I am now a squid.
Wow, that hurt to say. My other posts have blatantly made fun of, name called, and generally disrespected owners of absurdly powerful 1000cc Japanese race bikes. After all, how impractically fast, unnecessarily torqued, ridiculously light these machines are known to be.
But let me step back a bit.
I went in to the dealership knowing I was going to scrutinize the GSXR 1000. I wanted one in yellow, for visibility sake. And I wanted one stock with no squid mods like tinted visors, removed rear view mirrors, exhausts, gold chains, or chrome (choke). And they had one, so I sat on it and "tried out the ergos."
I was impressed. At 5'11", I'm pretty much average if not slightly taller than the average rider, and I found the bike perfect for my fit. Sure, the lean was more intense than the Buell, but the magazines were dead-on; the Suzuki is by far the most comfortable of the sportbikes I've ever tried. After an extremely scientific comparison of every single major literbike and 600cc in the store's inventory, I can definitively say that sportbike comfort comes down entirely to knee-bend angle. The R1 had a ridiculous angle of bend, the Honda put my butt further back and so my knees were higher than normal, but the Suzuki was perfect. Though my entire body was generally rotated forward, my knees were bent at the same angle as on the Buell - A+. Also, I didn't have to sit crouched over all the time, and in fact given my arm length, I felt perfectly comfortable turning my head freely.
So I bought it. On the spot. And 3 hours later, I rode it away... into the sunlight.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Thought process review: Suzuki "Litre" bike
Can I honestly consider myself a Squid? That'll be pretty hard to swallow. But every magazine and comparison review I read consistently puts the Suzuki GSXR 1000 at the top of the list. Supposedly it's power is intoxicating, and you never want for more.
Toughness: Great
Japanese bikes are notoriously abused. They never get oiled, they get dropped, stunted (aka "stun'd" on Craigslist), run through rain and snow, and generally neglected. Yet they still run like mad and get raced down the FDR and 9A at midnight and generally stand up (until they get run into a divider by a young squid who never learned to counter-steer).
Handling: Great
It's a sportbike, and every review I've read says "it holds lines well" which I presume is racer lingo for "it corners well and is stable". On the street, I like to say, "my bike avoids cabs". Maybe it's not as nimble as the Daytona 675, but the GSXR 1000 wheel base is comparable to the Buell XB12ss, so I'll be familiar with it.
Coolness: Ok-Great
Ok - so I could say I own the fastest production vehicle you can buy. I could go 0-60 faster than the fastest Ferrari's, Porsches, or whatever that other banker spent to drive next in the Hamptons. But something inside will die a little bit everytime I have to tell a co-worker, client, or colleague that I ride a "racing sportbike". I'll need to work on another term. For instance, I like how they call them "litrebikes" or "superbikes" in the UK.
Comfort: Ok
I just learned that the Suzuki has "the best ergos of the litrebikes". That's a good thing, but I doubt anything will top the Buell or a BMW. I'm going to have to try this out to be sure. My primary concern is that I retain complete freedom and neck movement. I'll need to "check my 6" every 3 milliseconds, and I don't want to have to look down my back every time. I need to be able to swing my head around freely, and I'm quite concerned about this point.
Summary: Ergos and the squid image are my primary concerns. But otherwise, I've always been curious about the legendary litre superbikes "they" always talk about. I just have to be careful to balance safety against the obvious other points above.
Toughness: Great
Japanese bikes are notoriously abused. They never get oiled, they get dropped, stunted (aka "stun'd" on Craigslist), run through rain and snow, and generally neglected. Yet they still run like mad and get raced down the FDR and 9A at midnight and generally stand up (until they get run into a divider by a young squid who never learned to counter-steer).
Handling: Great
It's a sportbike, and every review I've read says "it holds lines well" which I presume is racer lingo for "it corners well and is stable". On the street, I like to say, "my bike avoids cabs". Maybe it's not as nimble as the Daytona 675, but the GSXR 1000 wheel base is comparable to the Buell XB12ss, so I'll be familiar with it.
