Wow that bike sure is stunning :y115: :y18:
She's mine at last
- Thread starter dazco
- Start date
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Ok, first impressions after my 1st or probably 3 or 4 small rides today. And dilligaf, where is Lassen? No. Cal? Ok, anyways here goes...
When you first ride this bike, reserve your judgment till you have some time on it. very little is necessary, but you do have to get used to the feel before you really start to "get it". the 3 most noticeable things that hit me right away are 1)- the low end is just amazing. barely touching the throttle as you go thru the gears brings acceleration at a rate thats more like winding my modded speedmaster out ! Once broken in i'll find out what winding it out is like, but i can already tell it will be nuts. 2)-i don't think it's theoretically possible to build a cruiser that handles better than this. In fact, had i not ridden it i would have said it's theoretically impossible to build a cruiser that handles this good. One very tight turn that i always slowed way down for on my speedy and felt a bit scary at anything but super slow....i took that thing on the bird faster and it felt like i could have read a book while doing it ! i mean, this bike flat out HANDLES !!! It outhandles my speedy with ease. This preliminary yes, but thats the impression i get. 3)- and this one is for you Carl....worried about cruiser ergos? Fuggedaboudit ! The bike is so comfortable your biggest worry will be not falling asleep! It doesn't really feel very foot forward. all i can describe it as is ergonomically perfect. Of course i'm 5'9" and carl looks to be more like about 6'2", so i suppose that could be bad, i dunno. But i believe this bike will eat up the miles with supreme comfort. The seat is hard and I thought that might be a problem. Now it feels like it will actually be an asset.
So those are the 3 things that hit me immediately. The only thing i would say isn't perfection is it IS heavy, and while it feels very light while riding, if you are say backing it up on anything less than level ground you have to be careful. it is a handful when maneuvering it around like that. other than that i could just review it with one word....perfection. No, i suppose it's really not, as nothing is. But darned if i can tell ! Also, the power for rollons at freeway speeds could be a little better. But i know with break in and synth oil it will be much better. Plus we have triumph BB kit, pipes, and filter available so we can easily bring the power up for a bit to one heck of a lot. I would wager that with the BB it will probably be very close to the R3 in acceleration. The R3 still have more power, but don't forget it's a shaft and probably throws 10 or 15 HP away on that thing, while belt is i imagine more efficient than a chain. I'm sure the R3 will still pull the tbird, but with the street legal BB kit i'm sure it will be a close call. I rode an R3, and while it pulled like crazy, the Tbird does too and i've only given it a bit of throttle. I feel as tho if i twisted it WOT thru the gears it would be fairly close right now. So the BB will be insane.
As for touring....those who want it for that, don't even hesitate. Check this out....at 75 MPH the tach was at 3k. If i twisted the throttle till the tach was at a mere 500 RPMs more, or 3.5k, i'm now doing 90 MPH !! I kid you not. 6th is supposed to be like an overdive, and it sure the **** is. i read somewhere it tops at 120. That is utter BS ! the bike redlines at 6.5k and is doing 90 MPH at 3.5k ....do the math ! At 90 the engine feels like it's not much over idle :y24: It's crazy.
On the ride home i wasn't too sure about the freeway roll-ons like i said. Now i feel it's better than i though but could be better and i'm sure will with time and maybe pipes and filter. anyways, i'm out for ride #2....more pics and impressions to follow. But trust me...this bike is all they say if not more.
