Not My Best Hunt, But It Was Good To Get Out Anyway...

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

I almost didn't detect at all this weekend. I bought a motorcycle Friday...a guy in the neighborhood had it out at a yard sale last weekend and after riding it and checking it out, I decided it was worth $500 and bought it. It has a Herman Munster coffin gas tank, is missing the side cover and the back part of the seat and I think it was painted with that black barbecue spray paint. But it RUNS GREAT and it has a lot of potential. I plan to fix it up like original by spring. So anyway, I spent Friday night messing with it, Saturday morning registering it, and the rest of Saturday and part of today riding it. It's nice to have a bike agian...it's been too long.

So tonight, my buddy Jack (Scottishblood) and I hit the beach for a couple of hours around the 8:30 low tide. There was a conspicuous absence of targets, sometimes walking for a quarter mile with NOTHING. The beach is sanding in bad. As Max said, it VERY rough. I haven't seen it like this in a long time. And although it's rough and there are even a few modest cuts, what's getting "cut" is basically areas of thick piled up sand, so it's not "uncovering" much. But we got a fair number of deep quarters and Jack landing a nice ladies gold band, so good for him.

Here's a pic of my take, along with a couple of bike shots. It doesn't look like much now, but just wait...

 

[Sand Shagger (NMB)]

Expect to see you down here for Bike Rally starting 9/28/05!

 

[Steve and Bia]

I had a 1100cc v65 Honda Magna. I had never had a bike that balanced so well on the rear wheel. (Wheelies!) Anyway, A week after I got my drivers license I had a motorcycle. I was the only kid in High School with one. I stopped riding back in 93. Now, after seeing your scooter, I want one...

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

n/t

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

South of the pier, mostly.

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Actually, it's a Honda Shadow that somebody tried to make NOT look like a Honda Shadow. Complete with Herman Munster coffin-style gas tank. My plan is to put it back the way it's supposed to look, with a new tank, side cover, and seat. But that will be over the winter. For now, I'm just enjoying riding it. Like you, I was too long with no bike. And for $500, I couldn't let it get away.

The Vulcan was actually Kawasaki's answer to the Honda Shadow...not a bad bike either. I'm a big fan of Kawasaki's, but all mine were 4-cylinders. I had two different KZ-650's and a 1981 GPZ-1100 I bought new in '81. That was an AWESOME bike. This one is not in that realm, but it's a very comfortable cruiser and it has a healthy amount of get-up-and-go. Enough for the older more settled-down version of me.

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

n/t

 

[Steve and Bia]

Yamaha had the VMax, one bad machine, and then Kawasaki answered with the Eliminator. The bike was slow as malasses in Alaska. The T.V. advertisement showed the Eliminator doing a standing burn out and then tearing down a city street leaving a huge mark from a super oversized rear tire. It looked real fast but in reality the bike was junk. I had it a month and sold it. Thats when I got the V65 Magna. (I maxed it out at 155... scary!)

Anyway, anything your happy with is nice to have. Enjoy it! I wish I still had one.

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Yeah, I remember that Eliminator...all show and no go. Some things were never meant to be.

 

[VaBeachRon]

The 81 Sturgis is great in town and the 88 FLTC is perfect for long trips down to Daytona. With gas pricese now, they do much better that the 16 mpg Silverado truck.

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

n/t

 

[Bowtie41]

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[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Yup, those were definitely "keepers".

Of the many bikes I had, the one I wish I still had was the 1980 Kawasaki KZ-650 4-cylinder that I bought new in 1980. I put a Kerker 4-into-1 exhaust on it with a racing baffle, K & N conical filters for each carb, and a re-jet kit. Holy cripes was that beeyatch quick! Also had a king & queen seat, nice padded backrest, and some good highway pegs, so it was "stylin'" too. I put a whole lotta miles on that thing. Much fun...

 

[MrPirate]

Okay heres the deal. I am getting divorced and need some new transportation. I have not been on a street bike in a long time and never rode on a regular basis. I have raced ATC's and four wheel ATVs and ridden some off road bikes. So I need to learn around the block and stuff before I hit the main roads. I don't want a cruiser like mikes and no Crotch Rockets. I was looking at the Honda Nighthawk, I was told it is a very nimble bike and comfortable for short rides and should get pretty good gas milage. so what is you feedback, besides your crazy don't do it. I am not having the midlife crisis yet( that's the soon to be ex wife) but I would like something to go to work on and not have to spend 50 bucks filling the tank every week.

Thanks and smooth seas
Mark

 

[Bowtie41]

n/t

 

[Sand Shagger (NMB)]

I'm ride a 2002 FLSTCI (black/chromed).

Come on down for Fall Rally in Myrtle Beach.

We will be heading to Daytona Beach for Octoberfest...

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Well, I know you said you don't want a cruiser or a crotch rocket, but if you're going to buy a new bike that doen't leave much to pick from these days. I can see you not wanting a cruiser like mine, but mine is a garage-modded freak with a homemade tank, handlebar lift, and non-descript cosmetics. But I think the Nighthawk may leave you seriously wanting for a "little more between your legs" once you get in the groove with it. The low displacement would make it a poor choice for anything but the shortest commutes.

I would think you'd want at least a 500cc bike. Take a look at this link and do a "Select Model" and look at the Vulcan 500 LTD. Not something you would consider? Stylish, comfortable, bullet-proof.

http://kawasaki.com/product_detail.asp?product=114&category=2&tag=motorcycle

 

[MrPirate]

In a 650 or 750.

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

Yeah, that looks like a good choice...definitely.

 

[houndawgg]

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