I went out on a nice morning ride yesterday. Later in the day while out in the garage I noticed one of my handlebar bar ends is missing.  It must've fallen off somewhere during the ride and I never noticed. Ordered a replacement, hopefully it will be here soon.A good reminder to check & re-torque stuff occasionally. |
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Originally Posted By chase45: Broke past 1200 miles yesterday Not sure if it got a little peppier after break in but it sort of feels that way https://i.imgur.com/UE7yxvph.jpg My Royal Enfield Scram 411 began running better when I hit about 4000 miles on it. I'm coming up on 6000 and it's better than ever. |
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Had my own little oopsies last night too after the class Got home and my family was in the backyard so I decided to put it back there and hose it off pretty good Hosed it off pretty good and turned around to go turn the hose off Heard a thud but didnt think much about it Dang kick stand sunk into the ground and the bike toppled  All is well but the clutch lever got bent up slightly. Not really even bad enough to replace But I guess I got learned there Picked it up and found a mat to use for when its in the back yard getting the hose |
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Originally Posted By chase45: Had my own little oopsies last night too after the class Got home and my family was in the backyard so I decided to put it back there and hose it off pretty good Hosed it off pretty good and turned around to go turn the hose off Heard a thud but didnt think much about it Dang kick stand sunk into the ground and the bike toppled All is well but the clutch lever got bent up slightly. Not really even bad enough to replace But I guess I got learned there Picked it up and found a mat to use for when its in the back yard getting the hose A number of aftermarket companies make a side stand foot or enlarger which is little more than a metal plate that goes on your side stand that is larger than the OEM end, so you don't sink in. This is what I have on my GS: https://www.altrider.com/altrider-side-stand-enlarger-for-the-bmw-f-850-750-gs-black/pid/2757/cid/46 Maybe someone makes one that'll fit your bike, or maybe you can make one. Some people make one out of an old hockey puck. It is nice to not have to pay very much attention where you put your side stand. |
Don't confuse where I live with where I'm from.
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Gonna do her up with some nods tonight Attached File |
Battle Of West Appalachia Survivor
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Originally Posted By chase45: Gonna do her up with some nods tonight https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/161977/131_jpg-3615008.JPG You need to buy one of these for that helmet... 
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Originally Posted By CapedCrusader: You need to buy one of these for that helmet... https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51CmsRxogyL._UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg In IN you can ride without a helmet so long as you are fully endorsed. You wont catch me without a helmet of some sort though Wish I had another full face helmet I could modify for a NODs mount as it gets damn cold scooting around. The bugs seem to sit face height in the middle of lanes too . They have been out in force the few times Ive rode at night with the NODsMaybe thats what Ill work on for next season |
Battle Of West Appalachia Survivor
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Originally Posted By chase45: Gonna do her up with some nods tonight https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/161977/131_jpg-3615008.JPG I question your mirror placement. Seems like an awkward place. |
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Originally Posted By VACaver: I question your mirror placement. Seems like an awkward place. Originally Posted By VACaver: Originally Posted By chase45: Gonna do her up with some nods tonight https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/161977/131_jpg-3615008.JPG I question your mirror placement. Seems like an awkward place. I've used similar, no issues. |
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Looks like she consumed a bit of oil this last 1k miles When I filled it it was pretty heavy on the high side Attached File |
Battle Of West Appalachia Survivor
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Originally Posted By chase45: Looks like she consumed a bit of oil this last 1k miles When I filled it it was pretty heavy on the high side https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/161977/226_jpg-3617540.JPG Be sure to check if the level goes down as you accelerate. 
