09-24-2019, 11:51 AM
(09-22-2019, 12:25 PM)Bheezy27403_imp Wrote: The tires are officially scrubbed in, as in, they took a beating today. Did 175 miles today, the bulk of which in the southern Virginia mountains. The wee beastie performed very well.
I rode with my buddy on his 14 Valkyrie (best rider I have ever seen. Frequently dusts off high end liter sport bikes on that rolling couch.) and a new friend on a Speed Triple. We headed up to HWY 66 just above Hanging Rock State Park. This little road is 3-4 miles of tight tight technical stuff on a narrow, chip and shoot surface. Always one of my destinations when out for a twisty ride. The little 300 easily kept pace with the other 2 bikes. Now, to do so required wringing her neck like there was no tomorrow. I just kept the tach above 7k (7500 max torque I think) and that usually meant no more room to twist the go go handle. The lean angle is much greater than either of my other 2 bikes which helps a lot.
We then headed on into VA where the road surfaces are better and the turns are spread out a little more than 66. The 'lil girl had a much more difficult time keeping up when there are 100 yard spaces between the turns. She just doesn't have the torque out of the turns. By the end of the day I had it dialed in pretty good and could keep momentum up to slingshot out.
I quickly found her limitations. The forks. They will need stiffer springs to take this sort of a thrashing. Several times they bottomed out while leaned over in the corners. Not very confidence inspiring. I will also set the preload on the back spring to the next stiffer setting on the next time in the mountains. Also the narrow wheels skip around on loose impediments quite a bit more which took some getting used to. The Dunlop's did a superb job all day. I will gladly keep these on the bike as it has no need for stickier tires. The brakes were also more than adequate. I noticed no fade but I don't use them much except for entering the hairiest of corners at a good clip.
All in all great first outing on the new addition. I've been wanting to pull the trigger on a lightweight to abuse in the mountains and she didn't disappoint. Fork springs changed, work out my clutch hand (lots more shifting), and check out a new seat and I'll be happy as a clam.
There's some usable torque 5,500 & up on my 250. It runs out of steam around 9,000 so I'll often shift to get back onto the torque.
(09-22-2019, 12:25 PM)Bheezy27403_imp Wrote: The tires are officially scrubbed in, as in, they took a beating today. Did 175 miles today, the bulk of which in the southern Virginia mountains. The wee beastie performed very well.
I rode with my buddy on his 14 Valkyrie (best rider I have ever seen. Frequently dusts off high end liter sport bikes on that rolling couch.) and a new friend on a Speed Triple. We headed up to HWY 66 just above Hanging Rock State Park. This little road is 3-4 miles of tight tight technical stuff on a narrow, chip and shoot surface. Always one of my destinations when out for a twisty ride. The little 300 easily kept pace with the other 2 bikes. Now, to do so required wringing her neck like there was no tomorrow. I just kept the tach above 7k (7500 max torque I think) and that usually meant no more room to twist the go go handle. The lean angle is much greater than either of my other 2 bikes which helps a lot.
We then headed on into VA where the road surfaces are better and the turns are spread out a little more than 66. The 'lil girl had a much more difficult time keeping up when there are 100 yard spaces between the turns. She just doesn't have the torque out of the turns. By the end of the day I had it dialed in pretty good and could keep momentum up to slingshot out.
I quickly found her limitations. The forks. They will need stiffer springs to take this sort of a thrashing. Several times they bottomed out while leaned over in the corners. Not very confidence inspiring. I will also set the preload on the back spring to the next stiffer setting on the next time in the mountains. Also the narrow wheels skip around on loose impediments quite a bit more which took some getting used to. The Dunlop's did a superb job all day. I will gladly keep these on the bike as it has no need for stickier tires. The brakes were also more than adequate. I noticed no fade but I don't use them much except for entering the hairiest of corners at a good clip.
All in all great first outing on the new addition. I've been wanting to pull the trigger on a lightweight to abuse in the mountains and she didn't disappoint. Fork springs changed, work out my clutch hand (lots more shifting), and check out a new seat and I'll be happy as a clam.
Yep, it's not about slowing down and digging out. It's about carrying controlled speed going in and getting back on the throttle as early as you please...there's not enough torque to make the rear step out.
(09-22-2019, 12:25 PM)Bheezy27403_imp Wrote: The tires are officially scrubbed in, as in, they took a beating today. Did 175 miles today, the bulk of which in the southern Virginia mountains. The wee beastie performed very well.
I rode with my buddy on his 14 Valkyrie (best rider I have ever seen. Frequently dusts off high end liter sport bikes on that rolling couch.) and a new friend on a Speed Triple. We headed up to HWY 66 just above Hanging Rock State Park. This little road is 3-4 miles of tight tight technical stuff on a narrow, chip and shoot surface. Always one of my destinations when out for a twisty ride. The little 300 easily kept pace with the other 2 bikes. Now, to do so required wringing her neck like there was no tomorrow. I just kept the tach above 7k (7500 max torque I think) and that usually meant no more room to twist the go go handle. The lean angle is much greater than either of my other 2 bikes which helps a lot.
We then headed on into VA where the road surfaces are better and the turns are spread out a little more than 66. The 'lil girl had a much more difficult time keeping up when there are 100 yard spaces between the turns. She just doesn't have the torque out of the turns. By the end of the day I had it dialed in pretty good and could keep momentum up to slingshot out.
I quickly found her limitations. The forks. They will need stiffer springs to take this sort of a thrashing. Several times they bottomed out while leaned over in the corners. Not very confidence inspiring. I will also set the preload on the back spring to the next stiffer setting on the next time in the mountains. Also the narrow wheels skip around on loose impediments quite a bit more which took some getting used to. The Dunlop's did a superb job all day. I will gladly keep these on the bike as it has no need for stickier tires. The brakes were also more than adequate. I noticed no fade but I don't use them much except for entering the hairiest of corners at a good clip.
All in all great first outing on the new addition. I've been wanting to pull the trigger on a lightweight to abuse in the mountains and she didn't disappoint. Fork springs changed, work out my clutch hand (lots more shifting), and check out a new seat and I'll be happy as a clam.
I haven't found that to be a problem. I'm 195 lbs. I wonder if the previous owner put in lighter weight fork oil?