eunos1800

Absolutely 100% agree.

But if in that situation you had to choose which bike would it be?


For me there's no doubt it'd be the SS.

ZX-Tex

iTrader: (15)

For me it would be the SV. It makes very little if any difference which bike I am on in that situation as far as bailing out of it. Plus if I did not make the corner for whatever reason, the SV would be cheaper to fix. Most importantly, I would be in better shape too, because I spent my money on my gear and not on the bike.

eunos1800

We'll agree to disagree then.

It's been a good thread with great advice.
So it'd be a shame to drag it down into a "my dicks bigger than yours" bollox.

Your obviously experienced and know ya way around a bike so it's not like we're gonna change each minds.

Besides as long as it's not a Harley it's all good.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

To clarify eunos1800's data somewhat:



As one would expect of a V-twin, the SV650 makes more usable torque from idle to about 9,000 RPM, after which the four-banger just runs away from it. In the mid-band particularly, the SV has about 25% more power available to accelerate out of a tight spot without shifting.

At the risk of this degrading into "SV vs. world" I loved the SV, and I'd wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a daily-driver street machine. 'Cause that's exactly what it is- a street bike that happens to do reasonably well on the track, rather than a race bike that's been made street legal.

ZX-Tex

iTrader: (15)

Well going back and reading this I think perhaps I was a bit over-zealous
The SV-650 is a great street bike, and I'm just making the point that in the right hands it is certainly fast enough. It is easy to ride, relatively cheap to fix and maintain, and not overkill fast, so it is a great beginner bike. With minor mods it is also a very capable track machine as evidenced by the good results people get racing it against faster bikes.

eunos1800

Is there a bike thread here?

Couldn't find anything from a search.

Be interested to see/hear about ya 636, but i recon we've hi-jacked this thread enough already

Saml01

iTrader: (9)

So do they really run the courses in the rain?

NY has been getting rain for the last 17 of 21 days and im afraid that this week may see more rain.

turbobluemiata

iTrader: (8)

the reason for spending less time here

ZX-Tex

iTrader: (15)

Yeah, we do race in the rain, and so do most of the racing and track day organizations, though I hate racing or riding in the rain myself. It sucks. Some love it. All of the major racing tire manufacturers make a full-rain tire. They are the same deal as the full rains for a car. The track has to be WET, as it is an extremely soft compound, with a carcass that generates a lot of heat, and will destroy itself in a few laps if ridden on a slightly damp or dry track.

I have heard they work really well, and the bolder riders can drag knee on a wet track with the full-wet tires. No thanks.

Rossi (MotoGP) had a freaking amazing race in the rain a couple of seasons ago at the British Grand Prix (IIRC). It was raining hard, and he went out there and rode his *** off, amazing to watch. He hates riding in the rain apparently. In the post race interview, he was uncharacteristically frazzled, and he said he thought he was going to crash several times.

There have been a couple of recent races in MotoGP where it starts raining mid-race, and teams have a bike with intermediates or rains sitting in the pits ready to go. The riders will pit and switch bikes if the track gets too wet, or vice versa. Normally they do not pit during a GP race.

Saml01

iTrader: (9)

I PASSED!!!


So that was the most fun I have had in a long time. I took the 2.5 day course which I think was a wise choice. It's a lot of riding, and its a lot of learning. I was getting up at 5am to make it to the place at 7:30. If I had to get up at that time and be there 2 hours extra for but for 2 days, I wouldnt have passed because its exhausting as it is.

Instructors were awesome, super friendly, encouraging, smart and fun.

I really liked the approach to the class, 17 drills, practice each a couple times standing still, then riding. They critique and show you how to improve.The whole process is just really smooth, clear, and extremely well choreographed.

The written test was a little bit of a joke. I memorized the damn book inside and out word for word in preparation for the test. Then I get the test and its 50 questions, A B C. They dont tell you much about the test to force you to learn the book and prepare but if someone tells you about the setup you can do the damn test blind. They really should make it more difficult. I got 2 wrong because english is my second language.