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Originally Posted By chase45: Had my own little oopsies last night too after the class Got home and my family was in the backyard so I decided to put it back there and hose it off pretty good Hosed it off pretty good and turned around to go turn the hose off Heard a thud but didnt think much about it Dang kick stand sunk into the ground and the bike toppled All is well but the clutch lever got bent up slightly. Not really even bad enough to replace But I guess I got learned there Picked it up and found a mat to use for when its in the back yard getting the hose I did that once with my old Kawasaki KZ1000 except I was at a gas station getting gas, pulled up to the pump and just got off the bike without putting the kickstand down. This was in front of a lot of people. Broke a surprising amount of things. That bike was my only form of transportation for about 2 years. Damn, to be free again… |
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Originally Posted By GhettoCowboy: I did that once with my old Kawasaki KZ1000 except I was at a gas station getting gas, pulled up to the pump and just got off the bike without putting the kickstand down. This was in front of a lot of people. Broke a surprising amount of things. That bike was my only form of transportation for about 2 years. Damn, to be free again… Originally Posted By GhettoCowboy: Originally Posted By chase45: Had my own little oopsies last night too after the class Got home and my family was in the backyard so I decided to put it back there and hose it off pretty good Hosed it off pretty good and turned around to go turn the hose off Heard a thud but didnt think much about it Dang kick stand sunk into the ground and the bike toppled All is well but the clutch lever got bent up slightly. Not really even bad enough to replace But I guess I got learned there Picked it up and found a mat to use for when its in the back yard getting the hose I did that once with my old Kawasaki KZ1000 except I was at a gas station getting gas, pulled up to the pump and just got off the bike without putting the kickstand down. This was in front of a lot of people. Broke a surprising amount of things. That bike was my only form of transportation for about 2 years. Damn, to be free again… Dont forget really hot asphalt and a sinking kickstand |
"Makes me realize why there are warning labels on hemorrhoid cream about not using it orally" - Weomi
Save VA, Join or Donate to VCDL!
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Originally Posted By KingRat: Stay safe out there. Just saw that a famous YouTube rider "Gixxer Brah" got smooshed. Sounds like he's really messed up:  Gixxerbrah Crash - Emergency Upload and Help |
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Buddy got a pic of me riding today From the back but I'll take what I can get Attached File |
Battle Of West Appalachia Survivor
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Originally Posted By chase45: Buddy got a pic of me riding today From the back but I'll take what I can get https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/161977/311_jpg-3619605.JPG |
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Originally Posted By chase45: Buddy got a pic of me riding today From the back but I'll take what I can get https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/161977/311_jpg-3619605.JPG Hi-Viz is a thing. Just sayin.  
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Originally Posted By CapedCrusader: Hi-Viz is a thing. Just sayin. Attached File  Attached File |
I installed an OEM rear rack. I like the sleeker profile versus the toolkit on top of the fender. The toolkit is now stowed in a tube on the left side. I've been using a backpack for commuting to work but having the option for a tail bag will be nice for trips to the store, etc. 
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Originally Posted By Emoto: A number of aftermarket companies make a side stand foot or enlarger which is little more than a metal plate that goes on your side stand that is larger than the OEM end, so you don't sink in. This is what I have on my GS: https://www.altrider.com/altrider-side-stand-enlarger-for-the-bmw-f-850-750-gs-black/pid/2757/cid/46 Maybe someone makes one that'll fit your bike, or maybe you can make one. Some people make one out of an old hockey puck. It is nice to not have to pay very much attention where you put your side stand. I bought one for my bike, as soon as I purchased it. 
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Originally Posted By chase45: About 2k on the odo. No crash so far Its definitely getting towards the end of the season for me I have ridden it less the last week due to cold mornings and such Heated grips (even the cheap wrap-around grips from Amazon) help greatly. So do electric socks. Dress in layers, with one layer that blocks wind. Granted, it doesn't get as cold here in SW Virginia as it does in Indiana, but the heated grips, socks, and dressing properly lets me ride year round. |
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Originally Posted By chase45: About 2k on the odo. No crash so far Its definitely getting towards the end of the season for me I have ridden it less the last week due to cold mornings and such What are you wearing for a jacket and gloves? Layering is a big help in being comfortable. Perhaps the very best layer I have come across over the years is a "windbloc" fleece. Mine came from REI, but L.L. Bean, and maybe other outdoor suppliers have similar items. "Windbloc" was the fabric name from Polartec, who I think invented it. It is extremely effective at blocking wind, yet still manages to breathe. This sort of thing. Wearing a windbloc fleece under a riding jacket makes a much bigger difference than you would imagine. Punches above its weight, so to speak. And, they are good for just general duty as a light jacket/windbreaker. |
Don't confuse where I live with where I'm from.
