Spotted this brand new Brammo while I was taking my coffee break at work in SF downtown. I am not surprise it gains popularity in greener city like SF - especially with a price tag of $8K. But if I have $8K to burn, would I ever consider to get a electric bike? I almost sure I won't. I rather get a used Monster, or a new 250... IMO, motorcycle is the symbol of freedom. Motorcycle supposes to be loud and wild (not cruisers kind of loud or wide - sorry, no HD is allowed in this blog :P) Where is the fun when motorcycle doesn't make engine noise? Why I have to limit myself how far I could go? Do I have to wait over-night to charge the battery? I mean.... Brammo doesn't really sounds like a motorcycle to me at all....
There is one thing I want for sure in this picture - the super awesome BMW GS1200R (AKA the biggest dirt bike in the world) quietly sitting in the background... just imagine how far you can go with the GS... all the sudden the Brammo looks like a toy for a 12 yrs old.
Maybe I'm not as green as the electric bike owner; but I ride like a real rider; and I feel proud of how I ride. Ride on!
It happened almost 2 weeks ago, and I finally have time to go back there to revisit what went wrong. All the mud tracks were washed by the passing cars after a few days; but all the sand and gravels were still everywhere by the time I took the picture...
Here is what happened:
The weather was holding up well on the weekend, so I did a quick 'local back road' loop at 3pm. There were still wet spots here and there especially the areas that under shade. There were debris left from the storm 2 days ago; but in general all the road were fairly clean even on Wild Cat Canyon. Everything was in control and nice... until I hit Alhambra (traveling east). Mad tracks were all over road! Almost every turn had something! I slowed down a bit but still hit one of the mud tracks which goes across the road - the worse part was it is the beginning of the left-hand turn! I picked the path had the least amount of dirt but my front still slide - it shaken and washed for 2 times before it gained traction again. By then I was already in the middle of the turn and I was really close to the right shoulder - and I don't even know how I pull it off without crushing into the rock on the right shoulder....
Man... I was almost $hit my pants! Luckily I didn't panic and pull the break - I just let the bike corrected itself. Lesson to learn: SLOW DOWN and LOOK AHEAD!!! Once slowed down the time I gain will help me to do a better judgment of the given road condition....
Yes, I was one lucky dog!
It is alway fun to pay extra attention to details...especially on italian motorcycles.
The road was clean but a bit wet from last night fog. It was a nice and easy ride. Redwood road remains to be one of my favorite local twistie - feeling so lucky to many nice roads around Bay Area.
After re-adjusting the pin, now the clutch lever works VERY WELL. No more odd sound from the clutch (I did pull everything out yesterday to clean each clutch plates for the first time make sure everything is OK). The function zone still typical-Ducati-norrow; but this is the first time I able to 'feel' what the clutch trying to tell me all along...
Not every bike has a soul; but I am sure my Ducati has one =)
Along HW1 over Tomales Bay - this stretch of HW1 probably has the best pavement over the entire Bay Area!
Today also was the first time I brought my DSLR along to take some higher quality pictures. The same problem still remains - DSLR is just too big and too heavy to carry around. With my heated vest, winter leather jacket, and Kriega backpack, I felt like I just gain 20lb!
Nevertheless, it was one of nicest solo ride I have! Did I mention good lunch too? =D~
Need to do it again soon...
The ride was very nice - totally in control of my own pace in both dry and wet roads - no drama, no close-call - just simply a speedy joyful ride.
Lever update - small high-pitch noise kicked in 3 times during the ride. All happened at 1st gear when took off. Noise lasted about a second, and gone before I up shift. I suspect it caused by the longer push pin which comes with the ASV levers. I will adjust it again tomorrow, and see if the problem go away. Stay tune.
After yesterday levers installations, finally I have a chance to test it out this morning. The test also includes the newly installed heat vest jack located right under my seat on the left. Everything works really well - in fact, I was able to enjoy the ride during the test and adjustments (which is very unusual compare with the adjustment ride of the rearset - it was pain in the a$$!).
I bought a heat vest from Tour Master last year; but didn't have a chance to use it until 3 weeks ago. The cable that comes with the vest works well, but it was too short, and all the wire and heat controller created a very odd riding situation - especially the wire goes between my left leg and the tank. Finally I have time to look for a right extension wire, and now I am able to loop the wire on top of my left leg, and connect the vest to the jack under my seat - all the wire and control are out of my way now! Excellent!
For the new ASV levers - man, this is the best control I ever have! Both levers are very well made, and the level of micro adjustments are unbelievable. Brake lever now works really well. Clutch is good; but it will take me some time to get used to a shorty lever. Because it is shorter, the end of the levers somehow get in-between my middle finger and ring finger. Once that happens, I have a lot of room to play at the lower end of the action - as the result, the control fingers move (index and middle), and it affects the control of the clutch at take off. It is not really a big deal - just need to get use to it.
