For a unique machine Exile Cycles built the RX-StreetFighter for the biker build-off in 2006, and this machine is currently on sale on any consumer for a hefty price. It is a very unique looking machine with exquisite craftsmanship to make this machine. If you like carbon fiber then you can only love this machine and its unique appearance. This kind of work comes with a price tag to match.
Features
- Carbon Fiber:
- Wheels
- Fenders
- Gas Tank
- Air Cleaner
- Points Cover
- Belt Guards
- Muffler
- Side-Panels
- Belt Piece
- Engine Jims 120 Twin-Cam coupled to their 6-Speed Transmission
Price $65’000
Link: Exile Cycles
Since we are going back into riding season I have a few recommendations for gear. Just wearing the protective gear is good to a certain extent, getting a back protector helps deflect damage from your spine upon impact. This type of protection helps decrease the possibility of extreme damage to your back, it can only lower the risk. This type of protection is important, and when I have mine on it feels nice and comfortable when I’m riding.
I have gotten my armor from Knox since they specialize their equipment for fast riders and exceed all regulatory levels of testing. They have their own level of testing so this the product I would recommend.
Price: £99.99
Link: Planet Knox
I have ridden and owned a lot of bikes over the years and I can still remember the feel of each machine. And I remember why I loved each and every one of them, each machine is unique and has its own character so I decided to rank them against each other even though some are different kinds of machines, but for each machine I say what are the likes and dislikes of each.
My Ranking:
07 Ducati 1098s
- Fantastic power delivery, you feel the grunt form the bottom, great handling and brakes
05 Yamaha R1
- Fantastic machine, it was a little tamer with a solid feel to it but it was a bit lacking on power but very enjoyable
07 Yamaha R1
- A different creature from Yamaha, they have improved in the handling and top end power, but the low end really feels missing, and fantastic breaks
06 BMW K1200R
- Lots of low end grunt all through to the top, good power delivery, handles its’ weight great
01 Yamaha R1
- One hell of machine, it took all your strength to keep the front wheel on the ground. So much attitude, I loved it
06 Triumph Daytona Speed Triple 675
- Great low end power and handling, the finish is a bit lacking but still a very fun bike
04 Yamaha FZ6
- Great bike to learn on but lacking in power delivery and handling, forks and brakes needed to be upgraded to be more enjoyable
It has a been a little while since I have gone riding at night, and I had some work to go do in Shuweikh so I decided to go on the bike. I headed out early so that I could go for a nice enjoyable ride. The humidity makes things interesting since its a little warm, but the weather is just perfect at 30C – 32C at night. With the humidity as your moving the breeze feels cool. It has been a little while since I went riding on Robo and I felt like going for a different kind of ride. And I love the feeling that I get from this bike, the raw power at the wheel, the brute strength. Robo can handle those corners, but I also feel like I can rip through anything with this machine. Its an intense feeling, and I took the highways because I didn’t want to slow down or stop at any point.
The only issues I ran into was the idiots on the road, its funny even when I’m sitting in my lane holding my speed somebody always does something stupid. In these kinds of situations I tend to push forward and get out of the way of these idiots. I have also come to the conclusion that women do not see anything on the road, and I really do mean anything. Why is it always women that swerve into a lane without a look, the problem is that it isn’t intentional and when they find out there is another object next to them they panic. I’m always fair to who ever is driving but this is a trend that I always run into. Well at least I manage to react fast enough to get out of the way and my mood wasn’t affected at all. The perfect weather, the rumble of the machine, and the good music pumping through my headphones kept me smiling all ride long.
How can you ask for better service then this, I really don’t think that Tristar can really do better then they are. You really do pay for what you get with this company. You can always get cheaper bikes but I don’t think you could get better service.
I have had a problem with the clutch recently, I had the slipper clutch from Ducati installed as one of the modifications to the 1098s over 5 months ago. And recently after a little break there was an issue. They called me yesterday telling me that they installed the old clutch and they tried tweak the slipper clutch and a lot other solutions but nothing worked, the launch was still rough. They contacted Ducati and opened a case with them waiting to hear from them. So that I could ride Pyro for the weekend they have installed the old clutch and brought him back today to me, and I wasn’t charged for any of the work or transport. What more could you ask, they called and updated me, they told me what they were doing, and I told them I didn’t mind them keeping the bike but they went the extra mile to make sure I have the bike for the weekend. Tristar is one the top companies for service, when they can do something they do everything they can to make sure things are cleared up and the customer is happy, and I’m one happy customer.
After my Julia’a ride I had a few issues which need to be dealt with such as the Clutch. Something is going which is making it very difficult for the clutch to be engaged smoothly. luckily I contacted the TriStar technician and gave him a full description of what I was doing and what was the result. Even after a 140 Km ride I knew what wasn’t wrong so that we could rule a few things out. I ask him to take it for a test ride to see what I’m talking about, the clutch is a bit jerky so hopefully they can solve it for me because the weather is just too nice these days not to be riding. As soon as I shut the phone from the technician the Tristar driver called me up to pick up the bike, with them everything is automated and I love dealing with them. They make things really easy, and hopefully they can fix this so I can ride on the weekend. Now to try Robo out and see if he is having any issues which need to be sorted out!
