[TrialsRider]

let’s call it Mount Pshop

[TrialsRider]

Your youngest has great taste in motorcycles, you should buy that one ride it for 16 years and then give it to him to enjoy for another 16

[TrialsRider]

I remember wishing I had ace bars when I rode my enduro on the highway, crouching down real low and using the passenger pegs seemed like the only way I could get it wind slippery, but that left my throttle arm way out in the wind blast.

Also remember digging it out of a huge snow drift so that I could ride home at the end of the school day, then thawing my hands on the cylinder head so I could move my fingers again … I musta been nuts when I was 16. ( i know, i know i still am

If you do get a shield, make sure you mount it very low and way far forward, if you pop a wheelie they tend to decapitate you.

[TrialsRider]

Hubby is on a Beamer and you are wanting to keep up with a Sportster ! … if he’s not towing a trailer you do have a problem.

[TrialsRider]

… and I have to think that the bike you have chosen certainly contributes to the problem, but I’m not going to be ignorant here and say go buy a faster quieter bike, I’ll try to suggest some real world solutions for you.

H-D’s are loud and shake from the get go plus lack any sort of wind streamlining, so even 50 can seem like you are just flying. You speak of ‘us’ & ‘we’ so the assumption is you are riding with other Harley’s ( possibly larger and modified to be grotesquely loud ) and another assumption is; they are leading and you are constantly playing catchup in the wake of a noise that sounds like a space shuttle launch ?

Step one: you need to take the lead position, now their noise ( and yours ) is behind you, you’ll hear your own engine and can focus on going the speed limit ( or slightly faster

Step two: Take the left position instead of the curb position ( while not ideal for safety while riding in numbers ) you won’t feel like you are being driven off the road. Ride the line you would if you were riding solo. Let the riding partners provide your rear echelon traffic interference for a while.

Step three: I personally hate the idea, but ear plugs as recommended by some just might be the ticket, bear in mind that when you have a deficit in one of your senses the others have to make up the difference, so keep those eyes pealed for danger (from ahead and to the sides ), ignore the guys behind other than to make sure they are keeping up once in a while

Step four: get a windshield if you haven’t already, not a big one, just something that dampens the wind buffeting at high speed and keep it tilted back at the top edge so that it actually streamlines a little !

Hope this helps some !

[TrialsRider]

…just some points to be aware of: Some bike clutches are cable actuated and others are hydraulically actuated, hydraulic has a much lighter lever force and can be recognized by the fluid reservoir on the top of the lever. Cable actuators get progressively stiffer with ageing of the cable and the internal nylon ‘cam’ parts.

Lever positioning can make a big difference also, moving the lever in on the bars will give you a better purchase, if your fingers are long enough and rotating them on the bar to a different aspect can accommodate personal comfort preference.

The bigger the engine, the stronger the clutch need be to hold it’s power. Some bikes even have a dry plate clutch ( like a car ) instead of the more popular multi-plate wet clutch. Dry clutches are physically lighter and hold the power more easily because of inherent increased friction, but they do not take anywhere as much rider abuse.

[TrialsRider]

The 350F is a great bike for the distances you are planning to travel, the 125 not so much so. That 350F looks to be in remarkable condition, ( I had one just like it ) if it was mine the luggage rack would have to go and the pull back handlebars would get changed out for something closer to stock. Few things to look for if you go to check that one out, other than it starting and sounding reasonable.
Those tires look almost original and the rubber might be hard and slippery ( inexpensive to replace ) With good tires it’s easy to drag metal parts in the corners.
The primary drive chain has a tendency to stretch, the symptom is that there will be a ‘lurch’ when going from acceleration to deceleration. ( expensive to replace )
Great fun motorcycle to ride if you enjoy the sound of an engine that will pull 13,000 rpm …far better than listening to a radio !

[TrialsRider]

Either the front or back brake should hold the bike solid on the hills you are riding.

Here is a example of what 1 finger braking with hydraulic disk brakes can accomplish on a really steep hill and it’s almost too easy to lock up the back wheel with very little force.

…you really should get some time on a lightweight dirt bike before you stretch a muscle or something.

[TrialsRider]

Went rural 15 years ago. My dad was the curator of Riverdale Zoo and the house where I grew up is still there, it’s a farm theme park now, fantastic place to live. I used to ride my enduro up and down the Don Valley green belt to avoid the DVP traffic jams ( They might shoot you if you tried that now

Trust you know about Danier Leather ? Really designed for style and not for sliding across the pavement, but leather is leather no matter how you cut it, still protects way better than cotton denim. Danier has tons of Lady styles ( not so good for Mens ) different lines for different seasons and frequently have terrific in store sales on. ( very, very hot styling

If you see a fella your height and weight with a short trimmed beard ( slightly greying ) wearing a big white cowboy hat and moccasin boots, say Hi. Even in a city of 3 million, very few match that description. ( east of Calgary that is

[TrialsRider]

Just north-west of Toronto there is a little town called Acton, home to no less than 3 Leather goods stores, you might find something suitable there.
You missed your chance for riding gear deals at the winter and spring Toronto bike shows, watch for it next year at the International center, right across the road from the airport.

[TrialsRider]

I’m thinking no, not built in to this site. From within each forum list you can click on Topic, Replies, Created or Last reply and change the sort order of that forum list.

Best solution is use Google search and append the parameter : “bestbeginnermotorcycles.com” to your search criteria. Google will initially present a “+Show more results from https://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com” then scroll down the list and select “Show all results from https://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com >>” …works great as long as the spelling is correct.

[TrialsRider]

Eon, taint no argument here, we’re just trying to solve all of the worlds problems according to priority Your diagram is missing his motorcycle ! … and his knees aren’t bent at all … contributes way too much unsprung weight !:i
edit: in my case it’s a spring loaded 64 kg. hunk of meat without a seat, standing on the pegs

If we can agree that weighting the pegs works ( and I sure hope it does or I have been standing up way too much ) The pressure is on for the Physicists to explain, why ? Is there a Physics 301 ?

I ride a 4 stroke so I know it’s not all smoke and mirrors, I just ride the damn thing.

[TrialsRider]

I suspect they are challenging semantics here and not practice

[TrialsRider]

I love those little signature ditties that people append to their postings, but I can’t find one that is me, perhaps you can help decide ?

a) Physic’s challenged Trick Monkey looking for Mates to Ride.

b) I am at one with the motorcycle, therefore the motorcycle is I ?

c) Lightly equipped Biker, wanting to ride dirty.

d) It’s too dark to go riding and I stripped off my headlight, is there a full moon where you hang out ?

e) Many Sports need a Ball to Play, Moto Trials requires Two !

f) I laugh at crashing, it’s not really a sickness, it’s just my sense of humor.

[TrialsRider]

…you just terminated the most fascinating thread on this site
I know better than to argue with a lady and bow to your superior degree

[Author]

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