We also love cars

Additionally, these toy cars tend to be owned by the superannuated. The age of the average BMW buyer is 50; in 2014 the average Corvette buyer was 60 (it has dropped a bit with the introduction of the C7).

I shouldn’t do this but I rarely follow rules: Yup, free market works.

Sadly, motorcycle insurance still seems to work that way. The two questions they ask are ā€œengine displacementā€ and ā€œhave you taken a safety course.ā€ Given that I moto-commute virtually every semi-reasonable day, I figure it’s worth the cost to me.

Sport touring bikes are amazing. Well ridden they will keep up with a sport bike unless the rider is very good.

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The kid (35 YO) that works for me had a Hiabusa (sp?) a few years ago. It was ā€œnot insurableā€ except for damage liability. Probably a good thing as he wrecked it (going too fast to stop for an unexpected stop sign) broke a shoulder, got some pins in his wrist and had a bunch of road rash to contend with.

Funny story on my particular model. I upgraded from an F650CS a few years back to the 800GT. (One unpopular BMW to another unpopular BMW. I’m an edge case in that I’ve never ridden a Boxer BMW). Drove to Milwaukee because they had the orange color I wanted and were closing out a prior year’s model. Right before the salesman leaves to write up the paperwork, I note that there’s a hang tag in the bike for buying ladies performance gear. ā€œWait, wait, wait. Are you selling me a LADY bike?ā€ He stuttered and hmm’d and haw’d until I let him off the hook. ā€œDude, I know what I’m buying. This is the bike I chose because it’s right-sized for me and I don’t care what the marketing pitch is.ā€

I’m basically a bastard.

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Busa’s are exciting bikes. Too much power, not enough handling, great big butts… Basically motorcycle crack cocaine.

Not that I would suggest they shouldn’t exist. I’m a market-based conservative libertarian.

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The Hayabusa is quick, but sport bikes like the S1000RR and Ducatis are only 0.1 seconds slower 0-60 and have comparable top speeds. And they can actually brake and corner. :slight_smile:

Motorcycle insurance is appropriately high. I do not know anyone who has ridden for a good while who has not gone down. I have totaled two Ducatis at speed. Fascinatingly, my premiums have not risen much. Apparently the actuaries have concluded sport bike riders are going to do this.

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A lifelong friend got back from Viet Nam in 1967 and was discharged in Cali - maybe San Diego? He bought a new BMW twin cyl. bike there and rode it home to Michigan. In that trip it did not use any oil at all and nothing fell off. That was unheard of as we were used to English / European bikes or Harleys which shed oil and parts at a regular rate and the Honda hadn’t been seen much here yet. He was smitten for life and has owned them off and on ever since. Age has got the best of him now and he sold the last one a year or two ago. For a while he had one of the big single enduro style bikes they make. They were all good bikes.

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Agreed. Even stupid things should exist.

It is rumored the Corvette team consulted with GM’s legal team to ask whether they should release a car with over 1,000 HP as the highest performing new mid-engine Corvette.

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Right. But they don’t have those GINORMOUS Hayabusa posteriors. :joy:

Everything Ducati makes is cool. They all pretty much say ā€œso you think you can ride , eh? Try it on me.ā€ Love 'em.

I see in testing that one of the new mid engined 1000 hp corvette prototypes blew the back window out and permanently tweaked the aluminum frame. Good stuff indeed.

My 17 year old daughter has a Ducati Scrambler fund. The bike bug only bit one of my kids.

Be sure and teach her to have her head on a swivel at all times.

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The Scrambler is made for her. Looks great, easy to ride, tremendous personality. She will fall madly in love with the bike.

Until she sees the cost of Desmo adjustments.

Nah.

I kid because I love. They are magnificent machines.

And if you can talk her into getting a really nice helmet and a set of fitted leathers (for road riding) both will go a long way for her safety. The new carbon fiber helmets are pretty light and very safe.

That’s a rule. No gear, no ride. People don’t get that-gear is a non-optional cost of owning a bike.

Should she get a bike, she will get an Aerostich Roadcrafter from her loving father in the color of her choice.

Ducati maintenance costs are now in line with Japanese bikes.

There is now a good deal of very good looking leathers for women. She can easily find something that both looks great and is protective.

My girlfriend wears one of her leather jackets regularly as a fashion item. It is interesting how many recognize it is real, rather than a fashion moto jacket.

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