Where did you ride today?

[GSXKING]

I'd say it depends on the machine really.
When I'm braking, (which isn't often) I'm 95% front, very seldom do I give the rear something to do, can't really think of a situation I'd be on the rears, unless I was coming into a corner a bit too hot and needed to settle her a bit.  The main reason I hardly brake is because the engine braking on this bike is staggering, you only need to roll off the throttle and you'll drop 20kph in no time at all. I mostly plan my cornering speeds with the throttle, if I'm braking as well coming in to a corner, I'm pressing on a bit.

Can of worms stuff Col every one does stuff differently regarding braking etc. GSX has good engine braking also.

[Tony Nitrous]

Forecast here is a low of 6 to a high of 16 or 17 this week.

Might get an extra ride in Weds or Thurs depending on how I feel, and how many jobs I can put off.

Need a new tyre on the DRZ at some point.

No proper bike tyre shops around here.
Dealer will do it in a couple of days if I drop the wheel in, much longer wait to take the bike in.  I never used to give fitting them a second thought, done heaps. Not so keen any more.

 

[Tony Nitrous]

I'd say it depends on the machine really.
When I'm braking, (which isn't often) I'm 95% front, very seldom do I give the rear something to do, can't really think of a situation I'd be on the rears, unless I was coming into a corner a bit too hot and needed to settle her a bit.  The main reason I hardly brake is because the engine braking on this bike is staggering, you only need to roll off the throttle and you'll drop 20kph in no time at all. I mostly plan my cornering speeds with the throttle, if I'm braking as well coming in to a corner, I'm pressing on a bit.

Busa has 4 settings for engine braking, 1, 2 and 3 are various levels and there's a 4th "OFF" which returns it to what an older bike would have, what I consider normal.



I think modes A, B and C all default to OFF, it'll save any of the 4 settings in the 3 custom modes but I have it set to OFF in them too.  Never found a situation where I wanted less engine braking, I grew up with no BTL or slipper clutch on older bikes and now sticky tyres and dry roads locking up the rear isn't an issue. Even my old faded brain knows not to bang it down too many gears.

Old pic but factory A mode.
Full power,
Traction control on 1,
Anti wheelie on 1,
Engine braking OFF,
Quick shifter on 1.
Hill Hold OFF.
Shift light ON.

I don't think I've adjusted any of these in many months.
Set and forget.

[Mr Gee]

Damn, they're getting far, too complicated. 

It used to be ignition light, oil light, high beam light, an indicator light and maybe, a neutral. 

[Dwain Dibley]

That is why I ride old bikes.
I'm not a technophobe, but all that electronic bullshit doesn't float my boat,
I'm going to the shops...not round Snetterton. 

D.D.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

I had a ride on Vulcan 650S, Triumph 1200 Speedmaster, Royal Enfield Super Meteor.All about looking at/trying forward controls. Liked them all, brakes wanting on Kawa & RE. Got back on 14 for home, 20 yrs older,much friendlier bike.

How was the Trumpy?  I do like the Rocket 3 and the Thunderbird, maybe when I get to your wizened ages.

[Tony Nitrous]

Damn, they're getting far, too complicated. 

It used to be ignition light, oil light, high beam light, an indicator light and maybe, a neutral. 

It still is. That's just stuff that's there when you want it.
My other Busa has none of it, I ride them both the same.

Think of it more like your car, TV or phone. They have hundreds of things you can set, adjust, use or ignore, more than my bike has. They are there if you want them.
Folk don't hate their cars because the radio has treble and base, the seat has adjustment, the air vents have various setting and angles, the head rests go up and down. They are just things you set and forget.

[Tony Nitrous]

That is why I ride old bikes.
I'm not a technophobe, but all that electronic bullshit doesn't float my boat,
I'm going to the shops...not round Snetterton. 

D.D.

Funny thing is, it's works fine on the road, at a track day or at the drags most folk turn it all off.
On the road it's reactive not proactive.
If you aren't doing anything dumb most of it sits there waiting like insurance.

A lot of folk do seem to have quite a negative view of modern bikes, it's very common. I find that the majority have often have limited experience with the things they negative about and haven't put in the miles or time to get familiar with them.

[Tony Nitrous]

Only 211K's / 131 miles this morning.  Temps were similar to yesterday but it just felt nicer. Bike hasn't had a good clean in a while, starting to look pretty second hand.

