BT014s

Neither do I get to make such good progress on a Drifter, but Gertrude
is my all-time favourite bike, in 36 years of riding with a full
license.

 

Do you still have that screen fitted? The time I rode her, I got *serious*
buffetting from it.

 

It's odd. I've had more bikes than I can remember. Well more than 30 I
suppose.

However the K100 I've had for the last three years is the bike I've done
the most miles on (50 something k) and it's the one I've probably had
the most fun on in er... 24 years of a full license.

It's by no way the fastest bike I've owned. It probably is the bike
that I've ridden the nearest to its limits though and that's probably
what I like about it. There's nothing quite as sweet as out-filtering a
modern bike or, even better, out cornering a modern bike on it.

I can't help being so immature. Please don't judge me too harshly.

In all honesty though, I really regret selling the 9r. I know I hadn't
been riding it but it was just nice to have something fast and capable
in the garage. Maybe one day I'll be able to afford something else like
that.

 

Thanks for that, My last one had lasted 3000 miles, so I suppose "eat
the tyre" is pretty accurate.

 

Yes it's still fitted, but I don't really notice the buffeting until
80mph+. I prefer this to riding her without a screen, which I did try
for a few weeks.

I seldom ride over 80 for long because as well as being beyond the 10%
+2 it's not that enjoyable. The turbulence seems to curl over the
screen and my head and then hit me in the back. When I have a beard it
get blown forward rather than back, so I ride along with face-fungus
streaming horizontally ahead of me, and at speed it pulls enough to
hurt.

Changes since you rode her have included Progressive Suspension 440
series rear shocks with heavy duty springs and self-adjusting damping.
The heavy duty springs are designed for Merkin-sized people, and to my
shame I'm approaching that category, but so far I can just leave them
on the lightest possible pre-load setting and I don't generally need
to change the settings even if a pillion gets on.

I still can't do KSBs on her due to the FI, but with V&H longshot
exhausts who needs to: under some circumstances I can hear Gertrude's
exhaust note bouncing back at me from oncoming traffic, and while
filtering other traffic seems very aware of my presence.

I eventually found some good hard luggage tailored specifically to fit
her, brand name "Leatherlyke", which has enormously simplified
packing.

 

Hah, not much of an appetite. My SRX-6 with only 30-something bhp took
out a front Conti in 1800 miles of country-lane commuting.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, BRC

What are they like for backing it into corners?

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - To stay young requires unceasing cultivation of
the ability to unlearn old falsehoods.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Fair enough. I would probably have fitted a screen had I not tried yours.

The monoshock on the 800 was very soft, even with the preload on max, and
almost entirely bereft of damping. Taking a pillion wasn't a pleasant
experience at all.

The 800 would wuffle and pop on the overrun (probably an air leak
somewhere), and KSBs were routine.

I just bungied a bag onto the pillion seat.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, platypus

She's really not going to like you talking this way.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Wicked Uncle Nigel said...

She's still young enough to get over it.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Lozzo

Away from the bank, you bounder!

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Wicked Uncle Nigel said...

I'm already grooming one at the moment, I don't have the time for
another.

 

Which bag did you think I meant?

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, platypus

The grey one, obviously.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Grey? She's not going to like that, not one bit.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, platypus

Your inferences from my implications are no problem of mine.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

That would stop her falling off, but I still need somewhere to put any
luggage, and I prefer something I can leave locked without worrying
overmuch.

None of the three soft pannier and frame arrangements I tried were
very satisfactory.

The genuine Kawa accessory ones didn't even fit on their frame! I took
them back to the dealer, and a couple of hours later they reluctantly
agreed with me.

The Leatherlyke ones I got are are nice, if not quite as easily
detachable as Givi, Krauser etc.

http://www.hoese.com/stores/showdet..._Saddlebags_for_Vulcan_1500_Drifter_('99-'00)

 

You're as bad as Nigel, you know that?

My luggage never contained anything I couldn't afford to loose. Cheap
holdall, cheap tent, cheap doss bag and some underwear. The Thermarest was
probably the highest-value item. I just left it on the bike and didn't
worry.

Never saw any luggage I liked for the Drifter.

Not bad.

 

<sits back and waits>

 

My Macadam widowmaker 90 lasted 6000+ miles on the Blackbird and I
soiled my pants regularly with it.

I've just put 014's on the 12R and from the wear they're showing
already I think they're gonna get shredded rapid pronto. Good job I got
them at a bargain price ;-)

P.