When you first ride this bike, reserve your judgment till you have some time on it. very little is necessary, but you do have to get used to the feel before you really start to "get it". the 3 most noticeable things that hit me right away are 1)- the low end is just amazing. barely touching the throttle as you go thru the gears brings acceleration at a rate thats more like winding my modded speedmaster out ! Once broken in i'll find out what winding it out is like, but i can already tell it will be nuts. 2)-i don't think it's theoretically possible to build a cruiser that handles better than this. In fact, had i not ridden it i would have said it's theoretically impossible to build a cruiser that handles this good. One very tight turn that i always slowed way down for on my speedy and felt a bit scary at anything but super slow....i took that thing on the bird faster and it felt like i could have read a book while doing it ! i mean, this bike flat out HANDLES !!! It outhandles my speedy with ease. This preliminary yes, but thats the impression i get. 3)- and this one is for you Carl....worried about cruiser ergos? Fuggedaboudit ! The bike is so comfortable your biggest worry will be not falling asleep! It doesn't really feel very foot forward. all i can describe it as is ergonomically perfect. Of course i'm 5'9" and carl looks to be more like about 6'2", so i suppose that could be bad, i dunno. But i believe this bike will eat up the miles with supreme comfort. The seat is hard and I thought that might be a problem. Now it feels like it will actually be an asset.
So those are the 3 things that hit me immediately. The only thing i would say isn't perfection is it IS heavy, and while it feels very light while riding, if you are say backing it up on anything less than level ground you have to be careful. it is a handful when maneuvering it around like that. other than that i could just review it with one word....perfection. No, i suppose it's really not, as nothing is. But darned if i can tell ! Also, the power for rollons at freeway speeds could be a little better. But i know with break in and synth oil it will be much better. Plus we have triumph BB kit, pipes, and filter available so we can easily bring the power up for a bit to one heck of a lot. I would wager that with the BB it will probably be very close to the R3 in acceleration. The R3 still have more power, but don't forget it's a shaft and probably throws 10 or 15 HP away on that thing, while belt is i imagine more efficient than a chain. I'm sure the R3 will still pull the tbird, but with the street legal BB kit i'm sure it will be a close call. I rode an R3, and while it pulled like crazy, the Tbird does too and i've only given it a bit of throttle. I feel as tho if i twisted it WOT thru the gears it would be fairly close right now. So the BB will be insane.
As for touring....those who want it for that, don't even hesitate. Check this out....at 75 MPH the tach was at 3k. If i twisted the throttle till the tach was at a mere 500 RPMs more, or 3.5k, i'm now doing 90 MPH !! I kid you not. 6th is supposed to be like an overdive, and it sure the **** is. i read somewhere it tops at 120. That is utter BS ! the bike redlines at 6.5k and is doing 90 MPH at 3.5k ....do the math ! At 90 the engine feels like it's not much over idle :y24: It's crazy.
On the ride home i wasn't too sure about the freeway roll-ons like i said. Now i feel it's better than i though but could be better and i'm sure will with time and maybe pipes and filter. anyways, i'm out for ride #2....more pics and impressions to follow. But trust me...this bike is all they say if not more.
That bike is drop dead gorgeous, Dale. I knew you would love it. It is the most comfortable cruiser I have sat on - including the Road King. Freeway roll on is not going be as hot as you may like because the torque is at low RPM's. That said, there is plenty of power and torque there for the freeway. A downshift into fifth should give you more than enough acceleration.
I think I would put that 500 miles on this weekend and change my own oil and filter. Then I would take it back to the dealer for the 500 mile inspection at my convenience. :y115: :y115: :y115:
EN
THAT BIRD!!!!!!
I think I would put that 500 miles on this weekend and change my own oil and filter. Then I would take it back to the dealer for the 500 mile inspection at my convenience. :y115: :y115: :y115:
EN
THAT BIRD!!!!!!
Wow what a great first impression normally it takes a while to feel so good about a bike. Now I am really looking forward to more from you on this one :y115:
so, ya wont be taking it back then? :ya2:
:y18:
:y18:
thanks. as for freeway roll-ons, like i said my speedy was pathetic in that context, but with just pipe airbox mods and filer plus nology coils it because so much better i was shocked really. So i know this bike just needs a little tweaking and it will be formidable on the freeway. I have no doubt. In stock form i thinks it's even more mildly tuned then the speedy.
Well, to be fair i was able to evaluate my speedy after a very short time too. But of course it wasn't going to be the full story. This time it just may be cuz i'm not sure whether i will have much more to add. It's just a awesome mount with no real issues at all that i can see. But if and when i do i will surely note anything i find here.
