Handlebar Options/Suggestions, Please

[Richard Pitman]

That is the problem with me and the Hornet, too easy to get silly with it, and then I come home feeling guilty about what I've just done.

My Koso speedo has a maximum recorded speed function. It has been reset a few times but currently reads 117 mph. Must have been done by someone else, Officer.

( When I first had it, I did see 140 on the original clocks, but they are optimists. Koso is accurate )

[ancientdad]

That is the problem with me and the Hornet, too easy to get silly with it, and then I come home feeling guilty about what I've just done.

My Koso speedo has a maximum recorded speed function. It has been reset a few times but currently reads 117 mph. Must have been done by someone else, Officer.

( When I first had it, I did see 140 on the original clocks, but they are optimists. Koso is accurate )

I don't feel guilty about it myself, I just pick my spots when I decide to push the envelope a bit but of course, when you live rural as I do there's far less chance of causing anyone else problems. I like the statement in bold above... but the Officer is unlikely to know about that feature unless you tell him (or it's blatantly visible when he stops you).

[Richard Pitman]

Ah, I'm not feeling guilty about breaking the speed limit, I'm feeling guilty about the possibility / probability of wrapping myself around the landscape, much less of an issue on a 175.

[tomeben]

Ah, I'm not feeling guilty about breaking the speed limit, I'm feeling guilty about the possibility / probability of wrapping myself around the landscape, much less of an issue on a 175.

Yeah, that. Be safe!


Tom - 1982 CM450E

[ancientdad]

Ah, I'm not feeling guilty about breaking the speed limit, I'm feeling guilty about the possibility / probability of wrapping myself around the landscape, much less of an issue on a 175.

As I've gotten older I'm more aware of the envelopes I've pushed, that which I paid less attention to back in my 20s and 30s, and a near 20 year absence from bikes helped that become more of a forethought too. Even when riding roads I'm very familiar with, I still avoid the urge to take a corner faster than I now feel comfortable with... for me it's as much not wanting to damage the bike as it is not wanting to damage myself, and the knowledge that one doesn't heal as quickly once you're older is a great incentive to rein yourself in. Well, that and the thought of pain...

[tomeben]

Well, that and the thought of pain...

Uh huh, that, too. As much as I enjoy riding this two-wheeled machine, I’ve learned to respect it… a LOT.


Tom - 1982 CM450E

[ancientdad]

Uh huh, that, too. As much as I enjoy riding this two-wheeled machine, I’ve learned to respect it… a LOT.


Tom - 1982 CM450E

Yep, that's why I primarily enjoy straight line acceleration and speed these days on traffic-free sections of road (and there's a lot of that available around me now), and cautiously mix in a wheelie now and then

[tomeben]

and cautiously mix in a wheelie now and then

See the damage/pain referenced above! Cool skill I never learned, cool you still can.


Tom - 1982 CM450E

[ancientdad]

See the damage/pain referenced above! Cool skill I never learned, cool you still can.


Tom - 1982 CM450E

Well, even at our age we have to get in a little excitement once in a while, right? LOL

[tomeben]

Well, even at our age we have to get in a little excitement once in a while, right? LOL

Totally agree; mine comes from the straight line acceleration, no traffic, you mentioned. And some days simply enjoying the ride is enough.


Tom - 1982 CM450E

[james adams]

Nope, I'm the guy who hates buckhorn bars and forward mounted controls/pegs. It's one big reason (other than a lot of cash profit) I didn't want to keep the garage-find Harley.

Excellent! I hate them also. In fact, and I might cause shock and horror here, I hate Indians and Harleys too! Totally unsuited for tiny UK roads, perfect for USA but I still hate them!

[james adams]

While we're on this subject let's add bar grip. Most people initially hold the grips WAY too tight (death grip), there's no need to do that since you're not going to fall off.

That is soo true Jim. Back in 1978 I was riding a Yamaha RD200 with my mate on a Suzuki GT185 and he gripped the bars like his life depended on how tight he held them. On a round trip through the Peak District (a local beauty spot) he always complained of neck ache, shoulder and back ache and now I realise why! We were about 21 years of age so aching was not allowed, too young for that! I was fine, I could do the 60 mile round trip again. Mind you, I am very laid back!

[james adams]

Ah, I'm not feeling guilty about breaking the speed limit, I'm feeling guilty about the possibility / probability of wrapping myself around the landscape, much less of an issue on a 175.

I'm with you there Richard. When I was an indestructible teen-ager I went as fast as I could with no thought of danger. Now, when I do get on it, I'm more of a 'what if that car up ahead pulls out on me? Can I stop in time? What's around this bend, a stopped tractor?' These thoughts never entered my head back then, it's a wonder I'm still alive!