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The other thing to keep in mind with the cold weather, besides clothing, is cold tires and cold pavement. A new riders dream combo
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"Makes me realize why there are warning labels on hemorrhoid cream about not using it orally" - Weomi
Save VA, Join or Donate to VCDL!
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Originally Posted By PhuzzyGnu: Electric vest > everything else. Keep your torso warm and the rest is easy. Very good advice. I have the electric socks, pants, shirt and gloves, but usually just a heated shirt/vest alone is good enough unless it is really cold. I try not to ride anymore if the overnight low is 35° or lower. Six broken ribs, a lacerated spleen and a cracked vertebrae. Two days in ICU. I don’t like ice. 
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OK, see you later, Redcoat…
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Originally Posted By PhuzzyGnu: Electric vest > everything else. Keep your torso warm and the rest is easy. I'll modify that slightly - keep your head warm and it is easier to keep your trunk and extremities warm. This is a lesson learned from winter camping. A small inexpensive item called a balaclava often made of t-shirt material worn under the helmet makes much more of a difference than you might expect. Like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086Z2WR6Y?tag=arfcom00-20 Pro tip: wear it with any seams facing out so they don't leave indentations on your face.
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Originally Posted By bssrf4: Heated grips FTW I can get OEM Kawasaki heated grips that are 100% plug and play. I'm in Houston, though, so it's a hard sell at $400. Attached File Attached File |
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Right at 2100 miles now Oil kit gets here tmw to do another service At 1500 since the break in Been running good and having fun but life has slowed me down a little on it as well as bad weather Got a good ride in this weekend and last too however Attached File |
Battle Of West Appalachia Survivor
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Originally Posted By PhuzzyGnu: I agree. I can get OEM Kawasaki heated grips that are 100% plug and play. I'm in Houston, though, so it's a hard sell at $400. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/69748/1000023618_jpg-3632459.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/69748/1000023582_jpg-3632460.JPG They can be nice on a summer afternoon if you run into a cold rain and your hands start to get cold. Edit: I have zero experience with Kawasaki heated grips. My comments come from having owned 3 BMWs with OEM heated grips. |
Don't confuse where I live with where I'm from.
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Originally Posted By Dynamo: Funny you should say that. Probably a placebo effect of feeling free to give the throttle a good twist but I could swear my DRZ perked up after break in as well. In any case, the bike looks great!  Originally Posted By Dynamo: Originally Posted By chase45: Broke past 1200 miles yesterday Not sure if it got a little peppier after break in but it sort of feels that way https://i.imgur.com/UE7yxvph.jpg Funny you should say that. Probably a placebo effect of feeling free to give the throttle a good twist but I could swear my DRZ perked up after break in as well. In any case, the bike looks great! I don’t know about the DR-Z, but it is an EFI bike now and Suzuki was known 20 years ago for changing the fueling after a certain number of miles where the bikes felt crisper. It’s been 20 years on my GSXR so I don’t remember what mileage it was but I want to say it was around 1000. As for the break-in thing, I just go easy on them until they have the first service and then ride them how I want to. Modern engineer machining isn’t like it used to be and they are essentially race engines with proper clearances and finishes that don’t need a lot of bedding in. I’m on bike number….. 19 in my riding career and I have never babied them after the first oil change was done to get rid of the metals that were worn in during that first 600 miles. That 1000 miles is more about breaking the rider in that the bike-remember, they have a vested interest in seeing their customers have a safe and successful time with their product and have no idea if the people buying them have ever even sat on a bike before-let alone be able to ride a bicycle…. They are going to suggest some really safe things in that manual. |
Never make another person a priority when they merely see you as an option...
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
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Originally Posted By PhuzzyGnu: I heard you like traction control so here's a Z H2 like mine (not my video) doing 3rd and 4th gear power wheelies while the Kawasaki KTRC traction/wheelie control fights it. Blinking light on dash.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IUgrF0c4KISurprised they don’t use the throttle to handle that, cutting spark and fueling is really hard on catalytic converters-Ducati had a recall over that. |
Never make another person a priority when they merely see you as an option...
