texscottyd

While the V8 & manual pairing definitely limits your options, there are plenty of viable choices out there in the used market. As with anything, the challenge is finding the right combination of nice and affordable… Mustang GTs in particular seem to be either very nice or beat to death, with not much in the middle. Mustang GT, Camaro SS, Challenger R/T or ScatPack all fit the bill. If you want something a little more comfy, look for a Pontiac GTO (2006 model with the 6.0 motor), a Pontiac G8 GT (very hard to find with a 6-speed), a Chevrolet SS, or a Cadillac CTS-V. BMW did various V8 & manual combinations, but I haven’t really kept up with the viable import options. Good luck, and I hope you find what you’re looking for! Enjoy the ride.

It’s a new 2024 that I took delivery of at the end of December. I had a very specific set of options I was looking for, so I special ordered it back in October. More money than I probably should have spent on a car, but in this age of $80K pickup trucks, it almost seems like a bargain. It’s an incredibly engaging & entertaining car to drive, and I haven’t regretted a single minute of owning it.

Kindred spirits we must be… 😀 A recent search of new vehicles with my mandatory ‘V8-Manual-Sedan’ combo yielded exactly one option. So in a moment of incredibly irresponsible financial management, I spent my next decade’s worth of motorcycle money on a CT5-V Blackwing Cadillac. And I couldn’t be happier… Because honestly, who doesn’t need a 668 hp, 3 pedal, 200 mph Cadillac? 🤷‍♂️ Happy hunting for your next moto-toy!

Congratulations @motochick! Triumph twins & Yamaha triples make for a good pairing… 😀

Hey Bret @2and3cylinders - It was a really fun trip. My friend and I hauled the bikes up from Houston in the back of my truck on Friday, and stayed at one of my ‘redneck millionaire’ friend’s places in the hills southwest of Austin. We rode back & forth to the track Saturday & Sunday, which ended up being about an hour each way. A great way to take in the MotoGP spectacle, get in some riding, and visit with good friends all in the same trip. The races were amazing, and the facilities at COTA are top-shelf. By practically bathing in SPF70 sunscreen, I managed to get through two full days in the sun without burning to a crisp. All-in-all a great experience! They ran two MotoAmerica ‘King of the Bagger’ races in conjunction with the MotoGP series because, you know, this is America after all. 😀 And while I initially wanted to hate it, the racing was amazing… I’m a fan after watching it live. I hope you’re on the mend and getting out a bit for riding season. Take care!

It is a good friend’s bike, and I have ridden it several times. I personally really love the style, and it has the expected level of quality Honda fit & finish… On par with my Triumph Speed Twin, and candidly much nicer than my Gen-1 FJ (no surprise there). The ergonomics are typical sport-standard fare, although I agree it’s a bit compact for what otherwise feels like a big bike. I’m fine on it at 6’1” and 220 lbs, but feel like I’m right at the upper size limit. It works flawlessly, as you would expect. My only issue (and the owner Blake’s as well) is the relative lack of character: It’s that Honda trap of making something almost too perfect. Smooth, effortless, perfect, and… kinda boring. The FJ is crude by comparison, but it just oozes character from its pores.

I spent the weekend at the MotoGP races in Austin, yet somehow these are my favorite photos from the entire trip… 🤷‍♂️

@phpaul - All the best to you moving forward in the next chapter of your life’s journey. I quietly fear the day that will inevitably come when it’s time to stop riding, and commend you for making the decision on your own terms. To be able to walk away from this obsession unscathed after 55 years is quite an accomplishment. Take care, my friend!

May I ask where you’re located @ChickenIsMe? I’m wondering, as I’m genuinely not aware of any place in the U.S. where an annual state safety inspection would flag you for that. Regardless, if you’re not feeling that speed-dependent pulsing in the brakes while slowing down, I’m highly skeptical that you have a significant warp to a rotor. A small amount of runout is normal, but not enough to be noticeable at the lever.

Lots of big long roads with no traffic in this part of Texas…

Zombie thread resurrection alert! Kardesign at it again: How about an H2-motored Versys tall-rounder? 😀

Hey @duhg - Just checking back in to see how you are liking the Speed Twin? I went ahead and did suspension upgrades on mine last summer, and I’m really happy with the bike overall. I hope all is well, and spring riding is almost here for you.

Hey Bret - That’s a Kawasaki Z H2 SE, which is the naked version of the H2 supercharged line… ‘Hypersport standard’ is how I would describe it. Detuned to ‘only’ 197 horsepower, but with a 100+ foot-pound torque curve that will pull your arms out of their sockets. Stupid quick; crazy fun. 😀 Kelly is 74, and still rides VERY well. He’s quick, smooth, efficient, and always in control. It gives me hope that I have another 15 or 20 years of motorcycling in my future.

I got out for about 250 brisk miles on Sunday, with a long-time friend and riding companion. Between the two of us, we brought 300+ horsepower, 7 cylinders, 1 supercharger, and 100+ combined years of riding experience to the party. 😀 It’s always fun to log some backroad miles with someone you know and trust…

THIS! 100% this… 😀 I bought my new Cadillac with a good old 6-speed manual, and couldn’t be happier. Yes, it’s a ‘better’ car in every measurable way with the available 10-speed automatic, and I couldn’t care less… it’s the visceral experience of being actively engaged in the drive, not just passively along for the ride. Same on the bikes: I’ve ridden a Honda DCT, and am very impressed with the technology, but it’s just not quite for me. Yet. Your mileage may vary…

A friend I’ve known for 40+ years dropped by, so we broke out a couple of the bikes for a ride before the winter storm arrives. Good times were had by all…

Welcome to the forum, and happy new year to you! Congratulations on the new Tracer. Wonderful bikes, and I’m sure you’re going to love it…

Exactly! New 17” Dymags for the XR… sorry that wasn’t particularly clear @Ride365. I’m leaving them mostly wrapped up and protected until I get the chance to mount them, so more complete photos will be coming later. They are REALLY sexy, however, and light… 😀

Santa was VERY nice to me this Christmas… 😀

@kilo3 - Very nice! The sense of accomplishment with that task is very real, and warranted. You know it’s done right, and it seems to run even better knowing you did it yourself.

Sometimes I just have to slow down and pay attention to the beauty of nature… A truly glorious December day on the Texas Gulf Coast. Sargent Beach, Texas.

Today, we ride… 🤘

For whatever it’s worth, I either (a) didn’t see that warning, or (b) chose to just blatantly disregard said warning, because my first-year FJ (the unstable short-wheelbase version) has been north of 120 mph on many occasions, all with the factory saddlebags hanging out there in the breeze… Never been a problem.

I’ve been digging around in the specs that are available, and this thing looks like it’s right in my wheelhouse. I can’t wait to see one in person…

Interesting… I didn’t know this one was in the works.