Coolness: Ok-Great
Ok - so I could say I own the fastest production vehicle you can buy. I could go 0-60 faster than the fastest Ferrari's, Porsches, or whatever that other banker spent to drive next in the Hamptons. But something inside will die a little bit everytime I have to tell a co-worker, client, or colleague that I ride a "racing sportbike". I'll need to work on another term. For instance, I like how they call them "litrebikes" or "superbikes" in the UK.
Comfort: Ok
I just learned that the Suzuki has "the best ergos of the litrebikes". That's a good thing, but I doubt anything will top the Buell or a BMW. I'm going to have to try this out to be sure. My primary concern is that I retain complete freedom and neck movement. I'll need to "check my 6" every 3 milliseconds, and I don't want to have to look down my back every time. I need to be able to swing my head around freely, and I'm quite concerned about this point.
Summary: Ergos and the squid image are my primary concerns. But otherwise, I've always been curious about the legendary litre superbikes "they" always talk about. I just have to be careful to balance safety against the obvious other points above.
Thought process review: Ducati
Whatever bike I'm going to get, it has to be more powerful than my current Buell Xb12Ss. That's not going to be easy. I've test driven some of the Ducati Monsters, and find them tremendously under powered. I guess that leaves me with (unfortunately) (sarcasm) just one option: the 1098
Toughness: Poor
The antithesis of a BMW, these things need to be serviced every 500 miles. Pieces break, parts snap, valves re-seat, cluthes don't slip, oil resevoirs bleed ... it goes on and on and on. I'm about to drive cross country on whatever bike I buy. Something tells me a 1098 isn't going to run through the rain / wind / dirt of the rockies / plains / deserts I plan to ride through.
Handling: Great
It's a racing bike, so it's made to handle. I've seen quite a few around NYC, so it must not be horrible to drive. Also, cabs will notice it and will stop and stare, rather than hit me, and that's a good thing.
Coolness: Ok-Great
It would be soooo cool to have a Ducati. Sort of. Somehow, after you purchase a Ducati, you become a toolish snob. It happens to everyone - I've seen the best become the worst. A Ducati does something to the human brain, which makes it clogged with pretentiousness and selfishness. This doesn't necessarily make a better rider in NYC. An anal-retentive rider can be a safe driver in some cases, but you can never love the bike so much that you wouldn't jump off it or put it between you and a charging cab / Jersey driver :)
Comfort: Poor
Google the words: "Ducati" "torture" "rack". Enough said.
Summary: As cool as it would be, I also know that Ducati's are expensive to maintain. And they break. Neither of those are great selling points. Ok, so their current marketing slogan is: 50% less maintenance. Ok, great, so 500 mile checkups only cost $1000, instead of $2000? Not for me. I don't think.
Toughness: Poor
The antithesis of a BMW, these things need to be serviced every 500 miles. Pieces break, parts snap, valves re-seat, cluthes don't slip, oil resevoirs bleed ... it goes on and on and on. I'm about to drive cross country on whatever bike I buy. Something tells me a 1098 isn't going to run through the rain / wind / dirt of the rockies / plains / deserts I plan to ride through.
Handling: Great
It's a racing bike, so it's made to handle. I've seen quite a few around NYC, so it must not be horrible to drive. Also, cabs will notice it and will stop and stare, rather than hit me, and that's a good thing.
Coolness: Ok-Great
It would be soooo cool to have a Ducati. Sort of. Somehow, after you purchase a Ducati, you become a toolish snob. It happens to everyone - I've seen the best become the worst. A Ducati does something to the human brain, which makes it clogged with pretentiousness and selfishness. This doesn't necessarily make a better rider in NYC. An anal-retentive rider can be a safe driver in some cases, but you can never love the bike so much that you wouldn't jump off it or put it between you and a charging cab / Jersey driver :)
Comfort: Poor
Google the words: "Ducati" "torture" "rack". Enough said.
Summary: As cool as it would be, I also know that Ducati's are expensive to maintain. And they break. Neither of those are great selling points. Ok, so their current marketing slogan is: 50% less maintenance. Ok, great, so 500 mile checkups only cost $1000, instead of $2000? Not for me. I don't think.
Thought process review: BMW
Maybe it's finally time for me to make the jump and own a K1200 of some sort, perhaps an S or R? But from my last review and test drive, I can still remember what a boat those bikes are. And I would ideally like something with some semblance of handling. But it needs to be tougher than wrought iron.
