Author Topic: My project thus far. "Elsa" (Read 83761 times)

754 · « **Reply #725 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:20:06 PM »

Thats what I enjoy about public forums, we get to state our opinions.

My post , is not meant to extoll any health benefits, of riding a machene so equipped...
as much as it is meant to actually point out that a bike like that is not as unrideable as some make it out to be..

In fact there are a few rigid riders, that can ride milege that would put a lot of "so-called touringbikeriders" to shame..

....FWIW...

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #726 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:27:05 PM »

Its not the mileage thats the worry its the handling, if i road rigids i would last less than a day, no rear suspension is a killer, no rebound damping and the effect it would have on braking and cornering completely justifies suspension as far as i am concerned.

Mick

754 · « **Reply #727 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:34:33 PM »

Well its not like the wheel will bounce off the road as some may think.. It is possible I suppose, but to do that would probably bottom out some suspension as well.
If you never try it, its hard to explain what it feels like around town.. its just a different feel and ride..

People enjoyed bikes 60 yrs ago, and loved it, and most had no rear shocks..

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #728 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:51:29 PM »

Quote

People enjoyed bikes 60 yrs ago, and loved it, and most had no rear shocks..

Agreed but they went no where near as fast and frame technology meant that they weren,t lent over anywhere near as far as more modern bikes. It doesn't need a very big bump to unsettle a rigid in a corner because the bump is transferred to the frame instead of the suspension, some people use less tire pressure to compensate, and don't get me wrong, that may well be ok for cruising but that also makes reasonable cornering dangerous. No way would i ride a rigid like a bike with half decent suspension.

Mick

754 · « **Reply #729 on:** July 23, 2009, 06:04:55 PM »

How You would ride a rigid, does not much matter if you dont.

In 07 I rode 950 miles with a buddy with 78K 750, for the most part, I had no trouble staying with him in the corners at highway speeds. There may have been 1 or 2 bumps I did have to slow for.
I dont think his handles particularily well BTW.

There is a difference riding my bike that I can push one handed and steer around in roadready condition, and a stocker. There is a huge difference in the centre of gravity between the 2. I can let go of the bars from 50mph to 15, and have no trouble keeping it straight.

Its just a different ride in a lot of ways..

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #730 on:** July 23, 2009, 07:32:25 PM »

Quote

Its just a different ride in a lot of ways..

Absolutely....

Mick

Industrial Cafe · « **Reply #731 on:** July 23, 2009, 07:35:50 PM »

my wheels come off the road all the time. but that's cause the roads out here have little cliffs here and there. its fun.

sounds like twotired has a bad back -like my wife who had a simple fall on some rollerblades and bumped her butt when she was 17. AWESOME!

I on the other hand have had all my pain sensing nerves surgically removed and my bones replaced with carbon fiber
I regularly jump, straight leg, off 2 story buildings with no repercussions..

Spikeybike · « **Reply #732 on:** July 23, 2009, 08:25:41 PM »

didn't i read that in a comic ......

now witch one was it ?

my78k · « **Reply #733 on:** July 23, 2009, 08:47:29 PM »

LMAO!! I love this board! As a total outsider looking in (as in I havent read all 49 pages) this toally reminds me of all the stories my dad used to share with me about stuff he did to his cars in the 60's. His dad couldn't understand why he wanted to do 90% of the stuff he did....flash forward 30 years and I had to listen to my dad #$%* at my brother and I for modding stuff that he thought was unnecessary.

Quick someone start singing "Circle of Life" from the Lion King please?!?!?

Inkscars · « **Reply #734 on:** July 23, 2009, 08:50:02 PM »

Hmm. Why does this always happen in here?
Its honestly not bad at all to ride, but as I've never ridden a bike with shocks (minus dirt bikes and maybe a ride around a block) I don't know the difference.
I can tell you that my back does not get stiff or hurt after a longer ride, but, that could be because I ride it 6 hours at a time.
I totally understand that it could cause damage, but I mean, I have a car to be comfortable in, my bikes for play!
Im not against the shocks, I mean, by god, those struts are ugly.
754, can you not do the no handies with shocks on?
Mine straight as an arrow. I hadn't even thought about shocks changing that...

Industrial Cafe · « **Reply #735 on:** July 23, 2009, 09:00:23 PM »

I'm not 754, but I can go straight and sometimes turn with no hands

my78k · « **Reply #736 on:** July 23, 2009, 09:03:12 PM »

I can stand on the pegs with no hands at hwy speeds...but I gotta do that I ride a CBR and need to stretch every so often! You want to try uncomfortable? Pull a 6 hour ride on that!

754 · « **Reply #737 on:** July 23, 2009, 09:19:15 PM »

Naw, what I said was I can go from 50 to about 15 (or less) without touching the bars, even around some corners. .. sorta down near walking speed, had no speedo..

Its not shocks or not, its center of gravity..like I said, I can push & sgtteer it in a parking lot one handed, grabbing the middle of the handlebars..try it..

Some towns (using struts) its no problem.. we got a few spots here, one on main street, that are just horrid, almost break your teeth..

