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Jolci posted:gently caress that was a hot poo poo show. Took an hour and a half to get off the I395 off ramp and into the pentagon lot. Then after waiting for 5 hours or so (which wasn't too bad with the food, shade, and a nice park near the marina) my lot had a solid 45 second notice before we started riding. People were running around, stashing gear and passing each other to keep the flow going. We were right after the rolling thunder tribute painted semi trucks, who made a wrong turn and missed the second half of the ride, taking all of us with them. Minor detour through downtown DC traffic & through 2 police barricades & back in it to win it! Thankfully the guy in front of me with open pipes and a twitch in his throttle hand got lost, so the second half was much quieter. Didn't see any other SV's, but glad to know I wasn't the only one! I believe I was in the lot before you, the main one I think. Got in the parking at around 10ish then waited for another 3ish hours, luckily I had some shade next to the bridge and firetruck that was spraying water so I was nice and cool. I got off my bike at a stop light while we re waiting and shook hands with a vietnam vet  . I was talking to one of the organizers and they said they had to open another parking lot and they were guessing around a million bikes.Best part of the rally: 
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May 27, 2012 21:22
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| # ? Apr 29, 2024 17:56 |
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gently caress YEAH. First time at Palomar Mountain in SoCal. I was on my Ninja 250 and only finishing about 10-15 seconds behind the guys on 600s. That was so much loving fun, and a dude with a helmet cam was behind me for a bit and said he would post me on youtube. Can't wait to watch my noob endeavors.
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May 27, 2012 22:10
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We tried to cruise down to Oklahoma but it was incredibly gusty and then my pa layered 'er down on a lovely sandy road (6" of sand maybe?). He was barely moving so no injuries except pride and a few scratches on his side case. He says he's gonna get a wee-strom instead of the Versys he's been trying to dual-sportify.
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May 27, 2012 22:12
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Jolci posted:gently caress that was a hot poo poo show. Took an hour and a half to get off the I395 off ramp and into the pentagon lot. Then after waiting for 5 hours or so (which wasn't too bad with the food, shade, and a nice park near the marina) my lot had a solid 45 second notice before we started riding. People were running around, stashing gear and passing each other to keep the flow going. We were right after the rolling thunder tribute painted semi trucks, who made a wrong turn and missed the second half of the ride, taking all of us with them. Minor detour through downtown DC traffic & through 2 police barricades & back in it to win it! Thankfully the guy in front of me with open pipes and a twitch in his throttle hand got lost, so the second half was much quieter. Didn't see any other SV's, but glad to know I wasn't the only one! Sounds like a good time, in the mean time my loving tire has given out and I still have 1 more ride planned for tomorrow. On a scale of stupid ideas how stupid is to ride with your cords showing in just one spot? [img] 
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May 28, 2012 00:08
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Probably pretty stupid. If there are cords showing there then there are probably about to be more cords showing after you ride a few more miles. If you need more convincing, imagine emergency braking and accidentally locking up the wheel on that one spot. Chances are pretty low but you seem like a wise individual that is asking for advice so I'd call off that other ride if I were you.
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May 28, 2012 00:14
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HNasty posted:Sounds like a good time, in the mean time my loving tire has given out and I still have 1 more ride planned for tomorrow. On a scale of stupid ideas how stupid is to ride with your cords showing in just one spot? all thats left for that tyre to do is a patriotic SUPPORT ARE TROOPS burnout
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May 28, 2012 00:32
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On that subject, when you finally do blow the tire from a burnout it's a pain to get off the bead.
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May 28, 2012 00:50
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echomadman posted:all thats left for that tyre to do is a patriotic SUPPORT ARE TROOPS burnout It's spelled TIRE you socialist scum.
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May 28, 2012 01:13
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Ride on it, but NEVER go straight! ABC. Always Be Cornering Coffee is for cornerers
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May 28, 2012 01:14
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I swear owning on old bike is the most manic depressive hobby out there. A few victories and defeats this weekend wrenching, often within minutes of each other. And on the way home something slippery sprayed all over my right boot and footpeg, making for a slippery last few dozen km. Then I found a bit on my left boot. And it's too dark to do any proper investigating. Oh well.
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May 28, 2012 02:42
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So I was turning into my neighborhood doing about 40 and I leaned the bike really really really low and my boot scraped the ground. I knew that that bike would stay gripped as long as I kept on the throttle like in Twist of the Wrist but I still had this feeling that the bike would fall over because it just doesnt seem natural that it wont, I guess it'll get better though once I keep doing it.
