monster for a returning rider

[ducpainter]

The pita comment was about this gun

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_764939_-1____ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

the titanium/scandium version weighing 11.4 oz firing a 357 mag cartridge

compared to your aluminum airweight which weighs in at 15.1 oz, firing a 38 special ...

But anyway, I went with the Beretta, mostly because its totally cute and pretty ... so there ... it also is SA/DA, so I can carry "cocked and locked" and be ready to go just by flipping the thumb safety.

Not to say a J frame isn't somewhere in my future, just not now ...

And I picked the S&W over the Glock, but peace on that one, I could easily have gone the other way, the S&W was just a marginally better fit to my hand, is all.



Duchess

Please keep this thread to moto content.

As you said...we have a gun thread in NMC.

Thanks.

[bdub]

I've been following this thread since the beginning and have read Duchess's intro. Welcome, you are a great addition to the board. At the risk of going the wrong direction, how about a used 900? O and by the way, love those shoes.

[Le Pirate]

So - I go armed (with knowledge, I'm leaving the guns behind) and interested into the next round of interviews and test rides at dealerships ...

Duchess

Take the guns with you. You might get a better deal...






 

[Curmudgeon]

This is just conversation until you ride the bikes. Pity that you couldn't ride that used 796 with 14T which "gmerri" had for 400 miles as I'd doubt you'd have the feeling that you would likely ever outride that bike in stock trim.

I'm repeating myself... Have the dealer back off the preload so that you don't have a rigid rear end. See where that leaves you. Possibly you'll be low enough for comfort. If you then find the Sachs spring/shock combo not nearly as nice as the stock forks, you can fit a "cheap" Ohlins with a spring and damping custom built for your light weight and riding style. ~$625 and no extra charge from Ohlins in NC for putting one together for you.

A low DP seat has less foam. As you are 5' 8", try a plain Sargent seat. It's flatter and won't force you onto the faux tank as much. You can send it back if you don't prefer it over the stock seat which is already allegedly better than the 696 seat.

Termi kit for $1,600 to make it "maybe" a bit smoother?! First you have to break the bike in. 1,200 miles and the throttle glitch goes away and it runs a lot smoother. 58 ft lbs and 87 BHP is no slouch already.

IMO try the bike stock with the sag set up for your weight before you consider changing the ride height. Sure, it might work, but it might also alter the geometry which is already quite nice.

Your call...

PS. I quite like my Tech Spec tank pads for staying off the tank in slow traffic and the Rizoma bar I had fitted has a nicer wrist angle and allows a slightly more upright seating position. It's still aggressive though. Talk to me again if you don't understand what I'm saying. Had all this stuff fitted to mine before I picked it up "'cause this ain't my first rodeo" and I knew exactly what the bike needed for MY use! 

[Duchess]

I've been following this thread since the beginning and have read Duchess's intro. Welcome, you are a great addition to the board. At the risk of going the wrong direction, how about a used 900? O and by the way, love those shoes.

Doing the paper comparison of the 796 and the 2002 900ie:

900ie is 40 lbs heavier, lacks ABS, has a dry clutch, and is down on power (87 from the 800 vs 78 from the 900) and torque (80 from the 800 vs 73 from the 900) ..

so I'm not that interested, particularly as the 900 didn't come in the color combination I want (that's important !)

does show that the 796 is likely no slouch, as it out specs the previous bigger bike by a handy margin ...

Duchess

[ducpainter]

Doing the paper comparison of the 796 and the 2002 900ie:

900ie is 40 lbs heavier, lacks ABS, has a dry clutch, and is down on power (87 from the 800 vs 78 from the 900) and torque (80 from the 800 vs 73 from the 900) ..

so I'm not that interested, particularly as the 900 didn't come in the color combination I want (that's important !)

does show that the 796 is likely no slouch, as it out specs the previous bigger bike by a handy margin ...

Duchess

Be careful making comparisons regarding power from new to old bikes.

Somewhere around 2003, I think, Ducati started measuring power numbers at the crank.

That 900 was measured at the rear wheel...there are lots of systems to rob power in between.

As far as color...last I checked DuPont and PPG were still making paint.

[Duchess]

Thanks Ducpainter ... helpful to know that Ducati switched measurement systems. Keeps us Noobs guessing, I suppose ...

counting down until I actually get to ride a couple of test bikes, then this all stops being theoretical and starts being real -- as Curmudgeon keeps telling me 

I'm touring a couple dealerships over the weekend - Commonwealth in Louisville on Saturday and back up to Chicago on Monday .. so "real soon now"  (LOL, that's what Microsoft sales people used to say when asked for "when will the bug fix be released")

PS - sorry about the side track into guns 

 

[Moronic]

Well, I was riding to work this morning and it popped into my head that I'd said I would probably go for a 796. Possibly in my mind because I can still remember pulling up next to a new EVO on the same route a few months ago, first I'd seen in the flesh, and being a bit shocked at how good I thought it looked. Anyway, I was putting along at 45mph on the S4Rs and asking myself whether I'd really go for a 796 if I had the option of an 1100 EVO. Concluded that if it was my money that I was spending, I probably would get the EVO.

