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Tuesday, June 2 Hi VTwin Mama, I have recently launched my own motorcycle site, Cruiser Tales. The purpose is to publish riders' stories, whether about trips, rider friendly destinations, riding experience, learning, or even customizing and repairs. When I was learning, I looked for stuff like that to read, and wished there was more of it out there. People just don't want to be that up front about their not so glorious learning experiences ... but that's exactly what newer riders need to hear in order to learn! I also have a T-shirt store now, Mad Dash Riot, with many designs geared for the female rider. Some include my own illustrations but many also go beyond the usual block type for something more visually appealing. My sizes range from kids and juniors to women's plus sizes 1 to 5X. Linda C. Dear Linda, And I just LOVE some of your T-shirt designs ... very vivid and colorful ... something women are always looking for! I know that VTM readers appreciate that you took the time to include a wider range of sizes as many of the bigger aftermarket stores really stick to the "average" size, whatever that means! My best wishes on your new adventures!
Mama Tuesday, June 2 New Advertiser Says Hello To VTwin Mama Readers! Hi VTwin Mama, Becky: I grew up loving the outdoors of Oklahoma., hunting, fishing, and playing softball, but theres no better way to have the wind in your face than by riding a bike. Needless to say I started riding at a very young age. Now living in Florida, part time, the riding weather is great all year long, but the roads do not compare to the moonshine roads and switchbacks in the Smokey Mountains. My husband, Russ and I have traveled thousands of miles through North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia (mostly with me riding on the back, because I love to take photos), so as we designed First Class Motorcycle Tours ... we wanted to share a 1st class encounter of quaint lodging, exquisite food, off the beaten path points of interest and breath taking views in a safe environment. I know you will fall in love with the area as we did. Russ: I worked in the Corporate Banking World for 14 years and after many years of the fast paced corporate life, I decided to follow my dreams and enjoy my passion. My motorcycle life started with me when I was 4 years old and my dad bought me a Kawasaki KX80! The rear fender lasted about 2 minutes before I flipped it and ripped it off. By the time I was 14 I was riding a Honda 550 Super Sport up and down the street we lived on. Once I got my motorcycle license it was full speed ahead. I have been a motorcycle road racer and competed at some of the worlds most famous tracks such as Daytona, Road Atlanta and Sebring. My wife and I have logged many thousands of miles on our bikes and just enjoy the freedom of the road that just can't be experienced any other way. I have always had the motorcycle passion and for many years have taken friends and soon to be friends for group rides. They always have wanted to return for more adventures. I enjoy the Smokey Mountains so much Becky & I bought a 2nd home there to further our riding passions, as well as distances. Now I want to share our enjoyment and what we have learned of the Smokey Mountains with you. I ride a BMW K1200LT, KTM 990 Super Duke, Kawasaki ZX12R and soon a new bike ... but dont let Becky know LOL ... oh and I go through I lot of tires! Russ Beckenstein (Owner/Guide/Marketing/Mechanic/Oil Changer/Destroyer of Tires) and Becky Beckenstein (Co-Owner/VP of Reservations/Comptroller/Directore of New Tire Allocation for Russ) Tuesday, June 2 Hey VTwin Mama, Dear Lynne, As I often mention, no matter where you are on your journey, every time you start riding a new-to-you motorcycle, it really does make sense to head to an empty parking lot and go through all the starting drills. For you Lynne, those are fresh in your mind. Find something empty and well paved in your neighborhood and start with the duck walks again. Remember those?! You paddle along with your feet working on your clutch control to keep you moving forward without stalling but not going too fast as well. This drill is imperative ... as clutch handling figures into slow turns and the like. Then work on simple start/stop drills in 1st gear, aiming to stop at a predetermined point. Remember, head and eyes on the horizon ... we go where we look. Then it's on to wide turns to get the clutch in control to tighten up a control and to learn to use that back brake a bit to further control your speed. Your husband can be a big help here as new riders often don't look fully through the turn or start looking at the ground ... by watching you, he can catch your head position and help you correct it. I also consider the Ride Like a Pro DVD one of the best after class learning tools available. As a registered member of the VTwin Mama Message Board, you can head to the Lending Library and check a copy out. Or you can purchase one for yourself. Lots of extra drills and tons of good pointers to master. Every person who has ever commented on it has noted that they became a better rider because of the practice they put in after watching the sections and then sceduling practice time to work on things. You'll be fine ... take a few baby steps away from traffic and soon you'll be better prepared to add that to what your brain needs to process! Mama Tuesday, June 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Staci,