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May 28, 2012 03:33
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Olde Weird Tip posted:Cords are for coroner's I'd ride a slow ride, another short rolling thunder type ride, but anything more than that I'd beg off. Or if bad judgement prevails, ride slow and careful, but since you asked you know it's not a good idea.
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May 28, 2012 03:34
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Tenchrono posted:So I was turning into my neighborhood doing about 40 and I leaned the bike really really really low and my boot scraped the ground. I knew that that bike would stay gripped as long as I kept on the throttle like in Twist of the Wrist but I still had this feeling that the bike would fall over because it just doesnt seem natural that it wont, I guess it'll get better though once I keep doing it. I do that every day going into my 20' driveway
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May 28, 2012 03:35
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Tenchrono posted:So I was turning into my neighborhood doing about 40 and I leaned the bike really really really low and my boot scraped the ground. I knew that that bike would stay gripped as long as I kept on the throttle like in Twist of the Wrist but I still had this feeling that the bike would fall over because it just doesnt seem natural that it wont, I guess it'll get better though once I keep doing it. Where was your foot positioned? When you know you're going to be leaning a lot in the future it can help to reposition your foot before.
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May 28, 2012 03:35
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BlackMK4 posted:On that subject, when you finally do blow the tire from a burnout it's a pain to get off the bead. Hacksaw.
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May 28, 2012 03:38
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nsaP posted:Where was your foot positioned? When you know you're going to be leaning a lot in the future it can help to reposition your foot before. I think I had it a little over to the left of the body on the shift peg, Probably only about a half inch off the bike. Edit: I'll get used to it eventually, It was just really weird because the only other time I did that was on a U-turn where my knee touched the ground. Tenchrono fucked around with this message at 03:54 on May 28, 2012 |
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May 28, 2012 03:44
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IS EVERYBODY AS EXCITED AS I AM FOR EUROPEAN FOOTBALL 2012???
karms fucked around with this message at 15:27 on May 28, 2012 |
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May 28, 2012 14:39
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KARMA! posted:IS EVERYBODY AS EXCITED AS I AM FOR EUROPEAN FOOTBALL 2012??? No? But the TDM850 kind of turns me on.
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May 28, 2012 14:49
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I know I'm late to the 690 circle jerk but I would like to say that, as an SMC owner, I'm with Saga here. The Duke 3/4 and the others in the 690 range are OK 'improver' bikes. Not for a total novice, but for someone who has done a course, knows their way around a clutch lever and throttle, or ridden some years previously - it's not a death trap. The only bike I had ridden before I got the SMC was a DT175, which I pootled around on for a bit when I lived in Uganda. I read up on the 690 before I got it, and learned about the different map settings. There is a 'soft' throttle map which takes a lot of the bite out of the 690 lump, and I set it to that before I even started it the first time, switching up to the standard and eventually the advanced map as I got to know the bike. I was actually way more freaked out the first time I rode an i4, a Bandit 600. It was really sedate and liveable for the first few miles, until I realised I wasn't even using a third of the rev range and opened her up... brown. loving. trousers. time. The 690 may be a switch-throttled torque machine but at least it's pretty much linear in the delivery. The 690 bikes also have fantastic brakes and suspension too, which saved my bacon a couple of times I got out of my depth. Basically, for a total novice with an interest in a road-moto type bike, I'd recommend something like the DRZ. Someone with a bit of riding gumption and the right attitude? The 690, even at the price premium, is a hell of a bike.
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May 28, 2012 17:55
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Dude if you aren't dead already you will be soon.
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May 28, 2012 17:57
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ReelBigLizard posted:I know I'm late to the 690 circle jerk but I would like to say that, as an SMC owner, I'm with Saga here. The Duke 3/4 and the others in the 690 range are OK 'improver' bikes. Not for a total novice, but for someone who has done a course, knows their way around a clutch lever and throttle, or ridden some years previously - it's not a death trap. You sir the hooniest of the hooligans, how do you still have your life/license.
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May 28, 2012 17:59
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KARMA! posted:IS EVERYBODY AS EXCITED AS I AM FOR EUROPEAN FOOTBALL 2012??? I'm going to pretend those are Croatian flags.
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May 28, 2012 19:30
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Why isn't an i4 a parallel four? Alternatively, why isn't a parallel twin an i2?
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May 28, 2012 19:40
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epswing posted:Why isn't an i4 a parallel four? Alternatively, why isn't a parallel twin an i2? Wouldn't a V-twin also count as an inline twin? Because any two points are in the same line? Also an L-twin for all the Duc dweebs.
