Got a New Bike
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 53
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RE: Got a New Bike
Since I am still breaking in the new tires. Probably being a bit extra careful because of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9zNUPDmnz4&NR=1 that little vid.
As much as I would like to take a nice slide and feel the burning hot asphault rip at my leather as I skim across the road, I figured I wouldn't ride to hard.
Yesterday evening, I left my F3 in the dealer's parking lot to give my new bike its first ride. After about 30 minutes of riding around the parking lot making sure I knew how each control felt. I took to the streets. Took it nice and easy on the way back to my place. Still felt great, the cool Santa Barbara wind blowing through my perforated jacket, the warm evening sun, setting in the distance. The ash snowing from the smoke clouds above clogging up my intake.... Wait, how is that nice. There is a brush fire somewhere near Santa Barbara, causing the most brilliant sunsets, but there is ASH EVERYWHERE! And it seems to be very attracted to the small openings in my full face Arai Profile helmet. Everynow and then I get a nice peice of ash to the eye. Anyways, I go home, without going more than 5mph over the speed limit... I get the bike home, put it in its parking spot and let it cool for a bit. 45 minutes later, I just can't stand it any longer, I have to leave my computer and go look at my motorcycle...Plus now that the bike is coolish, I want to get all that ash off. I pull out both of my bikes and get out what used to be called HondaPolish and started on the Suzuki. I cleaned every visible part of that motorcycle. Left my yellow cloth a nice darker shade of yellow. Next up, the honda. I also went to town on the honda, and while I do wipe down my F3 at least once a week, i typically only give it a full cleaning once or twice a month. But this time around, I went hardcore... I cleaned everything from the rims, to the muffler, to the instrument panel... everything. Gave it a nice lubrication as well. That cloth was almost black by the time i was done with the honda. I then setup my camera and took those pictures you see. Moved them back to their parking spots and covered them with my dowco's
Now here is the real answer to your question. This morning I took the bike for an 75 mile break in ride up on the curvy mountain roads. Meant to be 50 miles but... Well, you know I just couldn't stop. I pulled the bike out and started her up, letting it idle for a few minutes. Could almost smell the new bike smell. The sun had just come up most of the ash had already blown through, though there was still a bit hanging around. I pulled out and headed for the mountain road, I ride at least twice a week. The ride was very smooth compared to my F3... at least over normal road that is in good condition. I hit one of the bumps I typically hit on my F3 and ended up getting racked. Which has never happened on my Honda. Could just be because the riding position is a little different. I took to the mountains, hitting the curves at a regular pace, being sure not to lean to far. The turns feel great and I get the feeling it is slightly more manuverable than my f3. As the ride progresses, I start taking curves a little quicker, leaning a little further... still nothing to aggressive. With the passing lane approaching I make the decision to past these slow poke trucks. I move into the left lane, keep a steady speed to be sure none of these other multitasking drivers decide to pull out. I lightly roll on the throttle and pull past these guys.. As I get to the end of the passing lane I look down at my speedometer, and what do you know... I am doing 108mph. I quickly bring it back down to a more suitable speed. I have been past 100 on my honda, but it was quite obvious that I was going very fast. On the suzuki it was so smooth even at that speed that I honestly did not realize how fast I was going. Anyways I get to my normal turn around point... and take the same road back to my area again getting more and more aggressive on the cur
As much as I would like to take a nice slide and feel the burning hot asphault rip at my leather as I skim across the road, I figured I wouldn't ride to hard.
Yesterday evening, I left my F3 in the dealer's parking lot to give my new bike its first ride. After about 30 minutes of riding around the parking lot making sure I knew how each control felt. I took to the streets. Took it nice and easy on the way back to my place. Still felt great, the cool Santa Barbara wind blowing through my perforated jacket, the warm evening sun, setting in the distance. The ash snowing from the smoke clouds above clogging up my intake.... Wait, how is that nice. There is a brush fire somewhere near Santa Barbara, causing the most brilliant sunsets, but there is ASH EVERYWHERE! And it seems to be very attracted to the small openings in my full face Arai Profile helmet. Everynow and then I get a nice peice of ash to the eye. Anyways, I go home, without going more than 5mph over the speed limit... I get the bike home, put it in its parking spot and let it cool for a bit. 45 minutes later, I just can't stand it any longer, I have to leave my computer and go look at my motorcycle...Plus now that the bike is coolish, I want to get all that ash off. I pull out both of my bikes and get out what used to be called HondaPolish and started on the Suzuki. I cleaned every visible part of that motorcycle. Left my yellow cloth a nice darker shade of yellow. Next up, the honda. I also went to town on the honda, and while I do wipe down my F3 at least once a week, i typically only give it a full cleaning once or twice a month. But this time around, I went hardcore... I cleaned everything from the rims, to the muffler, to the instrument panel... everything. Gave it a nice lubrication as well. That cloth was almost black by the time i was done with the honda. I then setup my camera and took those pictures you see. Moved them back to their parking spots and covered them with my dowco's
Now here is the real answer to your question. This morning I took the bike for an 75 mile break in ride up on the curvy mountain roads. Meant to be 50 miles but... Well, you know I just couldn't stop. I pulled the bike out and started her up, letting it idle for a few minutes. Could almost smell the new bike smell. The sun had just come up most of the ash had already blown through, though there was still a bit hanging around. I pulled out and headed for the mountain road, I ride at least twice a week. The ride was very smooth compared to my F3... at least over normal road that is in good condition. I hit one of the bumps I typically hit on my F3 and ended up getting racked. Which has never happened on my Honda. Could just be because the riding position is a little different. I took to the mountains, hitting the curves at a regular pace, being sure not to lean to far. The turns feel great and I get the feeling it is slightly more manuverable than my f3. As the ride progresses, I start taking curves a little quicker, leaning a little further... still nothing to aggressive. With the passing lane approaching I make the decision to past these slow poke trucks. I move into the left lane, keep a steady speed to be sure none of these other multitasking drivers decide to pull out. I lightly roll on the throttle and pull past these guys.. As I get to the end of the passing lane I look down at my speedometer, and what do you know... I am doing 108mph. I quickly bring it back down to a more suitable speed. I have been past 100 on my honda, but it was quite obvious that I was going very fast. On the suzuki it was so smooth even at that speed that I honestly did not realize how fast I was going. Anyways I get to my normal turn around point... and take the same road back to my area again getting more and more aggressive on the cur
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Got a New Bike
Too much riding in this ash and you'll have to clean that filter sooner than you have to. To answer your question... I think the new bike is much lighter than the f3, but I also think you haven't found the right suspension set up yet. Anyway, Nice looking bike!
