Changing the bike...

Hell and Back on a neval 125. Six hours, felt like much longer.

 

I know two people who - *more than once* - journeyed two-up with
luggage on a CG125 from Bangor, N.Ireland to London.

 

You most certainly can - as I discovered last Saturday.

First proper ride of the year, started off nice and cautious but then
got back up to decent road speed..

Except I keep red-lining it cos it doesn't rev as high as my old Blade
and having only done 1500 miles on the Tiger I haven't adjusted my head
yet!

Phil.

 

I have the touring flip-screen from Triumph on mine - it makes a huge
difference to the amount of wind-blast that I get.

In fact - even at 100+ I get virtually no wind-pressure on my torso and
head. All of which is good because it reduces the strain on my wrists
and elbows.

Now if someone produced a system to lighen up the clutch my happiness
would be complete...

Phil

 

It would have been the fuel stop that did for Lozzo's time, tho.

 

If you're commuting every day you might want to think about maybe spending a
day on one if you can (Ace? ) as whilst a lot of people find them fine (I
did for 12 months - just not the next 6 ) you may want to consider
whether or not you will get on with the ergonomics long term.

I suspect someone will be along shortly to tell me they're comfy tourers -
for some I am sure they are - for me, that riding position just got a bit
*too* extreme after awhile.

I didn't think the bike was contributing a lot to my back pain, but I was
amazed to be able to spend an entire day on the DL without even a twinge,
let alone the stiffness and pain I got before.

You can't argue with this though!

 

The Tiger group discuss V-Strom screens? Unusual.

The 'solution' (there doesn't seem to be one really) from the V-Strom groups
is either to put up with it, or spend £200 on a Givi screen, which having
seen the pictures manages something I thought impossible - it makes the bike
even uglier. I also don't like the idea of looking *through* the screen as
opposed to over it - so I'm not going to do that solution. There are also
thoughts on 'home made' deflectors and the like (for mirrors,screen and
handguards) but I just can't be arsed with all that.

I've got the DL screen on it's highest setting at the moment - either the
lowest (not so much buffeting but lots of wind noise and for some reason
*twice* as cold) or the highest (a bit of buffeting above 70mph and a bit
less windnoise but a lot warmer) seem to work.

Basically it's not a bike that's ever going to be comfortable doing 120 down
the local bypass - for one thing the handling above 100 can best be
described as 'highly entertaining' and the wind gets a bit much.

On the postive side, though my ego may occasionally disagree this does suit
the style of riding I do and considering it's quite happy to sit at 60-80 on
twisty stuff this isn't really an issue for getting from A - B and overtakes
are just piss easy.

Still have this very slight niggle that I should have got a VFR though ;-)

 

Ash bought a Givi screen for his Capo, and IIRC, he found it crap,
worse than the original, created a huge amount of buffeting and made
the bike unsteady. Also made the bike lose 5mph at the top.[1]

[1] Apparently, when you bike only does 130mph, this is important. ;-)

Kiran

 

My Gixxer is one of the comfiest bikes I've ever had. I rode from
Tuscany to Cheltenham in one day on it.

 

The thou is nothing like the 600 or 750. I tried simonk's 600K1 a few
years back and found that cramped. The 750 K4 I test rode was ok but
would not have been comfortable for European jaunts. The thou is
remarkably roomy - not much different to the Blackbird.

And I'm not even convinced the K3/K4 models need an after market DB
screen - I've got one but it's only *marginally* better than the
standard screen.

Kiran

 

which proves nothing about whether or not the Gixer could be considered
a "comfy bike".

I find my 'blade fairly comfortable for about 3-4 hours in the saddle,
after which the wide, firm seat seems to start turning your anus inside
out.

I always found my SZR comfortable, due to it's "sit in the bike, rest
your gut on the tank, elbows touching your knees" styling - it was when
I got *off* the bike that I had to walk around like Quasimodo.

 

Here we disagree - the one thing that lets it down as a touring bike
is the low screen. I can't cruise at much more than 110~115 without
getting neck ache. Unless your point is that db screens don't make
much difference.

 

I *think* the K3 screen is actually much higher than the one on the
original K1 model. I say I think because it looks bigger from the
photos but I've not done a side by side comparison. Anyway, I've got a
DB and it is marginally better, although irritatingly it is a bit
noiser than stock as the wind blast hits my head rather than chest.

Kiran

 

5 minutes up the road to Asda.

 

See, I'm still running in so can only dream of such heady speeds (or perhaps
that should be 'worry').

Think I will pick a wide empty road the first time I try that - wandering
off into the other lane with other traffic is not something I want to really
do...

 

The paragraph I've left in was written for you and Ace

 

Hmm, I rode Porl's and found it remarkably similar feeling to the 600.
Certainly the stretch down the lower back was the same, as were the high
pegs.

 

You're not likely to wander into another lane, really. The faster you
go, the more stable it gets. Usually.

Although the Bandit did seem to feel a bit light on the front at an
indicated 145mph[0] - I guess that's what not having a fairing does for you.


[0] I think there was (a little) more to come, but I closed up on some
traffic. Quite quickly, too.

 

This has a fairing - hence why I'm worried ;-)

 

Hang on, I'm confused now - faired bikes are (usually) more stable at
speed. What are you worried about?