Category Archives: Automotive

Winter Ride with Moose Ears.

Okay, so the KTM is so far doing just fine in the snow. Save for the small “Endurance” LCD dash/trip computer… which died on me. So I have no speedo or Odometer… which is no big deal.
The bike handles as I expected it too in the snow, or even a little better.  This is what I like about the KTM, the stability.   Other bikes, when they lose traction, just seem to say “Oh to hell with it.”  The KTM seems to fight to find traction anywhere.  Standing on the pegs, you can just let the bike squirm around under you, hunting for some grip.  The cold didn’t even bother me.  Thanks to the combo of the moose-ears and the long johns, it’s not so bad.

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This is a case of “If it’s stupid, but works, then it isn’t stupid.”  It looks stupid.  But it works.  Very well.  Normally on my ride to work I’ll lose feeling in my hands even before half way there.  Now, it’s not a bother.  The Moose Ears are actually my name for them… they are actually ATV Handlebar Mittens from an outfit called “Classic” that makes lots of ATV stuff.  Never thought I’d buy anything from them, as I don’t have an ATV.   But I was lookinat the ATV area of Basin Sports and was straightening things out there and I had this set that was the last pair and kinda in the way.  I thought “Hell, I should just buy them to get rid of them.”  And then I thought, “Hell yeah, I should buy them!”  The Mittens look like Moose Ears, so that’s what I call them. They are a huge help.   I’d rather have a set of Hippo Hands, as they are made for Motorcycles. These Classics are made for ATV’s. There is a difference. But the Moose Ears cost me 10 bucks, so I’ll call it good.

I am optimistic about my chances of surviving the Winter now. Every other Rider that I know of has now parked it for the remainder of the season. I am the only one left on two wheels that I’ve seen in the last week. I think I’m kinda nuts here… but then again, if certain things hadn’t happened that did happen, what would have happened was that would be driving a 2006 F-150 Crew Cab right now. Black. With a lift. Four Wheel Drive. And a heater. Oh well.

Monday’s Motorcycle: And it’s a Ducati

Ducati has made a very interesting machine.  It’s a Motorcycle… but I just can’t tell what kind.  I’m talking about the Multistrada 1200.

The bike a technological powerhouse.  ABS, Traction Control, and the valve tech that Ducati uses in their racing bikes, just tuned for low end power and smoother riding.  It gives fantastic on road performance… but it isn’t a sports bike.

It’s more of a Supermoto, or as they call it in Europe, a Motard… or as Sports Riders call it, Motor-Retard.  But the haters can just hate, because Supermotos are just straight up fast and agile where ever they want to go… and they can go anywhere.

So it’s an Enduro?  The Multistrada is very offroad capable… compared to a ZX-10, but not so much compared to, say, a KTM… er… damn near any KTM… Anyways… still, the Multistrada is no two wheeled Jeep, but it’s not scared of dirt.  Not at all.    It’s more suited to street, but since it can do dirt as well, it gives the Ducati a great deal of versatility.

And what I like about the most… it’s got legs.  It has range.  You can go anywhere… everywhere… I love that about motorcycles, and this bike can do everything.  It’s a bike that either has serious split personality issues, or it’s a bike that really can do it all.  Surprisingly, it’s not even that expensive.  The new Honda NC700ABS Vanilla is 8999,  and it is heralded as a Bang for the Buck winner…   The Multistrada starts out only Two G’s more.  Two G’s more for some real performance, sex appeal, and a 1200cc engine that is seriously awesome.

