[flyday58]

Had a good time with the bike today. Got some observations pertinent to me and where I'm riding.

Pretty sure I'm going to need the 2007 bars for a better riding position, I need to sit more upright. If I sit up to where just my fingertips are on the grips my back, neck, and shoulders feel quite a bit better.

The seat. My boney ass needs a lot more cushion so I guess I'll take a look at Corbins. I feel it in my hips and butt bones, and the canyon road is pretty jarring.

Getting used to the D&D pipe but would like to try the oem's. Not used to the sheer volume of sound but wearing ear plugs helps a bunch. Actually makes it easier to hear the motor and everything else. I really like the sound when I close the throttle in the corners, really cool.

I don't know how far to trust the gas gauge and range numbers yet. Was below a quarter tank and at 47 miles on the range with about 25 miles to my station of choice, but decided not to chance it and stopped to put a gallon in. Added 3.3 gallons at Wal D Mart so had around a gallon left when I stopped the first time.

Was able to hit 100 on a lonely stretch of back country mountain road. Felt very stable and I could tell it had plenty of nuts left, but I was running out of straightaway so backed it down. I don't know what 'Guzzis, Ducatis or "Busas are like, but this is just a shitload of fun.

Dropped by the local mini HD shop, they don't know nothin bout no water-cooled DOHCs, they're air-cooled-only types. Very nice guys actually, they just can't work on my bike. They did suggest running some fuel-injector cleaner through it for the dying at idle issue I'm having. Only done it twice, including once today. Dumped half a bottle in with the fill-up today and it already seems to be idling better. Anyway, good guys.

Riding-wise, I can't ride open-faced. At all. My eyes bleed gallons of water with any breeze over 15 mph. I bought a 3/4 Easy Rider job but with just my glasses on it's hard to see blinking back tears non-stop. I ordered a tinted bubble shield from Bell, hopefully that will take care of it. Otherwise I'll be wearing the full-face full-time.

Don't know how far I can lean in the corners, or how sticky the Dunlops will be at those angles - the roads up here look like they used plain tar for surfacing in a lot of stretches. That makes me worry about 'departing the fix' if I hit a damp or wet patch. ( A pilot friend of mine killed himself on a Harley in the mountains near Denver a few years back when he lost it in a corner) The mini HD guys told me Metzlers are really soft, good for sticking but not so much for decent mileage.

I'm probably going to put crash bars on it as my wife has taken to calling me 'Tippy'. Dropped the CB (twice), dropped this one taking it off the trailer when I got it home. Dropped the Venture twice when I owned it. Each time I've gotten off with NEARLY no damage, including the Rod. But definitely need the extra protection.

Couple of farkels I'd like to add: outside temp gauge, oil temp gauge, maybe a timepiece of some kind, probably a phone holder and USB power to use the maps app. Guess that would eliminate the need for a clock, duh.

Anyway,:kaz:

 

[flyday58]

 

[mikeinatlanta]

Consider a custom saddle. You can get something really nice on your current pan and actually spend less.

EDIT: and you have a clock on your dash. Hit that button some more.

 

[Tie_One_On]

you said your in cloudcroft NM?? there are plenty of good rides your area I used to work for the state in that area and rode my R allover that forest.
You can ride at 150mph for hours on the VROD without issue. Believe me I used to do it on those desert highways

 

[karlbaxter08D]

Nice bike!! Love me some mid controls. Find a road to hit 120+ on and the bike is equally stable. You will love that thing between your legs.

If you do want to try stock pipes, I have a complete take off set from my 08D. Factory slip ons have the Vmod done (remove baffles) but as anyone here will tell you they are still pretty quiet. Nice tone when on the throttle and purr when cruising. PM if you get the itch.

 

[flybigjet]

Try SeaFoam for the fuel-- it's good stuff.

Dunlops are terrifying.

As Mike said, you already have a clock-- it's where the odometer is.

R.

 

[flyday58]

Hey look, a friggin clock! Like duh, right?
Okay, that was a lie, can't find the damn clock. No amount of button pushing cycles one up.

Okay Jets, I need to know, why are Dunlops terrifying?

 

[flybigjet]

Hey look, a friggin clock! Like duh, right?

Okay Jets, I need to know, why are Dunlops terrifying?

I've had bad luck with them. Not particularly grippy, and flat-out terrifying in wet conditions.

I've had a pair duck out under me when I think the nearest moisture was a county away. I didn't go down, but it made for a few interesting moments.

So, not a fan.

Swapped to the Metzler's, and have never looked back. So far I've had them on an A, and R, an F and a Nightster. No complaints.

R.

 

[mikeinatlanta]

Tire choice will boil down to personal preference and how you ride. For me it's all about ultimate grip in dry, so it's Avon Cobra as there are no true high performance tires in these sizes. God gave us rain as an excuse to stop for a beer.

If you are the kind of guy who wants to throw on a lowering kit and 335 tire then you only need to concern yourself with looks. Lots of guys who ride all weather swear by the Metz for all around and wet road handling. If your Dunlops are original they need to be replaced for age. I will change out a motorcycle tire for age at about four years, but that depends on how I intend to use it.

EDIT: Looking at your earlier postings. With only 6k on the bike you may want to look at tire age. Will make a big difference in overall feel of the R.

