Gas prices at the PUMP!

[t2p]

jeffkics:
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why you son-of-a-gun ..... I had heard that Honda would be supplying engines to GM ...... but I never guessed Saturn would be using the 3.5 in the Saturn Vue ......
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The Honda 3.5 was rated at 240 HP a few years ago - now up to 250.
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Congratulations - you now have a vehicle powered by one of the premier engine builders on the planet. IMHO - no one builds an engine like Honda.
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When Honda became serious in F1, they dominated. Ditto for CART. Unfortunately for the engineers chosen to work on those successful programs, many were reassigned to work on low emisssion and increased efficiencies programs that have been and/or are to be applied to the 'normal' engines.
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t2p

[Heraclid]

Yeah, our stock 215 hp is nothing for a SUV anymore. It's nothing special at all these days. There are plenty of 'em coming out now with 250+ hp. The Vue is around that, as is the Honda Pilot, Acura MDX... the list goes on a bit, and that's not even counting Porsches and Infinitis at the top end. That's why I really want to get my hands on the supercharger. That'll just get you competitive with some of the newer vehicles, but still not way ahead of the game, either. But at least the VX remains one of the most all-around capable ones out there and still looks the coolest. :-)

[Andrey]

Originally posted by Heraclid
Yeah, our stock 215 hp is nothing for a SUV anymore. It's nothing special at all these days. There are plenty of 'em coming out now with 250+ hp. The Vue is around that, as is the Honda Pilot, Acura MDX... the list goes on a bit, and that's not even counting Porsches and Infinitis at the top end. That's why I really want to get my hands on the supercharger. That'll just get you competitive with some of the newer vehicles, but still not way ahead of the game, either. But at least the VX remains one of the most all-around capable ones out there and still looks the coolest. :-)

AMEN BROTHER !

[SPAZZ]

I just drove a 1,000 mile trip from Idaho to Cali and 1,000 miles back, plus what I drove while there, at about $50 a tank average!!! Expensive mod trip...but well worth it in the long run;Dp; ........

[t2p]

I also feel the 'stock 215 horsepower' rating may be a tad optimistic.
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Given the weight of the VX and the gearing, the numbers do not 'add up' - the performance should be better ........ 0-60 times, etc.
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Still a great vehicle when you look at the total package.

[joe-yamma]

Originally posted by nater
xdfarrx, yeah, It's an incredible machine. It's my first bike, and I've had it three weeks. I got a helmet, gloves and some body armor. Time for a safety class next.
Riding is awesome. Nothing can compare.

nater, congrats on the Buell. IMO they are cool bikes. i really like the design cues (fuel tank, oil tank, exhaust, etc).
good to hear that you got the right gear and that you're interested in the MSF. too many are buying bikes and not thinking about these things.
i would suggest a good pair of boots as well. alpinestar, sidi, and oxtar come to mind as good brands (check out www.newenough.com and www.kneedraggers.com)
i have an Arai RX7-Corsair helmet and Alpinestars jacket, gloves and boots and I can't say enough about them.
have fun and ride safe bro.

joe

ps - i ride a 99 Yamaha R1... i will be riding it to work as much as possible (76 mile round-trip commute)

[nater]

Thanks, joe-yamma. I love my new bike. There are TONS of motorcycles here in Colorado. (Mostly Harley's). My bike gets so much attention wherever I go. The Harley riders hear it coming, then do a double-take when they see the bike. (sounds just like a harley). All the import riders like to ask about it, its atypical design cues, the american build, etc.

I will admit that the jap bikes are near perfection in design, smoothness, reliability, etc. However, I chose the Buell for the same reason so many here drive the VX:

There's nothing else like it on the road.

Also, thanks for the safety tips. I have FieldSheer leather and mesh jacket with CE rated pads and a polycarbonate helmet, and Joe rocket gloves with gauntlet. I'll be upgrading gear as I can, I'm hard to fit: I'm 6'5", 245 lbs (reasonably lean) and size 16 EEEE wide feet. Boots will be a problem, but I'll keep shopping.

Keep the shiny side up!