So, in essence, an ape hanger is simply one with more overall rise! My thought is this .... sit on your bike, off the side stand and centered. Have a family member or friend help with the next step. Raise your arms into a higher position that you feel is comfortable (i.e. not causing too much of a stretch and not causing your shoulder blades to tense. Have that helper take a piece of string or rope and run it from where the current handlebar clamps in up to your new hand position. Then measure the string/rope. That's approximately the handlebar's rise. In your string measurement you'll want to subtract an inch or so because your hands are at the lower end of the overall bar, not at the top of the rise. Remember that the width is just important ... you don't want to have to spread your arms out to far, so again, have your helper measure the max distance you want your hands apart. Now you are ready to shop. Perhaps your local dealer has an ape hanger or two in inventory and you can bring your bike and just have them hold it in place to see. But I think if you really pay strict attention to the measuring system, you'll be able to order with confidence. Mama Tuesday, June 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear T., If we have any skin care experts who ride in the audience, please chime in! Mama Tuesday, June 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Lisa, While one might not think that a VTwin Mama advertiser could serve as impartial help, I simply note that many VTwin Mama readers have benefited with talking to Allen at Mean City Cycles for a heart-to-heart chat on what can and cannot be done on certain makes/models. He has proven to us that he's a listener! Some have simply explored options while others have gone ahead and used his services ... and I've not heard one complaint. Why not talk to him about what's available, etc.? Otherwise, let's hear from others on what they decided on. Mama Wednesday, June 3 Hi VTwin Mama and VTM Sisters, Also have you seen our new 2009 designs using the reflective and glowing inks? This is a nice addition to our main line of protective riding gear for women! Kristina Jones, Owner, Cameleon Apparel Dear Kristina, Wednesday, June 3 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Barbara, So, the first thing to ascertain is whether you can come to a stop on a level surface and simply hold the weight of the bike with your left foot. In your driveway, get on the bike, take it off the side stand, both feet on the ground and then lean the bike to the left to see what that leg can support. If you're slightly on tippy toes when you are centered on the bike, you may want to consider a boot with more heel/sole or shaving a bit out of the seat to lower your butt and get those feet firm on the ground. With your left leg planted firmly, how much can you lean? Enough to hold the bike and keep that right foot on the rear brake? With the rear brake controlling the backslide on an incline (yup, it has enough grab to hold it) ... then your hands are free to coordinate the forward movement with clutch and throttle and you can ease off the back brake as you begin your creep up the incline. Yup, it does take practice. Remember, don't look down ... you know where the foot controls are and what the ground looks like ... head and eyes looking exactly where you want to go. Mama Wednesday, June 3 Dear VTwin Mama, As for wearing the helmet that causes the helmet hair? I work in an ER as a chaplain. I've seen too many organ donors who would have gone home that day to their families if they had worn a helmet. I wear a helmet because I want to spend many more years being mom and grandma. And I wear a helmet because I've seen the devastating grief families go through. So, selfishly I wear a helmet for me and lovingly I wear my helmet for my kids and grandkids. I'm distracted by the claustrophobia I experience in a FF (full face), so I wear a 3/4 most of the time. Occasionally a 1/2. I actually find the helmets keep me cooler than the sun beating down on my head, and a bandana without a helmet just seems to want to blow away (have lost a few that way). Ride for fun, but ride safe. Teresa Dear Teresa, Still, for everyone who gladly embraces hair smush as a consequence of helmet wear, but wishes they could fluff out a bit more nicely, thank you as well for your practical tips on combating the dreaded helmet hair! You've written a dual-purpose message that we'll all benefit from! Mama Thursday, June 4 Dear VTwin Mama, The MRF is a member-based organization and most (though certainly not all) of our members come to us through their SMRO (state motorcycle rights organization). In fact we are proud to say that many of those SMROs themselves are sustaining members. The MRF maintains an office in D.C. within walking distance of the House and Senate, and our Vice-President of Government Affairs, Jeff Hennie, puts shoe leather to the hallways on a daily basis. Jeff monitors all legislation and regulatory actions that could impact us as riders. When there is a need, the MRF puts out an alert that explains the situation and urges motorcyclists to contact legislators or make