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Any plans to go café?

http://www.hammarhead.com/wayward.html



(although technically, this custom isn't exactly a café racer)

I was waiting for this one to come out, and I am not sure I like it as much as I should. I think there have been nicer conversions done.
Its not bad, but its failing to make me excited...

sunshine229 wrote:

mgrt13 wrote:Mike

Quick question, did you ever fit the Dart screen that you had? Am not sure if you mentioned it again in this thread. Just wondered if it was 10 mins to fit, and if it was worth while.

cheers
The bikeless one....

I can answer that one... NO! He was... uh um... waiting for the weather to warm up. Likely excuse! I did set a reminder in his Outlook over Christmas so that every day he got reminded but he hasn't got to it yet.

Time to razz!!!

Plans are to have it on today.

blues2cruise wrote:I was looking the Moto Guzzi's at the bike show last weekend.

The rep there said they tend to vibrate a lot at idle but smooth out upon riding.

Is this true?

Yes they do tend to vibrate at idle, but not "Harley-Davidson" level of vibs, but more than a Honda though. It really does add to the character as the vibration isn't an intrusive one, it's actually quite nice as it is a side-to-side vibration vs a back and forth one. And when you give it gas, it actually does smooth out quite a lot. When you hit around 3,500 rpm, you don't feel it anymore but you can hear the deep "V8 like" rumble.

It's a real unique riding experience.

mgrt13 wrote:For the ones that I have tested, that a yes, but as soon as the power is applied, they are as smooth as silk.

I think it gives them a "living" character as they seem to be itching to get going when on idle...(Yes I am an old romantic)

Yes, they indeed have that "itching to get going" feeling and there is nothing like revving it up and just "givin' er". Ah, I bet you can't wait!

Grey Thumper wrote:Any plans to go café?

http://www.hammarhead.com/wayward.html



(although technically, this custom isn't exactly a café racer)

No, I'm really not a cafe riding position type of guy. I'm a little too tall for clip-ons and lowered bars. That said, I do not mind the look of a cafe racer at all, but I'd be a pretzel on one.

I really like the V7 Racer cafe style, it's glitsy. This one above isn't really working for me either but I can guarantee it is a blast to ride.

Mike

It's relative. I had a 750 Nevada and never thought it vibrated much, at idle or at speed. My current Harley 1200 vibrates much more at idle, but it smooths out well once you get going. I've ridden a Guzzi 1100 and a 1200, and they vibrate a little more at idle, but not as much as a Harley. The 90 degree v-twin of the Guzzi is inherently smoother than a 45 degree Harley engine.

Personally I find the kind of low-frequency vibration you get from a big twin to be pleasant, rather than annoying. They don't have the kind unpleasant tingle in the handgrips or footpegs that puts your extremities to sleep.

Thanks for the feedback. When the rep said it vibrated at idle, I envisioned the HD type of vibration. I experienced that on some demo rides and didn't like it. I felt like my fillings in my teeth would vibrate out.

The MG California is expected in North America in the spring. I'd like to go see it in person. It looks good in the big pictures they had at the bike show.

I believe the California 1400 also has rubber engine mounts, so it should be very smooth once it gets going. The first bike I had with rubber mounts was my old Norton Commando 850. It was slightly disconcerting at first to be sitting on it, look down and see the engine dancing about.

I got to installing the new DART windscreen this week and yesterday took photos of it. Not so bad at all. I haven't had time to try it on the highway as of yet but it was 81°F or 27°C today.







Absolutely still love this bike.

Mike

Mike

Hope my pestering post didnt force you into getting this done!

Looks. Really nice, simple and classic.


Now i have a dilemma, is it right to buy bits for a bike i have not got yet?????

mgrt13 wrote:Now i have a dilemma, is it right to buy bits for a bike i have not got yet?????

I'd say no... The reason being, what happens when the desired bike doesn't make it into the garage because you fell in love with a new bike???

mgrt13 wrote:Mike

Hope my pestering post didnt force you into getting this done!

Looks. Really nice, simple and classic.


Now i have a dilemma, is it right to buy bits for a bike i have not got yet?????

Oh, don't worry, I am reviewing it for DART and had time to do so, thus... Not a bad look on it really, the install was very quick once I figured out which way the two brackets went (haha). I found the screen (at idle) does move about a bit from vibration, but I figured out how to smooth it down a little by going to the hardware store and buying 2 rubber washers to mount on the bracket.

Should you buy stuff for your bike before getting it? I sorta did, I bought the Mistral exhausts ($600) when I ordered the bike and thankfully got the stock ones back.

dr_bar wrote:

mgrt13 wrote:Now i have a dilemma, is it right to buy bits for a bike i have not got yet?????

I'd say no... The reason being, what happens when the desired bike doesn't make it into the garage because you fell in love with a new bike???

I am not sure if mgrt13 mentioned it, but he has a deposit on it and will be picking it up in a few weeks. Although, maybe in the meantime he does happen to fancy another bike.

Mike