Toughness: Great
BMW's have perhaps the greatest reputation for lasting for hundreds of thousands of miles, in hot weather and cold. They can be dropped, and are built like tanks with steel frames, titanium bolts (just kidding).
Handling: Poor
See my previous post comparing BMW K1200R to the Buell. It was mind blowingly depressing. This makes me incredibly concerned about city riding.
Coolness: Ok
If not poor. I don't know anyone that gets excited about talking about their BMW. Instead, you end up getting excited about the riding experience itself. BMW riders don't talk about their bikes, they talk about their incredibly long rides through the wilderness and back. Eh.
Comfort: Great
What more can I say? I could fall asleep on a BMW. The seats are somehow 3 or 4 inches thicker than any other bike I've seen. I'm convinced a woman could deliver a baby on the seat of a BMW - it's that good.
Summary: Something about these bikes don't do it for me. They're just too boat-like ... and ... easy. They're like the automatic transmission / drive of motorcycles. I think I'm looking for a manual drive... to bring me closer to the road.
Toughness: Great
BMW's have perhaps the greatest reputation for lasting for hundreds of thousands of miles, in hot weather and cold. They can be dropped, and are built like tanks with steel frames, titanium bolts (just kidding).
Handling: Poor
See my previous post comparing BMW K1200R to the Buell. It was mind blowingly depressing. This makes me incredibly concerned about city riding.
Coolness: Ok
If not poor. I don't know anyone that gets excited about talking about their BMW. Instead, you end up getting excited about the riding experience itself. BMW riders don't talk about their bikes, they talk about their incredibly long rides through the wilderness and back. Eh.
Comfort: Great
What more can I say? I could fall asleep on a BMW. The seats are somehow 3 or 4 inches thicker than any other bike I've seen. I'm convinced a woman could deliver a baby on the seat of a BMW - it's that good.
Summary: Something about these bikes don't do it for me. They're just too boat-like ... and ... easy. They're like the automatic transmission / drive of motorcycles. I think I'm looking for a manual drive... to bring me closer to the road.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
What bike?
And here I am again, a year after I purchased my Buell, asking the most exciting question known to mankind: what motorcycle will I purchase? (ok, maybe second to "Will you marry me?")
I've spent the entire day browsing, and dreaming about the bike. It's come down to three options:
-BMW
-Ducati
-Japanese liter bike
I've chosen to evaluate my options along four dimensions:
Toughness - will this bike stand up to the rate of about 15,000 miles per year, which is about how much I seem to put on my bike
Handling - is the bike going to stand up in the city? The bike will need to turn on a dime, stop on an oil slick, and accelerate like a pedestrian inline from a cab's hood
Coolness - does the bike give me the thrilling feeling of owning a motorcycle I'm proud of?
Comfort - I need 100% of my attention for safety, so I can't be concerned with knee cramps or a sore butt.
I've spent the entire day browsing, and dreaming about the bike. It's come down to three options:
-BMW
-Ducati
-Japanese liter bike
I've chosen to evaluate my options along four dimensions:
Toughness - will this bike stand up to the rate of about 15,000 miles per year, which is about how much I seem to put on my bike
Handling - is the bike going to stand up in the city? The bike will need to turn on a dime, stop on an oil slick, and accelerate like a pedestrian inline from a cab's hood
Coolness - does the bike give me the thrilling feeling of owning a motorcycle I'm proud of?
Comfort - I need 100% of my attention for safety, so I can't be concerned with knee cramps or a sore butt.
Monday, August 27, 2007
My bike is done :(
Not officially toast, but it won't be ready in time for my trip :)
And that can only mean one thing: I need to make a choice between prolonging / canceling my trip until next year (since it's starting to get cold), or I need a new bike somehow.
This is going to be a tough decision. Yet somehow it's extremely exciting.