their voices heard in other ways. It is membership dues and donations from members that keeps that D.C. office open and keeps the only national motorcyclists rights organization formed BY street riders FOR street riders in operation. Thank you for your advertising opportunity; we look forward to a happy relationship with VTwin Mama! Best, Cindy Hodges, Member Representative Board Member Dear Cindy, Friday, June 5 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Kelcy, Motorcycle Industry Jobs is an online bulletin posting available jobs in the U.S. Since you have worked at a motorcycle dealership, this may be of use. The only other path I can think of is to apprentice yourself to an independent bike shop if possible ... readers, any other ideas? Mama Saturday, June 6 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Sonya, Then it's up to you to email or call ... I always think the first best step is to learn when the next meeting will be and attend. That way you can find out first-hand what the focus of the group is and if that meshes with your ideas. Mama Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Dana, Friday, June 26 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Rachelle, I'm soooo glad to hear that the VTwin Mama Message Board has been a helpful destination for you ... and I just love the continuing build-up of the Fit Charts, which show riders sitting on their bikes with notes about modifications and such. As you noted, it helped you visualize yourself on various makes and models, thus streamlining the research a bit. Congrats on the new Suzuki Boulevard S40 and many happy miles to you! Mama Friday, June 26 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear tpcr, When I'm researching something like this, I often go to the webBikeWorld site to see who they are listing links for. It's a good starting point. Interestingly enough, I don't see LePera listed and they are one of the big Harley after-market seat companies. In addition to LePera and the other list, I'd check Saddlemen, another reputable company in the industry. Mama Hello VTM, Scenario: 5'5", 115 lb, 35 yr old with very limited riding experience (right at a year ... started with a Honda Rebel 250). Recently purchased Honda Shadow ACE 750. The new ride is sweet and super smooth at any point past which the clutch engages first gear. Curves are fine and the bike is easily maneuverable. It seems to fit me nicely: both feet easily touch the ground flat footed and the handlebars and foot controls are in easy reaching distance. Question/Problem: Tipped it over in a parking lot just sitting on it and pushing it around to position it in a parking spot. This has given me the jitters (even in the saddle where I was previously feeling cautiously optimistic!). How do I get used to pushing this hunk o' metal around when I need to in parking areas?! I'm not very big and this bike's weight is very different from the Rebels (which is not a big deal once in motion) In the tipping incident I was facing down a slight hill, trying to turn SLIGHTLY to the right (but the wheel cut sharper than I intended). As the bike started to go down to the right, I instinctively leaned to the right to try to push back up/towards the left (to sort of "get under it" a little). In retrospect I wonder if I should have leaned far left right away. Will I ever be able to adequately handle this bike in super slow motion? Jill Dear Jill, I want you to try something for me. Sit on your bike centered and off the side stand, in first gear so it won't move, and turn the handlebar fully to one side and then the other. Can you do this without having to lift out of your seat or shift your body in any way, including your feet on the ground? If not, therein lies the challenge because when we can't do a full bar lock (as it's called) we in fact do not have the handlebar fully under our control. The solution is to add a pullback riser that will move the handlebar just a bit closer to the body so that the full handlebar turn can be accomplished without any other movement of the body. If this is not the case and all is well with this little test, then I suspect it's the head position that could be goofing you up. I have often noted, even in my own pushing around, that if I start a front wheel turn to maneuver into some position, but I turn my head to look elsewhere (for whatever reason), the handlebar turn will easily move further than I intended ... and then I'm not in the proper body position to handle the subsequent shift in the bike's weight. Small inclines, whether front-to-back or to one side, just compound the quickness of the shift. So, I would encourage you to start from scratch to regain confidence. Sit on the bike in 1st gear (not running) and the wheel straight forward and lean the bike to a feel for the weight and what each leg can hold. Then in neutral and on level ground, push the bike backward and then forward with your head facing forward. Then at home or in an empty parking lot, work on basic parking skills to get it worked out without the worry of other people and bikes in the vicinity. That should get you back in the saddle and ready to take anything on! Mama Monday, June 29 Hello VTM, Scenario: 5'5", 115 lb, 35 yr old with very limited riding experience (right at a year ... started with a Honda Rebel 