Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

Woke up this morning and found my rear hub was delivered after I got home last night. My wheel had to be anodized, so it's a week or two out.

 

Yikes!
https://www.fox10tv.com/2025/06/03/...tting-alligator-highway-it-happened-so-quick/

 

My first thought is: Someone wasn't watching the road well enough. Alligators can be fast, but they aren't that fast, especially on pavement.

Hope they heal fast.

 

Another beautiful day in the NW so took the Harley out for 3hrs and 150 miles today. Got home and the guy that wanted me to powder coat a fender for him showed up. Going to go gloss black. Told him $100 and he said that was a killer deal. Paid in advance which is crazy but I am an honest person so no worries. Going to get it blasted tomorrow and then powder maybe Sunday. Then my seat foam and cover showed up for the KLX so I installed that. Now sitting here in the garage having a cigar and a beer. Pretty much a perfect day.

 

Not just deer gotta worry about the swamp puppies now dang lol

 

Managed to snag a set of NOS Buell S2T handlebars on eBay this afternoon for under $100 shipped. Been looking for a pair of theses on and off for several years. Last set I saw they were asking twice what I just paid. These will bring the controls up roughly 2 inches and back almost the same amount. Cables, wiring, and brake hose are all okay and won't need changed. This will make it more comfortable for me as I'm 30 years older than when I first bought the bike.

 

Nice?!!

 

Great details in here, I feel many should take note and apply to all vehicles as well. Seems we're similar in thought process.

How much highway riding do you want to do and at what speeds?

- Currently a solid 50/50, sometimes 60/40 of dirt / street. Most trails and areas require a ride down various highways to access. With that said, there are some other smaller towns and cities I'd like to get to, and then hit trails at over a weekend or vacation. This is where the 300 will not be ideal imo, and something more along the lines of T7 or 690/701 start to be appealing. But then when I'm in there, I may wish I had the smaller bike. Current plan is to trailer it and see how things go.

- Currents speeds are 90-110kph / 55-70mph. Also not ideal for long stretches, but currently 45 mins one way to a spot is very manageable. To venture further, I need to be doing minimum 120-130kph / 75-80mph in one direction, or same as current in another. These would need to be for 3+ hrs at a time 1 way though.


How aggressive do you get in the dirt, and what kind of dirt riding do you do?

- Not super crazy, I'm still figuring things out on the moto side. As I head out into the woods and dirt more and more this year however, I find myself getting increasingly "loose" with the bike. Trying to slide, pop the front with obstacles / bumps, and anything that resembles a small jump I will try and jump the bike. I wouldn't hit a proper jump say at a dirt bike track currently, but likely will try sometime in the future.

- I come from DH MTB'ing / Enduro riding, and don't shy away from big hits in that side. For the Whistler ppl who may be here with me, Dirt Merchant is my kind of fun. Long way of saying that there's a probable chance I continue to get moto skills close to my MTB level. This is what keeps me away from the larger bikes currently.

 

Swapping the shock and forks too??

 

A 500 would fit the bill and be the lightest bike that will do best offroad and still be tolerable on road. We used to run 300 mile weekends with some.

But youre going to make a compromise on tires for doing both regardless

 

Yes because there is a difference between DS and sm suspension. The sm has less travel and stiffer springs front and rear. Also different front calipers. So it’s a complete DS to sm swap.

 

It was a beautiful day. I’m up in stanwood for the weekend for my nieces graduation, drove over from Pullman. Unfortunately in the car and not on a bike though. Wife and toddler flew Pullman to Seatac and I scooped them up from there. Used miles and saved 4 or 5 hours in the car for the toddler, but was stuck in traffic from seatac to marysville. Fuck I-5. Smooth sailing the other parts of the trip though.

 

Morning y'all no riding today. Rain in the forecast and going in early today and maybe working late and on Saturday.
Feeling pretty good.
So back story is, I had a job that would have me working 14hr days. So put the bike up since I had no time but for sleep and home chores. 2 years ago I had back surgery and that career ended. Dr gave a release with no restrictions so I said I will give it a try to see how the back does. So far so good! So I've been taking it easy just commuting to work and home.
Been a hoot! Told my wife how much I really enjoyed riding again. Up until now I really underappreciated the little r65ls but I've been really happy with it.
Best part is I can work on it myself and it has no brain.
Got some ideas for making her fresh and new again, along with some maintenance stuff.
I'll try to keep you updated, I'm the worst about pictures ask @gixxerphil .

 

Seems to be the best option to do both things, not the best at either, but a solid option with some sacrifices on both sides. Tires is a good callout too, I'll need to look into that also.

 

I thought it was just a valving change and some sort of spacer / travel limiter internally, all variations have the same tube / body part numbers. Didn't check total travel from DS to SM, but a complete swap either way would be easier than messing with valving. Calipers on just the front right? And just a spacer and rotor? Or did the caliper get bigger too?

 

I'd love to have more than one but it just isn't in the cards for right now, would certainly solve all my problems.

Street bike is high on the want list, but I don't see myself using it anywhere near its potential in the small city I'm in. I get bored on the 300 currently so stepping up in power and also losing dirt capability is a no go. Planning a bigger city in the next few years, then I can look into street, and also additional bikes.

 

Similar story for me. Ran my own landscape business for 20 years. Back gave out finally, shut my leg off and I became a drug addict from the pain pills. Had a surgery, micro discectomy, 30 years of back pain gone. Went to truck driving school to step up and drive the big trucks. Now it's time for me to get out of the big truck. Retire, slow down, work part time, ride my motorcycles, work in my woodshop, do more at church. Just live life a bit before I croak. Life is short, I don't wanna work until the day I die. I've got a good woman beside me and I want to live life with her.

 

How's that T120 treatin ya? I started watching this dude on YT.....so of course I went window shopping

 

just go buy it haha

 

I watch classic rides a lot. He has some great videos with some awesome scenery.
I love my T120, I just did a video on it about some British customs mufflers I put on it. Sounds so much better now.