Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

Ramble away. In fact, i can as well.

My wife has been loving her DCT on the Rebel 1100. She wasn't well versed with clutches before, so it made learning to ride much more accessible for her. She can use them, did fine in the class and on her Rebel 500, but when you throw in traffic and all that fun, getting 100% comfortable with clutch was gonna take a long time. Was ruining the enjoyment as she was constantly stressed about it.

Me, I'm 98% comfortable with a clutch, lol. I don't have to think about it, but I've been using them for 25 years, not 8 months like her.

After riding her bike a bit, I gotta admit it's pretty darn relaxing. I may have freaked out for a split second the first few times I grabbed for a clutch when wanting to slam on the brakes, but that wasn't an issue after the 3rd time doing it. You learn quick. So for me, I'm not some die hard that has to have a clutch. Especially since I'm just cruising, not looking for the sportiest most exciting/spirited onroad riding. I plan to keep the spirited stuff to the offroad side of things. Again, this is all just me. I don't wanna constantly be risking getting a ticket or F'ing up in a corner and crashing trying to ride beyond the posted limit. Just wanna relax, enjoy the scenery, and enjoy a new experience from A to B.

Back to the NT specifically, I'm never one to pay the price to buy the best of the best. I'm happy for a middle ground, does everything good enough kinda thing, which this seems to be. I definitely don't need more HP than the NT. My CB500X makes me happy, so I think doubling the HP would be plenty for longer highway or mountain rides in the future, loaded down with luggage (and probably a little extra gas for the wife's Rebel with its tiny ass fuel tank). Might other bikes be better? I don't doubt it. lol. Honda can be pretty boring, but I'm ok with that.

Hopefully the bike does well enough to bring over the other models so everyone can be happy!

 

Bought some tech 7 enduro’s ! Super nice!

 

If I drop some fat maybe faster. lol

 

I always thought a big bore on the grom would have been fun. Just was a deep rabbit hole for the relative cost of the bike

 

Me too. The CRF300's suspension is so bad that it loses a few inches when you sit on it. How it sits now, I can get both toes on the ground or flat foot with one on the peg. I can't wait to get the RR level 1 shock on. They say it's perfect for short rides

 

Good looking bike. It looks like a great street ripper as well, though I enjoy the mechanics of regular shifting vs DCT auto personally. Would def make Seattle traffic easier though. My forearms were toast coming back from Anacortes last weekend in 30mi of I-5 traffic.

I'd prob go low seat. Off camber ability to get your feet down is nice. I can flatfoot my Africa Twin on flat ground, but it gets sketchy quick if I had to catch myself on angled ground. On a bike half the weight of my AT, it wouldn't be as drastic though.

 

Just looked up the RR level 1. Definitely looks like a great option. too bad the Hydraulic adjust adds so much $! I'd definitely have to spring for it, if I were buying that shock.

 

@ WA / Seattle area homies:

If I put together a casual TW groupride / lunch meetup in the next couple of months, would anyone be interested? Maybe something like a Leavenworth run, or something?

@YF_Ryan @oldtoyman @spencermarkd and others I have missed

 

I would love to, but questionable if I'd be up to a ride like that til I get some more miles under my belt. I've still never even hit a freeway yet, lol.

 

Lol I'm basically in Idaho, so Leavenworth is 4 hours for me. Depending on timing, potentially though, wouldn't be the worst to do an 8 hour riding day and meet for lunch.

 

Yeah, I know its a long range ride for you, just didnt want you to feel excluded.

 

Yes

 

HWY 2 between Idaho and Kalispell was one of the drives my wife thought would be great on motos, and really got her interested in buying them. I just wish we didn't need to ride for 4 hours to really start enjoying the other side of the WA and the rest of the trip, lol. Maybe trailer them to Chewelah (uncle's place) and ride from there...

 

I would agree with that. Although I have bought all the bikes I have now used and got a decent prices on them. It’s just money and I can’t take it with me. I am not getting any younger either so spend and have fun now is my thinking.

 

I opted to go without. I saw a guy on either ADVrider or a fb page that made a tool to adjust it while still on the bike. I won't carry luggage enough to truly need the quick adjuster. I also was teetering b/t 2 springs. I went with the heavier one......so I should be fine setting it for just me and then be ok with luggage.....at least that's the hope

 

I doubt I'd ever carry any serious additional weight. Not looking to camp off a bike like that or anything. My wife asked why I'd even bother buying a street legal bike and not a regular old dirtbike. I just said, if I have a license, why not have a road legal bike? I just want to have an offroad toy of some sort if I do get rid of the SxS (which is highly likely in the future).

 

Don't get me wrong, they're are much better dirt and road bikes over the little 300's.........but damn they're just great little bikes. I accept mine for what it is and could have easily lived with it staying stock. My days of ripping through stuff is over. I'm perfectly fine taking things easy(although I was on an easy trail when I wrecked )

 

Appreciate it

Whenever you're ready for highways/freeways, highway 2 to leavenworth, 97 up to twisp, then highway 20 back to Sedro, and 9 back down south. Highway 20 made me cry once lol

 

I want to do this ride this summer, cuz its gonna be gorgeous.

 

This was may 2018


And it really doesn't do the scale of it all ANY justice. Absolutely breathtaking ride.