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We all have random thoughts that may not warrant starting a new thread, but collectively they should be interesting to share and discuss. So, why don't all street bikes come with wide-ratio gear box with a tall top gear for freeway cruising? If a bike could cruise in 6th gear under 60 mph...

Heading down Mt Hamilton Rd this afternoon I caught up to 3 riders near Grant Ranch. I waited for the straight section in front of Grant Ranch to pass. Passed the last rider (a woman riding a R1200GS), no drama. The next rider (wearing a dual-sport helmet with goggles, on some kind of...

I want to get a Puig touring screen for my GS. I normally don't mind some wind and like the clean air on naked bikes, but that's just because the stock windscreens aren't that great. The least enjoyable aspect of a long day-ride is the freeway ride home at the end of the day, after dark...

How come we don't already have a thread showing Craigslist finds, those screaming deals that pain you to not be able to jump on for one reason or another? Post the original link and a screen shot of what you consider an incredible deal. This clean looking 2007 Bandit with 15k mi for $2.3k...

I always include my mobile number in my CL ad, but it seems many don't. Why not? You want buyers to be able to reach you easily, right? I'm looking to buy another used bike. One seller didn't provide any phone number, and I tried contacting him twice via e-mail but got no response. When using...

This is not about commuting to work or stores. It's about fun rides on your free time. Between work Mon-Fri and family time on Sun, I usually ride for fun on Sat. When I started riding in 2009 I couldn't get enough of it. I wanted to ride until I got hungry, cold and exhausted, up to 8-10 hrs...

On two wheels it’s a contant battle against gravity. Some people turn around and go home when they feel something is off; I tend to push forward because my curiority (can I make it thru) is just a bit stronger than my fear (would I drop the bike). The fear mostly comes from two unknowns – is...

Last Saturday, as I took pictures of my Multistrada against two beautiful red barns in the background off Hwy 1, its kickstand sank into the soft dirt and the bike flopped over. The left handguard and the hydraulic clutch reservoir got torn off, but I was able to ride it home. I’ve managed to...

Checking out privately owned bikes and meeting their owners is usually interesting - hearing about their riding and bike ownership experiences, how they liked the bike and why they decided to sell, seeing where and how they live, etc. The logistics of transporting a bike home can be challenging...

I've heard a shop owner say, “what bike hasn’t been dropped?” My own record bears that out – out of the 14 bikes I’ve owned in 10 years, only 4 have not been dropped by me. So while it’s possible to “never drop” a bike (4 out of 14), it’s very likely. How’s your record? At 55 years old, 175...

Manliest means physically heaviest, longest and largest, like in the 800 lbs range and above. I’m curious about owning a Gold Wing or a Valkyrie-sized bike for long distance rides, but the thought of taking hairpin turns on steep roads on those beasts makes me nervous. Like, can bikes this...

How do you sell a bike that has over 50k mi, 70k mi, 90k mi or more? How do you price them – next to nothing? Who would buy them, and why did they buy them?

Last Saturday, on the return leg from Patterson on Del Puerto Canyon Rd, my Multistrada 1200 handled badly. I stopped and found the rear tire soft and visibly sagging, probably had less than 20 psi in it. I turned around and headed back toward Patterson, about 7 miles away. I rode at around...

Sharing to get inspirations on what to do - riding destinations, maintenance/repair, shopping/buying/selling activities, etc. My SuperDuke sat in the garage thru-out November/December and the battery got too low to start when I got back from the holidays in January, so I finally started using...

Set aside the notion that a “real” supermoto has to be a lightweight thumper and apply the concept to full-size, multi-cylinder bikes that can go the distance at high speed. Wouldn’t it be cool to have something between a full-on ADV bike and an upright standard, like a R1200sm or 1190sm/1290sm...

Just received my first ever heated jacket liner from Amazon. I chose this due to its low price ($131 w/ tax), which includes a built in 3-setting temp controller so no need to pay another $60-$90 for a separate controller...

I’m not familiar with the area and would like suggestions linking them together. Starting from Lower Lake going south, what is the best route to hit all the goat roads east of Santa Rosa, West of Lake Berryessa, and north of Sonoma? The following roads look interesting. Are they all worthy...

I rode a ’16 Tiger 800 XR for a day last weekend. Compared to full-sized KTMs/GS/Multistrada the Tiger looked small, and the seat was low. At 6’ with 32” inseam, it was refreshing and comfortable to be on a bike I could not only flat-foot, but with a decent bend in my knees. Due to the lower...

I’m trying to think thru the suspension set up for my 950SM (7.9” front travel, 8.2” rear) and I’m getting a little confused by the “purpose and goal” of longer-travel suspension for street use, and how to best set it up. In concept, when suspension travel is increased from 4” to 8” for a...

At a highly spirited back road pace in the mountains I generally think: 1. It’s easier to follow than to lead. Less pressure to keep pace or drop back than to set the pace, and you can assess the skills of the guy in front of you. 2. An upright bike w/ more suspension travel is easier than a...