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new board

by manzruin

start posting here: http://data.forumhoster.com/forum_bmfbp/

I'll keep this one here in case it doesn't work out.

Posted on May 11, 2004, 5:25 PM

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current board 2007

by aaron

http://bmfbp.eamped.com/

Posted on Mar 16, 2007, 10:17 PM

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Posted on Aug 26, 2008, 8:01 AM

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Sideshow...

by tom

Check this out...
http://www.neonshop.com/neontech/index.cgi?read=10556

Maybe something to think about...
I gots the lab.

Posted on May 10, 2004, 9:18 PM

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Tom, you ought to . .

by Sideshow

CASH IN!!!

If you got the little extra time to do it, find someone with a Honda and find out what lengths would work. Man, if I had access to a shop, I'd do it. Hell, you could throw some on any of your motorcycles, ride them up and down East Wahington, show them off, stop at the hoppin' parking lots, and MAKE BANK!! Just pull up to a late night stop light, give the throttle a couple 10 grand and up revs. Watch the eyes around you become envious. Rice boys are moneydispensing easies.

Posted on May 11, 2004, 12:40 PM

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I may need a tutorial

by tom

on how to do it. I know Manz wanted a glowing motor, he may be the perfect guinea pig for this little "experiment".

Posted on May 11, 2004, 5:24 PM

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It's easy . . .

by Sideshow

Use 12 mm electrodes on the ends of any length tube you pump. Get an extra set of spark plug wires. From there it's just:

Coil or distributor connection --> spark plug wire --> neon tube --> spark plug wire --> spark plug.

The trick is to make the extra set of spark plug wire adaptable as necessary. My set up at the light show for the truck was somewhat ghettoed up with electrical tape. I wouldn't want that going down the road the way I had it. I expected the connections to fall out easily as the tape would get mushy.

But I did dream of making a white rack of four tubes in front of my truck's radiator behind the grille. Using white tubes (makes it legal) I'd hook up each engine cylinder to a single tube in succession. So you'd get the light flowing bottom to top if your eyes were really fast. Like a dragonfly's. Us humans are slow, and so it would be cool at a stoplight to just rev it. The 4 cyl has a good range for seeing flashing light go to almost solid as it gets between 800 and 4500 rpm. On a bike it would be extra sweet. 12000 rpm must be beautifully solid.

Posted on May 11, 2004, 7:12 PM

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Posted on Aug 29, 2008, 12:35 AM

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the NY Times - article on vintage Jap bikes

by Max

cut and pasted >

Japan's Bikes: Trusty Then, Coveted Now
By LINDSAY BROOKE

Published: May 10, 2004

MONG collectors of motorcycles, the pursuit of a specific model - even a Japanese bike of fairly recent vintage - can challenge the limits of one's devotion to an already passionate hobby.
For Mickey Cohen of Kingston, Pa., the test took the form of a search for a Honda GB500 Tourist Trophy, a single-cylinder road bike with classic British lines largely ignored by American riders when it was introduced in 1989. After finally locating one at a fair price, Mr. Cohen, who has collected vintage Hondas for 10 years, called the bike's owner in New Jersey to arrange an inspection.
The seller explained that he was in the process of relocating to the Midwest. The bike was already packed inside a moving van full of household goods.
Would that be enough to prevent a deal?
"I quickly arranged a rendezvous near Interstate 81 as he drove through Pennsylvania," Mr. Cohen said. "We met at a motel, and I bought it. He mailed me the title."
Mr. Cohen's determination in acquiring that relatively unloved Honda - it was sold in the United States for just two years - is a telling indicator of the growing interest in Japanese motorcycles. So are rising prices.
"I'd been searching for a clean example and found GB500 values to be very strong," he said. "They often bring $1,500 more today than when new," when they cost $4,200.
Once considered too commonplace to have collectible value, older Japanese motorcycles of all sizes and specifications have become the hottest segment of the motorcycle-collecting hobby, said Somer Hooker, a classic-bike broker in Brentwood, Tenn. In 20 years as a broker he has watched prices rise steadily and remain strong.
The interest in vintage Japanese motorcycles is not limited to devoted riders or impassioned collectors, either. The Guggenheim Museum's popular "Art of the Motorcycle" show, which opened in 1998, seeded its exhibit of classics with a variety of Japanese machines. The 2004 Rockefeller Center Motorcycle Show, a free outdoor display in midtown Manhattan that runs from May 19 to June 6, will include dozens of examples.
Predictably, those built by Japan's contemporary Big Four - Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha - attract the largest audience. A following is also developing for bikes of less-known brands, like Bridgestone, Hodaka and Marusho.
When new, Japanese bikes endeared themselves to motorcyclists as much for their quality as for their innovation, Mr. Cohen said. Compared with American, British and European machines of the era, he said, the Japanese models were more reliable, required less maintenance and excelled in technology, with features like overhead-cam engines and disc brakes.
Along with optics and electronics, motorcycles helped to redefine the meaning of "Made in Japan" for generations of Americans and to pave the way for the success of Japanese automakers.
Mr. Hooker explained that in the 45 years since they appeared in the American market, the motorcycles offered by Japanese makers have spanned a broad range of rider needs, budgets and skill levels.
There were thrifty little campus runabouts exemplified by the Honda Super Cub, which sold new for about $200 in the early 1960's and were popularized in the company's "You meet the nicest people" advertising slogan. At the other end of the scale, there were brawny superbikes like Kawasaki's four-cylinder, 900 cc Z1-R and futuristicturbocharged models like the Yamaha Seca 650 Turbo. Technical novelties such as automatic transmissions (Honda CB750A) and Wankel engines (Suzuki Rotary) draw collectors searching for an iconoclastic piece of motorcycle history.
First-year examples and those with original paint and exhaust systems (factory mufflers tended to rust quickly) generally command premium prices. These include the earliest examples of Honda's pioneering four-cylinder CB750, which retailed for $1,395 when it was introduced in 1969. Flawless examples now sell for up to $15,000, Mr. Hooker said.
Other benchmark machines catching the attention of collectors include the Kawasaki Mach III introduced in 1969, and the 1972 Suzuki GT750, both powered by two-stroke three-cylinder engines. High performance models always turn heads, particularly cycles like the radically styled 1982 Suzuki GS1000S Katana; the brilliant green Kawasaki KZ1000R, a replica of a championship-winning race bike sold in 1982-83; and the Honda CB1100F, sold only in 1983.
The availability of these bikes has not gone unnoticed by collectors in Japan, whose passion for their own motorcycle heritage brings them to the United States in search of collectibles. Recently, European collectors have joined the hunt, said Pete Boody, president of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club.
Still, it is nostalgia that drives the hobby, not the promise of financial gain. "Ask most current motorcyclists to name their first bike," Mr. Hooker said. "Very likely they'll say it was a Japanese model."

