The first official and FULL Tbird review...LONG!!!!

[dazco]

I'll tell you, it's ultra comfortable for my frame at least. I'm only 5'9". But it's feels like it was made for me. The ultra wide seat could potentially cause some people to not be able to put both feet flat on the ground. Not because the bike isn't low....it's very low. But the wide seat causes your thighs to stick straight out instead of down at an angle. So your legs are in a sort of "L" shape which loses you some inches on their reach. At 5'9" my feet just make it flat.

 

[MaeLyneS]

Although I am only 5'3", I have a 32" inseam. Reaching the ground is not my problem. My problem is an incorrectly healed, broken T12 vertebrae. Some riding positions are just painful for me. I have move around a lot to stay comfortable.

 

[dazco]

you should reach fine then because i have only a 30" inseam. But i sympathize with that injury. Gotta be a PITA. i would think tho that sitting straight upright would be the best for you, no? for me at least theres no forward lean on the Tbird. For you i guess there would be, but nothing that a 6" set of risers over the stock 4" ones wouldn't cure.

 

[DaveM]

Ok so what did the boss have to say about the bike then :y114:

 

[dazco]

He's bummed. He just called me a couple hours ago and said "I hate you". :ya2: he wants one bad but he can't get the lil woman to let him sell his harley. He's actually quite depressed about it. You'd be surprised how good it looks, especially in the right light like noon day sun. But there is something about it that cameras just can't seem to capture. I will try some more tho and see how close i can get. But the point being when we were looking at it today at lunch it was just so phenomenal looking, it's no wonder he's dying. That and me telling him how awesome it is to ride. Poor bastid ! :ya2:

 

[DaveM]

:y114: Shame on you rubbing it in like that. I can well imagine what you are saying about the looks. I am actually dreading the moment when I will see one in the flesh so to speak, it may just break my heart as well. :ya2:

 

[CarlS]

Your boss needs to educate his wife. She has gotten sucked into the HD lifestyle - which is not about riding. It is about being part of a herd.

 

[dazco]

Dave, you're making me feel bad. I hope you can find a way. Don't forget the speedy can be a good 1/2 or so of the money if you wait a while till there are used Tbirds on the market. You'll get one, it's just a matter of time i'm sure.

Carl....yes, thats exactly the problem...i think she feels it's cool being part of the herd and he cannot educate her because he's the one that propagated the idea to her!He had to make her feel the camaraderie to justify her buying him the harley. Now he can't just take it all back because that would be like admitting he was manipulating her. Oh what a tangled web we weave !!! :y24:

By the way, this moring only 4 days after getting my ultimate bike of a lifetime someone tried to take it away from me....a close call where a guy literally pulled the most bonehead move i have ever seen. In 40 years of driving and riding this was THE worse thing i have ever seen anyone pull, and it was 100% on purpose. But man o man o man, the Tbird's brakes and stability w/o a doubt saved my arse ! i really don't think i would have made it to work if i'd been on the speedy or for that matter many other bike. I gotta get to work here or i'd describe it in detail. but i could have literally killed this guy. As it was i rode next to him flipping him off and screaming at the top of my lungs calling him every cuss word he's ever heard and a few he probably hasn't ! :ya2:

 

[CarlS]

You need to carry a handful of ball bearings in an accessible left pocket. As you pass the jerk, toss them up in the air a little so that he runs into them. They have an interesting effect on the windshield and the paint job on the front of the offending vehicle.

 

[dazco]

A friend of mine's brother used to do that years ago. He carried nuts as in nuts and bolts. Same effect of course. :ya2:

 

[CarlS]

Ball bearings bounce higher and more true than nuts do. You can be more accurate. :y114:

 

[dazco]

Yeah, but you see, the holes in the nuts have threads which tend to act like rifleings in the wind and make them more accurate. :y24:

 

[CarlS]

[quote author=dazco link=topic=6248.msg34596#msg34596 date=1246990422]
Yeah, but you see, the holes in the nuts have threads which tend to act like rifleings in the wind and make them more accurate. :y24:
[/quote]

 

[avion]

great write up, I enjoyed reading that.

can you tell me more about these self cancelling turn signals please?

...

 

[dazco]

Darn, i wish i could but i honestly haven't noticed exactly what cancels them. But here what i THINK it does. I think it stops them after a given amount of feet traveled and possibly after leaning with a mercury switch. All i know is they seem to work very well. So much better than that piece of junk i bought for my speedy where the signals wouldn't go on till you pushed the button twice is it canceled itself the last time you used the signal. I try and remember to make a mental note when i'm riding exactly what moves cause it to cancel and i'll post back and let you know. The bike is just so new there are many things to investigate but i've been so busy just riding and trying to wipe the S eating grin off my face i haven't gotten around to it all. :ya2:

 

[DaveM]

[quote author=dazco link=topic=6248.msg34662#msg34662 date=1247063843]
i've been so busy just riding and trying to wipe the S eating grin off my face i haven't gotten around to it all. :ya2:
[/quote]

I can just see it now :y114: