Author Topic: Im getting old  (Read 1500 times)

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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Im getting old
« on: October 21, 2012, 12:36:41 AM »
Son in law came over with his dirt bikes and 4 wheelers to store for the winter in the barn. One he has is a 400 susuki 4 wheeler that is a race bike. I though maybe it would be fun at camp this fall. I asked him if i could take it out there. He had no problem with it. yesterday morning i was going to camp so i put the ramps on the truck and went to drive it up. this thing has a clutch and basicaly no low end power. Its about on or off. Half way up the ramp i started to stall so gas it and chucked the ramp right off the truck and was stalled ballanced on one ramp and half way on the tailgate. After some real semi talented stuggling i got it on the truck without killing myself (luck). Took it to camp. Unloading was much easier. Fired it up and took it for a ride. this little thing flys. First and second were no problem as it never caught traction. Hit third and it hooked up and i dammed near went over backwards. My dad was behind me (way behind) on his grizzly. He got a real charge out of it. then on the way back i again was fooling around and had it cranked up. dont know how fast but the son in law said it goes 75 and it was about wound tight and a turn in the road came up a bit fast and after locking up the brakes i came to rest about 2 inches from a 10 inch cedar tree. Maybe age is fianlly catching up with my need for speed!
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Offline Old Syko

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Re: Im getting old
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2012, 05:27:02 AM »
My son is on his second YZF 450.  This one like the last one is built up to run.  100 mph on the last one was more or less an afterthought that took place with only a suggestion from the rider.  Haven't ridden this one yet but yes, they will run.  Coming from a Grizz and a RZR should have been quite a culture shock for ya.


BTW you'll never see me load with ramps that aren't tied firmly to the truck and I'll never sit on the seat when loading.  I'm not afraid to bail to keep me from getting hurt.  I can fix the bike.

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Im getting old
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2012, 01:10:11 AM »
Im not completely green when it comes to faster 4 wheelers. Ive owned a warrior and a raptor before but this thing is more of a high strung rocket. Alot togher to ride as it has no real low end  power and about exploads when the rpms get up. Sure aint going to be dragging any deer with it!! Id bet that 450 is quite a ride.
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Offline markc

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Re: Im getting old
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2012, 01:32:17 PM »
I thought you were going to say you cranked the gas and drove through the back window of your truck.  I've seen that done before.
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Offline Old Syko

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Re: Im getting old
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2012, 02:25:09 PM »
Lloyd you've been around these things long enough to remember the Quadzillas.  500cc single cylinder 2 stroke man killer.  Zero power until around 4 grand then you felt your neck snap.  I think they're trying to emulate those old hot rods with some of today's 4 strokes. 


Sure you can drag deer with that thing if you can stand the smell of burning hair.   :D [size=78%] [/size]

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Im getting old
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2012, 01:32:05 AM »
yup i can remember them but never got the oportunity to drive one. back in the day I had a 250 yz yamaha 2 stroke 3 wheeler that about had an on off switch on it too. Few years back i road one of those yamaha  2 stroke twin cyl banchees. the guy that owned it had a bunch of motor work done to it and it was a true make the hair stand up on your back machine! probably the most scary fast vehicle of any kind ive ever drove.  I guess the thing is im just getting to old for that @@@. Im not in near as good of shape anymore and my reaction times have definately slowed and I guess i just dont think im invinceable anymore :-\ Laughed at my dad the other day at camp. I was fooling around with it roaring up and down the camp road with the front wheels in the air and asked him if he wanted to try it. He used to have a need for speed back in the day too. He just laughed at me! I joking said he could use it to drag deer with and he said if a guy got it up to about 80 it would probably work fine as the deer wouldnt touch the ground much!
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Offline Old Syko

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Re: Im getting old
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2012, 02:59:14 AM »
Saw a guy from down in Kentucky make a drag strip pass on a Banshee last summer that dynoed over 180 HP.  The man was in his 60s and I understand he trail rides the thing regularly.  Like yourself I'm realizing my limits but this guy just doesn't seem to have any.  I can see him going out someday with a big grin on his face.  There are worse things.

Offline charles p

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Re: Im getting old
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2012, 04:23:19 PM »
Good friend had to buy me a rear window.  Need to pull up three inches.  OOPS!

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Im getting old
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2012, 01:06:22 AM »
the one i drove the guy claimed a 140 hp. and i sure believed him afterward. i drove some crazy fast snowmobiles in my day but none of them gave me the hair standing up feeling that that thing did.
Saw a guy from down in Kentucky make a drag strip pass on a Banshee last summer that dynoed over 180 HP.  The man was in his 60s and I understand he trail rides the thing regularly.  Like yourself I'm realizing my limits but this guy just doesn't seem to have any.  I can see him going out someday with a big grin on his face.  There are worse things.
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: Im getting old
« Reply #9 on: November 18, 2012, 10:48:45 AM »
Sorry to be the bummer here, but, Yeah, there are worse things, like spending your 'declining years' paralyzed.........I ain't a prude; been there, done that, been crazy and survived long enough to realize I want to keep the parts Ive got left.
But its still a free enough country that you can still do it that way if you want.
"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
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We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
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45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline Old Syko

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Re: Im getting old
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2012, 12:58:58 PM »
Sorry to be the bummer here, but, Yeah, there are worse things, like spending your 'declining years' paralyzed.........I ain't a prude; been there, done that, been crazy and survived long enough to realize I want to keep the parts Ive got left.
But its still a free enough country that you can still do it that way if you want.


Ever hear the old tried and true saying "If you ain't living on the edge, you're just plain taking up too much space"?  We all have to set our own limits by what we feel confident in doing successfully.  To go beyond those personal limits is just plain stupid.  I for one though don't intend to come to the end wondering if I could have done something,  I want to know I did all I was capable of and the older I get the more important that becomes and the less confident of success I feel.  Then again speed isn't for everyone, but some of us will enjoy it as long as we can.

Offline gcrank1

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Re: Im getting old
« Reply #11 on: November 18, 2012, 01:17:02 PM »
Ive heard it all  ;) ; just thought that in a thread like this a voice of reason was prudent and maybe even obligatory, kinda like those disclaimers we all see  :P . Now that Ive done my duty, and am pretty sure Ive convinced no-one of anything, there is no need to try and change my mind either  ;D .
Rock On
"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974