wagsy 0 Posted August 7, 2006 Just spotted Mr Pmooney new toy ... Harley Davidson VRSCDX Special...mid life crisis there Mr mooney :lol: Anyhow it brought back memories...I too love bikes. My list of has beens... 2 x Honda CBR 1000's...110km in first gear Yamaha XTZ 750 Super Tenere..A big 205 kmph Paris Dakar thingy that took me all over AUS. Suzuki DR 650 Honda XR 600...great for wheelies.... Honda XL 250 Yamaha 250...cannot remember the model now.... Anyone else out there with the bike bug? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJ 0 Posted August 7, 2006 NICE! i had a yamaha r6 that got stolen, then purchased a ducati 748 with the insurance money. had to sell the 748 after getting married, the wife threatened to burn it! she said it was too dangerous yada yada yada. now i prob spend more money with my new hobby of U/W Photography. go figure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmyates 3 Posted August 7, 2006 My list of has beens...2 x Honda CBR 1000's...110km in first gear Yamaha XTZ 750 Super Tenere..A big 205 kmph Paris Dakar thingy that took me all over AUS. Suzuki DR 650 Honda XR 600...great for wheelies.... Honda XL 250 Yamaha 250...cannot remember the model now.... Anyone else out there with the bike bug? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I rode bikes when I was a kid, then didn't get in the saddle for about 25 years after I got married, but the bug bit me again about 5 years ago. Now I've got a big BMW K1200LT touring bike (see below) for long-distance trips, and an Aprilia ETV 1000 (aka Caponord) for shorter trips (and those wheelies you mentioned!). B) As they say, only bikers really understand why dogs hang their heads out the car window... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wagsy 0 Posted August 8, 2006 Chris, the Ducati 748 what a nice bike, although no room for the wife They put out a lovely note though.... BMW K1200LT...What a nice bike for touring and you can take the wife while Jack Johnson plays along. Although I love the big bore bikes, for more Aus conditions the big trailes work the best. I messed around with a BMW GS for abit, I must say not a bad machicne for burning up the drit tracks of AUS and alot better than the earlier models. The Aprilia ETV 1000 looks great as well, might have to take one for a test ride next time we get to the city. It real strange how Australia has the best conditions for these bike tralies but are not very popular. Hows the power and the gearbox on that Aprilia, does it nose dive heaps on heavy front breaking. Do you think it would handle AUS conditions. One of the funniest things I did was to take a ZZR 1100 for a test ride, nothing like knocking it back to 3 gear doing 140km and rocketing to over 180km then slipping it into 4th with the thing still savagely rocketing well over 200km with 2 gears still to go . Amazing machine, super smooth and super quited but boy nail that throttle and look out. Cheers Wags Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
anthp 0 Posted August 8, 2006 And of course you did that on a race track Wagsy.... to avoid the 110km/h speed limit!! :lol: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wagsy 0 Posted August 8, 2006 Ha ha...well i did get to test out just how fast those Aus Police pursuit cars could go on one sunny sunday on some 160km foot peg scraping loney sweepers. I had a full tank of gas, new tyres and full leathers on......nope they have no chance against a big bore bike on lonely West Australian country road I think the police guy is still upset to this day that I got away... The thing about big bikes is that they can get up to crazy speeds and back very very easy and with a radar detector on the police have a very hard time getting a lock on you as they need a few second as you are so small giving you plenty of time to come down from 200km + speeds to 110KM to give them a nice friendly wave as they go by Another funny thing is on my bikes I use to speed 100% of the time and I never got a speeding ticket. I then sold my bike and brought a slow 4x4 and nearly lost all my points in one year through speeding...yep the bike bugs coming back..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wesley 0 Posted August 8, 2006 nice to see some fellow riders...i have a 2006 ducati 749 and an 05 ktm adventure...any fellow rider/divers in the bay area? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
