Where did you ride your FTR today?
- Thread starter ferraiolo1
- Start date
MotoJedi
Member
Blazing hot and humid today--- so had to wait until this evening. 25mil jaunt around town, I have this 3.5 mile loop in this industrial park. Ever since COVID its my own little race track. I also came to realize that Simpson bandit helmet, while looks good, it kinda sucks at high speeds.
Unruly Rider
Active member
All Simpson helmets SUCK at higher speeds... I have the Simpson Outlaw and it's terrible above 100mph. The Simpson helmets work great for cruising, but at higher speeds they bobble around quite a bit. They are also FAR from quiet, lots of wind noise, as well as being somewhat heavy. The only thing they have going for them is the looks. My next helmet will be an AGV K6 (only 2.9lbs!) - superior helmet in almost every way... plus it's less weight, quite in comparison to any in the Simpson lineup, and the Pin-Lock visors are a PLUS!
S2Davies
Active member
I've recently got a carbon Simpson Venom. In the past I've had Bell, Arai, Soei and in the old days a couple of Kangols! I have to say the Simpson is without doubt louder than the Arai, Soei and Bell helmets, but so much more comfortable. There is more room around the ears and because I wear glasses, the Simson does give a bit more room without clamping the glasses to the side of your temples like the Bell does.
I'm still running in so I can't comment on higher speed stability yet, but over here at least, the Venom did come with the Pin-Lock insert fitted as standard.
I'm still running in so I can't comment on higher speed stability yet, but over here at least, the Venom did come with the Pin-Lock insert fitted as standard.
mark.lb
Well-known member
Been on the bike all day. Stopped at a place in Finleyville,PA called Roy’s By the Tracks..Not officially open for business but he is doing take out including beer and mixed drinks in cups with lids. Roy’s is a old hotel with a large wrap around porch. Everyone goes in and gets a drink and sits on the porch! 13 bikes in the lot when I was there. Had a Bloody Mary w/ no Vodka. (Cardiologist says no more alcohol after the heart attack and pacemaker implant. I didn’t bring up motorcycles!) Over to daughters for dinner. Then another rip w/ my son in law (MT09) after dinner. Life is good!
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EllenGtrGrl
Active member
FINALLY, I was able to get the FTR out for a halfway decent ride. I just got back from it 10 minutes ago. Covid restrictions have relaxed a little bit, and for a change, it wasn't cold, or rainy (unlike yesterday, when after installing the battery back in the bike, and deciding to go for a ride, I barely got out 3 miles, and it started to rain [ugh!!]). Due to me being in the first part of the break-in phase (try to keep the rpms below 3000), I couldn't go out too far (just a 32 mile loop through Big Bend, and Muskego, and then back home), due to 50 mph being 3000 rpm in 6th, forcing me to stay on secondary roads with a 45 mph speed limit or less, but it was nice to get out.
It is humid though (despite me wearing a vented riding jacket, complete with body armor), which combined with my vented full face helmet, and today's low 80s temps, meant I got pretty sweaty. Oh yeah, I noticed a fair amount of vibration in the hand grips (especially the right hand one), despite me wearing armored sport riding gloves. Does this lessen with time, as the engine breaks in?
I forgot to mention - no stumbles or stalls from the engine. It ran pretty good.
Tomorrow, I might get in some more riding time (though it depends up the weather - there is a chance of rain). I'd love to commute into work on the FTR, since the temps are supposed to be nice for at least the next few days, but the forecast is for rain, and more rain fromr Monday night, all the way through through Thursday.
Ellen
It is humid though (despite me wearing a vented riding jacket, complete with body armor), which combined with my vented full face helmet, and today's low 80s temps, meant I got pretty sweaty. Oh yeah, I noticed a fair amount of vibration in the hand grips (especially the right hand one), despite me wearing armored sport riding gloves. Does this lessen with time, as the engine breaks in?
I forgot to mention - no stumbles or stalls from the engine. It ran pretty good.
Tomorrow, I might get in some more riding time (though it depends up the weather - there is a chance of rain). I'd love to commute into work on the FTR, since the temps are supposed to be nice for at least the next few days, but the forecast is for rain, and more rain fromr Monday night, all the way through through Thursday.
Ellen
mark.lb
Well-known member
I wouldn’t worry too much about a 3000 rpm limit. As long as you are not doing sustained high rpm riding you will be OK. I don’t notice any excessive vibration in either grip. I think you will find as you wind it up a little bit the vibration smooths out. Took a ride on a Harley Road King. I thought the thing was going to shake apart. What a bike - loud, slow and shakes like a paint mixer!
EllenGtrGrl
Active member
The few times I went past 3000 rpm, I did notice a lessening in the vibration. It did make me wonder if the rpm range I was in (Mainly 2500- 3000 rpm) was a vibration band for the engine.
As for Harleys, yes, they can be quite the shakers. Even the 1200cc Roadster I tried out 3 or 4 years ago, seems pretty vibey to me.
EllenGtrGrl
Active member
Unfortunately, it's looking more and more like I won't be able to do any riding for the next several days - the updated forecast for tomorrow calls for an even higher probability of rain.
Oh well,
Ellen
EllenGtrGrl
Active member
I'm in southeast Wisconsin - the Milwaukee metro area, which is Harleyland (most motorcycles you see and hear around here, are Harleys - the corporate offices are only 10 miles up the road from where I live).
I might be able to get out later on today. There are some showers in the area, and it's sprinkling outside, but the probability of rain has reduced to 20%. Still, I doubt I'll be commuting to work tomorrow on the machine - by the time I leave work, the chances of rain and thunderstoms are 50-50. Work is 25 miles away, and from past experience, even at a 40% chance of rain, I've had plenty of miserable, soaked to the skin rides home from work (I got caught in a supercell last June - the 60 plus mph gust front for the storm [while riding home on my old BMW R1200R] almost blew me off of the road!). No thanks. My situation isn't like it was back in the day, when I was in college, and a motorcycle was my only set of wheels.
Ellen
K9F
Well-known member
Gorgeous weather here too. Went out Saturday for 150 mile ride and woke up Sunday morning with a left ear that felt like it didn't belong to me, think it was John Merrick's it was so huge. Red, throbbing, unable to touch and the gland below the ear swollen too. Not been able to get my helmet on since which are obligatory here. Bank Holiday here too today still 'No Go!'
Spent all day yesterday going to the Urgent Treatment Centre at the bloody hospital where I work to be seen only to be told "That's serious, go home pack a bag I'm sending you to the Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist at another hospital 10 miles away, chances are they'll keep you in." Didn't go home, no bag packing as had no intention of them keeping me in. Serious ear cartilage infection probably caused by a bite in the forest a few days before. Course of antibiotics and an ear like friggin' Dumbo. Somebody please go out on their FTR on my behalf. Had better Sunday's I can tell you.🤣
Spent all day yesterday going to the Urgent Treatment Centre at the bloody hospital where I work to be seen only to be told "That's serious, go home pack a bag I'm sending you to the Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist at another hospital 10 miles away, chances are they'll keep you in." Didn't go home, no bag packing as had no intention of them keeping me in. Serious ear cartilage infection probably caused by a bite in the forest a few days before. Course of antibiotics and an ear like friggin' Dumbo. Somebody please go out on their FTR on my behalf. Had better Sunday's I can tell you.🤣