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May 28, 2012 19:49
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epswing posted:Why isn't an i4 a parallel four? Alternatively, why isn't a parallel twin an i2? "Inline twin" is probably the proper term if you want to be as clear as possible, but as usual, you can blame the British for coming up with a strange-but-technically-correct term for it. Also, that's such a spergy question it's making my brain itch. VVVVVVVVVV I'd say "well, engines with lots of cylinders in a line were always called "inline" engines, but in the early days most motorcycles either had a single cylinder or a V-twin, which was named because of the angle between the cylinders. When people started putting two side by side, with no angle, they called them "parallel twins" for the same reason." Maybe not entirely correct but close enough for government work. Sagebrush fucked around with this message at 20:05 on May 28, 2012 |
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May 28, 2012 19:54
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Sagebrush posted:Also, that's such a spergy question it's making my brain itch. Meh, I was explaining engines at a really high level to an engine illiterate friend of mine, and I mentioned inline four, and parallel twin, and she asked what the difference was, other than the number of cylinders. Please CA, help me impress the laydies E: Seems like it have something to do with the direction/timing of the pistons? epswing fucked around with this message at 20:03 on May 28, 2012 |
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May 28, 2012 19:58
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gently caress slow speed turning, gently caress small helmets that develop sore spots after a few houra of wearing them and gently caress the sv650 I think that is too much bike for me to handle. But other than that it was an AMAZING first day and I loving love it. Now to look for cheap 250...
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May 28, 2012 22:03
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ElMaligno posted:gently caress slow speed turning, gently caress small helmets that develop sore spots after a few houra of wearing them and gently caress the sv650 I think that is too much bike for me to handle. Its not that bad once you get used to it after a few days. I came from no previous experience and I was scared shitless the first day I rode mine, but it eventually went away.
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May 28, 2012 22:14
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Tenchrono posted:Its not that bad once you get used to it after a few days. I came from no previous experience and I was scared shitless the first day I rode mine, but it eventually went away. I have no problem going at speed, in fact I loving love it. Its just the low speed stuff that scared me shitless, at least I talked the the instructor and I am pretty much going to practice low speed turns during lunch.
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May 28, 2012 22:35
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epswing posted:Meh, I was explaining engines at a really high level to an engine illiterate friend of mine, and I mentioned inline four, and parallel twin, and she asked what the difference was, other than the number of cylinders. The biggest differences between say, a Harley V twin and an I4 are the bore/stroke dimensions and the number of and size of the valves. A big twin will usually have a smaller bore than stroke called an underbore design, that tends to give more power at low rpm and coupled with one intake and one exhaust valve(with a smaller overall volume per cc than most 4v designs) that forces air/fuel into the cylinder at a higher speed at low rpm also adds the off the line performance. More I4's tend to use an overbore design with a larger bore and shorter stroke, the shorter stroke allows the engine to hit a higher redline since even though it may be screaming at 15,000rpm, the piston rod speeds are comparable to the V2 at about 5-6,000rpm. Modern I4's also tend to have 4 valves per cylinder, even though each valve may be smaller than the 2 in the V2, the overall volume the valves open up to is greater, allowing more air in and out for a higher volumetric efficiency. The down side is the air/fuel mixture doesn't mix as well at low rpm, meaning less power there. Engineers try to get around this by making long tapering intake runners to the valve to increase airspeed and if they want to tune it for more midrange, they can use a different cam profile coupled with a narrower carb diameter. Even with all that, you can design an I4 to have a power curve similar to a V2 and vice versa up to a certain point. If I got anything wrong let me know.
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May 28, 2012 22:37
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ElMaligno posted:I have no problem going at speed, in fact I loving love it. Its just the low speed stuff that scared me shitless, at least I talked the the instructor and I am pretty much going to practice low speed turns during lunch. I had a huge problem with low speed my first time doing the double u-turn in the msf class, but once I remember to turn my head (all of it, not just the eyes) the way I wanted to go it became no problem at all. You are going to think that the bike will fall over because you've been taught that if something is leaning its going to fall all your life, but when you turn at speed centrifugal forces keeps the tires planted firmly and you stay. Read Twist of the Wrist II if you havent, there are tons of free copys on the internet and the book goes into detail about how the bike works, what you should be doing while turning and a bunch of other tips.
