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Post by davidji on Nov 2, 2016 12:16:08 GMT -5
Planning to take my bike with lighter clutch pull (R1200R) out for a short ride in a few days.
You have, what I assume you're saying, a BMW and you're asking about a Freeway commuter? The lightest, toughest bike in its class. I think you're already equipped for a long daily ride. Haven't been able to ride it or my FZ1 recently, though I think I'll try soon with the BMW. I looked into a lighter pull clutch lever for the R (Clake One Light), and an EFM Autoclutch for the Yamaha, but didn't go with either. I would have done the lever but I needed a commuting solution before it would be ready. |
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Post by davidji on Nov 1, 2016 19:48:29 GMT -5
Glad you can still ride Rockynv! I'd ask if you can operate a heel/toe rocker shifter, but those only seem to come on heavy bikes. The CTX wouldn't be a good choice for me. If I buy a new or nearly new motorcycle I'd be selling one I already have, and it doesn't have the range for me to commute on it long term. Short term isn't a big deal. My issue is temporary. Today is the first day in a few weeks I can straighten my arm without forcing it, so things are going in the right direction. Planning to take my bike with lighter clutch pull (R1200R) out for a short ride in a few days. And hopefully by Saturday I'll know whether or not I'll need to buy something to have a bike I can commute on next week. Right now if I buy, the options seem to be the used 'beo 500, a new NC700X DCT, and used or new Africa Twin DCT. I wanted the AT before all this, but if I can I'd wait until next year for them to bring the red white & blue model to the US. Not fond of the gray that's available, the red is OK if I could find one. But I really like this:  borrowed from www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/honda-crf1000l-africa-twin-specs/ |
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Post by davidji on Oct 30, 2016 13:37:13 GMT -5
At commute time traffic will vary from stop and go to maybe indicated 80MPH.
Interesting point about the tire pressures.
I'm always impressed when people can go 100MPH on a 250, as the last 650 twin I commuted on wouldn't go faster. Well maybe with enough patience and road, or a good tuck.
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Post by davidji on Oct 29, 2016 15:19:31 GMT -5
Since I was thinking of bigger scooters I didn't think that would apply. I rode a demo BV350 this morning and it applied more than I would have liked. It was fun to ride around, but it didn't feel like it was meant for freeway cruising. Rain grooves and wind affected it more than I would have liked. Some of it is probably things I'd get used to. But there were things I might not. Not sure there's any point demoing the Scarabeo 500GT now. Not sure how much more stable it would be at freeway speeds. |
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Post by davidji on Oct 29, 2016 0:53:42 GMT -5
Thanks.
There's an older 'beo 500 on craigslist which is how I learned about it. None of the newer ones. There are a couple of BV350s nearby.
The CTX700 doesn't have the fuel capacity or range of the other DCT bikes. They seem to have a glut of them. Leave it to Honda to bring in too many of the lesser (for my needs anyway) bikes, and too few of the better ones. I think a cruiser could work for me with a back rest. Otherwise I like a slight forward lean. Enough so my back doesn't hurt, and not so much my neck hurts.
I've seen a few reviews from cagerontwowheels--including for the NC750X which if Honda had brought to the US, I probably would have bought in the past--but I haven't seen this one. I'll look.
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Post by davidji on Oct 28, 2016 20:40:08 GMT -5
Interesting thanks.
Hadn't considered maintenance issues.
The scooters that were on my radar were the BV350, the Scarabeo 500GT, and the Tmax 500. Wasn't thinking of a maxiscooter like a Burgman 650 or Silverwing. Maybe a Tmax is getting close in size?
Might go ride a demo BV in the morning.
I had considered a DCT bike, and haven't really ruled it out. There are few suitable ones new or used around here. The closest dealer has nothing suitable. Haven't been to other dealers, but there are some NC700X DCT and Africa Twin DCT bikes around.
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Post by davidji on Oct 28, 2016 0:50:09 GMT -5
Do you do a long freeway commute on a scooter? Curious your thoughts. Also the fuel tank range of your scooter over your freeway commute. Do you operate heated gear in the Winter?
Thinking about switching to a scooter for my 100+ mile round trip freeway commute. I've done about 100k miles of this commute on motorcycles over the last several years. An issue with my arm has me unable to operate my clutch (left) lever at the moment, but I can operate the left brake lever on my mountain bike, and I'm expecting I could operate that brake lever on a scooter.
There are a few scooters on my radar right now--I've been mostly thinking about used ones.
I'm in California and I do see scooters out on the freeway at commute time.
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