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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: bad Chad on February 17, 2018, 06:07:53 PM

Title: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: bad Chad on February 17, 2018, 06:07:53 PM
And bricks and cobblestones where only used in towns and cities.  What I'm getting at is if we had to ride on dirt/gravel everywhere you really wanted to go, what type of bike would you choose?   Duh, this is just for fun.

I think I would get me a TT650 or some such, and yes if it were really the case their would be a ton more suitable bikes to choose from.  But for this thought challenge, you can only pick from motorcycles that have or already are in production, to fantasy bikes here!

I want to get from Newark NJ to the San Francisco bay, and the roads are basically 1917.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: guzzisteve on February 17, 2018, 06:11:08 PM
I'd take a mule, no flats.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: oldbike54 on February 17, 2018, 06:15:17 PM
 UNIMOG .

 Dusty
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: twowings on February 17, 2018, 06:18:24 PM
Since I can't ever afford a Stelvio, a Royal Enfield Himalayan...and my Mosko Moto luggage...
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: jacksonracingcomau on February 17, 2018, 06:23:35 PM
In 1985 I rode my 1978 Le Mans from Nairobi to Morroco very few sealed roads, prob much worse than 1917 USA - similar distance if not further
So I think I would take same bike I still ride, many dirt roads here in Aus anyway, rarely do I go out without riding at least one.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Turin on February 17, 2018, 06:46:20 PM
I think that if we nrver had paved roads, vehicle evolution might look pretty different.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Sasquatch Jim on February 17, 2018, 07:52:40 PM
Suzuki DS 650 E hands down.
 Or a Suzuki 200cc Van Van.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on February 17, 2018, 08:36:46 PM
One of the same Guzzis I already own - my '69 Ambassador or V700. Why would I need anything else?
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Rough Edge racing on February 18, 2018, 10:11:39 AM
 30 years ago my elderly neighbor, who in  the 1920's, made a motorcycle trip from NY to California with two friends...Two newer V twin Harleys and an Indian.. He said out side of cities the roads were very poor and for hours at a time they had to stand aside the running bikes pushing them through miles of nearly impassible mud that was considered roads...sand, rocks, detours,flat tires, breakdowns but they got to the west coast with the bikes still running...About three weeks total time...
 Take a look a 1920's JD Harley or Indian Scout, three speeds, about 20 hp on a good day,hand shift ,foot clutch and of course no electric starter...Any reasonable weight modern bike would be far better....
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: blackcat on February 18, 2018, 10:21:52 AM
30 years ago my elderly neighbor, who in  the 1920's, made a motorcycle trip from NY to California with two friends...

I wonder if they followed the Lincoln Highway?
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: oldbike54 on February 18, 2018, 10:30:59 AM
 Maybe if all the roads were still dirt we would have cars and motorbikes that fly .

  Dusty
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Numbercruncher on February 18, 2018, 11:21:48 AM
Beta 390 RRS if they were single track.

Africa Twin if they are really rough.

Stelvio for anything that falls into the category of not paved or unimproved.

NC
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: giusto on February 18, 2018, 01:00:53 PM
Waiting on the V85     :popcorn:
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: LowRyter on February 18, 2018, 01:14:41 PM
if we didn't have roads, we'd never have cars to drive on them. 

Kinda chicken and egg deal, without a transportation system we'd never be able to to manufacture and distribute enough stuff needed to build a transportation system.

 :shocked:
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Lannis on February 18, 2018, 04:48:47 PM
if we didn't have roads, we'd never have cars to drive on them. 

Kinda chicken and egg deal, without a transportation system we'd never be able to to manufacture and distribute enough stuff needed to build a transportation system.

 :shocked:

You're right, so we need to change the conditions of the proposal.

Say some apocalypse in late 2018 destroyed all the roads in the USA, so that they were about in the conditions that roads were back about 1917 - dirt, gravel, broken pavement.  You are backpacking from Atlanta and have almost reached Birmingham, Alabama, on your way to Alaska, where you hope to start a new life.

