| Author | Message | ||
     Gearheaderiko |
Concur! Hence "The old Kenda" used as a point of reference, Do Not Use the new Kenda! (frankly I wouldnt use any of them on a Blast-fwiw). | ||
| Luigiblues |
Planning for a trip like this is a full time job! Damn! So for the Pirelli ST66 would I have to beat down my swing arm? Or would they fit stock? Not sure how I would explain to the guy at the shop how to mess my bike up in a good way! I thought the vipers would last longer than 3k  It would be awesome to get that ST66 on the back. Also, with spare parts. Newbie question. Do I have to go through the dealer, or can they just be ordered online someplace? | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
They could mount it and check clearance, if not then they'll need to beat the shock tab with a hammer. A carb boot and drive belt are the only two items of concern, imho. The belt takes 10 minutes to change (if that) and is very easy to do. It can be coiled up and almost fits under the seat (a used belt yes, a new belt you wouldnt want to force it). The boot also fits under the seat and is a little more involved to change only because you have the stock airbox. The boot itself is simple. Almost anything else would be too complicated or involved for a roadside or 'the first bike shop you see' repair. Its a 2009 so everything is in good shape and boots usually are okay with the stock airbox. If you're going to be close to the 15,000 mile mark on your odometer, then the belt would be a concern. A stock Blast (as Swampy noted) is usually bulletproof. | ||
| Damnut |
You can call one of our Sponsors and have them ship it to you. Most offer a discount for BadWeB members so that would most likely cover shipping the items to you. Call Tripp over at Precision and he'll hook you up. Tell him Jim (Damnut) sent you. | ||
| Damnut |
Oh and good luck with your trip!!! | ||
| Johnnymac |
Regretfully, since I am the only one I know of to have run the ST66, we don't have the answer as to whether it will fit properly in an unmodified swing arm. I can say I had more than enough clearance on mine with the modded swing arm. I am 75% confident that it would fit unmodified but I strongly hesitate to tell you to go ahead with it. I wish I had known of the trip before you already embarked from home-base. You could have easily popped the wheel off the bike and hammered in the shock tab.  | ||
| Johnnymac |
Anthony, most guys have gotten more than 3000 miles out of a rear Viper. I believe the average for them to be between 3000-4000 miles. Stock Pirelli MT75 is between 2000-3000. The stock Dunlops are between 3500-4500. You may get easily more than 4000 out of your Viper depending on how you drive - many have. Keep your pressure high and it will wear longer. Run it while it is lower than ideal and it will wear much quicker. For me, ideal is 35psi. I'm not sure how big you are but you have a lot of gear on that puppy so I think you'll have enough weight to run that pressure. The oversized Pirelli's (both Diablo & ST66) seat much better on the rim than the larger Avon's do. If running the Avon you will have to keep a close eye on air pressure to make sure it stays at the pressure you want to run. To make sure it lasts your whole trip I would check it daily. Johnny (Message edited by johnnymac on July 30, 2009) | ||
| Luigiblues |
Thanks everybody for all the help! I'll let you know what I get and how they work out! I agree with you Johnny about the planning. The Alaska bit only came up just before I left for peru...and there just wasn't time to plan the trip perfectly  Like sitting here in Seattle looking for new tires.... On the whole though...I freaking LOVE motorcycle touring. I've ridden a good part of this big old USA in a car. Back and forth time and again. But just the one week I rode around on the bike. It's the only way to travel! I'm hooked. Even now, I'm thinking of how to include motorcycling into our RAGBRI trip next year http://ragbrai.com/ I'll also do a better of taking pictures from here on out, so keep an eye on the blog! | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Yes, motorcycling touring is addictive, very addictive. So are track days, and riding to work, and customizing, and.... and I can stop anytime I want to. Really. | ||
| Ezblast |
Welcome to the dark side! We serve beer and ribs with our obsession. Doing all those things EB and others would tell you you can't do on a Blast, and we have fun doing it! Distance touring is next on my list of riding things to do. There are some wildly long twisty lonely roads up north, and I really do want to go check them out. EZ | ||
| Themagster |
Luigi - Happy Trails - you'll have a great journey for sure. Geeessshhh, wish I was on the road again. It all goes so quickly. Now, where to go next... | ||
| Themagster |
Erik - say after me..."My name is Erik, and I am addicted to Blasting" I am sure one of you told me that once before in this forum. Sure, you can stop any time you want to, sure you can. I have some ocean front property in Arizona, from my front porch you can see the sea. | ||
| Court |
Too cool . . . I just missed RAGBRI this year but hope to be there next year . . I'll watch for you! | ||
| Ezblast |
lol | ||
| Luigiblues |
Hi guys and gals! It was an exciting week in Seattle. I'll keep it a mystery which tires I went with. When I reach Fairbanks Alaska, all will be reveild I'm going to try and make it to the dealer in Prince George tomorrow(at least call them), but as a bit of a game, I thought I would post this hear, to start the Thumper-Forum-Car-Talk-Styles-Diagnosis Yesterday, while riding from the border of USA to Hope BC Canada, I noticed that my gears seemed to be slipping up in range. For instance: 4-5th used to be 50-60mph(ish) for me. Towards the end of the day, it was about 10-15mph higher....and heaven forbid I upshifted too soon! The engine would be moving, but the thing didn't make the bike go. Not even lug. It was more like reving at idle. Frankly didn't think much of it. It was hot, it was the end of the day.....I was slightly exhausted....I would check it out in the morning. Today the problem increases a bit. Now the power ranges of the gears are narrow(ish). Too low, and it's the idle rev feeling, but too high, and I get intermitten losses of power...Could this be the skip spark I've heard so much about? Feels like soomething more devious. Yesterday this symptom was exclusivly 5th gear. Today it worked it's way down to 4th and a little bit of 3rd. When I let the bike sit(like for lunch), it's fine untill it's nice and warmed up again. Let's say 20-30miles. I'm going to check all the normal stuff when I get the camp site in just a few moments. Oil, spark, vents, leaking anything... Any bites? Till the morning my friends! Always on an adventure(but this time very far from home), -Anthony P.S. I'm sitting in the Williams Lake information center writing this! Freaking awesome! I love that there is internet everywhere now a days! | ||
| Ezblast |
Try a clutch adjustment and check your tranny fluid level. Altitude will also have an effect similar to that. EZ | ||
| Britchri10 |
Like EZ says., "Check the clutch" It sounds like an adjustment would ameliorate the problem. Clutch slip tends to worsen the longer it is ignored. Chris C | ||
| Luigiblues |
I just got back into the lower 48(Seattle) back from Alaska! All I can think is: "Whoa. What the hell just happened?" Turns out, Alaska is really really far away. Like mind blowing styles. I turned up at the Harley dealer here in Seattle looking to get a new back tire(It will be my 3rd And they got real excited about about the trip. Made me do a little interview and gave me a free T-Shirt! Whoo hoo! (maybe I should have asked for a free tire?) I can't imagine coming off as anything less than an babbling idiot in the video, but that's why my work puts me FIRMLY on the other side of the the lens It was worth the T-Shirt. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellevue-WA/Eastside-Harley-Davidson/62625700990?ref=mf Anyway. It was fun. Loads of nothin out there man. 150miles sometimes between towns, and more between gas. I attached a photo of the bike at Chillkoot Lake, just outside of Haines AK. Take note of the 10-liter red gas can strapped to the top of the already loaded bike! Also, I think after the 5,400 miles I've ridden so far, the little guy is earning a nick name: Jack. It's for: Jack London(The call of the wild), and Jack Kerouac, but mostly(and we'll keep this between us) it's for Jack Daniels, helping bikers and countless campers sleep though the night! I'm heading down to Portland tomorrow(Sep.6-7th.2009), if there are any blastards out there who would like to meet up and go for a little ride, or just go out for a beer send me a pm! -anthony  | ||
| Ezblast |
