Yet another bike addict

[uttamc]

Hi All, I got my bike in May 05, an XL650-V5, as I was looking for a change from my CBR600. The Transalp was a real revelation when I got her, however being on the short side, anything other than hurling her around was the source of severe stress. Loss of momentum required substantial foot and bum coordination that I was not always able to achieve.

All the same I do not believe it contributed to my heart requiring a rebore which took me out of play. During the break I have dropped the yokes an inch and had a shorter Hagon shock built. Things are a lot better, but this is definitely work in progress. I have just managed to get 9hrs in the saddle over the weekend and covered a varied mix of just over 400 miles. It has been just as thrilling as the first ride when I picked her up on a friday afternoon and returned on tuesday morning for her first service.

Now I want to be ready for the summer. Next job is new tyres as the old ones appear to be perishing a little. I look forward to learning from others through this forum and thank all those responsible for it.

[StumpyFingers]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Tyres are a personal choice but there are loads out there.
Have you tried a lower seat? They are a bit firmer than the original but do help if your stature is lacking.

[uttamc]

Thanks for the welcome. Re lower seat as supplied by Honda;

The first 'headache': at motorway speeds the buffet increased around my head. The quick and dirty cure has been a slightly taller Givi screen. I'm sure there are better out there, but this gets the job done to an acceptable level. For 'acceptable' please read cost-benefit and will She spot the difference immediately. If I can gain a 6 month lapse, I can convince her that I had consulted her and that it was her idea.

The second problem I have yet to address because when it is warm I move around a fair bit in order to point the draft into different regions. Last weekend I got cold. The reduced distance between seat and peg started to lock my joints as I did not have the energy to stand up on the pegs. This forced my backside into taking the entire endless pounding, the longest being a 3hr stretch which was unfortunately right after a near 2hr stretch. I appreciate that this statement leaves me open to a number of different ways that this thread could develop, however the genuine purpose is to find out if anyone has tried the gel stuff I have heard about. Are they any good? What are the pros and cons?

As for the tyres, just from researching this forum I have come up with this list:
Bridgestone BT-45: dual compound (harder in the middle), known to be OK with inner tubes.
Dunlop Trailmax: apparently the best knobblies!?
Dunlop Trailmax D607: even better when 80% road use.
TKC 80: another best knobblies, but don't last.
Metzler Tourance: can't get my head round this, some say really good stuff and others have been happier when they have moved away.
Enduro 3 Sahara: more for off-road, half the life of Tourance.
Pirelli Dragon Corsa: ?
Distanzias: ?
Anakees: ?

I have come to the conclusion that I am looking for the wrong answer. I need to work out what sort of riding I am going to get back into. Last weekend was only about getting some time in the saddle. I am going to see if I can come up with my own reference grid.

Time/distance to be spent on: Motorway/A/B/Unlisted or Off-road.
Purpose of ride: Mission/Duty/Commute/Party at the other end.
Weather: Fair/All/Dependant on purpose.
Frequency of use.

Now my head is beginning to hurt. I think I will lie down or go for a ride, but first I will put the kettle on. Please feel free to ignore or comment on my ramblings as you best see fit. I'm terrific at asking for advice and then not taking it. Personally I think my doctor was being a bit churlish when he said it.

[StumpyFingers]

I think you are getting mixed up with the Deathwings these tyres are to be avoided at all costs but Metzler Tourance seem to be O.K.

[pale rider]

Hi uttamc
There a few recomended tyres out there for the alp i have pirelli scorpions which i thought transformed the whole bikes handling from bridgestones trailwing... but there are so many opinions regarding tyres its probably each to their own in that respect..

what i can tell you is that to combat the numb bumb syndrome try an airhawk... i have to say they work a treat for me, cant praise them enough. dont know exactly how they work but they do work....

[StumpyFingers]

Originally Posted by pale rider

Snip................
what i can tell you is that to combat the numb bumb syndrome try an airhawk... i have to say they work a treat for me, cant praise them enough. dont know exactly how they work but they do work....

Think of sitting on an airbag.

[uttamc]

Airhawk sounds just the ticket. I guess it will raise me up a little, but that seems a fair exchange.
What I had originally been thinking about was the padded cycling shorts as occasionally found at Aldi for silly money, to be worn under the bike gear.
Anyone tried these? A mate of mine put me onto these, but he is weird in more ways than one.