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May 28, 2012 22:56
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Tenchrono posted:I had a huge problem with low speed my first time doing the double u-turn in the msf class, but once I remember to turn my head (all of it, not just the eyes) the way I wanted to go it became no problem at all. You are going to think that the bike will fall over because you've been taught that if something is leaning its going to fall all your life, but when you turn at speed centrifugal forces keeps the tires planted firmly and you stay. Read Twist of the Wrist II if you havent, there are tons of free copys on the internet and the book goes into detail about how the bike works, what you should be doing while turning and a bunch of other tips. I just go too slow and stall, i just need to feather the clutch and throttle more to be capable of doing it. I was able to do the tight S, just not the figure 8.
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May 28, 2012 23:09
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Look up the video "Ride like a pro" It's all about slow speed maneuvers. It's produce by a highway patrolman who does it all on a giant Harley. Sorry no link, typing this on Nook is hard enough.
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May 29, 2012 01:37
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Find a big parking lot somewhere and do figure 8's all of one evening. Bonus points if you have someone guiding you (or even chasing you) on a scooter. That's pretty much how I taught my good friend to ride his new sv650. It has a touchy throttle, you just need to develop muscle memory. Soon enough you'll want a R6 throttle tube for even more of that hot torquey throttle action.
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May 29, 2012 04:51
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ElMaligno posted:I just go too slow and stall, i just need to feather the clutch and throttle more to be capable of doing it. I was able to do the tight S, just not the figure 8. Just lean the bike over a bit more instead of playing with the clutch and all that, throttle steady, lean, turn, boot scoot out of there.
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May 29, 2012 07:34
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HNasty posted:You sir the hooniest of the hooligans, how do you still have your life/license. n8r posted:Dude if you aren't dead already you will be soon.  I'm living on four years of borrowed time.
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May 29, 2012 09:18
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Practice it all in your head, pantomiming the movements on your bike before you start moving. Since it's kind of a lot of stuff to be doing all at once, it helped me coordinate it all to practice it while waiting in line (as much as possible on a non-moving bike) -- stand on the outside peg, head cranked around, keep the throttle on, push the bars down, and then switch it all for the second part of the figure eight. I actually did fine on that for the MSF, but then had trouble doing it on my own bike, since I had more fear of dropping it. If you get into trouble when practicing this at the parking lot and feel like you might really be falling over, you want to go for the throttle, not the clutch.
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May 29, 2012 10:34
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Having had it and put a good 800ish miles on it so far, I am utterly loving my Speed Triple. Gearing up properly makes me feel like I'm prepping to enter a battlefield, and the first few miles are always ridden in anticipation of the feeling of the open road ahead. I am a horribly conservative rider and found it to be extremely fuel economical - 64ish mpg both highway and traffic riding - and ridiculously easy to use at low speed, I am able to use no throttle and just work the clutch to bring it up to a comfortable 10mph from standing, very handy in traffic. Yes, I know this is not how the bike is supposed to be ridden, but I don't care. The difference in how I use it compared to my old 250 single cylinder is remarkable and has made me a significantly more aware rider, aware of the bike itself, aware of traffic around me and how I should behave with it, aware of the feeling of traction when entering, going through and exiting corners, spurred mostly by the utter terror of what could happen should I stop being aware and accidentally outgun my riding ability. The bike is faultless, it is an incredible machine, way more able than I'll ever tap into, and unlike Daytonas doesn't seem to be in the habit of falling over for reasons unexplained. I absolutely cannot recommend it to anyone new to biking (I am, and I'm stupid for owning it) but it doesn't have a vicious lump of acceleration waiting in the upper echelons of its powerband to surprise you with, so it's been a pleasant transition thus far, and I hope to use it as a comfortable cruiser for a long while to come. Does anyone know of flush mount front indicators? I have twice had twits climb onto mine and one of them manage to topple it over and break my right indicator cover. Crash bobbins did a great job of protecting everything else, but the bloody indicator is just far enough out to get damaged. As an aside, anyone have any advice on how to keep your fingers warm on early morning rides? I have winter gloves, but they make no difference in preventing my fingers from turning into blocks of ice within the first 5 seconds of riding.
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May 29, 2012 12:16
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I like heated grips personally - I've heard heated gloves can be really good.
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May 29, 2012 13:49
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| # ? Apr 29, 2024 17:56 |
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I wear these cotton gloves, I've heard them called Jersey gloves, and then put gloves on top of them. The coldest weather I've ridden in is about 35 degrees and my hands get a little chilly but nothing too bad. I also put them by the engine to warm up at stop lights which helps a lot.
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May 29, 2012 15:43
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