Tigerpaw

Drinking alcohol and signing a multi-year contract.  What could go wrong?

Some craft beers could have an ABV to put a small person over the limit with just one.

So can you bring your CCW to this bar/dealership?  LOL, not a real question.  But seriously does HD let you carry?

12 hours ago, Isaac's Papa said:

I'd swap out the pads for something more bitey and clean the rotors with some scotch brite and brake cleaner. See if that fixed it. 

IP has it....I replaced my Ninja 300(non-abs) stock front pad with an EBC HH pad.  With the stock rubber brake line I could do a stoppie if I wanted(250lbs geared up).  Steel braided line may change the feel,  if you cared enough.

I like the M9.  Why all the hate?

With Bubba navigating, it's amazing anyone get's anywhere in less than a day.  Sounds like a fantastic ride!  I'm pretty jealous/mad that work hasn't allowed me to break in my new tires

I don't even live in OH, and need my fix about once a day.

@DUBIE has his game face in his first pic, LOL.

Hope fun was had by all.  I would've come out for the rain date if I didn't have a 6hr journey and in need of a rear tire.

Alright, I'll stop blabbing so you guys can post more pics.

Nice find.  People seem to love those 675s.  Too nice for the track, buy another bike...lol.

Also noticed scraping on the bar end and brake lever.

I will prolly make the claim but install myself to recoup the deductible.

I'll be informing the wife that I need another steed in the stable.  I mean that's why I got a 3-car garage right?

First thing first, I'm OK.  Second, The Stealth Bomber is mechanically sound...only a bunch of cosmetic damage.  Now the story:

I live east of St Louis on the Illinois side, so I thought I would explore a bit and find potential curves in Southern Illinois near the Ohio River.  I'm confident on the new bike with about 3K miles.  I was riding ATGATT on the first of three days off(before the rain rolled in).  It took about 90 minutes of slab to get to some decent roads in the Shawnee National Forest.  I refueled and started north of Glaconda, IL on IL-146. I saw this sign and thought I would check it out, as the road look well maintained.

After about 1/4 mile the road turned into hardpacked gravel with very solid ruts.  Good to go.  I've ridden on this plenty before.  I climbed a steepish hill and then realized the road turned to very loose gravel on the other side.  No biggie,  I will just stay loose on the bars and ready to gently engine brake or rear brake if absolutely necessary.  At the bottom of the hill there is no good area to turn around as it is essentially a soft shoulder 1-lane now, with the very loose gravel.  So I decide I will attempt to climb the STEEP upcoming hill that looks similar to this.

I feel committed at this point and figure the park area will have a great area to turn around.  I start up the hill and feel the rocks sliding beneath me.  I get spooked and bring the bike to a stop.  The rocks continue to slide as I'm trying to tip-toe both sides.  Its just too much though and I slowly set the bike down on the right side.  Cussing up a storm, I kill the engine and use the adrenaline rush to upright her.  Now I'm on a very unstable hill sweating my ass off.  I use my toes to drag a larger rock over to support the kickstand.  It seems to hold, so I shed all my gear.  I figure at this point I can Idle/walk her to the top of the hill and then turn around and coast back down to the decent area.

Popping back into 1st gear and releasing the clutch slowly only moves her an inch or two before the rear starts spinning on the dusty rock. I reevaluate and decide to try just backing down the hill walking beside her.  I only get a few inches before the rocks beneath my feet and the tires are sliding down again.  My left foot finally finds a large stable rock again and am able to get her to a stable kickstand position after a few attempts.

At this point I realize I am going to need to swallow my pride and find assistance, or else me or the bike will be seriously hurt.  I check my phone to find ZERO signal.  I start walking up the hill, because I can't remember any houses in the other direction.  At the top I see a friendly local driving toward me in an old flatbed diesel Ford.  He introduces himself and assures me noone will hit us, because noone else uses this horrible road.

Initially he underestimates the situation, and accuses me of not being "country strong".  He thinks it's "just a plastic bike" and he can pick it up by hand and turn it around.  After I let him try to pick up the front wheel of a 560 lb bike he not only realizes how heavy it is, but how much the rocks are sliding beneath us.  So back to trying to back her down/turn around.  We turned the bike around BEFORE reaching the bottom.  Against my better judgement, with him insisting, I,mounted her and tried to get to the bottom of the hill to a hardpacked spot.  He exclaims I shouldn't be riding such a tall bike, that I can't flatfoot.  As soon as I released the brake and let go, she washed out beneath me and luckily fell on the same side as before.  This self proclaimed hillbilly is actually yelling at me for "not having the balls to goose it and get down the damn hill".  I remind him of the slippery/dusty rocks and the shear amount of torque this bike has.  He doesn't believe me but is reluctantly willing to finish walking the bike down the hill with me.

I retrieve my gear and drive back to the highway with the hillbilly following.  We talk for a few minutes in a more friendly manner and he gives me a local map and suggestions for areas that are more bike friendly.  I try to give him a few dollars for his time.  He says not to worry about it.  I head back into town and stop at the only gas station to finally cool off.  I put $20 in the map and tell the cashier to give it to the friendly hillbilly next time she sees him.

