Who, what, where are you and whaddayaride?

[Dennis The Menace]

I think Canada Dan suggested it ..... so I'll start.

I'm in Cambridge, an hour west of Toronto. Been riding since 1990 or so.
Katana 750, then a 1996 VFR750, now a 2004 Hayabusa since Sept of last year. Been to FAST a few times, dozen or so trackdays over the years. Signed up to go back to FAST again this year for June 18 & 19 to give myself a little tune up. I am a Mechanical Designer by trade. A motorcycle magazine junkie, my collection is so big I can't move it anymore. Other things high on the list are family, atving with the kids, and building stuff.

[Sidecar Bob]

I am in the City of Kawartha Lakes, about 1 1/2 hrs NE of Toronto. I got my first bike in '85 (if you don't count the Moped I had in the '70s) and my first sidecar in '87.

I have been called a "hardcore biker" because I don't drive a car (2 wheels in summer, 3 in winter). Those who really know me will tell you that I'm just really, really cheap. My mind simply cannot accept the concept of paying for license and insurance fees for a whole year for a car and a bike but only using each one for half the year.

I originally set out to use the sidecar as a training wheel in the winter and take off in the summer but I discovered that winter does really nasty things to a bike. It takes a substantial part of the summer to un-do them and you can do a better job if it if you don't have to put back together tonight so that you can drive it to work in the morning. I also discovered that, if you stick to older bikes, it really doesn't cost any more to maintain 2 that are each used for half the year than it does to maintain one that you use all year - they need the same number of oil changes and the same amount of tires. It also allows me to keep the summer bike in a lot better condition than anything that is allowed on salted roads while doing a "guerilla restoraion" (eg. if the chrome rusts, paint it) to the winter machine every year.

[Malks]

Hi Dennis and welcome to the site.

I live in Orangeville and currently ride a '97 Honda ST1100. While both of these details are shown with my posts, what does not come up is the fact that I got my bike license in 1972, when I was 17. Over the years I have owned several bikes ranging from a Kawasaki enduro that I took my test on, to a 650 BSA. I have had a couple of Hondas, a Yamaha FJ and a very quick 1150 Suzuki, which I sold after buying the ST last spring.

I work in Toronto and use my bike to commute on a regular basis because parking is free and my bike gets much better mileage than the car. There is also the fun factor since riding is always better than driving. For some reason, my trip home is never direct; I just need to seek out nice roads along the way.

When the riding season ends I turn to my other favorite activity, skiing. Six years ago I began to volunteer as a ski instructor with Ontario Track3, a program that teaches disabled kids to ski.

[TimP]

Hi, Dennis,

Trawna is home for now, and while it's not the most bike-friendly city (parking is free, but I want those HOV lanes opened NOW!) it's where I live and work, so we put up with each other.

I won't bore you with my paltry riding history - there are lots of forum participants who ride more, have ridden more and will ride more than me - but if you want the long version see the First Person column from January 2003.

I'm still riding the demo K12LT I bought in 2000 for almost all my highway trekking to the cottage and frequent blips to Quebec (and it's still way better than a car on the 401) and I ride a '98 VTR1000F when a city trip beckons or I feel like pretending I'm much younger than I am.

My big project at the moment is refurbishing a pair of CT70's - see Tech Talk for an update - with my son.

[Canada Dan]

Still riding my old (but beautiful -still has less than 31,000km on the clock) '79 GS850 Suzuki.

Home is Sexsmith Alberta - about 4.5hrs northwest of Edmonton.

Don't ride nearly as much as I would like - work interfere's way more than it should, but then I've been told often and repeatedly that I'm a workoholic.

The bike will stay the same until Daughter #1 (currently in college) and Daughter #2 (on the doorstep of college) are done with the books.

Twice in the last week my wife has mentioned she would like to take the riding course at our local college and get her license! Speechless I was! But thrilled to be sure. Things are looking up.

Dan

[arnottski1]

Glad to have you here Dennis.
1st bike was a Suzuki GT 185 in Ethiopia. Then in B.C. a Suzuki (77) gt750. Followed by a basket case honda 650, then CX650.Next came The Yamaha TY250 although dabbling in Trials was fun I sucked at it.next in New Guinea a yamaha 125 that was completely gutless followed by a Suzuki RM250 that was a gas to ride. Back in Canada a GL1000 (75) that I still own and took with me to Chile for 3 and 1/2 years. A little tired now but it will be fixed up. Currently a Suzuki (03) Busa that just wigs me out every time I twist the loud handle. I commute every week from Mission to Campbell River B.C to go to work. Reports of a black Hayabusa going mach 10 up the new island highway in the early morning every week or two are lol slightly exagerated.