 

[s8spony]

Nice Review

Loved your review! I've got two tankfuls on mine, I find that my 6' frame sits comfortably upright/aggressive letting me lean forward when the airspeed is 70+. Love the way it corners, accelerates and rides in general, what a great bike! I've taken rides of over an hour per leg, and find the seat is fine for me with a break, so far.

I'm considering a windshield, if I can find one that matches the look of the bike, and a luggage rack would be nice. Highway bars too, just to help me lift it...

Stay safe, ride often.

 

[H-D Heathen]

Consider a custom saddle. You can get something really nice on your current pan and actually spend less.

EDIT: and you have a clock on your dash. Hit that button some more.

:them:
If you think you need "more cushion",Corbin seats will disappoint you. They're "firm". But some of us like them .


Availability of crash Bars/engine guards for the "R" are somewhat akin to Sasquatch. You hear of them but seldom find any.
H-D declared that part obsolete and as you may soon find out,many aftermarket parts have a disclaimer: "Except for VRSCR".

 

[streetrodracer]

R Fun pointers

Flyday58 when you top up gas tank take your left hand and push the sissy bar back and forth a little to bleed out the air bubbles and settle the fuel in the tank - you can squeeze in a quite a few more tenths that way, I always top up around 100-120 miles but if your guage works there is almost a gallon left when it hits the empty mark (red needle) to actually dry empty. The Avon Cobra's are a true ZR 74W load rated 168 Mph tire - be careful as some in the 18 and 19 (front) inch sizes are heavy Bias ply ( not radials ) for touring bikes, or lower speed/weight rated tires. If you plan to high speed it 140 ? be sure your tires match - I have only broken my rear Avon loose once -and that was leaned way over on an unused part of the tire with a big throttle grab which resulted in a giant tank slapper where my old racing instincts kicked in to prevent a low and/or high side. Don't do that ! Just be sure the tire is scuffed in almost all the way to the edge before you combine big power and big leaning. Also I got my H-D R model sport engine guard thru a H-D net search of the country, they found one at a dealer 900 miles away but I got it for list price ( like $ 350 ) so you could try that - it's the best smaller sized and looking guard for the bike, fits perfect without modifying the radiator shrouds and you can mount highway pegs. Stay Safe, Have FUN ! :blahblah:

 

[flyday58]

Nice bike!! Love me some mid controls. Find a road to hit 120+ on and the bike is equally stable. You will love that thing between your legs.

If you do want to try stock pipes, I have a complete take off set from my 08D. Factory slip ons have the Vmod done (remove baffles) but as anyone here will tell you they are still pretty quiet. Nice tone when on the throttle and purr when cruising. PM if you get the itch.

PM sent.

 

[flyday58]

Here’s a couple pics of the horn cover I’m clear-coating, might be okay.

 

[karlbaxter08D]

I love my Mezt tires. I run em on my FXR and Vrod with no complaints.

Shot ya some pics via email.

PM sent.

 

[flyday58]

Spent some time searching last night for a set but I can find front or rear but not both in oem size. Looking again this morning.

 

[flybigjet]

Spent some time searching last night for a set but I can find front or rear but not both in oem size. Looking again this morning.

J&P has the 120, 180, and 200 tires in stock in the radial ME888. 120 and 200 in the ME880 is also in stock I believe.

That was the first place I looked, so I'm not sure what you're searching to not find a match.

Honestly? I'd go for the 200. No downside that I can see, handles as well or better than the 180. But that's a personal preference.

 

[flyday58]

J&P has the 120, 180, and 200 tires in stock in the radial ME888. 120 and 200 in the ME880 is also in stock I believe.

That was the first place I looked, so I'm not sure what you're searching to not find a match.

Honestly? I'd go for the 200. No downside that I can see, handles as well or better than the 180. But that's a personal preference.

Roguh Dat!

 

[mikeinatlanta]

I'd go for the 200. No downside that I can see, handles as well or better than the 180.

Would love to see anything to substantiate better handling with a 200. VS a 180
1. Slower turn in
2. Requires more lean for any particular corner and speed
3. Alters front geometry at lean
4. Outside of tire spec for rim width (rim too narrow)
5. Item 4 causes tire to operate with a profile out of design limits
6. Item 5 causes reduced traction due to out of design contact patch at lean.

Photos are throwing sparks on the skyway and the tire after several days of it.

 

[flybigjet]

Let me qualify that: No SUBJECTIVE downside between a 200 and a 180 that I can feel.

From riding both, I couldn't ever really tell any difference-- I personally liked the way the bike handled better with the 200-- it just seemed to roll-in/roll-out a little more solidly, if that makes any sense.

I should have been clearer. Personally, I think any differences approach the theoretical as there really isn't that much of a difference between the two. There's probably an almost equal difference between different manufacturers of two different 180 tires. The R is a heavy bike with fairly slack geometry-- I don't think most people could feel much, if any difference from one to the other; it's not a lightweight, flickable track bike. For how I rode the bike, I felt that the 200 helped it hold a line better. But, I'm not a professional rider by any means.

But, again, SUBJECTIVE.

Full disclosure: I also feel that my F rides better on a Metzler 260 than the stock Michelin 240. Maybe the math doesn't agree, but for my personal riding feel/feedback, I think the slightly larger tire works better for my riding style. But, I very rarely scrape pegs-- I'm a little too old for that sort of thing, and if I want to wind things up, that's why I have a GS in the garage.