[james adams]

Yep, that's why I primarily enjoy straight line acceleration and speed these days on traffic-free sections of road (and there's a lot of that available around me now), and cautiously mix in a wheelie now and then

That's what I will like Tom! See how fast, in a straight line, I can get it from 0 to 70. Or 80 plus . . . . . . . .

[ancientdad]

Excellent! I hate them also. In fact, and I might cause shock and horror here, I hate Indians and Harleys too! Totally unsuited for tiny UK roads, perfect for USA but I still hate them!

I still have an appreciation for them, but a very low interest in actually owning one anymore. I'm at the project limit for myself now, enough to keep me busy for the next few years before my back (or knees, or shoulders) may well tell me it's time to stop.

[james adams]

I still have an appreciation for them, but a very low interest in actually owning one anymore. I'm at the project limit for myself now, enough to keep me busy for the next few years before my back (or knees, or shoulders) may well tell me it's time to stop.

That's what I'm worried about hence trying to hurry up and finish! At 64 I'm not too infirm but people say when you near 70 you start to want to do things but your body betrays you. So, I want to ride my 400 for a few years before I'm too weak to get it off its stand, never mind swing a leg over it!

Got to finish it first though . . . . . . . .

[tomeben]

So, I want to ride my 400 for a few years before I'm too weak to get it off its stand, never mind swing a leg over it!

Got to finish it first though . . . . . . . .

Frame of mind, James. If you put it in your brain you’re done at 70, you’ll be done at 70… just saying. Stay active, keep moving forward; do what brings you joy. And, there’s a whole huge bunch of us waiting to see/hear what’s next… stay on, I’d be willing to bet you don’t stop riding. Cheers!


Tom - 1982 CM450E / Midwest USA

[LongDistanceRider]

That's what I'm worried about hence trying to hurry up and finish! At 64 I'm not too infirm but people say when you near 70 you start to want to do things but your body betrays you. So, I want to ride my 400 for a few years before I'm too weak to get it off its stand, never mind swing a leg over it!

Got to finish it first though . . . . . . . .

64 isn't old. I did my first US tour at 60, celebrated my 61st in a motel 2000 miles from home, spending 3.5 months on the road and 18,000 miles.
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Then at almost 64 I did the 2nd tour to ride thru the remaining states to fill the map in, 4 months on the road and close to 20,000 miles.
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Tomorrow's my 71st and still going strong.

[james adams]

In my head I'm 18 still. Got many hobbies besides the bikes to keep me active. Model building, photography, computing, archery, guitar playing, painting landscapes in oils so for when I can't ride (hopefully around age 84 like I saw in a magazine a couple of years ago (and he was on a Honda Dream 400!) I'll have plenty to do! Bikes first though!

[wentwest]

A couple of thoughts.

Bars. On the CB450K0 project the bike came with some very radical racing bars, and it was ridiculous to move around the garage and just deal with, so I finally bought a bar from 4into1 they call Chrome Daytona Touring:

https://4into1.com/chrome-daytona-to...andlebars-7-8/

At $17.95 it's not a big commitment. At the same time you can buy new rubber mounting insulators, grips and whatever other maintenance stuff you want, and run up the bill, but that's its own sort of fun. The bars seem OK, although I haven't ever ridden the bike. The one thing I was thinking about is whether I was interested in running wiring through the bars or not. I decided I was not interested because I was still doing a lot of work on everything and access to everything was important. Some grip mounts have pins on them that stick into holes in bars, and you should see if that is an issue for you.

Bikes and age. Tough choices to make, but the story is always the same with motorcycles. The danger is there, you know it's there, so pay attention. The losses we get from aging are much more sneaky. Be realistic. Reaction times slow, vision and hearing fade, strength and endurance certainly go down. Everything makes it easier to screw up, and since screwing up is something I've always done I do it more now. I'd rather enjoy my rides now when I'm 75 and still be riding when I'm 85 that try to push myself to the edge of my abilities now and lose the chance to ride again when I'm 76.

[Richard Pitman]

I'm 67, going on 68. I spent some of last weekend up on my shed roof, replacing felt roofing shingles. Only 8 feet or so off the ground. I was fine while I was up there, but had a moments reflection when I came to get down to get the cup of tea which my wife had brought out to me. Feeling behind me for the top of the step ladder, it wobbled a bit. And it occurred to me that if I slipped and fell it was going to hurt.

( Some 18 months ago I slipped on ice, fell and somehow managed to dislocate my shoulder. It's still not right now, and I doubt that it ever will be. )

But when I was much younger, I used to amuse myself by jumping off a similar shed roof, onto tarmac, practicing my parachute rolls * and judo break falls. If I tried that now, it would end up in the local falls clinic …

( Did a couple of parachute static line jumps back then. Ex SAS instructor at Shobden air field, clipped me around the head and called me a d*** head for not paying attention )