Everyday Rides, More Desirable With Age
LINDSAY BROOKE

Published: May 10, 2004

HE Japanese motorcycle industry has built nearly 7,000 different models since the late 1950's, according to Pete Boody, president of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club. Here are some examples that have achieved collectible status:
Honda CB77 Super Hawk Honda's first middleweight sport bike, sold in 1961-67, the Super Hawk's 305-cubic-centimeter engine packed 100-mile-an-hour potential. Prices for examples in excellent condition can reach $3,000.
Kawasaki 750 H2 Mach IV Like King Kong, the H2 had impressive power but was hard to control. Introduced in 1972, the three-cylinder two-stroke was doomed by increasingly stringent noise and emission standards. A pristine H2 can bring $6,000.
Yamaha RD350 The two-stroke, twin-cylinder RD350 could outperform much larger machines. Sold in 1973-75, it was replaced by the RD400 in 1976-79. Originally priced at $908, clean examples today fetch $2,500.
Suzuki XN85 Turbo The rarest of the turbocharged bikes from Japanese manufacturers, just 1,153 examples of the XN85 were produced in 1983-86. They are fast and sophisticated, but some repair parts are unavailable. Prices range from $3,000 to $7,000. LINDSAY BROOKE

Posted on May 10, 2004, 5:42 PM

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great...

by manzruin

that'll help us all out. Now if that writer wants to buy a CB750 from me, that really would help me a lot. 1000% markup?

Posted on May 10, 2004, 6:13 PM

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I know it's cliche, manz . .

by Sideshow

Ebay.

I just checked out my friend's CB750 he was going to sell. It was a '77 Supersport (the year that is solely evil for finding replacement parts). He was about to sell it to someone for $500 and I said I want to see what the bike it before it leaves his possession. I was struck at the condition and said he should Ebay it. The guy that got it was an American in Japan. Apparently CB750s are a huge thing in Japan right now. And other vintage Hondas are THE thing. The guy is paying to have it shipped to California and then Japan! My friend was just happy because he got double what he was about to give it away for.

Posted on May 10, 2004, 7:06 PM

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Yeah I believe that.....

by manzruin

but not $15k. Maybe in japan, after the dollar/yen conversion, but not a real $15k to anyone that actually buys with american dollars. Good thing I don't like CB750s, 'cause with stuff like that getting around the jackass with the windjammered 750 with the JC whitney seat would starting thinking he could get more than 500 for it.

Posted on May 10, 2004, 9:01 PM

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I did talk to a CB750 geek at mid ohio

by manzruin

back in 99. He was crazy about them, he was talking about some ridiculous money (but not $15k riciculous) for the first years in mint shape, with this paint job or that paint job. One of the geekier motorcycle enthusiasts I've encountered, but I do have to admit some of those things did look pretty cool for stock bikes in 69.

Posted on May 10, 2004, 9:03 PM

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Posted on Aug 26, 2008, 11:59 AM

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Posted on Aug 27, 2008, 2:05 AM

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Manz, the CB450...

by LonesomeMike

Are you still interested in any of this stuff? Those guys have been on my case because I've been a bit of a pack rat lately.

Anyway, I found out that the one good engine I have is actually a CB500T. That's the one that needs the shifter shaft replaced (I have a spare). Both 450 engines are locked up and need to be rebuilt. If you want, you are welcome to the 500 and any of the other 450 stuff I have at the price we discussed. All I'm keeping for myself is and a frame and one of the seized engines.

Posted on May 10, 2004, 10:01 AM

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yeah I'll take it....

by manzruin

I may be able to do it this coming weekend. I'll get back to you and let you know for sure.

Posted on May 10, 2004, 2:07 PM

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I can wire a bike

by manzruin

It took me every lunch hour last week but I swapped my GS850 wiring harness onto my 11 and it actually works. In retrospect, it was not worth doing the whole thing at work in the parking lot to save money on a tow. Since the wiring harnesses were not exactly the same, I had to double check everything comparing the two wiring diagrams. Now I'm pretty sure I could wire a bike from scratch if I had to, without checking a diagram, as long as I was placing every wire. That was a long week.

Posted on May 9, 2004, 7:44 PM

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if it helps manz

by Phil

i rewired the chop it 2 hours from scratch, including wiring the switch gear through the risers and bars
i make up my own wiring looms too

Posted on May 13, 2004, 5:31 PM

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Rain

by Sideshow

I just rode through a lot of rain. Pouring showers from New Glarus to Milwaukee. I had no trouble being seen and I didn't get to wet. This is all thanks to my new favorite gear that I stole from the phone company I used to work at.

I should get a picture of me suited up in this stuff. It's hilarious. I think everyone who saw me today was afraid I knew something they didn't. Mainly because I look like a guy with a chemical suit on riding away as fast as I can from whatever is behind me. The gear is neon-yellow green and subdued lighting (that comes with storms) only makes the day-glo effect better. Lots better. To top it off, it's equipped with reflective striping like a fireman's suit.

Besides visibility, my testing has proved it much more worthy than I expected. I cruised I94 today at a higher rate of speed than normal. I have a strange philosophy about rain+cars+hwy that makes sense to me and so far I haven't died. {My philosophy lends itself to being a little faster than cars on the highway, especially because I hate getting caught in someone's wake as they pass me.} Anyways, the gear is good for 90mph against large droplets of rain. Despite the cold feeling of heat transfer through the raingear, I was completely dry when I shed the stuff at home. And I wasn't overcome by humid moisture of my own sweat that comes with most plasticy rainwear.

So the worst part about this entire post is that I can't find a link to show you guys what I have. I'm tempted to call my old boss to see what catalog he ordered it out of because it's worth at least $80 to any rider. It's made by "Faithful" and has a little blue and red flag as a logo. But I can't, for the life of me, find the gear online. Dammit.

Posted on May 9, 2004, 3:22 PM

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Oh yeah, the best part of today's ride . . .

by Sideshow

Was passing the Taurus with the homemade sign in the rear window:

"I'd rather PUSH my HARLEY than RIDE and RICEBURNER."

I looked over as I passed this cage. With the Hawk, heading 85 mph into raindroplets and getting this look from the guy was priceless. I just shrugged my shoulders and moved on. I would have called him a pussy if his window was rolled down. But it was wasn't and I was on two wheels and he had four and it was raining. I'll keep my comments in my head.

Posted on May 9, 2004, 3:26 PM

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was the Taurus ....

by Max

... the one with the Yamaha engine ?

