Disqus - Friends of mwillingham

Re: Custom Kawasaki W800

roberttnash — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:30:39 -0000

Love the site, which I mention as this is my first comment via same...With that established, I'm not feeling this one...I've been down with the Kawasaki marque 40-plus years, but the W bikes have always whispered "simile going for simulacrum and falling short of the mark" to me...At the risk of piling on, this machine strikes me as a textbook example of "Answer To The Question Nobody Asked"...Maybe it's great fun..Maybe they'll light it off on the stand at the show...I'd ride it, but only in the interest of Pure Science...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: Custom Kawasaki W800

roberttnash — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 10:17:44 -0000

Ken...Thanks for the note...My post is merely my opinion...I speak only for me...Why do you want a bike that - in my view - is neither fish-nor-fowl? The W is essentially a reverse-engineered Japanese knockoff of an English machine that was archaic when contemporary...In my view it's the motorcycling equivalent of going to Old Blighty for the food and the climate...In functional terms, a stone-stock first year BMW F650St would outperform it in every respect, and the Triumph Scrambler is currently available off the shelf and ready to roll...Perhaps I'm missing something...Please advise...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: Yamaha XS650 cafe racer

roberttnash — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 16:57:55 -0000

I like everything about it but I would prefer a larger diameter headlamp...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: One Owner – 1978 Harley-Davidson XLCR

roberttnash — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 21:58:47 -0000

I've owned three XLCRs...The look is definitely the key to their appeal...Like all Ironheads, they can be made to handle and stop relatively affordably, but it takes big bucks to make them run fast...Even more money for improved reliability...The best upgrade for any 1971 to 1980 model is the aftermarket magneto that threads into tachometer drive hole...Its a simple upgrade that will eliminate 99-percent of roadside breakdowns...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: Raymond James Stadium Condemned

roberttnash — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 10:23:27 -0000

Sad beyond all decency...Coach Raymond James - RIP - would have put the conniving dirtbags who allowed and enabled this and other such travesties to occur on their watch in their proper place...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: 1975 Honda CB750 Custom

roberttnash — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:26:02 -0000

"Death On The Highway" Signature Edition...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: Cooper: Cowart Project Becomes A Little Messy

roberttnash — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 02:11:17 -0000

$500 will buy - well, rent - a damn fine rent boy...Chris Anderson loves him some rent boys...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: CHARACTERS: Yamaha SR400 Kick it and smile.

roberttnash — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:28:46 -0000

Prose aside, and as much fun as the original Yamaha SR500 was to own, ride and modify - nearly 40 years ago - in my opinion one would have to be nuts to opt for one of these over something modern like a similarly priced 2016 KTM RC 390...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: When the Sex Pistols Got Lou Reed Banned in London

roberttnash — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 10:26:45 -0000

Did he tell you of his bitterness while y'all were in the hot tub together?

Re: Bought on Bike-urious - Rebuilding the Triple, Part 1 - Bike-urious

roberttnash — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 07:23:08 -0000

I had some seat time on a couple of these when they were contemporary and hear me when I type they are much fun to ride...Good Luck...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: 2 Stroke Titan – 1975 Suzuki T500 Cafe Racer

roberttnash — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 17:42:39 -0000

Man, this is a Tough Crowd...Personally I like the bike, but I am a big believer in market forces...It is my opinion anyone with the ability to buy the bike will not want it, and anyone who wants it will not have the financial wherewithal to purchase...Hard to deny the high level of craftsmanship and overall attention to detail...As of this writing the opening bid has already been cut by $1,000...I type all of that to type this: In my view it's a $5,000 motorcycle...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: Clean Survivor – 1977 Yamaha RD400

roberttnash — Sun, 28 May 2017 14:31:26 -0000

Watching the Yamaha two-stroke twins evolve in real time was thrilling...Riding them even more so...I went from a stone stock 1972 Yamaha DS-7 250 to a hopped up 1971 Yamaha R5 350 to a "best of everything" 1975 Yamaha RD 350...The aftermarket was and is amazing: Radial cylinder heads, expansion chambers, clip-ons and rearsets and so on...At one point there was one running around my hometown with TZ roadrace bodywork with Kenny Roberts paint scheme...Oh to be young again...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: 390 Miles – 1979 Honda CB650

roberttnash — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 15:27:51 -0000

