Any Motörbike riders here?

ALR

I’d be up for it if I’m free, I’m in Staffordshire.

BenSirAmos

BenSirAmos said:

Haych said:

Re the possibility of a meet-up:

It wouldn't be an inaugural ride because that happened a few years ago - led by the op - octatonic. I joined him for a ride around the cotswolds - there was another rider whose name will come to me. I'll probably come from NW london. Not sure I fancy Diddly Squat - Loomies is usually rammed - the Departure Lounge in Alton usually has a bit more room. We could meet there and go to Poole - or just about anywhere via Petersfield because there are some nice roads around there.  

The other fretboard rider for that inaugural ride in 2016 was @rsvmark. Loomies would be okay for a visit but not the best place to meet up unless you knew exactly who you were meeting and what they looked like. "I'm the one on the white motorcycle" wouldn't make it easy to identify other fretboarders there. 

cruxiform

Yeah somewhere where we can chat and socialise a bit would be good. Agree about Loomies. I live about 2 miles from Rykas at Boxhill but haven’t been there for years on a busy day, it’s just too much for me. Whenever I’ve been to Loomies, it’s much the same.

I like the idea about Poole, largely because of the possibility of getting fish and chips  

Haych

cruxiform said:

I like the idea about Poole, largely because of the possibility of getting fish and chips  

Poole suits me.  Nice ride down the A350, Poole and the surrounding area is pretty awesome to boot.  Might even have to book a hotel (or camp-site - there's a really nice one in Wareham) for the night.

thefez

@Haych ; I'm also in South Wales and would be up for a meetup, though I work every Sunday and every other Saturday

thefez

Put a topbox on it and panniers off at the moment. Ended up going Yamaha box because the Givi/Shad stuff was basically the same price. Also put on the MRA Vario screen which has been a big disappointment. I'm finding the wind noise on it really loud no matter what settings I use.

Love the bike so far except for a few things - clutch lever is almost all the way out before you hit the biting point so quite a stretch and and a judder as you take off for some reason. Apparently that's normal for this bike but it's still weird. Got some new adjustable levers coming this week and should be doing the 600 mile service, though £200 quoted at the dealer for an oil and filter change is nuts.

Engine is lovely. Can really shift but also feels very manageable with the different ride modes. Longest ride was 2.5 hours and legs felt a little sore with the wide seat but pretty decent overall. Sat nav can be a bit fiddly to set up but it works and it's simple when using it. Very nimble and just feels like a lot of fun to ride. The radar cruise control thing works really well and nice to have heated grips and other goodies built in compared to the Versys.

I'll be doing a 1200 mile trip around Ireland next month so should really be able to put it through its paces. 

thebreeze

It seems ironic that a wind shield would make things really loud, so I can see how that would be a bit of a disappointment.

ION Poole would work for me.

thefez

Yeah it's a real pain. Stops the buffering of the original screen but now sounds like I've got my head out of a car window. Seems to be a split among the users that it's either perfect or terrible for them. May go the other way for a small sport screen

ALR

I have a similar issue with the screen on my Multistrada 1200S. It’s the GT version with the touring screen and it’s very noisy. Considering a smaller screen, but also someone has developed a way to leave a gap between the body and screen to allow some airflow underneath the screen, apparently reduces noise and buffeting like the latest bikes do. I’m tempted to give it a try.

TheBigDipper

And I have a windshield noise problem with my F900 XR. It came with the small "sporting" one but I also bought the larger "touring" one for winter use at the same time (the smaller screen was on the demonstrator I took out for a morning before ordering). The only way to avoid buffeting around the head is to use the "sporting" screen at its lowest setting. So essentially riding a naked bike. Which I don't mind at all now. 

Haych

When I bought my bike it came fitted with a Givi touring screen. Not only did it look ridiculous but the noise and buffeting was truly horrible. 

Some occasions the buffeting was quite violent and felt like it was trying to snap my neck. 

Since then I’ve tried all manner of screens - I have the MRA touring screen, which is about the same height as the factory touring screen bit a bit wider - less buffeting but still noisy. 

I’ve tried an aftermarket sport screen - no buffeting, very noisy. 

I also have the factory sport screen which stays on the bike most of the time now. Least noise of any screen and no buffeting. And looks the coolest configuration. 

However, the most comfortable set up for the bike is no screen at all. Significantly quieter, and no buffeting - just looks a little odd to me. And it does add a little bit of upper body pressure at higher speeds, but not significantly so over the sport screen. 

ALR

^I’ve seen a few Multistrada owners talk about getting a sports screen. How do you find it when you encounter weather?

Haych

ALR said:

^I’ve seen a few Multistrada owners talk about getting a sports screen. How do you find it when you encounter weather?

Can’t say it’s that much different, to be honest.  It’s a naked bike anyway so maybe the fact I have a good GTX jacket makes the difference?

It certainly doesn’t change how much rain hits my helmet/visor. 

Dominic

I don't like a screen irrespective of weather
although I've got to say it makes a difference if you're doing 400 mile per day touring .....my neck/collar size is 16 and a half in March .......by October it's always 18 and a half .....just muscle built up from heading into the wind

Haych

So, if I can revisit the chance of a meet up - seems like there are a good few up for it. 

Are we agreed that Poole is a decent destination? Happy to listen to other destinations to meet if anyone wants to throw summat out there. 

What’s a good date/time for everyone? I’m assuming we’re going to hang on a bit and hope beyond hope that at some point it will stop lashing it down and we might even get some sun for the day. 

I’m rubbish at arranging things but will say that a Saturday is probably going to be the easiest day for me for be free. 

What y’all think?

guitargeek62

Poole’s good for me, happy to meet there if needed for route planning etc

*edit* weekends are generally workable

thebreeze

I need to be a bit specific about weekends, sorry.

In the next 2-3 months, I can do; 27/04, 04/05, 18/05, 22/06.

Haych

Not sure about the 27th April, so probably best I decline that one. I’m away in Spain for 22nd June, but 4th or 18th May works for me. 

guitargeek62

thebreeze said:

I need to be a bit specific about weekends, sorry.

In the next 2-3 months, I can do; 27/04, 04/05, 18/05, 22/06.

18/05 and 22/06 should work for me from those.

Note, the DGR ride is on the 19/05 too if anyone’s doing that?

BenSirAmos

Not sure I can do Saturdays but I'll keep an eye on the thread just in case.