Intro

Tim, Hey, I too want to say welcome to the group! Don't worry about posting
from Google (I don't understand that issue, actually) as some of us even
........... TOP-POST! Probably some people ignore us 'top-posters' too ;-)
What a great collection of bikes and cars have flowed thru your fingertips!
You're a fortunate guy. What really strikes me is how many Miatas are
thru-out your family! That's pretty sweet. I am always amazed at the numbers
of Miata + bike folks there are. I really think it's a bit of a similar
mentality. Maybe a love of wind in the hair and a willingness to (to some
degree) risk life and limb for the sake of simple enjoyment of life! I look
forward to your future posts! I wish I had the British car ownership
experience but, missed out on that one. I did get into sports cars way back,
with a '73 240Z and later got adventurous (and well served) with a Renault
Fuego Turbo! I always tell people that I went from motorcycles to sports
cars to sport coupes to sport sedans to sedans and even the dreaded (though,
I had the best in the Mazda MPV) minivans and have been working my way back!
My first Miata being a Black and Tan '92 and current being a '99 Black /
Black / Black (BBB).

Later,
Chris
99BBB

"Tim M." > wrote in message
...
On Aug 14, 9:51 am, "miker" > wrote:
> Welcome... I also had a 60 MGA, wonderful memories there. And a 70
> Spitfire,
> which was my first Brit car.
>
> Had a few different 60's Triumph 650's back in the day. Besides my 96
> Miata
> I currently ride an R100 airhead, Yamaha 500 single, and a CB160.

Hi Mike, sounds like you really like the classics! I've had two
Yamaha SR500s over the years; my '79 I put in White Brother's 542cc
big bore kit, high compression piston, street cam, Kerker header pipe,
Ducati 750GT Conti muffler, 36mm Mikuni carb, converted it to XS650
wire wheels with shouldered alloy rims, stainless steel brake line,
fork brace, Koni shocks, Progressive Suspension fork springs, RD350
(round) taillight, and R90S handlebars. It weighed 340 pounds with a
full tank of gas, and that bike was a blast to ride! My 1980 was bone
stock, and a bit more sedate, but also a bit easier to start and WAY
better on gas!

Tim

Sounds like a great bike! I did the spoke wheels on mine last winter, using
XS650 front complete, and an XS650 rear rim on an SR400 rear hub. Motor
stuff is still stock except for a glassbak, but someday I'll get to it.

miker


<< I've had two
Yamaha SR500s over the years; my '79 I put in White Brother's 542cc
big bore kit, high compression piston, street cam, Kerker header pipe,
Ducati 750GT Conti muffler, 36mm Mikuni carb, converted it to XS650
wire wheels with shouldered alloy rims, stainless steel brake line,
fork brace, Koni shocks, Progressive Suspension fork springs, RD350
(round) taillight, and R90S handlebars. It weighed 340 pounds with a
full tank of gas, and that bike was a blast to ride!

On Aug 16, 6:27*pm, "Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote:
> Tim, Hey, I too want to say welcome to the group! Don't worry about posting
> from Google (I don't understand that issue, actually) as some of us even
> .......... TOP-POST! * *Probably some people ignore us 'top-posters' too ;-)
> What a great collection of bikes and cars have flowed thru your fingertips!
> You're a fortunate guy. What really strikes me is how many Miatas are
> thru-out your family! That's pretty sweet. I am always amazed at the numbers
> of Miata + bike folks there are. I really think it's a bit of a similar
> mentality. Maybe a love of wind in the hair and a willingness to (to some
> degree) risk life and limb for the sake of simple enjoyment of life! I look
> forward to your future posts! I wish I had the British car ownership
> experience but, missed out on that one. I did get into sports cars way back,
> with a '73 240Z and later got adventurous (and well served) with a Renault
> Fuego Turbo! I always tell people that I went from motorcycles to sports
> cars to sport coupes to sport sedans to sedans and even the dreaded (though,
> I had the best in the Mazda MPV) minivans and have been working my way back!
> My first Miata being a Black and Tan '92 and current being a '99 Black /
> Black / Black (BBB).

Thanks, Chris. I dropped my Miata off last night at what struck me as
the best of the four autobody shops I visited. They say it will be a
10-day repair, and I told them not to rush it - I can drive my truck
or ride a motorcycle while they fix it properly!

Good to meet another former Renault owner. I had a '78 school bus
yellow R5 that was my first ever new car - $4,007 out the door; and
killed by a hit and run driver when it only had 3,200 miles on it.
Three years later I was finally able to replace it with a 1980 R5. It
was a boring tan color but had more equipment than the stripper '78.
Those were great cars, let down by a terrible reputation in the U.S.
But, oh that sweet French suspension... the body would roll and roll
and roll but the chassis stuck tight, and - a lot like a Miata - you
could drive them around all day at full throttle and never attract the
"wrong kind" of attention!

On Aug 17, 9:53*pm, "miker" > wrote:
> Sounds like a great bike! I did the spoke wheels on mine last winter, using
> XS650 front complete, and an XS650 rear rim on an SR400 rear hub. Motor
> stuff is still stock except for a glassbak, but someday I'll get to it.

Very cool. I still miss my hotrod SR500 to this very day!

Tim

The Fuego Turbo had a really nice suspension also. Like you say about the R5
and a (stock ;-) Miata, some body roll but good grip. One of the best
features was it's seats! Hugely comfortable and with monster side bolsters
on the back rest. I think it was the Alliance that was a pretty decent
little car around that time. Actually, I just checked and it was Motor
Trends Car of the Year in 1983! They followed up that success with a
horribly ugly car that they ironically called the 'Encore'! I don't think
they survived that 'Encore'! What was the European version of the R5 that
they put mid-engine and turbo? Quite a hotrod for its' day! I would love to
drive the current Clio Sport, it seems to be quite a decent car. Somehow, I
don't think Renault will ever 'make it' here!

Hope the Miata comes out great!
Chris
99BBB


Thanks, Chris. I dropped my Miata off last night at what struck me as
the best of the four autobody shops I visited. They say it will be a
10-day repair, and I told them not to rush it - I can drive my truck
or ride a motorcycle while they fix it properly!

Good to meet another former Renault owner. I had a '78 school bus
yellow R5 that was my first ever new car - $4,007 out the door; and
killed by a hit and run driver when it only had 3,200 miles on it.
Three years later I was finally able to replace it with a 1980 R5. It
was a boring tan color but had more equipment than the stripper '78.
Those were great cars, let down by a terrible reputation in the U.S.
But, oh that sweet French suspension... the body would roll and roll
and roll but the chassis stuck tight, and - a lot like a Miata - you
could drive them around all day at full throttle and never attract the
"wrong kind" of attention!