Topic: Let's see your non-SOHC4 on the road

[spotty]

Steve….. Thinking back, I also had an end break off a clutch cable too. The little barrel end dropped off at the hand lever. One of the guys I was with (riding an old Triumph)had some bicycle cable ends in his tool kit (a little barrel with a hole through it and a set screw in the end). We managed  to adjust the cable so I just got it to reach through the lever end and screw the barrel on the frayed end. Got me home and it must be in the bottom of my tool bag. Probably a handy thing to toss in!

+1 on that John !  Was the cable repair 'end' brass? Do you still have it ?
I think I'll look for one of those to carry in my toolkit.

ebay, about $15 for 30 of them

The ones he had were plain, plated steel. I think a good bicycle shop would have them?

[MauiK3]

Good you got home quickly, wouldn’t want that beauty to be out all alone.

[Stev-o]

Not on the road but broke down on the side of the road!



Had just fueled up on some good non-eth fuel, cruising around 30mph and went to give it the beans and no beans!!  Throttle cable broke so I just idled to a safe place to pull over.
Called a buddy, he was available and came with a trailer to rescue me within 30 min.

This is the third bike that I've experienced a broken cable. My CB550 broke one, I was able to easily adjust the idle adjustment and made it home, about a 20 min ride, no problem. I could not do it on the big Kaw, I was facing a slight incline and idling even in first gear would not have been possible to make the grade.

So, what is the life expectancy of cables?! New cables ordered...

Steve…. this has only happened to me once. I was close to home, so cranked the idle up to 25-2600 rpm  and actually had a pretty easy time of it. Afterwards I was thinking; would it be possible to swap in the “pull” cable and get home twisting backwards???

Hi John...good question, I dont think so.   But depending on what broke, could the push cable be swapped in place of the pull?

I have my new cables and plan to install tomorrow, I'm guessing the end of the cable on the pull came off as there is no resistance at all. [that is what happened last time on the H2]

Back on the road!



Was checking out this local disc golf course at the local park yesterday. Thinking about trying it, any of you guys "golf"?!

[scottly]

I did the disc golf thing for a while, about 20 years ago. I preferred real Frisbees to the golf discs, but I recall there was a copyright issue, so Frisbee golf turned into disc golf, with the smaller discs.

[jas67]

First ride with the new Ikon shocks!

[RAFster122s]

Jas, what's the verdict, easier on the back and more comfortable ride?

[jas67]

Jas, what's the verdict, easier on the back and more comfortable ride?

Yes,  most definitely a big improvement. 

That said,  I did have too little air in the air shocks and was able to get them more tolerable, but getting them firm enough to not bottom on the big dips made it so I felt most of the little bumps a lot more.

The Ikons are fantastic.   Out of the box in the least stiff settings, very compliant and comfortable, but not walllowy, and do not bottom out on the big bumps.   

[MauiK3]

That is a beautiful GL1000

[jas67]

That is a beautiful GL1000

Thank you.


I wanted to put the Ikons to a tougher test, so, i rode the GL1000 again today, this time on some roads that are a bit rough and bumpy in places.   I usually only ride my Ohlins-equipped bikes on these roads.
The road in the picture is one of the smoother sections of this loop.

I rode about 135 miles in total.  The Wing performed brilliantly, as did the Ikons.   This is now a bike that I'd have no trouble doing 300-400 mile days on. I just may get those racks so I can put my Hepco Becker cases on it.
I had a lot of fun today, riding it much more like a sport bike than most probably do these.   It really doesn't feel like a 600# bike when pushing it in the twisties.

[grcamna2]

That is a beautiful GL1000

Thank you.


I wanted to put the Ikons to a tougher test, so, i rode the GL1000 again today, this time on some roads that are a bit rough and bumpy in places.   I usually only ride my Ohlins-equipped bikes on these roads.
The road in the picture is one of the smoother sections of this loop.

I rode about 135 miles in total.  The Wing performed brilliantly, as did the Ikons.   This is now a bike that I'd have no trouble doing 300-400 mile days on. I just may get those racks so I can put my Hepco Becker cases on it.
I had a lot of fun today, riding it much more like a sport bike than most probably do these.   It really doesn't feel like a 600# bike when pushing it in the twisties.

Which model Ikon rear shocks do you have ?

[BenelliSEI]

That is a beautiful GL1000

Thank you.


I wanted to put the Ikons to a tougher test, so, i rode the GL1000 again today, this time on some roads that are a bit rough and bumpy in places.   I usually only ride my Ohlins-equipped bikes on these roads.
The road in the picture is one of the smoother sections of this loop.

I rode about 135 miles in total.  The Wing performed brilliantly, as did the Ikons.   This is now a bike that I'd have no trouble doing 300-400 mile days on. I just may get those racks so I can put my Hepco Becker cases on it.
I had a lot of fun today, riding it much more like a sport bike than most probably do these.   It really doesn't feel like a 600# bike when pushing it in the twisties.

Have you checked the front springs for free length? My buddy Gary used Progresive  front spring set (along with the full kit for the back) and his bike was transformed.

[jas67]

Which model Ikon rear shocks do you have ?

