The Blog of Blues

[High_Side]

Me on a Ninja.....

I sat on a Versys not long ago....That is a possibility.

Don't knock it 'till you've tried it....

[blues2cruise]

High Side...the ergonomics of a Ninja aren't suitable for me. The Versys is completely different, which is why I could consider it. I sat on a couple at the dealer and quite liked the upright position. I would have to lean too hard on my hands and my knees would be too bent on a Ninja.

[Wrider]

I think you are thinking I meant a ZX6R. I was talking the Ninja 650. Same basic bike as the Versys or the ER-6N. Completely different than a 600 or 1000.

[HYPERR]

A sure way to make sure you won't have this problem again is to get a bike with hydraulic clutch, an aftermarket for good adjustable clutch levers like CRG, Pazzo, ASV, etc, and and aftermarket for different size slave cylinders. All three of these things combined will reduce clutch effort tremendously.

[jstark47]

If you're considering a Versys, you should also look at a V-strom 650 (Wee strom). Tons of used ones around, and they are stone-ax reliable. I know you didn't like the way V-strom's feel, but I think you should try again (your ideas of comfort may be evolving....) They don't feel so different from a Versys, and there are more of them on the used market.

Also don't discount the single cylinder F650GS's - 2007 and earlier. A very versatile bike. LionLady used to have one, I think Grey Thumper did too.

(Base model Honda NC700X is $6999 in the States, wonder how much it is in Canada? There's a real all purpose bike, it can commute, it can tour, etc.)

[blues2cruise]

I went to a different Kawi dealer yesterday upon the recommendation of someone who said the parts guy there would know if there are levers., etc available...so far I have not been able to find an adjustable clutch lever for my model of bike.
So..I went in and found him...I explained the problem...he went to the back and said this should do it....He had an adjustable lever and mountaing bracket for someone elses bike...he said they could build me one and let me try it..

Now why couldn't the other dealer I talked to a few times about it, come up with something?

I told them if I could not find a solution I was selling and getting another bike...anyway..he said they'll call when they get one built for me to try.

If the lever isn't so far away then the stiffness of it might not be such a problem.

Anyway..if it doesn't pan out...trading...

JStark....

The only thing I did not like about the V-Strom was the teensy brake lever and shifter....I have since found that those can be replaced with bigger one.

[HYPERR]

I went to a different Kawi dealer yesterday upon the recommendation of someone who said the parts guy there would know if there are levers., etc available...so far I have not been able to find an adjustable clutch lever for my model of bike.
So..I went in and found him...I explained the problem...he went to the back and said this should do it....He had an adjustable lever and mountaing bracket for someone elses bike...he said they could build me one and let me try it..

It's amazing the dearth of the availablity of adustable levers for cruisers. The sportbike riders have tons of choices in the aftermarket. In fact, most sportbikes come stock with adjustable levers, but most opt for the bling of the aftermarket ones like CRG, Pazzo, and ASV. Since it seems as more women ride cruisers than any other genre of bikes, I'm surprised the bike manufacturers do not include them as standard equipment. Amortized over the lineup, the added cost to the sticker price would be negligible and I would think it could be a decision maker if a buyer is contemplating between two brands.

[blues2cruise]

I bought a day permit for my bike so I could ride it to the dealer. It was nice when I left home. It was like a monsoon on the way back. I went dressed for it though so at least underneath my gear I stayed dry.
I had applied mink oil to my boots so they did not leak.

Anyway...when I got to the dealer, he pulled out the adjustable lever and took it to the mechanic...who then said the clamp is not the right size.

I KNEW THAT...THE PARTS GUY KNEW IT...HE SAID SO WHEN I WENT IN THE FIRST TIME. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO GET THE PROPER CLAMP.

Anyway...the mechanic adjusted the cable so the lever is closer to the grip. I had to go ride around a few blocks to see if the friction zone still worked. After a couple of stalls, I figured out the friction zone and went for a ride for about ten minutes.

It seems ok, but I won't really be able to tell until I do some real riding.

The mechanic discovered that the heated grip on the bar was loose, so he glued it. That meant trying to not put any torsion on the grip. So..I chose the least clutching way home I could find. The freeway. In the monsoon.

It was hard to see because of the heavy rain and the spray from other vehicles, but it wasn't too far to go.

My bike has been parked in the garage since.

I was trying to find some Christmas spirit before Christmas, so I did some decorating.

[blues2cruise]

Is it me?

2013 Super Tenere.jpg (159.75 KiB) Viewed 3479 times

I went to the motorcycle show last weekend. We had to go in the car because the road conditions were not safe. It was icy.

The show was a bit smaller than previous years. People said it was a sign of the times.

This year there was no custom bike display...that was a disappointment.

We still managed to idle away five hours though.

[JackoftheGreen]

Blues, wow!

The last picture I remember seeing of you was at that chicken farm for the Riding Game, and you look like a completely different woman in this pic. I don't know what your secret is, but keep it up 'cause it's working wonders.

As for the bike, I have to give it a thumbs down, but only because you're one of my only fellow cruiser riders I can count on to come out for our segment on the Cool Wall. If we loose you to the Adventure Touring folk, it'll be a dark day for the chrome and steel contenders. (-:

Awesome you got out and were able to do something like that. The weather's been so bad down here, we don't get to do anything on the weekends but wait for our toes to thaw.