If only they did the Thunderbird with a V Twin!..it would sell in bucketloads ignore the Harley bashing Mike ..you're probably a bit young for one at the moment ,i waited until i was 40 before i got one even then i got stick for getting a tractor..mind you i was still in front with my Dyna unless we came to a long straight then the crotch rockets would blast past! needless to say 3 of my mates now have Harleys i find they are the most comfiest reliable bikes you can get,i clicked right away with them although it took my mates several hundred miles on them before they got used to the handling and into the groove with them, but now they love them. i've done 75k on them and they have never missed a beat,much as i love my Speed Triple if i was only allowed 1 bike it would have to be the Harley no question!
Just had a look at a Thunderbird on google...I think I have a winner. I do agree, I'm a few years off something of that level but I think it is necessary to have dreams haha I would like to test ride one as the seating position is so much different to the Daytona
I do agree, there are people that but cars & bikes for the ego boost or cock extension and there are others that generally enjoy it for what it is. I'd like to think I wasnt in the first category...I've always wanted a 'harley-style' bike simply because that's my preference, there is something about them that I really love and admire. I'm still very novice in the biking world and struggle to keep up with technical lingo but it is growing and from experience on car forums, bikers just seem to be more friendly regardless of what they ride My other half is always ripping her hair out when I leave on the daytona...I have a textile jacket and hood jeans but she desperately wants me in full leathers which is fine until I outlined 2 important points...our savings certainly couldnt survive the impact of how much some of the suits cost, the gear I currently have will do a sufficient job as I rarely see over 50mph and, as you mentioned, I genuinely hate the "mighty-morphin'-rossi-rangers" most are great but there is a minority that ruins it for the majority. As a complete side subject...can anyone of you fine gents offer advice for developing confidence on leaning round roundabouts/corners? I'm quite confident with left turns but the right is just my downfall, I just feel like I'm going to drop the bike..
Welcome Mikey! Lovely looking Daytona. I've got an old CBR, and jumped in with a lovely shinney Bonnie to supplement it! I'm still pretty new to riding and would still class myself in-experienced, only been riding a couple of years. I still have a bit of a mental block when it comes to tipping it in a right hander. I don't like to ride that fast, hence some of the reason for getting the bonnie, but I also want to know that if I needed to, I can go a lot quicker round a bend than I currently do. Just getting on and riding the things clearly helps to familiarise yourself with your own limits each day - they'll slowly increase. I've done a few novice track days as well. You may not want to risk it with your pride and joy, but it really helped me begin to raise my limits. If I'm honest I feel a lot safer on track than on the road. Snetterton (only up the road from you) it's a great track for that - massive track, very wide, not technical. After my first day I reduced my lap time by 15 seconds, purely through corner speed!!! Re the HD, it tok me a bit of getting used to, to change the riding style from the CBR to the bonnie, but it is nice to have a look at my bike bike!
In answer to your questions, I'm usually in 2nd gear unless I've had to stop. Throttle is normally continuous (except for mini roundabouts, hate those) I do sometimes have to accelerate, my roundabout speed averages about 18-22mph but I'm normally pretty much vertical...any form of lean just makes me feel uneasy... I am tempted by doing a track day however I would be devastated if I lost it on a corner.
If you're uneasy whenever you need to lean the bike - corners, roundabouts etc - it could be that the tyres are not in the best of condition. Check the pressures first,then check their overall condition and see if the back tyre is flatted out across the middle. This really affects the feel of the bike as you start to lean it.
Good info, cheers I'll have a look in the morning and perhaps post pics on here for a verdict of the wear etc
I haven't had a chance to have a proper look at the tyres but will do this evening, I know the front tyre was an advisory in the previous MOT so perhaps it is worth investing in some decent rubber....can save A LOT of hassle having durable rubber... Can one of you experienced fellas recommend good tyres? I've been told Pirelli Diablo Corsa tyres are good but I know jack about bike tyres.. The second point is a good question.. I am trying to introduce counter-steering to my riding and slowly getting more confident at it however normally I just lean myself with the bike (if that makes any sense) i.e. I want to lean right so I lean my body in turn pulling the left hand bar up. I'm looking at local training companies and they offer a 6 hour day + bike for £120 which is 1-on-1 for rusty or new riders to improve technique so I think I'll enquire with that as I'm not in any rush to be the next Valentino Rossi, I just want to be a better, more confident, rider in general