06-20-2019, 03:57 AM
pdedse, you hit it on the head. The cracking sound I feel through the bars came about as a result of trying to avoid feathering the brakes, so I wouldn't have to hear the brake squeal. I've also been using the rear brake much more now when rolling to a stop, for the same reason. The cracking sound/feeling only started around five hundred miles ago. Never happened during the first year.
The dealer and American Honda say the cracking thing and the brake squeal are perfectly normal. After measuring everything, they say the rotors are in perfect spec.
I just picked up the CB from the dealer. I'm on a ride now, and just stopped for breakfast up in the mountains.
Once again, I was wrong about the Kawi, vs the Honda. The Honda vibrates every bit as much as the Kawi, but in different ways, and at different spots in the powerband. While neither bike ever vibrates in the pegs, the Honda vibrates more than the Kawi through the bars, while the Kawi vibrates more than the Honda or Yamaha through the knees. The Honda is pretty smooth up to 3,500, but the Kawi is smoother at the bottom of its powerband. Both bikes suffer their worst vibration in the midrange, before smoothing out again on top. The Honda is smoother than the Kaw on top, but it's all relative, as the Kawi has many more revs with which to play, and a much wider powerband. The Kawi is smoother at freeway speeds. It's only once you rip into its midrange that the vibes appear, and they go away again once you near the top of the tach.
Just like the Honda.
Here's a weird one for ya'. The Honda has a louder, meaner exhaust note than the Kawi! Cracks me up, really. The Kawi is so smooth, until that induction roar beneath the tank joins the party, at which point it sounds and feels positively beastly. Meanwhile, the Honda exhaust just always snarls and burbles away, sounding more like a hot rod than the Kawi.
.
After riding the Kawi all day yesterday and learning its clutch engagement point, I find that I'm screwing up now when leaving a stoplight on the Honda! I keep letting the clutch out too soon, because that's how the Kawi needs to be ridden in order to avoid making its clutch shudder.
No biggie. Just a matter of getting reacquainted with the Honda, which, by the way, now feels like an absolute sofa compared to the tighter, lighter, tauter Kawi. The difference in the two seats is downright crazy. Also, suddenly the Honda feels kind of tall from the saddle. The Kawi's seat height is a lot lower.
mickey would love that!
Okay, the jambalaya breakfast with a tropical Red Bull chaser have been powered down. Time to hop back on the Honda and hit the twisties....
The dealer and American Honda say the cracking thing and the brake squeal are perfectly normal. After measuring everything, they say the rotors are in perfect spec.
I just picked up the CB from the dealer. I'm on a ride now, and just stopped for breakfast up in the mountains.
Once again, I was wrong about the Kawi, vs the Honda. The Honda vibrates every bit as much as the Kawi, but in different ways, and at different spots in the powerband. While neither bike ever vibrates in the pegs, the Honda vibrates more than the Kawi through the bars, while the Kawi vibrates more than the Honda or Yamaha through the knees. The Honda is pretty smooth up to 3,500, but the Kawi is smoother at the bottom of its powerband. Both bikes suffer their worst vibration in the midrange, before smoothing out again on top. The Honda is smoother than the Kaw on top, but it's all relative, as the Kawi has many more revs with which to play, and a much wider powerband. The Kawi is smoother at freeway speeds. It's only once you rip into its midrange that the vibes appear, and they go away again once you near the top of the tach.
Just like the Honda.
Here's a weird one for ya'. The Honda has a louder, meaner exhaust note than the Kawi! Cracks me up, really. The Kawi is so smooth, until that induction roar beneath the tank joins the party, at which point it sounds and feels positively beastly. Meanwhile, the Honda exhaust just always snarls and burbles away, sounding more like a hot rod than the Kawi.
.
After riding the Kawi all day yesterday and learning its clutch engagement point, I find that I'm screwing up now when leaving a stoplight on the Honda! I keep letting the clutch out too soon, because that's how the Kawi needs to be ridden in order to avoid making its clutch shudder.
No biggie. Just a matter of getting reacquainted with the Honda, which, by the way, now feels like an absolute sofa compared to the tighter, lighter, tauter Kawi. The difference in the two seats is downright crazy. Also, suddenly the Honda feels kind of tall from the saddle. The Kawi's seat height is a lot lower.
mickey would love that!
Okay, the jambalaya breakfast with a tropical Red Bull chaser have been powered down. Time to hop back on the Honda and hit the twisties....