Nate

[joe-yamma]

sounds good nate! definitely keep and eye on www.newenough.com... they have good deals on gear and i bet you can get some good prices on those sizes.

my wife was just out in boulder for conference for work and was all excited because she saw an 04 R1 for the first time in person!

joe

[t2p]

Size 16 ! ............ you and Ron Lechien have something in common ....... (Lechien was a factory Yamaha off road rider - and later Kawasaki - years ago). He may have been a National champion ..... cant' remember).
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I strongly recommend the MSF course. You will not learn how to ride like Doohan - but you may pick up one thing that could help you someday. I took this course - and I had been riding (off road) for close to thirty years. The best advice I can give you is to 'ride like you are invisible'.
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My fav coat is the FirstGear Scout. Not the current Scout III - don't like the collar - but the original Scout models. It is the 'Swiss
Army Knife' of bike coats. Looks good on and off the bike. Dual front and rear torso vents and 'ram air' vents on the sleeves near the wrists. Heavy but cool. Not a track coat though - competition grade/weight leather, but no provision for armor - and no zipper attachment for pants.
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I also prefer Arai helmets. I also have a few Shoei helmets, but prefer Arai. Lately, I have been using an Arai 'Chandler Replica' - (when Chandler campaigned a HD) ..... might be a collectible ? ....(see link below) .. I can't remember the model - not as neat as the RX-7 Corsair (my fav) though.
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http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=3154

[t2p]

Nater:
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I just checked out the pic of the Buell. Absolutely stunning. Wow. Outasight.
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That is not the Buell I remember.
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t2p

[nater]

Thanks for the props, guys. t2p, yes, it rides as good as it looks. The main thing to get used to is the 6800 RPM redline. Fortunately, the torque comes on at like 2500 RPM, so you don't have to wait for the pull. Very odd sensation for the import rider who wind up to 12 or 13k in each gear. It is strange to have so much power so soon off of idle. While cruising, you learn to just leave the bike in a higher gear, and forget downshifting, you rarely need to.

Here's a nice dyno chart:

http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146-0312-twin-dyno.jpg

and the write up:

http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/2004...12r/index.html


I wear a polycarbonate KBC helmet (inferior to fiberglass), only because of fit quality. I tried on the Shoei's; the shape was all wrong in the front, even with custom pads. The Arai's didn't seem much better. My face has kind of a strong jaw line and cheek line; the KBC seemed to be the only helmet that was less round. In general, my head is more elongated (or narrower, whichever way you look at it) than most guys, but my jaw/ cheekbones are not.

Any recommendations on helmets?

Nate

[shoota77]

KBC VR-1 is a great helmet for its price. Removable liner and cheek pads. Real soft on the inside. HJC makes some quality helmets too at a reasonable price. Both companies are on the way up in terms of quality.

[Joe_Black]

It's really neat how many riders there are among the VX ranks. I love all bikes in general, but Kawasaki has always had a special place in my heart. They gave me a taste of professional racing in the 80's on their dime and I've never owned a more reliable machine with the possible exception of a brief affair with the BMW Boxer. All-in-all everyone is making great bikes so you can get what you like and fits well without a worry. Most of the local bike-nites are very non-denominational and everyone enjoys checking out the other rides. One of my machines I haven't culled from the herd yet is a '74 Z1, and it's a great litmus test for finding true bikers. A grizzled old hog rider will limp over and look it over end to end then start telling stories from "Z" encounters of the past. True bikers appreciate the ride, not the brand.

As for helmets, Simpson Super Bandit! Try looking around at 120 and you'll know why. Leathers? Vanson. For when 120 goes sour.;eekr;

[tiggergreen]

The Toyota Prius only gets 8 to 10 mpg than a Camry??? Wow - I had no idea that the Toyota Camry was in the 50+ mpg range...

The Prius gets 60 mpg city and 55 mpg highway... Right now, the average on dealer lot time for a Prius is six days... That is pretty incredible.

Basically, the Prius gets four times the miles on the same amount of gas in the city as a Vehicross. Three times as much on the highway. I just drove from Hillsboro down to San Diego and it cost me around $160 - it would have only cost around $50 in the Prius...

I love my VX - but I would love to get that kind of mileage in it. I think it is possible, but at great expense. Some day I may just get around to looking into it. But I will have to have a lot more money...

Brent

[azskyrider]

Who knows... Maybe in a few years the whole world will be in a GAS crisis and we might all be in the world of the "MAD MAX"