Bliss
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Similar situation here, I bought the 400 last year to see if it would still be fun after 25 years out of the saddle. It was, so a bigger bike for this season is less than a month away... I'll probably go for something like a 750 or 800 - minimum 600. Definitely second hand - in Sweden (with nine months of winter), bikes don't get much mileage, so even a 15-20 years old bike can be in good shape and reliable enough for longer trips. NOT true of my 400, though - the smaller bikes get beaten up by younger drivers... but it works for sunday trips around the local countryside (with some duct tape here and there). I think I'm looking for something like a Honda VFR or a Ducati ST2 - but may end up with something completely different... :-)
I'm only going for the Kawasaki because I've had one before, although the new one is vastly different to what I had, I would ave to draw lots in the 600 - 750 cc range to pick a 'first' bike. From there I have something of a reference, so after a year or so I take another for a test ride, I can tell whether I prefer it to my 'z' or not.
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I'm only going for the Kawasaki because I've had one before, although the new one is vastly different to what I had, I would ave to draw lots in the 600 - 750 cc range to pick a 'first' bike. From there I have something of a reference, so after a year or so I take another for a test ride, I can tell whether I prefer it to my 'z' or not.
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PeterTheSwede wrote:
"Zen and the Art of Maintaining a Motorcycle"
"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", to give its untranslated title. Would you believe I read that because it featured in the 'recommended reading' list of a first year Computer Science course?
Brady Kelly wrote:
"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", to give its untranslated title.
Darn. I knew that. It's sitting in my bookshelf (untranslated version). Fingers quick, brain slow... :(
Brady Kelly wrote:
Would you believe I read that because it featured in the 'recommended reading' list of a first year Computer Science course?
It amazes me that teachers can be that clueful, yes. But if I were a CS teacher I'd probably do the same. It has helped me immensely in coping with (and understunding why) users not even wanting to understand what I as a programmer automatically beleive that anyone in front of a computer should see as primal self-preservation to grasp. I find myself refering to it at work more than once a month when discussing that problem with colleagues. Edit: "That problem" = the different perspectives programmers (systems designers) and many users have on technology, respectively.
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The day started out in church, doing some background singing for the kids' choir and a solo of my own. Kinda nice, the place was packed full (always is when the kids take the stand - parents and grandparents all over the place). And solos don't come often when you're a 2nd bass... ;) Then... a quick look towards the sky. Not a single cloud, just a bright shiny thing on the blue backdrop. Back home, don the boots and the jacket, put the helmet on and stroll off to the garage. Quick oil check, tend to the chain for a bit and then away. Some 300 kilometers of small, winding country roads (and a ferry) later, I'm finally back home, and the Honda is back in the garage. It's an ancient (25 years old) CB 400N, so it's not much of a bike, but on those roads it's fun enough. Not a single thought even remotely related to computers or programming for hours. Life is a nice place, sometimes... :-D
Sounds great. You've reminded me of one of my happiest moments. Riding down a road in Norfolk at 7am on a summers morning on my Divy 600 around 3 years ago, not a car in sight - I was so happy I was not even breaking the speed limit of 60mph. Now I'm thinking of getting a bike just for the summer...
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
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Sounds great. You've reminded me of one of my happiest moments. Riding down a road in Norfolk at 7am on a summers morning on my Divy 600 around 3 years ago, not a car in sight - I was so happy I was not even breaking the speed limit of 60mph. Now I'm thinking of getting a bike just for the summer...