(Taurus SHO - the high performance Taurus)

Posted on May 10, 2004, 6:21 PM

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so i got this KZ650 for free that runs..

by MaddHatter

well the battery is dead but the motor turns and it did try to start, im sure it needs some cleaning up he said it needs a rectifier anyone have any idea what this part really does? the bike looks good overall just some "sitting out" wear, needs new tires cleaned up etc.. i will play with it more tomorrow just looking to see if anyone has anything to say about these bikes....damn thing looks cool as hell

Posted on May 7, 2004, 11:17 PM

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I love kz650s

by tom

your a lucky bastard....

thats what I have to say.

Posted on May 8, 2004, 9:44 AM

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to further sweeten the deal...

by MaddHatter

the same guy who gave me this bike sold me another gl500 like mine for $400 it runs good and looks good and has all the hard to get parts... im in bike heaven

Posted on May 8, 2004, 11:12 AM

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IT RUNS!!!

by MaddHatter

after thouroughly cleaning the plugs, fresh gas and a charged battery she fired up. Damn she sounds good!!!Quick throttle, sweet music.. smokes a bit and sounds a little out of time diesels a little when you turn it off.. i still dont know what the hell a rectifier does.. ill take pictures and show it off

Posted on May 8, 2004, 6:52 PM

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Lucky skunk! Rectifiers . . .

by Sideshow

. . . are like check-valves, diodes, and every street you need to take in Madison. One-way devices, if you will.

The rectifier just keeps electrons, that are being used to charge your battery, from going in the opposite direction. Without it functioning, you can get:
1. Fried batteries.
2. Batteries that seem like they are fried because of the lack of charging from the electrons bouncing back and forth (forward and backward) with the AC input.
3. A motorcycle you want to kick everytime it strands you wondering why your battery isn't charging.

Posted on May 9, 2004, 2:50 PM

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if the reg/rec is bad

by manzruin

my personal course of action would be to replace the stator at the same time. I will never replace a stator or reg/rec again without replacing the other, and automatically throw in a battery for good measure.

Posted on May 9, 2004, 7:48 PM

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They are...

by David

great bikes. I had a kz650 that I rode around town every day for about 2 years and never had any problems except for having to put a new starter in it once, fun to ride, and for a 20 year old 650 its VERY fast.

Posted on May 11, 2004, 3:14 AM

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yep

by Max

fast - motorwise ... and they handled good too

Posted on May 11, 2004, 3:31 PM

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CB500T

by zilla

Getting a CB500T from a guy I work with. 150 bucks. Runs pretty good. Have to decide which one to strip down. The 350 or the 500.

Posted on May 7, 2004, 7:23 AM

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thats

by Max

basically a slightly overbored CB450 ... with some slightly diff styling.

... those (450's) ran pretty good ... but they vibrated like hell too - or so its said.

Posted on May 8, 2004, 3:59 PM

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CB500T is a fun bike

I just found one with very low miles on it. I did a few things to it and it is a great bike. The items I updated and worked on were:

rebuilt front brake master cylinder

unplugged from brake line

installed electronic ignition from Bore Tech eliminating the points and condenser

Installed new coils, Dyna DC10-1s and plug wires

Had carbs professionally cleaned and rebuilt. Clearly the best move you can make!

From here on out I am just going to ride and enjoy. No worries!

Posted on Aug 3, 2008, 8:38 AM

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Pretty pictures,

by LonesomeMike

but slow progress.

Tank mount by Calvin Klein...

Posted on May 6, 2004, 10:39 PM

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fuck

by Mr. Wonderful

that's pretty sweet

It's me you need to show, how deep is your love?

Posted on May 6, 2004, 10:49 PM

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I've had

by LonesomeMike

all week off from my real job to work on that mother fucker. My hands resemble smoked hams at the moment.

Posted on May 6, 2004, 10:56 PM

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Furthermore, please allow me to say

by LonesomeMike

I FUCKING LOVE MOTORCYCLES.

Posted on May 6, 2004, 10:57 PM

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cant go wrong

by hansen

with an awesome fucking cafe racer

hopefully i'll have mine "done" and rideable by this weekend.......

Posted on May 6, 2004, 11:07 PM

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Nice!

by Bird

Can we get some side shots of it?
That tank rocks! Just what I need for my 360.

Posted on May 7, 2004, 6:12 AM

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wow!

by tom

thats really fucking nice dude! Did you stretch the swing arm? Calvin would be so proud. More pictures please....

Posted on May 7, 2004, 6:41 AM

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Never mind about the swingarm....

by tom

I'm a dumbass.

Posted on May 7, 2004, 6:43 AM

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that new tail is nice...

by manzruin

does the "french" go all the way around the light? piece of exhaust pipe? looks tight.

Posted on May 7, 2004, 1:10 PM

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Thanks.

by LonesomeMike

The french will go all around the light once it's all finished. I had to do it in two sections, top and bottom. Good guess on the exhaust tubing.

Posted on May 8, 2004, 1:09 AM

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DAMN I can't wait to get home from Iraq so I can finish mine!

Great job on yours!

Posted on May 8, 2004, 12:49 AM

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mike, I'm sorry

but I am so going to bite that rear end fr a little bsa 250...

I'll try not to bite the belt mounted alloy tank, but if I do, just try to remember that imitation is the cheapest form of flattery, or something.

that fucking rocks.

that's the kind of thing that should be in magazines.

rh

Posted on May 8, 2004, 1:24 PM

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Have at it.

by LonesomeMike

I'd love to see what you'll do with the BSA. Hell, I didn't invent that style for the tank or tail. I think it was Von Dutch who once said something about how there are no new ideas anymore. People get so carried away with trying to be different and original they lose sight of what just plain looks good and functions the way it should. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. That tail required three attempts, and the one in the pic is the simplest of them all.

I have no idea how to respond to the magazine comment other than, "thank you." I'd love to see one of my bikes in print someday. In the meantime, I'll just send them wayward into the mean streets like bastard stepchildren.

Posted on May 8, 2004, 5:34 PM

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I've got

an old honda tank that I've been meaning to cut fr a kind of a dunstall looking tailpiece, but I really like the look of that much more...and I think it would work better with the tank I've already got on the bike...

yeah, shoot more pictures...

I really really like that bike...

rh

Posted on May 8, 2004, 6:41 PM

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and it even has a proper

by Max

kickstart ... like a proper motorcycle should have

nice and raw looking

- CB750 right ?

yeah ... more pics ... and better light

Posted on May 8, 2004, 4:05 PM

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CB550

by LonesomeMike

It's a 550. Mucho lightweight too.

