- This topic has 35 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 13 years ago by eon.
Finally got it!
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February 20, 2011 at 8:01 pm #29256madjak30Participant
I just uploaded my pics from my camera…my pics from the bike show were still on there…
That is one comfy bike, fits perfect…nice colour too…
Later.
February 21, 2011 at 6:40 am #29259eonParticipantI’m really liking it so far. Put a few more miles on today, just toodling around and some parking lot practice. That’s 450 now so almost time for the first service Guess that just means it’s closer to the time I can start opening it up
Not so good is the belated realization that I need to spend lots of money to get it the way I want it. I’ve never been one for much in the way of “farkles” but moving from a scooter I now need some storage space dammit! Tank bag and luggage rack on order as well as water proof boots. Later down the line will be hand guards and fender extenders (front and rear). The list just keeps getting longer.
Was also playing around with some camera angles today. Will upload a short video soon so all you guys living in Narnia can live vicariously through us west coasters
Your welcome.EDIT: Video included
February 21, 2011 at 5:53 pm #29261madjak30ParticipantI’ve been eyeballing that bike (along with the rest of the list) for a while now…the only real draw back that I see is the lack of center stand. Has the aftermarket come out with a center stand for it yet?
I really like that colour…and the look of the bike has grown on me…same as the V-Strom…I think if you look at them long enough and see how good the bikes are, they start to look pretty nice…
Later.
February 22, 2011 at 7:02 am #29267eonParticipantI’m not sure about the center stand. Couldn’t you get one of those stands that are separate from the bike? Realistically you don’t really need a center stand while out riding, only when working on the bike at home. I realize there are some situations where a center stand would be good to have but they must be few and far between. But I could be wrong, having to use a stand at all is still new to me
I think the body of this bike is gorgeous. It is to me what a bike should look like. I admit the front takes some getting used to and I never really did warm to the older style, but I quite like the new look. That was a large reason why I went for the new model even though brand new older models are still around with significant price cuts.
Some more pics.
February 22, 2011 at 12:39 pm #29270TrialsRiderParticipantEon, remember to look where your bike will fall if the stand was to give out, don’t line your tank up with a concrete curb or you might increase damage.
Maybe park next to a scooter so your bike has something soft to fall against;)
…i was kidding about the wheelie comment;) everybody just seems to say that when they see a nice new bike
would you be doing that advanced training course again, or is it not worth repeating?February 22, 2011 at 5:04 pm #29272eonParticipantThanks, for the tip on parking. So much to learn
I will defintely be doing the advanced training again as they have 4 different levels so I’ve still got lots to learn. I was even thinking about taking level 1 again as everything is so different but I will make a decision on that later on. However I suspect I will go for level 2. My problem is it is only offered in June and September and I am on a road trip in June so I will miss that one.
February 22, 2011 at 11:55 pm #29277bigguybbrParticipantAlso a good idea is to always have a kickstand plate. Anything to distribute the weight of your bike so the kickstand doesn’t sink in to the asphalt or loose dirt. It’s a real problem when it’s hot outside or wet when not on pavement. Saw more than a few bikes at Laconia sink in and a few that fell right over.
March 1, 2011 at 2:37 am #29318kirkParticipantNice video. Who does the music you use?
March 1, 2011 at 2:58 am #29319eonParticipantIt’s the theme music to Battlestar Galactica (new series) by Bear McCreary.
April 3, 2011 at 3:30 pm #29437madjak30ParticipantIt’s been almost two months since you bought the new toy…is the “Honeymoon” over, or do you still luv the bike?
Are you finding any issues with not having a center stand? or are you only doing day trips?
I’m thinking of going one more year with the GS500, then making the change…we’ll see…
Later.
April 5, 2011 at 2:36 am #29442eonParticipantI’m still loving it. Got about 2500 miles on it now I think. I just got back from a 3 day trip last night down to the WA/OR border area where there are amazing roads to be ridden. Fast sweepers, tight 180’s, bumpy, smooth, canyons, gravel, primitive…just about every kind of road you can imagine so I got a good workout. I’m still learning to cope with the differences in handling and behavior as some things just take you by surprise. The front forks obviously have a lot of travel so the bike dives under heavy braking which is unsettling (they also hum under braking which the scooter never did, that was off putting as well at first).
I realized I was struggling with down hill corners this weekend. I suspect I was using front brake in the corner which was unsettling the bike. Probably a bad habit I learned on the scooter but with its unusual front end it never complained. A lot of these things I’m doing instinctively now so it takes a while to figure out where I’m going wrong. A conscious effort to use back brake and things went a lot better. It’s also more critical to get my entry speed right as being on the throttle settles the bike down a lot more than the scooter ever did. Plus with the sensitive throttle it’s harder to make small adjustments mid corner without over doing it.
I plan on taking the Total Control class next month as at this stage it will do me a world of good. But the challenge of mastering this new ride has made things very interesting for me again.
Oh, only issue with no center stand is cleaning the chain is a pain in the ass. It’s not a huge deal though.
April 6, 2011 at 7:20 pm #29451Gary856ParticipantEon, have you had your suspension set up by a pro (usually less than $50)? Are your front springs matched to your weight (usually around $150 installed)? Those two things make a big difference for most riders.
April 7, 2011 at 1:08 am #29452eonParticipantNope, but I did attend a seminar on how to set up your suspension correctly. Sadly I haven’t actually got around to adjusting mine yet. Need to do that soon as apparently the factory settings are appropriate for sumo wrestlers. But I do think part of the difference will be down to the contrast between the scooter and a bike with long suspension travel. Just part of the learning experience.
April 7, 2011 at 5:54 pm #29453TrialsRiderParticipantDid the seminar cover adjusting fork dampening by changing fork oil viscosity or altering the fork position at the triple trees?
You are lucky, it’s been years since I lived near a college that offered motorcycle related anything.April 8, 2011 at 2:41 am #29454eonParticipantThis was just a free 1 hour talk at the local BMW dealership by a guy who does suspension setup at the local racetrack. Was really a means of promoting his business but I went in there knowing nothing so I had nothing to lose. The guy was certainly knowledgeable but was a poor public speaker so it was kind of boring. He spent most of the time going over various terminology and showing us all kinds of springs and forks and stuff (you can see it’s all fresh in my mind ). He probably mentioned oil viscosity but I cannot say for certain now. I do remember him saying temperature would affect your oil and he would have adjusted his forks before riding that day (was about the freezing mark). Don’t remember anything about triple trees.
All I plan on doing at this point is ensuring my preload is set correctly for my weight. Once I get that done I may play with the damping and see what difference that makes.
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