Motorcycles

[Safeway]

Any of you motorcycle fans know of Ben Spies?

And seriously, $6,500 for the liter bike, OBO. My father was pro-am motocross and takes great care of his bikes.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Any of you motorcycle fans know of Ben Spies?

And seriously, $6,500 for the liter bike, OBO. My father was pro-am motocross and takes great car of his bikes.

I know who Ben Spies is. World Superbike Champion in 2009 and he is currently racing in MotoGP, which I loosely follow. I could probably name 10 riders in that series off the top of my head.

 

[Safeway]

I know who Ben Spies is. World Superbike Champion in 2009 and he is currently racing in MotoGP, which I loosely follow. I could probably name 10 riders in that series off the top of my head.

I ride with him and his team. And by ride, I mean ride bicycles. And by his team, I mean his regional and domestic pro cycling team Elbowz. I'm unfortunately not on the team, but who knows once I cat up to a higher bracket this summer. He's a nice guy. Drives a sick matte black C63 AMG. In fact, I usually ride by his house 20 times a week. That is, his Dallas house. It's on the only hilly loop around White Rock Lake in Dallas; so hill repeats necessitate passing his house. That guy has houses all over the world.

 

[MiataNC]

Any of you motorcycle fans know of Ben Spies?

And seriously, $6,500 for the liter bike, OBO. My father was pro-am motocross and takes great care of his bikes.

You mean the kid that wiped the floor with Mat Mladin in the AMA before dominating World Superbike his rookie year?

Never heard of him, and I don't wear an "Elbowz" replica helmet.

I envy you my friend. I hear Ben is a real class act.

 

[Safeway]

You mean the kid that wiped the floor with Mat Mladin in the AMA before dominating World Superbike his rookie year?

Never heard of him.

I envy you my friend. I hear Ben is a real class act.

Yea. He liked racing bicycles, so he went to his GP sponsors and asked them to give him more money for a bicycle team. They said OK.

Here is the result: http://www.benspies.com/page/elbowzracing

I have one of the Yamaha kits they are wearing. Limited edition.

 

[Safeway]

You guys should get into cycling and race. Loads of fun. Intense action. Cornering.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I ride with him and his team. And by ride, I mean ride bicycles. And by his team, I mean his regional and domestic pro cycling team Elbowz. I'm unfortunately not on the team, but who knows once I cat up to a higher bracket this summer. He's a nice guy. Drives a sick matte black C63 AMG. In fact, I usually ride by his house 20 times a week. That is, his Dallas house. It's on the only hilly loop around White Rock Lake in Dallas; so hill repeats necessitate passing his house. That guy has houses all over the world.

Awesome! He seems like a nice guy from what I've read of him and heard of him during interviews. Motorcyclist magazine had a piece on him last year, I'll have to dig it up and read it again.

 

[MiataNC]

You guys should get into cycling and race. Loads of fun. Intense action. Cornering.

I cycle, but I am too old, fat, and lazy to race. Maybe someday.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You guys should get into cycling and race. Loads of fun. Intense action. Cornering.

I am into cycling. I have a couple road bikes, ridden a couple of centuries, never got into bicycle racing though. I used to work and ride with a guy who raced at the CAT 1/2 level though, he moved to Utah a couple years ago and we lost touch with each other. He actually placed in the top 5 finishers in the Latoja Classic a few years ago.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I cycle, but I am too old, fat, and lazy to race. Maybe someday.

Same here. :biggrin::thumbsup:

 

[Safeway]

I am into cycling. I have a couple road bikes, ridden a couple of centuries, never got into bicycle racing though. I used to work and ride with a guy who raced at the CAT 1/2 level though, he moved to Utah a couple years ago and we lost touch with each other. He actually placed in the top 5 finishers in the Latoja Classic a few years ago.