Posted on May 8, 2004, 5:23 PM

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dude !

by Max

I know all about them ... I put something like 50-60,000 miles on one of those (no odo)... (it was actually a CB500 chassis with a later year CB550 motor in it)

had a Yosh cam and a J&R pipe and a Martek CDI ... was way faster than a stock CB550 ... those stocker are just s l u g g i s h (the cam really makes it come alive).

also had S&W air shocks and extended fork tubes with Magura clipons above the top triples

.... still have every bit of it ... I think it either snapped a cam-chain ... or it dropped a valve ... at a dead slow 'idle' - (slower than idle speed)

Since virtually everything on the bike was totally worn out ... I just parked it ... I just removed a mirror from it a few days ago.

Mine was stripped down ... weighed like 405 to 409 pounds

lotsa miles and years on that bike ... I couldn't complain about it.

They don't handle very good ... feels like the h-bars are welded to the frame ... too much trail - maybe

Posted on May 10, 2004, 1:43 PM

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Man! All I can suggest . . .

by Sideshow

Is mill off or flip that top triple. Fucking SWEET, Mike! That stance when it's parked just looks so mean!

Posted on May 9, 2004, 3:28 PM

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Wow. What did I miss?*

*

Posted on May 16, 2004, 7:23 PM

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Hey Bike Builder...

by Bird

..ever work on any Kawasaki Concours before?
I found a good deal on a newer one.
Thinking about it......

Posted on May 5, 2004, 6:17 PM

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never worked on one.....

but ive never heard anything bad either. based on the old zx1000r motor if i remember right, with milder cams and smaller carbs. supposed to be a nice bike for running a ton of miles on low maintenance, similar to the honda ST11. nice fairing, good hard bags, and reasonably reliable. if the price is right, i'd say go for it.
bb

Posted on May 6, 2004, 2:39 AM

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and

by Max

they handle fukking great - for a full boat touring bike ... I guess they can really be banged over and will carve just fine.

The kind of bike you can embarass sportbike riders who bought bikes 500% better than they are - as riders.

... but of course where I live corner carving is mostly a myth ... they are too few and too far between to really pick a bike based on that.

As I remember it ... there were only two complaints ... they are heavy as hell (naturally) ... and the motor is 'buzzy' at some RPMS ... probably not worse than a typ I-4 from that generation.

.. and they are still making them 18 years later.

I'd like to have a bike with hard bags - and maybe even a back box.

Posted on May 6, 2004, 10:06 AM

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anyone see the new cycle world?

by manzruin

that hub steered v max is awesome. Looks like they borrowed the pics from Option Moto. I wish I could get that mag regularly.

Posted on May 5, 2004, 2:11 PM

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Denny Berg

dig the Vision. 500 bucks

Posted on May 5, 2004, 6:01 PM

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I think it's lame that they

by manzruin

pimp the same guy over and over so much, now they're cleaning out his garage or something. I think if it was some kid's down the block it'd be kind of cool, but nothing super exciting--no attention paid to the overall lines, just a quickie survival-whatever like they had a million more creative examples of on that ratbike site. There are a whole hell of a lot of much cooler cheap/lazy things like that out there that just don't happen to be built by denny berg that I know they'd never even consider putting in american flyers. As much as I'd like to see less big-dollar low-creativity stuff, when I saw it I thought "why is THAT an american flyer??... oh, it's denny berg's". Nothing against denny berg but cycle world should get off their ass put a little more effort into the best part of their magazine.

Posted on May 5, 2004, 8:04 PM

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Cycle World

by Mr. Wonderful

is the only magazine that I actually want to see my bike featured in

strangely

It's me you need to show, how deep is your love?

Posted on May 5, 2004, 9:39 PM

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it's the only american mag

by manzruin

I'd want to have a bike of mine in, but streetfighters would still be cool, or option moto. Or Rider, if they ever go back to the cool covers like the guy on the CX500 with a milkcrate riding through a wide desert shot.

Posted on May 5, 2004, 10:23 PM

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do you have a copy of that pic Manz?*

by MaddHatter

*

Posted on May 6, 2004, 12:13 AM

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no...

by manzruin

you mean that cover of Rider?

Posted on May 6, 2004, 12:54 PM

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yea the Rider cover.. i ride a GL500..*

by MaddHatter

*

Posted on May 6, 2004, 8:51 PM

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no, I wish I did

by manzruin

the guy had a plain white helmet and jeans, and some cheap plain black jacket, riding an old CX500 with an orange milkcrate on the back for luggage through this huge desert/bluff scene (it was a distance overhead view with the rider framed small in the shot). Absolutely no potential advertising tie-in. I was shocked to see any acknowledgement of the existence of such riders in a magazine, much less see it on the cover.

Posted on May 6, 2004, 9:07 PM

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that mag sucks

you should read the horse !

Posted on Dec 15, 2006, 12:33 PM

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Dang, this appears to be a........

....1958 KRTT......

http://www.geocities.com/ftw54

Posted on May 5, 2004, 2:36 AM

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anyone use stainless bolts in an (alloy) engine?

by manzruin

oil the threads before putting them in, is that a dissimilar metals thing? That seems wierd, oiling bolts I'd normally loctite. Anyone had problems with them coming loose?

Posted on May 4, 2004, 7:52 PM

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Use Never-Seize

by .

never had a problem with fasteners loosening with it. Yes, it's the disimilar metals thing. Ever had a bolt act as if it were corroded and end up damaging the threads? An anti-seize compound takes care of that. A little goes a long way when using it.

Posted on May 4, 2004, 8:13 PM

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Ok...

by manzruin

even with stainless bolts, don't do the oil thing? And who are you?

Posted on May 4, 2004, 8:41 PM

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about a month after I first got this GS1100

by manzruin

I was changing the battery and accidently stuck one of the ground wires on the hot post. It was a hot day, I was late for work, the battery had just died (after about 4000 miles on a new charging system and a 2600 mile trip) and the kid at the scooter shop was being a prick about loaning me a screwdriver when I'm broke down in his parking lot and buying a battery from him. And, uh...oh yeah, the heat. It was the heat. So I hook my battery up backwards and yellow smoke starts pouring out and I'm batting at it with the screwdriver trying to break the connection. So I get the wire free and hook it up right and it worked. For about 4 years and 50,000 miles. Now I got the wiring harness out and it's pretty amazing. A whole lot of wires had burned off their insulation and were just bare coroding strands running through the sticky burnt insulation mess inside the harness. I think what finally did me in was actually the broken connector going to the coils that left the connections exposed and covered in oil, which had nothing to do with the burnt up state of the harness. Things were just shorting randomly. This thing could've stranded me so many places so many times so far from home with no money. There could be worse places to work on it than the parking lot at work I guess.

