I should try that! I really enjoyed my .049 Thimble Drome days. My wife sez, "Oh great, another toy!". She knows me well.
Mike
New guy from Colorado
- Thread starter ColoradoRod
- Start date
I should try that! I really enjoyed my .049 Thimble Drome days. My wife sez, "Oh great, another toy!". She knows me well.
Mike
Ironically while I grew up in MD, used to spend summers in Phoenix flying RC model airplanes and where I first learned the principles of flying as a kid. Of course also growing up in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC may have also contributed to many flying and astronaut dreams as a kid. Mayyyybe they still do. Mayyyybe might have named my daughter after Amelia Earhart too.
I'm in the same situation as you, Rod. I sold my Vstar 1100 last month (for a profit
and the next day bought a 2010 NT700v with 4200 miles on it. It had been stored for years in a body shop garage so it had crud and rust in the fuel tank. It took me a week to clear and clean the tank. I replaced the intake fuel filter assembly and it runs fine again. I replaced the original tires due to their age. The most annoying issue was the latch on the left saddlebag was destroyed. I think I read on this forum that this is a common issue with this model. I took the plunge and bought the oversized lids from David Silver Spares. I've been riding for over 50 years but I may have a few questions about this particular bike in the near future. To the webmasters, "Thanks for sponsoring this forum!"
Good to have you with us, Knox Rider! Interesting that you were able to find big lids at David Silver Spares. When Rod bought his bike last week or so, they didn't have any either here in the US or in the UK.
You'll like the bike, I think.
You'll like the bike, I think.
OP
OP
Welcome Knox.
I've logged over 1000 miles of NT time in the last couple of weeks and like the bike a little more with each mile I log. You'll probably like the bigger side cases if you're planning to carry much. I ended up with 2 separate NT700's. One of them has the big lids and the other is standard. I think the smaller lids look better, but they certainly don't carry as much.
I bought the second bike with hopes that my brother would go riding with me here and there. The other possibility is that I'll find a vacation condo up in the mountains and leave one of the bikes up there. If neither of these things happen, I'll have to decide which one is my favorite and sell the other.
The red bike pictured in my avatar needs new tires so that's on the agenda for today. I'll consider it a success if I can get the wheels off and tires dismounted without damaging anything! I've never done tires before, but I now consider myself a YouTube expert! A neighbor said he'd jump in and help if I get stuck, so I've got a backup plan.
Half the fun of a new motorcycle is adding all the little things and tweaking it to just the way you like it. Most of my miles have been on my black NT and it has bar-backs/risers. The positioning feels very comfortable, but I need to log some time in the stock configuration, too, because that might also be perfectly comfortable. I'd also like to add a cell phone holder, some sort of a power distribution system, and a GPS. I had planned on using my cell phone for a GPS, but I'm finding that it overheats with much sunlight and from the constant power draw from the GPS usage combined with being plugged into a charger. I think a dedicated GPS is in my future. Funny how I went the first 30 years of driving without a GPS and now I'm (literally) lost without it!
I've logged over 1000 miles of NT time in the last couple of weeks and like the bike a little more with each mile I log. You'll probably like the bigger side cases if you're planning to carry much. I ended up with 2 separate NT700's. One of them has the big lids and the other is standard. I think the smaller lids look better, but they certainly don't carry as much.
I bought the second bike with hopes that my brother would go riding with me here and there. The other possibility is that I'll find a vacation condo up in the mountains and leave one of the bikes up there. If neither of these things happen, I'll have to decide which one is my favorite and sell the other.
The red bike pictured in my avatar needs new tires so that's on the agenda for today. I'll consider it a success if I can get the wheels off and tires dismounted without damaging anything! I've never done tires before, but I now consider myself a YouTube expert! A neighbor said he'd jump in and help if I get stuck, so I've got a backup plan.
Half the fun of a new motorcycle is adding all the little things and tweaking it to just the way you like it. Most of my miles have been on my black NT and it has bar-backs/risers. The positioning feels very comfortable, but I need to log some time in the stock configuration, too, because that might also be perfectly comfortable. I'd also like to add a cell phone holder, some sort of a power distribution system, and a GPS. I had planned on using my cell phone for a GPS, but I'm finding that it overheats with much sunlight and from the constant power draw from the GPS usage combined with being plugged into a charger. I think a dedicated GPS is in my future. Funny how I went the first 30 years of driving without a GPS and now I'm (literally) lost without it!
OP
OP
If you're still of a mind to try ultralights, you should look into it again. I'm not fluent in all the rules and procedures, but there's a new program called Basic Med which allows you to self-certify. The way it's been described to me is that if you are medically able to hold a driver's license, you'd probably qualify under the Basic Med program. There are limits to the size and speed of aircraft you can fly with Basic Med, but I'm sure ultralights would be well under these limits. The Aircraft Owners and Pilot's Association (aopa.org) and/or the Experimental Aircraft Association (eaa.org) are great resources for more information on the Basic Med program. It's also my understanding that true Ultralights don't need a medical at all. There's a weight limitation on what constitutes a "true" Ultralight and the EAA would have that information, too. Go for it if you still have an interest!
