Re: Newbie

[Cees De Groot <cdegroot@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 8/25/05, Tom Brown <tbrown@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Maybe we wuz the enemy befo, but we ain't the enemy no mo!
>
Haha. I was mostly tongue-in-cheek. Although there seem to be some
Airhead-fanatics around (I might just slap them with the fact that, in
essence, the R1100 is an aircooled engine ;-)).
 
> Cees, it takes a year to learn to really ride an R1100RT and get 
> everything out of it that it offers.
>
Hmm.. So maybe it's worthwhile to get some lessons from my old
instructor (he rides the same bike).

> How far is your commute?   Will you tour with this bike?  

Depends - I'm a freelancer/contracter. Sometimes half an hour,
sometimes an hour. And yes, I'm of the conviction that a couple of
times per year, one should strap a tent to the buddy and go someplace
with twisties ;-)

> Do you notice any low speed surging with the engine? 
>
As soon as someone explains 'surging' to me... you're number three to ask...

> If you're going to ride it fast over long stretches of road, an Aeroflow
> windscreen or a Cee Baileys Type 3 windscreen are strongly 
> encouraged.
>
I'm toying with the idea of attaching the Laminar Lip I salvaged from
the old back to it - first in some temporary manner, to see whether it
helps to reduce buffeting in the screen's highest position.
 
> A more comfortable seat is also a good idea, but costs some money.
>
I've never understood the fuzz about aftermarket seats, so I probably
have an iron butt or something :-)

> You'll have a seat that's more "flat" and doesn't give you a "wedgie" as it
> pulls your crotch steadily towards the tank as you ride.
>
Hmm... Haven't been bothered by that so far, but thanks for the tip,
I'll keep it in mind.
 
> If you do score a new seat, also get "bar-baks"  These move the 
> handlebars up and towards you a bit.   This is very good for the 
> replacement seats because you sit a bit farther back on the bike with the 
> aftermarket seats.
> 
I'm tall, and currently testing with the seat in its highest position
- - bar-backs might help there as well, because they're a bit too far
away.

> Riding position will be more comfortable, wind will no longer be a factor (you
> can ride at 100mph with two fingers on the handlebars!!!) and life will be
> good.
>
You mean, just like on my R80RT... ;-P
 
(with the drawback that the R1100RT doesn't have a throttle friction
screw, need to fix that as well...)

> So, if you're a fan of canyon (or Alps) twisties, the Metzler is the tire, but
> if you're commuting and riding a lot of highway miles, the Bridgestone is
> probably the better choice...
> 
Don't you just hate these trade-offs? Anyway, for the time being I'll
stick with the BT's, because - alas - most of my miles are done on the
highway and I always square off my tires.

> You need to balance the throttle bodies after the new tubes are installed.
>
There's no getting around this balancing thing, is there? I thought
all the computers and electronics on the bike would have settled that
for once and for all.... ;-)
  
> Good luck with your new bike and welcome to the list.

Thanks (also to the others), and thanks for all the tips.

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End of oilheads-digest V2 #191
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