The practical exam was a combination of 4 skills that you learned and practiced before you were graded. A double U, or figure 8 inside a box followed by a left hand swerve. Then you were tested on quick stopping, and finally negotiating turns which is basically riding through a large sweeper at about 15 mph without going outside the lines, or touching your brakes.

6 out of 12 people in the group failed the practical. The test at the end, was not a joke and a lot of people I think were not expecting the difficulty. Screwing up the long right handed leaned sweeper was the biggest killer, literally. 10 points for going outside the line, because "if that was a road you would be dead". So if you screwed up even a little before, this was instant fail.

They teach the course with Suzuki GZ250's, fun little bikes. I really enjoyed mine. 250cc was a little puny by the end of today. I think I will be considering a 500, or 600 cc twin for sure.

I highly recommend the course, freaking awesome time.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

gospeed81

iTrader: (51)

Hey man, CONGRATS!!!!


btw, I didn't realize you were ESL, your mastery of english is impressive.

The course IS a blast, and it's nice to learn and excel. I memorized the damn book too...but it's nice when you can recall stuff later that everyone else has forgotten.

The other great thing about the course if getting the feel for a small (250cc) bike, and like many others before you, saying: "That was FUN, but I'll need a bit more thank you."

Looking forward to seeing you geared up, and hearing about bike shopping.

eunos1800

Congrats.

What bikes you gonna be test riding now?

Saml01

iTrader: (9)

English is a second language because I learned Russian first. However, I have been speaking English since the age of 6. So in essence, English might as well be the first language. ESL was a joke. But I can read, write, understand Russian fluently as well.

Ill keep you guys in the loop as I decide what I want in a bike.

No idea, but probably gonna try an SV650 first.

ZX-Tex

iTrader: (15)

SV-650! Anything else is STUPID!





Just kidding...
Congratulations on passing your test.

Saml01

iTrader: (9)

What I really want and will probably do one day, is make one of these.

Honda : CB:eBay Motors (item 250450299263 end time Jun-27-09 18:00:00 PDT)

georgefury1

!!Congratulations!! You have great taste in bikes!

Saml01

iTrader: (9)

I explain it to my friends simply. Choppers are to America, what Cafe Bikes are to Britain. I love the style, I love the stance. If I could find a prime example of a CB750 or equivalent worthy of conversion id jump at it today.
An MV Augusta Cafe bike is like a dream come true.

ZX-Tex

iTrader: (15)

Wow... normally I am not an old-school bike guy, but that bike is beautiful.

Saml01

iTrader: (9)

The drag bars are too low for my taste. Considering the position of the foot controls I think it would be extremely uncomfortable to ride. If the bars were level, I think, it would be a lot easier.

Otherwise the attention to detail is superb. I especially like the double chain idea.

eunos1800

Foooookin SV's ahhhhhhh.

Honestly though they're a decent road bike, just make sure you try a in-line as well cause as i say V-twins aren't every ones cuppa tea.

The Cafe racer styled bikes look the part, but it's really more style over substance.
The old CB's aren't bad bikes, but it's like comparing a old 70's Nissan Sunny to a modern Civic.

Personally i really get off on the old 70's 80's bikes,
2 of my favourite bikes of all time are my cbx1000 and my RD350LC.
Both are fundamentally flawed and the CB needs it's carbs stripping a cleaning more than a ****** knickers, all 6 of the fooookers

But both just ooze character.
It's pretty fooooooked up, my cbr600 is a better bike in absolutely every way.
It's faster, handles better, it's taken me and the Mrs from Greece to the UK around the ring and back to Greece again several times without even a misfire.

The LC i'm lucky if i get to where i wanna go never mind back again before it seizes.
The CB is a bitch to start, as i say if it's stood more than a few weeks the carbs need stripping and cleaning.
It turns like the Titanic and isn't even that fast.

But both sing like a pissed pavarotti.
The LC when it's on song is just spine tingling, to ride it fast you need to get every single corner absolutely 100% right, if you drop it out it's power band your screwed.

The CBX just sounds awesome.


So it's really finding out the type of rider you are.
If you like fidling with bikes something like a CB would be good, but if it's purely the riding experience your after modern bikes are better.


Cheers
Mark