Ducati Multistrada

PRICE
MSRP: $11,999

ENGINE

Type…a-c 90-deg. V-twin
Valve arrangement…sohc, 4v
Bore x stroke…94.0mm x 71.5mm
Displacement…992cc
Compression ratio…10.0:1
Transmissio…6-speed
Final drive…chain

CHASSIS
Weight…486 lb. (wet)
454 lb. (fuel tank empty)
Fuel capacity…5.3 gal.
Rake/trail…24.0 deg./3.90 in. (99mm)
Wheelbase…57.6 in. (1462mm)
Seat height…33.5 in. (851mm)

SUSPENSION
Front…43mm inverted cartridge fork adjustable for spring preload, compression and rebound damping

Rear…single shock, adjustable for spring preload, compression and rebound damping

PERFORMANCE

Horsepower…82.9 hp @ 7750 rpm
Torque…66.9 ft.-lb. @ 4250 rpm
Corrected…1/4-mile* 11.44 sec. @ 113.22 mph
0-60 mph…3.82 sec.
0-100 mph…9.63 sec.
Top-gear roll-on, 60-80 mph…3.92 sec.
Fuel mileage (low/high/average)…33/46/41

 

KTM 990’s

I keep going back and forth between the KTM 990 Supermoto and the 990 Adventure R models.  It’s not like I have any hard on for KTM, as I had one and blew the engine the first month I had it.  Since I’ve sold the ZX-11, I am without a Long Range bike and this makes me feel like I’ve had my wings clipped.  Reason I sold it is due to my knees, but the position on these 990’s is one that I can still do… I sat on a 990 Adventure R, and it’s doable for me.  Some of the other ADV bikes, not so much.  I’m not sure about the position on the Supermoto though, I’ll have to find one first.  The peg position is the same, but the seat height plays a factor here too.

I’m also thinking about turning my 525 MXC into a Supermoto.  Primarily for better On Road riding as this KTM is now my Daily Rider.  I don’t need Knobbies for the Highway.

Cool Photo

I got there a couple minutes too late.  I wanted that sunset light on the cabin, but it went just a touch too low and the bike is in shadow instead of lit like I wanted.  But that old cabin still looks cool.
This is just off Hwy 121 in Lapoint.  If you are on Highway 40 and turn north to connect to 121, hang a Left at Shirley’s and this place will be about a half mile down the highway on the Right.  It’s older than it looks.

Adventure Riding

I’m feeling myself being pulled more and more into Adventure Riding.  I’m not talking Trials or MX… but being able to go anywhere.   Especially out of my Comfort Zone.  It’s been said that Life begins outside of your comfort zone, and I’ve found this to be true.  Riding an Enduro type machine is liberating.  The Max Velocity riding is cool on a Sport, but at any given moment Johnny Law could shut you down and lock you up and you aint riding anything anymore for a long long time.   Last time I rode off of pavement I was sweating, breathing hard, and shaking because I was scared shitless.  But then I stopped and looked around and saw where I was… how far I had come… and it was amazing.
I’d like a longer range Adventure Bike… a Twin instead of a Single.  Something in the Liter Class, or around there.   800 or larger we’ll say.   Such a bike would be the last one I’d ever buy.

Monday’s Motorcycle: KTM Cafe

I don’t know exactly what this is… But it’s a KTM dirt bike of some sort, rebuilt as Cafe Racer.   I don’t know why I find this so appealing.  I really don’t.  I love Cafe bikes, but mostly those built on big brutal and thuggish engines.  Not angry little Singles.    I bet this would be an absolute blast to ride.

Cafe bikes continue to turn my head more than anything else.  This is in spite of the fact that I couldn’t even put my feet on the pegs right now.  My right leg remains uncooperative thanks to a knee that refuses to bend.

Speaking of KTM… My own is ready to be picked up again.  I just have to wait till Tuesday because they are not open on Monday and I couldn’t get in there to get it Saturday.    We’ll see.  It will be very nice to have my Wheels under me again.  While I can’t ride my ZX-11, I can ride the KTM thanks to the position of the foot pegs.    I already miss my ZX-11 a lot.  It’s parked in front of Ogre Ranch, sipping on a Battery Tender, waiting for me to come play.  People who don’t Ride, just don’t understand this.  “Just get a car.” They say.  What they are really saying “I totally don’t get Motorcycles.”  And that’s fine…. you don’t have to get it.  Just please shut the fuck up then, okay?  Riding is… like Flying.   Next time you go to the Zoo take a close look at the Eagles there on their perches.  They can’t Soar like they used to… they are Tethered.  That’s how I feel when I look at my ZX-11.  I feel like that Eagle that can’t fly.