A friend of mine texted me just before futoor telling me he wants a change of venue, I thought why not what do you have in mind. He wants to go for a drive to somewhere but with not traffic and get a coffee and then drive back, just to break the routine. The weather is nice, and I had some music I wanted to listen to so I thought why not. He said how bout we go to the new Starbucks in Julai’a, I didn’t know they opened one that far out.
So he came after futoor around 7:30pm, and he was going in his car and I decided to take a ride on Pyro since I haven’t been for a little while. I knew a few things were going to be odd since I haven’t ridden the bike for a little while and the ride is going to show me all the kinks. We went to gas station to fill up and check tire pressures before heading out. Then we got on Malik Fahad Highway going towards Julai’a, and it was nice & pretty empty. We were cruising between 140 – 180 the whole way there, I was listening to music enjoying the breeze.
The weather was just fantastic, it went from 35C all the way down to 28C when we got to Julai’a. At first we weren’t sure if the Starbucks was at Kempinski or else where, so we just decided to try our luck and head straight there. After getting there we were told it was by another resort up the road, and as we drove back down the road we found it next to a Sultan Center and a few people were there.
Then the hooligans showed up skidding around the parking lot on their buggies, and I was going to kill them if they even got dust on Pyro or the car. It was funny these kids had nothing to do, and so they kept going back and forth to that spot. The location of the Starbucks is nice, but it would be nicer to have outdoor seating, we moved a table outside and enjoyed the nice weather.
We were talking to the manager about this Starbucks and the expectations they had for it. During the week it gets very low sales, but during the weekend it would get between 3-4 times the target set for the store so it is doing well. They are open from 6 am to 12 am during a normal week, and maybe during winter on the weekends they might be open 24 hours. He was also telling us about lots of interesting stories, he told us bikers come out every Monday or Tuesday in about a group of 12 – 15 from 8pm to 10pm which is nice. Then he was telling us the stories of drunk guys coming in the morning and drinking lots of coffee, and about the girls that come park their cars there and leave with guys, and how when the place is full of girls the guys come by the truck loads later. It was hilarious listening to all the stories and what goes on, it was fun talking to him and after we were done with our drinks we decided to head back, and we were really enjoying the beautiful weather and the mostly empty roads back. We got back by 9:45 pm, and it was a nice change in the routine. The only thing I need to do is adjust the clutch on the bike, its a bit stiff and needs some tweaking.
I haven’t been riding for the last three weeks before traveling so my bikes were parked for a month and a half. I called up TriStar to pickup Robo and Pyro to give them a quick check and to charge their batteries overnight. I thought they might be busy since riding season is coming up soon. They called me back up the next morning since I called at night and sent the driver that day to pick up both bikes.
They brought back both bikes ready and kicking, they have a check list which is important checking on a motorcycles vitals.
The List:
- Tire Pressure
- Oil Levels
- Coolant Levels
- Adjust Chain tension and lubricate (K1200R doesn’t have chain)
- Charge Battery
There service is always good, and its nice to see the boys back in shape and I will be riding soon again. I won’t be riding to work any more since there no longer is a half Thursday and I’m happy I get to ride a more and also get to sleep in a bit as well. I missed riding both these machines, and I thought how they would be different to ride in the highways of California but I don’t know when that would happen and if that would happen. It would be nice to ride these machines in the cold weather again.
During the early morning and afternoons I would go riding, and one afternoon just after having lunch with my friends I decided to head up to San Francisco to take the long sweeping highways and then enjoying the ride inside the city. The route being shown is only my riding inside the city across the Golden Gate Bridge. The best part was crossing the bridge and getting a very cool breeze and heading into Sausalito. Usually I go to the more curvy roads in the area such the 9, 35, and Alpine but this time I just felt like going to the city. There is something very different about San Francisco and I enjoy going there, the great part is the amount of motorcycle parking available. Then on the way back I stopped at my friend’s restaurant to get a quick bite and wait for him to finish his shift at the restuarant then we headed back down south. And as we sort of raced each other for the next 40 minutes of riding.
So a little while back my 05 Yamaha R1 was stolen from the apartment complex and since then I have moved the bikes to my friend’s house. You really don’t think that something of yours could ever be stolen until it is. So I received the insurance cheque in the mail in July, insurance companies do take their time.
So as soon as I got the cheque I asked my friend to go to San Jose Yamaha and get another 07 Yamaha R1. He told me what color I told him surprise me, he is the friend who is getting married and his engagement was in Egypt. I told him not to send me any pictures I just asked him to break in the bike by the time I get there. And it was just broken in by the time I got there at 570 miles for the first service. As soon as I took that machine I noticed how much of monster it is, he got it in Gun Metal Grey which is really nice. Its looks black at night and a very nice shade of grey during the day. This quite a different machine then the 05 R1 but like that bike it needs a little tweaking at the bottom to get it off the line faster. The crazy part is how powerful it is, if you give it full throttle at mid range you have to hold on for your life since its got a lot more top end power. Also another new modification is that it has more stability at high speed which is great, and even sharper at turns then before.
