| Author | Message | ||
     Gtmg |
I have not really seen this discussed yet but how is the bike to ride longer distances. I am not talking about cross country but more like 300 miles in a day with a couple of stops. More flower sniffing than hard core touring. Most of my trips like this are day trips and soft bags would be fine. Just wondering about comfort. seems like everyone is going with the touring seat or the corbin. | ||
| Doerman |
Hi Michael here's a thread about Seat comfort http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/344728.html?1206025826 Then one about tank bags: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/343760.html?1205684502 How about tail bag: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/343799.html?1205641099 And ...long rides: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/347026.html?1206589926 I hope that helps | ||
| Baggermike |
Gtmg what a month and see what I will have done to my bike for long distance touring, as soon as my bike is done I will post pictures, I can tell you I am getting a corbin seat but want to have a surprise with pictures. Mike | ||
| Gtmg |
doerman thanks for the links but the one on long rides is lacking. The guy who started has not made the ride yet. I would think that are some real life experiences that people talk about. I had already looked at that one. I know that many guys will run about 100 miles in a day doing a lot of twisties. I do some of that too but alot more of the mid distance rides. I have a Uly now and it is good but tiring after a longer ride due to wind etc. I understand the 1125 has a great wind pocket. | ||
| Baggermike |
I have done 220 miles no problem up and back from my dealership not taking rest and only stopping for tolls, I find the bike more comfortable on the highway and with a better seat? I have not had a problem with mine yet and higher bars which I am working on and I think I will have a 300 to 500 mile a day bike. | ||
| Zac4mac |
So far the most in a day has been 277 a few weeks ago. I was tired afterwards, but I'm 53 and I tire easy. ;) Leaving on an 1100 mile trip to Texas in a couple of days. Snow is pissing me off and it's in the 80s there. I'll let you know Sunday how I'm doing. Zack | ||
| Doerman |
Michael, I've done 375 miles in a day combined canyon and freeway. That didn't do me in so I suspect I can do a lot more. I have the Buell touring seat and it is a big improvement over the stock seat. I had a BMW R1100S before this one and the longest day in the saddle on it was just a tad under 1000 miles. How's that relevant you ask? The BMW ergos are remarkably similar to the 1125R and I think I can do as well on it as I did on the BMW. I hope that helps | ||
| Gtmg |
I am not that familiar with the R1100s. I know it is compared to the Sprint and VFR regularly which I am familiar with both of those ride great but are a little cramped to me. I want to enjoy the ride an be able to walk at the end lol. | ||
| Bigdog_tim |
I have done a spirited 200+ mile day so far. My only complaint was the cramp in my face from the constant grin on my face!  I am leaving early Saturday (weather permitting) to see some friends in Oregon. Will be about a 350 mile day (if I go the twisty route). I don't have saddle bags for the 1125R so will be using just tank bag and back pack. I have done 800+ mile days on my 12R (it has saddle bags) - and I was wiped out (knees were really hurting). I feel there is so much more room on the 1125 that I think a cross country rocket is a good description. | ||
| Nickcaro |
I'll tell you about an iron butt. I commute to work in NYC and now that the weather is getting nice, I'm really starting to rack up some time on the bike. My trip is 135 - 150 miles round trip depending on which route I take. About 70% of that is on the parkway cruising at high speed with some nice big long turns. By Thursday night, my butt hurts when I get off. If I don't get a rain day in between to rest, I'll limit myself to an in town ride on Saturday and by Sunday I'm all good. I have the custom Firrebolt seat on order and hopefully it will be big improvement, otherwise I may order the Corbin. | ||
| Gtmg |
Bigdog please give us your impressions after the trip. Have you changed the seat??? Nick you have the firebolt touring seat as well?????? I thought we the solution?? (Message edited by gtmg on March 27, 2008) (Message edited by gtmg on March 27, 2008) | ||
| Bigdog_tim |
Hi Michel, I still have the stock seat. If there is any comfort issue for me it is the grips. I have the heated grips and my hands go numb if I am just a drone on the highway. They don't go numb if I am riding spirited on side roads. I will post my "butt report" this weekend. | ||
| Timmyusmc |
This is the information that I need. the thread that I started turned into a bunch of crap about where I am stationed and will be. Please keep this up so that I can gain the information on the products to make a 1200 mile ride as comfortable as possible. As I have said before i wont have much time on the bike before i hit the highway and backroads on my move so I won't have time to experiment with different products/setups before I leave. Any specifics on someone of my size/weight would help immensly. 6'2" and 220# Thank you all for any help. | ||
| Hwyranger |
Timmy, you weigh just about the same as me (I am 6'3, 215) and the suspension set up according to the manual works perfectly for me. The trip to the track last week confirmed that. I don't have any problem with the stock seat and I have done a couple 100+ mile days. I am thinking about getting the touring seat just for s#$ts and giggles. | ||
| Timmyusmc |
While the entire trip I will be making is a 1000-1200 miles I am planning on doing it in 2-300 mile spurts with lots of backroad side trips. Seat comfort is big but not the biggest issue for me. I just want to make sure that i cam walk and better yet run when i get off the bike after a week of riding. | ||
| Hwyranger |
You should have no problem walking/ running or going for a full on PT session after that trip. The riding position is unbelievably comfortable eventhough it is a sport bike. LET'ER RIP!! | ||
| Timmyusmc |
Now that's what the f&@k I'm talking about. Can not wait. | ||
| Baggermike |
That is what I want also a super sport tourer/track bike. now I just got to get it done by may and get the bugs out and I will be happy. Mike | ||
| Court |
