An utterly insane bike which I got used at age 17, even before I turned 18... Ossa 500cc two stroke. A complete and total wheelie monster:
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- Thread starter ayane
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Interesting
“Powering the RM1S is a direct-drive electric motor listed at 7.2 kW (9.7 horsepower) of continuous power and 11.1 kW (14.9 horsepower) of peak power.”
About 80 mile range
Count Arthur
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I've only had one two stroke. Behold the awesome Yamaha RXS 100, that I bought to learn and take my test on:
The 11bhp and 65mph top speed, on a good day with a tail wind, was perfectly manageable for a learner. Less good were the drum brakes, which were purely decorative - dragging your feet on the floor provided more stopping power. Even with adjustment and new brake shoes, I could pull the front lever to the handlebar and only get a slight slowing effect, not much engine braking on a 2 stroke either.
We all got started on 125cc 2-stroke these days... this was my 14hp Bultaco streaker from when I got my first offical license at age 16:I've only had one two stroke. Behold the awesome Yamaha RXS 100, that I bought to learn and take my test on:
View attachment 468189
The 11bhp and 65mph top speed, on a good day with a tail wind, was perfectly manageable for a learner. Less good were the drum brakes, which were purely decorative - dragging your feet on the floor provided more stopping power. Even with adjustment and new brake shoes, I could pull the front lever to the handlebar and only get a slight slowing effect, not much engine braking on a 2 stroke either.
Chr1
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Aahh, the joys of the "single leading shoe" drum brake.
Still have nightmares/possible trauma from the time I put bark busters and a pair of short motocross levers on my road going supermotoed Yamaha XT550 in mid 80s. They were made of plastic and actually bent when vigorously applied. Didn't really matter with the clutch. The front brake however...
(Not that it really worked with the original lever anyways.)
Stupidly I rode about like a dafty for weeks like that. Doh
Ho hum.
More dubious trouser soiling flashbacks from the '80s.
Riding speedway/flatrack style. Tho unaware.
(Eventually upgraded to an FZR 320mm disk and four pot caliper. So, lesson learned. Eventually.)
Still have nightmares/possible trauma from the time I put bark busters and a pair of short motocross levers on my road going supermotoed Yamaha XT550 in mid 80s. They were made of plastic and actually bent when vigorously applied. Didn't really matter with the clutch. The front brake however...
(Not that it really worked with the original lever anyways.)
Stupidly I rode about like a dafty for weeks like that. Doh
Ho hum.
More dubious trouser soiling flashbacks from the '80s.
Riding speedway/flatrack style. Tho unaware.
(Eventually upgraded to an FZR 320mm disk and four pot caliper. So, lesson learned. Eventually.)
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EJ3
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I used to work on their racing Dirt Bikes (1971-75 [along with other European models before the Japanese bike's took over the market]).
I never knew that Bultaco made a street bike until this very moment.
pallas
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My oldest bike in the stable the BMW R27 from 1961
The Honda CX500C from 1984, I customized.
Last but not least is the 1996 Suzuki DR650SE, which I also customized.
Count Arthur
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My brother has a Honda CX500. His has been modified into a café racer. I sometimes think it's a shame to modify older bikes, but I think it's fair to say that some versions of the CX500 look very dated now and were not particularly handsome to start with.
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pallas
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My goal was to modify the CX500 without cutting its frame. (It would be very difficult to get a bike with a cut frame to pass a traffic safety test where I live.) So a café racer wasn't anything I planned to do.
Everything is stock except for the handlebar, the seat (and the mounting underneath), and a smaller rear light. The headlight is set a bit lower. And I replaced many of the chrome parts with powder-coated black parts and added black fork gators.
Everything is stock except for the handlebar, the seat (and the mounting underneath), and a smaller rear light. The headlight is set a bit lower. And I replaced many of the chrome parts with powder-coated black parts and added black fork gators.
Count Arthur
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It looks really nicely done, and ride-able, whereas my brother reckons he can only manage about half an hour before he has to get off and straighten up.
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All HD's use a drive belt and have for years. They are smoother, quieter, and last far longer than a chain.I believe there are a few Harley-Davidsons that use belt drive too.