Posted on May 4, 2004, 3:22 PM

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I want to change this forum...

by manzruin

the browser hijacking thing is ridiculous, and the guy with that aluminum tanked guzzi told me yesterday that he tried to come on here and gave up because of all the crap net54 threw at his computer. So I'm thinking about this one. I really don't like the UBB style, I like simple thread lists, but I think any free host that's any good is probably going to be offering the UBB thing since that's what's more popular now.
http://www.bbfree.com

Posted on May 3, 2004, 3:28 PM

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I don't mind UBB

by Sideshow

But I'll go where-ever this group goes.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 5:04 PM

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UBB is good

by Max

if a bit overqualified for this volume

Posted on May 3, 2004, 5:12 PM

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Put up a link to...

by beej

the google tool bar. Its popup blocker works great, it should come with every browser. Its a quick download and its free! I'm at 819 blocked so far.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 8:31 PM

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I've got a free pop up stopper that works good...

http://www.lavasoft.com I never have a problem with pop up's. But when a link opens a pop up window, you have to press the "shift" key to open it. Except sometimes I have to turn it off to open it. What I hate most of all is when going to a disc server board and you get hijacked to an advertisment site.

"All things must pass."

Posted on May 4, 2004, 11:48 AM

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I think I might...

by David

do the same thing with mine. I'd almost like to divide mine up into sections, even though the traffic on mine probably isn't high enough to warrant it. I'm getting to where I like that style of board better too, even though every one I actually post on is a net54 board. I really didn't know there were any free boards out there in that style. I'm in browser hi jacked hell on my comp and can't seem to get it fixed. I'm about to say fuck it and just reinstall windows.

Posted on May 5, 2004, 8:55 PM

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crud run update

by manzruin

everyone at leland told me they chickened out because of snow, then changed their mind when it suddenly got sunny and nice out, including sideshow. My bike chickened out and is getting a whole new wiring harness today on my lunch hour. Fortunately, bikebuilder loaned me the frankenstein katana and we rode to leland from beaver dam with him on the RF600 with the supermono tail that's somewhere on this site. On the way up to beaver dam (driving a van) it was full on blizzard except that none of it was really sticking to the highway. But serious fast and heavy snowing, coming down in sloppy chunks too big to be called flakes. Being 9am in May in Wisconson I pretty much figured it'd burn off and disappear by noon, or turn to rain. We left at 10am from beaver dam and it was nice the whole way. Real fun ride. Turnout was kind of low though, especially for the wierd and cool stuff. Way too many boring stock new bikes, but oh well. For the record, I would not ride on the roads to leland if they were covered in snow. I ride in town and occasionally on major well traveled highways in snow. No choppy twisty farm roads in the middle of nowhere--especially since no cell phones work in that area.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 1:37 PM

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Now wait just a minute there . . .

by Sideshow

You were too busy looking at your camera. Yeah, I wrote my little bit at 9:00, but I got a call from Tweek at 9:24. He was in Pine Bluff and wondering if I had already been through. I was asking him if he was serious. He was. I told him I would be on my way. I grabbed a pair and got on my bike. From Monroe St. to Pine Bluff the snow was as you described -- to big to be called flakes. And blizzard-like -- with about a half-inch of accumulation on grassy areas. I somehow convinced myself that I could do this -- especially since I have a bike that is considerably newer and more mechanically sound than Tweek's. A number of cars in Madison pointed at me at stoplights and had that WTF look in their eyes. Luckily, County S is, unlike it's name, a straight path to Pine Bluff.

I've never experienced such a peculiar feeling -- that at any second I could slip and die. On S I was cruising along in 5th gear at the engine's lowest changing-torque band. I didn't look at the speedo, but later found out it is the equivalent of 65 mph. This was stupid and insane -- but I was more worried about getting to Pine Bluff, and not having wind over cold-wet gloves freeze my fingers numb. So the faster the better. But this is on snow. The faster the dumber. And the fact that I had about a grand total of about 12 square inches beneath my flipped up visor and above my pulled-to-the-tip-of-my-nose-because-they're-fogging sunglasses, it's even more retarded. But still a catch-22. Seeing that Tweek made it there with some cloth gloves paired to rubber dishwashing gloves made me feel like a total wus. I waved to a bicyclist on S that was obviously freezing, but smiling.

After parking my bike in the parking lot, I looked around at about 25 other hardcore enthusiasts. Even the Motorcycle Performance tricked-out crazy sportbikes were there and had taken the bullet mother nature had shot. I think a lot of communal respect was given inside the bar and it lifted the aura or the whole event. It cleared up not long after I was there, but it sure made my day more interesting.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 5:02 PM

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At 11:00

by tom

I rode out to Pine Bluff got a soda and went back home to nurse my two-day hangover. I'm a slave to beer, it is my master. I have a new favorite beer however, Leinies Northwoods. Man, that shit is gooood.

Manz, I stuck a cd for you in the screen of your back door with yer name on it, it was later I remembered you share the same name as your roommate, did you find it? If not, go kick some ass and get it back...Good stuff by the way.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 7:13 PM

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Yeah I got it

by manzruin

Thanks! I didn't know what it was when my roommate handed it to me, I didn't expect it that fast. That rocks though, thanks a lot.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 7:21 PM

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the benefit of my usual schedule...

by manzruin

People are always telling me about or asking if I rode through some weather I never saw at some hour I'm never awake by, that I have no idea what they're talking about, and don't really care. If I hadn't gotten up early to go to beaver dam to ride with bikebuilder I never would've even seen the snow. I would've woke up at 10, maybe saw a little snow hanging around, and made it to pine bluff around 11:30 or so thinking you guys were full of shit. I wish I'd been at pine bluff to get pics of Bill's Bimota, but the ride from beaver dam was nice 'cause it was a way I hadn't gone before and nice roads. I don't know if I'll try the video thing again, I was running around trying to get stuff and missing most of it anyway.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 7:20 PM

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Please allow me to say

by LonesomeMike

that my Sunday completely sucked. Sorry I couldn't make it. Probably should have chanced the leaky caliper after all.

However, nothing terrifies me more when I'm riding than high winds and big, dry snowflakes that don't stick. I really don't know why.

Posted on May 4, 2004, 12:56 AM

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big flakes that don't stick

by Max

are nice ... I ride through them like they aren't even there ... I don't slow down for it.

Usually they aren't falling very thickly ... and the wind is blowing them right away.

Its kind of a cool sensation ... its there but it ain't .... whooosh

Posted on May 5, 2004, 5:24 PM

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high wind

by Max

.. just pisses me off ... because I usually ride with my shield wide open ... and the wind is always catching it and cranking my fukkin head.

it is pretty disconcerting to have the bike moving over 5 feet at the whim of the wind though.

Posted on May 5, 2004, 5:26 PM

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Looking for a Honda gas tank...

I need to find a gas tank in good shape for a 1972 Honda CB 350-F four cylinder. If anyone has one or knows the whereabouts of one, Please email me. Thanks...