TwoTired · « **Reply #738 on:** July 23, 2009, 10:31:50 PM »

Quote from: Industrial Cafe on July 23, 2009, 07:35:50 PM

sounds like twotired has a bad back -like my wife who had a simple fall on some rollerblades and bumped her butt when she was 17. AWESOME!

Yes, I do have a bad back...now. But you missed the point, I think. I had no specific trauma incident to point to as root cause. Just the cumulative abuse of 60 years of back compression punishment with various activities. It didn't happen on any one day, or ride or activity. But, those things I did years ago all contributed to my current predicament. And, waking up mid sleep with what felt like a knife sticking in my leg was the first symptom.

I know its unlikely anyone will heed these warnings, as bad things alway happen to someone else. But, just thinking about roadway un-eveness transmitted directly to my back, makes my left foot tingle. It's an experience I don't wish on anyone, really. And, its hard for me to hear people recommend such abuse to other people.

Actually, I'm not sure I'd have listened to anyone warning >me< back in the older days, either.

Oh well. No one has to listen. Some lessons must be learned the hard way.

Industrial Cafe · « **Reply #739 on:** July 23, 2009, 10:38:12 PM »

you need a hug man.

TwoTired · « **Reply #740 on:** July 23, 2009, 10:48:34 PM »

Quote from: Industrial Cafe on July 23, 2009, 10:38:12 PM

you need a hug man.

I'm thinking I just need to go away and stop bothering people on this forum.

Industrial Cafe · « **Reply #741 on:** July 23, 2009, 10:56:52 PM »

don't say that, we love you here!

Spikeybike · « **Reply #742 on:** July 24, 2009, 05:23:57 AM »

TT if you go away ......... we will hunt you down in the middle of the night... crawl into your room while you sleep .... tie you up and make you watch us rebuild carbs the wrong way

coldright · « **Reply #743 on:** July 24, 2009, 08:34:00 PM »

Quote from: TwoTired on July 23, 2009, 10:48:34 PM

Quote from: Industrial Cafe on July 23, 2009, 10:38:12 PM
you need a hug man.

I'm thinking I just need to go away and stop bothering people on this forum.

TT... don't even think it. You are much appreciated and I've been busy this week taking care of people who have abused their bodies and paid for it later in life... otherwise I would have chimed in and given you my support. Take care of your body, it's the only one you've got and yer gonna have to live with it for the rest of your life. Can't tell you how it sucks to see people hurting due to things that could have been avoided.

Inkscars · « **Reply #744 on:** July 25, 2009, 09:37:42 AM »

Don't make me roll my eyes. There's no debating in my thread. No support needs to be given.
Just in case nobody bothered to read my thread, I didn't want to use my struts. So, it doesn't need to be talked about. I lowered my front end to accomodate the struts, so If i put the shocks back on, I have to raise them both back up. I am not capable of this on my own.
So, let's just simmer down on the "take care of your body " business.
I understand.
It doesn't need to be talked about anymore.
Ultimately you don't critisize a smoker for smoking, over and over and over and over, so this shouldn't be treated any differently.
All I'm getting from you guys telling me this over and over and over is "hey, you're too broke to pay for real shorty shocks, ha ha ha, in your face you piece of #$%*."
Thanks guys. I really appreciate it.

mystic_1 · « **Reply #745 on:** July 25, 2009, 09:52:25 AM »

I thought that Havoc cut down a set of shocks for you, what happened with that?

mystic_1

Inkscars · « **Reply #746 on:** July 25, 2009, 09:53:23 AM »

They're loose.

He told me himself he didn't know how much good theyd be.
COnsidering I got them in flaky condition, he tried his best. And I truly appreciate the effort, but if they compress and then decompress and throw me off the bike, I'm gonna feel pretty dumb. and hurt.

mystic_1 · « **Reply #747 on:** July 25, 2009, 09:53:55 AM »

Springs too short?

mystic_1

Inkscars · « **Reply #748 on:** July 25, 2009, 09:55:20 AM »

I couldn't tell ya. I don;t know much about how they work with the guts and springs and all that business.

Oh, and TT, you know I appreciate anything that you add to a conversation. If I can trust you with my carbs, I'm certain I can believe you about life experience as well.
Mannys right, We'll spam you with 1000s of you tube videos of us installing inline filters and pods.

754 · « **Reply #749 on:** July 25, 2009, 10:23:24 AM »

You can, raise your foks your self..... I think.

Get a bunch of wood blocks and 3/4 in plywood shims.or 1/2 in.
Blocks have to be big enought & flat enough to not wobble

Bike is on stand (I assume no C-stand),on thert sde by tour ftont motor mount under the points, put a pile of block till it just touches the frame.. tight

Now go to the kickstand and place a 2x4 beside it..
Now it gets a bit tricky, you grab the lft bat and the main footpeg or the frame right behind the shock mounts.

Then GGGRRRUUUUUUUNNNTTT & LLLIIIFFTTT..

Swearing helps, now kick in the 2x4 under the sidestand.

Now the front end should be coming off the ground, to get it higher just ad 1/2 inch shims(or whatever you can handle/lift) under each side.

Betcha can do it.

A lot of us have out fave blocks.. one on the right, grunt it up, kick the other(correct size) under the left side, & work on chain ,wheel, brake, etc..

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Author Topic: My project thus far. "Elsa" (Read 83761 times)