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
I've never had the chance to enjoy Britain on two wheels... but whenever I go there and see your roads, I dream of it. You have the same winding roads we have in Sweden, except yours dont get ruined by frost*. The smaller Swedish roads have to be patched almost every year, and there are patches on the patches, and patches on these and so on. Bumps where you least expect it (preferably in curves, for some odd reason)... :-) Sometimes they pour tar and loose grovel on a road for a month or so, letting it patch itself with the help of traffic. NOT so nice to encounter coming out of a curve on a bike... Seeing the British roads with tarmac that looks newly laid even after ten years makes me green with envy... Plus... also due to the absence of frost... the even smaller roads that don't have tarmac in Sweden, do in the UK. Even more fun! *) Possibly mistranslated - the Swedish word "tjäle" means when the actual ground freezes (a foot or so down). Happens each winter and causes movement in the ground, cracking the roads up (except the highways - but that costs several thousands EUR per meter to achieve). I expect it might happen in northern Scotland, but probably not in England - right? EDIT: Fixed the highway cost per meter - was off by a factor of 1000... oops! Still expensive, though...
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I've never had the chance to enjoy Britain on two wheels... but whenever I go there and see your roads, I dream of it. You have the same winding roads we have in Sweden, except yours dont get ruined by frost*. The smaller Swedish roads have to be patched almost every year, and there are patches on the patches, and patches on these and so on. Bumps where you least expect it (preferably in curves, for some odd reason)... :-) Sometimes they pour tar and loose grovel on a road for a month or so, letting it patch itself with the help of traffic. NOT so nice to encounter coming out of a curve on a bike... Seeing the British roads with tarmac that looks newly laid even after ten years makes me green with envy... Plus... also due to the absence of frost... the even smaller roads that don't have tarmac in Sweden, do in the UK. Even more fun! *) Possibly mistranslated - the Swedish word "tjäle" means when the actual ground freezes (a foot or so down). Happens each winter and causes movement in the ground, cracking the roads up (except the highways - but that costs several thousands EUR per meter to achieve). I expect it might happen in northern Scotland, but probably not in England - right? EDIT: Fixed the highway cost per meter - was off by a factor of 1000... oops! Still expensive, though...
Three places I would recommend for riding in the UK are Wales, Scotland and Yorkshire all of which have winding mountainous(well we call them mountainous but they are really hills) roads. The good thing is that you don't get too much gravel on them although all three of these places can be wet in the winter so most of the riding is done in the summer. However I think Sweden must still be fairly spectacular near the coast? If you want to be really crazy then the Isle of Man mad Sunday is one to try - I haven't done it but from what I have heard it is just that mad...(it may even have been stopped - I'm out of touch)
mad = (crazy && !angry && nationality == English)Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
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The day started out in church, doing some background singing for the kids' choir and a solo of my own. Kinda nice, the place was packed full (always is when the kids take the stand - parents and grandparents all over the place). And solos don't come often when you're a 2nd bass... ;) Then... a quick look towards the sky. Not a single cloud, just a bright shiny thing on the blue backdrop. Back home, don the boots and the jacket, put the helmet on and stroll off to the garage. Quick oil check, tend to the chain for a bit and then away. Some 300 kilometers of small, winding country roads (and a ferry) later, I'm finally back home, and the Honda is back in the garage. It's an ancient (25 years old) CB 400N, so it's not much of a bike, but on those roads it's fun enough. Not a single thought even remotely related to computers or programming for hours. Life is a nice place, sometimes... :-D
Subtract the motor, add lots more gears, and shorten the distance a tad (down to 50-75 km), and you've got a deal. BTW: It's nice to hear you wear a helmet. I know we lose man-points for wearing one, but it's better to stay alive.
PeterTheSwede wrote:
solos don't come often when you're a 2nd bass...
Tenors are such pansies :laugh:.
Software Zen:
delete this;
Fold With Us![^] -
Three places I would recommend for riding in the UK are Wales, Scotland and Yorkshire all of which have winding mountainous(well we call them mountainous but they are really hills) roads. The good thing is that you don't get too much gravel on them although all three of these places can be wet in the winter so most of the riding is done in the summer. However I think Sweden must still be fairly spectacular near the coast? If you want to be really crazy then the Isle of Man mad Sunday is one to try - I haven't done it but from what I have heard it is just that mad...(it may even have been stopped - I'm out of touch)
mad = (crazy && !angry && nationality == English)Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
GuyThiebaut wrote:
Wales, Scotland and Yorkshire
Noted. One of them may even happen this summer... Then again, I spent a month at Framlingham College in my early teens (getting rid of the remaining awkwardness around the English language), and I really did enjoy the countryside in the Suffolk area (which I expect is much like that entire region - at least that's what I envisioned when you mentioned biking in Norfolk).
