audiomick

I'd have a Centauro if I had the readies, but only if it were enough readies to do what Phil suggested.

Ok, pretty, and I would indeed be interested in building a custom CX that would end up looking similar to that. By all accounts, the thing had a mediocre frame at best, but I saw a mate of mine in Melbourne riding his CX 500 on a dirt track like a motocross bike, so it can't be too bad. Regarding the one in the video: far too loud, I reckon, and the back-firing on the overrun would drive me nuts. And choosing the mufflers for the sound is just a wank. The important thing with an exhaust system is how it works. If it has to be loud to work, ok, but quiet is better, and there are quiet exhausts that work well. Otherwise, very pretty. The Pirelli Phantoms are nice. Always liked them. The video is quite well made, and was probably expensive. But then, I think it can be considered "advertising", so probably worth the expense.

This thing, right? 三澤佳祐, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons No, doesn't do it for me either. It's just a modern bike. The original was a revolution.

I'd have that like a shot. One owner, probably loves it, and can't ride anymore. Really sad for the owner, but ideal conditions for the buyer. The price looks realy good.

I don't even know what the new one looks like. But the real one, the original GSX 1100 S, was one of the most significant motorcycle designs ever. And it was a good bike into the bargain. Allmoto

Chet Atkins it the one on the left with the good collar and the Gretsch, right?

Yes, indeed. That even applies to my job to an extent. When the shit really hits the fan, the audience is in its seats, and it's time for the show, it has to work. After a given point, to a large degree it really doesn't matter what you have to do to achieve that. But in my job, there are no lives in danger if it doesn't happen. I have the utmost respect for pilots who can keep their shit together in extreme situations, because in their job, it really does matter.

How could you possibly neglect to include "Katana" in that list?

Quite apart from the music, those are both excellent recordings. In the first one, the mix is really very good. The second one seems to have been recorded with one stereo microphone, and they all are "working the mic" very professionally. Nice.

Indeed. Thanks for the link.

I reckon the bloke who parked his Airbus on the Hudson a few years back was one of the "have both" category. I rather hope that there is one of those in the cockpit when I am on a commercial flight.

Yeah. The one my Dad had went alright, but it had problems with the exhaust manifold, and the solution was a set of headers, probably simply because they were cheaper than the original manifold. I think that helped. As far as rust goes, my HK Monaro was full of it. The previous owner, who bought it new, lived somewhere down the bay in Melbourne, so it spent its life in salty air. That didn't do it any good.

Yes, I know what you mean, and I will likely never own an automatic car or bike. I rode a scooter around the parking lot at La Trobe once, and decided that it was just dangerous. Not interested. The electric driveline in the Tesla was a different beast altogether. I didn't get to cane it in the curves, but I think getting the most out of it would be not unlike finding the groove on a bike with an internal combustion engine and manual transmission. Anyone can ride fairly fast on a modern bike, but finding the groove is still an art. I reckon finding the groove with an electric drivetrain is probably just as much of an art and a joy. My dad owned a late '70s Falcon with a 4.1 motor for a while, an XC, I think. I was young and reckless, and loved driving it at about 140 km/h on the dirt roads around the family home near Cobram. The "made" dirt roads were bluestone, and the big, fat Falcon would dance a bit on those roads at that speed. Or the feeling that the bike is just starting to slide a bit. Getting that right with an internal combustion engine is an art. Getting it right with an electric drivetrain is likely to be a bit different, but undoubtably an art in its own right. I'd love to be able to experiment. Edit: this looks like the Falcon in quesition, for those who are not familiar with Australian cars. The car in the picture is a Fairmont, which was the "luxury" model, but it is the same colour, at least, and the body shape was the same for the series XA to XC, Falon or Fairmont. By Jeremy from Sydney, Australia - Ford Fairmont XC, CC BY 2.0,

Outright acceleration is not quite the point. You're right, more than 100 hp in a bike is pointless on the road. The point is the way it gets up and goes from zero. Plant the foot, and it happens. No internal combustion engine can do what an electric motor can do. Maximum torque at zero revs. That has its attraction, and I would like to have a bike that does that.

What is that? It is entirely possible to make an attractive motorcycle with a good seating postion from a small block Guzzi. See, for instance, the V50 Monza und V35 Imola. Beautiful, perfect riding position. The bike in that picture is just wrong. EDIT: for those who aren't familiar with the small block models, this is the V35 Imola. I've got one, and I am very fond of it. Bugger all power, but very pretty and loads of fun: https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/moto guzzi/moto_guzzi_v35_imola 79.htm The bike in the picture looks like it might have started out as one of these: https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/moto guzzi/moto_guzzi_v65c.htm Spectacularly ugly from the factory, but the "costum bobber" in the picture is no improvement. Annuveredit: you can tell it is a small block by the rocker covers. Unmistakeable.

Phil, I was allowed to take a Tesla for a short spin. If I had a motorcycle that went like that thing did, I wouldn't give a shit how it sounded. The best V-Twin sound I ever heard was a Montjuich. A shop in Preston (I think) owned it, and a mate of mine got a ride on it. He rode it straight to my place to show me. I heard him coming on Kingsbury Drive, and I was inside on Dwyer Street. Sounded amazing, but too loud. I like the sound of my Guzzis too, but quiet is also good.

Ok, so only a little bit salty. But nevertheless, I hope she washed the bike down thourougly afterwards.

I wouldn't have thought that Kiwis would have any knuckles to drag.

Whilst I understand what you are getting at, and agree, I must say that I don't like boxing as an example. I consider boxing to be an anachronism, an activity that should have died out some time ago. Two blokes getting paid to beat the shit out of each other just doesn't work for me, and several hundred watching and getting excited about it, even less.

The nail has a very sore head.

I do. Not frivolously, but per defintion: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/fun Riding is dangerous (which sometimes adds to the kick), requires a lot of concentration, and is definitely not to be taken lightly. But I find it pleasant and enjoyable, and it makes me feel happy, particularly when I get it right and everything flows.

I hope that is a lake, and not the ocean... EDIT: she seems to have a trend with motorcycles...

Do you happen to know how long that takes on average? I have no idea. What I saw in the excerpts in that video didn't exactly inspire confidence in her skills. I'm doing my best to resist writing a sentence with the word "blonde" in it.

That's probably a girl, but definitely not a Guzzi.

Yep. One could wonder how she got the license in the first place.