[Dennis The Menace]

Currently a Suzuki (03) Busa that just wigs me out every time I twist the loud handle. I commute every week from Mission to Campbell River B.C to go to work. Reports of a black Hayabusa going mach 10 up the new island highway in the early morning every week or two are lol slightly exagerated.

I know what you mean about the Busa. Took some getting used to for me too. Actually. In a 2002-2003? issue of Cycle Canada when they tested a Busa and ZX12r at Mosport, the author mention having a touch of motion sickness the first couple times out. I had the same. Awsome though.

[arnottski1]

I know what you mean about the Busa. Took some getting used to for me too. Actually. In a 2002-2003? issue of Cycle Canada when they tested a Busa and ZX12r at Mosport, the author mention having a touch of motion sickness the first couple times out. I had the same. Awsome though.
No motion sickness but more of a compression of time when you hit it hard.

[bikeymikey748]

Livin' large in Montreal. Ridin' a '98 748 showing 86,000km. (with a 853 big-bore kit and assorted bits), and a '78 Yamaha SR500 (that looks a LITTLE different from when it left the factory), mileage shows 87,000km. but I just swapped the original speedo for one from an RZ350 (changed wheels and the original would no longer be accurate). Been riding since I was 10 on my uncle's Z50 and wearing a hockey helmet. Man, I can still remember burning through my chores to get the opportunity to spend some time on that Z. I think that most rides are just a chance to capture that initial buzz/rush... even today. Took the SR down to Americade (Lake George) yesterday. Put630km. on it following the twistiest roads I know,and there are a BUNCH of 'em in NY state. Only managed to piss-off a small group of bikers from Vermont with my passing TECHNIQUE (hey, how fast can you pass on an SR?), so all in all a great day. Though, thinking about it, the thumb on my right hand is still a bit numb. Off to Laconia for a day-long toot next weekend. Should be about a 1,000km. round trip on the Duck. Gotta love the roads in Vermont/New Hampshire ! Traffic gets REALLY congested when you near Laconia, but its worth it to see all the different bikes. There's a church off of Weirs beach, $5.00 to park and all kinds of free home-baked goodies and drinks inside. I even got my bike blessed one year by the "bikers for Christ" and the local Minister. We got to talkin' ( me and one of the "bikers" )and when I told him that I'de come from Montreal that morning and was returning after I finished my snack....well the look in his eyes changed and after excusing himself for a moment and returning with a small mob....we formed a prayer circle 'round my bike and the Minister blessed it and asked God to watch over me on my journey home. I'me not particularily religious, but it was a pretty cool experience and I smile every time I think about it.
Sorry for rambling on....can't help getting excited talking about bikes.....

[outlawtigger]

work in cambridge, live in guelph.

ride on the road, do trackdays, used to race (roadracing and then supermoto)
and generally avoid the pesky tax collectors

usually riding one of these.

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn152/outlawtigger/almostall.jpg

[Dennis The Menace]

You know. ...... you multiple bike owning guys really.... pis.......

I'm just jealous as hell.

[sportbikecalgary]

I'm just jealous as hell.

Don't let it work you up too much... check out the surroundings... Obviously the insurance costs on all these bikes keep him from buying paint or stain for his fence. If you look at the reflections in his windows you can see a neglected kid in the left side. Poor child... abandoned by his parent, unable to sit on the provided bench due to lack of training. Either that or it's a short budda garden statue :) If you zoom in on the KTM you can see dirt on the back side of the front fender. Sheesh,you'd think he'd take care of things! As well I think the stick-on akrapovic sticker on the KTM exhaust is starting to peel. Better get on that :)

Jealous... me? never :D

[Malks]

Trawna is home for now, and while it's not the most bike-friendly city (parking is free, but I want those HOV lanes opened NOW!)
Hey Tim, I just saw a recent Toronto City Council minutes item that advises that bikes WILL be allowed in the HOV lanes as soon as new signage can be installed. I believe that they have already passed the appropriate bylaw, however, I would not use them until the signs are up.