Not to be a Richard but the bore and stroke of the of the CB550 variants is ‎58.5 mm × 50.6 mm... The bore and stroke of the of the 1979 to 1982 CB650 is 59.8 x 55.8 mm...This means most of the bump in dsiaplcement was achieved via the crankshaft...I have owned examples of both and found them to be comparable in almost every respect...Given the 1979 to 1982 Honda CB 650 more or less looks like a SOHC CB750K - high bars, four pipes, no seat cowl, rear drum brake - I often wonder why Honda did not opt to do a SuperSport version of the last SOHC 650 inline four...In any case, I found both bikes to be affordable to own, maintain and insure, fun to ride and utterly reliable...This is certainly a nice specimen...A compression test would likely lay any niggling doubts to rest...GLWS...RTN/XXX/OO

Re: Never Started – 1985 Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo

roberttnash — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 10:32:09 -0000

The perfect opportunity to hit your favorite Interstate cloverleaf, accelerate in second gear to spool up the turbo, spin the cold rear tire to the point of losing all traction and control and PROPERLY wrinkle the entire machine six ways fore-and-aft...Don't ask me how I know...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: Wolfgang Haerter Build – 1974 Laverda SFC Replica

roberttnash — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 15:58:36 -0000

SERIOUS TALK: Have you ever seen honest-to-goodness endurance racers of the period? Their headlamps are mounted EXACTLY in the same fashion you characterize as a disgrace...Auxiliary lamps are used as they packed more candlepower and superior optics to the OEM headlamps of the time...You could also get creative with aiming them, i.e. one pointed down the track for high speed and one angled to the dominant corner of the circuit...And that drum brake, assuming properly lined and arced shoes, properly surfaced drum, and proper adjustment, packs sufficient stopping power to put the unsuspecting novice on their unsuspecting ass, with no fluids to leak or brake discs to warp to boot...I'm speculating, but I'm willing to bet the reversed tank logo is due to a sloppy photo flop, i.e. it does not look that way in "real life"...If you need or want to gripe, suggest you piss and moan about the INEXCUSABLE lack of a proper dry break fuel filler...Readers may click the URL below for a nifty video covering a VERY similar bike...RTN/XXX/OOO

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Re: Wolfgang Haerter Build – 1974 Laverda SFC Replica

roberttnash — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 21:45:20 -0000

If you talk like you write nobody listens...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: Wolfgang Haerter Build – 1974 Laverda SFC Replica

roberttnash — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 10:40:42 -0000

Actually, you typed...And I read...Get it straight...I am not sure what your hoped for outcome is here...Are you going to take the bait again? Because I will continue to rub your nose in your own spew as long as you do...My "guess" is you will...So how 'bout it, sport?

Re: Wolfgang Haerter Build – 1974 Laverda SFC Replica

roberttnash — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 15:47:53 -0000

What's your best "guess" in re: what I'm thinking now, Sport? If you "guess" I was exactly correct that you would not be able to keep quiet and not respond to me give yourself a gold star...Why don't you go back and edit out the superfluous "leakage" in your comment above? As long as your ERROR remains I "guess" I've proven if you talk like you write nobody listens to you!

Re: Wolfgang Haerter Build – 1974 Laverda SFC Replica

roberttnash — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 17:27:44 -0000

Thank You for judging me...Kisses...Bitch...RTN/XXX/OOO

Re: Well Preserved – 1990 Honda Transalp

roberttnash — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 07:12:21 -0000

Does your bike have the OEM stock windscreen? Were you tucked in and as flat on the tank as you can get? Was it confidence inspiring? Smooth and steady? Or wiggly and wormy? Please send word...Thanks!