250). Recently purchased Honda Shadow ACE 750. The new ride is sweet and super smooth at any point past which the clutch engages first gear. Curves are fine and the bike is easily maneuverable. It seems to fit me nicely: both feet easily touch the ground flat footed and the handlebars and foot controls are in easy reaching distance. Question/Problem: Tipped it over in a parking lot just sitting on it and pushing it around to position it in a parking spot. This has given me the jitters (even in the saddle where I was previously feeling cautiously optimistic!). How do I get used to pushing this hunk o' metal around when I need to in parking areas?! I'm not very big and this bike's weight is very different from the Rebels (which is not a big deal once in motion) In the tipping incident I was facing down a slight hill, trying to turn SLIGHTLY to the right (but the wheel cut sharper than I intended). As the bike started to go down to the right, I instinctively leaned to the right to try to push back up/towards the left (to sort of "get under it" a little). In retrospect I wonder if I should have leaned far left right away. Will I ever be able to adequately handle this bike in super slow motion? Jill Dear Jill, I want you to try something for me. Sit on your bike centered and off the side stand, in first gear so it won't move, and turn the handlebar fully to one side and then the other. Can you do this without having to lift out of your seat or shift your body in any way, including your feet on the ground? If not, therein lies the challenge because when we can't do a full bar lock (as it's called) we in fact do not have the handlebar fully under our control. The solution is to add a pullback riser that will move the handlebar just a bit closer to the body so that the full handlebar turn can be accomplished without any other movement of the body. If this is not the case and all is well with this little test, then I suspect it's the head position that could be goofing you up. I have often noted, even in my own pushing around, that if I start a front wheel turn to maneuver into some position, but I turn my head to look elsewhere (for whatever reason), the handlebar turn will easily move further than I intended ... and then I'm not in the proper body position to handle the subsequent shift in the bike's weight. Small inclines, whether front-to-back or to one side, just compound the quickness of the shift. So, I would encourage you to start from scratch to regain confidence. Sit on the bike in 1st gear (not running) and the wheel straight forward and lean the bike to a feel for the weight and what each leg can hold. Then in neutral and on level ground, push the bike backward and then forward with your head facing forward. Then at home or in an empty parking lot, work on basic parking skills to get it worked out without the worry of other people and bikes in the vicinity. That should get you back in the saddle and ready to take anything on! Mama Monday, June 29 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Susan, A trip of this type requires vigilance for both the bike and you. Always keep an eye on your bike's fluids (oil, clutch, brake, cooling system if there is one) and the chain (if it has one). If possible, know where dealers and other shops are along the route and carry those phone numbers with you, especially if you do not have a road service assistance plan through your insurance. Consider calling your insurance company to see what the cost would be to add this. Carry basic tools (and duct tape). If you're traveling in various states, make sure you know the helmet laws. Wearing a helmet in areas you don't know is a good idea ... and really helps when weather turns bad. Have clothes for hot and cold weather (layers) and a good rain suit and rain boots. Getting soggy when you still have hundreds of miles to go is miserable. Your own personal safety is helped by having a cell phone with you (although in mountains they sometimes lose coverage). Keep basic track of the distance between towns so if something happens you know the shortest distance to get help. If something doesn't seem right (with another motorist situation), get the nearest place with other people (gas station, store, restaurant, etc.). Do not stop for another car or bike unless you truly believe you can help ... if a rider is flagging you down but you don't feel comfortable stopping, note where they are and call on their behalf when you get to the next area with people. Always have water with you and small energy snacks (nuts, granola, etc.). Keep alcohol to a minimum (ie. no riding after you've been drinking as it dulls your ability to handle situations and a hangover hurts really bad when riding the next day!). Have a good trip! More tips from the readers of VTM can be found on the Trip Tips pages. Lots of good stuff there! Mama Monday, June 29 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear dkamp Monday, June 29 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Starr, "This sounds like a straight forward fuel delivery issue. Anything that affects fuel has to be checked. The fuel lines, filters, float valve(s), petcock and tank vent are all suspect here, as is the fuel pump if the bike has one (I believe they do but can't recall for certain). Basically the bike is running out of