My webspace:
http://www.geocities.com/kevinmp666/index.html

Posted on May 2, 2004, 12:13 PM

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Gas Tank for VT750 2005

I need a fuel tank for my Shadow Spirit vt7500 2005

Posted on Sep 26, 2005, 11:17 AM

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Official update:

by Bird

yesterday was the first time I really got to put some serius miles on the cafe racer. Rode 45 miles on the highway up to Lincoln to get some jets ordered and then blasted around in the traffic for a hour and then back home again.
I have to say that I had my doubts about how well I would be able to handle the riding positon and how easy it would be to ride in heavy traffic.
I shouldn't have worried.
Not only is it suprisingly comfy, but I have LOADS of top end, lots of bottom for zipping in and out of traffic, but it also balances great and is real stable at REAL low speeds. It's a dream to ride. In fact the guy on the GS550 I was riding with couldn't keep up at all. Not on the highway or in town. And the front brake works excellent. I really want to get some nice rubber and stiff suspension on it now!
The only problem I had was that after 120 miles the foam on the seat got pretty thin and got some serious butt burn....no biggie, just redo the seat with thicker foam, and the left footpeg buzzes pretty bad...need some rubber I guess.
So guys if it was this easy for me to make a super effective cafe racer .....and it was this cheap.....you guys can to. There has got to be a KZ400 or a CB/CL 350/360 in your neighborhood rotting away!!

Get to it!!

Posted on May 2, 2004, 8:33 AM

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cool!

by tom

My 350 is far from running, but I got my vfr on the road yesterday. This morning I wake up to a blizzard, biggest flakes I've seen since I lived in CO. Crud run is questionable at best.

The kid I got the 350 from told me a piston broke in it. I'm a bit hesitant to take his word for it, but now its all I have to go on. I've never done any motor work at all, I'm nervous but excited...

Posted on May 2, 2004, 8:57 AM

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new pix

Hello everyone! I uploaded new pix of our run last night!
http://www.risky-cat.com/~nfk/
Please come to check our site!

Posted on May 1, 2004, 6:18 PM

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No GS for crud run. . .

by Sideshow

Grrr. . . I've half-assed tried to get my GS to go for the Crud run. I wanted to show it off in all it's latest bad-assness of clipons and sweet mods. I've diagnosed the alternator and it seems that it's suckin'. Luckily I have a replacement one, but I have no oil and I want to get over to Madison Saturday. The Hawk is good to go. Needs nothing to leave now. I might take the Hawk. It's less of an issue and worry. I'm such a wus. I'll bring it in the fall.

Posted on Apr 30, 2004, 7:49 PM

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Hey..

by Bird

..at least you can go.

Here I sit with a done cafe racer and no way to get there.

Pour some out for me, OK?

Posted on May 1, 2004, 6:22 AM

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That sucks, but . ..

by Sideshow

I'm writing this at 9:00 on the morning of the Crud. Why am I not on my bike on the way to Pine Bluff? BECAUSE IT'S FUCKING SNOWING OUT!!! I know this isn't a problem for Manz, but I'm a pussy when it comes to snow. I'm considering going out when it clears up, but the outcome is not going to be good. There are four parts to my enjoyment of the Crud Run:
1. Getting to see everyone's cool bikes.
2. Getting to nail the corners and hopefully watching other nail them coming the opposite way.
3. Getting to see people I haven't seen in a while and meeting new people.
4. Just knowing that people with motorcycles really love them as much or more than I do.

Without a turnout, this is completely lost. A small turnout supports #4 and that's why I would like to attempt to make it out. I know some people come from some serious distances to enjoy this and the weather is less of a factor to them. I'm partly on this because I came from Milwaukee last night and stayed overnight in New Glarus. I left at 7:00 this morning with beautiful skies overhead, but some bleak weather in the north. I met the guys I'm riding with at Mickey's Diner. Halfway through our meal, it just started coming down. Serious disappointment. At least you didn't come all this way to get stuck in the snow. I've got to buck up and get back to Milwaukee tonight.

Posted on May 2, 2004, 9:25 AM

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Hey Manz..

by tom

check your e-mail.

Hahaha...

Posted on Apr 30, 2004, 6:23 PM

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CB/Cl sites

by zilla

Up till I bought mine, I never really gave these bikes a second thought. I was missing out on a fun bike.

http://www.ahrma.org/machines/watson_cl350.htm

http://www.ahrma.org/machines/hon_cl450.htm

http://www.ahrma.org/machines/69_hon_cb450.htm

http://www.ahrma.org/machines/honda350.htm

Posted on Apr 30, 2004, 10:37 AM

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And let me just say..

by Bird

..that you would never believe how much MORE fun they are with just a little wieght reduction. Seriously guys, just throw some suff off of yours and see what happens. You'll be amazed.

Posted on May 1, 2004, 6:32 AM

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Wow..

by Bird

..man look at these!
202 lb. BSA!!
http://www.ahrma.org/machines/bsa_b50rr.htm

Nice Norton.
http://www.ahrma.org/machines/norton_atlas.htm

Or how about a Spondon framed XT600?
http://www.ahrma.org/machines/spondon_yam.htm

Or how bout this incredible 450!!!
http://www.ahrma.org/machines/honda_450.htm
Dude it has a dual plug head built by Elrado Ferracci!!!

And a little somthin, somthin for the XS fan....
http://www.ahrma.org/machines/yam-xs.htm

Wow.....I don't feel so bad about MY clutch cover now..this one is awful. But he makes up for it with the : 265lbs wet, 41 HP statement. Man...I've got some work to do!
http://www.ahrma.org/machines/honda_350_rr.htm

And what kind a friend would I be to not point this one out:
http://www.ahrma.org/machines/64_hon_cb77.htm

ANd for all you single guys out there...
http://www.ahrma.org/machines/xt_500_dt.htm

I'm at a loss for words................
http://www.ahrma.org/machines/1975_yamaha_rd250.htm

And some nice DUC's...
http://www.ahrma.org/machines/ofield_duc.htm

Posted on May 1, 2004, 6:53 AM

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Those are all from Zilla's link, BTW....

by Bird

Thanks man , nice link!

Posted on May 1, 2004, 6:55 AM

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what ?

by Max

You never heard of AHRMA before?

... or been to their site ?

AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Ass) ... is -THE- place in the US for -high dollar -high class old racebikes .... lots and lots of money spent by those boys.

... and SOME definitely elitist rules and tendencies.

Go visit a race some day ... they have -roadrace and -MX and -dirttrack and -trials

It's like going back in time ... only ... these bikes are better looking and better running than they were 30 years ago.

There is significant technology and development that makes (some) of these oldies .... waaaaaaaay ... faster than they were back then.

