haha, are you clutching that up in 2nd?

 

Not quite yet...lol...trying to master first gear first.

 

Very true. Those are the best rides for many. I was just surprised that someone would "pigeon-hole" themselves into a "<100 mile ride."
But diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks, I guess!

Kinda like the closing scene in Blazing Saddles.

"Where you off to now, cowboy?"

"Nowhere special."

"Nowhere special?"

"Yup, always wanted to go nowhere special."

That movie just continues to deliver.


Again, unless a medical condition prevents a longer ride.

Or, should I say, "Until a medical condition prevents a longer ride..."

 

Did you clutch it up in first though or throttle wheelie?

I'm just curious, I haven't ever tried to wheelie a cruiser haha. I'm to worried about landing a little hard and the forks giving out

 

There's a whole technique that I'm still trying to get down...I usually get it up to 10-15mph, then kind of simultaneously rev to 3500-4000, pull back on bars, and let the clutch out quickly. Takes a lot of practice to finally nail it. Don't get quite to here yet...



But it'll get me one of these that I can hold for a bit...(pardon the potato quality)



If I can keep doing those consistently, I'm happy, at least until I can pick up an old FXD/FXR as a dedicated bike to practice on. Don't want to mess up my pretty blue tins

As far as things to watch out for, from what I've heard/seen, neck bearings will definitely need a closer eye kept on them, fork seals have a tendency to go, and in some extreme cases there's broken motor mount tabs on the cases...I've been told by people better than me to stay in the throttle as you come down so the front end doesn't slam down.

That being said, it's fun

 

plan on clutch plate wear too. Drive belt teeth possibly.
But yes, it is fun. Until you get caught doing it. I've been caught twice. First time when riding a wheelie on PCH on my new 1980 XL500S Honda. ( No ticket)
Second was riding my ZX12R on Hwy 78. Did a 2 mile 12 o'clock clicker and not excedding the 55mph speedlimit. (No ticket, but a stern warning.)
Attitude plays a big part with LEO's sometimes.

 

[QUOTE=DynaKid94;16105687

If I can keep doing those consistently, I'm happy, at least until I can pick up an old FXD/FXR as a dedicated bike to practice on. Don't want to mess up my pretty blue tins [/QUOTE]

I'm the exact opposite, I'd rather mess up my low rider than lay down the FXR lol I could still walk in a get one of those off the showroom floor if I messed up and had a yardsale

 

Been caught a couple times myself too, nothing more than a warning so far, knock on wood...

You're right on the belt and clutch too - my old wide glide was starting to show it's age there when I traded it in...I definitely see a clutch upgrade in the future...

lol I hear you, this hypothetical practice bike wouldn't be much of a looker though. This is just my first nice bike, old one was a bit of a beater.

 

Ah ok, so you're clutching it up in first

If you're finding 1st gear to be too violent, try clutching it up in 2nd..it should be smoother and more forgiving.

You might also try standing up with the bike as the wheel shoots up to get to the higher balance point.

Clutching it up is what we call it in dirt bike / sportbike stunting

 

krouke
I've been looking at the LR myself. I noticed you were riding without the Fairing for awhile. How did the ride compare? With my sporty I can't really tell the difference.