Bike Talk

[Zenrider]

Loaded up and heading home.

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Of course now it will rain the rest of the summer.

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She's a beauty and look at those tyres Now you need some mud on them

[Zenrider]

Now I need to accessorize! Unfortunately, they didn't have a tail rack, or it would already have one. Not going to get too carried away, but do want to get a few things.

Not sure this was in the budget, Mother is already going, "You did what?!?", but this is going to be fun.

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Be careful ZenR You'll have a great time

[Zenrider]

That should have been luggage rack not tail rack, was tired.

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lol I knew what you meant

[Zenrider]

Only 992 miles until she's broken in.
Would have taken on a longer ride, but it's one thing to get caught in the rain, be on a trip and have to deal, and just riding in the rain for the heck of it. We've been dry, dry, dry and now it's gloomy and rainy? Figures.
hehehe, I didn't use the driveway when I got home. Probably going to be more comfortable off road then on. Although she can likely, didn't go anywhere appropriate today, do 70 mph, it's not really what she's made for. May need to tweek a few things for ergonomics, am so glad the guy adjusted the clutch, but the rear brake could use a tweek too. My fault, got there late and I really wasn't paying as much attention to what I should have been.
The dealer really was great and where I live, I was going to have to go at least 40 minutes to 2 hours anyway. Told me they even had a guy fly in to ride a bike back to Texas from there. I believe them. Being straight forward, not trying to find an angle goes a long way in the sales business. Especially, with the internet.

Oops, apparently the ugly warning sticker, read the manual, blah, blah, blah, on the tank isn't supposed to come off. Will have to carefully work on removing it as time goes. Far too many lawyers in the states.

Now for a name, but all I can think of is Fun.

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"Fun" sounds perfect

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Lovely twisties going up Passo Pennes

[standing stone]

Thanks for posting Passo Pennes, S.C. - just enjoyed watching your journey -lovley crisp blue skies as you break out of the tree line onto the top - what a view! Very sorry to hear about your friend. Hope his biking days aren't over and you'll be able to make plans for the future. Excellent achievement on the Advanced Driving there

Zenrider, enjoy your new bike - how fab is that! Roadtrips to be planned - exciting!

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Jul 5, 2016 8:08:26 GMT standing stone said:

Thanks for posting Passo Pennes, S.C. - just enjoyed watching your journey -lovley crisp blue skies as you break out of the tree line onto the top - what a view! Very sorry to hear about your friend. Hope his biking days aren't over and you'll be able to make plans for the future. Excellent achievement on the Advanced Driving there

Zenrider, enjoy your new bike - how fab is that! Roadtrips to be planned - exciting!

Thanks SS, I very much doubt if he'll ever get back on a bike and even if he wanted to it would be too cruel a thing to inflict on his wife and children. There are things in life that you make you think "Well thank God I got away with that, time to do something else" it makes you appreciate what you almost lost.

I certainly would not want to see him on a bike again, yes I know that sounds hypocritical, but I'm just being human.  

[standing stone]

It doesn't sound so hypocritical, S.C. - you want your friend to be safe and his family intact and happy; that's what friends do for eachother A colleague of mine was in intensive care, then in hospital for 6 months following a bike accident and I know what that did to his relationships - through hell and high water. He did walk again, though I don't know whether he ever got on a bike again, despite that being his aim; his statement and proof of having got back to normal. His relationships did survive - he may have decided not to risk those again.

[Zenrider]

Ouch for your friend. Hope he heals quick. I've nearly had that happen riding my bicycle. It's up to your friend if he rides again. If he really loved riding, he'll ride again. None of my crashes off the horses ever stopped me, just work schedule, and aging horses. Next weekend, it will be Summer Fest keeping me out of the saddle. And no I'm not riding the bike up.

Just be glad more of you across the pond take safety gear seriously.
I've seen guys with no shirt, shorts, and sandals over here. Though come to think of it, not lately. Perhaps because, more and more people have friends that have been in a wreck.
Most of the Harley guys refuse to wear helmets, they feel they aren't safe. Ah, yeah, OK.
I like my helmet and riding last night I would have eaten a lot of lightening bugs etc... Which is why I seriously need to get some kind of windscreen. May get a better trail helmet too.
About the only negative, the seat is not all that comfortable after not too long, so will have to find a pad or seat to improve that, but definitely having fun.

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He'll be in hospital for a few weeks yet, he is out of intensive care and the medically induced coma, so hopefully all will be ok, he recognises his family, which is a good thing, but I think it will be a long fight for him.

Protection is so important, as I keep nagging my son, who does occasionally go out in shorts. But when you are young, you do feel you are indestructible, and I must admit when I was young I did too and rode with only an open face helmet, leather jacket and jeans (I thought it looked cool, as I got older I think it looks like a "statistic" ).

Don't get me started on "Harley Riders" they are the same the world over, there are 3 types of people, Car drivers, Bikers and Harley riders. Harley riders generally will not mix with bikers all that well and if they do have a false sense of superiority, no idea why, their bikes are cheap, government subsidised, old technology, but big on image, so don't confuse Harley Riders as Bikers they are all about image, they don't where a helmet because "it doesn't look cool" but may try to justify that on safety grounds

Comfortable seat is important but I have never found the perfect one, on my Tiger I would usually stop after an hour or so to stretch my legs, also if on a long days riding I may stand up whilst riding for a few seconds (if safe) to get some blood back into my bum. But that does depend on the set up of your bike as to whether that is safe to do, you do always want to be in control

I've heard that gel pads are good, but I have never tried them.

[Zenrider]

Harley's aren't government subsidized, aside from unnecessary tax breaks.
Aside from the sportsters, not a particularly cheap bike here, dollar tends to be weaker than the pound.
Definitely, not the most reliable bike. And yes, often very much snobs of a sort.