Beers Harley Davidson

So I took my Like New, Awesome Running KTM in to Beers to get an oil leak sorted out. As they are also the local KTM, Honda, and Zuki dealers.
Estimate was 1.5 hours labor and a 5 dollar gasket.  So about 150 bucks.  No Big Deal. 
Two weeks later I get the call that the bike is ready.  $550 bucks.
You can’t argue with them – they have your machine and if you don’t pay up, they will put a Lean on it and just keep it.  So I sell my Glock model 20, 10mm pistol, and go get my bike.
Huh, I didn’t authorize all the other work, such as a timing chain.  Whatever.   Let’s ride.  So I jump on the machine and go. 
Huh… it’s kinda gutless.  Doesn’t have the spirit that it had before the work.  I’m heading home…. doing the posted speed limit, keeping an eye out for leaks.
The bike dies on me.  Coughs, sputters, and dies.  Wont restart.  Oh, and the best is that it also feels really wobbly in the rear end.  Like it’s going to throw me off kinda wobbly.  So that’s not cool either.  I thought it was fixed.  Not that there was a problem with the rear.
I’m 3 miles out from Ogre Ranch and no one is answering the phone… so I’m pushing.  3 miles.  On my bad knee.  Up 3 long hard hills.
Halloween night, the Trick is on me. 
Anyways, I called Beers this morning.  They are going to send a truck out to pick up my bike.  I intend to have them fix it.  At no additional charge of course.  They screwed up my bike, they are going to fix it.
So we shall see how Beers does a second time.  I have not had this problem with them before. 
I will let you guys know what happens. 

Oh, my leg was going better yesterday too. Off the cane and everything. Well, I’m back on it now. Knee freaking hurts like hell today. That’s what I get for pushing. But then again, I was angry enough, I needed the outlet.

Update: An attorney friend says I have an actionable case if I wanted to file a lawsuit. I told him no, I just want my bike fixed. However if it gets nasty, I’ll get at least a new Dyna Glide out of them. I don’t want to take anyone to court. I just want to ride Motorcycles. That’s all I care about here.

The ZX-11 is now officially for sale.

I hate this. I seriously do love this bike but I’ve finally accepted that my leg is not going to let me ride it anymore. Last time I rode it to work, it hurt far too much. After a long day on my feet, the ride home and the cold combined to put me into physical shock from the pain. I have a very unusually high pain tolerance level, and this was beyond it. I made it home, got the kickstand down, and damn near fell off the bike.
I just can’t ride it anymore.  I love this motorcycle and it’s going to kill me to see it go.  But I just can’t do a Sports Bike anymore.

I will entertain reasonable offers for sale, but would prefer trade for another motorcycle such as a Cruiser with a fat engine and more importantly, forward foot controls.

The Perfect Line

There is no feeling like finding the perfect body position, leaning the bike over… you have the perfect entry speed… and you find that perfect line.  You and your bike are one and you cut the apex like a Neurosurgeon.  The aches and pains from a long day at work are far behind you.  You don’t feel your age anymore.  You just feel the Speed and the Road, and the Revs of the Engine as you look through the turn at what’s out there.  The tires are gripping, but at that hairy edge… but you roll on the throttle and bust out of the curve like a Patriot Missile, just almost kissing the outside of the lane.  The perfect line.

There is no other feeling like it.  None.

I had that Perfect Line tonight.  My God it was amazing!  My knee had been hurting bad. But then suddenly… I didn’t feel it anymore. Lost in the unadulterated thrill of murdering that apex and I could feel the front tire raise off the ground at the exit. It was like a beautiful High that I wish you guys could have felt. I wish you could have been there!