[BFMC AJ]

To me one of the finest things in life is a good ride on a motorcycle. It doesn't matter how bad the day is, a good ride will make it better.

Does anyone else ride? If so...what? Favorite rides? Best road story?

-AJ

[bpave777]

Originally Posted by BFMC AJ

To me one of the finest things in life is a good ride on a motorcycle. It doesn't matter how bad the day is, a good ride will make it better.

Does anyone else ride? If so...what? Favorite rides? Best road story?

-AJ

Ain't it the truth AJ!

I've been riding for almost 29 years (this December). Started when I was 9.

Every bike I've had has been amazing for its time. Gotta put my race bikes at the top. So purpose driven: TZ 250's and Factory Aprilia.

Down from there I loved all of my Harley's, in their own way. My Road Glide is real nice.

Lately I've made it back to the dirt, and been riding a plated '05 KTM 450 EXC. Super fun.


Best road story, well for the reader it would be the night a *RAT* (I crap you negative) hitched a ride on my BMW GS1100 on my way home from Hollywood one night. It's true I was drinking one or two, but this is the Gods truth. I didn't see him for about 15 miles, then looked down to see him hanging on my handlebar, at 80mph. I made the quick decision to save him. I pulled him into my chest and rode to the side of the Ventura freeway to drop him off. He's in a better neighborhood now.

[lvbarber]

I have been riding since 65. HD's, Triumph's, Ducati's and all the Japanese bikes. Currently I have 3, 04 Busa, 05 Kaw Nomad and an 06 M109 R Suzuiki.

Probably my best story would be the trip from Vegas to Leguna Seca for the what was supposed to be the last race of the best rider ever, Kenny Roberts. Highway 1 had a million bikes on it, all sizes and makes looking to dice it up. Although my sporting blood was boiling I refrained and opted on the side of sanity and the fact I was a long way from my garage.
Normally I was not in that kind of control. Seeing these riders pass cars and trucks at high speeds on blind corners was an eye opener. Unfortunately up the road one of bikes I remembered from earlier was stuffed under a guard rail. The rest of the trip was great and KR won the race. I hope the rider of the stuffed bike was not badly injured. I have quite a number of stories, mostly good experiences.

[Cheech]

I guess I've been riding about 20 years now. There's a BMW RT, Ducati 900SS and Kawi ZX-9 in the garage right now.

My favorite ride has to be Hwy 9 into Santa Cruz. Everybody goes on about Hwy 84 and 35, but they just can't compare to Hwy 9. Nice, twisty, beautiful scenery, well maintained, and you end up in Santa Cruz. What's not to love?!

Best road story. That won't get me in trouble? Hmmm. Many years ago, I was in Okinawa on a NSR 250 (two stroke). I split lanes up to a light, and got ready to get on it when the light changed so I wouldn't come in conflict with the cars. The light turned, I let out the clutch, but the bike wasn't moving. The cars started going, and it was a moment before I saw the smoke wafting forward, past me. I wasn't quite used to revving up (for the two stroke) and I was just roasting the rear tire. Once I started paying attention, I could hear the tire spinning on the pavement. I pulled in the clutch, got traction, and got out of there. It may have been cool if it had been intentional. Oh, well.

Man, that was a great bike...

[rsrick]

I've been riding for about 12 years now. Started on a Suzuki GR650 - talked about trading it in for 10 years but couldn't bring myself to do it until a couple years ago when I traded up to a Triumph Thruxton.

[chief]

I'm driving a Suzuki SV for 3 years now:

My dreambike must be a Triumph Daytona 675:


the most spectacular moments are the ones where you almost get driven off the road by semi-blind car drivers.
The nicest thing is to get up early on a summer morning, and head for the "Ardennes" in the south of Belgium, where things are hilly and curvy. Pure joy!

[snosajs]

I've been riding in the dirt for years, but have only had my road license for 3 years now. I absolutely love my '86 Yamaha Radian. Small, nimble, easy to throw around in traffic. That being said, I'm ALWAYS in the market for something newer...

[BFMC AJ]

Love the stories guys! Nice to see some scooter trash around here.

I ride a 2005 Harley Electra Glide Police (FLHTPI). For some reason police bikes just seem to handle a little better than a standard Harley. Go figure...the boys in blue always seem to have the best toys.

As a member of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club there are plenty of opportunities for good rides but I think the best of all time was a trip from Lexington, Kentucky back to Huntsville, Alabama. It's only 350 miles or so but on the Sunday morning I left Lexington it was 23 degrees F and snowing. Well, ok, there was some ice mixed in there too. But by the time I realized that I was about 10 miles into the ride and there was no way in hell I could quit then. Testosterone...it makes guys do strange things.

