Revelstoker

Sweet. Time for a bit o Ewoking.

I am good for the easy stuff but if the more options show up for the really good stuff, I might have to swap out the KTM 990 for the 690 Enduro or the 530EXC that I really want.

Damn, now you are going to make me all mad that I didn't buy the BMW F800GS. I think the KTM might be up for it. Now, where to get a set of knobbies???????

Not sure if you ever got this resolved but check out the KTM 990 SMR, KTM 690 SMC, Hypermotard EVO 1100 or Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200.

I just got started with this trackday stuff and my first recco is: don't do it! The a better term for track days would be CRACK DAYS. They are just that addictive. So, with that said, you might as well bite the bullet and get the bits and pieces from the start. Don't assume you won't crash just because it is Novice. It is still motorcycle riding and there are a lot of variables that are beyond your control. (e.g. T8, Museum, at Barber, novice rider went down in front of me. Not going fast, maybe he hit the Fb???) STT is a good group to go with. I have done several of their events and like them a lot. IMO, the Midwest events are better than the Southern events for first timers. I found the Midwest events a bit more controlled and structured (line drills, no shift drills) than in the South. Novice is split into groups of 4-6 with a CR. Faster or experienced Novice riders can get into gr1-3 and chicken shit riders (like myself) can go to grp 6-8. Putnam Park was my first STT event and that is a pretty nice track to ride. http://www.sportbiketracktime.com/our-approach.html

I picked up this one http://www.procycledepot.com/THOR_MOTOCROSS_IMPACT_RIG_SE_CHEST_PROTECTORS-8-10316-87429.html as I goes on like a shirt and the armor doesn't slide around. I also wear a set up body armor shorts that have pads to help absorb impact to the pelvis bones and tail bone. I wear then under my track suit and street gear. My track gear has armor in it but I found that it shifts and moves away from the areas that need protection. If I had the money, I might pop for one of those Dianese air bag suits.

Here is a test. When you pick a name, go outside and yell it 4-5 times really loud. If you can call the dog's name without getting embarrassed, it is a good name. Have fun, dogs are great to have around - especially with kids. First few years can be tough as they are still young but by 5, most dogs are awesome.

Not everyone's choice but if you ride a Harley, relatively few to no one in the Midwest is going to F with you when your riding. It is kind of sad but I have had all kinds of road rage/bike rage issues when riding my non-USA motorcycles. I only have 1 motorcycle jacket and it is my custom fit Langlitz leather Harley style jacket. I wear it when I ride the KTM and I wore it when I rode my old Honda Shadow and Hyper. Without fail, some asshat in a worn out F150 has to make some kind of "Nice Harley" or "Harley Wanna-be" comment. As for getting a bigger bike to get away, don't bother as you really can't get away in a safe manner on the streets. Though, I have often given thought to strapping a billy-club to my bars or frame. Tazer seems the best option if they get out of their truck. Sadly, I never seem to have the Go Pro on or pointing in the direction I need to record the behaviour. Time to put it on the helmet I guess.

2up + sportsbike = sport tourer (if relative comfort is a factor). BMW K1200/1300s are really nice options and would be my first choice for a 2up sports bike. Wicked fast, handles great and ESA makes it easy to adjust the suspension for changing loads. You can step up to the GT models if you want the bags, bigger screen or just add them on to the S. BMW 800s/gt series are worth considering as well. Kawi Concours is another excellent option. Wicked fast, handles well but more practical for putting on the miles than its Z bretheren. Triumph has the Sprint and it has received good reviews. I have yet to see the new on in the flesh. Ducati makes the Multistrada which is a nice bike and quite sporty but the riding position starts to move more towards upright. No matter, it still has one heck of a motor and can rip up the track quite nicely. It is a Ducati, after all. If you want to go back a few years, you can look for a nicely used Ducati ST3/ST4. Honda has the new VFR1200 that is getting good reviews and would be a better choice for 2up over the VFR800 which is an excellent 1up tourer. NT700v might be an option but more tourer that sport, I would say. Those are all the sport bikes that would be good for 2up that come to mind. After that, you start to get bigger with the Yamaha FJ, BMW K16, Honda ST1300 and Goldwing. While not sporting by any measure, Harley does make for an excellent 2up bike. I have mine for wife rides. Can we say GOOD VIBRATIONS!!!