Re: 2000 Ducati Monster | Bike-urious

roberttnash — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 11:00:20 -0000

SERIOUS TALK: I'm the longtime owner of a much-modified 1992 Ducati 900 SuperSport...That's it in the pic below...While it pains me to admit it, riding a Ducati Monster is pound-for-pound and mile-for-mile MUCH more enjoyable than riding a Ducati SuperSport...The Monster has proper handlebars that allow you to sit up straight; The SuperSport clip-ons place ALL of your weight on your wrists...Same for the footpegs: The Monster is comfortable and the SuperSport is not...And Jeff Zekas is correct: If you are used to the low-stress maintenance schedules and infrequent repairs that make owning and riding Japanese bikes so enjoyable, the hyper-fidgety needs and wants of ANY Ducati will likely run you crazy...But a resourceful and reasonably handy owner can learn to set valves and change cam belts via YouTube...While they are perceived to be expensive to acquire, the truth is most used Ducatis are bought, sold and traded among brand loyalists and RARELY change hands at anything other than "bargain basement" prices...Everything else being equal, an example with higher mileage can be more desirable than one that is rarely ridden, as the "experienced" bike is MUCH more likely to be in good working order with all service up-to-date...Most Ducati owners are cut from the "Stock Sucks" cloth...Both Monsters and SuperSports are rarely (if ever) left as they came from the factory...There's always a mod, tweak or upgrade to be done, and most are worthwhile, if expensive...All of that typed, the thrill of wicking the throttle of a well-sorted Old School air-cooled four-stroke desmodromic 2-valve 90° V-twin Ducati is something EVERYONE should experience at least once in a lifetime...They also handle reasonably well - especially when equipped with or upgraded to Öhlins bits - and boast brakes that often surpass many much more modern machines...Ride safe...RTN/XXX/OOO

https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Re: 3,141 Miles – 1987 Honda Hurricane CBR1000F

roberttnash — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 18:48:30 -0000

SERIOUS TALK: I’m a Big Red fan, and this is a VERY hygienic specimen, but in my opinion - and in The Real World - the seller will be lucky to realize HALF his asking price...I may be mistaken...That typed, these bkes were BIG FUN when new...And this one LOOKS nearly new...Your Mileage May Vary...Ride Safe!!!

Re: Poll: Who won the debate tonight?

Joe Dumas — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:41:35 -0000

No, we only have idiots like you to blame. Since when is it bad for a candidate to have lots of dedicated supporters? Any of the other candidates' supporters could have put up links to direct like-minded voters to the poll. If they are too lazy to do that, how is that Ron Paul's fault?

Re: Are Women Better Than Men at Long-Distance Running?

Joe Dumas — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 16:39:57 -0000

One possible explanation (and I would be surprised if it hadn't occurred to the researchers) is psychological, although based in physiology: testosterone-fueled men may be more aggressive and competitive (hence the statement in the article that "more men cite competition as a reason for running"), and thus may be more likely to break from the starting line and run the first few miles just a little too fast for their ideal pace, resulting in them tiring out prematurely and ending up with a big positive split. Or to put it another way, the same attributes that make men generally superior at shorter distances may be a liability at longer distances, and maybe we need to learn from women how to better pace ourselves.

Re: Tennessee Considers Training And Arming Schoolteachers To Protect Against Shootings

Alex Teach — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:15:36 -0000

I mean, seriously. That gunman broke in through a window and only executed, what, 8 adults and 20 babies? There were at least 1 or 200 that survived! WHY would we want to have given anyone a fighting chance against him? There have only been 33 school shootings since Columbine. That's hardly a blip on the radar.
I'd rather 1st graders be slaughtered by the dozen than risk arming teachers to protect them. It makes me feel better to know teachers are unarmed than armed, and if it takes a few 6 year old martyrs to give me that comfort, so be it.

The day we protect our children from random acts of homicidal rage, is the day I home school my children and hope they don't wind up the homicidal maniacs that commit the random acts of homicidal rage.

The fact no one is proposing we outlaw homicidal rampages makes me sick. That's how we stopped the drug problem in this country. Conservative Nazi thugs!!!