I'm CAT 3, but have the points for CAT 2. I race mainly in CAT 1/2/3 and 2/3 fields. May or may not submit my upgrade request. When I place in another race, I'll automatically cat up to CAT 2 due to points. I'd rather know that I can still win a race this season and have the upgrade forced upon me.

What do you ride?

I have a sponsor-issued BMC RM01, SRAM Red, Cosmic Carbone Ultimates, and SRM Power Meter. Selling it to buy the 2012 BMC RM01, which features integrated cable runs for Shimano Di2. Electronic shifting FTW. I need my sprint triggers!

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm CAT 3, but have the points for CAT 2. I race mainly in CAT 1/2/3 and 2/3 fields. May or may not submit my upgrade request. When I place in another race, I'll automatically cat up to CAT 2 due to points. I'd rather know that I can still win a race this season and have the upgrade forced upon me.

What do you ride?

I have a sponsor-issued BMC RM01, SRAM Red, Cosmic Carbone Ultimates, and SRM Power Meter. Selling it to buy the 2012 BMC RM01, which features integrated cable runs for Shimano Di2. Electronic shifting FTW. I need my sprint triggers!

That's cool.

I have an older LOOK (all carbon fiber) with Campy Chorus 10spd and a LeMond Zurich (steel frame) with Campy Chorus 9spd. Both bikes are doubles, the LOOK has Ksyrium ES wheels and the LeMond has a custom set of 32 spoke wheels with White Industries hubs.

I think we just hijacked this thread...

 

[Safeway]

That's cool.

I have an older LOOK (all carbon fiber) with Campy Chorus 10spd and a LeMond Zurich (steel frame) with Campy Chorus 9spd. Both bikes are doubles, the LOOK has Ksyrium ES wheels and the LeMond has a custom set of 32 spoke wheels with White Industries hubs.

I think we just hijacked this thread...

LOOK makes some amazing bikes. I am thinking about a Cervelo S5 if the BMC deal isn't extended to the team again. LOOK is just so damn expensive.

 

[JulesMaximus]

LOOK makes some amazing bikes. I am thinking about a Cervelo S5 if the BMC deal isn't extended to the team again. LOOK is just so damn expensive.

My friend was sponsored by Seven one year so they gave him a gorgeous titanium framed bike. He had new bikes every season and these were top of the line bikes. He was riding a Cannondale the last season he raced. Sometimes he would get a whole new bike just for a particular race. Bastard!!! I'm just jelly...

I wish we were the same size because I would have loved to have bought one of his bikes after he rode it for a season but his bikes were too small for me.

I'm probably done buying road bikes though. I have two nice bikes so I'll just be content to ride them for a while.

 

[manimal]

That's cool.

I have an older LOOK (all carbon fiber) with Campy Chorus 10spd and a LeMond Zurich (steel frame) with Campy Chorus 9spd. Both bikes are doubles, the LOOK has Ksyrium ES wheels and the LeMond has a custom set of 32 spoke wheels with White Industries hubs.

I think we just hijacked this thread...

Nice bike Jules!!!

Somebody make a show us your bikes thread people powered edition!

I wish I still had my Kestrel... only bikes in the house now are cheap ass treks I bought to tow our three kids to the park.


I wish I had the time and energy to cycle again. I know if I started doing it I would work out the energy but the time thing still gets me.

 

[momeNt]

Motorcyclist ride the sides because that's where car wheels travel; the center is oily and slick. It just looks funny when you see a motorcycling "ride the line."

Yea I do know that, but is it acceptable to be on the left side of say the middle lane, and then the right side of the left lane? What do you do? Do you alternate between left and right sides of lane to pass or do you stick left? stick right?

 

[manimal]

Yea I do know that, but is it acceptable to be on the left side of say the middle lane, and then the right side of the left lane? What do you do? Do you alternate between left and right sides of lane to pass or do you stick left? stick right?

Depends on where your escape routes are. If I see a car waving in its lane I will pick the inside line. If I am in a urban area with lots of peds or parked cars I stick towards the right.

