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The “Five to Survive” Rule & Why You Should Use It
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IanCParticipant
Not that I’m a fan of these bailouts because I’m not (just read that Citi just bought a $50mil plane) but it’s not Harley the Motorcyle Manufacture aka GM and Chrysler asking for a bailout. I’ts Harley’s financing arm like GMAC which is asking for money so they can make loans to finance the bikes that Harley sells. Just like GMAC got classified as a bank so they could get money. With the credit market locked up tight the financing arms of these companies are having problems getting lines of credit to extend loans.
IanCParticipantAll Triumphs for 2009 have EFI, even the Bonneville, she now has fake carbs.
IanCParticipantSangria,
I test rode the VStar 650 and the Honda Shadow 750 Aero before I bought my VStrom. The thing about the VStar was I could just feel this heat coming up onto my pants and boots which just made me feel not at all comfortable. Did you notice that? Also it seemed like the pegs and controls were a little to far forward compared to the Rebel and Shadow, did you notice that?
Ian
IanCParticipantMust be a Rebel Rider thing. Just bought the same Jacket Last Sunday with the new bike. I’ve ridden with it one time then a heat wave set back in here in SoCal so it was back to the Mesh Jacket for awhile.
What a difference between the Mesh and Cortech GX Series 2. I feel much warmer and more protected.
IanCParticipantDoes the URL point to where the images are on my local computer or do I need to upload them to the site first?
When I pointed them to my local computer the preview didn’t show them.
IanCParticipantYeah the height issue is the big one for me on this bike.
I can’t flat foot it unlike the Rebel. After I picked it up today I went riding with some buddies (about 100 miles) and while I felt totally comfortable while riding, every time I came in for a stop I held my breath.
I’ve been assured that I’ll get used to not being able to flat foot it. So that’s what I’m going to be practicing with this bike over the next few weeks. Lots of stop and goes.
IanCParticipantIt’s quite an experience isn’t it. I remember the first time I took the Rebel on the Freeway I was waiting at the traffic light at the freeway entrance and I felt just like I did while waiting for a roller coaster to take off . I’ve had my Rebel on the freeways out here in San Diego a few times and with some of the hills we have here I was sometimes maxed out at 65mph I also may be heavier than you. One time I was stuck behind a 18 wheeler because I didn’t feel like I had the power to hop into the second lane. I decided that me, the Rebel, and Freeways didn’t mix unless it was an emergency or a short hop.
Today I bought my second bike a 2009 Suzuki VStrom 650 I pick it up tomorrow. I’m keeping the Rebel at least for now, very different riding experiences.
IanCParticipantI have a 2003 and it goes into neutral while running. Not always easy but it’s definately there. easier when upshifting from 1st rather then downshifting from second. Did you try gently lifting the shifter, I have to almost barely touch it.
IanCParticipantDragger
Check out newenough.com tab in their closeouts/barginbasement they have a couple of crusier leather jackets for $99 with armor. I just bought a Joe Rocket Blaster Leather which has zip off sleeves (mesh underneath) for $159 since I didn’t want plain black.
IanCParticipantSangria,
Check out http://www.rebel250.com/rebelforum/index.php
This is a community for Rebel owners. They have lots on info on Windshields just to a forum search. The people who do Highway riding really like them.
One other mod that a lot of people do especially the ones who do highway driving is changing the rear sprocket 33 teeth for one with 30 teeth. This gives them a higher speed at lower RPM’s but you loose some pickup.
Ian
IanCParticipantYup you have it,. if she was heavier you wouldn’t have been able to stop her. It’s happened a few times to me and I ‘ve said the same thing. I’ve only dropped her once, I forgot to put the kickstand down, leaned over and away she went. But since she’s lighter I was able to slow her momentum down and lay her down softly so no damage was done other than a scratch on the metal weights at the end of the grips.
For the last two days my car’s been in the shop so I’ve been going everywhere on her, she start up, goes where I want, no problem, a workhorse. But wouldn’t you know it, it’s been hotter than … here the last two days.
Today as I was riding I realized that I wasn’t counting gears anymore, I can just tell what gear I’m in by the sound of the engine and the speed I’m doing.
I also get a kick out of the people in cars who try to start off the line faster than me, I’m thinking hey this is a 250 I’m not going to race you.
IanCParticipantI’ve had the Rebel for 2 months now and 1000 miles. While she’s no speed demon going away from lights. She can handle anything I thow at her (except not freeways so well)., curves, straight, hills, etc. Use her to learn everything you can, practice all the things which you can screw up on her but you wont’ be able to on a heavier or more powerful bike. Stopping on a hill (keeping your right foot on the brake rather than 2 footing her), counterstearing, throttle control, shifting (you’ll have alot of practice), brake contol, tight cornering, etc.
On twisties in the mountains I can keep up with any of my friends with bigger, faster bikes.
To put it in perspective, this past week I rode my friends Triumph Legend for 100 miles and while it was fun and fast my bike is more nimble and if I’d been dealing with that weight when starting I know I’d have dropped it more. Then I test rode a Yamaha VStar 650, a Honda Shadow 750, and a Yamaha FZ6. The VStar 650 really didn’t have much more acceleration than my Rebel (more comfortable at freeway speed) and more space between gears, the Shadow was way quicker but it was so darn heavy for cornering, I’m sure glad I got good on the Rebel. The Yamaha FZ6 was fast but I found the riding position hurt my neck and arms.
But the important thing is I could control the stearing, throttle and brakes fine on all these bikes because I used the Rebel to teach me and quickly. In two months with the Rebel I’m doing more than my friend who started on the Legend did in a year.
IanCParticipantWell I went back out on the Triumph today and it’s not the bike for me, it’s too long, after 30 miles my upper back and neck were really sore from reaching, even though I was trying to sit upright. But it was a lot of fun and what a difference on the freeway the 865cc 80hp 472 lbs makes over 250cc 22 hp and 300 lbs. After I got back from the ride a total of 42 miles I got back on the Rebel and drove it around the block, I felt like I was riding a kids bike. I’m sure I’ll grow back down into it until I get something bigger.
One other thing on Rupmisc is that the 2009 Bonevilles are fuel injected, but they have fake carbs to keep the retro look.
IanCParticipantYesterday I rode a Triumph Legend 865cc after only riding my Rebel 250, my friend is selling it and I’m considering buying it.
My Rebel has a very forgiving throttle and is very light. The Triumph is 69 hp out the door and with the mods this guy put on probably in the 80’s now and about 470 lbs, it took me about 5-10 minutes to get used to the weight (problem at gas station) and the throttle. After that it was mostly getting used to the seating position (standard vs cruiser) and the hydralic clutch. I was suprised at how little problem I had actually.
IanCParticipantJust read on another website that Kawasaki has also announced that they will bring the ER-6n which is a naked version of the Ninja 650R into the US this year, previously it was only available in Europe. Now the non sport version of the SV650 will have some competition.
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