WTF is that all about, and why, the last 2 times I have been out on the bike has it felt so right. I reckon I'm gonna crash. -- Dan L (Oldbloke) My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going) Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament) BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)
I've just been out and put 20 miles on the KH500: I reckoned I was gonna crash for about 17 of those miles. No mirrors is a real no-no. I just can't hack it. I couldn't get it over 70: I didn't have the stopping distances I needed, and the bars vibrated so much I could barely hold on. It jumped out of second (sounds familiar) whilst overtaking an old biddy in an Escort on Connaught Bridge across the Royal Docks. I knew taking it out for a spin before preparing to sell it would be a bad idea. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C |_\_____/_| ..75805../..18781.../..3196./.19406 (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5 |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG* \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 '^' RBR Landmarks: 24 Pts: 400 Miles: 1589
Hmm, I have the opposite effect. Up until 2 weeks ago I was still riding very much like I had since passing my test. These last 2 weeks I seem to have made the transition from car to bike, IYSWIM. Dunno why though. It's odd, but nicely so. -- Dan L (Oldbloke) My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going) Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament) BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)
Welcome to the dark side. I just went out for a clearing the cobwebs type dash, and despite not having been riding for a few weeks, felt right on it. Most amusing was coming back, pulling up at a set of stop lights, next to one of the guys who works here. in his kevved up tigra, which admittedly sounds/looks nice if you like that sort of thing. I'm sure I don't need to elaborate, but needless to say, he's feeling that it's a little inadequate in the acceleration department now. MWHID.
Dan L says... Until 2 months ago I was a fairly competent and experienced road rider, then I bought the Gixer. Since then I've had to relearn a hell of a lot of things, because it does everything so well. As a result my riding at the moment is scrappy, to say the least. I've no doubt I'll get better soon, but for now I am relearning things on a higher level. Throttle control is the big one. The engine is so responsive and delivers its power so effortlessly that you find yourself doing silly speeds in no time at all. When you're cranked over through a roundabout or corner, it takes so much less throttle to make the bike pick up out of the turn, It would be so easy to lose the back end with someone even more hamfisted than me aboard. It wheelies like a bastard when you least want it to, so you have to remember to lean forwards when going for spirited overtakes in the first 3 gears. Braking is another thing that requires supreme control. Mine has AP Racing calipers and fully floating cast iron discs fitted, so using any more than 2 fingers is a complete no-no. The brakes also get more effective for the same amount of lever pressure as you slow down, the reverse of brake fade happens. Handling is sublime, you see a corner and you pitch it in, remembering first to hang off slightly and put as much weight as far forward as possible. Riding the 9R was never as demanding - though I thought so at the time - but the Gixer is ultimately more rewarding when you get it right.
This wasn't an "incompetent lump on top the bike" type ride, this was an "incompetent lump under the rider" type ride. Still good fun, though. I wonder what modern front end would fit ... -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C |_\_____/_| ..75805../..18781.../..3196./.19406 (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5 |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG* \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 '^' RBR Landmarks: 24 Pts: 400 Miles: 1589
Doesnotcompute says... It's even scarier. In 27 years of riding I've ridden all sorts of bikes, but none of them have had me thinking I'll be making a hole in a hedge quite so many times in just 2,000 miles.
Not that bad. It's amazingly forgiving but you certainly shit yourself. I've had mine 14 months now and I'm only just starting to really feel comfortable on it. It's still way beyond me though.
Don't bother. Adding a rigid set of forks would just load the frame more and move the point of most flex to somewhere else. Like the hinge in the middle.
I don't notice that to be honest. Having spent 4 years on the 1st of the 750's with FI it's an amazing improvement.
<jingles KH500 key at Loz> -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C |_\_____/_| ..75805../..18781.../..3196./.19406 (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5 |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG* \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 '^' RBR Landmarks: 24 Pts: 400 Miles: 1589
The current ones *are* rigid. I think the oil might be a bit too thick. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C |_\_____/_| ..75805../..18781.../..3196./.19406 (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5 |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG* \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 '^' RBR Landmarks: 24 Pts: 400 Miles: 1589
There was a gorgeous KH500 went through Cheltenham this afternoon. I just stood transfixed and listened. It sounded smooth, restrained... right. Tracey obviously thought I'd flipped. She became slight annoyed once she discovered why I'd been stood motionless and ignoring her. Women have a special look they give you in response to the "but it was a mint KH500 with stock pipes" statement.
I wish mine did. It does at 4k and below, but 6k and up, and it sounds like a hyperactive bag of spanners. They're funny creatures, and no mistake. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C |_\_____/_| ..75830../..18846.../..3214./.19406 (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5 |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG* \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 '^' RBR Landmarks: 24 Pts: 400 Miles: 1589