Situational awareness is key to riding.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Nice bike Jules!!!

Somebody make a show us your bikes thread people powered edition!

I wish I still had my Kestrel... only bikes in the house now are cheap ass treks I bought to tow our three kids to the park.


I wish I had the time and energy to cycle again. I know if I started doing it I would work out the energy but the time thing still gets me.

Here's one of my bicycles...

And the Duc of course. :wub:

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yea I do know that, but is it acceptable to be on the left side of say the middle lane, and then the right side of the left lane? What do you do? Do you alternate between left and right sides of lane to pass or do you stick left? stick right?

You are supposed to signal a lane change same as if you were in a car but you can move around in your lane as long as you aren't weaving dangerously.

 

[RearAdmiral]

And the Duc of course. :wub:

[/QUOTE]

/love

 

[momeNt]

You are supposed to signal a lane change same as if you were in a car but you can move around in your lane as long as you aren't weaving dangerously.

Roger that, I think in my particular encounter he wasn't signaling nor was he conscious of the fact that riding down the line like that during a morning commute when there are a lot of people entering left lane and leaving left lane is a good way to not be noticed by drivers.

I'm sure most motorcyclists understand that rush hour commutes has a lot more going on as far as lane changes and understand to change lanes with caution.

 

[RearAdmiral]

You are supposed to signal a lane change same as if you were in a car but you can move around in your lane as long as you aren't weaving dangerously.

Also, tell me what riding the monster is like plz.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Also, tell me what riding the monster is like plz.

It's fantastic. Riding position isn't super aggressive like on a sport bike so you are more comfortable but the bike is lightweight with gobs of torque, an excellent chassis, decent suspension and awesome brakes. The bike excels at riding through the twisties in the local mountains and canyons but it is also at home darting through traffic too. It just points so naturally and practically falls into a corner. 100hp in a bike that weighs around 420lbs wet makes it plenty quick (Ducati advertises a dry weight of 373lbs). It will scoot through the 1/4 mile at around 11 seconds and 120mph and cover 0-60 in about 3 seconds.

Standard ABS and traction control is nice too. I'm about due for a new rear tire at just under 5,000 miles.

I just got back from riding over to a friend's house. I helped him change the handlebar on his Ducati. He has a 2007 Sport Classic GT1000.

His bike is basically this model but he swapped the wheels for a set of Marchesini mag wheels mounted with Michelin Pilot Powers and front Brembos off a Multistrada. He also has a small windshield and Napoleon bar end mirrors to replace the stock mirrors. I've ridden his bike, it is a modern bike with a retro look. Very cool bike.

 

[roguerower]

You ever hold a 1 liter bottle of water/soda in your hand, think about bikes, and say to yourself DAAAYYYYYUMMMM!!!!!





My 1050cc's of stupid fun.

My 675cc's of batshit awesomeness

I can see myself keeping this bike until it or I die but I do see the potential for adding a Speed Triple to the stable...

Triumphs & Ducs = :fap: . I'm going to the Winchester Ducati dealership next weekend to get my new tires put on (going w/ the Pirelli Angels) and I'm going to have to work to keep it in my pants. Was talking to the gf and she even said that the word Ducati just dripped sexiness. She didn't have quite the same response to Triumph...but I'll forgive her for now.

PLUSSSS...when I hit 25 (5mo from now), full coverage on that beauty (State Farm) goes from $100/mo to $20/mo.

 

[MiataNC]

I can see myself keeping this bike until it or I die but I do see the potential for adding a Speed Triple to the stable...

Awesome StreetR!!!

I was torn between the StreetR and Speed, and went with the speed. I preferred the low end pull and single sided swing-arm of the Speed, so I went with that. I gave up the agility and "flickablility" of the StreetR by going with the Speed.

Between the two it really comes down to personal preference. Both bikes are absolutely stellar!