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New guy's new toys for new '04 RS

2K views 16 replies 4 participants last post by  stevecro 
#1 ·
Thank you all for your help. Y'all have been kind enough to answer my questions, and help me to make some decisions.

My 2004 Black Sprint RS will be undergoing the following mod's:
As I am a short shitt, I gotta think about the inevitable tip-over. I ordered some frame sliders from John at Sky King products.
The GenMar risers I recieved last week allowed me to take my new bike for a ride in this Central California fog. As I am but only 5' 2" (on a good day), they didn't entirely do the trick. They will be for sale as soon as I install my,
LSL risers with their "SuperBike (tubular) bars." They include their famous braided brake line with the kit, and assure me that the factory cables will reach the resulting 3" rise & 6" pullback. I also paid the additional $29.00 for thier "crash" bar ends.
Because I ride year 'round, I ordered from a clearance outlet, the Zero Gravity Sport Touring shield with a light-smoke tint.
I will be buying a gel pad and taking an electric carving knife to my seat. I plan to cut down the driver section in an attempt to get me closer to the ground, and insert the gel pad to support my heavyness.....

My pipe-dreams for the future include a custom shock from Works Performance made for my weight and lowered about a half inch. I will then employ Lindemann Racing to set up the correct geometry to my front-end to match the lowered rear.
I want to find some hard bags from off an ST. The lids can be scratched up because I will be coating them with black truck-bed liner (to aid in that parking lot tip-over I spoke of).
It seems the best worked out, and dialed in exhaust modification includes a Triumph can for which the "new & latest" mapping is available.

That's it! I've had the bike for several days and have not been able to ride it. At least with the GenMar risers (now for sale), I was able to lift my full-faced helmet high enough to see down the road and go for a spin Saturday.
That triple beneath me is seductively hypnotic, and much different than the the BMW boxer I got off of. I am a bit put off by a speedometer that is 10% optimistic, but it's easier to guess my speed with a 10% difference than it was with my Beemer's 6.74% difference......

I think I'm gonna like this bike, I think I'm gonna like this site, but whas up with the censoring and removal of the Harley "anal retentive" thread? I do so enjoy standing up for, and on behalf of, fellow motorcycle riders..... regardless of their choice of steed.

I'm down for the Brotherhood of bikers, and loyal to no brand..... :-D
 
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#2 ·
Thank you all for your help. Y'all have been kind enough to answer my questions, and help me to make some decisions.

My 2004 Black Sprint RS will be undergoing the following mod's:
As I am a short shitt, I gotta think about the inevitable tip-over. I ordered some frame sliders from John at Sky King products.
The GenMar risers I recieved last week allowed me to take my new bike for a ride in this Central California fog. As I am but only 5' 2" (on a good day), they didn't entirely do the trick. They will be for sale as soon as I install my,
LSL risers with their "SuperBike (tubular) bars." They include their famous braided brake line with the kit, and assure me that the factory cables will reach the resulting 3" rise & 6" pullback. I also paid the additional $29.00 for thier "crash" bar ends.
Because I ride year 'round, I ordered from a clearance outlet, the Zero Gravity Sport Touring shield with a light-smoke tint.
I will be buying a gel pad and taking an electric carving knife to my seat. I plan to cut down the driver section in an attempt to get me closer to the ground, and insert the gel pad to support my heavyness.....

My pipe-dreams for the future include a custom shock from Works Performance made for my weight and lowered about a half inch. I will then employ Lindemann Racing to set up the correct geometry to my front-end to match the lowered rear.
I want to find some hard bags from off an ST. The lids can be scratched up because I will be coating them with black truck-bed liner (to aid in that parking lot tip-over I spoke of).
It seems the best worked out, and dialed in exhaust modification includes a Triumph can for which the "new & latest" mapping is available.

That's it! I've had the bike for several days and have not been able to ride it. At least with the GenMar risers (now for sale), I was able to lift my full-faced helmet high enough to see down the road and go for a spin Saturday.
That triple beneath me is seductively hypnotic, and much different than the the BMW boxer I got off of. I am a bit put off by a speedometer that is 10% optimistic, but it's easier to guess my speed with a 10% difference than it was with my Beemer's 6.74% difference......

I think I'm gonna like this bike, I think I'm gonna like this site, but whas up with the censoring and removal of the Harley "anal retentive" thread? I do so enjoy standing up for, and on behalf of, fellow motorcycle riders..... regardless of their choice of steed.

I'm down for the Brotherhood of bikers, and loyal to no brand..... :-D
 
G
#3 ·
I'm glad you're enjoying your new RS.

I knew the Genmar risers would not be enough for you as they are barely adequate for me at 5'6". I can now barely reach around the Triumph tank bag.

I have the Zero Gravity touring screen in light smoke and love it. It greatly reduced the turbulence at interstate speeds. I don't mind wind, but I don't like turbulence and that was what I had with the stock screen. I had to wait a few weeks for it because ZG didn't have any on the shelf, but it was well worth the wait.

