Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

You Washington folks, is this what you do for your Discover Pass?

 

I always wondered what to do. I photocopied my pass and shrunk it down to fit in the phone screen window of my tank bag. Never thought to look up if there was actually a procedure.

 

Good idea on the tank bag idea. I don't put anything in that clear pocket on top.

 

I haven't had a discover pass in years.. only one place around here it's necessary for and no one is ever there to check. Plus, if they were, the top of it is a parking lot and that's it so it'd be easy enough to ride away if I saw them pull up. Road up to it is a freaking hoot though

 

I have done the hwy 20 to Winthrop a few times. Did the hwy 2 to Leavenworth a couple times also. Very scenic rides for sure. I just need to figure out what bike to take.
What would everyone else be riding?

 

Koso 4v 170cc with a 34mm TB is the way to go if you are doing any sort of proper big bore on a grom imo. After running a kitaco 164cc lite bore kit with stockish 2v head (with oversized valves) the head design stock really limits power output. If i were to do it over again a stock CC sized high comp piston with a massaged head (a lil port n polish) and a cam to suit would be the way to go if you wanted more power on a budget.... or down the rabbit hole of 4v hahaha

I was able to do 73ish on my 164cc setup listed above... that 4v setup will probably make 50% more power than what i was making!

Really wish honda did a shaft drive on this bike. It really woulda stuck it out of the sea of very similar bikes in this category.

 

They definitely just took the africa twin and did minimal changes to make a passable Sport Tourer. I get the minimal effort/expense.

 

I agree, but at the same time, they did it in the past (VFR 1200) and it didn't sell like crazy. Unless it's a cruiser, everyone seems to be terrified of a heavy bike, and shafts add that extra weight that seems to scare everyone away.

Just look at the Super T and it's lackluster sales. Everyone who rides one loves it, but so many didn't even give it a shot because it's weight on paper is the only thing any reviewer ever talks about.

 

I'm currently one of those people terrified of weight. I'm so used to putting dirtbikes down that it's hard for me to imagine having a bike that I can't relatively easily pick back up. Even though the likelihood of putting one down is going to be drastically less. I need to change that way of thinking, and I'm sure it'll happen.

 

Africa Twin

 

All you need to do is watch some of the tiny women who ride GS1250s and pick them up on the regular. It's all about technique. I'm 5'6" and have always been fat and out of shape. I picked up my 2003 VTX 1300 multiple times without any major issues. If I can do it, anyone can.

 

With gold wheels

 

That bike is 547 lbs on honda's spec sheet. A Super Tenere is 575. Personally I'd take the hit to the weight to have the shaft drive, but I am unreasonably opposed to ever doing chain maintenance again. An older Honda VFR 1200F (mentioned in my previous post) weights 591 lbs according to the google machine, and can be had for a reasonable price used. https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2013-Honda-VFR+1200F-5035786717#sid=593828

Another tip I'd give is that the seat height given in the book is only part of the equation. I had a CB500X just like yours, seat is listed at 32.8" and I was solidly on the balls of my feet if I put both feet down on it. My Super Tenere has a listed seat height of 33.3" on the low setting (which I use) and I'm just as planted, if not a little more on the bigger bike. The seat on the ST is a bit narrower right where I stand so I can get as much or more of my food down even with a taller seat.

If that new NT1100 bike has a similar situation it's height might not be as much an obstacle as it looks to be on paper.

 

My wife pointed out that most of the videos she's seen with the tiny gals with huge adventure bikes have the bike resting on the panniers, keeping the bike from being flat to the ground. We practiced with mine a couple weeks ago. Flat on the ground, she had zero ability to pick it up. She simply wasn't large enough (like enough reach) to hold onto it and lift. I was able to do 3 reps of it within a few minutes. Which did make me feel much better about ever putting it down. Proper form made a huge difference over the first time I tipped it over in the backyard and hurt my back getting it upright.

 

I totally get the difference in seats and seat heights. So many things can make a difference on that. Width of seat is a big one, but so is the softness of the suspension. I'll ride a 34+ dirtbike and touch the ground easier than on my 32.7 CB

 

Though that is often true, here's one lifting her tiger 1200 from flat on the ground. He has pannier racks, but nothing on them (the thumbnail lies.) It's flat on the ground.

https://youtu.be/RZMURbcqsYI

 

I'll have to try again tilting it from FLAT to touching the tires before lifting. I was just squatting over the seat, holding the handlebar and passenger grab handle and pushing up with my legs. Didn't have an issue. But Nicole wasn't able to recreate that since her arms were too short. She was pretty much sitting on the seat solid, kinda hard to lift a bike you're sitting on in order to reach the handles, haha. We'll definitely give it another go, trying to get it proper. But, that's my bike. I'm sure hers will be very different. Hopefully with it being lower, the extra 100 pounds won't matter much. And even more hopeful that it never gets put down, hahaha.

Again though, the fact I actually put it down and picked it up a few times really improved my confidence riding. I always had that bit of fear in the back of my mind that if I tipped over I wouldn't be able to pick it back up. Not anymore!!

 

Just found a 2017 with 5700 miles for $6999 I have read that 2017 was a big leap from previous years, but 2019 was a quantum leap(same wheel can be used on all 3 spots).....but damn that's a killer price.

I found a 2019 for $10000 a few months ago. Called the first day it was listed and the dealer had already sold it.

I. WILL. GET. ONE

 

Friend/former coworker bought one as his retirement gift to himself in 23 I think. Neat vehicle but definitely not a speedy vehicle. Sweet spot seems to be 55 mph. It can go a little faster but I'd say 70 would be the max and not much fun for long. Need a bit more so it can be interstate friendly for me.