Popular Post Killer_kaw Posted October 18, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 At least that's what it feels like. I've always had naked or nearly naked bikes but decided to pull the trigger on a Connie 14. I think it was a good decision. This whole wind protection thing is fucking awesome aside from a little trouble judging speed compared to a naked bike. This thing is super stable and smooth at speed and handles well enough to give 1/4" chicken strips the first time out on fresh rubber. All kinds of power doesn't hurt either. Took it over to the river Saturday and it's not my zrx but it's not bad at all in the twisties for a touring bike. 800 and 536 were plenty of fun. The linked brakes seem to be the biggest downfall for me (parking lots and such) but I have no doubt I'll get used to them eventually. Also having to do the 15k mile service including valve adjustment over the winter bites a bit. Planning two trips to Tennessee and a trip to Florida next year so it was time to find a more appropriate bike. Mostly just really excited about this thing and wanted to share. 2 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinNck1 Posted October 18, 2017 Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 Welcome to the Sport Touring crowd. It seems like more and more people are drinking the Kool-Aid each year. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted October 18, 2017 Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 My valves didn't get checked till 35k and they all were still in spec. I did adjust then to the top end of spec while I was in there but I don't plan on checking them again till 100k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer_kaw Posted October 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 57 minutes ago, JustinNck1 said: Welcome to the Sport Touring crowd. It seems like more and more people are drinking the Kool-Aid each year. Yep. Guilty as charged. I believe you have a seat done by Terry's custom? Any complaints? I'm in the process of ordering one now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinNck1 Posted October 18, 2017 Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 Just now, Killer_kaw said: Yep. Guilty as charged. I believe you have a seat done by Terry's custom? Any complaints? I'm in the process of ordering one now Only regret is I should have ordered one sooner. Terry and his wife Debbie are great to work with. I highly recommend them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer_kaw Posted October 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 1 minute ago, 2talltim said: My valves didn't get checked till 35k and they all were still in spec. I did adjust then to the top end of spec while I was in there but I don't plan on checking them again till 100k. Good to know. Guess it will all depend on how bored I get this winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted October 18, 2017 Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Killer_kaw said: Good to know. Guess it will all depend on how bored I get this winter. If you do get in there over the winter. Get a new over sized front cam sensor oring from murphskits, they all leak eventually. And put very thin washers or spacers under your valve cover bolts to make it seat tighter. once you pop that cover off most of them start to leak even with a new replacement gasket. @Connie14 did the washer trick and I followed suit. Keep in mind these bike have VVT so there is a little more BS under that cover to deal with, but if I can do it any one can I suppose...lol https://www.murphskits.com/product_info.php?products_id=528&osCsid=H287a4,YO7yw3pZWfOyHZ1 Edited October 18, 2017 by 2talltim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie14 Posted October 18, 2017 Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 You probably won't have any valves that are too tight on your first service. Do the items that Tim mentioned above, and the Connie will be a great bike for you. Plenty of room to bring a week's worth of stuff for a vacation, but sporty enough to have a lot of fun when you get there. Sport touring bikes are where it's at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie14 Posted October 18, 2017 Report Share Posted October 18, 2017 Something else about the Connie, the wind protection allows riding all year long. I rode the Connie to work in the mid to upper 30s yesterday and it was nice. I rode the FZ1 today at 39 degrees, and it was noticeably cooler. If you so decide, you will not need to winterize your freight train. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 love reading this kind of thread. Now to convince the wife that the half-clone and I can take one across the country when she's 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Congrats on the new-to-you mile muncher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer_kaw Posted October 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 Thanks fellas. I'll be sure to pick up the items you mentioned just in case. Terry has my seat so looking forward to getting it back. No doubt I'll be thru this thing pretty good over the winter I get bored and can't stop myself. I figure it's gonna be in the garage a long time to come so I may as well know my way around it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinNck1 Posted October 20, 2017 Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 1 hour ago, Killer_kaw said: Thanks fellas. I'll be sure to pick up the items you mentioned just in case. Terry has my seat so looking forward to getting it back. No doubt I'll be thru