durk

That it was buddy.

Some photos from the Tail photographers

I can probably sneak in a week day and possibly Saturday.

Took the time to set the sag today for just me. Plenty of enough there to get it set correctly for just me. Did some research as well on dampening. I was definitely going the wrong way. I backed the screw off to just above factory. We’ll see if that helps in the future. Thanks for everyone’s input. @MSerfozo it seems as though I probably won’t need that spring. With the bike set for just me I still have quite a bit of adjustment I can add for a passenger. Thanks again for the offer.

I haven’t measured sag yet. I need to find some time and get a second set of hands. I need to do my research to figure out if your spring will even work. I got home Thursday and left Friday morning for a 6 hour trip to New York in the car. Then returned last night at 10pm. So I haven’t had time to look at the bike. Sorry I didn’t respond prior. I was trying to gather other’s thoughts. Once I get my ducks in a row I’ll get back to you. Thanks for the offer. It’s very kind of you.

I’m one of those guys that wants a new Wing. I’m too cheap to purchase a high end shock, however, so I don’t see me financing $28,300 for a new bike.

The front seems to be wearing fine. I think I can definitely get a little more out of the rears than I have so far. I just replace the rear right before the tail trip because the tire I had on there was definitely not going to make the whole trip. I usually get 6000 out of a set on the CBR. My concern is it starting to look like it may be three rears to one front. I read over on COG Where a guy said that’s typically his MO. Three rears to one front.

Thanks for your input. I did conserve the first 2 days and things weren’t bad. Tory kept asking when I was going to stop being conservative. On the third day there was no holding back. I never had to hold back on the CBR. I guess I’ll have to adjust or get a bigger tire fund.

Now I’m back to my original thought. Turning the screw in speeds up dampening. I’m just reading the tire according to track riders and Dave Moss I think it was. Here is what the manual says as well. I would guess my speed is high and that’s why I chose the settings I did. I started softer and have progressively tightened things down. The bike has handled better for the most part with tightening things. For solo riding I could probably back things off a touch and it still handles well. Backing off much however loses feel for the road. Possibly. On the CBR that position 9 I referenced is 1 click from the hardest setting 🤷‍♂️.

Preload is actually a turn knob. Weird deal in my opinion. I have it tight as it goes. To me this is compressing the spring as much as possible. Adding as much preload as possible is my thoughts.

Well this could be my issue. I’ll have to try going the other way. I thought I read in the manual for higher speed riding you want to turn the dampening in. I was going with that and I was struggling to figure out if setting dampening to harder was speeding up or slowing down. Connie weighs 650 I believe. 42 rear 38 front

Bike has 12,000 miles. I agree dampening screw should not be fully turned in, but I thought I’d try something. Everything I read said to speed it up. The bike handles fine. I can tell it rides stiff but not much different than the CBR. I originally had the same problem on the CBR but figured it out. The preload on it has different notches. For me solo I have it set on the 6th notch. When I ride 2 up I increase it to the 9th notch and touch nothing else. This tire is definitely still usable, but I’m getting a u-shaped ridge near the edge of the chicken strips. I’m not sure how comfortable I am with riding my normal 500 mile day trips on it. As far as replacing with a high end shock. I’m too cheap. I did look up a replacement spring and may go that route eventually.

I’m full of questions tonight gentlemen. I’m trashing rear tires in 2000 miles on the Concours. I’m getting raised trailing edges. On the far sides of the tire I’m wearing the leading edges down to near nothing. Everything I read says it’s rebound speed. I have the rebound turned all the way in and the preload cranked all the way down. I’m wondering if I changed the spring on the rear shock for a heavier one if it would help the problem. It also seems to me that I’m tearing the tire a bit. I know @Paulymentioned an A-spec tire. Do you think that will help? I’m not sure it will change the raised trailing edge. Is this just a sport touring bike problem I’m going to have to learn to live with? I know I had a similar problem on the CBR riding 2 up, but I was able to just crank a little extra pre-load into the spring. It seem to do the trick. That’s why I’m wondering if I just re-sprung the thing if it would help.

Before Tory and I left for our Dragon trip I noticed the front brakes pulsing a bit on a couple of rides. It seemed to come and go at times. I thought maybe the rotors were warped, but after removing the rotors to change the front tire it didn’t seem to be there anymore. Thing’s seemed fine still as we made our way down US250. Then when we hit 16 I started to notice a nasty pulse under hard braking. However if I eased into the brakes I could progressively squeeze and get less of a pulse. Things seemed to fluctuate throughout the trip but overall got worse the more we rode. Then coming home today we hit rain and it seemed like the pulsing was less noticeable if at all noticeable. Any ideas? Do I need to try to clean the buttons/rivets that allow the rotors to float? Maybe crap on the rotors themselves? Do you think a pad change would help? The bike has just over 12,000 miles. I’m guessing they are the original pads. @2talltim or @Connie14 do either of you have any insight? I saw some complaints on the Concours forums about the front rotors and all kinds different ideas of what the problem is or isn’t. Tim I think I may have spotted different rotors on your Concours.

Day 3 We ran a version of Tonik’s route today. We had a little bit of rain, but nothing too serious. Definitely beat on the Concours today and made a CBR style run on the skyway once we hit dry pavement. Definitely the best day of the trip, 437miles.

Must have been him I passed today on the Tail. The road was wet so we can cut him some slack.

Day 2 included The Snake, BRP, Diamondback, Devil’s Whip and Tail only 416 miles today. Tory’s favorite was Diamondback. Her comment was we owned that road.

Day 1 Left this morning at 7AM and arrived in Marion, VA at 6:30PM 512 miles later.

Changed the rear tire and washed it in preparation for Monday’s departure. I hope the new rear tire makes it through the whole trip. I already told Tory we may need to slow our pace a bit. Monday can’t get here fast enough.

Just booked my rooms. Leaving this Monday and returning Thursday. Sorry I won’t be able to meet up with you gentlemen. This is what fits my daughter’s schedule best.

Rode the Concours for 540 miles today. Today was the first day I haven’t had something going on since my last day of work on the 10th. Rode some different roads. Much needed getaway.

Have you sat on a Goldwing? I haven’t ridden 1 but my wife and I went and looked at 21s. My Concours is 650lbs and I can feel it. The Concours carries some weight up high. The Goldwing didn’t seem heavy on the showroom floor. I believe it carries the weight low 🤷‍♂️. Nothing to back any of that up other than straddling both bikes and tossing them side to side. What is this cruise you guys speak of? I feel like the throttle lock my Concours has is awesome. It’s like I’m riding a touring couch compared to those 500 plus mile days I put in on the CBR. I guess it’s all in one’s perspective and expectations. @Scruit my experience so far with the Concours has been great. I’m 6ft and it fits me fine. I don’t know that it would work well if I was much shorter. I do notice the weight at a standstill, but once I get it rolling it handles great and definitely will move. Good luck with your purchase.

Bummed I can’t make this happen. I actually scheduled myself to work with a buddy today. I’m hoping to ride tomorrow. Enjoy your ride.

Will do

@BlitzNot sure. I’m weather watching. Planning to leave on a Monday and return on a Thursday. Based on the forecast I’m not going next week. So I may make my way down the same time you’re headed down. We need to get together and ride again. Hope all is well.