Interesting Rides
- Thread starter nickndfl
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I used to watch Ryan Fortnine all the time. He reminds me of auto writer David E. Davis - in that he, also, was proof you could have a three-digit IQ and still sometimes think about cars, or in this case, bikes.
Ryan seems to have scaled back a bit - Fortnine seems to be branching out into bicycling and other sports, and he's cut his production rate. Probably he's had financial cuts from the parent company, and/or he's just outgrowing it.
But he's reviewed a lot of interesting non-super-bikes that I've shared an interest in. At various times he commented on the Kawasaki Versys and the Yamaha TW200 - both bikes I had. The Versys inspired no love - it was fully competent, but it didn't do anything especially well. It wasn't economical; it wasn't a great long-distance ride. Ryan called it the Gerber of motorcycles - does everything okay and yet didn't stand out.
The TW200 is supposedly a dual-sport, trail-oriented ride - that's a lie. Its best use is in the city at speeds under 45. It would top out at 55. Simple as an anvil; easy to maintain, and if you kept the speed down and changed the oil frequently, it would last forever. Ryan commented on how easy it was to flick around, including doing rear-wheel spins to change direction on blocked trails. It was light enough you could do that...even most 250s weren't that light.
To the bike above: I had always wanted one; they came out with them just before I got into riding, and even though they didn't sell well, no dealer in my location at the time, had one. Since later owning a BMW R1200GS, I was big into shaft drive. Low maintenance.
Until I got hold of a 1982 Honda Silver Wing. 500cc's and 50 horsepower, on a small tourer weighing 550 pounds. Once upon a time that would be considered "enough." Those days are long gone, with the 55-mph speed limit. Which was what the Silver Wing was set up around.
But the shaft drive just sucked the power up. About ten horses, according to some writers. A chain is of course far-less power absorbing; I've owned 50hp bikes that had spirit. Not having to minister to a chain, on a road trip, at a motel, nights, is great - but that luxury rightly belongs to big bikes like the Gold Wing.
The Ascot just had poor ergonomics, everything in the wrong place, and a small engine. I guess I saved money by never finding one.
Ryan seems to have scaled back a bit - Fortnine seems to be branching out into bicycling and other sports, and he's cut his production rate. Probably he's had financial cuts from the parent company, and/or he's just outgrowing it.
But he's reviewed a lot of interesting non-super-bikes that I've shared an interest in. At various times he commented on the Kawasaki Versys and the Yamaha TW200 - both bikes I had. The Versys inspired no love - it was fully competent, but it didn't do anything especially well. It wasn't economical; it wasn't a great long-distance ride. Ryan called it the Gerber of motorcycles - does everything okay and yet didn't stand out.
The TW200 is supposedly a dual-sport, trail-oriented ride - that's a lie. Its best use is in the city at speeds under 45. It would top out at 55. Simple as an anvil; easy to maintain, and if you kept the speed down and changed the oil frequently, it would last forever. Ryan commented on how easy it was to flick around, including doing rear-wheel spins to change direction on blocked trails. It was light enough you could do that...even most 250s weren't that light.
To the bike above: I had always wanted one; they came out with them just before I got into riding, and even though they didn't sell well, no dealer in my location at the time, had one. Since later owning a BMW R1200GS, I was big into shaft drive. Low maintenance.
Until I got hold of a 1982 Honda Silver Wing. 500cc's and 50 horsepower, on a small tourer weighing 550 pounds. Once upon a time that would be considered "enough." Those days are long gone, with the 55-mph speed limit. Which was what the Silver Wing was set up around.
But the shaft drive just sucked the power up. About ten horses, according to some writers. A chain is of course far-less power absorbing; I've owned 50hp bikes that had spirit. Not having to minister to a chain, on a road trip, at a motel, nights, is great - but that luxury rightly belongs to big bikes like the Gold Wing.
The Ascot just had poor ergonomics, everything in the wrong place, and a small engine. I guess I saved money by never finding one.
I rode bikes for almost 40 years. My last bike was a Yamaha FZ-1. Iconic with 185mph.top speed.
A couple of.hours ago I got off a Yamaha Waverunner. Great ride 35-45mph on the water.
Both are tons of fun. Choose wisely.
Ryan F9 is a genius.
A couple of.hours ago I got off a Yamaha Waverunner. Great ride 35-45mph on the water.
Both are tons of fun. Choose wisely.
Ryan F9 is a genius.
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