What tires did you go with the Pirelli 66's? Curious? EZ | ||
| Luigiblues |
Got the Pirelli going up to Fairbanks. Rode into town bald bout 3k put a Dunlop on the back wheel to get me down to Haines. Only going to get about 2k out if that tire. Dealer out here in Seattle wasn't into seeing if the road Ryder would fit sans modification to the swingarm, so one more pirelli to get home. Probablly wasn't the most economical solutions, but after a while you just say, "screw it! I'm riding!" -Anthony I'll tell you about the engin trouble I was having soon also. It was totally user error, and I was a little embarreased I'm still traveling at the moment and it's a pain writing on these phones! | ||
| Ezblast |
You need to get an Iphone - they work easily. EZ | ||
| Reuel |
Wish I could have gone with you, but I'd have started in Wasilla. | ||
| Ezblast |
 Now the comparo I'm about to do is a very modified Blast versus a brand new, just breaking in CR - however, I did scrub the tires around the city before attempting my favorite little loop - containing Deer Valley, Marsh Creek/Clayton, Hecker's Pass to the city of Pittsburg, then cut through to Antioch and home. Some light city riding, and a nice set of twisties. When I took my favorite Blast toy through this set of roads, it was always yahoo time, throwing her around the curves, keeping her lined up for the next, everything easily under control, and smooth - my key watch word in riding. By the time I'm home, I'm relaxed and ready to hit the daily chores in a good frame of mind. That Blast has always surprised a lot of folks with its ability, and will again as the XBBlast. The CR, however, is definitely a new experience. I'm breaking her in so I have to keep the rpm's in the 5500s and under, The first week was just short heat cycles around town and such, so today was its first adventure. This bike will make me an even better rider. For this bike demands smooth operation in its riding. Hard pulls of the breaks and twists of the wrist can have much more effect than looked for, so smoothness is the key, and exactly what I look for in my riding experience. It was nice, the seating position a bit more dedicated, but I could touch ground on both sides at the same time, so all was good standing still. The bike is very much more of a whole upper body work out, yet directionally smoother in transitions, I was 5 mphs faster in the corners without trying, ending with a 1" wide chicken strip and a much more confidence in the bikes abilities. I'll never outgrow such a bike, and being American and Austrian I may never need to. Yes, it is a different type of fun from the Blast, better - not really, but still a lot of fun and a great riding experience and education on being a better rider overall. I still love my Blasts, light, nimble, total easiness of operation - terrific and basic. The CR is a whole other kettle of fish, fun, with a world of bells and whistles to learn and have fun with. However, the part I'm looking forward to is improving my skills even more. EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
Both of my Blasts are highly modified to perform exceptionally well. Of course the CR is in a totally different league, however, at take off, where both are at minimum torque value, the crisp pull as you go up the power range is simular but different the CR at 5500rpms feels like my good bike at 7500rpms and as I said, where my bike starts peaking the CR is really just starting its power curve - thats good, other wise in city riding would be intolerable. Please remember also, I'm not wacking open the throttle on the CR the way I would on the Blasts - I'm not stupid. As the saying goes - its easier to ride a slow bike fast, than a fast bike slow. However, by that same token, I'm really impressed at the CR's in city manners - no hesitations, or surges, just power smoothly delivered upon demand - very nice! EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
Insidious is ready to hang with Starkiller!      Behold 2 out of 3 of the Sidth Lords ready to go! EZ | ||
| Johnnymac |
Very nice, EZ! I really like the red rim stripes with the Buell logo on the tank!  Johnny | ||
| Rainman |
You'd think they were siblings! | ||
| Ezblast |
Its the movie twins in motorcycle form - lol EZ  | ||
| Luigiblues |
Hey guys and gals! Just just back about two weeks ago Trip was epic. http://luigicycle.blogspot.com/ Thanks for all the help! | ||
| Ezblast |
Very nice! EZ |
