patrick.net

I presume your Kawasaki is a not some 50cc scooter, but an actual motorcycle that an get up to highway speeds. In that case, a e-bike is not a replacement. An e-bike is for cyclists who for some reason cannot just pedal. You know, like the motorized prams at Walmart are for the folks who cannot just walk and push a shopping cart. Maybe a delivery driver in the inner city has a good use for an e-bike, where he needs to zip around at 25 mph to make more deliveries than he can by pedaling at 15 mph.

KG1000 Concours


My dream bike when I bought it new 20 years ago. Ebike won't replace it, just looking for some fun.

I see eBikes and think about those videos of eThings bursting into flames, and how I'd be sitting right on top of it.

I don't do bikes/motorcycles. Recipe for death even with a helmet. Was at a good buddies wedding when my other good buddy got a phone call that his niece died in a motorcycle accident. Wasn't her fault. I'll take four wheels 100% of the time. I can't trust other drivers so I get big cars.

I'd do an e-bike for trails and drive it there with the car. But I'm not riding a bike on roads unless it's like 2-4 blocks from my house. With phones now in everyone's pocket, even good drivers are shit and worse than drunk drivers. I don't touch anything when I drive besides the steering wheel, brakes and gas basically. I fortunately don't have anything that is that important that I need to touch my phone texting or calling while driving.

I don't know CA laws, but side by sides are huge where I'm at. Our county allows them and people always take them up to WI or over to IN to goof off on trails. During the fall and spring before planting and after harvest you can just rip through the fields. I'd rather have that, but we don't have similar weather, so I get the bike. The SxS is great in the winter for my location.

Everyone I know who has a motorcycle has had an accident and in some cases it was bad. My grandfather lost his leg for instance. In another one of my best pals ran into the back of a truck that pulled out in front of him (coming out of a sonic drive through) and exploded his heart instantly.

All that being said I'd maybe have one in a rural setting. Even though that's where my grandfather's accident happened.

Off road I speared my armpit with a pine branch when I was a kid. Oh and my college roommate ran into a barb wire fence, and when he woke up his bike was on top of him and his leg was burned up by the muffler. He said he was barely able to get himself out from under the bike by himself.

The other day I saw the guy was doing kind of gymnastics at 80+mph on motorcycle on the freeway 101 near SJ airport. He must be overconfident or stupid. My friend who owns 2 motorcycles occasionally rides across states was in hospital more than once for minor injuries, his ex colleague was bedridden for over 6 months with severe injuries occurred to his legs and hands during exiting freeway.
I remember an interviews with truckers calling them organ donors class in a radio show.
It’s fun but risky activity.

just_passing_through says

All that being said I'd maybe have one in a rural setting. Even though that's where my grandfather's accident happened.

It's probably worse now though. I love rural living, but people think it's a right to be on their phone. I frankly would rather have them buzzed or flat out drunk drunk driving than on a phone.

I'm a crazy person. I legit look through the front windshield of everyone that passes me. Out in the country at least. I've had to drive through a 20º ditch multiple times to avoid a head on collision. Couldn't imagine on a bike/motorcycle. I don't trust any drivers and head is on a swivel. I don't want to die from something so preventable. It's why I prefer flying and not driving long distances even though I will this coming weekend. My anxiety is an 8 out of 10 considering it's Wisconsin. Between deer, drunks and hillbilly bimbos it's going to be a sketchy drive.

I have seen two motorcycle accidents. Years ago, I saw the guy and bike bouncing along the freeway, not nice. It happened so fast and I was so gone, he was out of sight rather quickly. Couldn't find any accounts about it.

On Niles Canyon Road, which was my commute, rounded the corner to see a middle aged biker group with a guy on the side flopping around like a broken doll and everybody standing around him. It was gross and pathetic seeing his human body like a busted robot. He died. His wife sold his biker stuff on Craigslist shortly after.

