RiderSite.com - Motorcycle Forums

So lets begin on today's journey to Southern Cross motorcycles in Kilburn.

Took the fast route there, M25, M3, A316, A406 (north circular( then hang a right at the M1), 35 mins door to door, not bad on fecked tyres and a jittery ride

So get there and its got loads of blokes who are all smiles , have a chat with the bloke behind the counter and he's all attentive. So 1st off the wheels are off and new tyres fitted, the mechanic notices as he puts the wheel back on, the chain has more tight spots than a scotsman at the bar, ok so lets have new chain and sprockets, 15 front 44 rear (yeah I don't know what that translates to speed or gearing wise) funny thing was the front sprockets teeth (BTW it had 16 teeth) had a few that looked as if the chain had munched them a bit, they were bent.

Guru time, Don and one of his blokes then started looking at the sussy settings, I'm told that there's little to no rebound at the front end and the backs nearly as bad. I was asked if it was skittish at the back end, well it was for me, rear damping was altered quite a bit, (he doesn't like Falco's with Mille rear ends, He gives you an odd look as if to say, you want a Mille rear, buy a Mille).

Anyway after all this, its home time and bloody hell what a transformation the suspension is, its point and go, the rear feels like the CB5 I had did when you got enthusiastic with it, now I don't know if I could use it like that as 6 years and more aches and pains don't help, but I guess I'll find out on my 1st track day with it.

Tim if you want to move it somewhere else please do

Yeah, just move it to my garage mate.

Im in all week

Kwackerz wrote:Yeah, just move it to my garage mate.

Im in all week

Wish on then

I can do Monday, yes. Glad it all went well at DOn's place. I was quite shocked at the sussy settings, but there again each person has it set to them. I bet F9 loved it on those old settings, much as you do on yours

Indeed, after all bikes are personal

Interesting, very interesting!! Have to say I hadn't been playing too much with the settings as it worked for me. Bit annoyed now as it would appear a little more fettling might have improved matters even more

The rebound (or lack of it) was not a problem for me as we have said as I am considerabley heavier than Gio.

Testing the Tuono the forks didn't feel anything like as good as the Falco's, but I reckon I will experiment further once I've got the bike.

The biggest problem when discussing all these suspension matters is that we are all different, we ride differently and all demand different traits & feedback to suit our personal riding style.

Great innit? we'll never ever agree because what works for one will not work for another, and the long conversations can carry on forever

F9

Falco9 wrote:Interesting, very interesting!! Have to say I hadn't been playing too much with the settings as it worked for me. Bit annoyed now as it would appear a little more fettling might have improved matters even more

The rebound (or lack of it) was not a problem for me as we have said as I am considerabley heavier than Gio.

Testing the Tuono the forks didn't feel anything like as good as the Falco's, but I reckon I will experiment further once I've got the bike.

The biggest problem when discussing all these suspension matters is that we are all different, we ride differently and all demand different traits & feedback to suit our personal riding style.

Great innit? we'll never ever agree because what works for one will not work for another, and the long conversations can carry on forever

F9

Absolutely, Unlike you Rich, I'm over the screen

The new rubber has now got 130 miles on it and it really tips into bends great for me, the skittishness I had from the back has gone, but as Don said to me different rider different weight and of course familiarity, which is some way off for me but wasn't for you.

I love it, its everything the Blackbird wasn't

I'm just delighted that you are as obviously happy with her as I was.

Hopefully pick up the new steed on the 12th or the 14th April (even for a usually non superstitious person like me collecting the bike on Friday 13th seems like too much of a bad omen)

F9

Falco9 wrote:I'm just delighted that you are as obviously happy with her as I was.

Oh no .... does this mean that Gio will be chopping it in for a Tuono any day now?

D-Rider wrote:

Falco9 wrote:I'm just delighted that you are as obviously happy with her as I was.

Oh no .... does this mean that Gio will be chopping it in for a Tuono any day now?

I don't mind the Tuono, but after having ridden the GS it was a no no. TBO a Tuono is nothing like a Falco the only thing they have in common is a badge.

And Breathe