Depleted Fleet

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 04/09/2019 at 09:07 • Filed to: None

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Sunchaser - broken exhaust/muffler - shop

X1/9 - engine work - shop

Alltrack - borked rim after blown tire on highway at 80mph (fun!) - awaiting new wheel/tire tomorrow

GTI - Mrs IM driving to work

subie - Artie Lange nose, but running and driving for the kid.

Cressida - doesn’t start, but may be sold short term (thanks Oppos, I know I owe some photos to one of you.

Vespa to work today. I should get my fun out of it while I can. I am considering letting the kid take it to college. This might be a bad idea...chewing on it.

Did I mention. Mrs. IM is letting me shop for a motorcycle? Shhhh.... don’t tell. I am trying to find time to go look at some used bikes at a local dealer for ideas.

I am also of the idea that it might be silly for a man my age to be considering his first motorcycle. We will see how this turns out.

Pumpkin thinks I am entirely ridiculous in every way, so any sort of adjustment seems foolish to her.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 09:12

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Vespa to college is a bad idea. Didnt he wreck the SportTrac before and it was his fault? Not tryna make you mad or nothing but im just saying it don’t seem like a safe thing to do

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 09:20

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To keep with the classic Japanese theme I’ve found the perfect bike for you:

It reminds me of what F1 cars sounded like in the glory days of naturally-aspirated engines. I  love how YouTube’s auto captioning describes the sound of this bike as ‘applause’ and ‘music’. Yep - nailed it.

and 100 more > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 09:22

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Immoral Minority - giving new meaning to the term “car chase”

A fter years without a backup vehicle, i can only imagine the stress of my backup’s backup’s backup failing me... Hope it all resolves soon!

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 09:28

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letting the kid take it to college

How much do you trust him? Having my motorcycle at college was awesome, easy to find parking and could go get some groceries if needed. But it’s definitely a risk, if you do let him take it I would mandate helmet use at all times at the very least (not sure about laws there but helmets are still optional in Wisconsin for some stupid reason)

Did I mention. Mrs. IM is letting me shop for a motorcycle

Do it! I actually might be getting a motorcycle again soon too...crosses fingers.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 09:32

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Re: Vespa to college - let him tough it out freshman year without it. You should be walking around and through campus with people enjoying life freshman year , not hauling ass on a Vespa to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. Plus, scooters are a bit of a rite of passage on campus (at least they were when I was on campus nearly...oh god...a decade ago); something doesn’t sit right with a freshman zipping around on a scooter.

I bought a Honda Trail 90 for my senior year/year of grad school and it was a blast and was perfect, but I’m very glad to not have had one my first few years of school.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 09:48

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Exhaust: Are you going to have a restorative job done, or just hang on a new muffler?

Cressida: still haven’t mentioned it to Mrs. yet. Waiting until I’m certain. And wondering about registering it in New Mexico or Utah because, as far as I know, no smog, so headers and such.

Wheelerguy > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 09:49

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I shall now christen you “the David Tracy of Oppositelock”.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 10:00

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Honda CB550 or CB750SC/Nighthawk if you can find one , optionally 80's CB750.  Early 80's Honda CB650 Nighthawk is also great and somewhat easy to find cheap. GL500 “Silver Wing” if you want to go large cruiser.

That’s what you want.

Forget your opinion on looks. You want a bike that is easy to ride, forgiving, cheap to fix (you will drop it ,) and with enough power ( 80's bikes, big engines are not fast) to keep you interested but not so much to get you into trouble. Keep it in good shape and you’ll have no problem selling what you paid for it, as well - these are cheap bikes generally.

You don’t want the fancy ones, you don’t want the cafe racer, just “h ere is Honda’s ‘basic’ motorcycle but with the good engine.” That’s why you don’t want a CB450 Nighthawk (too underpowered) or a CB300F (behaves like a racer) or anything ending in ‘F’ (too much power, you will kill yourself. )

Here’s a pretty much PERFECT example of what you’re looking for. ‘83 CB650SC Nighthawk. Already has some minor damage but nothing expensive to replace. Paint’s shot anyway. Reasonable mileage. $1500. Fix the paint and fairings, it’s a $2500 bike.
https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/1983-Honda-Nighthawk-650-CB650SC-5006543652

On the plus side, they actually do look good.

bob and john > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 10:42

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dude, if you have any idea how many ppl your age and older come shopping for a first bike....dont worry about it

Mercedes Streeter > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 04/09/2019 at 12:10

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Nooooo, that’s my dream bike.

And yes, I am accepting donations. lol

Mercedes Streeter > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 04/09/2019 at 12:14

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Good advice! I clearly ignored similar advice  from the start, getting whatever looked super pretty to me.

I’m glad the one bike I’ve ever dropped was a scooter while trying to drift in wet grass.

I also recommend shaft driven bikes. Not sure what it is about them but I’m addicted to them.

Mercedes Streeter > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 12:16

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I totally support a scooter for college! Though...not sure how much I’d trust a Vespa for college. Seems college kid-owned scooters get really beat up, either from themselves or by their peers. :/

You can totally keep to the retro theme and get an old bike. :D

Future Heap Owner > ImmoralMinority 04/09/2019 at 12:17

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What a sad situation. I hope the really fun cars get out of the shop soon.

How bad a fright did that blown tire give Mrs. IM? Sounds pretty scary. I’m glad the borked rim is the worst of it.