Daydreaming: Motorcycle of my dreams -

- The styling of the Confederate Hellcat (Standard/Cafe Racer, not a cruiser)
- The hollow-tank/frame/oil resevoir/muffler placement from Buell
- Vertically-stacked LED Headlights / Turn signals, rear lights/signals integrated to rear wheel cover
*challenge*
- a Mazda Renesis Rotary engine, scaled-down for mid-weight (500~800cc) output

One day . . ..

Motorcycles: Ongoing, pt.1

Korean cops get nice motorcycles (if you notice, the bike is a beemer).

Video guide to buying a bike.

Just a head's-up, a note for myself really, for me when I get back to the States . . ..
To continue on with my passive-obsession, this is what I've seen about the motorcycle culture in Seoul;

First of all, let me set this up - Seoul is crowded. I mean, I wouldn't want to live in a place where rush hour is four to sev . . . wait a minute, I do.

Damn.

Anyways, back to the point - In Seoul, I've seen people use motorcycles a lot more frequently than in the States - definitely more than Chicago or Bloomington, for sure.

Case in point; observe, if you will;

This was all within a 100-yard strip of an alleyway in Seoul. Now imagine every singe alleyway like this, and I think that it's a pretty accurate description of just how many of these things there are.

This is typical of most motorcycles in Seoul - Korean, lighter displacement, all over the damn place (more people ride on the sidewalk than on the road), and used as a tool for delivery - especially the red & white one. The thing that's sticking out on the back is used to hoist whatever thing they have to haul around - piping, food (did you know that in Seoul McDonalds delivers?) what have you.

Anyhow, that's that. Nothing significant. Except . . . every so often I see a group of Ducati riders around where I work. Talk about night and day - but I think that talks more about Korea's economy than anything else.

And that I'm totally envious.

So, at this juncture, what am I doing to better my motorcycling situation? Well, nothing, really. Other than this . . .




Eh.

By the way, we got Leah this:

It's called a Suzuki Choi Nori - a lil' 50cc scooter - it's pretty cool, in a I-wouldn't-be-caught-dead-admitting-that-I/my wife-own(s)-it kind of way. But, I did talk Leah into taking the MSF rider's course when we go back. Maybe I can get her a lil' Ninja 250 or a CBR125R and see how it goes from there. Totally badass.

Since it's Leah's first scooter and she's really excited about it, maybe I'll put up more of a post about it later. Maybe.

- Current bike to get when I'm back(realistic mode): an '06 Honda 599.

a non sequitur: Motorcycles

Yep. That's right. This has absolutely nothing to do with me bing in Korea.

But I can't help it - it's the onset of summer, the weather, rain notwithstanding, is gorgeous; and I miss mototrbiking! Nevermind the fact that I've been watching Long Way Round - of course Long Way Down is in queue . . ..

(To be honest, it's not that I rode much back in the States, but still - )

I'm constantly looking at motorcycles (online) - although I did see this on a vendor in Korea: it's a Confederate Hellcat

A beaut, innit?

Anyhow, yeah; I completely miss riding with Kevin (the few times we did, anyhow) and I've got to set up sometime for riding w/ Jason (hope she's treating ya well, buddy!).

90% of the bikes I've seen here are either lower displacement, Korean bred workhorses, or the rare Ducatis/Hondas mixed in . . . anyhow, scooters and motorcycles are a lot more popular here, but like I said, most are lower (250cc or lower) displacement . . ..

Current bike(s) of obsession/thinking about getting once I get back to the good ol' USA(in no particular order):
- Honda CBR600RR
- KTM Duke 690 (I [happily] blame Kevin for this development)
- Honda 599
- Kawasaki Versys
- Suzuki SV650

Considering that the Duke is a new model for this year and it almost costs $10k(msrp), realistically I'd be looking at the 599 or the SV again . . . and this is a modest dream of mine, but if I get one of those two, I'd love to chop it up to look like that Hellcat!

So, to summarize:

• my obsession with motorcycles did not waver since I got here.
• I will ride with Jason and Kevin once I get back
• Granted it depends on what job situation I get once I get back, but it'd be aweeesome to join in on one of Kev's long-term trips (I've got that adventurin' bug in my blood, no thanks to you)
• I want a bike again!

So, dear reader, I suppose you're asking, why don't I get a motorcycle here, in S. Korea?

FAAAAAAAACK YOUUUUUUUU
(Seriously, they're batshit insane here as far as traffic goes - the second video is *typical* for most riders - and I'm just not good enough of a rider to do that without maiming almost everyone - got a bicycle, though)