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
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Originally Posted By Emoto: Traction control would not affect downshift-induced rear tire chirping either. The thing on bikes that can prevent that is a slipper clutch, which not all bikes have. To me, chirping a tire on downshifting means I failed to match my engine RPMs to the next gear, meaning it was a poorly executed downshift. And being honest about it, I have had a bunch of bikes that the slipper clutches were so badly adjusted from the factory that they might as well not have been there in the first place. One was downright dangerous-the Bimota with the TL1000R engine would sometimes die when you pulled the clutch in, one time it happened in 6th at about 55mph on a busy 8 lane road….. the tire locked up and the rear slithered around as soon as I let the clutch back out to ‘bump start’ it. My GSXR1000K5 to this day has barely any slip action. I am going to adjust it when I modify the clutch prior to selling it in the spring-it might take some kind of a sharp edge off of a downshift, but you can hardly feel it. Now, the $7k Suter slipper clutch in my EBR1190RS Carbon Edition (Humble Brag), THAT is what a slipper clutch should be-you can crash down thru the box at full chat in 6th down to 1st and it works like magic. |
Never make another person a priority when they merely see you as an option...
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
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Originally Posted By chase45: Looks like she consumed a bit of oil this last 1k miles When I filled it it was pretty heavy on the high side https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/161977/226_jpg-3617540.JPG Totally normal on a newer bike. Low tension rings means some oil consumption. It might get better after break in though. |
Never make another person a priority when they merely see you as an option...
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
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Originally Posted By CapedCrusader: Hi-Viz is a thing. Just sayin. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/V63uGl9-Avo/sddefault.jpg https://www.webbikeworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Hi-viz.jpg I’m a AGATT guy, but that’s gayer than dried semen on a mustache. |
Never make another person a priority when they merely see you as an option...
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
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Originally Posted By Emoto: They can be nice on a summer afternoon if you run into a cold rain and your hands start to get cold. Edit: I have zero experience with Kawasaki heated grips. My comments come from having owned 3 BMWs with OEM heated grips. My wife’s Street Triple has heated grips now, it was an easy install and they are really nice on cooler mornings at the beginning and end of the season. I’ll probably get a set for my Speed Triple. I got them for her birthday along with a radiator guard and she loves to lord over me because my hands get cold on those rides. Now she’s telling me that I can’t use my cruise control when she’s tired. LOLWTFEVER. |
Never make another person a priority when they merely see you as an option...
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
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Originally Posted By chase45: Right at 2100 miles now Oil kit gets here tmw to do another service At 1500 since the break in Been running good and having fun but life has slowed me down a little on it as well as bad weather Got a good ride in this weekend and last too however https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/161977/634_jpg-3632488.JPG That's a great picture. Sucks that your riding season is wrapping up. Still great riding weather here though it's starting to be a little cool in the morning. I'll probably still be able to ride well into November. Which is good since I traded in the DRZ on this yesterday.  
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Originally Posted By PhuzzyGnu: I agree. I can get OEM Kawasaki heated grips that are 100% plug and play. I'm in Houston, though, so it's a hard sell at $400. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/69748/1000023618_jpg-3632459.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/69748/1000023582_jpg-3632460.JPG Originally Posted By PhuzzyGnu: Originally Posted By bssrf4: Heated grips FTW I can get OEM Kawasaki heated grips that are 100% plug and play. I'm in Houston, though, so it's a hard sell at $400. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/69748/1000023618_jpg-3632459.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/69748/1000023582_jpg-3632460.JPG I also have Warm-n-safe top and bottom liners, and gloves. I think I'll get the socks this year. Lowest I've seen on my Z is 28*. ETA sorry, 27*. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By outdoorgb: I do heated gloves, vest, socks. All rechargeable. Get about 4 hours or so out of them. No issues. What brand? I've never had heated gear but a vest makes sense to me. Had a friend with a Gerbing he loved but it was a plug in. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.