gas at high speeds, and the float bowls are refilling themselves in the time it takes for the bike to slow down. Take care, MZ" Aha. If you don't have a full service manual then head to this page on BikeBandit ... it contains all the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts drawings. What I found is that your motorcycle does not have a fuel pump. It does have a petcock (on, off, reserve). I would first try this. Put the petcock on Reserve position and run up to speed and see if the bike cuts out. If it doesn't the problem may be in the main fuel line. If it does, it's more likely a filter or the other things Mark mentions. Then I would locate the carb float bowl(s). At the very bottom is a drain plug. Turn the petcock to Off. Undo the plug (usually a screw in bolt) and drain into a clear container. See if you have crud partials and water. Crud can clog a filter or line and water just needs to be out. Start with these steps and see if you can figure anything out. Otherwise it's more work and possibly a trip to the dealer's service department to clear things up. Mama Monday, June 29 4th Annual Women's Sportbike Rally, Fontana, NC, Sept 11-13 Dear VTwin Mama, Monday, June 29 15th Annual Bikers for Babies, Kansas City, KS, Sept 20 Dear VTwin Mama, Last year, riders and sponsors contributed $630,000 to benefit the March of Dimes and bring its 14-year total to $3.7 million. Event organizers are expecting to reach the $4 million mark in 2009 as Kansas City Bikers for Babies enters its seventh year as the most successful March of Dimes motorcycle event in the country. For a $35 minimum donation, riders and passengers will enjoy a 100-mile all-Kansas route, complimentary lunch, a 2009 commemorative pin and patch and a ticket for special prize drawings. For every $100 raised, participants will earn a chance to win a 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, donated by Worth Harley-Davidson North. Event day registration is $40 per person. Grand Donors who raise $1,000 will take laps around the Kansas Speedway track. Honorary Chairman Johnny Dare of 98.9 The Rock and Karli Ritter, FOX4-KC, will serve as emcees for the opening ceremonies. Participants can also enjoy a Chris Cakes all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast ($5); a Peoples Choice Bike Show presented by Gails Harley-Davidson; Vendors' Expo, music performed by local bands and vintage motorcycle display. Registration opens at 8 a.m. and
festivities at Kansas Speedway will conclude by 3 p.m. Riders are
invited to attend the opening ceremonies inside the track at 9:15 a.m.
and depart for the route by 10 a.m. Participants can avoid the event-day
crowd and pre-register at one of eight area
locations. Log on to
www.bikersforbabieskc.org for pre-registration
events. The March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. We carry out this mission through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies. VL (note from Mama: the full Bikers for Babies listing across the U.S. can be found at http://www.bikersforbabies.org/wd_regp01.asp.) Tuesday, June 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Marcie, I remember the first time I saw a very short rider sitting on an Intruder (back in the late 90s) ... my immediate reaction was, "What a great fit!" Just looking at the rider I could sense the excellent seating position and balance and I have always been a fan of the 750/800 cc engine sizes (having ridden two myself; a Kawasaki 750 and a Honda Shadow 750). From what I understand they are also considered a reliable bike in terms of maintenance and longevity. Of course Suzuki renamed everything to their Boulevard line, so the Intruder 800 is now the S50. Just a point of interest ... some people love this frame size but want a bit more power after riding it awhile ... that can be done by changing to a hypercharger kit, which is also called a big air kit. More air flows to the carb(s) and thus one rejets the carb to balance the fuel component. My understanding is that at the highest gear, one gets more oomph for comfort at higher speeds. Mama Tuesday, June 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear espelj966, "There are only a couple of hard-and-fast rules when it comes to replacing the tires. The first is to never replace a tire with one that has a lower speed rating than the original equipment. The second is that rims are designed to support tires of a certain width. Putting on a big fat tire won't help much if the rims on your bike are intended to take little skinny ones. Finally, all the information you need to safely choose a new tire is stamped right on the sidewall of your old one." Hmmm. If this is the 750 Spirit, the original tire is 160/80 - 15; if it's the 1100 Spirit, then it's the Dunlop 170/80 - 15 (I gathered this info from the OEM drawings on the BikeBandit.com site). The first number is the tire width in millimeters, the second number is the height/tread ratio so in both cases the height of the tire is 80% of the tire width, and the third is the rim diameter in inches. The Dunlop site is not calling out any replacements other than the original sizes. In their FAQs I found this: "Consult the motorcycle manufacturer if you intend to mount sizes other than indicated in the owner's manual. Remember the tire's physical dimensions are