Six Motorcycles Everyone Should Be Forced To Drive in the DR

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frank12

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Six Motorcycles Everyone Should Be Forced To Drive in the DR

Many people couldn't give a **** about motorcycles. Why? They just don't know what they're missing. As an avid driver of motorcycles on this island, I have a plan to set that straight.

So here's the idea. We get every last person in the Dominican Republic to drive these Six Motorcycles in order for them to see exactly what they're missing. Everyone. What this should all do is give people a taste of what we love: Driving motorcycles and discovering this wonderful island.

Beyond that, this dream project has higher ambitions. Driving these motorcycles (and learning how to use the clutch and front & rear brake to your advantage) should make people more aware, competent drivers.

Think it's a crazy plan? Let me know what you think or if I picked the wrong motorcycles below.

1. Dual Sport: a number of motorcycles meet the criteria, however, after accompanying Motocaribe tours here on this island, and driving a nearly new Suzuki 650 V-Strom, i'm sold on this bike. It's excellent on gas, extremely comfortable to accommodate large orgies, and it's just damn good looking:
[video=youtube;m8IGe72YZ8c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8IGe72YZ8c&feature=share&list=UUwqGtCbKPC0n50nraMPtNCA[/video]
 
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frank12

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2. Single cylinder Supermoto: Again, a number of bikes can be converted to a Supermoto. The most popular is to convert a 450 Enduro into a Supermoto bike, which makes it both lethal on or off pavement, but not in mud. Honda CRF 450's are one of the most popular brands to convert, but any Japanese Enduro (with lights) will do...even a 250cc or a 125cc will get the job done. But for sheer balls-to-the-wall, all out insanity-inducing warp speed--not requiring Lithium Crystals--a 450 will create a time-warp as you're accelerating up a mountain--bending both space and time:
[video=youtube;xWjiORNxFOw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWjiORNxFOw&feature=share&list=UUwqGtCbKPC0n50nraMPtNCA[/video]
 
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frank12

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3. Sports bike: Any modern 600cc or 1000cc will do, but for sheer all-out insanity, nothing comes remotely close to the acceleration and power of a modern 1000cc sports bike. Any today will acceleratefrom 0-62mph (0to 100KM) in 2.5 seconds. You'd have to get into either a Formula 1 car or a half-million dollar supercar to experience anything remotely close to this. A modern 1000cc bike can accelerate at such a blistering, eye-watering inducing rate of speed, that you will swear that you are traveling back in time. Only a Flux-Capacitor can match this...or the Space Shuttle taking off from Cape Canaveral.
[video=youtube;MX9t3HEIth0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX9t3HEIth0&feature=share&list=UUwqGtCbKPC0n50nraMPtNCA[/video]
 
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frank12

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4. Big V-Twin: There are some blistering fast, diarrhea inducing big V-Twins out there. some are made for the sports track, others are made for crossing the Sahara dessert in the Dakar. My favorite is the KTM 950SM or 990SM. Nothing has this kind of torque available at the twist of the wrist. These bikes can lift their front tires--and 500lbs of steel--off the ground in nearly any gear. But they match the acceleration with state of the art 330mm Brembo brakes that could stop the Space Shuttle in mid-flight:
[video=youtube;1j0DXxcc_mU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j0DXxcc_mU&feature=share&list=UUwqGtCbKPC0n50nraMPtNCA[/video]
 
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frank12

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5. Scooter: Yes, there's lots of scooters out there...most of them bad. Most of them cheaply made Chinese scooters. But a couple are worthy of mentioning. One is a Yamaha Fuel-injected 125cc Zuma. It averages 85MPG with two people on it. It also starts every single time you press the button. It's Bomb Proof. And it's also convenient for shopping as it has a luggage compartment underneath the seat. Oh yeah...it's also sexy:
[video=youtube;lJZq4D38Dus]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJZq4D38Dus&feature=share&list=UUwqGtCbKPC0n50nraMPtNCA[/video]
 
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frank12

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6. "Dominican Motoconcho": again, a lot of bikes fit this criteria. But for sheer ingenuity and simple maintenance, i like this one. It's my personal favorite:
[video=youtube;awC28U8Gcu4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awC28U8Gcu4&feature=share&list=UUwqGtCbKPC0n50nraMPtNCA[/video]
 
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frank12

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Once you acquire any one of these bikes, the next step is to simply get out there and discover this wonderful island. This island is big, exotic, colorful, wild, adventurous, mesmerizing, and wonderful. It only takes a little will power and inspiration to make one get off the sofa and get out there and discover the majestic valleys and mountain tops and ocean highways:
[video=youtube;168Ogm_AgEk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=168Ogm_AgEk&feature=share&list=UUwqGtCbKPC0n50nraMPtNCA[/video]


Frank
 
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Omar_NYC

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I would be personally terrified to ride a motorcycle in Santo Domingo. I've never been to the country side in DR though.
 
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flyinroom

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frank12 said:
Six Motorcycles Everyone Should Be Forced To Drive in the DR

Many people couldn't give a **** about motorcycles. Why? They just don't know what they're missing. As an avid driver of motorcycles on this island, I have a plan to set that straight.

