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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Last big ride of 2016? /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1476793721 Message started by Dave on 10/18/16 at 05:28:41 |
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Title: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Dave on 10/18/16 at 05:28:41 I had a Continuing Education Seminar to attend in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Monday....and the weather was great so I rode the little Ninja. http://i63.tinypic.com/6z8mr5.jpg I rode the back roads rather than taking the interstate, and I was able to turn a 3.5 hour trip into a 6 your trip! I took Route 68 from the Blue Lick Battlefield area down through Harrodsburg, then I took 152 over to the Bluegrass Parkway to 65 South - the trip was 243 miles. The Ninja and I got a room for the night that was about 10 miles north of Bowling Green - I am always a bit nervous when I have to park my motorcycle outside - but on this night we were warm and cozy in our room! http://i68.tinypic.com/1zg8e1f.jpg The trip was the longest I ever took on the Ninja with the goal of getting somewhere, and it did great. I got 71 mpg on the 60 mph back roads, and when I did the superslab the traffic mandated 75 mph to keep from getting run over, and the mileage dropped to 58 mpg. The only issue I had was the small windscreen deflects the air off my body and right at my helmet, and the warm weather seemed to bring a lot of small bugs out. I had to stop several times to clean the bugs off my face shield - they were so thick that I just couldn't see anymore. This would have been a much more enjoyable ride if I didn't have to ride most of it in the dark - but unfortunately the sun sets too soon this time of the year. I left Bowling Green at 5:30 PM and didn't make it home until midnight.....so 4 of those 6 hours riding was in the dark. It was a really nice night as the sky was clear, the moon was big and bright and most of the time I was riding straight toward it.....it was really a pretty night to be riding. I don't know if we will get any more 70-80 degree days this year - but I sure tried to take advantage of the last 2! :) |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Ruttly on 10/18/16 at 06:51:11 For a minute there your helmet looked like a Porta potty ! ;D Sorry Dave couldn't help myself That would be traveling totally prepared ! |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by stewmills on 10/18/16 at 06:58:25 Glad you got to get out and ride considering we may not make it back to the Dragon this year. Is it just the perspective of the image, or is your Ninja lowered some? |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Gary_in_NJ on 10/18/16 at 08:03:00 And now that you've had that nice ride on it...it's time to tear it apart and make it yours. |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Dave on 10/18/16 at 08:10:55 7A7D6C7E646065657A090 wrote:
Probably sagging a bit under the weight of a full tank of fuel, the tank bag and the backpack! I do think the front has a bit too much sag and it needs a bit stiffer front springs, and some work with the fork oil....the forks are really way too soft. The rear.....I hear that the adjustable shock from an EX500 is the ticket! |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by stewmills on 10/18/16 at 08:24:42 Gotcha. My front feels really soft too, so I'm glad it's not just me. Maybe one day I will get brave enough to get into the forks and see about new springs, or at minimum, get fresh oil in there. My 07 has the upgraded adjustable rear shock from the later model Ninjas (PO did it). Haven't tried to adjust it yet as the rear seems to ride good. |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by engineer on 10/19/16 at 08:27:14 I enjoyed reading about your trip, thanks for posting it. I've always had a soft spot for 250cc bikes, my first real freedom in life was riding around to different destinations in my state on a 250 but that was a long time ago. When I look at the Ninja I have to wonder how an older guy's knees would hold up. I like to be able to stretch my legs out a little but have never really tried riding a bike with the pegs set back to the rear. |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Dave on 10/19/16 at 08:42:56 44464D464F464A50230 wrote:
I am 60 years old (61 next month), and I have been blessed with good bones and joints and I actually prefer the mid pegs to the forward pegs. Having pegs under me seems to take a lot of weight off my butt, and I find it more comfortable than a foot forward seating position. However - I am not a big guy (around 5'-7" and 170 pounds geared up), and the little Ninja fits my size well. I am continually amazed how well the little Ninja does keeping up with traffic. I had a Kawasaki Super Sherpa dual sport, and 60 mph was as fast as that single cylinder wanted to go. The Ninja can cruise all day long at 70mph, and even 80 doesn't seem to be much of a strain for it (I have have put a 1 tooth larger front sprocket on the bike to cut the rpm down a little). At interstate speeds the bike is turning 8,000 - 9,000 rpm, and that is still way below the 14,000 redline! |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Ruttly on 10/19/16 at 19:10:11 Wow 14,000 redline , 250 single or twin ? |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Dave on 10/20/16 at 02:59:02 507776766E7B020 wrote:
It is a parallel twin......eight valves, 2 cams, 2 carbs, water cooled. |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by old_rider on 10/20/16 at 18:26:49 Looks like you "house trained" your ninja :) Hope it didn't make an "accident" on the carpet, ROFL :D |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by old_rider on 10/20/16 at 18:29:32 And I keep tellin' folks how good the Little Ninja's are! My 300 is all fuel injected and water cooled, with little or no maintenance. Just keep checkin' fluids (mine is a 2013, no probs) and clean and adjust the chain as needed and it purrs right along :) You can pick up a used 300 fairly cheaply now.... kids get tired of the "beginner bike" and upgrade to a death trap. |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Dave on 11/14/16 at 03:37:18 Last night I had to go over to my uncle's house for a bit, and I decided to take the Ninja on one more ride. We had a really nice day, and the sun was out and the temps were in the high 50's, and when I was stacking wood and doing yard work I even taken my sweatshirt off.....I could squeeze in a ride as it only takes 20 minutes to get to his house! I left at 4:30 and I put on a sweatshirt, and when I picked up my jacket I noticed the liner was not zipped in......and I just didn't want to take the time to put it in - I would be fine (mistake). I took the road down by the Ohio river...it was chilly! When I came home it was after dark, and I decided to take the roads on top of the ridge rather than down in the valley. US 27 is built on the ridge between the Ohio and Licking Rivers, and it would be warmer than it was in the valleys. As I approached home I was really cold....and when I got home I discovered the temperature had dropped to 43! We have had a great fall and there has been some really good riding weather. The bike gatherings are over for the year, and it is 26 degrees outside this morning.......I suspect our riding days are pretty much gone. I fired up the outdoor boiler yesterday, and we are now heating with wood - fall weather has officially arrived in northern Kentucky. |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by springman on 11/14/16 at 09:27:26 Yep fall is here also. Early mornings are in the 50's and hottest part of day is upper 70's. 8-) |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Gary_in_NJ on 11/14/16 at 09:43:01 My cafe racer is on the bike stand in pieces while the tank, fender, seat pan and side panels are out being painted. So that's bike won't be ridden again until the spring. Once the cafe racer is off the stand (hopefully before the end of the year) my FZ06 goes on the stand because it hasn't seen any love from me in over a year. I was having so much fun riding the cafe racer that it wasn't even started once during 2016! The tires need to be replaced and I want to grease the axles and swing arm. So I'm done riding for the season. It's a little soon (I usually ride into December) but I couldn't wait to get the paint project started. And there is now way I'm going out on tires I don't trust. |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Dave on 11/14/16 at 10:08:25 The wife and I are going to visit family over the Thanksgiving holiday, and the Ninja will come apart for the Cafe' conversion when I return. The next few days have daytime highs near 60 and Friday may get up to 70 - but that is in the afternoon while I am at work. The temperature plummets when the sun goes down.....the high on Saturday is forecast as 47. Maybe I can go home at lunch on Friday and ride the bike back to work.....that very well could the last "warm" ride of 2016 for me! :( Don't forget to look at the "Super Moon" tonight.....it is big and bright and a few of us won't be around the next time this happens again (or we could be so old and crippled that we can't get outside to see it). |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Ruttly on 11/14/16 at 21:06:37 That's gotta suck,been 70-75 all week here but rain expected this weekend. Most of the time after storms pass thru we get some clear warm days upper 50s low 60s but temps dip in Jan/Feb. And I'm not one to tear into a sweet running bike unless I have to. But the tracker needs seat & paint and a couple more performance mods too. It's fast but I think Armen's ways are rubbing off on me and I know I can squeeze out a couple more H/P out of the Savage. Come late spring it will look sexy and be just that much quicker. Oh yeah then I can call it done! GT695,ST695 JRT695,SR695 I don't know, but I gotta call it something. |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Dave on 11/15/16 at 04:04:57 5A7D7C7C6471080 wrote:
They are never really done.....but they do get a bit closer each year as you will find less and less to be changed as time goes on. |
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Title: Re: Last big ride of 2016? Post by Ruttly on 11/15/16 at 09:57:30 Yeah I know it's taken almost 3 years to get this far Unless it's bone stock it's never finished ! |
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