E bikes have gotten common in Santa Cruz, with the usual suicide squads of kids on them, paraplegics and quadraplegics of the future. They'll be in those e wheelchairs instead. Santa Cruz has a lot of disabled because of the services and the motion sports.

In the busy street by our shack, we were walking and saw crazy kids on skateboards in the downgrade street (high?). They were going all around the street, and one of them came within an inch of being struck by a lady in a VW bug.

Every guy I ever knew has scary stories and near death experiences on motorcycles. One roommate had his shoe torn off by some jagged bumper. My old hippie roommate had a gorgeous 'easy rider' bike, which I never saw him ride. He said he stopped after getting thrown over car hoods twice at intersections.

I have a neighbor in Pleasanton who has ridden a motorcycle for years. He used to make the usual, demonstrative loud noises coming into the court until the judge moved in next door to us, then he got really quiet and polite on it. I never polled him about accidents, but he has remained intact into his late 60's.

What I pray is if they go splat, I don't have to be there when it happens or witness it. Guy died on his cycle on 580 just the other day.

I haven’t checked it out but, I’d imaging there aren’t any helmet or licensing requirements for an E-Bike. For that reason alone, I think they’re a fun option vs a scooter.

A Honda Grom would be a ton of fun also imo.

So, does anyone know of any good MC shops in No Cal? There were a few before the pandemic. Now the only option seems to be the dealer. I don't want to get ripped off.

Motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than hiding at home. I probably have a quarter million miles on top of 2 wheels, 50,000 on my current bike alone. I have had a few close calls and several minor wrecks but still love being "in the wind."

Any e-bike experience out there? Any good MC shop recommendations?

Onvacation says

Motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than hiding at home.

Good point. I remember talking to some guys who started riding Indians and Harleys after turning 60. They said might as well have fun riding since even if you get killed you were just looking ahead to a life of increasing infirmaries anyway.

Cool! I was thinking about getting a Montague folding bike, but it's almost as expensive as the one you posted!

I think I'll just get a cheaper folding one for starters. I have limited space, and it's for exercise and TEOTWAKI, so electrified and motorized is probably sub optimal.

AmericanKulak says

TEOTWAKI

What, are you an REM fan?

Onvacation says

Motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than hiding at home. I probably have a quarter million miles on top of 2 wheels, 50,000 on my current bike alone. I have had a few close calls and several minor wrecks but still love being "in the wind."

Not trying to discourage. I personally wouldn't do it. FIL was a Harley guy. He almost died twice from it. I don't take you for a big drinker Onvacation, but that is usually the problem. The cars get blamed and people start up with the start seeing motorcycles signs even though the biker most times is drunk. Not always, not saying you, but that's what I see.

An E-bike would be fun, won't dispute that. I just prefer 4 wheels on the ground. You can still get the "in the wind" feel with a lot of vehicles. If I'm going around town it's with a golf cart with the windshield down. Zippy, but not fast top end speed. Gets me A to B without wearing out $1k worth of tires. I'm a safety gay (not guy - no typo).... lol. I just don't think 2 wheels are worth it. Not my job to control anyone though. Be safe either way. It's usually those around you that are gonna fuck you up most the time if you're responsible.

Blue says

I remember an interviews with truckers calling them organ donors

My ex was an ambulance driver. They call MC's "donorcycles."

She actually talked me into buying this $10,000 motorcycle in 2004.
never thought about that before

HeadSet says

What, are you an REM fan?

1990s-2000s internet board fan.

REM is like the Reddit Official Band. Not that they couldn't turn a tune here and there

Onvacation says

My ex was an ambulance driver. They call MC's "donorcycles."

Maybe 'life insurance harvesters' for the fair sex. If they can sell the organs, too, they gets that extra hump and bump.

In Santa Cruz, all those daft yutes (and old gomers or fatties) on sidewalks and wrong side of the street on their e-bikes have already ramped up the ER stats. Eventually, they will be regulated more stringently as the guys in e-wheelchairs with sticks taped to their foreheads increase apace.

How hard rebuilding a carb could be? Buy a kit and have a stab at it.

RWSGFY says

How hard rebuilding a carb could be? Buy a kit and have a stab at it.

Pretty easy, once you get them out. There are 4 of them.

It's a 20 year old bike so I would have to change all of the seals and boots, as well as the jets and needle valves. There is a design flaw so it would be best to install overflow ports which requires drilling and tapping all four float bowls. After rebuild the carbs have to be "resynched".

I could do it, but I don't like working with gas. There was a guy in Florida that would do it for $400. His shop burnt down the week before I called to arrange to ship them.

Fixed a vacuum leak and ran some "b12 Chemtool" carburetor cleaner through the gas tank. Runs pretty good.

I've tried to rebuild 6 carbs in the past 5 years - all small engine carbs, no vaccuum hoses like auto or motorcycle. Ran them through the ultrasonic cleaner 2-3 times, new needle valves and all seals. Only 1 seems to run right (no leaks, full throttle control down to idle). The rest have problems. It's a crap shoot out there, even with parts.

I might stick to my ICE Bike.

Bike battery explodes on elevator

HeadSet says

Motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than hiding at home.

Good point. I remember talking to some guys who started riding Indians and Harleys after turning 60. They said might as well have fun riding since even if you get killed you were just looking ahead to a life of increasing infirmaries anyway.

Just my two cents on riding a motorcycle with so many incredibly bad drivers that you are sharing the road with ...

I started riding motorcycles on the street (illegally) when I was 14 years old and had a street bike up until I was about 23. I actually got kind of bored with riding. Now that I'm older, I get tempted to buy a bike ... usually a smaller one like a Kawasaki 650. When I start talking about wanting a bike, my wife always says "it's your decision, I'm sure you'll make the right choice." Believe it or not, every single time I go through one of these phases, some biker gets killed in my area and I wake up to the danger of riding a bike. I'm not afraid to die, but I don't want to get mangled and end up crippled due to some idiot that ran into me with his car, truck or SUV.

IMO, I see riding an e-bike on the street as being possibly even more dangerous than a motorcycle because you don't have the speed and maneuverability that is sometimes needed in order to get out of a bad situation.

Went for the fossil fuel motorcycle


2018 Kawasaki klr 650 dual sport
Not a great dirt bike, not a great road bike but it gets me through traffic.

Stout says

I see eBikes and think about those videos of eThings bursting into flames, and how I'd be sitting right on top of it.

As soon as it got hot, I would get off of it.

Fuckin' kids are crazy on the e-bikes around Santa Cruz. They don't require driver's licenses, but they are in essence motorcycles. As expected, they drive crazy. The e-bikes get enough speed to get that gyroscopic stabilization thing so little kiddies are going more than 25mph doing acrobatics.

I guess when the carnage reaches a critical mass of these stupid kids, something will be done, unless it's part of the depopulation agenda.

Ceffer says

They don't require driver's licenses, but they are in essence motorcycles.

You know your area but the bikes are illegal in my area for 18 and under even with a license. Basically they could get a motorcycle license and drive that, but not an e-bike to school (shrug). Can't drive golf carts or UTV's either until 18. Has to be private property.

Kind of surprised CA is not as strict. Since our high school was in the country we had about 1-2 deaths every year from auto accidents. Two brothers died in one. This going to and from school as well. Tons of other minor accidents. 55mph limit average, 3" of snow turn into 2' on the roads with cornfield drifting.

I won't get on a motorcycle on a public road. I'll ride a moped around a gated community or a farm with a dirt bike. I won't even ride a regular bike on roads, but bike only trails. I know one person that died. Another on a bike is an engineer and got hit. His helmet was smashed. He's been off ever since, brain wise. Fortunately it was late in his career and he was in the wine and dine phase for customers that wanted business from him cause was top dog decision maker. He was kind of autistic and weird anyway. Could never smile straight.

Talk to Shawn at TokyoMoto in SF. They specialize in Japanese bikes and do carb rebuilds: https://tokyomotosf.com/services.. They rebuild a carb for me on an old beater Kawasaki that I used as a city bike.

Second option would be DesMoto, also in SF. The are more of a eurobike shop, but will work on anything and work on restoring older bikes so lots of carb rebuilding experience. https://www.desmotosport.com/

If you take the carb off yourself and bring it in, you'll save money.

That said, I would consider just buying a newer bike that is fuel injected. I'd imagine all your fuel lines probably need replacing, etc, and the maintenance cost of an older bike can be the same as just buying a newer, used bike. Carbed bikes don't like gas with ethanol, and if you don't remember to drain the carb bowl during any period of storage, you'll end up with a gummed up float and clogged jets. Fuel in the carb is exposed to air and moisture while sitting, and ethanol draws in water, so bad things happen quicker.

Newer, fuel injected Japanese bikes are much easier to maintain imo. Pretty much just oil changes and chain maintenance but no messing with carbs, valve adjustments, etc. But I prefer my two old Triumphs and my Ducati. Because they are computer-controlled for fueling, they have riding modes such as sport (fast), touring (mileage), rain (traction), and so on. Plus a newer bike with have ABS and other safety features.

Good luck!

WookieMan says

I don't take you for a big drinker Onvacation, but that is usually the problem. The cars get blamed and people start up with the start seeing motorcycles signs even though the biker most times is drunk.

This is true. Statistics show that half of motorcycle fatalities are single-vehicle, and most are on rural roads rather that urban areas. Furthermore, in almost half of these fatalities the motorcyclist was drinking. Almost all involve extreme speeding and bad judgement, basically using country roads as racing tracks.

Just by not drinking or being high, and not being an idiot, you reduce the chances of an accident to almost nil. I've been riding for decades and have logged hundreds of thousands of miles and have never been in an accident on the road.

Onvacation says

Stout says

I see eBikes and think about those videos of eThings bursting into flames, and how I'd be sitting right on top of it.

As soon as it got hot, I would get off of it.

Yes, I warned this guy not to get that E-bike:

RayAmerica says

IMO, I see riding an e-bike on the street as being possibly even more dangerous than a motorcycle because you don't have the speed and maneuverability that is sometimes needed in order to get out of a bad situation.

i see riding anything on a road with traffic very dangerous...even those tiny subcompact cars

komputodo says

i see riding anything on a road with traffic very dangerous...even those tiny subcompact cars

This. That's why I drive big cars and my kids will when they're under my roof. I trust myself, but no one else. My wife always gives me shit for long stops. It's saved me dozens of time. Guy blew a 4 ways stop going 70mph probably. I would have been injured severely or killed. My son would have been okay likely. The other guy would have been dead given it was a sedan.

I'm the guy that annoys people and I look each way twice. I give a 1-2 second delay on a green light. Phones are worse than drunk driving. I know that would piss off MADD, but it's fact. I will not EVER text and drive. Even on a road trip. It can wait.

I'll drink, but I'm never hammered. Usually a light beer or two over an hour with food. I'm probably .02 BAC by the time I leave the restaurant. Lights on, follow speed limit, make sure lights work and you're golden. I don't drive when drunk drunk, most people don't even notice and I'll just crash if I need to. I'm not stupid.

My father in law wrecked two Harleys drunk and I think on coke. Good dude, but the coke eventually blew his heart up basically. I still think the phones are worse though. Hell I don't even listen to the radio anymore.

Found my next ride!

https://x.com/MyLordBebo/status/1908561666553299120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1908561666553299120%7Ctwgr%5Ea3e8fc4f24af25a6df942f67510e3a0d83465a13%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas.com%2Fautomotive%2Fkawasaki-corleo-robot-horse%2F