2 of the biggest bike events in the US nowadays are AHRMA race weekends .... Vintage Days in Mid-Ohio (30,000 people) ... and ... the one out there in CA ... fuck ... now I forgot the name.

.... and of course - the Daytona AHRMA events

Posted on May 2, 2004, 4:29 PM

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Well sure...

by Bird

..I've heard of them, and I've seen the bikes on other peoples sites...but no: I never made it to their homepage.

Posted on May 2, 2004, 7:53 PM

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But it's also one of the cheapest ways...

by manzruin

to get into racing. You can run in sound of singles if you want to race a modern two stroke or thumper, or you can build a CB350 for next to nothing. Last I heard if you have a CB350 that's sportsman class spec you can go racing in the 350 sportsman, 350 formula, 500 sportsman and 500 formula classes. Too bad they don't do road america anymore.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 3:04 PM

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next to nothing

by Max

I don't know what you know about the 350 Sportsman class (its virtually all CB350s) ... but if you want a bike that runs well ... you will be spending about $4000 to make one run good ... (better yet though ... buy somebody elses used AHRMA CB350 for like $2500)

and lets define 'cheap' ... any AHRMA weekend is going to run about $200 (no matter what 2 classes you might want to run)... not including traveling expenses.

Cheapest way to get into 'racing' ... (not necessarily roadracing) ... is some form of dirtbikes ... MX or dirttrack.

.... thats way cheaper.

... and I will say you will learn more too.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 3:44 PM

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sorry, I did mean roadracing...

by manzruin

There is no rule against running a bone stock cb350 motor. Wheels tires and suspension bits will cost you more, but if you get lucky enough to get a nice CB350 cheap or free you could run it almost as is without buying anything else. If Bird's bike was a 350 you could take the lights off and it'd be ready to go. He might not have a chance to win against all the kitted bikes, but he could run. I just want to try to win, and if I can't I want to go as fast as I can without winning. There's got to be someone out there you could beat with a stock bike, and if not then you'd just be last but you'd be racing. Leathers would be the most expensive part for me. Someone told me they had a lot more fun running a CB350 when it was stock wtih a clubman bar, than they did after they started tuning it. He thought it was too much work, but before he could just race and have fun.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 4:12 PM

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stock means last place

by Max

or .... amongst the 5 other guys (out of 35) with near stock bikes ... a half a lap behind the last bike with - carbs - cam - high comp.
(unless its being ridden by a squid)

Sure ... stock has ALWAYS been more FUN than modified ... as long as everybody else has stock bikes ...

Thats why 'production' roadrace classes are always the most popular ... you don't have to spend a lot of money (or time) ... becoming an engine tuner.
... or paying even more for others to modify/tune yours.

You just ride the thing.

If AHRMA had enough interest in it ... they'd even run a stock class.

But shocks and tires are near mandatory if you don't want to die prematurely ... thats $500 right there.

... but then AHRMA is also kind of on the lookout to keep some classes from becoming a 'garbage' class ... they WANT people to have nicer LOOKING bikes ... at least.

For anybody interested ... WERA has a message board for vintage roadracers ... I think AHRMA has one too now ?

Posted on May 3, 2004, 5:11 PM

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Tires are consumables...

by manzruin

You always have to buy tires for any bike, especially if you're racing. I'd say 500 for tires and shocks is a bargain for a streetbike even--and for something you can race on a track that's super cheap. The protective gear will cost way more than that, especially for someone my size. Anyway, you hit on exactly what I'm talking about--dicing it out with the guys in back on stock bikes, like having your own little class. That's all you'd be doing with a sportsman-legal 350 in the formula 500 class, the only point is getting to race on a track with corner workers and trying to beat someone, even if it's just a fellow backmarker.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 6:19 PM

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thanks

by zilla

been thru the site a lot. I dig the bikes, but figured I was too big for bikes like that. The CL is showing me different.

Posted on May 2, 2004, 9:21 PM

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a friend of mine

by zilla

has a CB500T. Going to have to work him out of it.

Posted on May 2, 2004, 9:19 PM

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hey Mike...

by manzruin

what are you riding up on? I didn't get an email about it, if you sent one.

Posted on Apr 29, 2004, 9:19 PM

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If I go,

by LonesomeMike

it'll be the automatic bike. It's got a hand lever to engage the drive that feels like I'm putting a tractor in gear. I've spent all my time on customer's bikes, and none of my own bikes run. It's so fun and rewarding to own a shop!

Posted on Apr 30, 2004, 10:52 AM

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Sooo, Tom....

by Bird

...you ARE going to cafe that 350 of yours...........right?

By the way, I had to put the scrambler pipes back on mine for a little while until I get some baffles or some other mufflers......I couldn't get past 4 grand without my ears bleeding.
And since redline is 9............ well.....I threw them back on so I can tear it up a little more now.

Posted on Apr 29, 2004, 4:43 PM

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nope..

by tom

My wife decided to step up from the moped world and get a motorcycle. Its in really decent original shape, and she digs it - so stock it will stay. I dont think I've ever had a bike that I didn't fuck up in some way or another, oughta be interesting!

Posted on Apr 29, 2004, 4:52 PM

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does she know

by manzruin

how flattering the cafe riding position is to the female posterior?

Posted on Apr 29, 2004, 5:34 PM

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I'm thinking about getting one of these...

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/products/unitinfo.asp?lid=1&lc=atv&cid=1&mid=323 I was looking at one the other day.

\"All things must pass.\"

Posted on Apr 29, 2004, 8:25 AM

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are you going to start track riding?

by manzruin

I want one of those.

Posted on Apr 29, 2004, 1:29 PM

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My buddy has a track in his back yard...

And we know some trails about an hour from here that are a little more than just trails, it's more like an out door moto-x track.

"All things must pass."

Posted on Apr 30, 2004, 8:28 AM

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Too much money...

Since it's the latest and greatest, ya can't touch one for less than almost 7 grand. So I think I may go for the Honda 400 EX. I'm working getting one for just over $4,000, if I'm lucky, but I for sure can get it for under $5,000. This is the 300, but it's the same bike...quad...what ever. http://www.atvconnection.com/editor/review/atv/honda/00300ex/review.htm

"All things must pass."

Posted on Apr 30, 2004, 1:26 PM

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wait are you talking about quads?

by manzruin

that link didn't have a picture, I thought it just said yzf450, but I went back and looked and it actually said yFz450--is that a quad then? I thought you were talking about mx bikes. Well quads are fun too as long as there's mud and someone to splatter.

Posted on Apr 30, 2004, 1:53 PM

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Quads...

by LonesomeMike

Sunday I'll tell you where my CSR engine ended up. It wasn't my doing, either.