So there you go. All that hot air wasted about how great the 796 would be. 

[Curmudgeon]

Not difficult to fathom in view of the fact that you're on an S4Rs now. An EVO might even be "civilized". 

Maybe when you're older?

[Moronic]

Maybe when you're older?

Ha Ha.

Truth is I'm probably a bit out of touch. I've ridden a 620 and a 696, but not far in either case. I can remember putting quite a few miles on a 900SS and a 750SS (Terblanche models) over successive weeks, and thinking how much more fun the 750 was in town. But I can't remember accurately how they felt on the highway.

In theory I like the less-is-more approach. Always have. And given the higher running costs of the S4Rs, I sometimes find it painfully ironic that I rarely ask it for more than 100hp, which I could get more cheaply from an EVO or 1100 "S". I am paying in money and hassle for potential I never use.

But there is something about how easily the S4Rs does it all on the open highway ... below 100mph she never breaks out of a canter.

Sitting at the keyboard, it is easy to forget how seductive that ease can be. Get back in touch with it, riding the bike, and all of a sudden any price is worth paying ... 

[Curmudgeon]

Right. Everything is totally subjective, especially with toys. I had a 4V too, so I understand seductive. The 2V has more of a heartbeat.

796 is noticeably healthier than a 696 IMO. EVO is excess, if that's what gets your blood flowing.  I'm aware of the canter you mention as my son has an ST4s. He's not using much of that 916 top end either, but it can loaf along at 35 more easily than my 796.

In my case, the 796 was purchased as a nimble but more upright replacement for my old tuned 600 SL Pantah. It's just as nimble. and being modern, more stable and very confidence-inspiring. The 796 has a bit more punch but is less turbine-like.

I've rarely done 100 with it. Normally more like 50 - 80 on entertaining roads. 796 is a very low effort proposition and I'm rarely using 80% of its capability. The EVO would be more work I'd imagine. THAT I don't need.

As always..., whatever rings your bell !!! 

[Duchess]

Well ......

Went down to Commonwealth Moto in Louisville KY this morning and tried out bikes in their showroom, paying particular attention to comfort and fit.

and the results are in ...

3rd place: 696 ... although that had the lower seat height, the peg position put's my hip at a more extreme angle. SO although I could "flat foot" it, it was not as comfortable as ...

2nd place: 796 ... the bike I thought (hoped) would fit the best, didn't. Better than the 696, but something just wan't working with my hip angle, and also the height of the bars wasn't comfortable.  We put the touring seat on, and that actually made things worse

so ... drum roll please:

1st place: 1100 evo ... was the most comfortable... The bigger engine creates a bigger platform, which means that none of my joints (ankle / knee / hip / back / shoulder / elbow / wrist ..) are at uncomfortable angles.

Obviously that's just static in the showroom, but we spent an hour going from one to another and the fit improvement on the 1100 evo was noticeable every time

so - big bad monster for me ...  ...

plan from here - next weekend I take the Returning Riders course and get my Endorsement - and also find out what my hip thinks of 2 days of 6 hours in the saddle (on a motor school bike  ) ... then back to the dealership  to road test the 1100evo ...

then the only question is "to tweak or not to tweak" ... and anticipating your answer on THAT one, all you tweakers out there, the answer is "YES" and "how much" ...  I'm thinking fender eliminator, frame and axle slides, and debating "to termi, or not to termi" ?

I read through the exhaust post in the Accessories and Mods, but there is not much written up on the 1100 Evo... anyone out there want to weigh in on stock vs. termi for an 2012 1100evo, I'll post a separate thread over in Accessories ...

Duchess

[Raux]

That makes sense

the 796 has a better seat than the 696. I've thought about finding a 796 seat to see the difference.

the evo has new foot peg position and seat so definitely better ergos resulted.

but as far as I knew, the frame/tank/size are the same.

[Duchess]

Dealer said "bigger platform leading to revised peg positions which is giving you a better fit" ... so that is what I'm going by ... maybe the frame / tank are the same, but the position of the peg differs ? 

Anyway, the evo was a noticeably better fit than the other two ... so going with what my butt tells me

[Raux]

no for sure. go with that one.

just thinking how to make the other two the same fit for others in similar situation. I'm thinking the pegs, seat and bars.