Society is pulling itself back up, there are gas stations coming back on line, electricity's back on,  but it's going to take 50 years to get back to 2018 conditions.   Meanwhile, you've come across .... the Barber Museum, which was protected and untouched during the events.   You have saved the life of a young cousin of George Barber from the clutches of a mutated Morlock-like creature in the ruins of Atlanta, and he offers you any bike in his collection as a reward.   You realize that THIS is your ticket to Alaska!   You can choose a '69 Ambo, a Beta 390, a Guzzi Lemans, a Suzook DR650, a JD Harley, a RE Himalayan, a Guzzi Stelvio, or any other bike you've ever heard of.   You have to be able to fix it if it breaks (or maybe it won't break).

Which do you choose!

Lannis
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: oldbike54 on February 18, 2018, 04:50:50 PM
 R80GS .

 Dusty
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Murray on February 18, 2018, 04:54:53 PM
You're right, so we need to change the conditions of the proposal.

Say some apocalypse in late 2018 destroyed all the roads in the USA, so that they were about in the conditions that roads were back about 1917 - dirt, gravel, broken pavement.  You are backpacking from Atlanta and have almost reached Birmingham, Alabama, on your way to Alaska, where you hope to start a new life.


Which do you choose!

Lannis

A matt black 1975 XB Falcon coupe...... there are no options.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: guzzisteve on February 18, 2018, 05:00:38 PM
IF that were the case maybe steel wheels and steam powered. I still like the mule though.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Lannis on February 18, 2018, 05:03:42 PM
A matt black 1975 XB Falcon coupe...... there are no options.

I don't think the Barber museum has one of those.   The last of the V8 Interceptors ended up elsewhere, I think.

Lannis
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on February 18, 2018, 05:27:53 PM
You're right, so we need to change the conditions of the proposal.

Say some apocalypse in late 2018 destroyed all the roads in the USA, so that they were about in the conditions that roads were back about 1917 - dirt, gravel, broken pavement.  You are backpacking from Atlanta and have almost reached Birmingham, Alabama, on your way to Alaska, where you hope to start a new life.

Society is pulling itself back up, there are gas stations coming back on line, electricity's back on,  but it's going to take 50 years to get back to 2018 conditions.   Meanwhile, you've come across .... the Barber Museum, which was protected and untouched during the events.   You have saved the life of a young cousin of George Barber from the clutches of a mutated Morlock-like creature in the ruins of Atlanta, and he offers you any bike in his collection as a reward.   You realize that THIS is your ticket to Alaska!   You can choose a '69 Ambo, a Beta 390, a Guzzi Lemans, a Suzook DR650, a JD Harley, a RE Himalayan, a Guzzi Stelvio, or any other bike you've ever heard of.   You have to be able to fix it if it breaks (or maybe it won't break).

Which do you choose!

Lannis

Sticking with my original choice - '69 Ambo.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on February 18, 2018, 05:30:30 PM
A matt black 1975 XB Falcon coupe...... there are no options.

Check out this story: https://barnfinds.com/landlocked-35-years-1972-ford-falcon-gt/
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Lannis on February 18, 2018, 05:45:39 PM
Check out this story: https://barnfinds.com/landlocked-35-years-1972-ford-falcon-gt/

It would be a terrible thing if I had that car.

It appears to be in good stock condition, good interior, etc.   It would absolutely ruin the looks and the value when I had to cut a hole in the hood for a supercharger .....

Lannis
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on February 18, 2018, 05:48:16 PM
It would be a terrible thing if I had that car.

It appears to be in good stock condition, good interior, etc.   It would absolutely ruin the looks and the value when I had to cut a hole in the hood for a supercharger .....

Lannis

 :laugh:
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: ohiorider on February 18, 2018, 05:55:42 PM
R80GS .

 Dusty
The PD version with the larger fuel tank?  I'd certainly take that over my R100GS.  Although the Akront rims that work with tubeless tires on my R100GS would be desirable.  The R80 in the attached pix doesn't appear to be running tubeless.


(http://thumb.ibb.co/b1Os37/BMW_R80_GS_PD_jpeg.jpg) (http://ibb.co/b1Os37)

image img (http://imgbb.com/)


Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Turin on February 18, 2018, 06:45:23 PM
1 Hover craft full of eels.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: rodekyll on February 18, 2018, 08:29:31 PM
1 Hover craft full of eels.