Option 1: Prolong until next year
I'm planning to ride cross-country. I have the route planned, and my best friend will be accompanying me in his car while I ride. This has been months in the making, and if I bail now, the trip will have to wait a year. I've already booked the vacation at work, and made all the preparations. Mentally, I'm checked in to this trip so much that it would be absolutely devastating not to go now. As I type this message, I'm realizing more and more that this isn't even an option. Which means on to option 2:
Option 2: Get a bike
This has sub-options. I could Craigslist a bike, but I intend to drive at least 5000 miles in a week, and I'd be scared that any bike I buy used won't make it. I could pressure the HD guys to fix my bike faster, but they genuinely don't know what's wrong with it, and I've been there in person multiple times so I believe them somehow. I could buy another of the same bike I have and make the trip on it. Or I could buy a new, different bike, own two for a period of time and do side-by-side comparisons, then sell the old bike once it's been fixed.
I'm sold. I'm buying a new bike. :)
And that can only mean one thing: I need to make a choice between prolonging / canceling my trip until next year (since it's starting to get cold), or I need a new bike somehow.
This is going to be a tough decision. Yet somehow it's extremely exciting.
Option 1: Prolong until next year
I'm planning to ride cross-country. I have the route planned, and my best friend will be accompanying me in his car while I ride. This has been months in the making, and if I bail now, the trip will have to wait a year. I've already booked the vacation at work, and made all the preparations. Mentally, I'm checked in to this trip so much that it would be absolutely devastating not to go now. As I type this message, I'm realizing more and more that this isn't even an option. Which means on to option 2:
Option 2: Get a bike
This has sub-options. I could Craigslist a bike, but I intend to drive at least 5000 miles in a week, and I'd be scared that any bike I buy used won't make it. I could pressure the HD guys to fix my bike faster, but they genuinely don't know what's wrong with it, and I've been there in person multiple times so I believe them somehow. I could buy another of the same bike I have and make the trip on it. Or I could buy a new, different bike, own two for a period of time and do side-by-side comparisons, then sell the old bike once it's been fixed.
I'm sold. I'm buying a new bike. :)
Harley Davidson New York City
I just got off the phone with HD on Northern Blvd in Queens. My bike is toast, and will take weeks to determine what went wrong.
Normally, I would be furious. But somehow, I'm moved to write a review of Harley Davidson NYC. I'll say it simply: they are amazing. None of the staff there give you that weirdo creep-you-out feeling that many other bikes stores give you (that feeling like you're getting ripped off every time they open their mouths). Perhaps it's something to do with the Harley staff knowing that everything they have to sell is already ridiculously over priced (fat margins) that they're just happy that anyone's in the store at all.
Anyway, on to the review:
Customer service
Fantastic. I'm greeted at the door every time I walk in, and they make an effort to know me. The salesmen aren't sleazy, and they really do give you pros / cons of their different models. I do wish the Buell section were bigger, but they always have a couple bikes on the floor for the odd folks like myself to stare at.
Parts ordering
They do require a credit card, and that you show up in person when placing an order. It almost makes you feel like they've been really screwed in the past with faulty credit card phone orders. Nevertheless, I've done a lot of ordering to upgrade my bike, and have gotten to a point where they have my orders on file and now feel comfortable selling me parts over the phone. Like many New Yorkers, this is a huge blessing because I never have time to spare to make a trip anywhere in person.
Service
Frank. What more can I say? He's the most diplomatic service desk man you could ask for. He says it straight, yet somehow always makes you feel good. "It's going to be a while, but we'll get to it." "We're real busy here, and we're moving bikes pretty quick. But I don't see yours on the stand yet. It'll be up there tomorrow for sure." I've dealt with guys in the past who actually forget what bike is yours, but not so with Frank - he actually looks out onto the floor to make sure, and sometimes even walks over to the bike to check the status of the ticket - all while you're on the phone. The actual techs are simply world class. I can't tell you how many times I've swung by after hours only to find them working on their own bikes, and happy to run a diagnostic on the bike, or check the wiring. For instance, I blew a voltage regulator last winter, and my bike kept stalling. I stopped in late at night when the tow truck dropped me off, and sure enough two guys were in the back room. Now that's passion. That alone makes it worthwhile owning a Buell or Harley in NYC.
Location
Can you say $8 cab from Manhattan? It's perfect. My only complaint is that the cab ride back from the dealership to midtown can be a drag, since there aren't too many cabs that drive through Queens. And even fewer who want to pick up a guy that looks like he's only going over the bridge.
