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Author Topic: Trying to "gel" with a new bike  (Read 5531 times)

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Online smoker

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Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« on: November 16, 2013, 12:48:43 PM »
Some of you know I crashed my FJR on a trip with the Cablebandits a few weeks ago. While I made out pretty well with the insurance company, (they totaled it and gave me $2K more than I paid for it 4 years ago), I really felt attached to that bike. My wife and I made some really great memories on the Feejer. I didn't even ask to buy it back from the insurance company, even though it was running perfectly; it would have been expensive to fix all the broken bits.
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So I had an 09 Concours ABS in my garage that I was storing for a friend while he spent 3 years in London. I had bought the Concours new in 08 and sold it in to him 2010 when I bought the FJR. He was trying to sell it before he left, so when I received the insurance check I shot him an offer to buy it back from him and he accepted. So I'm back on the Concours. It's weird. It's a little like buying a new house, and a few weeks after moving you're wondering if you made the right choice. I'm hoping I can gel with the Concours like I did with the FJR, but I guess only time and miles will tell.
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Anyone else ever experience this?
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Offline RedCBRRider

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2013, 01:20:16 PM »
I have.  Here's me on 06 FJR.  I loved this bike, and had many great miles on it.

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I crashed that one in NC in 2010.  It was totaled, and was replaced with this one.  A 2010 FJR.

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It's the same bike, but different some how.  Right from the start it never felt the same as the 06.  Can't really explain why.  It just doesn't talk to me anymore.  Maybe it's because I've logged over 100,000 miles on an FJR and maybe it's just time for something different.

Right now I choose to ride this one most of the time.

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Good luck getting to know the Connie.  A friend of mine had one, and could never get right with it.  He rides and RT now also.
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Online garry

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2013, 04:37:27 PM »
Can't say I've had any issues bonding with new bikes. They all have strengths and weaknesses. I throw some dead presidents at the weaknesses and adapt my riding to deal with what's left. Maybe I've just been lucky and picked bikes that fit me well.
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Offline miles

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2013, 05:17:55 PM »
Quote from: smoker on November 16, 2013, 12:48:43 PM
I guess only time and miles will tell.




Well, I'm not telling. You'll just have to rely on time for that one.
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Online SLK50

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2013, 06:01:05 PM »
I keep hearing C-14s are the new Gold Wing.

If that's true I might be interested.
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Offline Prubert

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2013, 06:33:19 PM »
Quote from: RedCBRRider on November 16, 2013, 01:20:16 PM
A friend of mine had one, and could never get right with it.  He rides and RT now also.

Your Friend seems like an odd duck, I bet he wasn't happy with the RT either....probably made up something up as a reason not to like it.  Like a Phantom burnt oil smell. 

 :pokestick:
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Prubert
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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2013, 06:36:43 PM »
Quote from: garry on November 16, 2013, 04:37:27 PM
I throw some dead presidents at the weaknesses and adapt my riding to deal with what's left.
Personally, I'd have an easy time bonding with an '09 Concours.
Go out and make some new memories.
And count your lucky stars!
 :thumbsup:
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Offline mxvet57

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2013, 06:53:12 PM »
Quote from: Prubert on November 16, 2013, 06:33:19 PM
Quote from: RedCBRRider on November 16, 2013, 01:20:16 PM
A friend of mine had one, and could never get right with it.  He rides and RT now also.

Your Friend seems like an odd duck, I bet he wasn't happy with the RT either....probably made up something up as a reason not to like it.  Like a Phantom burnt oil smell. 

 :pokestick:


You going to be at coffee tomarrow so i can see you and the old duck have it out.
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Offline kneescrubber

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #8 on: November 16, 2013, 07:56:35 PM »
Quote from: mxvet57 on November 16, 2013, 06:53:12 PM
Quote from: Prubert on November 16, 2013, 06:33:19 PM
Quote from: RedCBRRider on November 16, 2013, 01:20:16 PM
A friend of mine had one, and could never get right with it.  He rides and RT now also.

Your Friend seems like an odd duck, I bet he wasn't happy with the RT either....probably made up something up as a reason not to like it.  Like a Phantom burnt oil smell. 

 :pokestick:

You going to be at coffee tomarrow so i can see you and the old duck have it out.


Oooh. 
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Offline BMW-K

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2013, 04:54:24 PM »
I spent 47,000 miles trying to "gel" on a BMW R1200GS.  In spite of my efforts…in spite of the adventures…nope, could never gel with that bike.

My RSL?  That was love at first.

The Monster?  Took a few miles but now?   :inlove:
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Offline 2RR2NV

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #10 on: November 17, 2013, 06:01:19 PM »
that would be me and the FJR. yeah, I only put 9k miles on it, but it wasn't getting any better. only worse. sold it outright.
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Online SLK50

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #11 on: November 17, 2013, 07:07:03 PM »
Quote from: 2RR2NV on November 17, 2013, 06:01:19 PM
that would be me and the FJR. yeah, I only put 9k miles on it, but it wasn't getting any better. only worse. sold it outright.

This is somewhat surprising considering your history.
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Offline mxvet57

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #12 on: November 17, 2013, 08:33:45 PM »
Quote from: kneescrubber on November 16, 2013, 07:56:35 PM



Oooh. 
[/quote]

I got there to late to see the action.

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Prubert in the center. The old duck on the left.
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Offline Prubert

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #13 on: November 17, 2013, 08:44:20 PM »
Quote from: mxvet57 on November 17, 2013, 08:33:45 PM
I got there to late to see the action.

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Prubert in the center. The old duck on the left.


We agreed to disagree.  BTW, he smelled like oil.
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Prubert
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Offline 2RR2NV

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #14 on: November 18, 2013, 02:56:53 AM »
Quote from: SLK50 on November 17, 2013, 07:07:03 PM
Quote from: 2RR2NV on November 17, 2013, 06:01:19 PM
that would be me and the FJR. yeah, I only put 9k miles on it, but it wasn't getting any better. only worse. sold it outright.

This is somewhat surprising considering your history.

well, i always thought the FJR would be the end all, be all bike. alas, for me and the Boss, it was not. Loved the bike at first...  then, well it went downhill. riding it became a job. just couldn't make me smile much. most of my other bikes made me smile a LOT. especially the VFR.
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Offline Black Hills

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #15 on: November 18, 2013, 08:12:17 AM »
never had a problem getting comfortable on a new/different bike once the suspension was sorted out. My 990A was the worst thing I had ever ridden when new, suspension work (front springs went from .46 to .72!) and all was well. It does take me a few corners to re-adjust when I switch from the 990 to the CBR.
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Offline mxvet57

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Re: Trying to "gel" with a new bike
« Reply #16 on: November 18, 2013, 09:27:27 AM »
I had no problem gelling with the speed triple. when i first got it i didn't touch the FJR for almost 2 weeks. When i got on the FJR it felt like i was on a cruiser and  took me 10 miles to get youst to it again. Now i don't notice a difference between the two.

The biggest difference between the two is the power delivery.
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