So here's the idea. We get every last person in the Dominican Republic to drive these Six Motorcycles in order for them to see exactly what they're missing. Everyone. What this should all do is give people a taste of what we love: Driving motorcycles and discovering this wonderful island.............
Click to expand...

OR.............
We can stay home and safe and live your dream vicariously through your excellent videos.:classic:
 
R

Ricardo900

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Jul 12, 2004
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Nice Video!!
I've rode several classes of bikes in the DR and all of them in the US. If I had choice in the DR of bikes to own when it comes to practicality and comfort. I would choose the Suzuki V-Strom and a Yamaha ATV.

Sports bikes are not comfortable on long trips, low ground clearance and is too fast for the DR roads.
Harley type bikes (cruisers) also suffer from low ground clearance and after hitting a couple of potholes, your back is going to hurt.

I recommend for the fellow riders on this forum is to look out for Kawasaki sponsored Demo rides in a town near you. These are escorted 3-5 mile loops in your area giving you the chance to sample all of their 2013 models. Bring a helmet, pick a bike and have fun. After the ride, just hop on another one.
Kawasaki News, Events, Promotions, Press Releases, Awards, Reviews, Resources

One bike that should be on the list is a Vulcan 1600 Nomad - Honda Goldwing or any other model that has an FM radio or sound system built in. Sweeeeet!!!!
 
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frank12

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I see two to three Honda Goldwings here on the North Coast every week. I also see plenty three-wheel Can-Am's...they're definitely out there, but they're too heavy for my tastes.

20130114_103444_zps019f7173.jpg


Frank
 
cobraboy

cobraboy

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JDJones said:
I gotta try to find that picture of the motorcycle with a LPG tank.

Frank, excuse me for saying so, but you obviously have never had an inexperienced/untrained driver pull out in front of you.

Driving at high speeds, it's not a question of "if", but "when" it will happen to you. In the 30 some odd years I rode my Harley(almost always at the posted speedl limit), I couldn't begin to count the times it happened to me.

It's just a matter of time, and when it does, it won't be pretty. And IMHO, on those mountain roads is where it happens the most.
Click to expand...
Could happen, certainly, as bikes are much riskier period.

But a HUGE difference between the US/Europe & the DR is that in the DR you're seen. We don't have those soccer mom's in a minivan applying make-up, texting and throwing McDonald's to screaming kids. Everyone has grown up watching out for motos. I'm frankly surprised there isn't more moto carnage that what there is here...

Additionally, the number of potential intersection hazards are reduced.

I've said it before: I feel safer riding in the DR than I ever did in the states, and that covers 5 years and 35,000= personal miles riding a "big" bike all over the DR.
 
cobraboy

cobraboy

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JDJones said:
I agree, Robert. My point to Frank is, "Speed kills". Here, you can take that to the bank.
Click to expand...
BUT my caveat is to not ride in Santiago or Santo Domingo. The streets have gotten way too congested.
 
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the gorgon

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frank12 said:
I see two to three Honda Goldwings here on the North Coast every week. I also see plenty three-wheel Can-Am's...they're definitely out there, but they're too heavy for my tastes.

20130114_103444_zps019f7173.jpg


Frank
Click to expand...

heavy, maybe, but they have that extra wheel...
 
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NY2DR

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Nice vids I love riding. I rode a Suzuki 750 in the States, but too scary to ride a heavy bike in DR, you definitely get the COURAGE/SKILL award. Out here I stick to my scooter & a Apache 180. Not like when I rode my big boy but I still have fun switching gears
 
malko

malko

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Great thread frank, thanks alot. I mlooking for a new bike here in the dr. I ve been going around on a 125 cc, motoconcho suzuki thing. Its been great for learning but now I would like something more powerful. It needs to be road worthy as well dirt track capable as I live in the campo. If I go to santiago or pop I always take my pickup, not up to it driving bike in town. I ve been looking at 250 cc but I mquite clueless. Any suggestions?
thanks in advance.
 
cobraboy

cobraboy

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malko said:
Great thread frank, thanks alot. I mlooking for a new bike here in the dr. I ve been going around on a 125 cc, motoconcho suzuki thing. Its been great for learning but now I would like something more powerful. It needs to be road worthy as well dirt track capable as I live in the campo. If I go to santiago or pop I always take my pickup, not up to it driving bike in town. I ve been looking at 250 cc but I mquite clueless. Any suggestions?
thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
malco, I saw a smaller bike in Santiago @ Bonanza that might fit. I saw one other before, but this is the first I examined closely.

It's a 200cc Keeway. It's built like a larger bike, more rugged frame, fatter tires, a real shifting mechanism (not one of those "stab it hard" rocker types), comfy upholstered seat, some electronics, wet clutch, hydraulic brakes, adjustable suspension, stouter forks, etc. It's supposedly engineerd by Benelli, some good DNA.

I know a guy who rode with us for a few days on one and had no real problem keeping up with our V-Stroms on most roads.

I recall the price is US$1835...

QYfPXq7qvx0528120531.jpg
 
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