Random Thoughts - Part III The Search for Spark (No Politics)

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

I tend to keep cars for the long haul. At one point I had 2 ‘88 Acura Integras. The departed in 2002 and 2006, both the result of idiots behind other wheels. I’d have kept them longer.

My DD now is an ‘06 F150. I had the front end rebuilt a couple of years ago and put Bilsteins all around. I suspect it will outlive me.

I killed my z being one of those idiots. Dumbass impulsive move. Mentally bitch-slapping myself for the last 23 years. Please forgive me.

[Capt Spaulding]

@ KittyKate I collided with a red light running cager in 2014. That rang my bell enough to cause a significant brain bleed. After I recovered, bikes just didn’t have the pull they for the 50 years prior.

I understand the sound fixation. I had a ‘70 CB750 and 5 other inline 4s. The sound I liked most was my VFR800. That V4 at 11,000 singing through a Staintune exhaust was music to my ears. Good luck with the hunt, but do be careful. Sport bikes, particularly the peaky 4s are very sharp instruments. Learning to use them safely takes time. It’s easy to get lured in over your head. I can’t count the number of R6s, CBR600s and the like that I saw new riders get hurt on.

I know you’re convinced you can manage it and you may well be able to. But, nevertheless, as Clint Eastwood said, “a man/woman’s got to know his/her limitations.” I suspect you may not know yours yet. Search for them carefully.

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I killed my z being one of those idiots. Dumbass impulsive move. Mentally bitch-slapping myself for the last 23 years. Please forgive me.

Of course. I am in no position to judge. Both of my cars and two of my motorcycles were killed by red light runners. Of the first three, one wrecked my shoulder, one wrecked one of my knees, another put some stitches in my wife’s leg and the last one came very, very close to killing me.

It sounds to me like you’ve done your penance. No Hail Marys needed. FSM knows my ledger has enough fuckups that I am in no position to cast asparagus. That said. Red light running. Still. Really. Pisses. Me. Off.

[Spuds]

I got my motorcycle license THEN my wife decided to ban motorcycles because one of my friends hit an oncoming car that took a left in front of him. Totalled both the bike and car and put him in the hospital for a month. He got a house out of it so...

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

@ KittyKate I collided with a red light running cager in 2014. That rang my bell enough to cause a significant brain bleed. After I recovered, bikes just didn’t have the pull they for the 50 years prior.

I understand the sound fixation. I had a ‘70 CB750 and 5 other inline 4s. The sound I liked most was my VFR800. That V4 at 11,000 singing through a Staintune exhaust was music to my ears. Good luck with the hunt, but do be careful. Sport bikes, particularly the peaky 4s are very sharp instruments. Learning to use them safely takes time. It’s easy to get lured in over your head. I can’t count the number of R6s, CBR600s and the like that I saw new riders get hurt on.

I know you’re convinced you can manage it and you may well be able to. But, nevertheless, as Clint Eastwood said, “a man/woman’s got to know his/her limitations.” I suspect you may not know yours yet. Search for them carefully.

this is what holds me back from getting a bike.

my grandfather was hit at least twice on his old honda that he rode almost daily for a short 2 mile commute. never his fault, always someone not paying attention. and that was pre-cell-phones.

my dad borrowed my uncles bike once while he was dating my mom, the kickstand fell down, he tried taking a turn, and ended up laying the bike down and slide on his shoulder a few dozen feet.

for most of my childhood, my mom prohibited me from from getting a bike after having to help my dad with his road rash from that.

of course, it never helped that growing up we knew a lot of families that competed in dirt bikes, and every year one of them was down for 6 months from an injury...

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Spuds

I got my motorcycle license THEN my wife decided to ban motorcycles because one of my friends hit an oncoming car that took a left in front of him. Totalled both the bike and car and put him in the hospital for a month. He got a house out of it so...

Really glad your friend made it through. I have close to a dozen friends who didn’t. Part of me wishes I still had the riding Jones. My best friend still rides and I miss the road trips. I love a little hooning in the BRZ, but it can’t compare to a tight, twisting road on a sport bike or better still a motard. Grounding the left peg then the right, then the left is something a car has a REALLY hard time doing. And it’s a rush that defies description. My wife would have accepted my doing it - grudgingly - but, the thrill was gone. 😢 Damn.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

Really glad your friend made it through. I have close to a dozen friends who didn’t. Part of me wishes I still had the riding Jones. My best friend still rides and I miss the road trips. I love a little hooning in the BRZ, but it can’t compare to a tight, twisting road on a sport bike or better still a motard. Grounding the left peg then the right, then the left is something a car has a REALLY hard time doing. And it’s a rush that defies description. My wife would have accepted my doing it - grudgingly - but, the thrill was gone. 😢 Damn.

Luckily he has a really thick skull which broke his fall. I suppose the helmet helped a little.

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Luckily he has a really thick skull which broke his fall. I suppose the helmet helped a little.

Same here. My helmet was a good quality carbon composite. The impact crushed the outer carbon shell and foam in the forehead area and broke the chin bar. It took 6 weeks to be able to see straight. My balance never really came all the way back. My students might disagree, but the cognitive effects were minimal and subtracting anything from 0 is unnatural. 🙃

[Sapphireho]

Spent the last 4 days in Phoenix. Nice weather. Still good to be home.

[soundman98]

what car was in front of the 86? because it walked away like it was no big deal.

the 86 driver also didn't appear super confident in either his car or the road.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I killed my z being one of those idiots. Dumbass impulsive move. Mentally bitch-slapping myself for the last 23 years. Please forgive me.

[Captain Snooze]

[spike021]

Another successful Bay Area meet today. It's always kinda stressful as the organizer because of worrying

A) nobody will come
B) stupid kids will come and ruin the location / get us kicked out

Fortunately things went smoothly and we had a pretty solid turnout. About 25 twins, and then a handful of other makes (Miata's, couple wrx's @Clipdat, Porsche gt4, GTR R35).

It's always cool to see and welcome newcomers into the community. Plus see the mix of how people style / mod their cars. Yes even the IMO ugly wide body ones lol.

Sounds like a bunch of people would like to do a group drive as well, which I haven't personally organized since a 2019 July 4th one. So that should be fun to do. After all, my first event in the community as a newcomer was a group drive and that really plugged me in the last six years.

[x808drifter]

Originally Posted by bcj

Meh. Those are a bit long in the tooth now. The Yamatriples have been attracting more attention lately.
A fast first bike isn't a really good fit if you haven't been riding at all. There's a lot more risk than only going fast.
For 10 miles an electric bike would be an ideal non-freeway deal right now.

For used bikes in CA have a look to the Bay Area Riders Forum (BARF). Long history and good folks.

I'd recommend one of these!