[grog]

Pretty much set and forget is correct Tony. I usually play around with them now and then, tv, computer etc etc. Diavel had lots of settings, I tried a few, after that just rode it.Even our 14 have multiple suspension settings, never touched mine last 10 years.  Speedmaster, way over priced Eric, accessories also. Rode nicely, too quiet, hated dash, jarry/harsh arse end. Reviews mostly say rear shock very rigid. So for $24500 bike, $1000 shockie, $800 to de cat.Lots for sale used, low ks with those mods done, pretty poor resale so the way to go I'm thinking.Not sure the reason so many for sale 2nd hand, that always worries me🤷🏼

[Tony Nitrous]

Pretty much set and forget is correct Tony. I usually play around with them now and then, tv, computer etc etc. Diavel had lots of settings, I tried a few, after that just rode it.Even our 14 have multiple suspension settings, never touched mine last 10 years.  Speedmaster, way over priced Eric, accessories also. Rode nicely, too quiet, hated dash, jarry/harsh arse end. Reviews mostly say rear shock very rigid. So for $24500 bike, $1000 shockie, $800 to de cat.Lots for sale used, low ks with those mods done, pretty poor resale so the way to go I'm thinking.Not sure the reason so many for sale 2nd hand, that always worries me🤷🏼

Have you looked at the Honda CMX ?

I don't know much about them other than they do a 500 and 1100. They always looked a bit of an inbetween bike. Not like a sporty naked, but not like a cruiser. Pretty sure the engines are proven and used in other models and they don't look like they have an awful riding position.

[KiwiCol]

Took mine for a 4&3/4 hour run today. Got chilled in the first half hour, thought it'd warm up, but it didn't.  Been home 5 hours now and I'm still cold with the heatpump on and a bush shirt.  Feet are the worst bit.  The bike went great, but the rider was so cold and seized up by the end of the ride he was damn near a danger to himself on the road!  Suppose I should of stopped and had a coffee and something to eat, but just wanted to get back home in the end, so just had 1 fuel stop all day.
The bike started full and I filled it in Greymouth and again when I got back home. She averaged 6.07 L/100k for the run, (that's 46.5mpg in old money) For some reason the homeward trip used less per K the outbound run. (6.85L/100 vs 5.29L/100) Maybe I slowed down because I was so cold, is probably why. 5.29 is 53.5mpg.  Guess it'll be wash time tomorrow.

[Hooli]

I miss nice riding weather, it's 31-32c here for the next few days. Too damn hot for me.

[Tony Nitrous]

Took mine for a 4&3/4 hour run today. Got chilled in the first half hour, thought it'd warm up, but it didn't.  Been home 5 hours now and I'm still cold with the heatpump on and a bush shirt.  Feet are the worst bit.  The bike went great, but the rider was so cold and seized up by the end of the ride he was damn near a danger to himself on the road!  Suppose I should of stopped and had a coffee and something to eat, but just wanted to get back home in the end, so just had 1 fuel stop all day.
The bike started full and I filled it in Greymouth and again when I got back home. She averaged 6.07 L/100k for the run, (that's 46.5mpg in old money) For some reason the homeward trip used less per K the outbound run. (6.85L/100 vs 5.29L/100) Maybe I slowed down because I was so cold, is probably why. 5.29 is 53.5mpg.  Guess it'll be wash time tomorrow.

Last couple of rides haven't been very sporty.
I still take off from the lights and still use a lower gear for the twistys, lots of 100kph country roads, just mostly grunt in higher gears. Pretty lazy rides.

Both days showed over 20K's / ltr.
Fueling up the 20 ltr tank showed a 405K range.

I don't buy bikes to save on fuel, but a good range is nice.
A high 300 to 400k tank range pleases me.
GSX14 was up there, B-King isn't !

[MickyJB]

My last ride was last Thursday and 90% of the way to where I was going I had to stop on at a T junction on a hill, 1st I've stalled the ZZR and over I went. We don't bounce certainly I don't ...Adrenalin got me going again but the ride home was excruciating ! And the next 3 days the stabs of knife sticking pain was only bearable after tossing a few opioids and diazepam down my throat. Tried sleeping laying down but to painful so the next 3 nights it was the recliner lounge chair. The good news is the bike only copped some minor scratches on the lower section of the fairing and I've already got it looking good from 6' away, when some new decals arrive I'll do the job properly.

Be careful out there, we do not bounce 🤣