Triumphrat

Baltothunder · 10-13-2009, 07:34 PM

From my first long range trip on the bird. Baltimore to Nags Head. Bike ran well and accumulated 1000 miles so it went right in for the first service when I got back.

Thing is phenominal on gas. Got 55 MPG on one run on the way down, all highway running between 55 to 70 MPH. Never got less than 45 mpg, running mostly on shell 93 octane.

I need to get better mirrors, as I frequently lost our tailgunner during lane changes. The stock ones are too small and mounted too low IMO.

Touring seat is probably on the list as well, I didn't get too uncomfortable, but I wished the seat was a little more forgiving where my thigh goes over the edge. Shifted my seating positon from time to time to compensate.

Enigine did its coolant seep on the short trip to our takeoff point, but stayed dry once we got down there. Engine developed a 'tick' (I'm thinking valve adjustment maybe?) over the last 200 miles. One backfire on startup through the left pipe (My fault, ham-handed the starter button). Everything was relayed to the service tech, will get it back tomorrow, hopefully.

hypervista · 10-13-2009, 08:25 PM

Nice succinct report Baltothunder! I'm thinking about getting new mirror's too, my shoulders are always in the way. Have you seen the ones Birdy68 put on his? Mucho Coolio.

Big Jack8 · 10-13-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hypervista

Nice succinct report Baltothunder! I'm thinking about getting new mirror's too, my shoulders are always in the way. Have you seen the ones Birdy68 put on his? Mucho Coolio.

It may not be your mirror,I had the same problem till I put on a set of America bars that changed the angle and got the mirror past my arms.

dazco · 10-13-2009, 08:47 PM

Hey Jack, you made it over here finally !!!! Good to see ya here.

Baltothunder · 10-13-2009, 09:57 PM

Birdy's mirrors are cool, but too small. I do a lot of group riding, and I need as much area as I can. Thinking of trying a cheap set of bar end type just to see if it works better...

traveler501 · 10-13-2009, 09:59 PM

just a minor point. I noticed you mentioned 93 octane. my book seems to call for 87...and I have been using 87 without any signs of pinging. is there something I don't know, or are you being extra careful during breakin? just curious...this is how I learn

Baltothunder · 10-13-2009, 10:17 PM

I used 93 in the old bike, force of habit. I ran a tank of 87 through it and noticed it would occasionally miss on idle. Performance was fine, but i figured for breaking in, use the higher stuff. I need to find what the dealer filled me up with when I bought the bike, ran great on whatever it was...

dazco · 10-13-2009, 10:33 PM

I'm tempted to try 93 myself because i read where someone said they get much better mileage with it and the extra cost of 93 is offset by the mileage. So i'd like to try it and see. heck, if i got more mileage but paid the same per mile it would give the tank a longer range. But i wonder about performance because supposedly higher octane burns slower and provides less power. That would however seem to go against the likelihood of better MPG, but who knows till ya try. But your MPG is better than mine so it may be true.

Truss · 10-13-2009, 11:16 PM

In the manual I got with my bike it sais to use 91 octane or higher. What gives? If we can use 87 and it runs fine with no pinging then I'd rather go that route. Will using 87 harm the engine?

dazco · 10-13-2009, 11:24 PM

It's regional. In some countries the octane ratings don't mean the same thing. For example, in canada 93 may be the same as 89 here in the states. So your manual will reflect that, as the manuals are also regional.