- Joined
- Jun 30, 2012
- Messages
- 13,250
'It is a much more nimbler feel than the 750 Mk2 but may also be due to lower overall weight as well as different weight distribution and maybe a more aggressive rake and trail. The 500 literally drops into a turn and really startled me when I took it out for the first time.'
If you have a Seeley frame, you should be careful which fork yokes wheel size and tyres you use. If you get it wrong the bike can grab you by the throat. When I first started using the Seeley, a friend who had a lot of experience rode it and it almost crashed him. He told me it had happened, however I knew the bike had been used with a Laverda motor, so I took his warning with a grain of salt. When I rode it myself the same thing happened to me. As I came off a big left hand sweeper and braked, it stood up and turned right, and threw me off balance. I thought I was off it, so I decided to crash it on the grass on the left. As I gassed it to get there , the bike laid down again, and I was able to recover. It all happened in about two seconds. I now use TZ350 fork yokes , Seeleys have 27 degree rake, TZs have 26 degree, both use 18 inch wheels. Instead of standing up and turning under brakes, the bike now oversteers when you gas it when it is laid over. This is not an exercise to do, if you don't have a lot of racing miles under your belt. My bike is extremely nimble, where you think you want to be, is where you will be instantly. It inspires confidence , but you must take care.
I've never ridden it at Broadford, the circuit is twisty with blind corners, and the Seeley comes on with a rush and self steers, not a good combination ? It would take a bit of practice to get it right. The Seeley commando 850 is much more fun than my old short stroke 500cc featherbed Triumph - no anxiety - I love it.
If you have a Seeley frame, you should be careful which fork yokes wheel size and tyres you use. If you get it wrong the bike can grab you by the throat. When I first started using the Seeley, a friend who had a lot of experience rode it and it almost crashed him. He told me it had happened, however I knew the bike had been used with a Laverda motor, so I took his warning with a grain of salt. When I rode it myself the same thing happened to me. As I came off a big left hand sweeper and braked, it stood up and turned right, and threw me off balance. I thought I was off it, so I decided to crash it on the grass on the left. As I gassed it to get there , the bike laid down again, and I was able to recover. It all happened in about two seconds. I now use TZ350 fork yokes , Seeleys have 27 degree rake, TZs have 26 degree, both use 18 inch wheels. Instead of standing up and turning under brakes, the bike now oversteers when you gas it when it is laid over. This is not an exercise to do, if you don't have a lot of racing miles under your belt. My bike is extremely nimble, where you think you want to be, is where you will be instantly. It inspires confidence , but you must take care.
I've never ridden it at Broadford, the circuit is twisty with blind corners, and the Seeley comes on with a rush and self steers, not a good combination ? It would take a bit of practice to get it right. The Seeley commando 850 is much more fun than my old short stroke 500cc featherbed Triumph - no anxiety - I love it.