Bicycle belt drives are said to be less efficient, but I can't feel it, and as you say, this is compared to a chain in pristine condition - which is not for long, unless you are meticulous with your chain maintenance. The big disadvantage for bicycles, is that they don't work with derailleur gears, so you have to use hub gears, which are also less efficient, and heavier - it's quite noticeable how heavy the back end of the bike is, when you pick it up, with a ~1.8kg hub gear.
I once did a lap of France on a motorcycle, about 3,000 miles in 10 days, and I didn't bother adjusting the chain, so it was really slack by the time I got home. If you don't have a centre stand, I'm not sure how you would adjust it, other than calling in at a shop. If you had a centre stand, I guess you could take necessary tools to do it yourself, but there's no way you could take a paddock stand.
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Bob from Florida
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Just traded the 2018 Goldwing on a new leftover 2024 Can Am Spyder RT Limited. Purpose is 2-up riding with my wife - switch drivers to refresh, etc. Learning curve for sure, will have to see if I miss two wheels. If so, something much smaller and lighter than the Wing for just me.
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Take time to get used to the missing front brake lever and the extra width of the front end. I scraped up my front wheels on curbs pulling into my drive the first few weeks. Let me know what you think of high speed handling.
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Bob from Florida
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So far around 180 miles under my belt. Agree about the brake lever - I reached for it a few times early on, but seem to have the hang of the brake pedal now. Recalibrating to ride center versus right or left wheel track is a works in progress. Still breaking in the engine, 60 is max so far. Changing direction is fast - it seems just thinking about changing lanes and you already did it! I am going to take the class with my wife - she needs an endorsement and I could use the extra knowledge.
Nice looking Ryker!
EJ3
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My first was a brand new Orange Honda CL175 that was both 1/2 my Christmas and March birthday present and I had to pay 1/2, My parents also paid the insurance for the first year. I was 2 young to get my license until my birthday but we were the 10th house in our 500 acre neighborhood, so there was plenty of riding to do until I turned 15 & got my motorcycle license (that is all I needed, so I did not get a car license at that time).
At 15 I was 155 lbs of great shape & my girlfreind (we dated of & on [mostly on]) until we were 27]) was 5'2" & 95 lbs, so even the 2 of us weren't too heavy for that bike. Interstates were not usually in my agenda, anyway (and still are not, usually)
At 15 I was 155 lbs of great shape & my girlfreind (we dated of & on [mostly on]) until we were 27]) was 5'2" & 95 lbs, so even the 2 of us weren't too heavy for that bike. Interstates were not usually in my agenda, anyway (and still are not, usually)
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EJ3
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I wish that they would design them so that the top of the front tires would angle (caster) toward the center (inside) of the turning direction, which would make them handle more sportily. Naturally that would add cost, though.
Thanks, it's fun.
I've been riding motorcycles for over 60 years and still wonder why C-A goes with the break pedal only when it's mostly opposite what all bikers are used to? ISCI does have a conversion kit but it's like $1500, plus labor if you have a dealer install it. Honda does integrated braking off the right lever on the Wings.
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The man who posted with the identifier 'anotherhobby' writes of riding around northwest Wisconsin. I recently drove through that area. It is lightly populated and there is plenty of space for riding. There's bears in that area too, and just to the north is a lake that is unimaginably large at 350 miles wide and 160 miles across north to south at the extremes. I think Lake Superior is bigger than the state of Maine. I thought Marquette, Michigan was a wonderful small city on the south side of the Lake. Maybe the fall will be warm and dry so anotherhobby can still be riding in November.
Count Arthur
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I had a few bikes in my 20s and just recently got another one. I picked up this reasonably low mileage 2006 SV650S to "re-learn" on:
I think it had been sat for a while before I got it, and it had no real service history, so I've given it a pretty comprehensive service; changed the oil, coolant, oil and air filters, spark plugs, checked the valve clearances and fitted new a new battery and tyres.
I've done a few hundred miles on it now, and so far, it hasn't missed a beat. Runs well, sounds great, starts first time, goes and stops as it should - not bad for for a bike nearly 20 years old that cost about the same as my bicycle.
I think it had been sat for a while before I got it, and it had no real service history, so I've given it a pretty comprehensive service; changed the oil, coolant, oil and air filters, spark plugs, checked the valve clearances and fitted new a new battery and tyres.
I've done a few hundred miles on it now, and so far, it hasn't missed a beat. Runs well, sounds great, starts first time, goes and stops as it should - not bad for for a bike nearly 20 years old that cost about the same as my bicycle.