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| Steve | | Set |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 480 | | Location | : | Chesham, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 05 May 2011 - 21:02 Post title : Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes | | | OK it's time for the grumpy old men bit.
I do a lot of travelling through London to get to work, I'm sure it's the same as other major cities. Lines of cars at lights and roundabouts inter-spaced with lines of cars at roadworks. Bikes push up to the front where there is space.
gripe number 1
Cruisers are slow merchants
Been getting P'd off with other riders pulling up next to me in front of the traffic queues like I was gong to get in their way. Some mid range sport or street bike pulls up with their front wheel edging in front of you with their line of travel heading across your path so they can can get ahead of you before you slow them down.  To me that's just bad manners and can be dangerous. Why do they look so surprised when you wind it on a bit and leave them behind? I think they see a big cruiser and relate it to slow.
Even worse when you get some a*hole on a 125 Lambretta pull up around you and put his hairdryer right in front of you. The lights change and he putters off, flipped around and past him before it's moved 5 feet.
Gripe number 2
Bicycles
Why do they insist on collecting in packs right in front of you. Then wobbling off at 2 miles an hour before eventually moving over to the side of the road. I'm surprised there aren't more knocked off their bikes. Nearly had one today. There I was pulling up behind a bus as there wasn't any room to get passed and some cyclist comes from behind, shoots from left to right, in front of me to get along the side the bus. I had to hit the breaks hard, if he'd been a split second later I would have had his back wheel, the bird only stops so quickly.
Gripe number 3
Awkward car drivers
Most car drivers, me included when I'm in the car, move out of the way to let bikes through. But you get the odd one that goes the other way just to stop you. Cos they can't get anywhere why should you. Had one this morning, traffic queue to the lights, not much space to get past so usually cars let you in cos they know you'll be out of their way soon enough. Not this guy in his BMW, pulled forward with a "your not getting passed me" sneer on his face. Grr, right then, past the lights, nothing coming on the other side, blast past this *!@* and slow down. Did a bicycle impression for half a mile in front of him, I wasn't in a hurry. Ok, it was a bit childish but I felt better afterwards. 
Please tell me it's not just me that these things happen to. Maybe I'm not paranoid, I'm just persecuted and it does only happen to me. 
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| midge | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 345 | | Location | : | Beverley, East Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 05 May 2011 - 21:16 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Steve) | | | Well it serves you right for living darn sarf!
Everyone's lovely up here
Oh except the cyclists - they are tw*ts everywhere
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| BlueNose | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/09/2009 | | Posts | : | 2,478 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 05 May 2011 - 21:27 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Steve) | | | After a few more miles under yer belt you will find gripe 1 a T'Bird sport. I have many tales to tell. My favourite, I was turning right on a roundabout once (after coming off the A1 onto the M18). Couple of power rangers came up on my inside to undertake me on this rather large roundabout. Anyway you and I know the Bird can get up and boogie, now so do these guys. I smoked 'em on the inside - easy peasy! Just today one of the guys tried to beat me home from the dealers today on his Daytona - no chance. The Bird has Moses powers -a little blip on the throttle with them shorties on and the cars, busses and lorries part for you.
I LOVE THIS SCOOT!!
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| dphelps | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 11/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 42 | | Location | : | San Antonio, Texas, United States |
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| | Posted : 05 May 2011 - 21:59 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Steve) | | | I know I'm not in England, but we have horrible problems here as well. The cyclists are an easy one to take care of: Just assume they've done something wrong in the past, creep up behind them and hit the horn. That'll send 'em to the toilet early. Tailgaters are a problem here. Another huge problem are the texting teens that think they're invincible.
Also, in San Antonio at least, don't be on the road after 2200 unless you want to get rolled on by a drunk. Apparently the whole city is drunk and on the road at that hour.
| Dave
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| DizzE | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,141 | | Location | : | Sunnyvale, CA, United States |
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| | Posted : 05 May 2011 - 22:12 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: BlueNose) | | | I try to deal with all road objects as if they were dirt, falling rocks or other things in random motion.
Just mindless particles that have to obey physics, only. Vectors chaotic. Like a video game.
Welcome to the next level. Only the IDF fights the other pilot. But, their enemy has more planes than
pilots. All others settle for air superiority.
In this case, plenty of planes, but no enemy pilots. Even the switch is asleep. Brownian motion rules.
Safer to have an un-complicated view. I tend to hate the offender for too many after miles.
I adpopted this attitude especially for the rashs of road rage the Left Coast is famous for.
I still carry pepper spray. And I remember in Boston, it was just called Car Wars.
Here, I assume, also, that those motor particles have a firearm handy.
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| Steve | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 480 | | Location | : | Chesham, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 11:33 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: midge) | | | midge wrote:
Well it serves you right for living darn sarf!
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Not my fault, I needed the money. Even more so with a bird to keep.
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| Steve | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 480 | | Location | : | Chesham, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 11:35 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: DizzE) | | | DizzE wrote:
I try to deal with all road objects as if they were dirt, falling rocks or other things in random motion.
Just mindless particles that have to obey physics, only. Vectors chaotic. Like a video game.
Welcome to the next level. Only the IDF fights the other pilot. But, their enemy has more planes than
pilots. All others settle for air superiority.
In this case, plenty of planes, but no enemy pilots. Even the switch is asleep. Brownian motion rules.
Safer to have an un-complicated view. I tend to hate the offender for too many after miles.
I adpopted this attitude especially for the rashs of road rage the Left Coast is famous for.
I still carry pepper spray. And I remember in Boston, it was just called Car Wars.
Here, I assume, also, that those motor particles have a firearm handy.
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What? Where's the nearest mushrooms. I need to be in the same head state as you to understand this.
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| Druid | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,359 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 11:52 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Steve) | | | Totaly agree I take the Bird up to the City from time to time. Usually when Bob Crow decides he wants an inpromtu day off or three.
Dispatch riders , ****s . Cycle riders absolute ****'s . 125 riders complete ****'s . Scooter riders are usually Polish. I find most car drivers actually good and pull over . I wonder if its something to do with a 6 foot 5 bloke in leathers and a crash helmet on a 1700 750 lb motorbike that sounds like a weapn of mass destruction.
But yes I experience the same as you do with some of these idiots . I was minding my own busness at the lights one morning when a lambretta pulled close to me . Im never in a good mood in the moring " Get away from me mate or ill tow you up the road by ur rear fender , your choice" He was gona try the cut across me trick . He moved.
| Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery - W.Churchill
| | Post edited by Druid on 06 May 2011 - 11:53 |
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| Calveitro | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/04/2011 | | Posts | : | 196 | | Location | : | Dongara, Western Australaia, Australia |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 12:53 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Steve) | | | Cruisers are slow merchants?
Well most of them are. Most sports or mid range street bikes will eat you for breakfast away from the lights. On the last 4 or 5 bikes I've owned a thunderbird would just be in the way. A fat ass thunderbird will be embarassed everytime by most any other serious bike on the road.
But is that why you bought it? Did you seriously think a 330 odd KG bike with barely 90hp would be competitive at the stop lights?
Didn't you expect to get eaten up by every hot rod 250cc bike out there?
It isn't why I bought the bike. I'll give way to every other bike at the lights. They will launch way faster than me. I bought a bike that I can go out riding on for a weekend, hit the twisties or the straights and have fun doing it. Sports bike will eat me up in the straights and the corners, hell some guy on a 250 will give me a run for my money. Doesn't matter a damn to me. I'm just loving the bike I'm riding but I'm not pretending it is anything it isn't.
Thunderbird is riding in the slow lane though it's fast for a cruiser. Get used to it and step aside for the guys in a hurry.
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| DizzE | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,141 | | Location | : | Sunnyvale, CA, United States |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 13:24 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Steve) | | |
Steve wrote:
DizzE wrote:
I try to deal with all road objects as if they were dirt, falling rocks or other things in random motion.
Just mindless particles that have to obey physics, only. Vectors chaotic. Like a video game.
Welcome to the next level. Only the IDF fights the other pilot. But, their enemy has more planes than
pilots. All others settle for air superiority.
In this case, plenty of planes, but no enemy pilots. Even the switch is asleep. Brownian motion rules.
Safer to have an un-complicated view. I tend to hate the offender for too many after miles.
I adpopted this attitude especially for the rashs of road rage the Left Coast is famous for.
I still carry pepper spray. And I remember in Boston, it was just called Car Wars.
Here, I assume, also, that those motor particles have a firearm handy.
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What? Where's the nearest mushrooms. I need to be in the same head state as you to understand this.
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OK, how about this one...maybe you need some shrooms.
Don't you worry, be happy now.
dont worry
dont worry be happy
don't worry, don't worry, don't do it,
be happy,put a smile on your face,
don't bring everybody down like this
don't worry, it will soon pass whatever it is,
don't worry, be happy,
i'm not worried
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 14:21 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: DizzE) | | | To paraphrase Tony Montana...
"Orders? You giving me orders? Amigo, the only thing in this world that gives orders is balls. You got that? Balls"
Translation: It's not the bike, it's the balls. (Well, let's call it half & half )
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| Steve | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 480 | | Location | : | Chesham, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 17:46 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Calveitro) | | | Calveitro wrote:
Cruisers are slow merchants?
Well most of them are. Most sports or mid range street bikes will eat you for breakfast away from the lights. On the last 4 or 5 bikes I've owned a thunderbird would just be in the way. A fat ass thunderbird will be embarassed everytime by most any other serious bike on the road.
But is that why you bought it? Did you seriously think a 330 odd KG bike with barely 90hp would be competitive at the stop lights?
Didn't you expect to get eaten up by every hot rod 250cc bike out there?
It isn't why I bought the bike. I'll give way to every other bike at the lights. They will launch way faster than me. I bought a bike that I can go out riding on for a weekend, hit the twisties or the straights and have fun doing it. Sports bike will eat me up in the straights and the corners, hell some guy on a 250 will give me a run for my money. Doesn't matter a damn to me. I'm just loving the bike I'm riding but I'm not pretending it is anything it isn't.
Thunderbird is riding in the slow lane though it's fast for a cruiser. Get used to it and step aside for the guys in a hurry. |
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Somebody must have tied a knot in your throttle cable mate. It's obviously stuck at 1/4 throttle. I don't think this is the fastest bike on the road, not why I bought it, but the SLOW LANE don't think so.
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| thanks4thefish42 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 11/11/2010 | | Posts | : | 269 | | Location | : | High Springs, FL, United States |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 18:48 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | The best Tony Quote-
You wanna f#$% with me? Okay. You wanna play rough? Okay. Say hello to my little friend!
| Other rides
Kawasaki Vulcan 900 LT
Suzuki Boulevard S50
BMW R90/6-Luftmeister fairing
Calling upon my years of experience, I froze at the controls. ~Stirling Moss
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| Druid | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 14/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,359 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 18:54 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Calveitro) | | |
Calveitro wrote:
Cruisers are slow merchants?
But is that why you bought it? Did you seriously think a 330 odd KG bike with barely 90hp would be competitive at the stop lights?
Didn't you expect to get eaten up by every hot rod 250cc bike out there?
Thunderbird is riding in the slow lane though it's fast for a cruiser. Get used to it and step aside for the guys in a hurry. |
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I hate to argue but with the torque at 115-120 I think I can beat quite a lot off the line . My bros got a z750 s and I can beat him up to 70mph but once we get to 80 odd he starts to go past and pull hard away because of the hp and the weight .He also has a TBird and says its definatly quicker to 70 than his z.
| Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery - W.Churchill
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| fab | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 2,515 | | Location | : | wyong, nsw, Australia |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 21:41 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Calveitro) | | |
Calveitro wrote:
Cruisers are slow merchants?
Well most of them are. Most sports or mid range street bikes will eat you for breakfast away from the lights. On the last 4 or 5 bikes I've owned a thunderbird would just be in the way. A fat ass thunderbird will be embarassed everytime by most any other serious bike on the road.
But is that why you bought it? Did you seriously think a 330 odd KG bike with barely 90hp would be competitive at the stop lights?
Didn't you expect to get eaten up by every hot rod 250cc bike out there?
It isn't why I bought the bike. I'll give way to every other bike at the lights. They will launch way faster than me. I bought a bike that I can go out riding on for a weekend, hit the twisties or the straights and have fun doing it. Sports bike will eat me up in the straights and the corners, hell some guy on a 250 will give me a run for my money. Doesn't matter a damn to me. I'm just loving the bike I'm riding but I'm not pretending it is anything it isn't.
Thunderbird is riding in the slow lane though it's fast for a cruiser. Get used to it and step aside for the guys in a hurry
any time you want to slip over with one of your sports bikes and show me how you can eat me from the lights.
i will give you a large some of money, those bikes might be fast once they wind there rubber band up but of the mark i have only had a couple give me a run for my money.
maybe you need some riding lessons
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Remember, soft cocks hang around all life long, hard ones come and go
ahh f**k im deep
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| zolti | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 21:48 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: fab) | | | bmw at lights on a dual carraigeway roundabout
4 lads
revving
tapping window
brum brum
lights change 
open tbird
bmw a dot in the mirror
never seen since
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| fasteddy | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 16/10/2008 | | Posts | : | 963 | | Location | : | Wisconsin, United States |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 22:21 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: zolti) | | | I was never exposed to the sort of stuff your talking about till I road Europe....quick education.
As for tail gaiters? We have plenty no matter where they come from.
I invented a device (yet to be manufactured) I call it, the Tailgater Avoidance device. It's a simple thing really, loaded with "Pureie Plunkers" or "Pureie Half Pints", at least that is what we called them in 3rd grade on the play ground shooting marbles.
Clear marbles, loaded into a dispersion tube that is electronically triggered to dispense a select number in semi automatic or automatic to suit your mood. The marbles drop out , virtually invisible, the offending car drops back not knowing why he is hearing this plink plink plink as his car finish is being pelted. The marbles shatter on impact...no identifiable refuse left, good for the planet and all living creatures!
The reason I have not produced it yet, is because I am easily entertained and just thinking about it when I am driving puts me in a happy place!
| www.fasteddysports.com
| | Post edited by fasteddy on 06 May 2011 - 22:23 |
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 22:32 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: fasteddy) | | | Eddy - put me down for the first off the production line. 
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| fasteddy | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 16/10/2008 | | Posts | : | 963 | | Location | : | Wisconsin, United States |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 22:52 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: mat1600) | | | I also thought of a BB "gun" device built into the handlebars so when you are next to a texter you take out the side window. Doesn't hurt them but then figured they would over react and hit me....
| www.fasteddysports.com
| | Post edited by fasteddy on 06 May 2011 - 22:53 |
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 06 May 2011 - 23:09 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: fasteddy) | | | Or... make it simple: buy and ride an old Harley. You'll be leaving a trail of nice, slick oil behind you.. NO BODY will tailgate you then!
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| Calveitro | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/04/2011 | | Posts | : | 196 | | Location | : | Dongara, Western Australaia, Australia |
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| | Posted : 07 May 2011 - 10:14 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: fab) | | |
fab wrote
any time you want to slip over with one of your sports bikes and show me how you can eat me from the lights.
i will give you a large some of money, those bikes might be fast once they wind there rubber band up but of the mark i have only had a couple give me a run for my money.
maybe you need some riding lessons |
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Yeah maybe you are right. After 37 years on bikes a couple of lessons might help 
I'm not putting the Thunderbird down. I've got two other bikes rotting in the garage because I'm having so much fun riding it. But lets be realistic. My 30 year old Katana would give it a run for it's money. Though I have to admit I actualy think the Thunderbird handles better than the Kat. 30 year old spaghetti frames and bicycle sized tires haven't aged well.
To me at least it's not what the bikes about. I'm not interested in stop light heroics. In a straight line the thunderbird has nowhere near the speed of any mid range bike. Down hill with a tail wind I've seen 200kmh on the thunderbird. Even the Kat would giggle and stroll on past. On any ride how much does acceleration matter? I take the Thunderbird out for 500-700km days, just cruising and loving every moment. It's what the bike is for. The town I live in doesn't even have a set of traffic lights 
When it comes to handling the thunderbird is amazing for what it is. For a serious set of twisties my TLS (ignore their bad reputation) wouldn't even know it was there.
I absolutely love my Thunderbird. Every Km on it puts a smile on my face. But lets not pretend that it is something that it isn't.
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| SeanS | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 17/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,179 | | Location | : | Matlock, Derbyshire UK, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 07 May 2011 - 10:15 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: zolti) | | | Fun one yesterday.
Weekend tourist last night travelling in front of me threw out a plastic drinks bottle to side of the road.
I stopped picked it up and caught up with them.
Driver wasn't so ammused when I overtook her, throwing the bottle back through her window.
Bloody weekend campers, you wouldn't believe the rubbish they leave in this national park of ours.
McDonalds is 13 miles away yet every weekend the roadside has the bloody rubbish scattered about.
Regards
| If only I had a bigger garage
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| Steve | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 480 | | Location | : | Chesham, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 07 May 2011 - 10:25 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | I wasn't really talking about who can go faster, it's more about other bikes pulling across your line of travel making you have to do something to avoid them. If I arrive at the lights after an other bike, whatever it is, I give them right of way. Providing they're making good progress I'm happy with that cos I can too, without any danger of causing an accident. And it's just common courtesy.
They're seem to be two types of people who do this. The arrogant, usually young, scooter (meaning the Vespa type scooters not an Americanism for a bike) riding commuter who thinks everyone should get out of his way. They will pull up in any gap that they can get to, regardless of who they pull in front off, and head where they want to be at full speed. Well I'm sure you've met them too, at their full speed it's hard to keep from running up the back of them at the Birds mildest take off. Generally I have found that they pull up behind you after the first time you accelerate around them.
Then there are the sports bike riders who think they are the fastest thing on the road and see you as slow. Even if they could beat you away from the lights it wouldn't be by very much. They put you in the same category as the scooters and think they will get ahead of you easily, so they don't see pulling across your path as a problem as in their mind you will be somewhere behind them. I've found that these riders will give the Bird a bit more respect at the next set of lights after being educated to the true nature of the beast. If the same bike got to the next lights ahead of me, then I'd defer to them.
I'm not saying all riders of these bikes are like this, most bikers give respect to other bikes. There seems to be a large part of the bike riding community in London who are commuters rather than bikers, maybe that's why there seems to be more here than I meet anywhere else. Also why not many waves or nods get returned.
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| Druid | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 14/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,359 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 07 May 2011 - 10:45 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: SeanS) | | | I hate to keep comeing back to this but I really feel I must. In a striaght line race, no, the Bird wont compete with a sports bike over the long run. Of course not, a Sports bike is made to go really fast with high revs. It can reach 140+ mph where the Bird wont . When looking at this I prefer to look at the real world . From a standing start Im faster than most because of the torque . This meens I can get out the way of the cages and scooters and most standard bikes and give myself space. At 30-40 mph where I need to overtake , I dont have to drop a gear and wait for the revs to build to get past I can just punch it and at 3k revs can outpace a sports bike who has to drop a gear and wind it up over that short distance.
Usable power on the Bird to me is far more practical than any sport bike I have owned . Ok If I liked track days sure I wouldnt bother with a TBird but I dont so Ill work within the area that the TBird works best and is built for, 00-70 mph in short spurts and cruising at 80 mph.
Also I didnt buy a capable 1700 bike to do 50 mph like some old grandad when it is capable of so much more. Time and time again it proves what it is capable of and that it isnt just a cruising lets look at the grass grow bike. In the real world it is a match for most bikes on the street and shouldnt be taken lightly or indeed asumed that itll only do a slow crawl off the lights. It wont as most of us can prove and testify to.
Persoanly I like imagining the shock on their faces when you toast some scrote off the line on his ninja . Its fun . Sure when he gets to light speed and has crashed into a tree I feel guilty but hey .......
| Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery - W.Churchill
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| SeanS | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 17/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,179 | | Location | : | Matlock, Derbyshire UK, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 07 May 2011 - 10:59 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Steve) | | |
Steve wrote:
I'm not saying all riders of these bikes are like this, most bikers give respect to other bikes. There seems to be a large part of the bike riding community in London who are commuters rather than bikers, maybe that's why there seems to be more here than I meet anywhere else. Also why not many waves or nods get returned. |
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Pretty much guarentee that up here, during the week nods or waves returned 100%, likewise cars pulling to side to allow bikes past greater frequency and acknowledged. When the weekenders Cars and Bikes arrive, the story is a different matter and the level of idiocy increases probably 100 fold.
fortunately when the idiots arrive there are plenty of roads they don't know about and we can leave them to their silly games.
| If only I had a bigger garage
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| Steve | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/03/2011 | | Posts | : | 480 | | Location | : | Chesham, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 07 May 2011 - 11:06 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Calveitro) | | | fab wrote
I'm not interested in stop light heroics.
The town I live in doesn't even have a set of traffic lights
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Me neither.
No lights, you lucky man.
I think we're at cross purposes here. I'm not talking about drag racing from the lights as an exercise in machoism.
You must have driven into a big city in 30 years.
[IMG]
Got these from a live Web feed at 11:30 am on a Saturday, you can imagine what it's like at rush hour. You get a few bikes at the front and they all want to get to the same piece of road. It's an accident waiting to happen.
| | Post edited by Steve on 07 May 2011 - 11:07 |
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| Calveitro | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/04/2011 | | Posts | : | 196 | | Location | : | Dongara, Western Australaia, Australia |
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| | Posted : 07 May 2011 - 11:33 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Steve) | | |
Steve wrote:
fab wrote
I'm not interested in stop light heroics.
The town I live in doesn't even have a set of traffic lights
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Me neither.
No lights, you lucky man.
I think we're at cross purposes here. I'm not talking about drag racing from the lights as an exercise in machoism.
You must have driven into a big city in 30 years.
[IMG]
Got these from a live Web feed at 11:30 am on a Saturday, you can imagine what it's like at rush hour. You get a few bikes at the front and they all want to get to the same piece of road. It's an accident waiting to happen. |
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Damn, that looks like hell. Yeah, It's been 8 years or more since I rode in a city and I'm kind of happy about that
I'm a country boy and I know there are traffic lights somewhere within 100km of me but I aint looking for them. That's the beauty of WA. I can ride 1000km west or north and never see a traffic light. But the last time I did live in a city I rode a GN250 as a commuter bike. Sheer hell. No respect from anybody and crowded out by every other bike and car on the road. All of them jumped all over me. If I rode the Buell X1 or the TLS to work other commuters would stay out of my way. But on the GN I was a walking victim.
I guess that having experienced it I'm an apologist for the little guy. On the GN you took every chance you could to get a break on the traffic because all of them were ready to roll right over you. I'd push ahead of your thunderbird if I thought it would give me 1/2 a chance of avoiding the bastards trying to kill me.
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| Calveitro | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/04/2011 | | Posts | : | 196 | | Location | : | Dongara, Western Australaia, Australia |
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| | Posted : 07 May 2011 - 12:13 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: Calveitro) | | |
Calveitro wrote:
That's the beauty of WA. I can ride 1000km west or north and never see a traffic light. |
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Oops that would be east. 1000km west would put me well out into the Indian ocean and swimming for the maldives.
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| DizzE | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,141 | | Location | : | Sunnyvale, CA, United States |
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| | Posted : 07 May 2011 - 13:21 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: SeanS) | | |
SeanS wrote:
Fun one yesterday.
Weekend tourist last night travelling in front of me threw out a plastic drinks bottle to side of the road.
I stopped picked it up and caught up with them.
Driver wasn't so amused when I overtook her, throwing the bottle back through her window.
Regards |
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So, she pulled out her 9mm and got a shot off at you, laughing and smirking at the look on your face. Oh, right..only in America.
I wouldn't try garbage toss back, here.
The other day, in what I thought was a fairly decent area of San Francisco, I made a right hand turn. There
was a small group of punk asses that weren't paying attention and about to step off in front of me. So, as the Japanese say,
I tootled at them with my horn.
Well, almost instantly, 3 of them tossed/smoohed the last of their junk food on me. An ice cream glob
smacked the inside of the windscreeen, after it bounced off the edge of my helmet.
So, I stopped the bike, and yelled.......and now I'm dead. Another senseless homicide victim in SF.
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| zolti | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 07 May 2011 - 21:16 Post title : Re: Why do other riders think the T-bird is slow? and other gripes (Re: SeanS) | | |
SeanS wrote:
Driver wasn't so ammused when I overtook her, throwing the bottle back through her window.
Regards |
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ace
just love that one
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