So far I love it! And the ride reminds me how nice of the backyard I have in Hercules!
Finally, the front end of my Sport 1000 has been addressed. I am pretty happy with the work so far based on the limited budget, and I am sure I will do more in the near future. There are many things still on my "to-do" list, like powder coating handle bars and triple tree and replacing the stock front fender to carbon fiber.... but then again - take it slow, and do it one-by-one.
Here is the list of things I have done so far to the front end:
- ASV shorty levers - the adjustments are super! I haven't test ride it yet. I will update the review once I hit the road.
- Black paint coated signals, light bracket, and headlight rim
- New bar-ends and bar-end mirrors - from Cycle gear - cost 50% less than Rizoma mirrors but just look and work as nice if not better. Finally I can see clearly what's going on behind me over 90 MPH!
- Rizoma reservoirs and arms with clear tube - Used to have sweating problem with black fuel tube (lean it my lesson in a hard way!). I switched to Brembo clean tube from Yoyodyne - not a cheap tubing but problem free so far!
View over Calaveras Reservoir - the hills are all green which is a bit unusual in Oct. There are some rocks and gravels here and there - but overall still pretty clean. As usual, most riders can't do more than 35 MPH over Calaveras, and I was taking my time today and try to enjoy the nice weather before the cold and wet winter....
The road was clean and free of cop. I was in fairly rapid pace but no GP style for sure. I enjoyed the ride a lot - especially when I was in total control of the pace.
Weather was perfect - no cloud or fug - a bit chill but sunny - which is not very often weather in Mill Valley. Love the ride, and hopefully will do it again!
Wow, it was a fun road. A bit scary - single width super twisty road next to cliff without guardrail - but I love it! Will do that again!
Finally the group had some warm sun light at Point Reyes station - it was a cold, wet, and foggy morning ride along HW1...
BTW, the new set of mirrors work great - super clear images under high speed - I mean, up to 80mph. There is not way on earth anyone can see anything on a motorcycle mirrors above 80mph on a L-twins motorcycle - I am just happy that I have a set of cool looking mirrors that work!
It was one of the best solo ride I ever have! The weather was great and there was no traffic - no car miles in front of me, and the car behind never able to catch up with me on the road... feel like the while HW 1 was all mine!
Been a long while since I blog anything about my bike - everything is fine and hopefully keep in this way. Recently lost my job and I have a a lot of time now - it is time to clean up the bike. First area I need to work on is the reservoirs - the stock reservoirs is functional but look cheap, and the plastic discolors through time. So I decided to give Rizoma a try. The quality is super; but of cause, it cost 10 times more than the stock plastic reservoirs... took me 2 hrs to replace both, and I replace the tube too....
Took a day off and ride around the back road near my house. Very low video quality - hopefully I will find a way to improved it. Enjoy!
The first impression of the kid was the build quality - it was excellent! All parts fitted well, and it took me about 90mins to install the kit. Instruction was well written, and all the big pictures in the instruction really help.
Test Ride:
My bike handles much better, especially in bumpy back road - no more sudden 'hand-shake'. It improve high speed stability too. I pushed my bike over 115MPH and still feel fairly stable. I started from 4 clicks (from softest), and within a day, I pushed it to 9 clicks - it gave me the stability I was looking for, and yet without sacrificed the steering feedback. I highly recommend TMSD to all SP1000 owners.
I want to share this for quite some time - would love to share the sound of this beauty. The classic Ducati dry clutch has it's own sound, and once it is mix into the full exhaust, it just simply turns into beautiful symphony especially when it goes above 5K RPM. In case you wonder - this system is for track only (it comes with custom ECU), it is not street legal - But... who cares? :P
Man, I have been sicked for days. Still have to work since there a lot to do (well, it is a good thing in this economic time). Finally took a day off and headed to the hills - it was beautiful! The weather was GREAT - prefect riding weather. Roads were dry and not cold at all - feel like May weather... The ride really fixed me up nicely!
Finally, I got my tool box. Because of the motorcycle and home remodeling, I have collected a few power tools and compress air tools over the years. The problem is they all had their own individual boxes and holder, and things were all over the place; especially the small items like nails and screws. After I got my motorcycle, my collection grow from SAE to metric standard - from hex socket to torque wrench and anything in between. And of cause - I like to buy new tools... =D
Took the old pict out and do some photoshop work on it. I wasn't using photoshop - I was using Aperture by Apple. It work so well! Love it!
Posts
All Comments