this thing pretty good over the winter I get bored and can't stop myself. I figure it's gonna be in the garage a long time to come so I may as well know my way around it. Terry has your seat already? Wow, that's surprising he had openings that quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer_kaw Posted October 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2017 25 minutes ago, JustinNck1 said: Terry has your seat already? Wow, that's surprising he had openings that quick. It'll be a couple weeks before he gets to it but I had a spare seat so I sent one to him along with a backrest I need recovered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer_kaw Posted November 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2017 Update..... I got my seat and backrest back from Terry and couldn’t be happier with his work. Very nice job. I’ve also had the ecu flashed and the difference in throttle control is night and day, shifting is much smoother and the added engine brake makes shuffling through the quick and tight stuff much better for me. Gives the bike a much more sporty feel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted November 28, 2017 Report Share Posted November 28, 2017 (edited) 50 minutes ago, Killer_kaw said: Update..... I’ve also had the ecu flashed and the difference in throttle control is night and day, shifting is much smoother and the added engine brake makes shuffling through the quick and tight stuff much better for me. Gives the bike a much more sporty feel. Damn it now I need to spend money Edited November 28, 2017 by 2talltim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer_kaw Posted November 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2017 5 hours ago, 2talltim said: Damn it now I need to spend money ‘‘Tis the season. The colder it gets the more it seems I try to do my part boosting the economy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Mac Posted November 29, 2017 Report Share Posted November 29, 2017 Very nice bike Killer, Well done. Now start putting a few coins away for the Gold Wing in let say 3 to 5 Y. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie14 Posted November 29, 2017 Report Share Posted November 29, 2017 6 hours ago, Killer_kaw said: Update..... I got my seat and backrest back from Terry and couldn’t be happier with his work. Very nice job. I’ve also had the ecu flashed and the difference in throttle control is night and day, shifting is much smoother and the added engine brake makes shuffling through the quick and tight stuff much better for me. Gives the bike a much more sporty feel. I love the difference in the ECU reflash on the Connie. I have been debating doing it on an FZ1, but this time of year all of the miles will be on the Connie (great wind protection). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qman Posted December 5, 2017 Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 Connies dont have cruise control yet, do they?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer_kaw Posted December 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 Nope. Aftermarket does have some options though. Throttle locks or Rostra electronic cruise control. I was thinking of a Rostra unit but I tend to avoid 4 lane roads if at all possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qman Posted December 5, 2017 Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 8 minutes ago, Killer_kaw said: Nope. Aftermarket does have some options though. Throttle locks or Rostra electronic cruise control. I was thinking of a Rostra unit but I tend to avoid 4 lane roads if at all possible. I,d bet they are losing a significant amount of sales without that option. I use cruise a lot more than I thought I would. Just to be able to give your right hand a break, and to set a safe speed in a questionable area. With a powerful bike like that, I think we all know how easy it is to inadvertently vary your speed. Hit a small bump and you're 20 mph up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pauly Posted December 5, 2017 Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 I'd appreciate an electronic cruise control option on the ST3. I don't terribly mind the freeway now that I have a bike suited for it. I don't prefer the freeway, but making time at 90+ mph has it's benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonik Posted December 5, 2017 Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 1 hour ago, Killer_kaw said: Nope. Aftermarket does have some options though. Throttle locks or Rostra electronic cruise control. I was thinking of a Rostra unit but I tend to avoid 4 lane roads if at all possible. Go electronic. While its always easy to spend someone else's money I will never own a bike without it, other than a track bike. Even if you are just doing a couple of hours on the freeway coming back from a trip...it's worth it. I use mine often on long stretches of 2 lane that are not that twisty and I am just rolling along. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer_kaw Posted December 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 If I dive into the valve adjustment over the winter odds are good I’ll add the Rostra. $250-$300 seems reasonable. Shouldn’t be a bad install with all the plastic out of the way. The unit is a universal automotive type that plenty of folks have adapted to the Connie. It controls speed by way of the bikes speed sensor wire. Could most likely be adapted to a ST3 as well @Pauly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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