redkow97

shit - For $8k that looks pretty good.

Everyone puts their children at risk. Whether it's taking them on a motorcycle, driving with them in the car after you've had a couple of beers, or something as mundane as letting the smoke detector battery go dead. It's just a matter of which risks you take consciously, and which don't occur to you. ...now excuse me while I check my smoke detectors.

Harry's lap timer is what I have always seen recommended as well. JB and I got inexpensive (Amazon? Ebay?) lap timers for pretty cheap. They're great for the XR's, because we won't cry if we crash and break them... They have worked well for us. And I totally agree that new riders should not be worrying about lap times, but I also understand how gratifying it can be to see your times fall, and look back and laugh at your times from weeks or years prior. Put the lap timer on your tail section where you can't see it. Then check after the session, or at lunch time if it will store enough laps.

so perhaps this process is easier than expected on older bikes.

What's an ass renegade?

I'll have to look at the calendar, but it would be nice to see who is running the show at N2. I'll consider registering, or at least just riding up and hanging out. Or maybe we'll ride the kart track and shoot the shit after N2 is off the North track.

yeah, at $7k, they are making HD's accessible to a lot more riders. I think it's a good marketing move. I know the purists will not like the liquid cooled engine, but it's so much more efficient... I appreciate the simplicity of an air-cooled motor, and I understand that radiators are ugly, but they're so worth it (this from the guy with an oil-cooled bike now... )

well let's not bid each other up! I am just looking at the dualsport models and thinking that they're not going to be very popular choices for most street riders. I would hope they go for under a grand. I can't imagine dealerships would snatch up models that are likely to sit in their showroom for months on end.

I will detail the Panni for free if I can spend a couple of hours getting it dirty first...

Using a Duc in the comparison doesn't help the illustration, but the McLaren probably costs $270,000, versus $40,000 for the top-of-the-line Pannigale. A Japanese liter bike would be under $20k...

anyone ever gone to one of these? I'm trying to get an idea of what the DR200 and TW200's actually sell for. Anything with a dirt-chassis capable of short highway stints would be of interest. Even if I have to put a smaller rear sprocket on it to make 60mph possible... But I know the XR100 will do 50mph with the right gearing and big enough tires, so 60 from a 200 seems possible.

I like riding with 1-3 other people. Large groups get dangerous and annoying to other motorists, but smaller groups can be good fun if you're all on the same page as far as what constitutes "fun."

Anyone see/read reviews of the liquid cooled 750? I watched one on Youtube last night, and the verdict was pretty much that it's a great cruiser for the price. I thought it was funny that they were impressed with 59hp and 45(?) lbs.-ft of torquie from a liquid-cooled 750, but those are at-the-wheel numbers, and relatively respectable in a lighter bike. I'm not saying it's a HD I would own, but it's a step toward something I would consider.

touché!

I bolded part of your comment that I think is VERY significant in certain situations. I had typed out a longer response before that addressed this, but I wanted to avoid making it into a "cars are better than bikes" thing. Cars are just different than bikes. Because the bike is so much narrower, we effectively have a wider track, and; at least in 'shallow' turns, can ride a straighter line. Cars destroy bikes is in long constant-radius turns, like T10 at PIRC, or the carousel at Nelson Ledges. That is a situation where bikes are on the edge of their grip, at a sustained speed, for a (relatively) long period of time. The car is also on the edge of its grip for that same length of time, but it is traveling at a greater speed throughout that period, thus allowing it to gain ground on (or increase its lead) on a bike. I think Bikes are probably quicker through Turns 1-5 at PIRC, but the cars turn up the hill and can mash the gas all the way through the second kink, then carry more speed through T10. The layout really does have a huge effect on which machine is capable of lapping faster. Top Gear has demonstrated this numerous times in the bike vs. car races. The bikes win more often than not, because the venues suit its strengths (balls-out acceleration) more.

Everything I have ever read from Bill directly, or about him from anyone else has only reinforced that he's a good guy who does good work. I hope I don't need his services, but these kinds of reviews are nice to read.

he may have edited his profile after you asked, but it looks like 2007 ZX10

FI is amazing, but I am trying to learn to be less afraid of old technology. "Vintage" bikes are cool in their own way, and can make 50mph pretty exciting. My next "expensive" bike will be some kind of supermoto/endure. My next cheap bike will probably have drum brakes and points style ignition.

does Ryan have neighbors close enough to notice the 10 or so bikes rolling in? That's the type of thing that gets you a "reputation" in a new neighborhood!

Brian might be able to chime in and enlighten us with the potential obstacles for the Panni at the AMA superbike level. Given that it's a privateer team, they could have chosen any bike they wanted as a platform. There has to be a reason they chose the Ducati. Maybe it's just that the stock parts (and traction control) are better than the Japanese options, so those are fewer parts they plan to upgrade(?) Not bad strategy if that's the case.

We should look into an OhioRiders.net LeMons team. $500 limit on the car itself. that does not include safety and consumable items though. But if we can get a member with welding ability to fabricate a roll cage at a reasonable price, and perhaps borrow a racing seat and 5-point harness from someone, the rest would just be new brake pads and other small expenses. Used tires are fine with me. Anything with a manual transmission would be fun. Could probably drop a motorcycle engine into a Ford Festiva and have some fun with that. **edit - $500 MG Midget convertible + engine from wrecked bike = ORDN LeMons car. http://mansfield.craigslist.org/cto/4388388355.html

Thank you. This is very helpful. I am probably getting ahead of myself in thinking about proper tuning before the bike is even ready for a test ride, but I will refer to this in a few weeks when I get it on the road.

What is the NSA doing with your license plate number that they don't already have complete access to through BMV records?

In WSBK trim, I might agree with you, but I am being led to believe that the more restrictive AMA rules don't put the Duc at any real disadvantage. Like the team owner pointed out, the Jordan Suzuki team is gone. That's two bikes that probably would (or should) have had the resources to finish ahead of them. In their mind, they are already climbing the ladder every time they qualify. I wish them well. Will be nice to hear another twin on the grid.

not a factory effort, but a privateer who plans to race the full season. http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/tpl-racingducati-omahadesmo-veloce-to-race-ama-pro-superbike-with-jake-holden/#.Ut2xVGhhY_Q.facebook