That gives "slipstreaming" a new meaning.   :shocked:
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on February 19, 2018, 10:20:56 AM
And bricks and cobblestones where only used in towns and cities.  What I'm getting at is if we had to ride on dirt/gravel everywhere you really wanted to go, what type of bike would you choose?   Duh, this is just for fun.

I think I would get me a TT650 or some such, and yes if it were really the case their would be a ton more suitable bikes to choose from.  But for this thought challenge, you can only pick from motorcycles that have or already are in production, to fantasy bikes here!

I want to get from Newark NJ to the San Francisco bay, and the roads are basically 1917.

Hang on, Ill ask my Father, that's exactly the sort of roads they had.


He said "A Harley with no front brakes".

(http://image.ibb.co/iLXaSR/Uncles.jpg)
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Sheepdog on February 19, 2018, 11:03:09 AM
An old Triumph Tiger, a BMW /2, or some other lightweight and super simple bike from the sixties. Something that weighs in at +-400 lbs. Dirt roads are a chore on heavy bikes...

(https://image.ibb.co/kaPTAn/B1_D30_B38_76_D3_46_B3_B1_E6_FAC285_A0_C57_B.jpg)
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Ncdan on February 19, 2018, 08:08:25 PM
No brained, Suzuki Storm 650 or maybe the 1000. Probably 650 as it’s plenty powerful enough.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: n3303j on February 19, 2018, 08:47:17 PM

(http://thumb.ibb.co/i8KF8H/12_31_08_1355.jpg) (http://ibb.co/i8KF8H)

My Ural, of course.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Lannis on February 20, 2018, 08:52:17 AM

(http://thumb.ibb.co/i8KF8H/12_31_08_1355.jpg) (http://ibb.co/i8KF8H)

My Ural, of course.

Not a bad idea.   I hadn't thought till I saw your picture about the fact that no one would be clearing the roads, and that wintertime travel would be ... well, a problem, best sorted by a 2WD Ural!

Lannis
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: rocker59 on February 20, 2018, 09:13:38 AM
A matt black 1975 XB Falcon coupe...... there are no options.

Yep.  There is only one choice.

(http://www.madmaxmovies.com/mad-max-interceptor/mad-max-interceptor-farm-road-with-mel.jpg)
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Scud on February 20, 2018, 05:30:37 PM
Just last week I voted with my wallet for a 2017 Husqvarna 710 Enduro. Monstrous amounts of fun. Here's a view from a dirt road that goes up Mount Palomar, site of the recent San Diego (Lake Henshaw) gathering.

(https://static.imgzeit.com/reduced/0b7a1b86579ddedc/IMG_7523.jpg)

But I must say, it is surprisingly good on the tarmac too.
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Lannis on February 20, 2018, 05:46:31 PM
Just last week I voted with my wallet for a 2017 Husqvarna 710 Enduro. Monstrous amounts of fun. Here's a view from a dirt road that goes up Mount Palomar, site of the recent San Diego (Lake Henshaw) gathering.

(https://static.imgzeit.com/reduced/0b7a1b86579ddedc/IMG_7523.jpg)

But I must say, it is surprisingly good on the tarmac too.

Good "King of the World" picture!   :thumb:

Amazing how technology has advanced to a allow a smooth, ridable 700cc single.

I remember when Yamaha simply upsized their 360 to a 500, the thing was unrideable unless you short-shifted at 3500 RPM or so.   They redesigned it later to make it usable, but that's one big solitary piston on that Husky!

Lannis
Title: Re: If modern tarmac/cement roads where not invented...
Post by: Scud on February 20, 2018, 08:14:53 PM
Thanks. I was feeling pretty "king of the world" on my first ride. And yeah, it's a big thumper, but it really does feel more like a twin. As for tech, it's got a fair bit. 4 valves, 2 plugs. 3 fueling maps, including a "bad fuel" map and switchable ABS.

It's a true go-anywhere machine and I'd feel pretty comfortable setting off for a long journey on it.