Motorcycles.

[Cookie Monster]

It was a crazy and fun 2 years, I guess.

Also very painful and expensive. I don't regret riding but I don't regret getting out of it either.

[shp4man]

                              Still proudly riding my Harley Davidson, listening to that V-Twin music and feelin that low end grunt power! 

[CaminoRacer]

Bunch of unthusiasts

[giant_mtb]

Get off the street.  Ride dirt.  That way you don't have to bumblefuck yourself under a guard rail or whatever the fuck you do to break shit.

[12,000 RPM]

There are trees and berms and shit out there. I'm going to stick with a biannual track pilgrimage

[Speed_Racer]

Found a route home yesterday that had curvy ashalt, dirt, mud, fall trees, deer, and leftover snow.

[FoMoJo]

Found a route home yesterday that had curvy ashalt, dirt, mud, fall trees, deer, and leftover snow.

Leftover snow?  Where the heck do you live?

[giant_mtb]

Nice. Spin any donuts?

I recently found a nice sand pit with perfect sand for practicing aggressive and slidey turns...can lay it down and not give a shit (besides sand getting all up in the controls).  I favor left hand turns...I can't whip good shitties turning right like I can going left...strangely applies to my driving in the snow as well.

[Speed_Racer]

Utah got some snow this past week in the mountains, and this road went high enough that there was still some leftover in the shadows.

And I need to get more comfortable with dirt riding before trying donuts. Though I did have some fun pinning it in 2nd gear down dirt roads. It's almost time to replace the front tire though so I'm riding pretty conservatively off pavement for now.

[giant_mtb]

Yeah those tires don't look particularly knobby.

[shp4man]

The dealer I work at took in a 2001 HD Softtail Standard in trade. Like this:



I considered buying it, selling the Sportster and customizing it a bit. It was cherry, with only 7400 miles, garaged/covered, like new. Offered $4k.....some other jackass that works here outbid me.    

[giant_mtb]

Your Ford dealer takes motorcycles?

[MX793]

Your Ford dealer takes motorcycles?

I've heard of car dealerships taking bikes on trade.  Some car dealer chains also include a motorcycle dealership.

[giant_mtb]

Huh.  Never seen that, at least around here. But our bike community is tiny compared to warmer places, so it makes sense.

[shp4man]

Recently, we've had several bikes taken in trade. They even take bass boats and ski boats. thing is, they don't give much for them.

[MX793]

Nice. Spin any donuts?

I recently found a nice sand pit with perfect sand for practicing aggressive and slidey turns...can lay it down and not give a shit (besides sand getting all up in the controls).  I favor left hand turns...I can't whip good shitties turning right like I can going left...strangely applies to my driving in the snow as well.

I think a lot of off-road riders favor left turns because the rear brake is on the right, so you don't have to choose between covering the brake and having your leg out.

[giant_mtb]

I think a lot of off-road riders favor left turns because the rear brake is on the right, so you don't have to choose between covering the brake and having your leg out.

Makes sense. I haven't figured out if it's more of a mental block or a lack of coordination due to favoritism.  For now, it feels like both.  I'm the same way on my mountain bike, too.  Must have had a bad experience with a right turn somewhere in my life.

[giant_mtb]

I think as far as driving goes, I think left is favorable because I'm on that side of the vehicle with better visibility, so that's pretty explainable.

[MX793]

I think as far as driving goes, I think left is favorable because I'm on that side of the vehicle with better visibility, so that's pretty explainable.

There's also the entire passenger side between you and any hard object if the car pushes wide.  I think I actually prefer right hand turns in a car.

[CaminoRacer]

It could also have something to do with your dominate hand. I prefer going left in any vehicle.

Or maybe we've watched too many NASCAR races.

[giant_mtb]

I'm right handed, but prefer left hand turns.  Used to be left-footed ('til I got a left knee injury), but I dunno what takes precedence. 

[giant_mtb]

Couple of local enduros.  Loose Moose (easier) and the Mad Moose (hard enduro).  The Mad Moose was just yesterday...wish I woulda known, I would've made an effort to get out there and watch.  I've done bits and pieces of these trails...the turn 'n burn single track stuff is pretty fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL__TSFH5D4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbiMsy3TL8o

[shp4man]

Anybody seen this bike yet? This is retro as hell, but modern power and elecronics. Only thing I don't like is the steep fork angle.




https://riders.drivemag.com/news/new-bonneville-speedmaster-triumph-strikes-again

[CaminoRacer]

I like the fat front tire look

[Speed_Racer]

Triumph has been knocking it out of the park with new releases lately

[12,000 RPM]

Sport Rider is done! Ash on bikes, Motorcycle USA... when does it end? Where is the interest?

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Sport Rider is done! Ash on bikes, Motorcycle USA... when does it end? Where is the interest?

My last Sport Rider came today! Sad to see it go! I hate to say it but I might be changing styles soon myself..........

[CaminoRacer]

You pussies.

Not that I ride very often. The roads aren't fun here. Gotta drive up into the mountains to get good curves, but then it's either a steep hill climb or a freefall coast down the mountain.

[12,000 RPM]

Bike has a flat and I let insurance lapse. I'll bet my brand new battery is borderline now too It's still warm AF here. I need to get some Friday rides in before I sell it. I also wanna hit a parking lot and practice getting a knee down. Just do figure 8s

[MX793]

Sport Rider is done! Ash on bikes, Motorcycle USA... when does it end? Where is the interest?

Insurance industry basically killed the sport bike.  And the bike companies making them too hardcore.  The repliracers are too hardcore for older, monied riders, and too expensive to insure for the younger crew.  By association, the few non-RR sport bike out there also cost a mint to insure.  Now it's all about ADV bikes (and cruisers).

I also feel like the bike industry is still recovering from the recession.  People still don't have the disposable cash for toys, or are less willing to blow their limited extra dough on bikes.  Financing may not be as easy to get as it used to be, either, and before the recession, a huge number of bikes were financed through sweet, no money down, no interest for a year deals.