On 6/22/2013 8:23 AM, High Plains Thumper wrote:
> T0m $herman wrote:
>> High Plains Thumper wrote:
>>
>>> Talking about adventures, I finally made the move up to a tourer, a
>>> like new low mileage 2001 Kawasaki Voyager. Rode in home on a 95
>>> mile trek through Texas Panhandle, through the worst windy weather.
>>> At 75 mph, it was like riding in a convertible with the top down.
>>> Also nice that it was showing 3/4 tank. On the Savage I was looking
>>> for gas shortly after that.
>>>
>> Unfortunately, fairings do not help in cross-winds, where riding for
>> extended periods heeled over is a bit tiresome, particularly in rain
>> or light hail.
>
> The fairing is connected to the frame, not the steering fork. I was
> riding in a 30 mph cross breeze with gusts to 50 mph. I missed a
> thunderstorm by a half hour (road was wet). There were no
> controllability issues on this two hour ride through rural Texas.
>
Comfort is the issue, not control. A fairing does nothing to protect
you from exposure to rain, hail, cold, etc produced by a strong cross-wind.
>>> I thought at first it might be a little heavy for me, but it
>>> balances well, is easy throttling, wide ratio 5 speed shifts
>>> comfortably. I did some serious touring on the old Savage, but
>>> having to fill every 100 miles, running close to red line at
>>> highway speeds, having to top off oil every other fill during hot
>>> weather, having to wear an iron butt after 2 hours, got me thinking
>>> I needed more.
>>
>> Sounds similar to riding an older design thumper or tiddler
>> dual-sport.
>
> Since it is totally air cooled it is basically like an older design
> thumper, except it has 4 valves, an updated combustion chamber with
> electronic ignition, which accounts for its spirited performance (can
> keep up with the bigger bikes on rides).
>
The thumper I am tempted by is the Husqvarna Terra, but with Stefan
Pierer talking about dumping the Husqy road bikes, there would be little
aftermarket support if that happens. But the Terra (along with the BMW
G650GS which shares the same engine with some variations between the
two) gets much better mileage and produces much more power than the
"metric" dual sports which use 20+ year old engine designs.
>>> On the Savage it was fun though, rode 8 hours away to Chama, NM
>>> last summer, spent several days there and back for 700 miles of
>>> riding. During spring and summer 2012, rode on weekends between
>>> home and construction site, 450 miles R/T. Visited Santa Rosa NM;
>>> Pampa, Amarillo, Groom, Lubbock, Brownfield, all in Texas, all
>>> several hours away.
>>>
>>> It was time to upgrade.
>>
>> Sometimes "downgrading" can work too. I am having a lot more fun
>> riding the Ninjette I picked up with the Bonnie than the F4i - the
>> more upright riding position works much better on the street, I can
>> run it through the gears without getting into go to jail territory,
>> and the lower rotating and overall weights along with the 16-inch
>> wheels make a supersport feel truckish by comparison.
>
> For distance riding, the Savage is the bare minimum. I would gain
> nothing by downgrading. What's the longest ride you have taken?
>
I would consider ~20 HP at the rear wheel (e.g. Honda CRF250L) the
minimum for freeway distance riding. Less is fine for secondary roads.
Longest rides:
- Honda Dullsville: 600 miles in one day in freezing weather, and 450
miles plus a full day riding class in 80-95°F weather.
- Honda Elite 110: 210 miles in under five hours total time. Was WFO at
~50 mph much of the time, and still managed over 85 mpg.
- RANS Tailwind: 128 miles in 8 hours total time (OK, that one is pedal
powered). :)
The Bonnie and Ninjette have only been licensed for road use since
Monday, so no long rides yet. Got an Airhawk seat cushion, so I may do
a long ride on the Yammie TW200, sticking to farm-to-market (including
dirt Level B) roads as much as possible. I have also seen a claim that
one can ride from Dubuque, Iowa to Superior, Wisconsin mostly off-road,
so if true I might do that some day.
No desire for anything bigger than the Dullsville. If I was replacing
it, I would consider the ~$4K premium for a BMW F800GT, since it is
significantly lighter. Size does matter, and bigger is *not* better in
most cases.
--
T0m $herm@n