 Kaw would pull the front wheel off the ground easily in the first three gears without you wanting it to, but it didn't make a good wheelie bike because everything happened so fast you would have to let off the gas after going a short distance on the back wheel or flip over backwards. I owned a Yamaha RD-350 that was the same way. It was the quickest bike I ever had to jerk the front wheel off the ground when it hit the power band but it would get out of control really fast. It was a terrible wheelie bike but it was fast if you kept it in the power band. The best wheelie bikes I've rode were dirt bikes with big single cylinder engines (thumpers) that had heavy flywheels. They have lots of low end torque and the heavy flywheel smooths out the power so throttle changes don't effect the attitude of the bike so quickly when you're on the back wheel. It helps to keep all the slack out of the chain too so changes in the throttle would be felt quickly. Doing a really long wheelie is about balance and being smooth with the throttle more than it is about power. The best wheelie bike I had was a Honda XL 250 with a Powroll storker crank that brought it up to about 305cc. It had tons of low end torque and a big heavy flywheel to smooth out the power. I could keep it on the back wheel through the first three gears and it would start coming down when I shifted to forth. That is the same bike I flipped over backwards on the pavement. When the skin is removed from your finger tips it will make you rethink your style of riding. ? Probably the most pain I have ever experienced.
    2 points
  3. I did have a 49cc Honda Spree and my big deal was wanting to get "leathers" and go to a biker bar... Never did it, my neighbor talked me out of it.
    1 point
  4. This should be titled stupid pet tricks? Stop at the gas station to fuel up. This was the Yamaha 750 triple, four stroke. Triple disc brakes, shaft drive, self cancelling turn signals, fairly high tech for a mid 70’s bike, but heavy. After fueling, putting gloves back on and leaning against bike. Reach over to hit start button while next to bike. Bike still in gear apparently but touch starter and it lurches forward just enough for the stand to fold. Slow motion the bike leans over against me and keeps leaning as I try to ease it down while trying to look like I meant to do that. Man, what a dufus move. Only saving grace was early morning on way in to work.
    1 point
  5. Scariest was trying to make a 60cc Yammer try to do something stupid and it tried to escape. 650 BSA Lightning (dual carb) could carry the front tire about a foot off the ground for a coupla gears/blocks. Worst experience took a Harley Sportster to a party and went to park at side of house. In dark put foot into an in ground trash can and everything came down on top. No injury but need help to get bike off since had no leverage.
    1 point
  6. Lots of talk about motorcycles. I never owned one. My experience hasn't been good. Borrowed a 125cc Binelli from my father-in-law - wrecked it due to excessive gravel and speed. Borrowed a 650cc Yamaha from brother - almost wrecked it - due to highway conditions and, again, due to speed. Later, had two "3-wheelers" both were wrecked by me and others. Last time I broke numerous rules, had my wife as a passenger on the 3-wheeler and her extended stay in the hospital with a fractured femur put the end to such "joy." I have a brother who "lives to ride", has over 900,000 miles certified by BMW (this doesn't count his early Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha use). He says when you feel like you mastered your ride, its time to get off.
    1 point
  7. I agree. By far the fastest motorcycle I ever rode. They made a Honda 750 four cylinder of that period look like a wimp in comparison.
    1 point
  8. Not mine but an amazing specimen!
    1 point
  9. Remember seeing a kid showing off in a parking lot with a Kaw triple. Stood straight up in air, rear wheel left the ground, kid hit the ground, bike fell over sideways and cracked the cases. Memory still vivid of the bike bleeding out on the ground. Kid seemed OK.
    0 points
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