 7610-1296

[jas67]

Have you checked the front springs for free length? My buddy Gary used Progresive  front spring set (along with the full kit for the back) and his bike was transformed.

I have not.   I have no complaints about the front suspension on this bike.  It works surprisingly well for mid-1970's technology.  I wish I knew what weight oil is in the fork so that come time to change it, I can use the same.

[newday777]

Have you checked the front springs for free length? My buddy Gary used Progresive  front spring set (along with the full kit for the back) and his bike was transformed.

I have not.   I have no complaints about the front suspension on this bike.  It works surprisingly well for mid-1970's technology.  I wish I knew what weight oil is in the fork so that come time to change it, I can use the same.

I would highly recommend racetech straight wound springs as apposed to the progressive springs, and add in racetech gold valves for better handling.

[MauiK3]

What is the issue with progressive springs? For regular street riding they seem like a good idea.

[seanbarney41]

What is the issue with progressive springs? For regular street riding they seem like a good idea.

With the stock damping, they should be an ok improvement.  The stock forks suffer from 2 problems (well actually several more, but we are not gonna be concerned with those atm).  Spring rate is generally too low for most riders body rate and hydraulic damper design is primitive and lacks adjustability.  Progressive wound springs can solve the spring rate problem but actually further over stress the damping, as the spring rate is always changing depemding on how far the spring is compressed...so the damping that fails to perform at the spring rate supplied by the factory, cannot perform any better trying to control a constantly varying spring rate.  Race Tech cartridge emulators can greatly improve the damping but are designed to work with a straight spring weight (as are most high performance damping systems).

[grcamna2]

What is the issue with progressive springs? For regular street riding they seem like a good idea.

With the stock damping, they should be an ok improvement.  The stock forks suffer from 2 problems (well actually several more, but we are not gonna be concerned with those atm).  Spring rate is generally too low for most riders body rate and hydraulic damper design is primitive and lacks adjustability.  Progressive wound springs can solve the spring rate problem but actually further over stress the damping, as the spring rate is always changing depemding on how far the spring is compressed...so the damping that fails to perform at the spring rate supplied by the factory, cannot perform any better trying to control a constantly varying spring rate.  Race Tech cartridge emulators can greatly improve the damping but are designed to work with a straight spring weight (as are most high performance damping systems).

Yes 
I wonder if Race Tech offers 'spring swaps' to get it just right?  or do they make you purchase every spring until it's optimum ?

[newday777]

What is the issue with progressive springs? For regular street riding they seem like a good idea.

With the stock damping, they should be an ok improvement.  The stock forks suffer from 2 problems (well actually several more, but we are not gonna be concerned with those atm).  Spring rate is generally too low for most riders body rate and hydraulic damper design is primitive and lacks adjustability.  Progressive wound springs can solve the spring rate problem but actually further over stress the damping, as the spring rate is always changing depemding on how far the spring is compressed...so the damping that fails to perform at the spring rate supplied by the factory, cannot perform any better trying to control a constantly varying spring rate.  Race Tech cartridge emulators can greatly improve the damping but are designed to work with a straight spring weight (as are most high performance damping systems).

Yes 
I wonder if Race Tech offers 'spring swaps' to get it just right?  or do they make you purchase every spring until it's optimum ?

They offer the spring rate for your weight plus any passenger and gear you plan to carry.

[grcamna2]

What is the issue with progressive springs? For regular street riding they seem like a good idea.

With the stock damping, they should be an ok improvement.  The stock forks suffer from 2 problems (well actually several more, but we are not gonna be concerned with those atm).  Spring rate is generally too low for most riders body rate and hydraulic damper design is primitive and lacks adjustability.  Progressive wound springs can solve the spring rate problem but actually further over stress the damping, as the spring rate is always changing depemding on how far the spring is compressed...so the damping that fails to perform at the spring rate supplied by the factory, cannot perform any better trying to control a constantly varying spring rate.  Race Tech cartridge emulators can greatly improve the damping but are designed to work with a straight spring weight (as are most high performance damping systems).

Yes 
I wonder if Race Tech offers 'spring swaps' to get it just right?  or do they make you purchase every spring until it's optimum ?

They offer the spring rate for your weight plus any passenger and gear you plan to carry.

I remember working with them and they do some careful calculations;still,I may decide to swap-in a different set of fork springs..

[Kelly E]

I'm not a fan of the emulator process. It is too much money and it makes it much harder to change the settings. If you set it up for a passenger it will be wrong for solo riding. If someone else rides the bike it will be wrong for them and you can't adjust it without disassembly. If you sell the bike it will be wrong for the new owner and they can't go back to stock. They will have to buy new springs and disassemble the forks to retune the emulators or have to replace the drilled out pistons.

We've installed Progressive brand springs in several bikes with great results and it's only $100. I can ride plenty fast and hard with the Progressive springs without buying into all the hype about race parts. Most riders don't need to blow money on parts they really won't benefit from because they aren't riding at that level.

It's just like hotrods. Guys dump thousands of dollars into fancy parts just to brag about it. Then they total the car because it takes a long time to learn to really handle a high performance car. Driving/riding skills of the average person are just not up to performance levels that are so easy to buy now.

