It's red! It's pretty! It's our new motorcycle!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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  • yup, the ever-so-beautiful Shayna and I have shopped around, read the brochures, sat on bikes, negotiated prices, signed the papers - and we’re now the proud owners of a brand-spanking-new very redHonda VFR 800 Interceptor 2002. Woo-hoo! :smiley:

I’m of course carefully breaking it in, so I haven’t yet opened the floodgates- but dammit, this is one great ride. Confidence-inspiring suspension and geometry, everything put together just so. Bit of a looker, too! (And - I’m showing my age here - it’s even comfortable!)

Full report to follow after engine break-in.

Spiny - and charming pillion passenger, Shayna.

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NICE.

I think that in a few years here, when my mid-life crisis kicks in I’ll get a bullet bike instead of a convertable.

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Well, that didn’t take long. :smiley:

Dude, that’s one serious looking machine. Excellent! The VFR is my favourite Honda model. It’s about the only Japanese machine I know where they spent some time and money on the back end. Love those pipes!

Shit, this probably means I have to rent a bike again the next time I’m over. Are you working full time again? Or could you spare a week day? September 29 through October 4 are still open, in theory. :slight_smile:

Shayna, how’s the pilion, other than “a hell of a lot more comfy than a flippin’ Ducati”? :slight_smile:

4

Just make sure you don’t wave at those damn Harley guys…they hate that…

Seriously, that looks like a smokin’ machine. My wife’s obligatory comment is “Be careful” but I say, have fun. And make sure you practice “safe riding” :smiley:

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Those pipes do look good, but don’t stack it, or you’ll find out just how much good looking can cost, around £800 in this case.

Green with envy.

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heh heh heh… “our” bike :smiley:

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mmmmmmm nice :slight_smile:
Just wait until you scrape it against a minivan :smiley:

egg

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Right on, Spiny!

I suppose this means I’ll have to buy a new bike so I can keep up with you? (I know a Yamaha dealer who will take $500 off the price of an R6.)

So what kind of bike is Shayna getting? :wink:

(Hi Shayna!)

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Yeah you guys so politley put it as “our bike”. Bullshit. My 650 is being transformed into a race bike(Ihavent ridden since my six yo was 3mos) that the SO is dumping lots of his hard earned money into, and he says as he disappears into the garage Im going to work on * your* bike hon kiss kiss. grrr. Its not mine anymore!

Congrats on the purty ride and let shayna take it out too by herself!!!

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[T-1000] Saaaaay, that’s a nice bike… [/T-1000]

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Beautiful piece of machinery, but I’m confused. There’s this red stuff on the tachometer starting at 12 grand. What’s up with that? :slight_smile: Well, it looks very, um, comfortable…

(bashere looks up specs, and decides that, given 108hp pushing 458 lbs, he might not want to make any more smart-assed comments…)

Seriously, congratulations. Nice bike.

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Cagiva, the VFR 800 will do a measly 158 miles per hour.

:eek:

And it’s a V-TEC engine, which is supercool too.

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-Thanks, people! I’m just in from a short ride as a reward for hours of practicing ultra-tight circles - whatever bozo told the California DMV that making people ride in circles at 6MPH was a good way of judging their rider skills ? I can JUST make this bike turn that tight, but I hammer into the stops all the time. Rassum frassum DMV jack-booted… Ahem.

jack@ss, no mid-life crisis involved. Heavens know what heights I’ll be driven to when that happens.

Coldie, I currently only work 4 days/week, so how does a Friday ride sound ? Moturis rent Nighthavk 750s for $85/day, if you’ve had enough of the Harley Experience… :stuck_out_tongue:

superbee, tell the missus not to worry. And I wave to all riders, so there.

casdave, I try HARD not to think of the cost of dropping this bike. <shudder> - sometimes I really think it would be easier to buy a 20-year old clonker and enjoy peace of mind. Naaaaahhh…

Twisty, if you’re just giggling, you’re forgiven. If, on the other hand, you’re actually snickering, I might remind you what Danes have done to Dublin before. Don’t make me come over there!

EggNogg, over here minivans aren’t the worst annoyance - don’t get me started on SUVs, though. I swear, it’s just a matter of time before someone puts a full-length body on a Mack truck and starts marketing it as the vehicle every red-blooded American male MUST have. As it is, the roads are overflowing with offroaders about the size of aircraft carriers. And equally maneuverable, I might add.

And Mr. L.A. - don’t upgrade for my sake! Although, if you do, can I try it ? :wink:

As for a bike for my (considerably) better half, it’s a bit of an uphill battle. We have, however, excluded the Rebel 250 from the pool - the words were something like “I don’t want to ride myself, but even if I did, I wouldn’t be caught dead on THAT”.

cagiva, I would love for Shayna to take it out, but she seems content with the rear seat for the time being.

irkenDoom - thanks, I think ?

bashere, I wondered about that myself. Must be a Japanese custom :smiley: I’ve decided to not pay it any attention, though - I paid good money for the rev limiters and by Jove, I’ll use them! And yup, it’s comfy.

And now, to tuck her in for the night. Thanks for the good wishes, ladies and gentlemen riders. Shiny side up, all!

S. Norman

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[[Confidence-inspiring suspension and geometry]] Oh, so you’re the guy who writes those brochures.

Re. the slow figure eights the DMV makes you do, I aced those. Just so you know.

And Shayna, yes, forget the Rebel. It’s one of those fraudulent cruiser bikes. If you’re moving to Europe, see if you can get a 400-500cc bike (Honda sells them outside the US, and Suzuke makes a few) under 500 lbs. Looks like I’m moving soon to a country with crazy drivers where it rains all the time, so I’ve put my bike shopping on the back burner for now…
Jill

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[[Confidence-inspiring suspension and geometry]] Oh, so you’re the guy who writes those brochures.

Re. the slow figure eights the DMV makes you do, I aced those. Just so you know.

And Shayna, yes, forget the Rebel. It’s one of those fraudulent cruiser bikes. If you’re moving to Europe, see if you can get a 400-500cc bike (Honda sells them outside the US, and Suzuki makes a few) under 500 lbs. Looks like I’m moving soon to a country with crazy drivers where it rains all the time, so I’ve put my bike shopping on the back burner for now…
Jill

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Actually, I saw a Kenworth “RV” once up in Washington. (Could’ve been a Peterbilt, but I think it was a Kenworth.) The cab extended back to where the fifth-wheel would be. Yup, a full-sized semi w/o the trailer and with living quarters.

I wouldn’t buy a Rebel 250, but I think they’re rather cute. Too small for me, and not my style though.

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Sounds like a plan indeed! Heloise will be in school during the day, so we can get an early start (maybe she can drop me off, although it may be quite the ride a 7 AM - maybe you can pick me up?). How much spare gear do you have? A suitable helmet, perhaps? I can bring my jacket and gloves, jeans and Timberlands will do the rest for a day.

We’ll be in touch, no doubt!