vf1000ride

I'm gonna vote for my 2007 SportClassic. Ducati made an awesome looking bike that handles like a turd. When I first got it I couldn't get it past 100mph because it would headshake so bad it was borderline tankslapper. I've had to invest almost 2 grand into the front end on forks, internals and a steering damper to make the bike anywhere near safe at track day speeds. It hasn't fully cured the bike as I can still induce a nice speed wobble in the front end if I am riding poorly.

And it's not just mine, there have been several guys on the Duc/sportclassic only forums that have had there bikes throw them in the street with a tankslapper while on perfectly straight roads as well as the twisties. I don't normally let anybody ride my bike as I have learned over the last 3 years what you shouldn't do while riding it and don't want to see somebody else get hurt that's not aware of it's flaws.

vf100ride, you mean the 16th and 17th?

Oops, it was two weekends ago at superbike weekend.

My Duc runs just fine in this heat and it's aircooled. Oil temps run a little higher than normal but it's not anything that is gonna hurt the motor. Heck it wasn't 95degrees last weekend but puttering around at idle all day up at Mid-O for the races didn't faze it in the least. Modern fuel injection rocks. I have only ever had to turn it off in traffic once due to engine temps. Got stuck in stopped traffic due to an accident, I sat in the 1mph crawl almost 30 minutes. Oil temp was at 290F, the overheat warning comes on shortly after that so I turned it off. When things started moving again it started right back up and off I went, oil temp was still over 270F and she started just fine.

The Triumph runs good in the heat also but the blast furnace coming off the motor when the rad fan comes on in traffic will get your attention. Haven't had the luck to sit parked with it yet for more than a turn on a traffic light so the jury is still out on if it will behave as well in the worst case scenario.

If you ever can't sleep and need something both interesting and terribly dry at the same time.

http://www.nennstiel-ruprecht.de/bullfly/index.htm

It's all about the physics behind bullet flight. One day I may actually figure out what he is talking about.

That's a cool calculator, thanks for the link. Kinda confirms what I had already suspected with my match gun though. My bullet goes subsonic right before reaching 1000 yards. Really need to start some heavy practice and do the national matches up at camp perry next year.

Hmmm' date=' I don't know, I'd rather hit a hump/bump then a pothole anyday.[/quote']

Generally though, the potholes can be avoided. They usually don't take up an entire lane, and ODOT will eventually fix them. Several of these speed humps are the full width of the road and can't be avoided, and have been in place for several years with no signs of ODOT fixing them. A 4-6 inch tall hump in the road in a 65 mph zone is enough to send my bike completely airborn. Even the ones on Taylor that are roughly the same height but in a much slower speed area are frustrating. I have to get up off the seat and basically jump the dang things.

You need a motard, just think of them as opportunities to do bunny hops. The first thing I did when I had a borrowed Hypermotard was go seek some of them out so I could jump them.

On a serious note, I hate having to ride anywhere on 270 because of them. There are a few good ones on Taylor road down by the Best Buy in Reynoldsburg that are enough to cave in your rims. If Ohio DOT had any respect for people on motorcycles they would fix those things. Their worst than the F'n potholes.

Just got back from Red White and poof. Might just be me but despite the hype it wasn't as good as it used to be. Best part was riding the strom into Cow town and hopping a curb at an entrance ramp. It was almost as fun to watch the police trying to keep people from parking in the break down lanes along the highway. It was also nice to cut between parked cars and hit the highway and be back home in under half an hour.

Was wondering if you had the yellow vstrom at Hanover and Spring up in the grass. I almost parked next to you if it was. I ended getting a sidewalk spot on Nationwide and Hanover. I was home in under 30minutes also.

Dang the ATF has made their website miserable to navigate. None of my old links work anymore and you can't find shit. Never fails the government doing something totally awesome to make your life harder.

Anybody that wants to determine if API or APIT is legal to reload yourself, your gonna have to do your own search. I spent 2 hours and got nowhere.

I would have to research to confirm that one. I didn't think there where any regulations as to that being you can buy the bullets and the fully loaded ammo. I had never looked into to deep as I don't own a .50bmg, I have those links just as a good reference for places that sell 30cal stuff.

compute the horsepower per liter, or better yet, horsepower per dollar.

(actually I'm legitimately intrigued by what the result of both of those might be. If i get some free time at work, I may throw some rough figures at it)

Mine may not the best example as it's the aircooled 1000ds engine. It's a bit low on power compared to the equivelant watercooled superbike. Mines 1000cc putting 86hp and 66ftlbs to the tire. Cost me 12k new in the spring of 2008.

1. most people buy it because of its name

2. when you buy one, you end up loading up on there branded gear and accessories

3. repair, and parts are super expensive

4. awesome bikes, but you could have gotten a jap bike that can outperform it

5. its considered fashion statement

6. most people who own them dont put many miles on them

7. people refer to the riders as Dbags

8. see them alot at star bucks

9. owners spend alot of time cleaning them

10. they spend more time in the shop then on the road

I must be a bad Ducati owner.

1. I wasn't even aware they made my model bike before the first time I saw it in the showroom and was actually going to buy a Honda at the time.

2. The only branded accessory I own is a belt for my pants.

3. Repairs I do myself, will give you parts ain't cheap.

4. Handles about the same as any other motorcycle I have owned, had no trouble on it's track day.

5. Well yes, aren't most motorcycles regardless of brand?

6. 17,850 miles since spring of '08.

7. Only if they deserve it.

8. Don't like coffee, if you find mine parked good luck.

9. Only reason to clean it is because you have been riding it and it's dirty.

10. Other than general maintenance (do myself now anyway) it's only been in the shop three times and all for nagging gas tank issues.

Ammo knowledge. As of 1994 here is the list of 50cal ammo the military was loading. (dang old manuals)

CALIBER .50 CARTRIDGES

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, High Pressure Test, M1

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Blank, M1

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Incendiary, M1

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer, M1

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Blank, M1A1

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, M2

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, Armor Piercing, M2

Cartridge, Dummy, Caliber .50, M2

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, Armor Piercing Incendiary, M8

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer M10

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer; M17

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, Armor Piercing Incendiary-Tracer, M20

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Incendiary, M23

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, M33

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, Spotter-Tracer, M48A1

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, Spotter-Tracer, M48A2

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, Plastic Practice, M858

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer, Plastic Practice, M860

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Saboted Light Armor Penetrator (SLAP),

M903

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Saboted Light Armor Penetrator-Tracer

(SLAP-T), M962

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, Practice, T249E2

Cartridge, Caliber .50: Armor Piercing Incendiary (API), MK 211

MOD 0

You can get the bullets themselves (not loaded ammo) from

http://patsreloading.com/patsrel/prices.aspx?category=Bullets

They carry,

Ball

Incendiary

API

APIT

and tracers.

You can also get loaded ammo from;

http://www.ammunitionstore.com/categories/50-BMG-Ammunition/?sort=priceasc

In just about all the variants I listed above in just the bullets.

The reserve is now set at $450 - the amount I can get for a few parts sold individually

Even at $200 it wouldn't have been worth the trouble.

Both bikes 5 years old or younger.

Still at work, off in 20 minutes.

Just stay off the highway. I did C-bus to Sparta NC last year and spent less than 40 minutes on a highway to get there. Ended up doing 1200miles in 3 days. No radio, no windshield. I loved it.

I was at the brewery over Christmas last year to pick up a bar back mirror and even at their outlet store they where selling for $18 a case. I doubt in Ohio it will be less that 24 just due to the cost of shipping it out here and that it will be new to the area.

Agreed with above on the gas situation. The other thing to remember is you need to keep the sightseeing portion in check. There are some mad beautiful views from that road and almost no guard rails, you go over the edge and it could be a couple hundred feet almost straight down. There are plenty of pull offs so you can get off to stretch or just to look out and enjoy the countryside. It's not a technical road and with a sportbike most guys will find even 5-10 over the speed limit boring. Most turns you will never need to slow down. It is just a great ride to hold a steady pace and enjoy it for that feature. I rode it twice last year and loved it. First trip was in Virginia from Peaks of Otter up north to Humphrey's Gap. Wish it could have been longer but it was a side excursion off my main route. Later in the year I went from Sparta NC down to the Linn Cove viaduct and back. Was wanting more on both occasions, you will enjoy it. It is a nation park system road so stay close to the speed limit, I have heard stories that speeding fines are steep. Haven't seen anything to confirm the story though.

I for one am extra happy it is coming to Ohio. I lived 40 minutes from the brewery before I moved out to this god forsaken flatland 4 years ago. I was just out in Philly visiting family over the weekend and brought back 2 cases. This will make my life so much easier it isn't funny.

and that .357 grip is considerably bigger than our .38sp and we've got xtended police grip on it.

It's the crimson trace laser grip with the extended bottom. Model LG-305, I can get about half my pinky on the bottom but it wouldn't have helped the picture if I gripped it that way.

Here is a quick comparison for grip size. I have big hands, 2x or 3x glove size depending on brand. Guns are a full size 5inch 1911, my XDM 4.5 inch .45acp and my smith snubbie I carry.

Yup, even have the extended grips on the snubbie.

I was just kidding with my comments! It's the way things "work" around OR.

I know, that's why I hang out around here. I have to stock ammo in 14 different calibers for the guns I have at the moment. When looking for something new it is to the point I look for guns that shoot calibers I already have and have started reloading for.

The bold part is more evidence of ween shrinkage!

Having the .45 is just because I didn't want to have to stock another caliber. My 1911 is my first love in .45acp handguns, the XDM is just higher capacity.

No need for the M unless you have a small penis or are into bling the regular XD is way less money and just as good.

Dang, I like my XDM. Didn't know my ween is shrinking because of it.

Mine is the .45acp model, I would expect the .40S&W to be just as nice. I got it because it has the interchangeable backstrap panel and the grip serrations on the front of the gun extend farther around the sides. There are also alot of extra little things that help also. I liked the factory sights on the "M" model better, the slide cuts are a different shape and the barrel is supposed to be match quality. I never intended to carry mine so the extra 1/2 inch of barrel length is fine.