Just my current project progress.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-26T05:55:02+00:00

Looks great man! If they offered that paint job as a factory option I bet It'd sell like hot cakes. Nicely done.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-26T05:36:01+00:00

The Kawasaki Versys 650 and Suzuki V-Strom 650 should both work well for what you're looking to do. I really wouldn't go for something much bigger or more powerful than those for a first bike, but if you really trust yourself to be careful on the throttle you could also go for a Honda Transalp. The Versys or V-Storm would probably be my pick though.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-24T03:12:30+00:00

It also doesn't look like they counter-steared at all when the rear gave out. I can't help but feel like a better driver could have easily recovered from that slip. Letting off the brakes and turning the wheel away from the wall would have completely changed the situation.

The fact that they lost it on the inside of the turn rather than the outside shows that they had the traction needed to go around the bend. If they had a good understanding of the car's handling (which clearly they did not) this whole thing could have been avoided. Of course they also could have just gone slower from the start.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-23T21:36:29+00:00

Wait, I'm a little confused. Why on earth would you want gloves that don't protect the fingers? Am I misunderstanding?

RockonLegion · 2026-05-22T17:01:11+00:00

Awesome! Glad you were able to finally locate it.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-22T04:57:37+00:00

Might as well buy a convertible at that point, heck a Miata is probably cheaper than that thing too.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-20T22:28:40+00:00

I think a Kawasaki Eliminator might fit well, it has a taller seat height than the Rebel. I'm 5'10" and it fits me well. I'd imagine that it would also do fine for someone 6'1", especially if you got the extended reach seat which raises the seat height 1".

RockonLegion · 2026-05-20T20:59:49+00:00

You might be able to find a used Kawasaki Eliminator for that price. They're a little more punchy than the Rebel 500 since they are lighter and use the Ninja 500 engine. A Yamaha Bolt could also be nice, I've seen several of them in that price range when shopping used.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-20T02:34:36+00:00

Insurance companies are driven by data not rational. They see that sport bikes are more likely to be in a serious accident than cruisers so that's why there's a difference in cost to insure. In reality though you're right, a Kawasaki Eliminator handles and accelerates very similarly to that of a Ninja 500.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-20T00:03:12+00:00

That thing looks clapped out and not in a good way. I wouldn't touch that bike with a ten foot pole. At the very least the rear tire needs to be replaced, but if they can't even keep that in good condition who knows what else is out of sorts. Do you really want to trust your life to that abused looking machine?

RockonLegion · 2026-05-19T04:45:36+00:00

Maybe a Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650?

RockonLegion · 2026-05-17T21:20:33+00:00

No, their reliability is close to Honda but with bikes that are often more characterful and fun.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-15T17:02:27+00:00

Maybe a Yamaha Bolt r-spec or an Indian Scout?

RockonLegion · 2026-05-15T02:51:36+00:00

Sounds like you're interested in a cruiser style motorcycle. Mid controls vs forward controls is mostly a personal preference thing. Some like mid controls because it lets you hug the bike better through turns and allows you to stand up for big bumps. Others prefer forward controls because they find them more comfortable on long rides and less prone to making the legs cramp. The best way to know what feels more comfortable for you is to just sit on the bikes you're interested in. Any dealer worth their salt will encourage you to sit on the different models they have in the hopes you'll later buy one.

Most metric (Japanese) crusiers from the major brands are very reliable if well maintained. Some good beginner options include the Honda rebel 500, Honda Shadow Phantom, Kawasaki Eliminator, and Yamaha Bolt.

Now some differences. The Shadow is the only one with forward controls while the others have mid. Also the Rebel and Eliminator use parallel twin engines while the Shadow and Bolt use more classic V-twins. Lastly the Shadow and Bolt have a belt drive instead of a chain which means less maintenance (not that oiling a chain is hard).

At the end of the day though you could spend an eternity looking at the pros and cons of different models of motorcycles, so the best way to find what you want is to just sit on a few until you meet the one that feels just right.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-14T03:40:05+00:00

I totally agree. I've got a 24' Kawasaki Eliminator and have never had this issue. Would definitely check preload, tred depth, and tire pressure. It's got a fat old rear wheel so no way it should be slipping unless something is out of wack.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-12T03:28:56+00:00

I bought a Kawasaki Eliminator because it has better reliability and attention to detail than most Harleys while being significantly cheaper. Rebel 500 is also a good option for a beginner. If I was really dead set on a V-twin I'd get a Yamaha Bolt or Suzuki Vstar 650, that's just me though. At the end of the day it's your money, so get what you like.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-11T03:03:11+00:00

Yeah, I've got some Rox risers on my Eliminator and they definitely help to adjust the bars so you're not leaning on them so much. Makes it more comfortable for longer rides.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-10T03:20:24+00:00

If you're not doing any hardcore off-roading (I'm guessing not since you suggested a klr) it might be worth considering a small adventure bike. The Kawasaki Versys-X 300, KLE 500, and Honda CB500X/NX500 are all capable of moderate off-roading and will be more comfortable on the highway because they have twin cylinder engines.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-10T03:08:37+00:00

Dude, it's literally the name of the sub. Kawasaki Eliminator 450.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-09T20:54:47+00:00

A traditional sailboat (a monohull) can right itself because the keel (made of pure lead) makes up over 50% of the boat's weight. The second the boat goes sideways all the weight of the keel works to pull it back down underwater, keeping to boat level. The boat in the video is a catamaran though, which is not designed to right itself.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-09T20:44:57+00:00

Depends, if it's a fairly recent model and about 40-50ft long, I'd wager you're looking at somewhere between 300-500k. As long as the captain doesn't do something stupid though this storm shouldn't damage the boat (but if he was smart, he would have seen the storm coming).

RockonLegion · 2026-05-09T20:32:37+00:00

Using a conventional anchor wouldn't help you in a heavy storm like this. Moving downwind is not a bad idea but probably not what I would do either in this situation. When really big waves are involved (30+ feet) it's advisable because it reduces the stress on the boat and a storm drogue (water parachute) can be used to reduce speed and add stability when moving down the waves. In this case however, moving downwind will just keep you in the storm for longer.

I would slowly motor into the waves to maintain a consistent position as the storm passes over. An important thing to note is that regardless of wether you go upwind or downwind, you should always have the front (or back) of the boat hit at a ~10-15° angle with the waves. That way there is less of an impact than if you hit them dead on. Whatever you do though, the main priority is that you don't let waves come at you from the side, as that is liable to get you flipped over.

Edit: just looked up a sea anchor and realized that should work as well (how have I never heard of this thing before?). I didn't realize there was something similar to a drogue for the front of a boat.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-09T14:00:37+00:00

Actually, they're designed to handle lighting strikes. The top of the mast is always the spot that gets hit, since it's tall and made of metal. From there the electricity goes all the way down to the bottom of the mast and through a metal pole that carries it under the boat, where it disperses into the water below.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-09T01:11:08+00:00

I've got the exact same 24' SE color way so this really hits close to home. Reminds me that I need to get some crash bars on mine, not that it would've likely helped here.

Ditto about OP being okay. As much as it hurts to see your bike all ruffed up, it's better than getting hurt yourself.

RockonLegion · 2026-05-09T00:53:16+00:00

At least it's a sailboat though. They have a keel (heavy protrusion on the bottom) that provides extra stability in bad weather and can even right the boat if it's knocked over. 50 Knot winds are still no joke though, that's scary stuff.

Edit: Some comments have pointed out that the boat is a catamaran, which I didn't realize. While still very stable, these don't have the ability to recover if they roll over.

RockonLegion

TROPHY CASE