As for the Pilot image and the Dull-ville bike... I'd say the vast majority of pilots don't look or act much like the Tom Cruise character in Top Gun. Most of us are very conservative in our decisions and tend to be overly analytical and downright stodgy in our behavior. I'd say the most common bike among pilots is probably a Harley with lots of chrome and loud pipes. The average probably rides less than 2000 miles per year. They can afford anything, so they've got as much invested in Harley clothing and bangles as they do in the bike. You can spot them because they're the ones scared to lean their Barca-loungers more than about 5 degrees in the corners and being outrun by Lincolns with Missouri plates going over Trail Ridge Road in the summertime.
This being said, a buddy of mine from work did an extensive round-the-world ride on a R 200GS and wrote a book about it. I haven't read it, yet, but I plan to. Bob Dolven. https://www.amazon.com/ANDIAMO-FULL...d=1&keywords=Bob+Dolven&qid=1623252620&sr=8-1
You will find lots of pilots and aircraft mechanics here. I go to Reno and OSH every year. Pilots appreciate the NT for what it is.
Ref: close calls....things are getting much worse out there.....I can ride the back roads down to Reno and not have any close calls. I cant even ride around Spokane for an hour and not have a situation in my car or on my bike. Agressive driving, road rage, driving while under the influence, and especially tail gaiting are out of control. The cellphone is another enemy of the rider. I dont ride at night anymore, either. I pick my rides. And I think being a pilot has really helped me with my defensive skills as a rider and driver. (I camp out at OSH with a bunch of accident reconstruction engineers who have bikes and all fly, too. At Reno, the sport class is the hottest class going right now.....of course, sometimes things do go wrong and you land where you can or have to.....
Welcome to the forum and the world of the NT. Interesting that I stopped by the Honda shop in Loveland back in 1980 after enjoying the first ever Vetter Rally down in Colorado Springs. Stayed in Loveland a few more days before heading back to WV. Hope you enjoy the NT as much as I have mine. Rolled over 76 K miles last month and still loving it. Enjoy the ride !
I seriously think that is why they are going back to chains. Think about it, there haven't been many replacements of the final drive units on Honda's. I know folks who still tool around on their 75 and 78 Goldwings and they have never changed more than the oil.
No money in that for Honda or any of the other manufacturers. I haven't owned a chain drive motorcycle since 1979 when I purchased a CX500Deluxe. Every bike since then, even some sport models, have had shaft drive. Guess I'll be riding my NT for a long time or do like Phil and buy another with less miles when I get close to 200 K.
Do pilots in the lite sport class need full FAA medicals?
9500 miles?????Chain and Sprokets???? No way. Something is wrong. I use the Chuck Henderson system of Dupont chain wax and cleaner.....every 3,000 miles for cleaning, I lube every 300-500.
My two chains look like new as do the sprockets. You dont need a chain breaker kit anymore. . That is soooo last century.
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And there is nothing wrong with clips.
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?????
Wow....I have never seen such a hobby!!!!! The deeper I get into my hobbies, the more expensive they become. Watching figure skating. $50,000. Shooting. $100,000. Motorcycling. Way above $300,000. Cruising, $20,000 and climbing.
There is an ultra light field at OSH that has some pretty cool planes that dont cost $50,000 though. And some even look like planes.
Maybe I will take up air racing....how expensive could that possibly be?
This is what happens when an oil filter boss fails and the prop goes to fine pitch. The prop disinigrates and the engine exploads.
Chains are light, cheep, and need replacement at 20,000. If there are no chain enclosures which are very common in the far east. That is why there are no mid weight shaft drives anymore.I seriously think that is why they are going back to chains. Think about it, there haven't been many replacements of the final drive units on Honda's. I know folks who still tool around on their 75 and 78 Goldwings and they have never changed more than the oil.
My first bike was a YG 1 yamaha. Circa 1965. It had an enclosed chain. Why would you not? Too make money for the dealer!!!!! What wears out a chain is the paste of the lube and the rode grit.
BTW, here is a guy who let his chain maintenance go a bit long. He now has a hole in his crank case.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2019
- Messages
- 550
- Bike
- 2010 NT700V
I concur, especially on a bike that makes ZzzzZz HP. I'm not OCD about chain maintenance, and I'm also pretty hard on the final drive with acceleration. The bikes in question have twice as many ponies as a NC does. I can still expect 20K - 30K out of a modern x-ring chain and OEM style sprockets.