anthp 0 Posted August 8, 2006 You naughty naughty naughty boy Wags! :lol: I can just see the look on that coppa's face! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmyates 3 Posted August 8, 2006 ...I messed around with a BMW GS for abit, I must say not a bad machicne for burning up the drit tracks of AUS and alot better than the earlier models. The Aprilia ETV 1000 looks great as well, might have to take one for a test ride next time we get to the city. It real strange how Australia has the best conditions for these bike tralies but are not very popular. Hows the power and the gearbox on that Aprilia, does it nose dive heaps on heavy front breaking. Do you think it would handle AUS conditions... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Wags, The new 1200GS is a HUGE improvement over previous models -- a totally different bike actually. I chose the Aprilia specifically over the old 1150GS - far smoother engine and transmission - but that was before the 1200GS came out. If I was looking for a new "dual sport/adventure touring" bike (or "trailie" as you call them) today, and if money was no object, then there's no question I'd choose the 1200GS. If I needed something a bit more oriented to off-pavement, I'd get the GS Adventure model (or consider a KTM). But for mostly paved riding, with some off-road, the stock 1200GS is the optimal ticket IMHO. OTOH, the Aprilia Caponord is a great bike -- tons of power, and a "bulletproof" engine and transmission (actually a tuned down version of one of their time-proven racier bikes' engines). I'd rank it right up there with the GS as far as power train. It can certainly serve as a great "trailie" (although a lighter-weight bike like a KTM is better if you're going to be in lots of sand -- you do have sand their in Oz don't you? ), and significantly cheaper than the GS. But you also have to consider whether or not there is an Aprilia dealer nearby. It will almost surely be harder to get service and parts for the Aprilia than the BMW... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmooney 6 Posted August 8, 2006 Wags, I must have started the mid-life crisis a little early as I I have a shed full of them. This is my favourite. Not to shabbby for a for an 18 year old tractor..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wagsy 0 Posted August 8, 2006 Peter, cool tractor there. Don't know much about the Harleys, just that they make a loud noise Have you any Jap bikes or other brands in your shed.? Yes I rode the old GS and hated the rattly thing but the new GS1200 is as you said a completly different bike, slick with heaps of grunt. Fanging down gravel roads it felt real good. Sounds like you are happy with the Aprilia. I think we can get the Triumph Tiger over here as well, another big trailie beast...Honda and Yamaha make them as well but don't bring them into the county. Yes we do have sand in fact I remember cutting up the Broome beach on my 750 twin Super Tenere which at the the time had a huge full nobbie trye on and boy did it throw up some cool rooster tails Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wagsy 0 Posted August 8, 2006 Hey had a pic of me Tenere all loaded up for my trip all over AUS.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJ 0 Posted August 8, 2006 some pics: r6 before: r6 after: r6 n duc748: duc 748: after installing new pipes, marchesini wheels: the guy who stole the r6 wiped out trying to outrun the cops, although he ended up escaping them in the hospital. bummer. the duc sang with these loud pipes! nothing like a vtwin motor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
timoma 0 Posted August 8, 2006 nothing like a vtwin motor. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You got THAT right! Although my own bike for many, many years was a meager Harley UL (80 cu in flathead) from 1945, I was the crew chief for a top fuel Harley drag racing team for a while in the early 90's. 270km/h on first gear. Come to think about it, it only had one gear. Wroomm... timo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmyates 3 Posted August 8, 2006 ...The Aprilia ETV 1000 looks great as well, might have to take one for a test ride next time we get to the city...does it nose dive heaps on heavy front breaking. Do you think it would handle AUS conditions... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Wags, I just realized I didn't answer one of your questions. The Aprilia Caponord is a bit divey as it comes from the factory, but that's easily solved with stiffer after-market fork springs and tweaking the oil in the forks. There's also a more "off-road" version of the Caponord called a Rally Raid (see Aprilia Caponord Rally Raid ) that is designed to compete more directly with the GS Adventure. Either bike is definitely suitable for AUS conditions, but again it depends on how much emphasis you place on off-road vs. paved (for serious off-road, you've gotta look at KTM, too). The Triumph Tiger is in the same class as the GS and Caponord, but I don't think has nearly as smooth an engine and tranny as the Caponord, and isn't as good in almost any respect (except price, which is comparable to the Aprilia) as the 1200GS. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcfig 4 Posted August 8, 2006 I sold my Aprilia Pegaso a few years back to pay for my last trip to Fiji. I miss it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Jones 0 Posted August 8, 2006 you lot... -just not content with disregarding speed limits -ignoring traffic queues -disturbing innocent ramblers out on their Sunday walks -moaning everytime some Volvo driver pulls out in front of you (how could he see you anyway - you all wear black?) ....but now you have to pollute the good pages of wetpixel with your grease ridden banter Rock On!! Steve CBR600 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bvanant 190 Posted August 8, 2006 All my neurosurgeon friends call all you guys donors, just wear your helmets so we can get mostly living kidneys and pancreata. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphy 1 Posted August 8, 2006 Well, I like my 1150GS! Having said that, I've not ridden the 1200GS yet; but it seems to me to have lost the 'quirkyness' of the 1150 - which was part of it's initial appeal for me. As a 'go anywhere' it takes some beating esp. when you consider it's touring ability. Now it's not a fast bike by any means; 120mph is about the top speed, but if I want to go fast I've got this..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Jones 0 Posted August 8, 2006 Ralphy, I just spat my coffee all over my keyboard nice one..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wagsy 0 Posted August 9, 2006 Hey Ralphy is that a ST 1100 a cop bike? Nice colours there... Thanks for the info on the Aprilia, I'll take one for a test ride next time I'm in the city. I remember hiting a pigeon at 180km on the CBR1000 and always thought it funny to have travelled 200km in just one hour Even used it a few times to bring in the sheep....then then day came to sell it.....one last huge burn out and guess what....chain broke and wrapped around the primary drive and cracked the engine case. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Kay 62 Posted August 9, 2006 I just know that I'm going to get into trouble for this, but the two bikes I regret no longer having are a Norton Commando 850 MkII - crude but a wonderful piece of Brit craftsmanship (not sure about engineering....) and a Guzzi 850T (no not T3) which I reckon was very bad for the heart - it red lined at 115 but not due to speed, more like the brakes (or lack of!) as this was before Guzzi used disks throughout. Sadly the Commando was sold and the Guzzi's lack of an oil filter was its undoing! I've even dived from the Guzzi but reckon the H&S boys would have something to say about how I carried the dive tank these days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gengiant 0 Posted August 9, 2006 nice to see some fellow riders...i have a 2006 ducati 749 and an 05 ktm adventure...any fellow rider/divers in the bay area? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Wesley, My wife and I reside in Sacramento. She rides a 2001 Yamaha V-Star and I a '98 Harley Davidson Road King. For touring I pull a Bushtec trailer along. Past bikes include a Honda 700 tourer (I forgot the brand, but it got me into touring at a more leisurely pace), an '86 Ninja 900, and various dirt bikes growing up. I keep thinking that I need to sell the Harley to keep up with this ever-more expensive phot bug, but thankfully, my wife keeps talking me out of it, while "allowing" additional photo gear purchases. What a woman!! GG Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJ 0 Posted August 9, 2006 Wesley, My wife and I reside in Sacramento. She rides a 2001 Yamaha V-Star and I a '98 Harley Davidson Road King. For touring I pull a Bushtec trailer along. Past bikes include a Honda 700 tourer (I forgot the brand, but it got me into touring at a more leisurely pace), an '86 Ninja 900, and various dirt bikes growing up. I keep thinking that I need to sell the Harley to keep up with this ever-more expensive phot bug, but thankfully, my wife keeps talking me out of it, while "allowing" additional photo gear purchases. What a woman!! GG <{POST_SNAPBACK}> LUCKY DOG! your wife needs to talk to my wife. my wife never grew up around motorcycles like i did. so she couldnt understand the obsession, er religion (nothing like the smell of a carbeurator running pure). to her it was the most dangerous thing i can do. so out with the duc! crossing my fingers n toes she doesnt see scuba in the same light... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralphy 1 Posted August 9, 2006 Hey Ralphy is that a ST 1100 a cop bike? Nice colours there... It's a Pan all right, but an ST1300, full police spec. Used as an emergency vehicle for transporting between hospitals & I'm a volunteer rider on it. They are good for 140+mph (it has a calibrated speedo, naturally!) & fun to ride; especially on a 'blues & two's' through traffic. BUT it's a salutory lesson on an emergency run as to how many other road users fail to see you, despite blue lights/strobe headlight/two-tone siren; makes you realise just how 'invisable' motorbikes are to the rest of the drivers.............. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
