Triumphrat

dazco

Well, i proved my own point yesterday ! i was making a 90 degree turn out of a driveway at about 2 MPH with a cold engine and while leaned over it died. I held it up but not enough to keep the right muffler shield from making contact. Just a few small scratches luckily. When the engine died at that low speed there was nothing to pull me out of the turn and a bit of a lean and all that weight and there was nothing i could do. I was stopped when it went tho, so i didn't crash or anything drastic. yeah, the speedy can be a bit of a bear when going slow ! This is one of the things that keeps me from going with a bike like the rocket. Now and then you're gonna drop it at a standstill or at 1 or 2 mph while taking off in a lean, and with a bike like a rocket theres no way i could keep it upright let alone lift it back up !

My advice, and it's advice i don't always adhere to myself, is to be ultra careful and watchful of slow speed manuvers especially on slanted or uneven pavement or dirt or anything less than a straight take-off and good road. Once you get movimg past that first few MPH you're fine, but till then you've gotta be aware and ready for anything.

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2005 Speedmaster, Neon Blue, Thunderbike pipes, snorkel removed, UNI filter, drilled airbox, 130 mains, TBS needles.(2 shims) And speaking of Speedmasters, HERE'S MINE

tba-golfer

Amen to that Daz.

I have a very sharp, slow, slanted turn into my driveway, and most often there is sand or grass clippings at the base.
I kinda coast and hope when making that maneuver.

It gets better and easier over time, but I'm still very mindful of the weight I'm trying to move around at such a slow speed.

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What's the most amazing thing you've ever found?
Impossible to say. You see there's something amazing every two or three weeks.

Local Hero (1983)

alcohol66

I just started in April. I've had dirtbike experience and have ridden a sportster on the highway a few times but bought the Speedmaster in April.
One thing that caught me by surprise was the way that the near-solid back wheel responds to a gust of wind from certain directions. The first time it happened, it scared me pretty good. Never felt anything like it before that. Very bad. Had I been in a turn the first time it happened, it might have upset me. Now, after a few months, it doesn't bother me much.
But compared to a sportster, the Speedmaster handles like a dirtbike!!!!!

khatt

Started riding two years ago.And I do mean starting as my firt time EVER on any bike.I started with a Yamaha 250 then went up a few CC's with the Speedy.I also started in my development with both bikes and did not hit the main streets until I was ready.I also took the ABATE course,which I highly recommend you do.Enjoy your speedy,and always ride within your skill level and you be alright.

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She's a Lady, and the Lady is mine!

bobw3592

truebrit, congrats on your choice of bikes! As Daz and others have said, practice your basic slow speed manuevers and you will become proficient and comfortable in short order. I too started with dirt bikes to include trials bikes. Get your feet on the pegs as soon as posible and experiment with a little clutch/rear brake work, minimal speed and body position. The bikes are very controllable at walking speed. It's just like higher road speeds, look where you want to go and your body will work with your bike to get you there. Enjoy and ride, ride, ride!

BobW.

truebrit

Thanks guys ... I appreciate all the advice.

So far so good ... I have been getting on with the bike just fine. We have covered just over 700 miles in a week including a nice 120 mile on Sunday afternoon out to lake Sunapee.

All in all the Speedmaster has wonderful manners - especially on the highway; solid, soaks-up the imperfections in the road and instills a lot of confidence in the rider - even one as relatively inexperienced as me.

On the twisties is when she really comes into her own. For a bike with reasonable heft, she tucks down nicely into curves and is easily adjusted with a little countersteering. She'll also sit-up promptly and carry smoothly into the next bend.

We have had no dramas as yet and nothing even remotely like trouble. The only two times I have nearly stuffed it were both at walking speed turning into side roads trying to avoid the huge patches of gravel everywhere. With all the snow we get here in NH, the gravel piles never really seem to disappear and collect right where a bike wants to be when in the turn.

Other than that, life is good. She is in for her 500 mile service today and then I am back to England for a week. I'll miss her already. :cry:

The other thing that I have to remind myself of is that I've had all that fun on a bike that I haven't taken past 3500 RPM and 60 miles an hour!! We have such good times ahead ...

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Cheers; Paul.

You can take a look at my bike HERE!!