I ride the 2 hours back home mad and appreciative that it was only surface damage.  So far it looks like scraping on the muffler, peg, fairing, cowling, and mirror.  Not the worst, but still sucks.

Deciding how to handle insurance claim.  I mostly want to go back to stock,  because that's the look/sound I like.  I also understand the stock parts/labor are ridiculously expensive and will have a LARGE check coming my way if I decide to file a claim.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2879902/7-year-old-found-selling-teddy-bear-for-food-officer-has-meal-with-child-finds-out-he-lives-in-squalor/?utm_source=Other&utm_medium=MostPopular&utm_campaign=2014

Sweet bike!

If I remember right @Bubba owns one.

Cincy Clean Needle Exchange Director passed out on 71, cuz she's a junkie too.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2016/08/06/needle-exchange-director-arrested-faces-drug-charges/88333210/

Sounds like an interesting day!

Sportster violently lurches forward.

That is all.

Wasn't on special today, but ordered a new helmet that's supposes to e superduper quiet.  It is modular, which I'm normally against, but the military base needs to see our whole face at the gate, so...

HJC RHPA MAX

I hate when people bring up their own current ride as a suggestion for someone else.  But if you are looking for something upright/sporty, why go half ass?

If your handing out Tesla rides and doughnuts...just roadtrip to STL and ride my Zx-14r.  Smooth as glass, and it turns just fine!  

Just add some bags, risers, and a new seat...you will smoke everything out there and then ride home in comfort.

**Start posting pics of some test rides before we vote for the banhammer**

@JackFlash

Looks like we need a fight to the death over usernames.

....and Welcome!

Nice!

Does the wind hit you straight in the chest at highway speeds?

Very good video on Neflix.

Looks like a great trip!

17 hours ago, Tonik said:

Made it to Cameron MO, north of KC.  

....

Tomorrows target is Ft Wayne IN.

 

Where are you stopping in IL?  I could meet you for lunch, anywhere at all near St Louis all the way to Springfield, IL.  Unfortunately, I would have to cage it with my daughter.

On 6/13/2016 at 7:14 AM, 2talltim said:

Try throwing a 190-55 tire on the rear and she will turn in even better than it does now.

 

Thanks for the pro-tip.  I'm scouting for deals on Bridgestone S21s in that size, so they can be ready and waiting when I need them.

On 6/13/2016 at 6:49 AM, Bubba said:

I picked up a KTM 990 SMT.  Really fun bike--essentially a super-moto with 125 HP--but I gotta hunch it won't be long before I get my first "performance award" in many years....

Looks like a perfect bike for your style.  

"performance award"   LOL.  

On 6/12/2016 at 11:11 PM, Hellmutt said:

Blah, blah, blah....

I looked up your Sprint thread...Nice Bike!  I was very seriously considering a Daytona 675R for the same reasons you wanted a triple.  The only negative seemed to be less support(Dealers/mechanics/knowledge) than the Jap bikes.  How has it been riding this Spring?

I think I'm good parts wise for the time being.

Glad you guys are enjoying the short tracks.

Thanks for the support guys and gals!  I knew I wanted one, but when my hometown dealer had the color/options I wanted at a price less than I planned on bartering for....it was the quickest sale ever, lol.

The owners of big bikes already know how great these things are, but here is the perspective of someone who spent 8 years honing their skills wringing the hell outta little bikes...

I was able to put 450 miles on it today.

Good roads everywhere

I "break in" my engines by constantly changing to every possible conceivable speed/gear/load.  So I put her through the paces, with all types of riding(city, highway, freeway, 2 lane backroads, 1 lane "goat paths"(as Bubba & Dice would say), parking lots, gravel, etc,...)  I am VERY happy about my choice.  This bike is incredible, and way easier to tear up the curves in the twisties than the naysayers would have you believe.  On technical roads I didn't know, she always did exactly what I asked her WITH MINIMAL EFFORT.  Obviously my tires are brand new and haven't squared off yet, but damn!!! it was SO easy.  The power is obviously hilariously fun and will make you smile so much your cheeks will hurt, but it's also completely SMOOTH and CONTROLLABLE.  The off/throttle deceleration and stellar brakes bring you back from WARP speeds with no effort or drama.  She eats up highway/freeway miles and will make a decent tourer for my tastes with a different screen, bags, throttle lock, and maybe bar risers(not a must for my build).  Parking lots, gravel, driveways, are all achievable, just need more forethought and effort.  I think I will see 32 mpg or so with "spirited" riding.  The engine/fairings keeps the heat aimed right at my ankles(better than thighs or junk I suppose).  Last but not least, she looks better than a busa, lol.  I will get more "sightseeing" pictures when the rides aren't as much fun as today was.

Jason, What Triumph did you get(I must have missed that thread)?  How are you guys enjoying Sumo life?  Lemme know what you still have parts wise.