Why the inline 4 and why not the inline 4?

I HATE Sao Paulo, traffic sucks and the motoboys are unforgiving... but at least you can see the occasional 900 or better here or there. Rode a CB900 there once, only once. I'll never ride there again.
And it's 22 millon now. And they all drive crazy!

 

I hear you Robert!
Motoboys (delivery boys) there are called "motoqueiros", while the rest of us sane riders call ourselves "motociclistas". Most MCs (like the one I belong there, "Cavaleiros do Asfalto" (roughly Tarmac Riders) wear a badge that say "Motoqueiro e a puta que o pariu" - exactly "motoqueiro is the whore that brought you to life, or 'that bore you' - , a heavy swearing as you can tell.
The last encounter I had with the local police, the officer talking to me looked at my patch, understood and stood mum.
It is all a matter of attitude - and maturity. I always thought that, if I am riding at 50Km/h in the "corridor" between the cars in those kilometers-long traffic jammings, I am already winning!
Proof of what I am saying is that car drivers will make an effort to help you get through if you are riding a big bike, but will not move one finger to help a motoboy...
I really do not miss that crazy town. And carnaval? I have Purim in Israel, where people dress up, not 'undress'. Morals are a treasure.
Aharon

 

I had more than a few motoboys clip my car mirrors and just keep on going. My wife told me not to do anything about it, pointing out they would likely gang up on me, drag me out of the car and beat me sensless. I chose to listen to her advice.
Eu conese puta senior, a very vulgar saying but funny regardless. The Police Militare are not anyone I would want to have anything to do with, even if they are trying to improve their reputation.
Morals are a treasure but I've no problem with the Brasilian point of view, I think it is healthy. Purim is enjoyable too, just not the same. And the food is better at carnival! Fejioada sempre!

 

Robert, your wife was right and you were wise to heed her advice: they gang up on anyone - they see themselves as the underdogs before cars, so in their minds their mates are "always right".
I think of "The Midnight Express" when I look at them military police (it's an old movie - have you watched it?). Speaking of movies, "Tropa de Elite" (Elite Troops) bares their corruption naked.
Feijoada is not kosher! My brazilian (and jewish) wife makes a mean cassoulet, and that is feijoada for me.
Back on this thread path, the consumption dream of my generation was to own a Honda 750K. Four in line, 4-into-1 exhaust... Always way out of our shallow pockets reach. I am extremely happy today that I own a XJ400. It is the right size, and the right price for a mature family man.
In Line Fours are the thing for me!
Aharon

 

Henry Ford would beat the crap out of anyone who says that an inline 4 is undesirable. So much so that he only built engines in multiples of 4.

 

Personally, I love the smooth ride of my xj550 ,but my next bike will only have two cylinders and ONE CARB. That is my only gripe with inline 4's.

 

My next bike will be new, and be FI for SURE lol.