Rob's New, New Ride
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 8:13 am
After 5 days of Big Ruckus ownership, and gathering frustration at a simple task like changing the oil in the final drive gearbox (everything is so tiny and complicated - you have to rotate the rear wheel to pump out the old oil, and to install the new!), and being somewhat afraid of those small wheels on the interstate (my commute is 15 miles one way with a little surface street at each end), and feeling a little ridiculous with the riding posture, and missing my clutch and shift lever, I rode it to the nearest Honda dealer last Saturday to see what could be done about the situation.
I knew what I wanted (could afford and reach the ground), and the salesman and shop owner were happy to make the deal work.
So here it is, a real picture in my driveway, shortly after arriving home:
Lousy lighting, but oh well. More to come, I am sure.
It goes down the road just fine. I am trying to take it easy for break-in purposes. Yes Dougie, the chain does take some getting used to! I see you were on the CBR250R forum for a while this summer! I really like your V-twin, but this will do me fine for the time being!
It only has a 3.43 U.S. gallon fuel capacity, and no petcock to switch over when you feel it stumbling.
This morning on the way home from work (58 F!) I noticed the fuel gauge indicator was on it's last mark! I panicked, having not read the manual all that well. Apparently it is not on "reserve" until that last mark begins flashing (it wasn't), at which point you have 1.4 liters of fuel remaining. That gives about 20 miles or so to find gas.
I filled up at 144 miles indicated on the digital trip meter, and it only took 2.3 gallons. I got 62.5 MPG!
A lot of people brag on near 70 MPG.
I know it will go 70 MPH easily enough, but as I said, I've been trying to be good for break-in. That, and last weekend the Moto GP was in town, and on my way to church & back on Sunday, it appeared the LEOs were having a zero-tolerance policy on speeding.
So I am really back on two wheels now, and I must say it feels good.
I can't wait to take another riding course, though. But I hate to "waste" the money on one immediately with the season coming to an end. It has been almost 18 months since my last ride of significance. "I'm scared shitless!"
The ergonomics are very close to the R65, but I feel some stress in my shoulders/neck.
My Butt Buffer makes a BIG difference! The seat on the CBR is a bit thin and hard, and I wondered if I was going to make it through an hour of church. Luckily it is a new building with nice new pews with nice comfy cushions all around!
The Butt Buffer is nearly new, as it made NO difference on my old, beat down seat on the R65.
Top speed for this is just shy of the ton.
Quite a bit different than the Big Ruckus, and quite a bit safer, too, I would imagine. The size, height and brightness of the taillight makes me feel a lot safer (I know, ZM...) than the one on the BR.
And while the two big bug-eye headlights on the Ruckus were nothing to sneer at, the light on the CBR is wonderful! Puts the R65 to shame.
I'm having fun. And I now own a Honda motorcycle, car and lawnmower!
I knew what I wanted (could afford and reach the ground), and the salesman and shop owner were happy to make the deal work.
So here it is, a real picture in my driveway, shortly after arriving home:
Lousy lighting, but oh well. More to come, I am sure.
It goes down the road just fine. I am trying to take it easy for break-in purposes. Yes Dougie, the chain does take some getting used to! I see you were on the CBR250R forum for a while this summer! I really like your V-twin, but this will do me fine for the time being!
It only has a 3.43 U.S. gallon fuel capacity, and no petcock to switch over when you feel it stumbling.
This morning on the way home from work (58 F!) I noticed the fuel gauge indicator was on it's last mark! I panicked, having not read the manual all that well. Apparently it is not on "reserve" until that last mark begins flashing (it wasn't), at which point you have 1.4 liters of fuel remaining. That gives about 20 miles or so to find gas.
I filled up at 144 miles indicated on the digital trip meter, and it only took 2.3 gallons. I got 62.5 MPG!
A lot of people brag on near 70 MPG.
I know it will go 70 MPH easily enough, but as I said, I've been trying to be good for break-in. That, and last weekend the Moto GP was in town, and on my way to church & back on Sunday, it appeared the LEOs were having a zero-tolerance policy on speeding.
So I am really back on two wheels now, and I must say it feels good.
I can't wait to take another riding course, though. But I hate to "waste" the money on one immediately with the season coming to an end. It has been almost 18 months since my last ride of significance. "I'm scared shitless!"
The ergonomics are very close to the R65, but I feel some stress in my shoulders/neck.
My Butt Buffer makes a BIG difference! The seat on the CBR is a bit thin and hard, and I wondered if I was going to make it through an hour of church. Luckily it is a new building with nice new pews with nice comfy cushions all around!
The Butt Buffer is nearly new, as it made NO difference on my old, beat down seat on the R65.
Top speed for this is just shy of the ton.
Quite a bit different than the Big Ruckus, and quite a bit safer, too, I would imagine. The size, height and brightness of the taillight makes me feel a lot safer (I know, ZM...) than the one on the BR.And while the two big bug-eye headlights on the Ruckus were nothing to sneer at, the light on the CBR is wonderful! Puts the R65 to shame.
I'm having fun. And I now own a Honda motorcycle, car and lawnmower!
