False Neutral #21: Twin Cams, Part 2 with Cam Vanderhorst

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FN-Podcast-21
In our conclusion to Cam Vanderhorst’s visit, he claims to go “FULL LIBERTARIAN” over the Kymco K-pipe recall (although he doesn’t, really—you never go full libertarian). We wade ankle-deep into the world of cyclecars for a bit, then veer into Suzuki cars and why they didn’t make it in the U.S., and finally offer our opinions on which of the Japanese manufacturers is the least reliable. Somehow, we end up talking about the sounds sea mammals make.

NOTE: I’ve checked iTunes “explicit” flag for this episode just to be on the safe side, but I believe we’re free of F-bombs this week. And don’t worry, there are no random sound clips this week.


False Neutral – Twin Cams, Part 2

Flase-neutral-jump-header

Except where noted in the captions, images are standard press kit/website photos used courtesy of the respective manufacturers.

Kymco K-Pipe
Kymco K-Pipe
Moto Guzzi-powered BlackJack Zero (photo from Blackjack.com, owner Kurt Vogt)
Moto Guzzi-powered BlackJack Zero
(photo from Blackjack.com, owner Kurt Vogt)
"JZR
JZR cyclecar kit with Honda ST1100 power
(from breizhell31.canalblog.com)
Polaris Slingshot
Polaris Slingshot
KTM X-Bow
KTM X-Bow
Honda Forza 300
Honda Forza 300
Honda CBR900RR
Honda CBR900RR
Yamaha FJ1200
Yamaha FJ1200
Suzuki GS850G
Suzuki GS850G
Naoko Takasugi
(from fim-live.com)

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8 responses to “False Neutral #21: Twin Cams, Part 2 with Cam Vanderhorst”

  1. CruisinTime Avatar
    CruisinTime

    Skating Away on the thin Ice of a new day.

    Reply
  2. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    I had a GS850G for a while. The Flying Couch we called it (I knew the 2 previous owners.) Alleged to have one of the most comfortable factory seats ever made. We fit three people and a pair of crutches on that seat and tooled around Burning Man. I wouldn’t turn another one down if I had the chance.

    They are very good handling bikes despite their size and drivetrain, and very sure footed. I smoked the apexes all the way up to the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton on the GS850G even two-up.

    Frikkin’ Suzuki always has one failure prone part on their bikes that they won’t let the aftermarket produce. On the GS series it was the intake boots, engine side. I replaced them bi-annually, all four, tithing to Lord Suzuki a tidy sum each time.

    Reply
    1. Tanshanomi Avatar
      Tanshanomi

      I didn’t know that about the carb boots on that bike specifically, but I can’t say it surprises me.

      Reply
    2. dead_elvis, inc. Avatar
      dead_elvis, inc.

      Intake boots that needed pricy replacement every two years?! I’d have been looking at duct tape, witchcraft, and just about anything else to avoid having to pull a bank of 4 carbs that often. My GS550 was 15 years old when I bought it, and the minor cracking those boots had (also unavailable via the aftermarket) was solved with RTV of some sort.
      Also an exceptionally comfortable – dead flat – seat.

      Reply
      1. Batshitbox Avatar
        Batshitbox

        Right? The GS series was awesome, warts and all.

        Reply
  3. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    The K-pipe shift sequence is Neutral Down, 5 Up, right? It seems like the kind of thing that could be dealt with easily enough, except in panic situations where you need to get away quickly. Not the most common thing, but I thought the idea behind having neutral between 1rst and 2nd was so you just keep kicking until you end up in first, making it easy to find a gear in a hurry. I admit I’m a little more comfortable with Big Government, but that seems like pretty good reason for a recall.

    Reply
    1. Tanshanomi Avatar
      Tanshanomi

      No, it’s neutral at the top, 5 down. Backwards from the mandated pattern.

      Reply
      1. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        Okay, so that sounds even worse. So, in a panic, you have to keep kicking up til you hit neutral, and then kick back down?

        Reply