[outlawtigger]

Don't let it work you up too much... check out the surroundings... Obviously the insurance costs on all these bikes keep him from buying paint or stain for his fence. If you look at the reflections in his windows you can see a neglected kid in the left side. Poor child... abandoned by his parent, unable to sit on the provided bench due to lack of training. Either that or it's a short budda garden statue :) If you zoom in on the KTM you can see dirt on the back side of the front fender. Sheesh,you'd think he'd take care of things! As well I think the stick-on akrapovic sticker on the KTM exhaust is starting to peel. Better get on that :)

Jealous... me? never :D


must have a good monitor to pick up all the dirt.
neglected kid is too short to stain the fence yet, when he gets taller and grows hair, and loses the belly, maybe he can get right on that. ;)

good thing I only emptied one room.

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn152/outlawtigger/DSC003431.jpg

[TimP]

bikes WILL be allowed in the HOV lanes as soon as new signage can be installe

Yes, I heard that, too. But I think only the inner-city HOV lanes are included (ie. Eglinton at "rush hour" -still good at roughly 1/3 of the 24 hr. day). I don't think the regional HOV lanes (403, 404, etc.) will allow bikes. Perhaps I've got it backwards. Perhaps I should wait for the signs. Good suggestion.

[TimP]

good thing I only emptied one room.


Bastard!

Ok, here's the deal:

1. I introduce my wife to your wife.
2. My wife (excellent gardener, fantastic sense of colour and style, not too big on bikes) gets to know your wife (see above re. fence, garden, pot-bellied bald kid, clean-but-shag-ish brown carpet, but OHMYGOD! fantastic appreciation (tolerance? love?) for bikes...
3. Worlds collide.
4. Happiness abounds.

Shake on it?

[outlawtigger]

Bastard!

Ok, here's the deal:

1. I introduce my wife to your wife.
2. My wife (excellent gardener, fantastic sense of colour and style, not too big on bikes) gets to know your wife (see above re. fence, garden, pot-bellied bald kid, clean-but-shag-ish brown carpet, but OHMYGOD! fantastic appreciation (tolerance? love?) for bikes...
3. Worlds collide.
4. Happiness abounds.

Shake on it?


I don't think they are trainable,... ;)

My wife, happened to be already inclined "that" way.(motorcycles)

She came out to the course to get her motorcycle license(I taught at CSC for 8 years) and she got her license and a handy lump on the couch as well. (as well as some rooms forever filled with bike stuff, paraphinalia, etc)


http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn152/outlawtigger/livingroom6.jpg

[TimP]

I can't decide if these pictures belong on HGTV or Speed Channel.

Opportunity?

Dear CRTC,

Please consider this my application for a licence for MFHTV. This will be a highly specialized TV channel devoted to Motorcycle Filled Houses...

[Uwe W.]

What's with all the speakers? You have some sort of custom 18.1 Dolby Surround system or something? :D

[Rocking Couple]

What's with all the speakers? You have some sort of custom 18.1 Dolby Surround system or something? :D

.....and apparently no shortage of many other somethings

[tat2]

Yes, I heard that, too. But I think only the inner-city HOV lanes are included (ie. Eglinton at "rush hour" -still good at roughly 1/3 of the 24 hr. day). I don't think the regional HOV lanes (403, 404, etc.) will allow bikes. Perhaps I've got it backwards. Perhaps I should wait for the signs. Good suggestion.

Don't confuse the City controlled HOV lanes (surface streets) with the Provincial controlled HOV lanes (controlled access hwys lke the 403, 404).

HOV access has been granted to motorcycles within the city only.
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/bylaws/2008/law0378.pdf
(I've printed & carry a copy, just in case an officer yanks me for this)

It states it will begin when signs change, well they have started changing the signs (fisrt one I've spottd is Don Mills RD SB just south of finch.

Bikes were never allowed in these (during stated hrs) because it required 3 or more persons, the Provincial ones only require 2 persons so bikes can use them with passengers.

[Malks]

Provincial ones only require 2 persons so bikes can use them with passengers.

Now there is a question that I have regarding the HOV lanes on Provincial Highways. Why is the minimum occupancy different on highway HOV lanes? The number used on the highway is two or more, while in the City the requirement is three or more. If the Province really wanted to encourage car-pooling, they would have used the same minimum as the City.

Which brings up an interesting comparison. A bike with only the rider is already using 50% of its maximum occupancy. However, the average car can carry five or more occupants including the driver, so a car with only two occupants is using less than 50% of its maximum. I would think that the bike is the higher occupancy vehicle if you use the two or more rule.

[bikeymikey748]

Showcase August 2008 !!
Sorry, but I'm just so JAZZED !!