GuyThiebaut wrote:
However I think Sweden must still be fairly spectacular near the coast?
That would depend - east or west, north or south. The south of Sweden is kind of flat (much like the parts of England I've been to, actually) - the hill/mountain confusion sounded familiar... :-) And I can't say much about the north, as I've not spent much time there. Riding to northern Sweden (about half way) and then into Norway and back south is a project, though. May also happen this summer, or maybe next. I'm told that you can actually ride across the mountains (and they are mountains) without risking life and limb in the southern part of Norway. Not sure about the details yet, though... still researching.
GuyThiebaut wrote:
Isle of Man mad Sunday
That would also be neat... why are there so many interesting things to do and so little time? Oh, and about "mad". Yep, that's how I learned it. We primarily learn British English in school here, although we get taught some differences between it and US English.
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Subtract the motor, add lots more gears, and shorten the distance a tad (down to 50-75 km), and you've got a deal. BTW: It's nice to hear you wear a helmet. I know we lose man-points for wearing one, but it's better to stay alive.
PeterTheSwede wrote:
solos don't come often when you're a 2nd bass...
Tenors are such pansies :laugh:.
Software Zen:
delete this;
Fold With Us![^]Gary R. Wheeler wrote:
Subtract the motor...
50-75 km on a bicycle? OK, I do 10 now and then (24 gears - four times what I have on the Honda) and enjoy it. I did 60 once (on the island of Bornholm) and will never do it again. Collapsed from fatigue half-way and afterwards, I couldn't sit for a week... :-)
Gary R. Wheeler wrote:
It's nice to hear you wear a helmet
Law here. Remember, this is Volvo-land... and being brought up here it's sort of second nature... :-) My leather jacket also has integrated elbow and shoulder protectors, and a huge back protector (weighs a ton or so). The pants are somewhat similar. In Volvo-land, you don't lose man-points for that - you earn moron-points for not wearing it...
Gary R. Wheeler wrote:
Tenors are such pansies
In the words of Teal'c: Indeed.
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I've been dreaming about a tour across the US ever since I was 12 and read "Zen and the Art of Maintaining a Motorcycle" for the first time (I must admit that most of the philosophical stuff flew right by me at the time - except the concept of quality, which as steered me ever since - but the biking part touched a nerve even then). The US is exotic enough for a Swede... :-) (can't help feeling a bit like the main character in the book when riding my battered old Honda)
PeterTheSwede wrote:
The US is exotic enough for a Swede...
its interesting .. to you the US is exotic - to me Europe is exotic. :^) (Im thinking of a whistle-stop tour of Denmark/Sweden in October 2009, on my way to 22 days cycling in France and Belgium, but 3 nights in Denmark and 3 in Stockholm wont even scratch the surface)
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The day started out in church, doing some background singing for the kids' choir and a solo of my own. Kinda nice, the place was packed full (always is when the kids take the stand - parents and grandparents all over the place). And solos don't come often when you're a 2nd bass... ;) Then... a quick look towards the sky. Not a single cloud, just a bright shiny thing on the blue backdrop. Back home, don the boots and the jacket, put the helmet on and stroll off to the garage. Quick oil check, tend to the chain for a bit and then away. Some 300 kilometers of small, winding country roads (and a ferry) later, I'm finally back home, and the Honda is back in the garage. It's an ancient (25 years old) CB 400N, so it's not much of a bike, but on those roads it's fun enough. Not a single thought even remotely related to computers or programming for hours. Life is a nice place, sometimes... :-D
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I want a motorcycle so badly, but the Hubby is afraid I'll be killed. If I get one, he wants a 3-wheel one, but the only one I can find is fitting a Honda goldwing with a kit.
Shhhhh..... http://craptasticnation.blogspot.com/[^]
Well, you missed your chance. The annual River Run was a few weeks ago, and there's always a bunch of bikes for sale, three-wheelers among them. There's also several customizing shops among the vendors happy to take orders. Maybe you should plan a vacation trip to Laughlin, NV next April, and bring the checkbook. :-D
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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Gary R. Wheeler wrote:
Subtract the motor...
50-75 km on a bicycle? OK, I do 10 now and then (24 gears - four times what I have on the Honda) and enjoy it. I did 60 once (on the island of Bornholm) and will never do it again. Collapsed from fatigue half-way and afterwards, I couldn't sit for a week... :-)
Gary R. Wheeler wrote:
It's nice to hear you wear a helmet
Law here. Remember, this is Volvo-land... and being brought up here it's sort of second nature... :-) My leather jacket also has integrated elbow and shoulder protectors, and a huge back protector (weighs a ton or so). The pants are somewhat similar. In Volvo-land, you don't lose man-points for that - you earn moron-points for not wearing it...
Gary R. Wheeler wrote:
Tenors are such pansies
In the words of Teal'c: Indeed.
PeterTheSwede wrote:
50-75 km on a bicycle?
I'm getting ready to ride The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure[^], a week-long bicycle tour. You average 70-100 km each day. It's a lot of fun, and much easier than you might think with a moderate amount of conditioning.
PeterTheSwede wrote:
In the words of Teal'c: Indeed.
Another SG-1 fan! Woo-Hoo!
Software Zen:
delete this;
Fold With Us![^] -
I want a motorcycle so badly, but the Hubby is afraid I'll be killed. If I get one, he wants a 3-wheel one, but the only one I can find is fitting a Honda goldwing with a kit.
Shhhhh..... http://craptasticnation.blogspot.com/[^]
leckey wrote:
...the Hubby is afraid I'll be killed.
Not uncommon. I have friends working in ICUs, and the first split-second look you get when you mention you ride a bike is certainly food for thought. Then again, some behaviour patterns can keep you out of the statistically most accident-prone groups: (all equally important) 1. Don't be a speed demon. Know your stopping distance (at various speeds and road types) and ride accordingly. 2. Assume that you are invisible, especially to car drivers. Forget the concept "right of way" - it has no bearing on reality when you're on a bike. The goal is not to win in court, but to stay in one piece. 3. Know how to ride. Specifically, know how to steer and brake in emergencies. Practice this thoroughly at least once a year (not on a public road). Swedish bike clubs hold refresh meetings each year at race tracks for that purpose. Your stopping distance is slightly longer than in a car if you do this - twice that if you don't. 4. Use protective gear - for feet, shins, knees, back, shoulders, elbows, head. Unless you drive a sports bike (race bike with a licens plate), go for stuff that's integrated into the clothes (or you tend to "forget" to put the stuff on). With a sports bike, the more serious (worn under the clothing) stuff should be considered (and always worn). 5. Yes, you do need a lane of your own (even when overtaking). You may not be as wide as a bus, but you need margin in case something unexpected happens. The fact that it is legal in some US states to ride side-by-side in one lane doesn't mean it's a good idea. I have no experience with 3-wheelers, but (without ever having tested one) they spontaneously don't feel much safer than a regular bike. You're still as unprotected, and I suspect that handling may not be up to par either (which may help to enforce rule #1, though). I may be completely off on this, though... :-) Also... Sweden is quite different from the US (unless I've been totally misled). The typical US stretch of straight highway for miles we do have in Sweden as well. In two or three places... :-) For the most part, the curves outnumber the straights by far... so the biking philosophy is quite different. Best of luck!
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leckey wrote:
...the Hubby is afraid I'll be killed.
