[Jeff in Kentucky]

The Texan with his elbows in the air will be fun to watch this season too. I also hope Hayden can improve from his 9th place in qualifying.

from a longer article by Chris Martin | Posted April 08, 2010:

Last year I was one of the bolder preseason prognosticators, calling for Spies to win multiple World Superbike races and leave no doubt as to who was the most gifted rider in the series, but I was unwilling to predict a championship for the rookie, thinking it would take a while for the Texan to come to grips with his new environment. He proved me wrong, but not nearly to the degree that he proved most others wrong.

Spies is once again managing expectations, claiming that points are the immediate goal, not titles, wins, podiums, or pole positions. No doubt his personal goals are considerably higher than what he’ll let on, but he’s right to not hope for victories, at least not right away.

Considering the talent, the history, and the machinery issues that stand in his way, a single win from Spies this season might be considered a bigger achievement than all 14 he logged last year combined. In the same way, just one pole might grab more attention than the 11 of 14 Superpoles he took in ’09.

What would the makings of a marvelous season for Spies be in 2010? I’m going to say Rookie of the Year honors backed up by a multiple podiums — a strong enough performance to earn him a slot on the factory squad in 2011, which would pave the way for a serious title run in 2012 when the championship returns to literbike machinery.

This is the future I predict. Bookmark it.

But just for fun, let’s recall the entrance of Spies’ mentor, Kevin Schwantz, as a full-time GP regular. Rookie Schwantz, armed with an over-matched Pepsi Suzuki RGV500, shocked the world by defeating reigning world champion Wayne Gardner and his Rothmans NSR500 at Suzuka in the ’88 season opener. Just sayin’.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

is like me- he likes both computers and bicycles. I search for old mine history with a computer at work, along with forums for fun. He says that motorcycles are too noisy and too dirty- so far he does not want a dirt motorcycle.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

and Stoner will probably win at least some of the tracks this year- a couple of years ago his bike was the fastest everywhere and he got the championship. Stoner had some kind of a virus last year. I think Rossi is the best rider, if his Yamaha is behaving. Lorenzo is young and takes too many risks and often crashes out, but he is very fast if he stays on.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

was wanting to use the computer at the time and was rushing me, so it got in the wrong place.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

This one is for small planes that use a Rotax engine. Note that they do not depressurize the radiator cap, in case the plane flies upside down or on its side:

http://www.sportpilot.org/magazine/feature/2005%20-%2001%20January%20-%20Power%20On%20-%20Keeping%20Cool.pdf

[Jeff in Kentucky]

It is possible to do a high side crash at low speeds, especially if your back tire gets on some sand or oil, slides, and then suddenly has full traction. I have landed on my chest before when bicycle racing- a broken rib hurts for months, every time you breathe in. This guy probably used too much throttle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpoe7Fp9eO4

[Jeff in Kentucky]

A guy at work is very short and used to race dirt bikes. He had to stand on a milk crate at the start of the races, and if he stopped during the race he was unable to get back on the bike without help. When you step on loose sand or oil, it is much safer and more comfortable to have more than just a toe touching the pavement, but for racing a shorter lowered suspension will often lose. My Honda VLX has one of the lowest seat heights available. Note that the VLX will beat a Yamaha 650 cruiser after its long break-in period, maybe a thousand miles, and a rejet with a Dynojet kit greatly improves the takeoff from a stop:

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/1999_honda_vlx_600/index.html

[Jeff in Kentucky]

The fender eliminator costs less, but does not change your back turn signals. An undertail costs more and includes more stylish, closer together back turn signals built in. I have not seen any companies selling these for a GS500, but some parts for a GSXR-600 will fit a GS500- you should check a forum just for the GS500. The aftermarket companies include directions for how to install them.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

The dealership near my home has a leftover new 2008 500cc Ninja- they have an out of date look, and you should be able to get the price down a lot lower than retail.

Here is a site for used motorcycle prices back to 1995:

http://www.kbb.com/motorcycle

[Jeff in Kentucky]

The Kawasaki 500cc Vulcan cruiser with a parallel twin engine is a lot lighter than the newer 650cc Yamaha, or if you want an antique look at the 1970s XS-650 Yamaha that I used to ride with a parallel twin engine and chain drive (a Triumph Bonneville copy).

