Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

yuup id like another bike so i could save a bit more money and daily it but that requires getting another bike haha which i would love to do just cant right now! gotta try and get my civic going sometime this winter...

 

That's the important part and what to be thankful for!

 

Couldn't pass up the deal on this tank bag cause I've been wanting one for years. On-sale for $40 at CycleGear (normally $65) and I got it for $15!! on Amazon. It's only a 0.2gal bag but it should be plenty for the few things I may put in it.

 

sourced yourself some vader seats??

 

Looks like it'll securely hold a loaf of bread like a mofo!

 

Might scoop these pants over the winter for next year. Dont love the price, but need the boot capability. Plus I think they use the same materials as Mosko. I might also pick up a jersey for summer, now that I have a chest protector (or sell the chest protector, and get an armored shirt from Leatt)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1dSymnlgeg

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/riding-gear/msr-xplorer-adv-pant-p?0&c=615&idd1=100408&idd2=5195

 

Hah good eye! Yep, got some full manual vaders for $600 a few weeks ago. They're in OK shape but the wrong color. I'm going to restore them and use them till I can find/trade my way to some grey Vaders.

 

Oh man, this is so tempting.

https://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=559316

 

Sounds like a setup for a 2 grand mugging. Make sure you're packing when you pick it up, and arrange to take possession at a local PD.

 

He's been a member there for 20 years and it's a pretty close community (local forum)... I think it would be OK.

 

So, on Sunday we went on another ride, and got out on some freeway speed stuff. 75-80 MPH is the CB500X's Achilles heel. So. Much. Vibration. We were only on it for 20 miles, and most of that was at 65 because of construction, but the little bit that was full speed was not great. Tie a weed trimmer to each limb and then sit on one and you have an idea of what it's like.

I love the bike at 65 MPH and under, but pushing on the interstate it just starts to not be as pleasurable to ride, and I wouldn't want to run under the limit on a bike. Sounds like a great way to become a hood ornament. So this bike will not be used for interstates, but anything that I can back road or that doesn't need to run over 65 MPH for more than a few miles would be fine on it. I still want to keep it and run up more miles because it really is such an easy thing to hop on and go. I imagine it's like a supersized Grom, but I've not been on a Grom to confirm.

I'll avoid bike shopping unless I get way more riding in this season and next and feel that a more highway capable bike is in order. I definitely don't want to lose the dirt ability that this little bike has demonstrated, though. Also not real keen on taking out a loan, so I may just adapt my riding to avoid high speeds rather than changing to a bike to accommodate them.

 

Well that was information I didn't have before. LOL

 

Consider installing some heavy bar end weights in place of those little stockers. They really help reduce vibrations through the grips. Foam grip buddies help too. They just install right over the stock grips adding a little girth and dampening vibration as well.

 

The grips were mostly tolerable, but I couldn't keep any pressure on the pegs. It was very uncomfortable at that speed. The whole bike was vibrating a lot, so I'm not sure weighted bars would be enough. I do have bark busters to add to it, and those should be some added weight, and I'll have to see how it feels after that. Just need to make the time to get them installed.

 

I have a set of Two Brothers pipes on my FJR; they sound awesome!!

 

Hm idk what you could even do to help vibrations in the foot...I assume you're wearing moto shoes/boots at least? Reg shoes will definitely carry more vibrations.

This is the reason why I upgraded from my XSR700 to the S1000RR. def an overkill of an upgrade, but I had just moved about 15 miles further from work, which required freeway commuting, and the Yamaha was screaming at freeway speeds. Partially due to my riding habits, partially due to the minor gearing change I made, and partially due to the fact standard SoCal cruising speed is around 90 these days. All that combined made for a not so comfortable ride when freeways were open, and left some power to be desired at those speeds.

I second the grip puppies though, if hand vibration is at all an issue for you.

 

Still in my hiking Keens because I can't find anywhere to try on boots! I tried one of the Tech boots from Alpinestars and they are only intended for chicken legs. The velcro was several inches from being able to close around my calf. Before I do anything drastic I'll have to trade bikes on a ride with my buddy and see if the V-strom is similar. It might just be that I'm needing to get used to the vibrations of the bikes. It just seemed really really buzzy at high speed. There's some vibration at 50-65 MPH as well, but nothing uncomfortable like the 70+ speeds were.

 

Have you considered more street-style moto shoes/boots? I believe on Revzilla they're categorized as "Harley/Cruiser" lol. Or the "Short" category. not sure if you've already looked or not but there are some solid protective options across all the different brands, that will look more like a casual shoe (and you won't have to worry about calf sizing), but still offer decent protection for your foot/ankle.

Could also just be that you're unused to it. When I first rode the S1000RR home (2 hour ride from LA) my hands and forearms were buzzing. And that was when the bike had grip puppies on. I got used to the new vibrations pretty quickly since I had to ride freeway regularly after. Then I removed the grip puppies, and my hands and forearms were buzzing again for the first few days after. But now I don't even notice the vibrations. But yeah give his bike a shot if/when he'll let you...could just be that, or it could be specific to your bike

 

My primary concern with the boot conundrum is that if I'm going to buy a pair I'd like the better protection of the taller boot. I did try the Icon Stormhawks, but they are way too narrow for my wedge shaped foot. Length was perfect, but my foot felt like it was in a vice. It's a normal issue for me with almost any shoe. EE shoes are frequently too narrow, and the crap shoot of it all is that I'm usually in a size 9, so to get wide enough shoes I wind up in something that is too big. I'm ok with that for an office shoe, but not for protective stuff.

As for the vibes, I had a similar feeling the first bit on the bike with my hands, but I learned to loosen up and got used to it pretty quickly. The pegs are a different animal. Think paint shaker vibrations if you put weight on your feet. Very uncomfortable.

 

Yeah I get that for sure. I'm the kind of person who has both lol. super protective when I want it, or super convenient/quick when I don't. Hence why half my casual shoes are zip-ups lol. But fully understand wanting the most protection you can get. yeah sizing can be a bitch sometimes. I thank my lucky stars that most stuff fits me well off the shelf.

Yeah definitely try your buddy's bike then. Could be specific to yours, or could just be the nature of that size engine at those speeds. Something vibrating that violently sounds off, but I haven't really ridden low displacement bikes near their top end so can't speak from my own experience.