Marriage and Motorcycles

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 04/16/2019 at 10:02 • Filed to: None

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Took the bike out for my longest ride so far yesterday, out for about an hour around town.

My wife said she was worried when I was out that long. I have a short trip - about 20 miles - out in the country to a client’s farm. It should be pretty after the rain. She doesn’t want me to take the bike.

I think I am going to take the GTI, mainly because there could be flooding, even though it is supposed to be nice. Also, I want to take Toby so he can see the cows. I do think his self-esteem might be in for a blow when he meets real working dogs.

Sunchaser is filthy. Next week, I am taking it to the paint guy, and then the interior guy. My door cards need restoration, and I am considering cloth for the seats because summer + black vinyl. Should I go yellow and black plaid?

My pal Cosme and I are taking the Sunchaser to Orange Cove next week for brake and light certification.  This should be an adventure.  

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ImmoralMinority 04/16/2019 at 10:08

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Yellow and black plaid would be glorious. All these Ninja 400 posts suddenly have me considering how I could try two wheels good. Part of me thinks it a less calculated risk than the racecar, but an experience I could have every day if I wanted.  

Svend > ImmoralMinority 04/16/2019 at 10:13

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I do think his self-esteem might be in for a blow when he meets real working dogs .

It’s okay. I’ll keep quiet about you guys and your secret lives,

((cough, The Raimondos, cough)).

TheRealBicycleBuck > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 04/16/2019 at 10:17

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There’s a lot to be said for every-day experiences. A motorcycle definitely carries more risk than a race car. 

Mercedes Streeter > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 04/16/2019 at 10:30

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Do it! It’s more risky than a racecar but it’s also absolutely bonkers fun! :)

Discerning > ImmoralMinority 04/16/2019 at 10:40

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Your ninja makes me even more tempted to take a BRC. There’s one at the end of the month, but I know my fiance isn’t thrilled about the possibility of me owning a bike one day.

Ei ther way I want to do it just to see what it’s like.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ImmoralMinority 04/16/2019 at 10:41

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How were your back and wrists feeling after that hour-long ride? Any issues with vibration? Parallel twins can be quite buzzy. Not as bad as a big single like the KLR, but I’ve talked to guys who said numbness in their hands and feet are an issue on long rides on a parallel twin .

shop-teacher > ImmoralMinority 04/16/2019 at 10:41

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Two words that don’t go together in my book are, “rain” and “motorcycle”

“and I am considering cloth for the seats because summer + black vinyl. Should I go yellow and black plaid?”

 YES!!!

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Mercedes Streeter 04/16/2019 at 10:56

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I’m tempted, because I would be able to have that fun every day.  The problem is that I’d have to sell the racecar to fund two wheels fun.  I’m not sure I’m ready to do that.

McMike > ImmoralMinority 04/16/2019 at 11:12

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That reminds me:

I need to call my father-in-law and thank him for all the years he rode motorcycles, and all the miles he had his daughter with him.

Kiltedpadre > ImmoralMinority 04/16/2019 at 11:17

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I believe the correct choice for the seats is Loud MacLeod.

atfsgeoff > ImmoralMinority 04/16/2019 at 12:16

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Some of the most memorable and epic rides I’ve done were in the rain. Especially thunderstorms. Avoid the first 15-20 minutes of rainfall as that’s when all the oil & grease gets lifted off the pavement and makes everything super slick, but after that it gets mostly washed away and riding is relatively normal.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > ImmoralMinority 04/16/2019 at 12:55

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Not that I'd recommend it...

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ImmoralMinority 04/16/2019 at 16:01

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People worry if I'm on the bike for less than an hour 

rockingthe2 > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 04/16/2019 at 17:36

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From the guy who just broke his stupid leg in a motorcycle accident two weeks ago, try it.

Maybe don’t start on a litrebike like some enterprising asshole round these parts, but a ninja 400 or even the new Z400 naked are FANTASTIC bikes at a really good price point. 

rockingthe2 > ImmoralMinority 04/16/2019 at 17:39

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Do the plaid, if the question ever comes up, always the plaid.

Also, good on you taking it safe on the bike, longer and longer trips will happen, take it slow. Fuck that’s a lot of commas . Your posts are making me want to get another RIGHT MEOW! I can just now put weight on my leg and I’m tempted to take out the GSXR 1k just sitting in the garage right now... well, that or cafefighter the ninja

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > rockingthe2 04/16/2019 at 22:55

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The Ninja 400 seems especially appealing. I would want something that could someday be taken to the track to play with (and my middle aged ego is stable enough to not care about having biggest and fastest on the track) , yet isn’t otherwise unappealing to ride on the interstate  for a couple of hundred miles or take to work on nice days .

rockingthe2 > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 04/17/2019 at 17:13

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If you do plan on hitting a track or two, do consider a used 600, under 10k revs it’s pretty mundane, and if you trust yourself to keep out of the throttle it can ride similarly to a 400, but still have some real go juice at 10-14k rpm, hell you could likely get a used ninja 400 that’s been dropped and about a year old, plus a beat to hell 600 as a track bike for the price of a reasonable starter 650.

For the more uninitiated ,

250-400cc = lightweights/starter bikes (Ninja 250/300/400, R3, etc...)

600cc inline 4's = sports bikes/supersports

650 /750 cc twin(L twin or V twin) = midrange and sometimes larger starter (GSXR 750, Ninja 650, etc)

triples near 900cc = almost superbikes/hooligan bikes (Triumph Speed triple, among others)

1000cc I4's= superbikes/ near instantaneous death machines

1100+ = engine swap candidates from wrecked examples (Hayabusa , Z X-14R, etc)