Truer words were never spoken !!! :y115:
It will i'm sure. Never got tired of my speedy and this bike is better in every way. Well, almost....i do kinda miss the speedy's vibration. This one vibrates too, but it's more buzzy feeling thru the bars than the speedy which was more of a low frequency vibration. But the rest is better, so i can't envision getting bored with this thing ! I'm still reeling about how well it handles.
Thanks guys. :y18:
Thanks Mae Lyne. I'd like to see Carl get one. I know he likes them and i swear the ergos are so comfortable it's almost sinful. I bet he'd have zero problems. I wish Dave could too, as i know he wants one but can't afford it. If i were a rich man i swear i'd buy them both one. Actually i couldn't afford to do it either in many ways, but lately i just tell myself at this age it's time to get what i want before my time runs out.
While i'm posting i'll give you all a few more thoughts as i'm done with the day's riding and await sunday's excursion to the twisties. If i had to describe this bike in a few words it would be that it's like a Cadillac crossed with a Porsche. great performance, but with extreme comfort. Another thing i wanted to mention about this bike, and i can't put my finger on exactly why, but much more than my speedmaster this thing is a blast even to ride slow ! It's weird, but the feeling it gives when leisurely cruising and barely using any of it's power is so enjoyable that i find myself riding much slower and accelerating slower than i did on my speedy. Wierd, eh? Not that i don't blip the throttle and jump forward now and then to feel it's power, but i don't need to in order to enjoy the ride. This really makes me happy because i can have a blast w/o risking my safety as much or risking those expensive tickets and insurance price hikes.
While i'm posting i'll give you all a few more thoughts as i'm done with the day's riding and await sunday's excursion to the twisties. If i had to describe this bike in a few words it would be that it's like a Cadillac crossed with a Porsche. great performance, but with extreme comfort. Another thing i wanted to mention about this bike, and i can't put my finger on exactly why, but much more than my speedmaster this thing is a blast even to ride slow ! It's weird, but the feeling it gives when leisurely cruising and barely using any of it's power is so enjoyable that i find myself riding much slower and accelerating slower than i did on my speedy. Wierd, eh? Not that i don't blip the throttle and jump forward now and then to feel it's power, but i don't need to in order to enjoy the ride. This really makes me happy because i can have a blast w/o risking my safety as much or risking those expensive tickets and insurance price hikes.
Now this is what I like getting excited on a bike at slow speed just from the feel of it. Yeah how I would love one but right now out of the question 
Looking good in the pic daz'. I'm glad that you're enjoying it totally. Don't sweat the roll-ons. I'm sure after a couple thousand miles she'll been alot more eager, so imagine that pull on your arms if it surprises you now!
erm, how's the front brake fluid? that res' looks a bit clear from the pic.
enjoy the twisties!!
...
erm, how's the front brake fluid? that res' looks a bit clear from the pic.
enjoy the twisties!!
...
It's fine, you can't really tell from the pic. I actually checked the levels just to be sure they set it up right. But this shop has a reputation even on this forum among those in my area of being THE triumph shop as far as service. The owner has been building hot bonnies and racing them (and now selling them) and racing them at bonneville salt flats since the 60's. And he's a very down to earth guy. I have trust in them which is one of the reasons i decided to pay more and buy it there.
Dave, i know, and i feel for ya. I wish i had the kinda money where i could set you up with one. But i had to hock my life away to get this one ! One day you'll have one tho i'm sure.
Dave, i know, and i feel for ya. I wish i had the kinda money where i could set you up with one. But i had to hock my life away to get this one ! One day you'll have one tho i'm sure.
[quote author=Dilligaf link=topic=6231.msg34405#msg34405 date=1246807197]
When I hit the lotto (LOL) I am going to buy 10 of them. Whoever comes out for a ride gets to take them home.
[/quote]
I'm in. :ya2:
:y18:
When I hit the lotto (LOL) I am going to buy 10 of them. Whoever comes out for a ride gets to take them home.
[/quote]
I'm in. :ya2:
:y18:
