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[Mastiff]

I was out riding my bike for a couple of hours (a Yamaha RD350, small, fast and fun) and listening to the radio. I have combined earplugs and headphones of my own design (believe me, on a two stroke that only enjoys itself from 7000 RPM and up and has Gianelli exhaust system you need something so you won't go deaf!) and the sound is actually great (it's built on Koss' The Plug with great bass and all round sound). I have a Sony car stereo in the saddle bag type softbag, with their patended wired joystick remote attached to the handlebars and an adapter so it works as a handsfree for my cellphone as well. But today there was nothing interesting on the radio. So I actually started to wonder if it was possible to build a computer small enough and powerful enough to run MC9, controlled by NetRemote, in the saddlebag! I think I'm about to go over the edge here... A few players in the house is great, one in the car is very nice, but the bike ...?  

[KingSparta]

>> I was out riding my bike
I wish i had one

my wife don't want me riding anymore

my first date with her was on my Honda 350 back in 1976

one day i'm just going to go out and buy another.

[Wobbley]

Why don't you buy an Ipod.  How could ever really need more than 30Gig of music (30 Gigger comes w/ remote) on the road?

Wobbley

[Mastiff]

2 reasons:
Anything with Apple on it makes me sick after many bad experiences with early Apple computers, and it's a lot more expensive than doing this the computer way. Not to mention that it's more fun to do the thought experiment with a full PC. I don't suspect this to ever get off the ground.

[JimH]

I don't suspect this to ever get off the ground.

Evil Knievel would have done it.

[AndyCircuit]

I never owned a Yamaha myself but I had the pleasure to ride a RD 250 from a friend for a week many years ago. As far as I remember the tiny gen/battery of this old bike was barely able to supply the ignition and the lights (and maybe a car stereo ) Don't know what happens if you boot a computer but if this steals the power for the ignition the ride is no fun  

Not to mention to find a comp-power supply with an 12V input (or a 12V=/230V~ converter with a clean sinus wave output)

No matter what's possible, it will cause a lot more kg (or lb if you like) and thats a sin for this type of bike.

Of course you could balance this with a diet  

IMHO something like the iPod is the smarter way for your needs except you have more fun in alter a light bike into a Missisippi steamer than in fun riding.
(And don't forget the real mean nisse)

Was this attempt enough to stop you?

If not check about the electrical probs first and then have fun

Andy

[ddwakeham]

Tor...I once owned an RD400 back in the 80's.  This was probably the funnest and loudest thing I've ever owned .

In any case why not use the 802.11 currently in place in the Cinena Inferno combined with semi-dead laptop available for dirt cheap on eBay to automatically sync your server to the laptop.   I've found dozens of super cheap laptops with dead screens which might work perfectly for this purpose.  Use WinVNC over 802.11 to connect to it to manage the software etc, and a UNC share to load it up in the garage from your workstation inside.  

[AndyCircuit]

ddwakeham is absolutly right. A notebook charged in the garage and by the bike, that's it ! And not too heavy or big. Why didn't thought about this? Shame on me. Forget my post above and go for it.

[xen-uno]

I have an 1984 RZ350. Similar to the RD only quite a bit more modern (water cooled, monoshock rear end, stronger frame, much better running gear). It is pretty much stock except for the expansion chambers and K&N filters. It boot scoots and boogies. It will accelerate on par with my brother's Suz 1150 up to 90 or so. I've got grander plans though...

...an RZ700! All I need is a couple more RZ engines and a used Yam FZ600 (more modern yet). I'll have a machine shop make a custom crankcase and I'll saw off the front part of the FZ600 engine. The custom crankcase, FZ transmission, and the RZ parts (crankshafts, cylinders, heads...and so on) will grafted together into a frenetic beast that I'll call "ReZolve". Implanted back into the FZ frame, she should weigh no more than 325 lbs. With chambers and mild porting I should be able to get 160 HP or so out of her. This much power in such a light bike will CRUSH all comers. I'll run the oiliest, smelliest, and cloudiest 2-stroke oil I can find in her (for one race only...I am an enviromentalist), and my brother WILL go down.

10^-27

[MachineHead]

and my brother WILL go down.

Why go thru the all the trouble. Just re-arrange his plug wires and kick his ass! You could probably stomp him with a Moped, Mr. Enviromentalist.  

[MachineHead]

Or you can get one of these!

[xen-uno]

THAT is just too much...and too cool! The power of a big-block in a 130 lb package. Wow! I'd still beat him to 60 (well...maybe), before his exhaust torched me.

10^-27

PS: Mach...can you machine my cases for me?

[knickelfarz]

Mastiff, maybe you should get a Honda Goldwing first.  
I once saw a guy watching TV while riding his "Wing" ... I guess there exists nothing you can not stick to these machines, from fridges to electric can openers to trailers with swimmingpools on top of it (full of crocodiles)...
Maybe the real toy  

[Mastiff]

ddwakeham, that was actually a darn good idea! I too am ashamed that I didn't think about it...

AndyCircuit, the generator on the 350 is strong enough, besides I only take short rides (up to 5-6 hours) and I've got a maintainance battery charger connected to it whenever it's in the garage.

xen-uno, I'm afraid you're wrong. You see in Europe (not counting the UK, they had both) the RZ was also called RD. The one I actively ride now is an 1983 with exactly the same specifications as your RZ. And I've also got a 1990 in the garage, partly rebuilt. I didn't have time to finish it last summer, but I'm going to do it this summer. But that one's going to be a lot more extreme, with stage 2 tuning (stage 3 is impossible to use on the road, it does not have much of a variable throttle, it's handle is basically an on/off switch for full power. The double motor sounds nice, but probably as practical as my full computer in the saddlebag idea...  

MachineHead, a reporter I read about tried one of those and was followed by an unmarked police car when he suddenly gave it full throttle. When he came back the same way a while later he was flagged down, but the police officer didn't care how fast he was going, he was just full of questions about what the heck he was riding and how fast it could go.   But I must say that I would prefer the Suzuki GSX-R 1300 Hayabusa that Ghostrider is using is his movie (even though it was later stolen and is now probably parts spread all over Scandinavia). It had 415 HP on the rear wheel, with a KKK turbo and lots of other goodies. Built by a roadracing team with only one purpose: To be the fastes bike anybody had seen. Now that's dangerous! And delicious!