04-30-2020, 08:59 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-30-2020, 10:56 AM by Dr. Ivor Yeti.)
My last car was the Jeep. That was the car I always wanted, a Jeep Wrangler. It was The Flying Brick. After that I had Barbara’s car to use if I needed 4 wheels. That was a 1999 Acura Integra. I called it “The Pain Mobile” be cause it hurt my back to drive it.
Motorcycles: My first bike had no name as i was mostly distracted by my terror in getting it to move. After a year, I traded up for my only Euro Bike: a 650cc thumper from BMW made in Italy with an Austrian single cylinder motor. Otto von Skidmark was it’s name and I put over 30k miles on that bike. Took it to Canada and back. Great bike. Two more no-name bikes after that, one of which I actively disliked and it returned the favor with a pretty good crash.
Next up after getting the cast off of my wrist was The Blackbird, AKA: The Laser-Guided Rocket Scalpel. It was the classic Too Much Bike for me. a Honda CBR-1100 (The “R” stands for “Racing”) that had urban disguise in the form of side-cases and a top-box. The motor thrummed at such a low frequency that you felt it more than hear it. The year it was made it was the fastest production bike in the world. Regularly hitting 100 mph + on my morning commute, it was going to kill me. I got smart and let it go.
Next up was The Red Sled. Also a Honda, it was a CB-1000 (no “R”) 1992, a “Standard” (not a crotch-rocket like the CBR, and not my usual Dual-Sport/Sport-touring upright posture bikes). It had been used in the Mythbusters “Bikes and Bullets” episode. It was heavy and not quick. Perfect detox after having super-powers with the Blackbird. WIth no faring, the windblast would cushion my torso at freeway speeds. It was comfy. It was an old bike, though, and parts were getting difficult to get.
Both of my Hondas had been in-line 4 bikes. Those motors were powerful and had a great power-curve, not drop-off, just power in a lovely curve. The big V twins kind of go up, then down, then up again when accelerating at certain speeds. I really like the in-line 4 and wanted to stick with that motor.
The penultimate bike was The Black Beauty, a re-vamped Ninja-1000. Now more civilized, it was a sport-touring bike, nearly upright in posture. That motor was quick but smooth. I rode that bike for 3 years, 45k miles, and never laid it down. It was wearing out, though. Expensive repairs on motorcycles, unless you are a collector, are almost never worth it. Time for a brand new bike.
The current ride is a Versys-1000, same motor as the Ninja, but de-tuned to make it torquier in the low gears and strong, but not as much top-end speed. Very comfortable, very upright, which makes my wrists, elbows, shoulders happy. Getting near 30k on miles, already had one major repair, so a new bike is looking likely in the next couple years. Since I’m not commuting any more, the bike should last longer. Oddly, no name on this bike. It is a pretty comfy ride, kinda smooth and bland, but sometimes I need some go and it mostly delivers.
I debate getting a car, but parking in the city is an expensive hassle. Probably do one more bike after this, then hang it up. My reflexes ain’t what they used to be.
Motorcycles: My first bike had no name as i was mostly distracted by my terror in getting it to move. After a year, I traded up for my only Euro Bike: a 650cc thumper from BMW made in Italy with an Austrian single cylinder motor. Otto von Skidmark was it’s name and I put over 30k miles on that bike. Took it to Canada and back. Great bike. Two more no-name bikes after that, one of which I actively disliked and it returned the favor with a pretty good crash.
Next up after getting the cast off of my wrist was The Blackbird, AKA: The Laser-Guided Rocket Scalpel. It was the classic Too Much Bike for me. a Honda CBR-1100 (The “R” stands for “Racing”) that had urban disguise in the form of side-cases and a top-box. The motor thrummed at such a low frequency that you felt it more than hear it. The year it was made it was the fastest production bike in the world. Regularly hitting 100 mph + on my morning commute, it was going to kill me. I got smart and let it go.
Next up was The Red Sled. Also a Honda, it was a CB-1000 (no “R”) 1992, a “Standard” (not a crotch-rocket like the CBR, and not my usual Dual-Sport/Sport-touring upright posture bikes). It had been used in the Mythbusters “Bikes and Bullets” episode. It was heavy and not quick. Perfect detox after having super-powers with the Blackbird. WIth no faring, the windblast would cushion my torso at freeway speeds. It was comfy. It was an old bike, though, and parts were getting difficult to get.
Both of my Hondas had been in-line 4 bikes. Those motors were powerful and had a great power-curve, not drop-off, just power in a lovely curve. The big V twins kind of go up, then down, then up again when accelerating at certain speeds. I really like the in-line 4 and wanted to stick with that motor.
The penultimate bike was The Black Beauty, a re-vamped Ninja-1000. Now more civilized, it was a sport-touring bike, nearly upright in posture. That motor was quick but smooth. I rode that bike for 3 years, 45k miles, and never laid it down. It was wearing out, though. Expensive repairs on motorcycles, unless you are a collector, are almost never worth it. Time for a brand new bike.
The current ride is a Versys-1000, same motor as the Ninja, but de-tuned to make it torquier in the low gears and strong, but not as much top-end speed. Very comfortable, very upright, which makes my wrists, elbows, shoulders happy. Getting near 30k on miles, already had one major repair, so a new bike is looking likely in the next couple years. Since I’m not commuting any more, the bike should last longer. Oddly, no name on this bike. It is a pretty comfy ride, kinda smooth and bland, but sometimes I need some go and it mostly delivers.
I debate getting a car, but parking in the city is an expensive hassle. Probably do one more bike after this, then hang it up. My reflexes ain’t what they used to be.
In the Tudor Period, Fencing Masters were classified in the Vagrancy Laws along with Actors, Gypsys, Vagabonds, Sturdy Rogues, and the owners of performing bears.