| Author | Message | ||
     Bdrag |
Well All, I did my annual 4 day spring ride to Arkansas from the Dallas area this past weekend. Loaded the Journey Cases and the back rest pack and added some tools for ballast to the tank bag. We left Friday morn in rain gear. The Bikes were a C14, an ST 1300, a Suzuki Bandit 1250 and the Buell. We dodged bad storms and never got more than a sprinkle all day. Did do a 20 mile stint at 10 mph on the Talamina parkway in the dense clouds and 30-50 mph cross winds. Made the 350 miles to the Motel with ZERO issues. The comfort level with the tall seat was very good for my 330 lb 6' tall self. The 20" tall Madstat set up worked well and kept most of the bugs off the face. The bike has plenty of usable power as long as your not below 2500-3000 rpm. Its sweet between 4000 and 6500 in the tight and twisted roads. I was able to stay with the lead bike, a 08' Concours 14 sept for the few long straight blasts. Many corners as I was playing catch up I would still be braking hard and hear the C14 powering out of the turn but by keeping the motor singing I was able to hang. Compared to my 2004 Dl 1000 this bike is as good and better in ways and lacks a little in others. The Strom has much less road surface feel so it was more of a disconected feel and just sit there and ride. The buell feels every little road imperfection and the mind has to deal with it.The Uly wants you to move around and work it. The Strom didn't bother you with the little stuff. No big deal just a totally different feel. I have had the front tire on the Strom do some sliding in road trash because you can't feel it comming. On the Buell I could feel everything and think it sometimes kept me back that extra 10 %. Thats fine with me. The Buell was a total blast and pleasure to ride. I kept the Special Ops pipe singing beutiful music the whole trip. I had the GPS up to 115 a few times. The bike when loaded gets a little happy at speed and un loaded as well with the side cases on. Not scary but it does ossilate. So did the strom. The bike made passing the slow traffic easy. With a little anticipation on the C14 I could drop it down a few gears and hammer past right on the C14's tail unless he stayed in it and then I was just watching it get smaller. I say up to 105 or so the Buell pulls great. The C14 and my Buell would get away from the other two bikes in the twisties. The others were right back on me though after the turns and if there was a short straight. Don't know if I would want the Uly to do 150 mph? HAhahaaa. We hit some areas where road construction was going on. There were 6 foot wide sections of the sharpest gravel I have ever seen or herd under my tires. Like sharks teeth. Crushed Granite? You could hear it cutting the soul from my Pirelli Angles. Upon the return home inspection I have many many small cuts and punctures in my rear tire with what look like spider web cracks emmiting from them. No pressure loss but I do not like how easy one of these sport touring tires seems to be roughed up by this. Can't imagine what a day on a gravel road would do to one. I think I will be looking into a set of the Scorpion Trails next. I have become a fan of the Duel Sport tires over the years on the DL. The rear Angle will be done by 3000 miles I think. Thats 1/3 better than I got on the Sync. So to sum it up. My little 1300 plus miles on the Uly were most enjoyable. I do have a small case of Monkey Butt but its not a severe case. I do have a little of what we call THE AX in the shoulder or neck between the shoulders but not as bad as I have had before on the Strom. The bike ran flawless. I kept hearing my wheel bearings going and my belt breaking at any second but niether ever happened. The luggage worked well, I had extra room if it was needed. The bike burned no oil that I could see. No leaks. The heated grips made the cool mornings and the little rain totally comfy with vented gloves on.The right leg did get a tad warm on the trip back but just hang it out now and then and it was fine. It was a very good trip. No tickets, No close calls. BDRAG | ||
| Idaho_buelly |
Good to hear you had a great trip!  | ||
| Slowride |
Where abouts in AR did ya go? I am leading a few Buells out that way from Dallas on 5/15 for the weekend. We will be staying at the KOA in Eureka Springs. | ||
| Bdrag |
Slowride Hey, I will PM ya tonight. I am at work and don't have all the roads at my finger tips. I do know there are WAY to many slow ass riders and cagers in the Eureka area. We stay in Alma or Ozark off 40. One good loop I know from there is to go east of town 10 miles or so and hit 21 south and take it all the way down to Clarksville. Then take 103 to 215 over to 23 and back up towards Eureka. All the roads around Jasper are great and there is a road called PUSH MOUNTAIN which is south of Mountain Home I think thats great. That and all of 123 especially from Mt juda to 7 up hill. I actually was able to out run my buddy on his C14 on that road on my strom. Now that was a great feeling! Push Mountain has a guy taking pics a lot of the time kinda like Killboy on the dragon. BDRAG | ||
| Surfsofa |
Know what you mean about the feedback. The other week I was convinced my bearings had gone as the bike seemed to be tracking poorly. Turned out to be fine grooves in the road I couldn't even see. I'm not sure how much of this is the bike and how much tyres (in my case Stradas), but it's very reassuring to know I'm getting so much feedback. |
