Bubba

Chris: I'll offer a counter-position about full-suspension bikes. As you rightly point out, unless you're gonna drop $3K on a well-built free ride bike, a "cheap" one isn't gonna fill the bill. However, unless you plan on doing DH extensively, there's no reason a good rigid frame hardtail can't run any trail as well as or better than a full suspension rig. F&R suspension is mostly useful for high-speed descents and jumps/ramps/drops. It'll also keep your body from feeling quite as beat up after a day's ride, but if you're not an old guy and in pretty good shape, a hardtail will keep you entertained in the woods for a long time at much lower cost. Might even be able to find a 29'r at a reasonable price, and they ride much more smoothly than a 26".

Scott: I posted your ad link on the Cincinnati Cafe Racers facebook page and there was a ton of interest. No clue if anyone followed thru, but if the seller doesn't offer your price, don't jump at a low-ball too quickly. There were several comments that the trip from Cinti wouldn't be worth it because it would be sold before they could get to C-bus. I can update the FB post if you don't sell this weekend.

If I had a nostalgic bone in my body, I'd buy this. The exact same bike as my first real ride...'cept mine was a '65.

The A-spec has a 2-layer construction--presumably the sidewall--for increased stability on the large sport tourers. I'm almost certain that Pirelli makes an A-spec front as well now. However, if this translates into increased mileage, I'd bet the front would last longer and you'd be swapping rears twice as often as fronts. Prolly save some money, but I've never been a fan of pairing a new tire with one that's at half-life. Honestly, I'm not sure I'd classify your Zed1K as a "heavy" sport tourer. My guess is that the weight target for the A-spec is 600# and up.

Truthfully, if you're an average recreational cyclist, you'll be the tail end of the dog. Most of the CX riders I know--even the merely above average Cat 4 racers (lowest rank)--are nothing but muscle, sinew and bone. Fly-weights, everyone of 'em. Even for a well-conditioned aerobic monster, the CX races are an anaerobic torture trial. The good thing is that none of the courses are very technical...well, except in the case of that mud thing. The course will consist of mostly grass, up- and down-hills, some barriers that you're forced to either bunny hop or dismount and run over, and prolly a sand pit section that you'll fall down in. The best part is that CX is an absolute blast because it's spectator intensive, with the crowd shouting both encouragement and hooting/catcalls, bells, whistles, and clapping. You'll prolly have a lot of fun even if you come in "dead" last and puke doing it!!!

My entire family is originally from the Vancouver area of BC. I think you'll find that you pretty much need to be multi-millionaire to move there and raise a family now. The influx of well-to-do families from Asia and the Middle East over the last 2-3 decades has driven property prices to astronomical levels. In addition, income tax rates levied by the government to pay for social programs like free medical care--which ISN'T that great, BTW--and free college, along with very generous welfare programs, is much higher than rates in the US, approaching 70% in some provinces. Might want to settle just south of the border in the central WA or ID area. Lots of preppers and predictors of the zombie apocalypse there already.

Easiest way to accomplish this is to change out the blue power bands for the red ones. They don't last as long but they make the most HP.

What's a morning pee boner? Not a problem at 66. :o(

My votes for foldable...for what it's worth. You won't gain that much rigidity by sheeting the floor in one piece.

Mmmm. Sorry, I can't make that date. Checked the calendar and that's the day I'm washing the poodle.

For that kind of money, I'd look for a nice used trailer. POS trucks that you can buy for $800 are gonna be nothing but headaches, especially if it sits outside and unused 95% of the time. Dead battery, moisture intrusion into the ignition system, rusty drums/rotors, flat/rotten tires, mice in the air filter...or some combination of the above. Trailers will rust, but it'll be mostly a cosmetic issue for quite a few years. Tires will dry rot over the course of 5-7 years, but you can slow it down a bit by getting cheap tire covers from HF. Yearly tags are a bit cheaper, too.

Pontiac = 4 wheels = 2 motorcycles. Perfect!!!

@redkow97 I would advise staying far away from the Mini. They have an absolutely miserable reputation for quality. A blast to drive, tho, when shit isn't going wrong...

Glad you enjoyed the ride! NKY is always a fun roll and we were blessed with pretty low traffic volume for a weekend. It's a shame it's such a long slog for you guys on the super-slab to get to the twisty goodness. Definitely need to do it again.

That's OK...as long as you don't slow down if you see flashy lights in your mirror. You guys heading east from there, doing Richard B Russell Scenic Hwy and Wolfpen Gap Rd?

Sweet!!! Mind the super speeder law in GA....IJS.

Yeah, Crabtree ain't no racetrack! Manhandling one of those monster rolling sofas up and down those tight switchbacks would be a day's work. Did you run 281/Canada Rd from Tuckaseegee to Lake Toxaway? One of my favorite runs, hands down! Prolly "paved" that road personally with many hundreds of dollars of Michelin/Pirelli rubber. If you get a chance, do "Devil's Drop" NC-151/Pisgah Hwy from the BRP, and then ride back up. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.4341508,-82.7303897/35.4628924,-82.736178/@35.443262,-82.7371812,14.5z

Hey, you guys are in Waynesville, just south of Phil's place, Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground. Hope you rolled at least some of 276 or 215 on both sides of the BRP. If you're still in Waynesville and heading north on 209 to Hot Springs, take a short detour and check out Crabtree Mtn Rd. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.603646,-82.8986568/35.5510218,-82.850798/@35.5768717,-82.8934055,14.19z/am=t/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0

Ah yes! High Knob Rd, south from Norton, VA. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/36.9272628,-82.6358656/36.7738578,-82.5767347/@36.8520656,-82.6290808,12.68z/am=t Was on our LocalRiders Fall trip route the last couple of years. Good to see they haven't paved the top of it yet.

Dude, ya just gotta ride REALLY FAST!!!

"How I turned a 125-mile 3-hour ride into an all-day extravaganza!" Jason and Jen rolled south across the Big Divide to run a bit of the twisty goodness in northern KY. They met up with me, Rob Giles (Dice32) and Keith (no forum association) noonish at the Speedway on the AA Hwy in Alexandria. We did some of the usual Junkie material--10 and 22--but I threw in some of the lesser known roads to avoid the heavy weekend traffic that tends to ruin a spirited run in the backwoods. Some of the fun included 1121/Wesley Chapel Rd, 10 to Powersville, 165 south to Mt Olivet, 1504, 1284 thru Sunrise, 1032/Berry-Kelat Rd, 1054 thru Morgan to 22 then east to 27, 17/467/177/536/915 back to the start. Other than a few blocks, we had a pretty good run on most of the roads in spite of it being a weekend. Colors are just starting to turn, but there seems to be a ton of leaves--luckily dry--on the roads, presumably due to the drought conditions. Best of all, everybody lived!!! Pic to prove I'm not embellishing: 20161015_134307 by William R Francis, on Flickr

Ouch! That's gonna be a REALLY EXPENSIVE 10 cent piece of plastic!!! First thing I always take off.

Only thing piquing my curiosity at this point is what the heck is on TV on Thursday nights that's keeping everyone home?

@Ti' Ama Hope you've got your living arrangements figured out and you're settled in by now. If you're footloose, stop by the Comet for Tuesday Night Bike Night.

Hey, I am NOT BLIND, you crotchety old fuck.