Official Car Thread :: Vol 2 :: Now with More Bikes!

[MarkRyan]

Come ride with me, we'll see who's Superman.

[StriderKyo]

I've got a better version of the same bike (600) and I definitely want something with more guts. I'm sure it handles great but I know what the low end on those 250s is like (14 lbs. of torque at 9500 rpm, which is like 1/4 or even 1/6th of what some litre bikes have) and that they peter out early and struggle to top 100mph (even my bike gets shuddery up near that, and it tops out at 140). It is what it is, a great starter bike. If you're happy with it cool, but I personally couldn't abide. I don't know if I really want to top 1000cc just because the insurance gets stupid, but there's tons of dream bikes in the 7-900 range.

[MarkRyan]

My bike is slow as balls, tops out at 95, 0-60 takes a day or so, but it's a blast rippin' the throttle everywhere and banging through gears without being super illegal. The bike is partly responsible for me going from a 400 hp GTO to a 170 hp Miata--it's about as fun to pretend like I'm going fast as it is to actually go fast, and it's less likely to get me tickets. When I get a faster bike, I'm keeping the 250.

[StriderKyo]

Fair enough. And I look at stuff like the Z1000 and think, it's cool, but what's the point? You never use that speed ever unless you're psycho, so I'm not 100% about power (although if I ever have a shot at a Brutale for a decent price I'm taking it). But the Street Triple's a different animal. Handles like a dream, the engine sound amazing to me (I'm getting kinda tired of the standard inline four) and it's got as much straight line power as any sane human being will ever need:



These things take out Duc 9s like they were nothing. I might go for a more standard/dual sport adventure bike for my next ride, but if not one of these things is at the top of the list.

[Fe 26]

Im just saying, its like the episode of top gear were James drives a Contach for the first time, having lusted after the car as a child. You sometimes, never ever want to meet your heroes in person, you wind up feeling empty and disapointed.

The DMC is just that. I've driven and worked on one. It would be fine if you could find one for $1200 and have junk yards brimming with parts to work with, but you can't. The inside feels like it was made at home depot circa 1983, the stainless steel body skin is a nightmare to work on, the engine sucks, the driving position is terrible and the ride makes my '86 Daytona feel like a Lotus.


The DeLorean is super cool, but best viewed from afar, and with a healthy heart of childhood wonderment. If you experience one in person, all those childhood memories are ruined.

I think part of being an adult is being able to take those sorts of things head on and accept that things might not be what you hoped for. The idea that you should avoid getting things you want because they might not live up to hype is a silly way to live.

Secondly, going into something you know you have a lot of nostalgia for, and not expecting it to not live up to it, is kind of stupid. You shouldn't expect more of something than you would anything else. You're an adult. Go into things with a level head.

[Wildkat]

weird...did the middle of this thread get sucked into a timewarp or somthing?

[Tones]

Fair enough. And I look at stuff like the Z1000 and think, it's cool, but what's the point? You never use that speed ever unless you're psycho, so I'm not 100% about power (although if I ever have a shot at a Brutale for a decent price I'm taking it). But the Street Triple's a different animal. Handles like a dream, the engine sound amazing to me (I'm getting kinda tired of the standard inline four) and it's got as much straight line power as any sane human being will ever need:



These things take out Duc 9s like they were nothing. I might go for a more standard/dual sport adventure bike for my next ride, but if not one of these things is at the top of the list.

At some point displacement simply becomes a dick-measuring tool. Of course, there are some benefits; such as conquering long stretches of highway at a lower RPM, and making two-up riding a bit easier. The only reason I got the SV650 instead of a smaller bike is that it wasn't any more expensive.

I have to say that I have been a much more sane driver in my car since getting the bike. I scan the road much more thoroughly, and accelerate a bit more modestly.

There is quite a bit of thread missing. Strange...

[MarkRyan]

I drive like more of an asshole after riding. I mostly ride like an asshole, but then you kind of have to in order to avoid being killed in SF.

P.S. We were using old car discussion thread somehow for our "list the cars you owned" topic and it got closed (StriderKyo?) so I carried over the conversation to this thread.

[Advocate]

The car that Mustang fans have been hoping Ford would build for a very, very long time is finally here: the 2012 Boss 302. Dave Pericak, the Mustang chief engineer says it all.

"Boss is a hallowed word around here, and we couldn't put that name on a new Mustang until we were sure everything was in place to make this car a worthy successor. We were either going to do it right or not do it at all - no one on the team was going to let Boss become a sticker and wheel package."

Amen, Dave. A true Boss 302 is raw, hardcore and race-inspired, and Ford delivered the goods. The latest special edition Mustang comes with plenty of items that will excite road racing fans - an upgraded clutch, short-throw shifter, adjustable suspension, improved brakes and a more potent version of the 5.0-liter V8 that produces 440 horsepower and 380 lb-ft torque thanks to a new intake and more aggressive camshafts. Ford claims the Boss 302 will be able to break 1.0g and lap a typical road course two seconds faster than the standard Mustang GT. Ford engineers even reportedly benchmarked the BMW M3 when developing the Boss 302, aiming to beat the famous Bavarian coupe around Laguna Seca, which they claim to have achieved.

The exterior is inspired by the original 1969 model with either a black or white roof panel, C-stripe, closed fog lamp openings and a more aggressive front splitter and rear spoiler. Available colors are more eye-catching than the standard choices and include Competition Orange, Performance White, Kona Blue Metallic, Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat Metallic and Race Red.

2010 Boss 302 owners will enjoy a more aural experience from the cockpit thanks to eleven pounds of sound-deadening material removed from the car. The interior also gets a dark metallic finish for the instrument panel, gauge cluster and door panel trim, Alcantara-covered steering wheel and an optional package with Recaro high performance seats.

Finally, Ford is also planning to release a limited number of Boss 302 Laguna Seca models (right) that offer more body stiffness, a stronger chassis and an aero package lifted straight from the Ford Racing Boss 302R.

We're attending the 2010 Boss 302's live unveiling at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and will have the first live pictures of the car straight from the famous corkscrew for you soon.

[Wildkat]

We get it Ford. You love your Mustang. Enough already.