One More Reason to Own a Motorcycle (Ha!)

The New Moto Digs at Road's End: Interior

Just a few photos of what's been happening in the interior of my shop. It's slow going, since I'm working mostly alone (except for the day Danny came over to help me hang drywall on the office ceiling -- thanks, Danny!). Still a lot of work to do, but it's coming along nicely...

All my street bikes lined up nice and happy in their new digs. (l-r: Triumph Tiger, Honda CBR1000RR, BMW F650GS Dakar, BMW R1200GS, Ducati Hypermotard, Kawasaki ZZR1200.) This section of floor will have a gray epoxy coating, but it needs to warm up more before I can put it down.

Corner where I'm sure I'll be spending most of my time. Tools, bike lift, stereo ... what more does a guy need? That corkboard thingy on the back wall, currently blue, needs recovered in a red fabric. (It's on my list.) Extension cord stretched across the floor is temporary. Window (one of four; the others are to the right of the office door) looks in on the office, which I haven't completed.

A place for everybody and everybody in their place!

Security is important. No keys required.

Check that temp before you ride off into the elements. Don't forget to turn on the alarm system.

Tire Change Central. No more busting my knuckles and wearing out my knees on the garage floor!

In case I forget my own URL, it's on the overhead door. (This photo taken back during the last ice storm, hence the ice coating the door.)

The New Multistrada Goes Offroad

The first reporting I've seen on how Ducati's new 1200cc Multistrada handles in an off-pavement situation is at Hell For Leather. Check it out here. About what I expected -- honestly, not much better or worse than the big GS (with the exception of the wheels and tires sported by the Duc) -- and I'm still intrigued. The bike's looks are really appealing to me. Price is liable to be a problem, though ... maybe I should trade in my Hypermotard?

And a Video....

Revealed: Yamaha Super Tenere

Will it measure up against the GS? I'm not sure. Other than the absence of a beak (and to think I once thought those beaks were fugly!), I'm digging the looks, though.

Specs:

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, inline 2-cylinder, 4-valve, fuel injected, twin spark engine
Displacement: 1199cc
Bore x stroke: 98 x 79.5 mm
Compression ratio: 11.0:1
Firing intervals: 270- and 450-degree points
Max. Power: 80.9kW (110PS) @7,250rpm
Max. Torque: 114.1 Nm (11.6kgf･m) @6,000 rpm
Lubrication system: Dry sump
Fuel supply system: Fuel Injection
Clutch type: Wet, multiple-disc diaphragm spring
Ignition system: Twin spark
Starter system: Electric
Transmission system: Constant mesh, 6-speed
Final transmission: Shaft
Throttle system: Yamaha Chip-Controlled Throttle (YCC-T)
Yamaha D-MODE: 2 modes, Sport (S) and Touring (T)
Traction control: 3 modes, TCS1, TCS2 and OFF
Exhaust System: 2-into-1

CHASSIS
Frame: Steel tube backbone
Front suspension: Upside-down telescopic fork, 43 mm inner tube, adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping
Front wheel travel: 190 mm
Rear suspension: Monoshock, adjustable preload and rebound damping
Rear wheel travel: 190 mm
Front brake: Hydraulic Twin 310 mm wave discs, ABS/Unified Brake System
Rear brake: Hydraulic Single 282 mm wave disc
Front tyre: 110/80/19
Rear tyre: 150/70/17

DIMENSIONS
Overall length: 2,250 mm
Overall width: 980 mm
Overall height: 1,410 mm
Seat height: Adjustable 845-870 mm
Wheelbase: 1,540 mm
Min. ground clearance: 205 mm
Wet weight: 261 kg (includes full oil and fuel tank):
Fuel capacity: 23 litres
Oil capacity: 4.2 litres

Yamaha Continues to Tease Us

Another cool video, but dammit I want to see the bike in the flesh already!

The New Moto Digs at Road's End: Complete!

Sorry ... people have been asking if I ever got a roof. The shop's been finished for a while, I just haven't had time to post about it. Here's a photo of it taken this morning. Yeah, we did get some snow in Oklahoma!

Now I'll be working on the inside of the shop for a while.

Merry Christmas!

The New Moto Digs at Road's End: Phase 4 (continued)

Let's get that other side wall up...


...then do the back and the front (loading up that insulation so the motos don't freeze their calipers off!).



With all four walls up, the building really needs a roof...



...but it's getting late and only a couple pretty Hawaiian Blue (honest, that's the name of the color) panels make it from the pile to the roof.



Stay tuned...

The New Moto Digs at Road's End: Phase 4

We have progress!

It's always a smart idea to start the "skinning" process by putting up one wall to block the wind -- especially when the morning started out at 9 degrees. Brrrrrrrr!




Before we skin ourselves into a corner, a door sounds like a good idea...



...and a window would be nice!


To be continued...

Super Tenere: Yamaha Teases Us a Bit More While Revealing Very Little

The New Moto Digs at Road's End: Phase ... 3.1?

Well, we have materials on site for the rest of the job. This damn sure is taking longer than I'd hoped, though. ::sigh::

The New Moto Digs at Road's End: Phase 3

Call it a building skeleton...

The New Moto Digs at Road's End: Phase 2

At last: Progress!

I've got concrete. Right after Thanksgiving, I should have a building being framed. This is exciting!

New Video of BMW's Concept 6

I'm not sure yet what I think of the looks, but I know I'd like to ride it. The inline 6 cylinder motor will be an absolute torque-monster. Gonna be interesting to see what BMW does with it. I say put it in a K1300S frame and send me a test model.

(Photos courtesy of Two Wheels Blog.)

Now This is a Sad, Sad Photo...

I've never cared for Buell motorcycles and would probably never own one (I say probably, because with their demise the bikes are so damn cheap right now that it's almost tempting), but this is one sad effing photo indeed. That's the dumpster out behind the factory.

(Photo courtesy of Hell for Leather.)

Cycle World International Motorcycle Show, Dallas

As usual, the show was a lot of fun, with lots of bargains to be had in gear and accessories and lots of nice new motorcycles to drool over (though BMW was noticeably absent).

The F800GS seemed to be a favorite platform for aftermarket companies to model their wares. This absolute dream of an 800 was tricked out with everything imaginable from Wunderlich (as was the R1200GS Adventure beside it). Didn't think I cared for the 800 in gray until I saw this beauty. What a gorgeous machine!


I was particularly impressed with Wunderlich's clever expanding tail rack. Whenever I finally get an 800, I know what's going on the ass-end of the bike. In fact, I wish I'd bought one of these for my 1200 (I just recently installed a different rack).


Here are a couple other nice 800s used as platforms for Twisted Throttle and Givi products. Love that new-for-2010 orange one!



I sat on a lot of new machines, like this Can-Am Spyder...



...this sexy 848 (reminds me that I still haven't ridden Rich's 848 yet!)...



...this limited edition ZX-14 ...



...and even this Harley (you can say you saw it here first!).



Saw my first in-the-flesh Streetfighter...



...and the new, smaller sized Hypermotard.



I was impressed by Yamaha's new 450, shown here with a cut-away view of the (arguably) revolutionary engine...



...and here in a white that has me thinking of selling my Honda (of course, with my penchant for hitting the ground, that white would be stained with good ol' Oklahoma red dirt in no time).



Getting lots of attention this year was the new VFR, which looked much more appealing to me in person than it did in pictures.



The mighty T-Rex 3-wheeler (which sports the ZX-14 motor -- used to be the ZZR1200 motor), an alternative I might consider before a Goldwing ... when/if I ever get that old.




And here's your Ugliest-in-Show winner.



And winner of the "This is Fer-Shure Going in My New Shop" Award.



All in all, not a bad way to spend a Saturday!