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After 40+ miles of parking lot driving and some low speed maneuvering over the last three weeks, and a bit of time studying the traffic patterns around our place...I made my first ride on the road tonight...

For about 90 minutes I did a big loop around our neighborhood, about 2.5 miles around.

I am addicted...

First time I got to go over 25 or get out of 3rd gear, and it was AWESOME... The first part of the loop is on a main drag in Orlando towards the airport, but the traffic is light in the evening...was cruising at 45-50mph down that part, then slowed two rights, back up, right turn & repeat...

No problems to speak of. No cagers crowded me or did anything aggressive or unfriendly, one even waved me through ahead of him at an intersection.

I did 15 miles total, including a couple of side jaunts through some neighborhoods... I had to make myself stop because it was about to start getting dark, and I had been out for over an hour, and I decided that was adding too many links to the infamous "Crash Chain" that we learned about in MSF... But I will be out again tomorrow, AT LEAST one time...

JC

PS-- jmillheiser, you are right-- the CX500 is a different machine at higher RPMs...purrs like a kitten...

PPS-- the Icon Tarmac jacket is so freaking comfortable and airy. I generally sweat like a pig, but I was practically dry when I finished...

hey congrats, I know the feeling you've just had myself as I got the courage to hit the busy streets down only a few weeks ago when I first got my bike.

BTW, pigs don't sweat.

TheImp wrote:
BTW, pigs don't sweat.

Lol... I would say I sweat like a dog, but I know that's not right either. In any case, I sweat profusely when others just sweat lightly...

Can't wait for the missus to get home (she's in cooking school) so I can go on and on about it...she is very good at pretending to be riveted when she knows I am excited about something...

Congrats, that's definitely got to be an awesome feeling. Like when I first rode around my neighborhood.

how high did you get the RPMs? the bikes personality changes completely above 6000rpm. it sounds like a harley below 6000 and like a ducati above 6000.

it will do 30 in 5th gear all day and not lug, and yes all CX500s pull fairly high cruising RPMs. 7000rpm at 75mph is normal. The bike will cruise smoothly up to 80mph, above 80 it vibrates a bit through the bars and pegs. In town cruising should be as smooth as can be.

Light tapping from the cylinder heads is normal bacause the bike has solid lifters, all solid lifter bikes make this noise but you hear it more on the CX because the heads are out in the open. Valve adjustment is done at each oil change and is easy.

it has about the smoothest and most forgiving clutch I have ever seen, I can roll at 2mph and stay upright with just a little clutch slip with my CX

Ah, another addict.

Love the avatar, by the way. Been forever since I've seen the Tick, loved that show as a kid!

Isn't it blissful! This is just the start. Ride safe and enjoy the ride.

Cheers,
Loonette

yoda731 wrote:I am addicted...

LOL Welcome to the club!

I generally sweat like a pig, but I was practically dry when I finished...

Eww...thanks for sharing.....

Thanks for all the feedback.

I "braved" up to 50 on my last trip in 4th gear. Before that, I think I had revved the engine as high as 7000RPMs while accelerating and upshifting from 2nd to 3rd (I think, but those details are kind of lost in the moment...).

I am also a big fan of the Tick. I think Disney Channel still shows reruns, but we don't get that channel currently. But I heard there may be a DVD of the episodes coming out.

On the Tick topic-- I don't plan on putting any stickers on the back of the bike, BUT high on the list would be "HONK IF YOU LOVE JUSTICE" from one of the episodes...

Man, soon enough you'll find yourself going 60-70+ and the feeling not phasing you much after the first couple times at that speed. When I realized that was happening to me and that I wanted to continue regaining the new rush of being at successively faster speeds was when I started to get a little worried. I still have yet to hit the turnpike or I-95 though, but by next week I think I'll be taking some good 50+ mile stints since I'll have the free time.