Motorcycles!

I will put this here for now. If it grows, I will move motorcycles to its own home.

So I've been working on getting a motorcycle. Hell, I (WE) even got financing! If all goes well (according to plan), I will be picking up this motorcycle Saturday, August 10th. My choice of cycle is damn perty, and damn functional.

On the same lines, Vader recently got fully licensed to ride two-wheeled motorized conveyances, and we've plans to ride. Where? Anywhere, really.

We've also been looking at motorcycle awesomeness all over the web. Pics, stories, forums. Stuff that could be shared here in a thread about motorcycles!

That said, I was looking for videos of the possible handling of my bike on snow. I've read it handles like a champ, but wanted to SEE it. Link here, similar video there, and I accidentally found a video I had to share. Because well... those damn Japanese again... just a bunch of showoffs! And if this is really the police tryouts over there, do NOT run a red light in Tokyo!!!  

Hey Vader!!! I think I found some custom handlebars for you!  

Holy neato! Check this thread out!!! http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?31629-OldSchooling-on-the-quot-Trans-Wisconsin-Adventure-Trail-quot

Now that would be an awesome ride!!!

Wow, posted this like 14 hours ago and it didn't post... another rider in a course doing awesomeness. Little bit closer to home than Japan this time.

You know, I'd be willing to try that with the Virago. No guarantee that I wouldn't knock down a cone or two or 50... But that does look like fun!!!!

Did the box! So fucking proud of myself for that one!!!

Hmmm... was hanging out with my wife, looking at websites with accessories for my bike, when she accidentally found a Yamaha street bike I'd never heard of before! Keep in mind that while I was trying to decide on a bike, I had visited every major motorcycle website several times, and even some less well-known brands... so seeing a brand name bike I hadn't seen before kinda threw me. We investigated, and found that Yamaha makes this bike, the Bulldog, for the European market. Going over the Yamaha US website again and nope, we don't have it. A shame, as I really like the look of it!


(We'll see if the wiki nails me for linking a photo!)

This adventure also scored us some bike names from companies I'd never heard of before, and those were of Italian origin. Having a look around, it doesn't look like they have US distributors, so MORE bikes we won't be seeing on the road. BUT, more importantly, this got me wondering what else is out there from the main manufacturers that we don't get to see for one reason or another. I spent some time on the Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki global websites... Yamaha and Kawasaki even having links or maps to allow you to pic a region and YES, there ARE differences in models available in different parts of the world! So aside from the above Bulldog, here are some notables I have never seen before, but I wish they would make the jump to the US markets!

First up, a factory-custom Kawasaki found on the Kawasaki Australia site. http://www.kawasaki.com.au/motorcycles/cruisers/2014-vulcan-900-custom-special-edition and it looks like:

Notice the green rims?! 

Next, the Suzuki Gladius. Found on the European section of Suzuki global. I like this as it kindof looks like mine, with a little less of this and a bit more of something else. Here's a PDF brochure of it with red frame and ABS brakes. The red frame is what caught my eye. http://www.globalsuzuki.com/motorcycle/moto/street/sfv650/99999-A0105-131.pdf


Last, the Yamaha MT-09. "The Dark Side of Japan" Available in mose European countries, and Russia... did not see it in US or Australia. Hopefully the link will take you directly to the features and techspecs page where you can see the colors, though the stock "Deep Armor" color needs no change in my opinion. (That link was not working so you'll have to go here instead, and the color button is in the lower left of the image)
http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/products/motorcycles/mt/mt-09.aspx?view=featurestechspecs


I'm going to keep my eyes open for more of these foreign treats, and if I find any that jump out I will share them.

Sigh... Was looking at the Chive, and saw a link about The Throttle, the Chive's vroom vroom sister-site. Haven't been to the Throttle in a long while, so I figured I'd see if there was any new vroom vroom to catch my eye. DAMN YOU, KAWASAKI!!! I realize it's a concept bike, so won't see the light of day probably ever, but I would SOOOOO ride this:


And here's a link to the Throttle page with like 24 pics of this sleek ride: link (click it)  And yes, I can even say I don't mind the extendo front end, as long as I can get the same color scheme. Maybe all black tires though. Could you imagine cruising NE Wisconsin with white tires?! ICK!!!

Did you happen to see this?

Nope, I had not seen that before. I will take 2! That video should have started with "Meanwhile, in Russia..." Excellent find Sooth!

This is rather neat.  Seen it before, but it seems that it is ready for the consumer market now, since it's available in 2017.



LINK