botticelli wrote on 05/18/15 at 03:39:36:


I just looked at Serowbot's speed/rpm chart in the tech section.  With the known speedometer error and the stock rear tire....you will have to reach an indicated 104.6 mph on the speedometer to actually reach 100 mph.  (Your speedometer error may vary).

Okay so I've got to ask...How unusual is it to have an accurate speedo with the stock tire size?  My speedo is spot on accurate.  I've checked it with GPS and radar at various speeds and my speedo is dead on.  I've seen so many people posting that the speedo isn't accurate with the stock tire.  Am I the only one reporting otherwise? By the way it's an '05 if that makes any difference.  I just got it about a month ago with 10k miles on it.

I have not taken the safety course. Yet. I plan on doing it between getting my permit and license, probably over the summer. I can't get my license until I'm 16 1/2 anyways which will be in November, right when the riding season will be close to over :/. I just got my class m permit 2 weeks ago today, so I've just been getting used to the roads, which has been a blast. Gradually I'm moving to bigger and larger roads and getting acclimated with traffic. To answer your question, I have not taken the course yet and by the looks of it , the tires are in good condition. Old owenr put on a set of  nice pirelli tires. They probably cost him close to what I paid for the bike, $450. Good looking tires as well.

verslagen1 wrote on 05/18/15 at 16:18:46:


That's true, but a busted clock is ONLY right twice a day.  My speedo is right all the time.  If my speedo is is malfunctioning is such a way as to display the correct speed all the time then I'd say that's pretty peculiar.  There must be others who have accurate speedos...right?

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 05/18/15 at 19:16:27:


Pretty sure it's the stock size.  It's an IRC 140/80/15 See here http://goo.gl/4pfACO

rtebbs8996 wrote on 05/18/15 at 16:01:00:


I didn't realize that you are just 16...no wonder you were so hard to get through to...you know everything already (said by a father with a 16 year old).

Here's some advice from someone that started dirt riding when I was 8 years old. When I was your age I couldn't wait to get my first street bike. There were no safety courses back then and besides, no one could teach me how to ride anyway - I already had 8 years experience (16 is a very boneheaded age).

I learned that dirt riding and street riding are very different. If you can find them, there are street riding books by Keith Code and Lee Parks. These books are the BEST guides in the world. Read their words and then practice their drills. Here are some pointers for you:

1. Turn via counter-steering (push right, go right / push left, go left). It is the ONLY way a single track vehicle turns (gyroscopic pregression). Weight shifting, weighing a peg, pushing you knee into the tank - ALL BULL CRAP. It's counter-steering and counter-steering only.

2. When stopping, the front brake does 75-80% of all the work. It's a rare occurrence that I even touch the rear brake (usually in a turn to correct my line which is an advance technique). Ride with a finger or two covering the brake handle.

3. Cage drivers don't see you, and some of the ones that do resent you and would be happy to ruin your fun. Assume that the guy that looks like he's gonna make a left in front of you will make that left...because chance are he WILL. Slow down at intersections and look for people blowing through the intersection.

4. NEVER drink and ride.

5. Limit your riding in the dark.

6. Always wear a helmet, gloves, jacket and over the ankle boots (preferably without laces). Leather is easy to replace, skin doesn't grow back very nicely.

7. Use all of your lane. When approaching a bend in the road, start at the far side and move towards the apex (center) through the turn. This allows you maximum visibility through the turn to see traffic and potential obstacles and makes the turn more fun as it also allows for more lean angle.

8. Get your braking done PRIOR to the turn. There is no worse feeling than realizing mid-turn that you are carrying too much speed. Grabbing the brake at this point does two things; 1) it reduces the available traction/grip of the front tire because now you're asking it to do two things (turn and stop) and 2) it will stand the bike up, causing you to go wide in the turn and off the road. If you find yourself too fast in a turn the best course of action is to reduce throttle and continue to ride the bike. If there is a good/hard shoulder use that space as you go wide. If you can't go wide, stay in the turn and continue to counter-steer your way out.

I'm 52 years old and I love riding today as much as I did when I was your age. Get the basic riding skills down as early as possible and you too can enjoy a life-time of motorcycling. Over the years I've taught many people how to ride (street, MX and trails) and I think that is the most fun part for me.

Enjoy. Be safe.

Gary,

I have been riding for 63 years, and I probably counter steer, but I never under stood the following:

"1. Turn via counter-steering (push right, go right / push left, go left). It is the ONLY way a single track vehicle turns (gyroscopic pregression). Weight shifting, weighing a peg, pushing you knee into the tank - ALL BULL CRAP. It's counter-steering and counter-steering only."

When a rider pushes right is he pushing forward on the left handle bar or pushing down on the right handlebar? I have never understood the phrasing for counter-steering.

Kenny G