Triumphrat

decobike

Please offer any tips for riding on a windy day. By windy I mean 30 mph or more. We get a lot of wind coming off of Suyperior. Thanks db

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smac

Try lower handlebars, to reduce the sail effect of your body in an upright position.
Maybe a screen could help as well.

OldTownRAT

db,

Found this article a couple of months ago in the Sprint forum:

Windy Riding

Helped me to get an idea of how to deal with the santa ana's we get out here.

Good luck to ya.

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Have you ever stopped to think about what rats do for fun?
- Shane MacGowan

Never Forget Chickenman.

BeastInBlack

Ride with the wind behind you, I managed 75mph out of my 125cc honda rebel doing that.

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Every sunday is mad sunday.......

alfacliff

I find a side wind a little shakey, we have had gusts here to 45 or so. my old xs650 was a little shakey in the wind till I replaced the rear tire, was baracuda with a dunlap, then more stabil. I will try a different rear tire when I get a few more miles on the 06. meantime, with 3000 miles so far, the wind isnt quite as much of a problem as when I got the bike.
cliff

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2006 Bonnie Black
1980 Yamaha xs650

RedBird

The gyros that keep you up and the rubber side down are your tires/wheels--keep em turning at a good speed.

Comfort is spelled Parabellum Scout fairing. :-D

In case you don't know, we have those speeds of winds more than not. I hardly pay attention to a 30 mph cross wind--now gusty winds that vary from 20 to 45 mph will get set my attention bit. :-D

Larry

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Larry
2003 T-100 (790cc), NARK, NH Togas, 8100 rpm rev limiter, 158 main jets, 42 pilot jets (less than 1 turn out on pilot screws), stock needles--no shims. 13 A/F ratio from 1100 rpm to 4000 rpm; 12 A/F ratio from 4000 rpm to 6000 rpm; 13 A/F from 6000 rpm to 8100 rpm.:D
2007 Tiger 1050--White:D--SW-Motech crashbars, Skidmarx rear hugger/chain guard, Calsci +7 windscreen.

decobike

I appreciate hearing the support. I was stationed in San Diego for a couple of years and my parents lived in Wichita so I understand the windy conditions there (went thru a couple of the Santa Ana fire seasons in SD, its creepy sometimes). Here along the shores of Lake Superior its just nasty. Wind today was a steady 32 mph coming out of the northeast. It was 70 degrees in Duluth, Mn up the hill away from the lake. about 42 degrees downtown not including the wind chill. I have a Roadscreen but wish it provided more coverage. I had a wind screen on my old 750 Yamaha that provided shelter as well as a Vetter fairing. Thanks again for the link, I'll certainly check it out. db

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decobike

Oh Redbird, I love the look of the Tiger, do like the ride? I'm and old school guy and for some reason the Tiger has my attention. Wish I could convince my wife I do need a Tiger and a Vespa. :knkknk:

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RedBird

I'll try to write a comparison one of these days for those that are interested. Here's a few observations of mine:

1. The T-100 with the Parabellum Scout fairing is better in the crosswinds than the Tiger.

2. Ride--There is no scale big enough to compare the two. After I put the dual rate front springs in my T-100 forks (already had Works shocks on the back) the ride over rough roads smoothed considerably. Riding the Tiger on the same road at the same speed or faster feels like I am riding on a smooth interstate. The only bumps I feel on the Tiger are the big ones that bounce me off the seat on the T-100. My conclusion: Try cartridge emulators on the bonnies rather than mess with the dual rate or progressive fork springs, or get some real forks.

3. I was a little afraid of the brakes on the Tiger at first; however, I can tell very little difference between the two (my T-100 has stock brakes). The biggest difference is at high speed--the Tiger brakes slow better without fade.

4. Shifting: I am still giving my Tiger chain whiplash every time I shift. I have moved (adjusted) the shifter so it is easier for me to get my foot under it; however, the throttle response with the FI is almost instantaneous so if I roll off the throttle and clutch for the shift (like I do on the T-100) the rpms drop to idle before I can get the shift done. To resolve the problem, I do clutchless upshifts most of the time. The distance between the shifter and the foot peg is 2.5 inches shorter than on the T-100--I have no idea how the 6.5", 280 pound guys can get their big feet between the peg and the shifter--must be my old age.

5. Seating position: I can tell very little difference. I missed my K/Q seat on the T-100 for the first 200 miles on the Tiger, but now I notice little difference.

6. Sitting still, the Tiger feels top heavy; however, once moving, it feels light as a feather.

7. I can't roll the throttle in sixth gear to pass like I do on the T-100 (in fifth gear). If I do, the Tiger will be going over 120 mph by the time I pull back into my lane. :-D

8. The final gearing feels pretty close to the same between the two--I have stock sprockets on both. I have not checked the accuracy of the Tiger speedo, yet.

9. If I had to choose between the two, it would be a really hard choice. I am not hung up on nostalgia, and I am too old to care about what I look like while riding down the road. It was kinda interesting to note the age difference of the opposite sex that checks you out while riding--the Tiger definitely attracts younger stares. :-D

Larry

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Larry
2003 T-100 (790cc), NARK, NH Togas, 8100 rpm rev limiter, 158 main jets, 42 pilot jets (less than 1 turn out on pilot screws), stock needles--no shims. 13 A/F ratio from 1100 rpm to 4000 rpm; 12 A/F ratio from 4000 rpm to 6000 rpm; 13 A/F from 6000 rpm to 8100 rpm.:D
2007 Tiger 1050--White:D--SW-Motech crashbars, Skidmarx rear hugger/chain guard, Calsci +7 windscreen.

decobike

Thanx rb for the comparison. If I can find a dealer doing test rides... Be nice to have both.

Now with gas already at 3.04 here I think I really need a scooter too. I'm only getting 45 with the T100 ya know.

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