Distance riding comfort tips

No doubt about it ludwig you got some of the best rides in the world on one tough compact go getter. But its sorta a let down to have to get off and fuel every 120-50 miles when just getting comfy for the next 150 to dream on by with supported by IS tank platform. Btw if you think the head steady is nice, fit a front link to get even more isolation of wind buffet and road texture jiggles and feed back form the swing arm leverage on front mount, but don't add no rear rump or those switch backs will have you tripping out by power to get the hi side direction snap to hook up right into the next fun fling. Rump link subtracts the remaining 75% of nucance sensation that completes the total disappearing act of Ms Peel I crave more than the supercharged engine spunk to come.

Ludwig, why have I never seen that bike when I'm in Flanders region, at the Begonia or the BBA? You don't like crowds?

I run a Roadster with a Corbin and standard pegs. I do quite a few country miles and find this combo pretty damn good. Certainly enough for a Roadster tank range at a time. A few minutes off the bike and I'm ready to go again. The standard seats are terrible. The Corbin puts you in the right spot with that important bumstop just right so you're not gripping the tank with your knees all the time. Even though the Corbin is hard, the shape makes it just about perfect for me. I think shape is a lot more important than softness as far as comfort goes.

I have a few days off and I'm taking my Norton down to Perth (Western Australia) for the big Norton ride this Sunday. I would think about 1000 miles all up. This will be my sixth trip down from Geraldton since Christmas. About 520 miles (850 km) return without any side trips or running around while I'm down. My last trip down two weeks ago I was on the Buell (needed to fit a new rear tyre) and the riding position is a bit better on the Buell and it has the bug screen which is surprisingly effective especially as the speed rises but I have no plans to fit one on the Norton. The Buell runs a Corbin as well. I travel light with just a soft bag strapped over the seat hump/frame rails.

Hey Ludwig, good to see you back. I think your bike is probably the best thought out and set up Commando I've seen. Set up to ride not just to look at. Fabulous.

adjustable L+R teflon buttons on a bar between frame rails .
Set at zero clearance against the craddle .

Click to expand...

Its not off topic to me as I don't intend to use my factory Combat but for show and short juants w/o trailering it. Ms Peel is my only intended long ranger bike. Swash/plate/rub buttons is interesting way to tame a C'do wiggle jiggles. I've got a decade old head steady like that. I can accept you have above average smoothness and secure handling. My Peel allows powering rear out sideways to jerk a hi side saves, so swing arm gets tweaked harder that most ever will, so I will install rub buttons on swing arm that bare on an arc plate mounted on rear of Z plates.

Someday will have a pass around gizmo to mount on bars and record various bikes vibe sensation and handling oscillations.

As side note ludwig, on Peel the space you use for the rub buttons will be taken up by braces fixing 1' case to the cradle. Also holely cogs even the cam side ones, just for fun.

I haven't been around here long enough to know if this has been mentioned here or not ( or if it's controversial ), but I just found this and it has given me something to think about when I am riding and I think it helps this 60 year old guy's back and butt out.
The euro bars and rearsets on my Interstate are also perfect for me.

Master Yoda riding position

http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/u ... 57&fpart=1

Pretty much how I trace out on Peel actually but comfy as fetal position is one can't stay that way all day unless already a yogi. Dr. hobot say neck posture and tension rules the roost from there down and from there up. Here's foot forward comfort on a long distance HyRyder tanker.

Thanks for all of the tips. My 850 is a Roadster but I do have an interstate tank I am going to put on. 100 miles is perfect for a rest stop but I would like to have some more range if necessary. I agree on the earplugs and passenger pegs. I have a windshield and cruise control which I haven't mounted. Now I have a number of options to try; front pegs, rear sets, back rest, better set, etc.

now whose rear sets and seat or seat mods?

Thanks

Dave

I've been ridding with rearsets & clippons all my ridding life, a lower back injury in my youth has made any other position hard to do for long. One thing I had on a Guzzi years ago that I will try to replicate was a throttle with a small knob at the bottom that I could easily turn with my thumb that would hold the throttle in whatever position I had it. Mostly I used it on long rides and set it so it just helped, not totaly holding it open unless I needed to free my hand to zipp up my jacket etc etc. Last year on vacation a pal & I ended up ridding allmost 16 hours one day and I really missed that throttle gagett. I want a set of those adjustable Tommaselli clippons because I think I will like the slight lift they give. I had a BMW K100RS once & I don't remember thinking it was all that great on long trips. I think the Commando is fairly good for them given a few mods. P.S. Ludwig, your bike is to die for!! When I decided to get another Norton after not having one for years I imagined one modifide with all things to make it the best of old & new. Don't think I'll get there but you have & I am SO wanting it!!!

I've always been a fan of air cushions.

http://www.airhawk.net/airhawk-products.aspx

Airhawk cushions us the same design as cushions for folks who are wheelchair bound. Comfortable for hours, and keeps the pressure ulcers at bay.

The Airhawk 2 is much less expensive, but is not repairable.

It looks better on my 2002 Triumph Thunderbird with the semi scooped seat, but on long rides, I'll sacrifice a little style to avoid the NBS (numb butt syndrome). As an added bonus, in the event of a water landing...

I have to laugh when certain Dunstall components are referred to as "Junkstall" (a Windy quote), and that may be true with regards to the under-performing, vintage dual-disc front brake system offered years ago... but another thing to consider is a small fairing. As Ludwig mentioned, his small fly screen provides added benefits...as does my Dunstall fairing. Two reasons...I tend to ride fast and the wind coming over the fairing hits me just about shoulder/chest high when I'm up in my seat...higher speeds tend to lift my torso like a "wing", taking considerable pressure off my wrists. The other thing is when on a truly long distance highway ride, I can comfortably crouch lower with my feet on the pillion pegs and get my face behind the fairing and truly be in a wind-less environment.

I was so happy to discover this technique last March while on the way to Daytona with temperatures in Florida hovering in the 30's. My Nortoneering buddy, high in his seat with highway bars was taking the full brunt of the god-awful wind straight in his chest & face, while I was resting on my tank bag behind my fairing smiling as the miles ticked by.

I suggest you try going........"Commando".......if you know what I mean.

Interesting comment about the lift relieving pilot mass on bike. I mark the threshold of just sitting forward in cruise commuting lift relief to hanging on activity tucked down as 120 mph d/t the lift right off the saddle topping over crests.

After an hour on a motorycle, I am ready to go home but I can go all day on a bicycle, I think it has to do with the fact that sitting still is not good for my system while on a bicycle legs are always moving. Different leagues in distance covered, but I can eat like a pig after a ride and not worry about gaining any weight not to mention the benefits I get health wise. For those who would like to know, in a car, as soon as I get on the freeway, I fall asleep, at least that does not happen on a motorcycle.

Jean

Oh my jean yoose peddle cycle guys and gals are the real nut cases of rolling sports, pumping through pain brain states just to get a high for the return endurance leg.

The title of my book is "The Sag Factor" so you are just further proof if you are sagging on cord and not pumping it enough electrolytes and exhaust gas and heat out then the most easy to hit sniper targets get lit up then shot though. There are no pain fibers in central nervous system, but its got all the filters to keep out the useless pain and the amplifiers for anything and everything usually not sensed.

Life is Motion.
When it smells like carbs, acts like carbs and feels like carbs first thing to think of in Brit Iron is the Lucas Electrics.

Where it hurts it usually isn't.
Dr. George Goodheart