My summer project....

[OTB]

I get to ride all kinds of stuff, and my "Main" bike is the Bimota....I don't think I'll EVER sell it, but having a bike like that can be a bit of a hassle, sometimes.

Like, when it's going to rain. Don't want to get all that CF, Ti and billet
stuff ucky, right?

Like when you want to ride down to the mall, or to a movie, or overnight someplace....paranoid that somebody'll steal it, or worse, that some pimply-faced wannabe will decide it's OK to sit on it while I'm not around, pretend he's Rossi, and then freak when I walk outside and start screaming at him and he leaps off and flops it over..............

Anyway, I've been looking for an "everyday" bike; something that was low-cost, was decent performance and looks-wise but that I wouldn't be sweating it everytime I left it out in public, or that I wouldn't mind riding 211 miles in the rain (door to door from house to cabin in the mountains). Something that I could take to Summit and wouldn't feel bad about thrashing a little; maybe do some low cost mods and have a little fun with; maybe be a greyed-out hooligan once in a while.

Besides, ya'll know that I'm half a bubble off plumb when it comes to what I like in bikes.....I LIKE weird bikes; Suzuki Rotarys, Yamaha Seca Turbos, the Benelli, one-off Ducatis, new and old alike stuff that maybe never really caught on.............

Announcing My Summer Project.

With the purchase of the little UM/Hyosung GT650S, I think I've found a suitable everyday bike. It's a little, uhm, weird, it wasn't a big commercial success (witness the multitude of bankrupt dealerships), it's cheap, it is actually a pretty competent motorcycle, if a little minimalist in execution, and I think it'll make a great summer project. The closest dealer is about two hours away, so service is going to be a self kinda thing. No warranty, so if it breaks, I'm gonna be just like any other joe and I'll record the trials and tribulations of owning one of these things.

I've checked around, and there is a decent amount of aftermarket stuff available to mebbe take care of some of it's shortcomings; plus it'll be FUN to flog a bike a bit without worrying about decreasing it's value.

In other words, this would be a bike I would buy if I were just starting out and didn't have a lot of money and wanted to learn and grow on; like most new riders.

If there's any interest, I'll chronicle the successes, failures, strengths and weaknesses of this little outcast; as well as keep track of costs of ownership, from gas and oil, to mods and repairs.

If any of you are interested and get out this way (Baltimore, Maryland) this summer, I'm going to invite you to help me; by riding it, racing or tracking it, and writing about your impressions and experiences with the bike.

I don't know about posting the stuff here, or mebbe setting up a Twitter or blog account someplace.... suggestions are welcome as to format, placement, ect.

Also need a NAME for the project: suggestions are welcome.

Any feedback???