[grcamna2]

I'm not a fan of the emulator process. It is too much money and it makes it much harder to change the settings. If you set it up for a passenger it will be wrong for solo riding. If someone else rides the bike it will be wrong for them and you can't adjust it without disassembly. If you sell the bike it will be wrong for the new owner and they can't go back to stock. They will have to buy new springs and disassemble the forks to retune the emulators or have to replace the drilled out pistons.

We've installed Progressive brand springs in several bikes with great results and it's only $100. I can ride plenty fast and hard with the Progressive springs without buying into all the hype about race parts. Most riders don't need to blow money on parts they really won't benefit from because they aren't riding at that level.

It's just like hotrods. Guys dump thousands of dollars into fancy parts just to brag about it. Then they total the car because it takes a long time to learn to really handle a high performance car. Driving/riding skills of the average person are just not up to performance levels that are so easy to buy now.

I think new suspension components have really improved over Racetech offerings.
I also like the standard(cartridge)forks which come equipped with rebound and compression damping adjusters;I like installing aftermarket springs in them.

[seanbarney41]

I'm not a fan of the emulator process. It is too much money and it makes it much harder to change the settings. If you set it up for a passenger it will be wrong for solo riding. If someone else rides the bike it will be wrong for them and you can't adjust it without disassembly. If you sell the bike it will be wrong for the new owner and they can't go back to stock. They will have to buy new springs and disassemble the forks to retune the emulators or have to replace the drilled out pistons.

We've installed Progressive brand springs in several bikes with great results and it's only $100. I can ride plenty fast and hard with the Progressive springs without buying into all the hype about race parts. Most riders don't need to blow money on parts they really won't benefit from because they aren't riding at that level.

It's just like hotrods. Guys dump thousands of dollars into fancy parts just to brag about it. Then they total the car because it takes a long time to learn to really handle a high performance car. Driving/riding skills of the average person are just not up to performance levels that are so easy to buy now.

yeah, I here ya Kelly.  Motorcycle "handling" is really all about confidence anyway.  Folks that are fast are gonna be faster than you on anything.  But is it really that hard to pop a fork cap, pull the spring, fish out the emulator and make an adjustment?...certainly not somethng you want to do before every ride.  And I agree, most of the 1980's stuff you ride is good enough that emulators are probably not worth it.  But those 1970's damper rod forks...the damping can be so terrble!...Harsh and hard on the sharp edged bumps, soft and wallowy on the smooth undulations...this is exactly opposite of what you want, and a good RaceTech set up fixes 85 percent of that imo.  I have heard you complain about rear stuff that is wrong for your abnormally low body weight.  Its uncomfortable, rght?And it's hard to have confidence when you are getting bucked off the seat.  So why put up with it in the front when you don't have to?

[newday777]

I'm not a fan of the emulator process. It is too much money and it makes it much harder to change the settings. If you set it up for a passenger it will be wrong for solo riding. If someone else rides the bike it will be wrong for them and you can't adjust it without disassembly. If you sell the bike it will be wrong for the new owner and they can't go back to stock. They will have to buy new springs and disassemble the forks to retune the emulators or have to replace the drilled out pistons.

We've installed Progressive brand springs in several bikes with great results and it's only $100. I can ride plenty fast and hard with the Progressive springs without buying into all the hype about race parts. Most riders don't need to blow money on parts they really won't benefit from because they aren't riding at that level.

It's just like hotrods. Guys dump thousands of dollars into fancy parts just to brag about it. Then they total the car because it takes a long time to learn to really handle a high performance car. Driving/riding skills of the average person are just not up to performance levels that are so easy to buy now.

yeah, I here ya Kelly.  Motorcycle "handling" is really all about confidence anyway.  Folks that are fast are gonna be faster than you on anything.  But is it really that hard to pop a fork cap, pull the spring, fish out the emulator and make an adjustment?...certainly not somethng you want to do before every ride.  And I agree, most of the 1980's stuff you ride is good enough that emulators are probably not worth it.  But those 1970's damper rod forks...the damping can be so terrble!...Harsh and hard on the sharp edged bumps, soft and wallowy on the smooth undulations...this is exactly opposite of what you want, and a good RaceTech set up fixes 85 percent of that imo.  I have heard you complain about rear stuff that is wrong for your abnormally low body weight.  Its uncomfortable, rght?And it's hard to have confidence when you are getting bucked off the seat.  So why put up with it in the front when you don't have to?

If full top adjustable cartridges like Traxxion offers were available for the 750 I'd probably get them.
I have the Traxxion AK20 on my goldwing and know the difference. I started with the Racetech emulators and springs before spending the extra on the cartridges. A huge difference between the two. I've also tried the progressive springs and hated the harshness of the ride on the wings early on in my different wings.....I  was trained by a goldwing suspension specialist a few years ago as well as rode and worked with racers and race bike builders back in the 70s. I know the difference in handling and feedback the bikes give.

[DME]

Out and about on the TR1

[grcamna2]

Out and about on the TR1

Ah,ok,  , The XV1000 project has now been completed ?