Pretty frickin quiet if you ask me...

[Boomer]

You're lucky you had your dad all this time, Boomer.  I lost mine in 1969.  I was 12.

My sympathies Jim.

Dad and I had our good times and bad times, and at one point barely spoke to each other for several years, but I do miss him.

I just remembered that I haven't re-read The Vortex Blaster, so gonna re-read that before I start on the Asimovs.

I used to have a 1930s Pye SW radio and a 1950s Roberts SW. Both are long gone now.
I moved on to solid state when the valves/tubes started to get difficult to source.
Now there are specialists who are making new valves for some popular radios.

[VirginiaJim]

I'm reading an early novel of Robert Silverberg 'Chalice of Death' on Kindle.  Interesting reading on him in the Preface of the book and his early years.

[m in sc]

Yeah, it is amazing how much power a tiny 2 stroke can make, especially with the weight advantage thrown in.  You just have to deal with the fumes, so-so mileage, measuring out oil each fill, and typically being kind of vibrationy and loud.

I get the perception especially from way back when...  that bike makes 50 rwhp, weighs 360 lbs. there no oil measuring at fill ups, its oil injected and works great, I have no idea why people insist on pulling the oil injection off, its pretty dumb overall. I get it in certain applications, but 90% of them are just mythical failures.  most 'pump failures' are from people forgetting to fill the tank. 1 oil tank is approx 3 tanks of fuel.

Fuel mileage is in the upper 30's to mid 40's. doesn't really vibrate much since its a twin either. Most of the bad rap these get is from **** poor or mediocre tuning TBH. Most of mine have a modern cdi with wasted spark so thats a LOT of the tuning issues removed.  @75 mph its doing about 5500 rpm. 

I personally know two people that have done iron butt rides, one repeatedly, on 2 strokes (within the last decade). 

[Boomer]

I'm not sure if I have ever read any Silverberg. None of his novel titles ring any bells, but one did remind me of Bob Shaw's Night Walk, which I just added to my Kindle, so thanks for that. 

As for the 2-strokes, I've ridden many over the years from 25cc to 750cc and the one abiding memory I have of them (apart from "ring-ding-ding-ding" and the smell) is the vibration. However, they were from an era when even the big 4 cylinder 4-strokes were "buzzy" and you had to go to 6 cylinders (CBX1000, Z1300, Benelli Sei) if you wanted smoothness.
The other problem I had with most of them was their size. At 6'4" they all felt like mopeds, even the H2's and the Kettles.
Yes, the singles were the buzziest, but that was the same on the XL600 as on the CR250 (both 48bhp). Parallel twins are better and triples even more so, but only with 120° cranks like the Jota. The RD500 and the RG500 were about as smooth as any modern bike, but then the RD had a balance shaft and the RG didn't need one due to the square design.
The powerband on 2-strokes is addictive though.

[m in sc]

H2's vibrate more than any multiple cyl 2 strokes ive been on. and i've owned a few (recently).   I'm 5'8 so sizing isnt an issue. Have a TZR250 SP int he works now. thats one ive wanted for a LONG time. 

[VirginiaJim]

I've completed bag 1 of the Saturn V...  Pay no attention to the tilt, it's the camera angle, not the rocket.

[VirginiaJim]

Bag #2 complete

[Strawboss]

Going to a Scottish festival locally here, firing up the Triumph, a group of us on Brit bikes ride in and cause mayhem for the Constables.

[VirginiaJim]

Bag 3 completed....disregard the rubber manufacturing band..   I'm sure that the real Saturn V people used them as well but took them off before launch.

[VirginiaJim]

You know it's hard to get good help these days...found out the Saturn V assembler got something confused in the assembly.  Will have to rework some parts and the rubber band may have to come out of the tool box again....drat.

[Strawboss]

Check the maker of the band, it it's Thiokol, you may have a problem.

[VirginiaJim]

LOL...

[tweeter55]

Check the maker of the band, it it's Thiokol, you may have a problem.

Not in the middle of summer.

[VirginiaJim]

True...lol

[Big Red]

Where's the finished pic?

[VirginiaJim]

It's still sitting at the same stage (pun intended).  Work has gone crazy and I haven't been able to get back to it.