Not uncommon. I have friends working in ICUs, and the first split-second look you get when you mention you ride a bike is certainly food for thought. Then again, some behaviour patterns can keep you out of the statistically most accident-prone groups: (all equally important) 1. Don't be a speed demon. Know your stopping distance (at various speeds and road types) and ride accordingly. 2. Assume that you are invisible, especially to car drivers. Forget the concept "right of way" - it has no bearing on reality when you're on a bike. The goal is not to win in court, but to stay in one piece. 3. Know how to ride. Specifically, know how to steer and brake in emergencies. Practice this thoroughly at least once a year (not on a public road). Swedish bike clubs hold refresh meetings each year at race tracks for that purpose. Your stopping distance is slightly longer than in a car if you do this - twice that if you don't. 4. Use protective gear - for feet, shins, knees, back, shoulders, elbows, head. Unless you drive a sports bike (race bike with a licens plate), go for stuff that's integrated into the clothes (or you tend to "forget" to put the stuff on). With a sports bike, the more serious (worn under the clothing) stuff should be considered (and always worn). 5. Yes, you do need a lane of your own (even when overtaking). You may not be as wide as a bus, but you need margin in case something unexpected happens. The fact that it is legal in some US states to ride side-by-side in one lane doesn't mean it's a good idea. I have no experience with 3-wheelers, but (without ever having tested one) they spontaneously don't feel much safer than a regular bike. You're still as unprotected, and I suspect that handling may not be up to par either (which may help to enforce rule #1, though). I may be completely off on this, though... :-) Also... Sweden is quite different from the US (unless I've been totally misled). The typical US stretch of straight highway for miles we do have in Sweden as well. In two or three places... :-) For the most part, the curves outnumber the straights by far... so the biking philosophy is quite different. Best of luck!
My husband while in high school, had a friend's dad die so that's where the fear comes from. I'm all about safety so I find it funny that my husband thinks I'll be an idiot all of a sudden. Eastern SD is very flat. I make jokes you can see for 5 miles; stand a can of tuna and you can see 10. Because of this, most of our roads are very straight. When I was commuting 70 miles I think I had four curves. Now that I am jobless...again...I'm looking closer to home. I wouldn't mind a small scooter. Hubby doesn't have a problem with that though. Weird.
Shhhhh..... http://craptasticnation.blogspot.com/[^]
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My husband while in high school, had a friend's dad die so that's where the fear comes from. I'm all about safety so I find it funny that my husband thinks I'll be an idiot all of a sudden. Eastern SD is very flat. I make jokes you can see for 5 miles; stand a can of tuna and you can see 10. Because of this, most of our roads are very straight. When I was commuting 70 miles I think I had four curves. Now that I am jobless...again...I'm looking closer to home. I wouldn't mind a small scooter. Hubby doesn't have a problem with that though. Weird.
Shhhhh..... http://craptasticnation.blogspot.com/[^]
leckey wrote:
had a friend's dad die
Yep, that could do it. A friend of mine had a friend die in a motorcycle vs car crash (the car driver who should have given way didn't see him coming) a couple of years ago. My friend reacted by converting his bike to race specs, buying a van for it and now only drives amateur racing. No cars, no wild animals, no speed limit, and wearing the right gear is mandatory. An image of what he looks like doing that is here[^]... Someone else on this thread mentioned losing man-points for wearing protective gear... Yeah, right!
leckey wrote:
...small scooter. Hubby doesn't have a problem with that though. Weird.
Indeed. Protective gear (at least a good helmet and a sturdy jacket) is probably not a bad idea in that context either...
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leckey wrote:
had a friend's dad die
Yep, that could do it. A friend of mine had a friend die in a motorcycle vs car crash (the car driver who should have given way didn't see him coming) a couple of years ago. My friend reacted by converting his bike to race specs, buying a van for it and now only drives amateur racing. No cars, no wild animals, no speed limit, and wearing the right gear is mandatory. An image of what he looks like doing that is here[^]... Someone else on this thread mentioned losing man-points for wearing protective gear... Yeah, right!
leckey wrote:
...small scooter. Hubby doesn't have a problem with that though. Weird.
Indeed. Protective gear (at least a good helmet and a sturdy jacket) is probably not a bad idea in that context either...
