stickhandle2

Puc, sounds good, back in the summer we were at a Vintage Motorcycle swap meet down in the Niagara Penninsula (Jordan for those of you familiar with the area) one of the first bikes I saw was an old Water Buffalo (Suzuki GT 750) that the owner had gone cafe style on. Man that was a purdy bike, the owner walks over as he sees me drooling around his bike checking it all out, he asks me if I would like to hear it running.......what a sweet sound it made....the 3 cylinders talking to us through a nice set of chrome expansion chambers. It sounded so good my brother the only a Harley guy even commented on how good it sounds. Just my 2 cents, thanks for posting the V Max. Mike

Not sure about the GS 650, but I rode 78 GS 750 and loved the bike, honestly it is still my favourite ride that I have had. I believe the 650 were early 80's models, back in the late 70's Suzuki had the GS 550, GS 750, then added the GS 1000. Again not a fancy bike but a great standard bike to ride. Good luck with his decision. Mike

Bob, Kinda a similar story with our daughters bike, she had it with her at school rode out to a friends house and when it was time to go, the bike didn't want to go. I drove up to Peterborough and brought it home on the trailer, threw the battery on the charger, put it in and the bike started right up, let the bike sit for a couple of days and took it out for a ride tonight going from the RSV to the Virago, ones knees and legs feel a bit cramped but it was still fun riding a smaller bike. Before next season it will be time to get a new battery for the virago. But I will watch it until it is parked for the winter. Mike

Yahoo.....that was one crazy 7th inning.

Congrats Dave, well done, now enjoy

Agree 10 year old tire doesn't help at the best of times, either does riding like ya stole it. Shane where are you taking your M2 exit, Welland or Hamilton. Just curious. Mike

Gee a thread with a V-Max and Kawi Z1 mentioned, got me thinking I really do need a 3rd bike just for me to ride. Haha then reality hits me or was that a shoe from across the room.

We also use the Uclear for our rides, they work great, my CB doesn't work since I bought our bike, one day I hope to have it working just haven't got to it yet, it always say CB error......would be nice for group rides to have the CB. For us when we are out on the bike the Uclear is what we need . Mike

Great news Ben, and yes I have heard that Ray can be pretty helpful. Way to go Ray, you are a good guy.

It all started with a 74 Kawi KZ400, the next year went out and bought a brand new 1978 Suzuki GS750, loved that bike. With all the bikes I have had since then it is still my favourite.

Glad you made it home safe Ben.

Glad everyone is ok.

Thanks Carl, I took the wheel back to the shop that installed the tire for me, they are replacing the stem and I did ask for a metal one with a 90 degree bend in it. Hopefully we will have a Wednesday free to come for a visit or what the heck just call ya and come for a visit. Mike

Shane, I think we have all had that same what the moment you had today, you have seen the colour of my bike jacket and people seem to not see me at times, you need to keep watching for everybody else while out on the road. Ride safe Bud, are you going to the Vintage Swap meet this Saturday in Jordan. Mike

True enough and that is a good quote.

We had an interesting day yesterday, the plan was to get up early and get on the scoot and ride out to Markham Ontario where Honda was having a big demo day, with vendors etc. It was decided rather then doing that we would head down into the Niagara Penninsula to look for some potential new spots to call home, lots of backroads, saw some nice spots and not so nice spots. Lunch was a picnic (if you can call a couple of sandwiches and bottle of water or a pop, sorry soda for our American friends) by the water in Port Colborne, looked around got some gas, as we were waiting at a light after getting gas a lady pulls up beside us, smiles and tells us to have a nice ride......pretty cool, we thanked her for her good wishes. We were riding through Ridgeway on our way into Crystal Beach when we saw a rider pushing his bike so we did what you do........turn around and lend a hand.....didn't have too push far but he appreciated the help. Back on the bike and the journey continues, saw a few more spots throughout the Niagara Penninsula and got some more ideas for new places to put down the welcome mat, we figured it was time to head back home. The ride home was uneventful until we were leaving the QEW taking the off ramp for getting us back into Stoney Creek and the bike starts to get a shake oh oh the shake is getting worse as we go, Tammie asks what is goin on through the intercom, tell her as calmly as I could that the front tire is now flat as I bring the bike to a safe stop at the top of the on ramp away from traffic. We came to a stop all good, man the bike is hard to control with no air in the front tire (go figure huh). I look for anything in it, I can't see anything, I look at my watch and figure some of my instructor pals may still be around at the bike school where I work, yup they are there and they grab me a plug kit, and one of them has a small compressor in his van, so they will be with us shortly. This is where the neat stuff happens..... we had a couple of cars and a fella on another bike stop and offer us help, we told them help was on the way, but thanks, then a few minutes later a pick up drives by and pulls over to the side, the driver gets out said he saw us bringing it to a stop and he went to his house grabbed his compressor and generator to see if we just needed some air to get us home, took him up on his offer and pumped up the tire rolled the bike looking for stuff in it and still nothing there but it was holding the air somewhat. Thanked him for his help (yup turned out he has a bike of his own), we then called our friends that were meeting us with the plugs and told them we would meet at a near by parking lot to get us away from traffic. We made it to the parking lot, but the tire was getting soft again, while waiting I found the reason, the valve stem had a crack in it, I thought that was weird as I had just had the front tire replaced a month ago, but oh well we were ok and I will follow up with the garage that did the tire on Monday. So our friends show up, seeing as there is no hole to plug we pump up the tire again and ride it the 10 minutes to the house with them following and Tammie riding in the van. Actually it was real good day, yes it could have gone wrong, but for me it reinforced the Kharma thing, we stopped to help some one earlier in the day and then I thought even farther back a week or so ago I was stopped during the day while at work and saw a young lady with her two kids in her SUV and she had a flat and didn't know what to do, pulled my tie off and offered to change her tire so she could be on her way, got the tire changed and all was good. Maybe this Kharma thing is real or there are still good folks out there. That was our adventure for a Saturday, I am guessing any riding on Sunday will be done on the Virago and it will be just me as it is a bit small for both Tammie and myself to squeeze onto. Mike

Nice ride......the Concours are a sweet bike, comfy with lots of giddy up.

Ok Bob message received, sounds like a plan Mike

On your windshield what is the height of the clearveiw, I have a stock one on my 2002 that I can see over. I thought the only way to get rid of the buffeting was to go with the higher ones, if you can still see over one and get rid of the buffeting then that is really worth looking into. Thanks for the post. Mike

Nice pick up..... good lookin bike

Glad she is ok, it shows the gear sure does help. Always wanted to try the track day rides myself. Thoughts and good wishers to a quick recovery. Mike

Thats the way it should be and the way we always hope it is. Some find it easier then others but hopefully everyone gets it by the end of the weekend.

Most students progress real well through the weekend and end up with their M2 by the end of Sunday. Some need to come back for a bit more work at certain skills.

I work with the CMA out of the Hamilton location. We use the Kushies parking lot in Stoney Creek for our Saturday and Sunday exercises. Mike

Worked at the Bike School this weekend, crazy Hot on the pavement, instilling all the good habits in those newbie riders.