Posted on Apr 30, 2004, 2:27 PM

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good .....

by Max

Don't know if you know it ... but MI has over 3000 miles of - mapped marked maintained ORV riding trails ... and that Yamaha 450 quad racer ... isn't (I think) legal on any of them (too loud).

( quieter ATV's - are legal on about 2500 miles of them)

So you would be limiting yourself to options of where to ride.

a 300EX or 400EX is better
... I have an old Yamaha Warrior ... mostly for plowing snow.
... but I did ride it once on a trip N last summer ... to Gladwin ... a pretty nice set of trails ... two loops totalling about 80 miles .. with 3 other guys from around here.

The organization that created those 3000 miles of trails is 'The Cycle Conservation Club of MI'

They have a yearly schedule of organized trail rides called 'Trail Tours' (TT) ... 17 this year

They are mainly centered around trailbikes .. but there are more and more ATVs lately

May 1 - 2
Rites of Spring XV Trail Tour - Whiskey Creek, Baldwin

May 22 - 23
Safety Patrol Fundraiser - Bull Gap

May 29 - 30
UP Trail Maint TT - Drummond Isle

June 12 - 13
T.B.A.

June 19 - 24
Whiskey Creek

June 26 - 27
Tomahawk Chapter - Wolverine

July 4 - 6
UP Trail Maintenance TT - Decker?

July 10 - 11
Kalkaska/Leetsville

July 24 - 31
20th Annual Six Days of Michigan - L.P./U.P.

Aug 7 -8
Big Bear/Crapo Creek, Gaylord

Aug 21 - 22
TBA Brevort

Aug 29
Dual Sport ride For Kids� Ann Arbor

Sept 4 - 6
Labor Day Trail Maintenance T.B.A.

Sept 11 - 12
Elkhorn TT Atlanta

Sept 25 -26
The Vintage Ride - Frederic

Oct 9 - 10
Color Tour - Pathfinders Chapter Kalkaska

Oct 16 - 17
Toys for Kids TT - St Helen

They have a site ...

http://www.cycleconservationclub.org/index.htm

Posted on Apr 30, 2004, 4:51 PM

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but quads suck

by Max

that has always been my reaction to them

But it seems as people get older ... they get more and more likely to drop two wheels for 4 ... and go slower.

So a lot of guys buy the utility/sport type of quads ... so they can use them for all kinds of 'work' things ... and still ride them recreationslly.

They're not bad ... I guess ... a lot more practical than a full on 'sport' ATV.

I think I'm gonna hold out as long as I can on two wheels.

Posted on May 2, 2004, 4:20 PM

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I have no use for a utility quad...

but I don't need a full blown race quad either. The Honda 400 EX is a good sport/trail machine, but I'm reading that it has great power at low to mid range but that it really lacks in power in the top end and when climbing sand dunes, which is part of the terrain on which I'll be doing most of the riding. But for the price I was quated, it hard to pass up. I was also thinking about a Kawasaki KFX400.

"All things must pass."

Posted on May 2, 2004, 11:11 PM

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I think they're fun...

by manzruin

in a silly goofing around kind of way, but mainly if you have a few of them and want to have fun with people that can't ride motorcycles. You can put your little sister or anyone on an ATV and splatter her with mud and have a good time. It's no replacement for a bike though. I'd have one if I lived out of town maybe, to drag firewood or whatever, and I'm sure I'd have fun messing around on it, but I'd never own one that didn't have a rack and a winch. A sport quad might be fun if it was someone else's but I couldn't imagine wasting good trail bike money on one.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 1:52 PM

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yeah they're fun

by Max

most men think anything you can ride in/on with an engine is fun ...

and frankly most men love to play snowplow driver too

Yep ... got to have a rack ... and 4 wheel drive is a big benefit too ... though that ride I went on ... I only needed it once (I got stuck and had to be pulled out by another guys winch - but I COULD have blasted that mud/water crossing and made it without 4WD ... but I would have been covered head to foot with mud.

and Bugs ... the Sport Utility ones are pretty good really ... they are not that slow and don't handle all that bad either.
I rode 2 diff Polaris Sportsman's last summer ... 700cc parallel twin cylinder 4WD's with snowmo type 'torque converter' variable belt drive ... pretty comfortable ... cushier than my Warrior for sure.

400EX's are good ... not that I know a lot about them.
hell ... that old Warrior was fine for trail riding.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 3:56 PM

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I needed it once..

by manzruin

when I hung a polaris 500 up on top of a large hardened snow bank (surrounded by mud) that I hit too slow. 4WD and two people couldn't move it so I had to winch it to a tree, but 4WD probably made it a little easier on the tree? Ok maybe I didn't need the 4WD.

Posted on May 3, 2004, 4:26 PM

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one BIG thing about Utility ones is ...

by Max

They keep their fucking resale value as well as Harleys do !

Unbelievable ..... a guy buys it for $6000 ... has it for 4 years and tries to sell it for the $6000 he paid for it.

It HAS to be 4WD for that to happen though ...

Posted on May 3, 2004, 5:18 PM

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Yep I've driven the 4x4's ...

when I was in Alaska.

"All things must pass."

Posted on May 4, 2004, 11:26 AM

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those organized trail rides

by Max

can be fun

They are held by the CCC by DNR permit on state or national forest land.
... they are 2 days events ... (you can ride whenever you want)

You join the CCC ... like $14/year
(for that ... they send you a mapbook of all of MI's trails and loops and ORV areas)
then you sign up for the event ... like $8 per day

then they give you the event map ... which is a map of the surrounding area .. with the various loops highlighted - with a short description of what the loop is like -including mileage ... roads are shown.

They typically have 2 to 4 diff loops ... which are 'arrowed' ... (temporary colored paper arrows stapled to trees) ... so you do the "blue loop" ... or the "white loop" or whatever you want.

... all loops come back to the base camp ... which is basically a field ... with porta potties - sometimes a concessions trailer.

... camping is free ... there are always lots of motorhomes and tents and stuff all over the place.

Only rules is ... must have ORV sticker and must pass 'sound check' ... (stock muff's are best - except SOME motocross bike muffs are still too loud - mostly on 4 strokes - like a YZ450F)

They also have dual sport routes running con-currently with most of the trail tours ... (easier two tracks and stuff for street legal bikes)

I guess the best parts of the Trail Tours are ...
... one way trail traffic
... you can't get lost very easily
... there's always help nearby.
... you can ride as much or as little as you want.
... ride as fast or as slow as you want.
... drinking around the campfire is common.

... nothing cheaper.

Posted on May 6, 2004, 11:57 AM

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It's all in the way you ride it...

you should know that. And a 4x4 could not compete, when all the guys you ride with are on sport quads.

"All things must pass."

Posted on May 4, 2004, 11:51 AM

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