My next two mods are a Powermax underseat exhaust and a Tuneboy program. I've been putting off exhaust because of the price and reports that ALL of the Triumph tunes available suck. I can't wait to play with the Tuneboy and make this RS run like it should.

I would highly recommend focusing only on comfort until the bike suites you. No reason to spend money on exhaust, tunes, lights, etc. until you are positive you can make it comfy.

I too like ALL makes of motorcycles. I never thought I'd own a Triumph, but the RS just fit what I wanted/needed at the time.

[ This message was edited by: 04RSMatt on 2005-01-25 10:07 ]
 
G
#4 ·
I'm glad you're enjoying your new RS.

I knew the Genmar risers would not be enough for you as they are barely adequate for me at 5'6". I can now barely reach around the Triumph tank bag.

I have the Zero Gravity touring screen in light smoke and love it. It greatly reduced the turbulence at interstate speeds. I don't mind wind, but I don't like turbulence and that was what I had with the stock screen. I had to wait a few weeks for it because ZG didn't have any on the shelf, but it was well worth the wait.

My next two mods are a Powermax underseat exhaust and a Tuneboy program. I've been putting off exhaust because of the price and reports that ALL of the Triumph tunes available suck. I can't wait to play with the Tuneboy and make this RS run like it should.

I would highly recommend focusing only on comfort until the bike suites you. No reason to spend money on exhaust, tunes, lights, etc. until you are positive you can make it comfy.

I too like ALL makes of motorcycles. I never thought I'd own a Triumph, but the RS just fit what I wanted/needed at the time.

[ This message was edited by: 04RSMatt on 2005-01-25 10:07 ]
 
#5 ·
I'm home for lunch, with the threat of rain looming on the horizon..... again. I was able to go out for a quick 170 mile ride Saturday, but I need a fix RIGHT NOW too!

I want to find a stop-watch and a three mile stretch to check my speedo for accuracy, and I want to cruise (comfortably) for over 200 miles and see if I can better the 38 mpg I have been getting with it.

I am sooooo jazzed about my purchase, and want soooo badly to go for for a cruise. I'm gonna look sooo tough-n-fine on my Black swoopy doopy Triumph among all my patch-holder buds on their Harleys; and for once, I'm gonna try to enjoy the novelty of a (my) quiet exhaust...... at least until I can afford that sexyass underseat...... :razz:

[ This message was edited by: FattRat on 2005-01-29 00:23 ]
 
#6 ·
I'm home for lunch, with the threat of rain looming on the horizon..... again. I was able to go out for a quick 170 mile ride Saturday, but I need a fix RIGHT NOW too!

I want to find a stop-watch and a three mile stretch to check my speedo for accuracy, and I want to cruise (comfortably) for over 200 miles and see if I can better the 38 mpg I have been getting with it.

I am sooooo jazzed about my purchase, and want soooo badly to go for for a cruise. I'm gonna look sooo tough-n-fine on my Black swoopy doopy Triumph among all my patch-holder buds on their Harleys; and for once, I'm gonna try to enjoy the novelty of a (my) quiet exhaust...... at least until I can afford that sexyass underseat...... :razz:

[ This message was edited by: FattRat on 2005-01-29 00:23 ]
 
#11 ·
dollardriven,
I went to Corbin and bought a sexy "Gunfighter" seat for my Sportster 1200. I proceeded to put over 25,000 miles on it after giving up on the ProPad gel insert I had put in the Harley's seat.
I then had Corbin make me a seat custom for my 1150 Roadster. Very handsome seat, but they didn't listen to me as I tried to get them to narrow their seat pan. It ended up being too wide and rubbed the paint off my body work. I went back to them for follow-ups and a back-rest. Without going into the story, I will NEVER do business with those people again! The La Raza who answers the phone, communicate no better than the La Raza who work on your seat, who have mastered the English language no better than than the La Raza who sew the cover to your seat, who have as much an idea about operating a computer as the office La Raza staff who file sales records for future reference. Viva La Raza my assss!

Then I contacted Rudi at Sargent Seats. He was very helpful, and worked with me and my needs. He prepared my factory seat pan with his foam, sent it back to me, and had me draw lines where I wanted it trimmed. I drew what I wanted on the one seat, and sent him a second seat pan. I ended up selling the Corbin, put quite a few miles on the better of two Sargent seats, selling the second one.

In the meantime, I bought another BMW seat pan, NARROWED it, cut the foam down myself, and had it recovered.
Then I put everything I learned into yet another 'final' seat:
I narrowed it even MORE significantly.
Then I took an electric knife to the factory foam and chopped it down.
I left some foam at the back to act as a lower-back support.
Then I hollowed out the center of the seating area,
inserted my gel pad from the Harley,
covered it with dense memory foam,
and had the seat covered in a breathable material......

aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh...... :wink: I did good.