>>>That is what I want also a super sport tourer/track bike. A fairly incompatible combination. For a touring bike you'd want lots of stuff. When I was doing lots of distance riding I had a CB (w/antenna), radar detector, Motorola flip-phone, cassette/AM/FM radio, intercom, extra lights. If I were doing it now (and I think there will be a bike being built soon  ) I'd be adding the who heat, GPS, MP3, Bluetooth, radar counter and the works. I'd suggest using your Blast for the track bike. It would be a bunch of fun and would improve your riding skills. now I just got to get it done by may and get the bugs out and I will be happy. That is a bad combination. Changing things AND being in a hurry. It's a formula that most often results in standing by the road wondering what you did. When I, and I can only draw on my PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, was in the business of doing long distance testing (I was getting paid to do it by the mile so I had a REAL interest in being able to keep moving) whenever Dave and Bruce would make a change, I'd do a short Topeka-St. Louis-Topeka "shake down" run. What I learned is that:
Court | ||
| Dynasport |
I have done 800+ mile days on my 12R (it has saddle bags) - and I was wiped out (knees were really hurting). I feel there is so much more room on the 1125 that I think a cross country rocket is a good description. Is there really that much more room on the 1125 than there is on the Firebolt? I have not ridden the 1125 yet, and have only done a short demo on the Firebolt, but sitting on each back to back they both seemed pretty much the same from a seating position standpoint. | ||
| Hwyranger |
You wouldn't think so to look at the two bikes side to side, but there is definitely more leg room on the 1125. I used to have a 12R and my knees tucked right up behind the front of the tank. On the 25, I have a good 2-3 more inches to play with front to back and top to bottom. I can actually vary my riding position from tuck to relaxed straight up and fit perfectly both ways. | ||
| Baggermike |
Court all I need for touring is my gps which tell me how to get from point A to point B, but my gps also is an xm radio, mp3, weather, and traffic, and more. I do not need anything else. I am adding the corbin seat from Al at american sport bike, a new top clamp that will raise my bars and give me some pull back for a more comfortable ride, a throttlemeister, and I got my saddlebags, tail bag, and have two tank bags that I can use but looking for one to match my other bags, I have been touring for many many years and do not need all the gadgets you do, the gps is a safety item so I do not have to pull over to read a map, I do not need a C B Radio, phone, radar, or intercoms, when I tour it is to get away from everyday life, all I really need is two wheels a motor and some storage, which I have. I could go touring right now with the way the bike is, and would not need anything else, Court I am fifty and been riding almost my whole life and I am a bike only guy and have lost count on all the bikes I have owned, so my point is I know what I need and it is simple, not some gold wing with a ton of extras. So what you need for touring is not what I need for touring, I have many books on touring and you should get this book for five bucks from www.aerostich.com it is called the lightweight unsupported motorcycle travel for terminal cases, after reading this book then you can talk to me about touring. the blast is going to be my cold weather bike thence the 1125R can not power my heated gear and the blast does no problem. Mike | ||
| Court |
Court I am fifty and been riding almost my whole life and I am a bike only guy and have lost count on all the bikes I have owned, Me too. I'm 54, still have my first Cushman and have toured all over. I still have 4 wheelers . . nasty necessity of being a contractor in New York City and carrying blueprints all over. When I get old enough to need the lesson about touring and am overcome with the need to be Mike-Like. . . I'll call. | ||
| Court |
By the way . . . my advise about shaking down my bikes prior to distance riding was not directed at you. . . . just sharing what has worked for me and some of the folks doing factory test riding. When I left East Troy . . . I needed to do everything reasonable to ensure minimal interruptions. I think of heated gear everytime I recall the time I landed in Milwaukee on a Sunday afternoon to await dark and the chance to blow out the door of 2715 with a yet-to-be-introduced bike. I'd never ridden in 20oF weather up to that time and took just a pair of gloves. I left when the sun set and had to have the bike 595 miles down the road by sunrise. I found that the range, with my current kit, was about 12 miles between stops. I learned a lot. . . just like you have in all these years of riding. Half the folks here don't recall what a Cushman is. | ||
| Pso |
Went for a test ride on Wed. awsome bike. I hope Buell comes out with a sport touring version in the next year or two. I want one as a retirment gift for myself when I retire in 4 years. Then I can take the 1125rst on a cross country trip of sevral months. | ||
| Court |
What . .. just curious . . . do you think would happen if I started an 1125R in New York City . . rode to LA . . turned around . . and rode back? | ||
| Ccryder |
Court: You would have a lot of bugs in your teeth from that perpetual SEG you would have! Neil S. | ||
| Josh_ |
I would add TechSpec to the tank/frame to reduce the amount of pressure you need to apply and put on Lightning pegs when not heading to the track. And an all-in-one GPS. And a credit card ;) Josh | ||
| Baggermike |
Court and everyone else that book for five buck is worth every penny, it is about touring on a small bike like the blast and has lots of tips on repairs and what to bring how to eat and save money doing it, the best touring book I have and is small and easy to read, I have several they are free when you buy over so much and I give them to my friends, I am even thinking of using the blast for touring once I rebuild it. Mike | ||
| Gtmg |
I managed to get by the dealership and sit all over one yesterday. I was astounded at the lack of knowledge on the Buell line in the dealership. I talked to two guys myself yesterday about bikes because the salesman did not know anything. The one that was showing the bike did not even know where the key went. The seat has to go for long rides. It made my butt sore just in the showroom. Definitely would guess the Corbin was worth the money. Ergonomics are pretty good for a sport bike. For longer distance is there a way to lower the pegs yet? I know risers are on the horizon but I am not convinced they are needed. |