I liked that drunk, Hemingway wanna-be writer they had for a while. CW and Motorcyclist are really the shit now that I discovered the UK rags. Still too cheap to buy a subscription but the kids like to visit Barnes & Noble once a month while I catch up. BIKE, RIDE and SPORT RIDER (i think) are the 3 that are usually in stock.

Riding up I-75N from Cinci towards Dayton. Stupid women is in the middle lane going about 70mph and decides she needs to make her exit. She hits the brakes, which causes a chain reaction in both the middle and right lane as people slow and look to change lanes. I am stuck, hitting the brakes to avoid and looking in my mirror to see if there is a tractor/trailer combo about to flatten me. Ugh I was so pissed as she changed lanes and I had to move over onto the shoulder to pass and avoid getting squashed. If it wasn't such a bad spot, I probably would have followed her off and bitched her out, called the police or all the above. As it was, I was hot from getting stuck in traffic, bike almost overheating and wanting a cold beer. So, I flipped her the 1 finger salute and moved on. What a bonehead move. Next exit was only 1/2 mile away!!!!!!!!

Thanks all for the welcomes. If the weather holds this weekend, I am headed towards NW KY and a buzz by Bluegrass to see if the weeds are still growing. If the weather holds and the wife takes the kids next weekend - track time or I am headed east towards WV/PA.

I have a KTM SMT and would love to ride the SMR and Mid-Ohio. I am on the disty list for your events and I would love to do them but I just can't swing the mid-week. Weather was the shit earlier this year for your weekend event. Any chance of taking the KTM events to another track and running the event on the weekends?

+1 on purchasing a bike that is already track prepped and ready to go. You can spend thousands on a bike and upgraded parts and never get the money back out of it. Plus, most track bikes are not going to carry insurance and wadding up a really expensive bike, or worrying that you will, seems like a complete waste. Well, that is at least the logic I applied after picking up my '08 Hyper from a minor drop at barber and it cost me $1k to replace the cosmetics. Here are a couple options: http://www.sttforum.com/sttforum/viewtopic.php?t=9516 http://www.sttforum.com/sttforum/viewtopic.php?t=9336 http://www.sttforum.com/sttforum/viewtopic.php?t=9620 http://www.sttforum.com/sttforum/viewtopic.php?t=9378 but then, if those are not enough for you: http://www.romborossodoc.com/forum/index.php?topic=226.0

The only sad part in this is that people actually watched. Just standing around and watching someone die is pretty sick. If the guy had fallen over-board or off the dock and was making some attempt to save himself or was unconscious -then, yes, trying to save him would be justified. Since this guy went into the water under his own power, was there for an hour and then drowned himself - his choice. But, why watch?

Spending time with J.Q. Public is quite a scary thing to do.

I have a Rocky Mountain Element for getting dirty and a Klein Quantum for not getting dirty. Motorbikes below

Yes, I am quite sure that would be us. There were several of those conversations, so it could have been either of us. Bikes and sliders are courtesy of the Wood brothers as the bikes came from Penguin Racing.

Post Office tells me I am in Dayton but here in Centerville, is seems more like Dayton metro. The BMW was my grandfathers and I just picked it up recently from my aunt. It has 96k miles but is all original. A few blemishes and I hope to get it running soon. My wife was going to put me in touch with individuals that are knowledgeable about these old bikes and I had a suggestion to take it to Holt BMW. I wish I was more mechanically inclined as I would love to get the bike running myself. Mostly, I think the fuel system needs attention and a battery. Here are a few pictures that I took of it when I got it home. I gave it a quick was and it looks a bit better but could benefit from a bit more love.

+1 on Fontana.

Thanks all for the welcomes. Yes, I love that area. I did my first and only Heli skiing there decades ago and I am haunted to this day with the memories. Now, I just need to come up with a way to get back and do it again - boarding this time though.

Sorry if this was previously posted. While no CBR, it is within your budget. http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/mcy/2359249308.html

Hi all, I am new to OH, Dayton, and found the OhioRiders website while searching for details on the Commo/Indy 5/29 td and pictures. (From the photos, I believe I was pitted next to Rusty848 and his brother??? I was with my brother on a couple used up ole tractors, Ducati 900ss') Long-time rider (cruisers and dirt) but new to this whole sportbike and trackday stuff. I will troll around on the site as I am looking for good area ride routes as well. Track days will be limited until I can find a job, so if anyone knows of a company looking for a market/sales analyst, send me a pm so I can feed the addiction. Revelstoker '10 KTM SMT '03 HD Heritage Classic '01 Ducati 944ss (track) '68 BMW r69s