The 600cc Honda Shadow VLX I have rode since 2002 weighs 450 pounds, and was made from 1988 to 2007. Another possibility is the single cylinder 650cc Suzuki Savage or S40. Also look at the newest more reliable 500cc Royal Enfield, or the more expensive Triumph cruisers.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

It was very smart to start with 50cc and slowly work your way up. I started with a minibike with a 3.5 horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine and no brakes, back in 1967. I will probably get my first fast bike next year, to make me feel younger since I am in my 50s, and I can finally afford it.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Almost all of my close calls in 14 years of street riding have been from a car or truck turning left, and the driver not seeing me. This story also includes the drivers running red lights, another hazard to look for:

“This story takes place back in 1971.

I was on my motorcycle heading back to my college apartment after a lovely weekend with my family, about 30 miles away or so. It was barely twilight. A woman turned left in front of me, clearly didn’t see me (she didn’t look), and I hit her car roughly at her back wheel, was launched over the car, and literally landed on my face. Three of my teeth were broken, my knee was split open, and I broke a small bone in my foot that required me to get around with a cane for 4 months.

No serious accidents since then, though! That single incident made me paranoid. Now I think that car drivers are out to get me, so I assume that I’m invisible to them. It’s worked well so far.

A friend of mine got in a real bad accident, mainly caused by his own stupidity. He would race through intersections. What he’d do was sit at a red light, and watch the light in the opposing direction go from green to yellow to red. When it was about to switch to red, he’d gun the bike and fly through the intersection like a drag race. This is pretty stupid, since we all know that intersections are where most of the bad stuff happens, where car drivers don’t “see” you.

So, he tried this one time too many. It was around twilight again. He ripped it right into the intersection and got t-boned by an old man who sped up to beat the light. My buddy’s leg was smashed to pieces. When he finally came back to work, he brought an x-ray and showed us all the screws and strapping and bailing wire that they used to put the bones back together.

And he walks real funny now.”

Mike LaFontaine
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

One of my legs is a little shorter than the other and has a large lump of bone, where a fence post hit my leg while dirt bike riding. So far, I just have bruises from 2 street bike crashes, and one was at slow speed on wet grass. I cannot remember how many times I crashed dirt bikes- if you climb steep hills and ride in the mud, you are going to crash quite a bit. The Hurt Report states that riders that started out on dirt bikes are much less likely to crash on the street.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Call them on the phone and make an offer- they might drop the price some to try to get you in the door. Try to stay calm- they can spot spring fever that might make someone pay full retail.

A 250 Ninja is quite popular now, especially with rising gas prices- you will probably not find a leftover 2009, or much of a discount. See if they will give you a discount for any extra parts or accessories as part of the sale.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Landing on your chest and jaw hurts a whole lot more, and putting your hands down to try to catch yourself breaks a collarbone, wrist, or more. I landed the same way on purpose, and it took half a second to do the turn and flip that I had practiced hundreds of times when jumping from a swinging rope into water.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

I had a 1978 Yamaha XS-650 for 5 years. Things get blurry at 105 mph, but you get very used to the vibration at 65 mph.

If your battery stops charging, it most likely needs either a new battery or new alternator brushes or both.

I never broke down- mine had a custom 2 into 1 exhaust and the stock air filter- I’m thinking it ran a little lean for cleaner running and better gas mileage, but more heat coming up off the engine at stop lights. I recommend the NGK or Denso brand iridium spark plugs because they last longer and the engine starts quicker. There are a lot of custom parts still available to improve the engine and the suspension.

An air cooled engine might last a lot longer with a synthetic motorcycle oil such as Amsoil. My 1988 design clutch plates do not like pure Amsoil, so I use 1 quart of 10w-40 Amsoil and the rest Rotella 5w-40 Synthetic for both diesel and gas engines- it also improves the shifting smoothness compared to regular oil, and costs less than all Amsoil.

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