Re: V-Rod

[rennsport@xxxxxxxxx]

On Oct 16, 2004, at 7:11 AM, Tom Brown wrote:

> Robert and Others:
>
> All this "tragic V-Rod" talk reminds me of another engine I love in 
> need of a good, comfortable bike.   The Aprilia/Rotax 60 degree, dry 
> sump V-twin.. Although the Mille is comfortable for a race rep bike, 
> it's really not comfortable for sport touring.   I've done a few 
> weekends with it.  Storage is a real problem.  I have to stuff 
> everything in a double height tank bag and in the compartment under 
> the back seat.  Not much room at all.   I bought a Corbin for it.  
> They're not my favorite seat, but there's was the only one available.  
>  I recently put some adjustable bars on it.   These helped a little, 
> but a lot less than I hoped.


What about a tailbag for the back portion of the seat? Or were you 
riding two-up? For clothes, all I carry when I am on a trip is 
underwear shirts and only one pair of pants and my rain suit.

With the addition of a Givi topcase, I can two-up tour in comfort.

>
> The Futura is supposed to answer the call for a sport touring Mille, 
> but it really doesn't hit the mark.  It looks goofy and is plagued 
> with electrical gremlins.   My test ride of that found less wind 
> protection than I'd liike and truly boring handling and a very tamed 
> down engine...different FI and exhaust.   During my whole demo ride, 
> there was a warning light of some kind showing and the dealer had no 
> idea how to fix this short of cutting a wire or pulling a bulb.   No 
> clue as to the root cause of this problem.


You need to find a different Aprilia dealer, one who knows how to set a 
bike up. My futura test ride had no electricla gremlins, no unknown 
dash lights. "cutting a wire"? This guy sounds like a hack! The wind 
protection for me was fine. I have come to be a "less is more" kind of 
bike owner.

Yes I too was spoiled by the aeroflow screen on my R11RS, but, I have 
grown to love the 3/4 fairing  on my FZ6, although I may add a 4" 
taller screen for winter time riding.


>
> The Mille engine is So Fine.   It has a marvelous sound, goes like 
> stink and has twin balance shafts that really kill vibrations.   It's 
> just such a fun bike.   All it needs is telelever, paralever, upright 
> seating position, storage, a bigger powered windscreen......In short, 
> BMW ergos.
>
>
> Ducati's ST series is pretty good, but again, the frame geometry is 
> really conservative and it doesn't really supply all the virtues of a 
> BMW.   I owned an ST4 and didn't think it was much more comfortable 
> than my Mille, which is easily twice the fun.

So we can summarize that you are not comfortable riding a 
SPORTS-touring bike. You like to be isolated from the elements. Others 
may be different. I know I am.



Robert

04 Yamaha FZ6
http://moto.cv4.org

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