Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

I'm on the lighter side (6'3", <160 lb) and even on my ~500 lb Versys I was getting blown around in SF winds. I got passed by a really big dude (must have been 300+ lb) on a CBR250 with one hand on the bars. Wind didn't affect him in the slightest.

 

Thanks for sharing. I will support this.

 

Pretty sure somebody already suggested you just throw 50 pounds in a backpack, but you didn't seem keen on that solution.

 

That's very generous of you! Once I've got the bike and all that I may take you up on it. I may just opt to spend the money with giant loop to support the business and youtuber I like, though. Either way, thank you very much for the kind offer.

 

like @BkerChuck mentioned as well..

have you tried penske for your diavel??

 

Nope. Used to fly with 20lbs of ballast on my back in my harness until someone said ‘if you pile in that’s 20 extra pounds of force to help break your spine..’ I took it out immediately. Same applies.

 

Yup

 

Oh I 100% agree. I was just poking fun.

 

Had a rear Ohlins on my recently sold Honda 919. Ran it for like 8 of the 13 yrs i had the bike... pulled it out and swapped back to stock for the sale of the bike.

OMFG the Ohlins was NIGHT and day different once I went back to stock.

Putting money into suspension is never a bad thing

 

MAYBE someone in this group will know. On a yamaha with soft brake lines to hardlines that run along the frame. Are the hardline fittings an m10x1 thread? And are they an inverted flare or a bubble end? (trying to make some hardline extensions for my super tenere up front for bar risers)

 

Anyone in here have experience with Barkbusters? I forgot them in that big long list of planned additions a few days ago because I was sleepy. The bars in them to protect levers are appealing and wind protection on the digits would be nice. Any pros/cons for them from this group?

 

Depends on the bike?

Never felt the need for them on my grom / naked sport bike. My ADV bike has stock hand guards that really help with the wind, and on the dirtbike AN ABSOLUTE MUST unless you like punching trees and breaking levers.

EDIT - and on the dirtbike another plus is a grab point. Because they are hard mounted to the handle bars (my acerbis wrap around guards) near the middle and at the bar end you can grab on the end of the bars easy to pick a bike up or move it around rather than an awkward sideways grip when not seated on the bike.

EDIT 2 - The ONLY caveat i have EVER had to the full wrap hand guards, one time I did crash and landed just right to bend the guards so I couldnt pull in the clutch due to how the acerbis guards swoop down on the ends. Pulled out the multi tool pulled off the guard and rode the rest of the ride. Shortened the levers on the bike when I got home after that for more clearance Clarence.

 

The CB500X is not a dirt bike at all, but I would like to eventually be able to ride some of the trails I rode my SxS on. Partial drop protection for the levers and wind protection are what I am thinking they may provide. I'm going to drop the bike, and if I can protect it to where a drop or two doesn't end my day/week for riding I'd like to. I have no dirt experience at all, and though it's not what I am buying the bike for, I hope to be taking it with me for camping trips and such. That's why the skid, crash bars, and radiator guard are on the list.

 

See my edits to my post.

But yeah some full wrap handguards on the CB500X will not only look good and fit the adv aesthetic, they will def be functional. Just check clearances you have now between bars and windshield at full lock, if you need measurements of Acerbis Endurance Handguards let me know (thats what i have on my wr450)

 

Excellent info in the edits. I didn't even thing about it being a possible grab point.

 

I've got them on the Versys and they really help in cold weather. On an ADV I think they're absolutely necessary. I've had good luck with the Acerbis knockoffs on eBay for ~$20 as well, though those are smaller than the Barkbusters I have on the Versys.

 

I honestly use it as a grab point so often on the dirtbike that when moving the other motorcycles around the garage / parking space etc by hand I often find myself reaching for that spot and coming up with nothing.

 

With the talk of grab points, any opinion on the grab straps made for that kind of stuff? I see some for the tail and over the front fender on dirt bikes/enduros and such. I don't think I need anything like that, but what about you out in the dirt?

 

For a "bigger" bike like yours and the trails you will likely be doing, not needed IMO. In fact, once you get all your protection farkles mounted (yeah I used THE word), id suggest taking your bike over to some grass or laying some towels down and putting it on its side gently and seeing what works and what doesnt to pick it up. The bigger bikes need a lil different strategy to pick up vs a lighter dirtbike for sure, facing away from the bike on the down side and back/butt into the seat one hand on the downed side handle bar and the other on something at the ass end of the bike then squat up works well.

In the 20+ yrs of dirt riding on lighter dirtbikes I have never had an over the seat/front fork grab strap nor NEEDED it. There have been times when it would of made it a bit easier but not detrimental to the outcome of righting myself or getting the bike up n out of whatever situation. On the ADV bike (at least mine) there are already grab holds on the rear for the rear passenger that suffice for picking up via method above.... and yeah def had to use the above mentioned strategy when I gracefully tipped over on my super tenere on my maiden voyage 1200mi ride home in some small pea gravel like a dumb dumb.

 

Oh, for sure. Pick up practice will be a thing, though I'm fairly confident I can get it up (giggity) because of my experience lifting my heavy as cruiser in the past. Though, I am older and fatter now, so practice is good advice. I think the passenger foot peg mounts, passenger hand holds, and then protection farkles (I don't mind the word) will provide enough handholds on the 500X.

Bummer about the Tenere tip, but it's also just one of those things that happens.