Doesn’t surprise me one bit. Miata’s are very fun cars. I had two of them, first a 2002 NB, then a 1991 NA.
Maybe I’ll get an NC next time around as a 2nd vehicle… For fun.
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Ah yes. The 3Ms. Music, motorcycles, and Miatas.
I’ve been more indulgent in my motorcycle obsession, especially the last 25 years. I’m never content but am satisfied with a ‘15 FJR 1300. Music is consuming me these daze. And retirement planning includes a Miata. The only question is if I can manage it before needing a lift - for me. Getting in won’t be a problem but eventually getting out may be.
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For anyone who might be interested the Iron Butt Rally start is next Monday.
Coverage in the the FJR Forum is usually pretty good. Several members have ridden and help officiate so the discussions are well informed.
The IBA and contributors also do a great job of providing real time tracking and daily updates. It’s a total hoot to follow.
Ahh yes the FJR. Great bike and serious mile muncher! I had a 2015 ES as well:
I’m also now setup for retirement next year…
Nice. You’ve actually gone somewhere on yours. I’ve got 30K in 25 miles bites back and forth to work so the only pics I have are it parked in the garage. I won’t plan any distances until I get some highway pegs, which brings to ask what engine case guards do you have? They look like they’d be perfect for pegs.
I’ve sold the bike, but if I remember correctly they were GIVI.
Thanks
I learned to ride on dad’s R75/5 SWB Toaster tank! Moved to a K100RS then (and others such as dad’s 56 BSA Road Rocket).
That Guzzi looks wicked! So does the R100RT. One day I’ll put my leg over another BMW. Last was a R1150 Rockster. Loved it but was a bit too tall for me.
The V100S is more a sport handling bike, yes, but not 200 HP! It is as they say, adequate, for the purpose @ 115 HP and is plenty. It does look pretty good, especially for a MG. I never though I’d be buying a Guzzi but I did. They did a great job on the initial go of it. The niggles are meaningless to me; quick shift doesn’t work as well on big twins that don’t have shorter gearing to rev super fast and typical transmission shifting on big twins is deliberate (same as always). You can go from 20 MPH to over 80 in 3rd gear! Why shift. 80% of maximum torque is at just 3500 RPM. The engine has a 9500 RPM redline for a big twin, insane.
Look at it this way, it has the torque flexibility of a big twin, and the RPM bandwidth of a four.
Love to keep them both as they represent two points in time for products. I just have the real room for one bike.
Best,
Galen
3 Likes
Maybe it’s time for a lift?
Ron,
I’d need to USE them too! In the car I go “places” on the motorcycle I go no place. I just do 100 mile loops off the busy roads for enjoyment and quiet in the early morning.
But ya, a lift would be more storing a car or a bike as the hassel to move a car, lower a car, drive the car and put it back on the lift is a pain. It works for real collectors, but I’m a “user” kind of person. If I don’t use it regularly it gets sold or tossed.
Best,
Galen
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The thing I miss about riding–I don’t anymore–is going nowhere in particular, usually when most are not awake yet.
Nice looking NA; hard top for a quiet ride and a chin spoiler (color matched!) to keep the front wheels down at speed.
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Thank you sir.
I miss that car a lot. It was much better than the NB, and was actually a limited edition British Racing Green. Don’t worry though, the original BRG paint was still there, just covered and protected by about 5 gallons of plasti-dip.
The NB, all I did was wheels, tires, intake, axle-back exhaust and front & rear strut tower braces. The NA on the other hand, nothing went untouched. Full coilover suspension, front & rear sway bars, front and rear strut tower braces, urethane bushings, chassis “X” bracing, full exhaust including header, ultra-light weight flywheel and 6-puck clutch, short-throw shifter, soft-top delete, 1996 dash swap, LSD rear diff, custom “retro” interior (parts from Japan), custom gauge faces, 2005 HVAC controls, full LED lighting inside and out including LED headlights.
Before
After
I’ll trade HP for torque any day of the week. One thing I dearly miss about the 1150RT is the boxer cadence at speed. So relaxed and calming at cruise yet on demand torque and great (for the mere mortal) handing when the going gets twisty.
Why’d you parts ways? I’ve ever seen one BRG / tan and instantly fell in love.
Well, having a girlfriend with her daughter and the Miata being our only car at the time, it was a PITA for doing grocery shopping, and “slightly” illegal transporting three people in a 2-seater. Not to mention, two passengers in one seat was a bit uncomfortable, especially on 70 mile trips in one direction. LOL
Torque wins races.
I know that wasn’t directed at me, but… Not in autocross. Ask me how I know.
Allen,
Drive them both. HP is torque x RPM so torque is what makes you really go. The lower the RPM you develop torque the better for road engines. For racing you can get HP with RPM with even poor relative torque and really poor efficiency (friction losses) but that’s racing. Look at any 125CC race engine. No torque, so to make it go you use LOTS of RPM.
This is why the R1150 is a good engine, it also is really designed to get good torque at low RPM. You like the HP but you really like it because the HP is high at low RPM because of the TORQUE! No, you can’t trade HP for torque unless you want a gutless engine down low. Torque is what you want on demand, not HP. On demand meaning off the basement of the RPM curve. The physics can’t be cheated on this.
The V100S is far, far smoother than the R100RT and equals the R1150RT but is WAY, WAY better handling (it is shorter and lighter with top grade Ohlins semi-active suspension. This makes it more versatile outside of the Interstate (I don’t drive the Interstates). The R1150RT is designed for a sole purpose and it does it well. I don’t want that sole purpose larger, heavier MC. In my mind, BMW lost the magic of the R100RT in a modern design and the V100S brings it back. I wish BMW did, but it didn’t so I’m moving on. I’ve waited twenty years for BMW to get it right. The R1150RT is a heavy weight touring bike. A good one but it is what it is.
Best,
Galen
2 Likes