The first stop to thaw out was 50 miles into the ride. The temperature had dropped to 19 F and it was still snowing. At that point I peeled a sheet of ice off my chaps that went from knee to ankle on both legs. To make a long story short, nine and a half hours later I pulled into my dirveway and couldn't even get my clothes off. The girlfriend at the time had to undress me and put me in a hot shower. The temp stayed at 19 F or below the whole way and it never stopped snowing. Did you know two wheels and ice are a BAD combination?

That was my one and only polar bear run. Next time...I'll take the cage with heat and a radio! Like an old grey beard 1%er told me after he heard that story..."There's a fine line between hardcore and stupid." Amen.
-AJ

[razorrandy]

I have a 97 Harley Electra Glide, love the bike . Its real comfortable and just a great bike.
My first bike was a 90 fatboy, I loved that bike too, but it would beat you to death on longer rides. I like ridding in the foothills around Sacramento and up in the hill towards Reno. You can ride the Electra Glide all day and feel great the next day.

[Ditch Doc]

Favorite bike was an 03 Honda CBR 954RR. I had a Ninja ZX6, it was OK, but not in the same class as the RR. Best story: A few days after lowsiding my CBR in a little old lady + curve + crossing center line = me off the road incident, I was sitting at a stop sign behind an Expedition with ANOTHER old lady driver. She felt like she was too far forward, and reversed right into my bike. Her insurance wrote me a check for 4K, and I really fixed up the bike super nice.


Beside Dad's Bike

[chief]

Hey Americans,
how about you country's bike regulations? Are they very strict overthere?
Like open pipes for instance?
In Europe they're quite strict about it, especially in Holland and Germany.

[BFMC AJ]

Originally Posted by chief

Hey Americans,
how about you country's bike regulations? Are they very strict overthere?
Like open pipes for instance?
In Europe they're quite strict about it, especially in Holland and Germany.

It really depends on where you go and the mood the police officer is in. Loud pipes are completely ignored in most places but in others...well it's a fairly expensive ticket.

Helmet laws are enforced in every place that has them. There are still quite a few states that don't though. And in many states the regulation is vague about what constitutes a helmet. Here in Alabama I can wear a simple beanie style helmet that offers zero protection but it's a helmet. In other places you have to wear a helmet that passes DOT (Department of Transportation) or SNELL standards.

Getting a motorcyle license is really no tougher than getting a regular drivers license.

Each state is different. It's a lot like Europe was before the EU. Each state passes ad enforces their own laws.
-AJ

[Ditch Doc]

15 years ago 48 states had helmet laws. Now, 29 states are without universal helmet laws.

[chief]

so there are less states now?

[Cheech]

I can't speak to the history of helmet laws, but 18 states have universal helmet laws (meaning that it applies to everyone without exception), 31 states have limited helmet laws (meaning that the law is qualified for any number of reasons such as age, training, etc.). 2 states do not have any helmet laws.

I'm not a lawyer, but I'm guessing that if there has been a reduction in the amount or scope of helmet laws, it has more to do with court cases than legislation. It just seems that a politician opposing helmet laws would incur a political liability. But, of course, I live in California.

Just curious, but how does it work in the EU? Is it state specific, or EU-wide?

[Cheech]

Originally Posted by chief

Hey Americans,
how about you country's bike regulations? Are they very strict overthere?
Like open pipes for instance?
In Europe they're quite strict about it, especially in Holland and Germany.

Like BFMC AJ said, it varies from place to place. In California, there are a host of laws in place; most of which are not enforced. It mainly depends on the officer's mood and the rider's attitude (or lack thereof). If you're riding like an idiot, then there's a good chance you'll get a ticket. If you're not, then you probably won't.

[RMV]

I ride an 06 RoadLiner, my best trip was accross CA farmland and into Oregon.
I do have 2 helmets, one carbon fiber polo style for riding in town and/or short trips, and one 3/4 DOT for longer rides.
I leave in Vegas, rode few times to AZ, which has no helmet laws, and preparing a ride to the Grand Canyon north rim.

[BFMC AJ]

Several months ago I picked up a carbon fiber/kevlar helmet from Advanced Carbon Composites. It's not DOT approved but the only test it doesn't pass is the puncture test. Ok, ok...it's still a skid lid and provides almost zero real protection. But it's a lot cooler than a full-face in the summer. Advanced Carbon Composites

Getting ready to head up to Kentucky in a couple of weeks for the All-Harley Drags. I can't wait!!!

Harley Racing

-AJ

[keljian]

Old time rider, looking at getting back on two wheels.. Trying to decide which bike, thinking maybe a blackbird (CBR1100xx) but will be using it for commuting as well as long rides so it's a tossup between the blackbird, a cbr954 (as pictured above, or something in the same class) or something in the 600-750 range with a decent fairing.

Used to ride a kawasaki balius

[zenshaver]

I have a picture of an exile trike on my computer right now. That would be an awesome ride. I never rode a trike before. That would be interesting.Unfortunately, I am currently between bikes.