I learned a lot about how to do that which you want done. If ya want it done right, sometimes ya just gotta do it yourself.

I turned everybody onto Sargent Seats at R1150R.net, and now it is the single most popular seat for the Roadster. Corbin makes a very handsome seat, but their service SUCKS; Sargent makes a good saddle, but disuades you from having your seat made with a leather cover, and for some reason they don't spray an adhesive between the cover and memory foam they use.

Pat ("FattRat") knows what he has to do to get a saddle low/narrow and comfortable enough for his short legs. I just haven't figured out how to cut, shape, sew, and install the cover...... doubt I ever will.

[ This message was edited by: FattRat on 2005-01-26 19:42 ]
 
#12 ·
dollardriven,
I went to Corbin and bought a sexy "Gunfighter" seat for my Sportster 1200. I proceeded to put over 25,000 miles on it after giving up on the ProPad gel insert I had put in the Harley's seat.
I then had Corbin make me a seat custom for my 1150 Roadster. Very handsome seat, but they didn't listen to me as I tried to get them to narrow their seat pan. It ended up being too wide and rubbed the paint off my body work. I went back to them for follow-ups and a back-rest. Without going into the story, I will NEVER do business with those people again! The La Raza who answers the phone, communicate no better than the La Raza who work on your seat, who have mastered the English language no better than than the La Raza who sew the cover to your seat, who have as much an idea about operating a computer as the office La Raza staff who file sales records for future reference. Viva La Raza my assss!

Then I contacted Rudi at Sargent Seats. He was very helpful, and worked with me and my needs. He prepared my factory seat pan with his foam, sent it back to me, and had me draw lines where I wanted it trimmed. I drew what I wanted on the one seat, and sent him a second seat pan. I ended up selling the Corbin, put quite a few miles on the better of two Sargent seats, selling the second one.

In the meantime, I bought another BMW seat pan, NARROWED it, cut the foam down myself, and had it recovered.
Then I put everything I learned into yet another 'final' seat:
I narrowed it even MORE significantly.
Then I took an electric knife to the factory foam and chopped it down.
I left some foam at the back to act as a lower-back support.
Then I hollowed out the center of the seating area,
inserted my gel pad from the Harley,
covered it with dense memory foam,
and had the seat covered in a breathable material......

aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh...... :wink: I did good.

I learned a lot about how to do that which you want done. If ya want it done right, sometimes ya just gotta do it yourself.

I turned everybody onto Sargent Seats at R1150R.net, and now it is the single most popular seat for the Roadster. Corbin makes a very handsome seat, but their service SUCKS; Sargent makes a good saddle, but disuades you from having your seat made with a leather cover, and for some reason they don't spray an adhesive between the cover and memory foam they use.

Pat ("FattRat") knows what he has to do to get a saddle low/narrow and comfortable enough for his short legs. I just haven't figured out how to cut, shape, sew, and install the cover...... doubt I ever will.

[ This message was edited by: FattRat on 2005-01-26 19:42 ]
 
#14 ·
Triumph sells a carbon fiber tank protector that will cover up the scratches you put on the tank and prevent any further scratches. I've got one on mine. They're about 40 bucks at the dealer.
I nearly always get over 50 mpg. Worst was 46.5. Even with the changes made to '02 and later sprints, I can't see why your mileage is so low. Lots of WFO, FattRat?
 
#13 ·
Triumph sells a carbon fiber tank protector that will cover up the scratches you put on the tank and prevent any further scratches. I've got one on mine. They're about 40 bucks at the dealer.
I nearly always get over 50 mpg. Worst was 46.5. Even with the changes made to '02 and later sprints, I can't see why your mileage is so low. Lots of WFO, FattRat?
 
#15 ·
Yeppers, gonna hafta get that CF tank protector......

And yes, I tend to do a lot of "WFO", but I've only managed to ride it less than 400 miles (it's got about 1800 miles now). That would be quite a few stop & go's, country twisty roads, around town, river roads, freeway stretches at 80 mph, etc.

I can only hope that my mileage gets better, but like I say..... I seem always to get 38 to 42 mpg on all of my big bikes, and no more than 7,000 miles on Sport Touring tires.
 
#16 ·
Yeppers, gonna hafta get that CF tank protector......

And yes, I tend to do a lot of "WFO", but I've only managed to ride it less than 400 miles (it's got about 1800 miles now). That would be quite a few stop & go's, country twisty roads, around town, river roads, freeway stretches at 80 mph, etc.

I can only hope that my mileage gets better, but like I say..... I seem always to get 38 to 42 mpg on all of my big bikes, and no more than 7,000 miles on Sport Touring tires.
 
#17 ·
gee it's great being 5'11".............sorry guys.
but I seem to have bought the wrong colour (yellow), so that might even things up a bit.
 
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