important. Adequate clearance of fenders, swingarm, etc., must be maintained. Increasing tire size may require an increase in rim width. When increasing tire size and/or rim width, rotate wheel and inspect closely for sufficient clearance." Ok, so a general warning. I would head to a specific Spirit message board and talk it out. Let's see if we get any input from VTM readers. Sorry I couldn't be of more help at this time. Mama Tuesday, June 30 Dear VTwin Mama, I am wondering if I am biting off too much by choosing such a powerful bike? What can I do to safely transition to this bike from my 250cc bike in class? Also, is there anything I should know ahead of time about bike maintenance living in such a high elevation? Any advice would be much appreciated. Shaunie Dear Shaunie, Continual travel up and down in altitude is greatly assisted by choosing a bike that is fuel injected or has a CV (constant-velocity) carb. Both systems can adjust for altitude (air pressure) changes, which impacts how much gas and air are being mixed to fire at optimal levels. The fuel-injection system has a slight advantage on this IMHO. The Spirit is a CV carb, so I would talk it out with the dealer (who will tell you that all will be well, but I'd push for their thoughts on fuel injected models). I also love that the Spirit has a shaft drive, which takes away all maintenance concerns of a chain or belt. The Rebel, while a CV carb, is a much smaller engine overall and if you need to maintain speed in mountain passes, you'll be putting a lot more strain on the bike and I'm just not sure you're going to be happy on this bike. I'd take a second look at the VTM Engine Size Chart ... where you'll see a nice Honda VLX at 583cc (still a low seat height ... the last model year was 2007, but that's ok if you're looking in the used market), or a Yamaha VStar 650 (seat is higher by about 2" but is CV carb and shaft drive), along with a few other choices. So, if you do go ahead with a mid-size (or actually, whatever you choose), the fact is that your class lessons will help you. Take the new-to-you-bike to an empty parking lot and start right from the beginning of all the drills you learn. In this way you're not introducing nasty traffic and other hazards and can concentrate on getting a feel for the motorcycle. That includes practicing pushing it around while seated to move into a parking spot, etc.! Then map out a short road ride and have someone follow you on a bike or car so that you don't have to worry about someone crowding you from behind in frustration! It's a good step! Maintenance is the same at any elevation ... it's mostly about checking oil and clutch and brake fluid levels ... and changing fluids and filters as recommended. Of course maintaining correct tire pressure is a biggee as well. My best wishes in your upcoming class ... remember to think positively (as any negative guessing on how things will go just drag you down mentally), hydrate, take a deep breath if something is frustrating you, and have at 'er! Remember that's what a class is for ... learning ... and all learning is good! Mama Tuesday, June 30 Dear VTwin Mama, I am looking for solutions since I really do not want to give up this bike, it's style and performance, weight, etc. really suit my style. I think the problem though, is that since this bike has a traditionally upright seated riding position, I lean forward, so my butt and wrists get sore and stressed very quickly. I have realized that I probably need to have a bar back/riser added to get me moved back on the handlebars and in turn seated back into the comfortable part of the saddle as well. I am looking for stories and advice from other gals who maybe have had to modify their rides to get comfortable enough to be able to ride long distances, and even cross country, which is my ultimate goal. Sheila F. in Francestown, NH Dear Sheila, If your hands are simply a bit lower than the current set-up then loosening the handlebar clamp and rotating downward a bit might be something to consider. It's really amazing how this small change can make a difference! If the handlebar itself is in good position, take a moment to review the actual clutch and brake assemblies. We can get tight in the wrists, and more notably in the shoulder blades and thus through the back and butt, if the wrist is cocked up or bent down even slightly in normal position. It just strains everything. Otherwise, a pullback riser will make the difference and is one of the least expensive and typically easiest modifications to make. When I rode a '86 BMW K75 I found that the foot controls below my hips were tough because there is no natural place to extend one's legs for another position on longer hauls. I use to lean forward and rest my feet on the passenger pegs (not a recommended riding position for sure!). Too bad they replaced the boxer engine; my R1200C has an engine guard that also allows for a leg rest. But so be it ... that F800 has a parallel twin and no chance for a forward placed engine guard or highway bar (that I know of). I'd also take another look at that seat. Not much padding. It might be possible to open the seat cover, scoop out whatever is in there, and replace it with a gel insert for more tushy comfort. Just a thought! Mama
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