Titanium Flamingo

In article <[email hidden]>,

Chalo said:

Mark Hickey said:

Just watch all the motorcycle shows on Discovery Channel... the
choppers look cool, but then you see them trying to ride them at a
slow speed, with both feet kinda duck-walking to keep it upright.
Doesn't look like fun to me, but I suppose they're fine on the open
road (other than an engine that can drain those puny little custom
tanks in about 25 miles...

Agreed. Many of the same qualities that make a chopper bicycle
capricious and entertaining are the ones that make a moto-chopper
tiresome and pointlessly dangerous to ride. I'm certain that they are
both crafted in service of the same artistic impulses, but to me it
seems that moto-choppers yield smaller benefits (playtime options),
bigger costs (both monetary and functional), and bigger risks. I
expect that their high costs and risks are part of the appeal for those
who ride them.

But if you have to ask the question, as they say, you wouldn't
understand the answer.

I'm a sportbike weenie from way back, but have ridden a couple of
non-custom choppers (Yamaha Virago 1100, Suzuki Intruder 1400, Rebel
250, Harley Bad Boy (Springer Softail)).

The experience of riding a chopper is pretty entertaining. The Virago,
for example, had such a mellow and torquey engine, and such easygoing
handling, that it was possible to do a U-turn in just over a typical
lane width. At very low speeds, you could just lean the bike over, trust
the rheostatic throttle to keep you out of trouble, and turn until the
peg dragged. Long-distance highway comfort is not all it could be, but
big cruisers are fun and mellow motorcycles.

My preference today would still be for something in the line of a light
tourer or a nice sportbike, but I'd take a Road King for sure.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com
Verus de parvis; verus de magnis.

Ryan Cousineau said:

The experience of riding a chopper is pretty entertaining. The Virago,
for example, had such a mellow and torquey engine, and such easygoing
handling, that it was possible to do a U-turn in just over a typical
lane width. At very low speeds, you could just lean the bike over, trust
the rheostatic throttle to keep you out of trouble, and turn until the
peg dragged.

This very thing got me in trouble.

I had just gotten rid of my Honda V65 Magna - a "boulevard cruiser"
with slow speed handling like you describe above. Great for doing
track stands, and weaving slowly through a parking lot.

Then I got a BMW K100RS sport touring bike. MUCH better handling on
the road, but a lot more nervous at very slow speeds. I just didn't
realize how much.

So... I went on my first "group ride" with two buddies who ride Harley
Road Kings (didn't hear my own bike all day). Pulled into a gas
station ('cuz they were out of gas - I was fine...). One of the
ladies had to use the rest room Carol and I took off our gloves and
helmets. So when the other lady pops out of the rest room wearing her
helmet and pulling on her gloves, we scrambled to "suit up".

It so happened that this gas station was the only one for miles, and
happened to have probably 20 other Harleys sitting around, with the
riders. The two Road kings were parked facing out, and I was parked
facing in... they took off, and I had to U-turn to follow them.

So, I cranked the bars and hit the throttle. Only on THIS bike, the
steering stop is FAR tighter than my old Honda. I needed about 10
more degrees to counterbalance the lean I had committed to. So of
course, the lean grew progressively worse until I had to hit the
brakes, put a foot down and try to keep the now
headed-for-the-pavement bike from completing its trajectory.

Unsuccessfully.

If you want a lesson in humility, try dropping your BMW in front of 20
Harley riders.

To their credit, I did't see any of 'em laughing - I suppose they've
all done something similar at one time or another.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame