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Post by bonanzadriver on Apr 21, 2019 22:49:11 GMT -5
My Fat Boy is mostly a "Cruiser" and not so much a "Touring" bike.
That being said, I've recently purchased a pair of "modular" helmets and plan on picking up a quick release sissy bar and bags for the occasional run to the beach or up to the mountains to visit our daughter.
I'm now researching the "Best Bang for the Buck" blue tooth intercom for Blondie and I.
I'd appreciate any feedback from those of you that have em, and what to look for, as well as what to look out for.
Thanks in advance
Dino
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Post by trailboss on Apr 21, 2019 23:06:49 GMT -5
I would get a bike, but I have seen two many idiots on the road over the course of millions of miles....whip across lanes with no regard for others...them people wouldn't even render aid.
Pretend you are invisible when riding, guys.
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Post by Ronv69 on Apr 21, 2019 23:08:47 GMT -5
I would get a bike, but I have seen two many idiots on the road over the course of millions of miles....whip across lanes with no regard for others...them people wouldn't even render aid. Pretend you are invisible when riding, guys. I make myself very visible, but I don't expect anyone to try not to kill me. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Apr 21, 2019 23:17:30 GMT -5
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Post by just ol ed on Apr 21, 2019 23:41:45 GMT -5
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Post by isett2860 on Apr 22, 2019 19:17:41 GMT -5
Chicago or Bust ! Leaving tomorrow morning 4/23/19 from Rio Rico, AZ (9 miles north of Mexico) Time to take them north for the summer. Will come back in October. Trailboss, Darin and you other Arizonians. Rest easy, your cellars are safe. I don’t think I could get a MM Shortstop on either one!  |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Apr 22, 2019 19:19:25 GMT -5
Sweet lookin' transportation ya got there!
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Post by Darin on Apr 22, 2019 23:11:31 GMT -5
Chicago or Bust ! Leaving tomorrow morning 4/23/19 from Rio Rico, AZ (9 miles north of Mexico) Time to take them north for the summer. Will come back in October. Trailboss, Darin and you other Arizonians. Rest easy, your cellars are safe. I don’t think I could get a MM Shortstop on either one! Safe journeys!  I'll be flying into Peoria, IL in late May for a brief family visit. Hope it's not too "sticky" yet! Lol |
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driftingfate
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Post by driftingfate on Apr 23, 2019 8:53:14 GMT -5
Chicago or Bust ! Leaving tomorrow morning 4/23/19 from Rio Rico, AZ (9 miles north of Mexico) Time to take them north for the summer. Will come back in October. Trailboss, Darin and you other Arizonians. Rest easy, your cellars are safe. I don’t think I could get a MM Shortstop on either one! Sounds like a great ride - be safe and enjoy. |
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Post by isett2860 on Apr 26, 2019 20:12:50 GMT -5
West Dundee, IL Friday 4/26/2019 1855 miles later. The trip is over. Great trip. But the wind today was rough!  |
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Post by Darin on Apr 26, 2019 20:18:11 GMT -5
Glad you made it safe and sound! |
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Post by isett2860 on Apr 26, 2019 20:35:09 GMT -5
Thanks Darin.
Went near Peoria today. You should try it on that beautiful Goldwing of yours!
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Post by isett2860 on Apr 27, 2019 18:44:58 GMT -5
Boy am I glad we got home yesterday!  |
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Post by Darin on Apr 27, 2019 20:06:57 GMT -5
Good timing indeed and there's more headed your way!
As a side note … what kind of helmet does everyone prefer?
My birthday is just around the corner and I'm picking up the new HJC RPHA 90.
It's based on the top end RPHA 11 platform but is the Modular version.
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Post by trailboss on Apr 27, 2019 20:12:52 GMT -5
Boy am I glad we got home yesterday! Timing is everything! |
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SCF Dan
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Post by SCF Dan on Apr 27, 2019 21:41:12 GMT -5
As a side note … what kind of helmet does everyone prefer? For my street bikes, I wear an Arai RX-Q or RX-7V. I don't wear a helmet that's modular, or that accomodates tech. I just need to get my ear plugs in. You can wear the Arai helmets on long trips and they really are comfortable. They are also relatively quiet. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Apr 27, 2019 21:47:52 GMT -5
I wear a 5xl helmet, so there's only one HJC modular that I can wear. Other than a shorty or a skid lid that's it for me.
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Post by isett2860 on Apr 27, 2019 22:23:46 GMT -5
I’ve been using a Shoei Neotec for just about 2 years now and like it a lot.
I have an HJC modular also that was quite comfortable. I don’t recall the model,
Like modular for commuting. Especially in stop and go traffic and in the city on hot days.
Or going through the checkpoints in AZ and NM. They have made me take off full face helmets to see my face.
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elric
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Post by elric on Apr 27, 2019 23:46:08 GMT -5
I've heard a lot of good things about cruisers but just can't bring myself to start shopping for one yet My last bike was a Triumph Bonneville. I rode it all over Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri. Great bike but I wanted to travel with my wife. This is my second Gold Wing. I have thoroughly enjoyed both of them on the open road. The Bonnie was better for scooting around town. my 99 Magna was a good compromise. I've always loved Trumpies. Beezas & Nortons. Never owned one but many mates did. First British bike I rode was a BSA 650 Lightning with six-bend bars. Brilliant fun but I had to get used to such a low revving engine. You're correct that Triumphs are a great town bike. They're also a lot of fun on low speed winding roads. They don't however, have the 'legs' for long runs. I used to love blasting past them on my Ducati. My first bike was an RD 250 Yamaha. It was upgraded to 350cc (350 Head & barrels from the local wrecker & 350 bottom end bearings) At 17yo we were restricted to 250cc. The 250/350 2-stroke simply flogged the big Jap fours up to 60mph. They were heaps of fun for a young boy racer & they handled really well for a 70's Jap bike. Next bike was a GSX1100. Then I got my dream bike, an SD-900 Ducati. My last bike was an SSD-900 Ducati. Nearly 20 years ago I lost a leg. Although I can still ride with a gear modification or switching the gear lever to the right hand side, I just don't have the feel to ride like I once did .... very fast, lol. If I won lotto I'd buy a trike. |
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Post by elric on Apr 27, 2019 23:49:37 GMT -5
I will say I've never done long trips like that with my wife always solo. She likes to ride but her limit without stopping is about an hour. And I've heard a lot of good things about can am's and how comfortable they are. I would also be excited to meet up once the weather gets better and go for some nice rides. Since losing a leg I looked closely at the Can-Am. From what I've read, they have a LOT of reliability issues. |
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Post by isett2860 on Apr 28, 2019 7:06:19 GMT -5
I will say I've never done long trips like that with my wife always solo. She likes to ride but her limit without stopping is about an hour. And I've heard a lot of good things about can am's and how comfortable they are. I would also be excited to meet up once the weather gets better and go for some nice rides. Since losing a leg I looked closely at the Can-Am. From what I've read, they have a LOT of reliability issues. Our Can-Am is a 2017 which we bought in the fall of 2017. 2 round trips Chicago- Tucson and just turned 15K miles. I took it in to the shop last spring after coming back to Chicago. for an oil change and a once over, no issues. Then last fall for another oil change and any scheduled maintenance that was due. Before heading to Tucson. Did change the rear tire with just shy of 10K, the guys in the service dept, knowing I would put 5K on over the winter suggested this. Didn’t find that out of place. 10K on the rear tire of the BMW is the norm. I would really take a look at one. The new entry level Ryker starts at about $8K I think. Granted this is the first year for that model. and many out there feel you never want to but the first year of a vehicle. Like everything in life it seems, be it cars or cellphones or whatever. Someone loves it, someone thinks its no good. Like Captain Black Grape!😆 |
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elric
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Post by elric on Apr 28, 2019 8:04:40 GMT -5
Since losing a leg I looked closely at the Can-Am. From what I've read, they have a LOT of reliability issues. Our Can-Am is a 2017 which we bought in the fall of 2017. 2 round trips Chicago- Tucson and just turned 15K miles. I took it in to the shop last spring after coming back to Chicago. for an oil change and a once over, no issues. Then last fall for another oil change and any scheduled maintenance that was due. Before heading to Tucson. Did change the rear tire with just shy of 10K, the guys in the service dept, knowing I would put 5K on over the winter suggested this. Didn’t find that out of place. 10K on the rear tire of the BMW is the norm. I would really take a look at one. The new entry level Ryker starts at about $8K I think. Granted this is the first year for that model. and many out there feel you never want to but the first year of a vehicle. Like everything in life it seems, be it cars or cellphones or whatever. Someone loves it, someone thinks its no good. Like Captain Black Grape!😆 Were it not for the reports, I probably would have bought one. Yep, that's standard advice for new models of any brand of bike or car. It would be really good if they can sort out all the bugs. They sound like a lot of fun to ride. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Apr 28, 2019 8:32:13 GMT -5
My last bike was a Triumph Bonneville. I rode it all over Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri. Great bike but I wanted to travel with my wife. This is my second Gold Wing. I have thoroughly enjoyed both of them on the open road. The Bonnie was better for scooting around town. my 99 Magna was a good compromise. I've always loved Trumpies. Beezas & Nortons. Never owned one but many mates did. First British bike I rode was a BSA 650 Lightning with six-bend bars. Brilliant fun but I had to get used to such a low revving engine. You're correct that Triumphs are a great town bike. They're also a lot of fun on low speed winding roads. They don't however, have the 'legs' for long runs. I used to love blasting past them on my Ducati. My first bike was an RD 250 Yamaha. It was upgraded to 350cc (350 Head & barrels from the local wrecker & 350 bottom end bearings) At 17yo we were restricted to 250cc. The 250/350 2-stroke simply flogged the big Jap fours up to 60mph. They were heaps of fun for a young boy racer & they handled really well for a 70's Jap bike. Next bike was a GSX1100. Then I got my dream bike, an SD-900 Ducati. My last bike was an SSD-900 Ducati. Nearly 20 years ago I lost a leg. Although I can still ride with a gear modification or switching the gear lever to the right hand side, I just don't have the feel to ride like I once did .... very fast, lol. If I won lotto I'd buy a trike. My 2007 had legs for days. I had Billy Bars, a quick release fairing and hard bags. I easily put distance between myself and my nephews on their FLH-whatever Harleys and I was more comfortable doing it. No legs my a$$! |
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Post by Darin on Apr 28, 2019 9:35:03 GMT -5
I wear a 5xl helmet, so there's only one HJC modular that I can wear. Other than a shorty or a skid lid that's it for me.
Gol' Dang Punkin' Head!! 
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elric
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Post by elric on Apr 28, 2019 9:41:09 GMT -5
I've always loved Trumpies. Beezas & Nortons. Never owned one but many mates did. First British bike I rode was a BSA 650 Lightning with six-bend bars. Brilliant fun but I had to get used to such a low revving engine. You're correct that Triumphs are a great town bike. They're also a lot of fun on low speed winding roads. They don't however, have the 'legs' for long runs. I used to love blasting past them on my Ducati. My first bike was an RD 250 Yamaha. It was upgraded to 350cc (350 Head & barrels from the local wrecker & 350 bottom end bearings) At 17yo we were restricted to 250cc. The 250/350 2-stroke simply flogged the big Jap fours up to 60mph. They were heaps of fun for a young boy racer & they handled really well for a 70's Jap bike. Next bike was a GSX1100. Then I got my dream bike, an SD-900 Ducati. My last bike was an SSD-900 Ducati. Nearly 20 years ago I lost a leg. Although I can still ride with a gear modification or switching the gear lever to the right hand side, I just don't have the feel to ride like I once did .... very fast, lol. If I won lotto I'd buy a trike. My 2007 had legs for days. I had Billy Bars, a quick release fairing and hard bags. I easily put distance between myself and my nephews on their FLH-whatever Harleys and I was more comfortable doing it. No legs my a$$! Sorry, I just realised that I should've mentioned that I was referring to pre-80's British bikes. Everytime a Harley pulled alongside at traffic lights, I'd give the Duke a rev to invite a drag race just to see how I'd go giving away 440cc. Every single time they'd look my bike over & shake their head, lol. The Ducati's would cruise at 170kph all day every day. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Apr 28, 2019 10:08:27 GMT -5
My 2007 had legs for days. I had Billy Bars, a quick release fairing and hard bags. I easily put distance between myself and my nephews on their FLH-whatever Harleys and I was more comfortable doing it. No legs my a$$! Sorry, I just realised that I should've mentioned that I was referring to pre-80's British bikes. Everytime a Harley pulled alongside at traffic lights, I'd give the Duke a rev to invite a drag race just to see how I'd go giving away 440cc. Every single time they'd look my bike over & shake their head, lol. The Ducati's would cruise at 170kph all day every day. I had a 60's BSA Thunderbolt but it was in bad shape. I rebuilt it, but the shop that did the final timing setting, (they were the only shop in town that had the tool), over tickled the carb and set it on fire. I never even got to ride it. I traded it to a guy who won a lot of flat track races with it. The newer Bonnies will cruise at 90+ all day. The latest models will probably cruise at 120. The reincarnated Triumph makes some amazing motorcycles. The performance of a Ducati with very low maintenance. I had a 250 Kawasaki Scrambler that topped out over 100. Those 2-strokes were the most fun you could have with your pants on. The 95 Gold Wing would cruise at 125 and feel like you were doing 75. My 2008 Wing is triked, and I have touched 120, but I am older and wiser now. |
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elric
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Post by elric on Apr 28, 2019 19:19:12 GMT -5
Sorry, I just realised that I should've mentioned that I was referring to pre-80's British bikes. Everytime a Harley pulled alongside at traffic lights, I'd give the Duke a rev to invite a drag race just to see how I'd go giving away 440cc. Every single time they'd look my bike over & shake their head, lol. The Ducati's would cruise at 170kph all day every day. I had a 60's BSA Thunderbolt but it was in bad shape. I rebuilt it, but the shop that did the final timing setting, (they were the only shop in town that had the tool), over tickled the carb and set it on fire. I never even got to ride it. I traded it to a guy who won a lot of flat track races with it. The newer Bonnies will cruise at 90+ all day. The latest models will probably cruise at 120. The reincarnated Triumph makes some amazing motorcycles. The performance of a Ducati with very low maintenance. I had a 250 Kawasaki Scrambler that topped out over 100. Those 2-strokes were the most fun you could have with your pants on. The 95 Gold Wing would cruise at 125 and feel like you were doing 75. My 2008 Wing is triked, and I have touched 120, but I am older and wiser now. After all that effort; man, that would've hurt. By "90" you're talking mph, right? That's pretty good. My Dukes were a 79 & an 81. Long wheel base compared to todays Dukes. Very hard to lift the front wheel (well, if one put his mind to it, lol) the way I like it when blasting through corners. A Gold Wing motor or similar is the most practical type motor for a trike. Reliable, heaps of grunt. I've never ridden a trike. Does it take much getting used to? How stable is yours at high speed? Although I'm 59yo this year, I just know I'd push to find a trikes limits, especially through corners. 2-stroke with low gearing? Lol. When 19yo, on a borrowed 350 Yamaha 2-stroke trail bike, I got stuck between a Holden (GM) & an Aussie Ford at a set of lights, revving engines preparing to drag. The lanes were quite narrow. Determined to keep in front of the two cars, I put my weight forward & gave it everything through the gears. The front wheel was still off the ground in 3rd gear. As I turned off further ahead, passengers in both care were were hanging out the windows cheering & one yells out "Best f#$%#n mono ever!" Totally unintentional. Truth be known, had I tried to mono that 2-stroker on purpose, I probably would've flipped it. |
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elric
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Post by elric on Apr 28, 2019 19:38:53 GMT -5
I would get a bike, but I have seen two many idiots on the road over the course of millions of miles....whip across lanes with no regard for others...them people wouldn't even render aid. Pretend you are invisible when riding, guys. More than a few drivers had to be taught some manners in my bike riding days. I'd go off my head when an imbecile nearly took me out. Those types are real tough guys until stopped with me banging on their window,  An Aussie Uni study around the early 80's found that over 95% of motorbike riders who survived their first 3 years without a major accident, would not have a serious accident for the rest of their riding days. The guy running the research had no scientific reason to explain this. He said he suspected that these riders must be highly attuned to surroundings coupled with a 6th sense. I believe him to be correct. More than once I found myself standing on my brakes without consciously being aware why initially. |
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Post by Darin on Apr 28, 2019 19:53:00 GMT -5
I would get a bike, but I have seen two many idiots on the road over the course of millions of miles....whip across lanes with no regard for others...them people wouldn't even render aid. Pretend you are invisible when riding, guys. More than a few drivers had to be taught some manners in my bike riding days. I'd go off my head when an imbecile nearly took me out. Those types are real tough guys until stopped with me banging on their window, An Aussie Uni study around the early 80's found that over 95% of motorbike riders who survived their first 3 years without a major accident, would not have a serious accident for the rest of their riding days.The guy running the research had no scientific reason to explain this. He said he suspected that these riders must be highly attuned to surroundings coupled with a 6th sense. I believe him to be correct. More than once I found myself standing on my brakes without consciously being aware why initially.
In that first few years, you've either crashed and quit or learned what to watch for and ridden appropriately.
I definitely agree that there is an "extra sense" at play when riding … Jedi skills!
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Post by Ronv69 on Apr 28, 2019 20:37:26 GMT -5
elric, yes, 90 mph cruise with the fairing, top speed was about 104. Stripped with me laying on the tank it made 114,eventually. A single front wheel trike feels a lot like a bike going straight. Steering is like a car instead of counterstearing. I have seen trikes leave 2 wheelers in their dust. More rubber on the road. You can shift your weight like you would with a sidecar. I am not saying that a trike would be able to keep up with a 999 ridden by someone who knows what they are doing, but I haven't been passed on any curves by a two wheeler that I didn't let by. Steering takes a lot more effort, but with a little rake and the new special trike tires it's not bad. I have taken a 25 mph curve at 78mph with my wife on the back, a full load in both trunks and the top rack, and pulling a trailer. Very stable at all speeds, dirt roads no problem. I have ridden it on flooded roads when everyone else has pulled off while standing on the pegs with the cruise control set at 30 mph. Most of the people in our Gold Wing chapter ride trikes and say they wish they had converted sooner. A few of them who really should convert are letting their pride get in the way. There are a lot of choices in trikes these days, but the Wing conversion is still the best overall, and the most expensive to buy new. Luckily, a used one with a hundred thousand miles is just broken in.
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