Summary
Great place, and they absolutely make the Harley / Buell experience in NYC. Without them, owning a Buell or Harley would be a miserable experience. The staff are worldclass, and they always go out of their way to help me.
Great work, guys!
Normally, I would be furious. But somehow, I'm moved to write a review of Harley Davidson NYC. I'll say it simply: they are amazing. None of the staff there give you that weirdo creep-you-out feeling that many other bikes stores give you (that feeling like you're getting ripped off every time they open their mouths). Perhaps it's something to do with the Harley staff knowing that everything they have to sell is already ridiculously over priced (fat margins) that they're just happy that anyone's in the store at all.
Anyway, on to the review:
Customer service
Fantastic. I'm greeted at the door every time I walk in, and they make an effort to know me. The salesmen aren't sleazy, and they really do give you pros / cons of their different models. I do wish the Buell section were bigger, but they always have a couple bikes on the floor for the odd folks like myself to stare at.
Parts ordering
They do require a credit card, and that you show up in person when placing an order. It almost makes you feel like they've been really screwed in the past with faulty credit card phone orders. Nevertheless, I've done a lot of ordering to upgrade my bike, and have gotten to a point where they have my orders on file and now feel comfortable selling me parts over the phone. Like many New Yorkers, this is a huge blessing because I never have time to spare to make a trip anywhere in person.
Service
Frank. What more can I say? He's the most diplomatic service desk man you could ask for. He says it straight, yet somehow always makes you feel good. "It's going to be a while, but we'll get to it." "We're real busy here, and we're moving bikes pretty quick. But I don't see yours on the stand yet. It'll be up there tomorrow for sure." I've dealt with guys in the past who actually forget what bike is yours, but not so with Frank - he actually looks out onto the floor to make sure, and sometimes even walks over to the bike to check the status of the ticket - all while you're on the phone. The actual techs are simply world class. I can't tell you how many times I've swung by after hours only to find them working on their own bikes, and happy to run a diagnostic on the bike, or check the wiring. For instance, I blew a voltage regulator last winter, and my bike kept stalling. I stopped in late at night when the tow truck dropped me off, and sure enough two guys were in the back room. Now that's passion. That alone makes it worthwhile owning a Buell or Harley in NYC.
Location
Can you say $8 cab from Manhattan? It's perfect. My only complaint is that the cab ride back from the dealership to midtown can be a drag, since there aren't too many cabs that drive through Queens. And even fewer who want to pick up a guy that looks like he's only going over the bridge.
Summary
Great place, and they absolutely make the Harley / Buell experience in NYC. Without them, owning a Buell or Harley would be a miserable experience. The staff are worldclass, and they always go out of their way to help me.
Great work, guys!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
My trusty Buell is giving me some troubles
It was really hot today. Like 95 with peaks around 100 or so. Celsius. Just kidding.
I went out on a nice ride with some friends, and noticed a problem - my bike started misfiring when it had run for a while (while = ~2 hours). If I let the bike cool down, I could start it up again and ride for an hour with no problems, but sure enough about an hour and a half or 2 into the ride, it would start sputtering.
This is a horrible experience. My trusty companion is failing on me. I rode it all the way back on the highway from Bear mountain, and on route 87, in the middle of peak traffic, the engine died at idle, leaving me powerless in the middle of traffic - ah!
I took it to the dealership, but since it was Sunday, they couldn't look at it. They were nice enough, though, to let me drop the bike off at the dealership until someone came back on Monday.
This is very, very bad timing given my planned trip coming up in three weeks!
I went out on a nice ride with some friends, and noticed a problem - my bike started misfiring when it had run for a while (while = ~2 hours). If I let the bike cool down, I could start it up again and ride for an hour with no problems, but sure enough about an hour and a half or 2 into the ride, it would start sputtering.
This is a horrible experience. My trusty companion is failing on me. I rode it all the way back on the highway from Bear mountain, and on route 87, in the middle of peak traffic, the engine died at idle, leaving me powerless in the middle of traffic - ah!
I took it to the dealership, but since it was Sunday, they couldn't look at it. They were nice enough, though, to let me drop the bike off at the dealership until someone came back on Monday.
This is very, very bad timing given my planned trip coming up in three weeks!
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