Helicopter pilots and motorcycles
 

Just curious... Since a lot helicopter pilots seem to have a thing for motorcycles: What kind of bike(s) do you ride; have you ever sold a bike to pay for training; any helicopter pilots out there who do not like motorcycles? Other comments?

Me: 2001 HD Sportster - sold to help pay for training. I really do miss it. Next bike will be a V-Rod.

-Jeff

I hate motorcycles for the pure fact when you get a student that had a motorcycle they seem to have a tendency to roll the throttle the wrong way. Other than that I wish I had one but no money :( Glad to see you have a cruiser rather than a crotch rocket too.

Had a Ducati 916 Senna, was going to be my investment bike!!!

Sold it to pay for my instructor rating.

After 5 years of fulltime employment, I now have a new 2004 R1 on order and a jetski.

Large sacrifice at the time, bit wouldn't change anything now.

Honda VFR750

Honda AfricaTwin XRV750

Did have a Ninja 900 too, until some scumbag ran off with it in the night!

Triumph Bonneville 2002 limited edition in Silver and Lucifer (that's orange to you and me!)

Can't be doing with those modern sports bikes - mainly 'cos they're too high off the ground for my little leggies :)

Appreciate comment about throttle being the wrong way round BUT...

Helicopter throttle is used with a different hand...SO....if you take your right hand and try to operate heli throttle with it you will find out it IS the same way.

...well that's how MY brain works ;)

Cheers

Whirlygig

Hi,

I once read that commercial jets pilots tend to develop a liking for BMWs, the fighter pilots favor the japanese crotch rockets while we chopper pilots want to stay with the vibes and ride HDs or similar.

I have a 99 Sporster 1200 S.

Cheers

ATN

Harley 883 Sportster Custom, fantastic bike. The throttle thing is true... When I first converted to Squirrel there was a hot start that I made hotter!! Was convinced that was the way to close a throttle!! Doesn't help when you are joining CFS at the time... As the boss... Doh!

Road raced for 10 years around Oz and even had a race at Donnington. Finally frustrated with the journey and the repair work I sold the lot to help fund the licence. Looking back, I believe there would have been fewer repairs, had I flown helicopters first. Flying and riding are unique, but have those “Sister skills” that enhance each other.
It’s just natural that pilots ride.

Current bike: FZR1000D (1992)………...for sale, excellent cond. (au)$6500 ono.

1989 ZX10 + a 1976 Z900.
Both Kawasaki's.
No problem with throttle as it is in the other hand.

Sorry guys....but harleys are more suited for nautical purposes. They make great boat anchors (quote "Squeek" unquote).

Who out there has ridden "the Dragon"?

Squeek !!!

Gidday stranger :)

2001 Suzuki SV650, unfaired in blue, trying to sell it now to repay the loan taken out for the training I am about to start. Still in warranty, taxed bargain at £2400 ono!!

Steve76

You've sunk me with that, Captain.
Happy Australia Day mate - email me.

As time marches on I think of the ones I had and wish I still had.

Triumph T120 Bonneville, T120TT; Honda CB750, XL650; Harley and my favorite which is probably worth a ton now. Matchless G50.
If I hit the Lotto it will be a New Ducati or BMW.

Honda VFR800 Anniversary Edn.
 

Had it a couple of years now, v low miles due to working away from home, but now I`m back and the summer is just around the corner :ok: I even wave to Harley riders JT, and a combination of age and over enthusiastic defenders of the law means that I may even slow to Harley speeds this year.

Ref: Throttle

Rode an ex despatch riders bike a few years back and the LH had the `throttle` and the RH had an `Advance/retard`; idea was that the rider was almost certainly right handed therefore needed RH for pistol whilst powering up with left hand. Dont know how fast I went for there was no speedo but what was probably only 35/40 felt like 120!!

Honda Goldwing
 

Honda Goldwing GL 1500 SE,

sold last year to fund trip to USA, saving up for a GL 1800 or Harley. Undecided yet which.

Prefer the Goldwing Look but hurts the knees after a while and too wide and uncomfortable for outriggers for my short legs.

Harley has better legs forward riding position, but tank seems wider to me at the point where the knees go.

Suzuki Intruder 800.
"T" boned a car @ 60 mph, pulling out from a junction. Multiple injuries including a severed lower leg, radial plexus nerve damage to the right arm where the nerve endings 'popped' out of their sockets, severed the urethra, broken toe! cracked pelvis, broken finger. And B**ocks like marrows after taking the gas tank off with my tackle:ok:
And to rub it all in...the CAA took my licence off me:oh:
Took me 12 months to fly again....now worth more in scrap metal than ever before:D
Bikes / marriage, bikes / marriage, bikes / marriage.............Damn - wife still here ;)

Yamaha Dragstar:cool: err.. Severed urethra.......! Yow...!

Fireblade, an I am still intact. Wish I could say the same for the driving licence, it has had 3 points on it since points started, f*c**g cameras, *u*ing police.

KTM 250 enduro bike, nothing like having 13inches

Of suspension travel that is !!!!!!!!!

at the moment an xl1000 varadero