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190 Posts
I've only bought 8 new bikes out of 21 bikes in 55 years, and at my age this may the last one. I can only recall 3 bikes that remained essentially as I bought them, and those bikes were not new, and had been modified by a previous owner.
Many of the used bikes were project bikes intended to be developed anyway, but ALL the new factory bikes required some 'tailoring' to fit my needs and preferences. I think there's an idea popular in motorcycle media that with all the specificity of design in motorcycle market segmentation that a machine should be ready to serve its rider right off the showroom floor. If it's not ideal (and a single bike rarely is) then the rider tries another model etc.
Manufacturers sell a lot of bikes this way, but that keeps many of us frustrated in a tantalizing search for that one perfect bike. Some bikes came close, but that was luck and those went through the ‘optimization’ process anyway.
For me that process starts with adapting the bike to me ergonomically:
Handlebars and controls: I want a choice of bars, levers (style and angle), grips,
throttle etc
Foot controls: Footpeg design and choice of location. Lever angle. Shift pattern.
Seat: Shape and height for me.
Assuming the bike’s performance and handling work for me I consider setting the bike up for my riding environment and personal style. This involves gearing, tire selection, chassis mods and any powertrain tweaks that yield USEABLE results. E.G. I don’t consider 180mph factory gearing USEABLE on a bike that isn’t being used for top speed endurance record attempts…you know WFO around the Monza bowl for 24 hours, or cruised on an autobahn at 100+mph all day, so I regularly lower the gearing a bit to gain the smoothest drive line and optimal gear selection. E.G. I have never spent $$ on increased power on a streetbike OR RACEBIKE unless I could already use 100% of its performance potential. I see no benefit from having even more potential than I will ever use!
So the Supersport is not the first perfect bike ever for me, but it has the potential for development into another great bike. Modifications are not for others to see, but to make the connection with my bike personal. That development process is when I begin to bond with the bike...to make it mine.
And so, it begins again! :grin2:
Many of the used bikes were project bikes intended to be developed anyway, but ALL the new factory bikes required some 'tailoring' to fit my needs and preferences. I think there's an idea popular in motorcycle media that with all the specificity of design in motorcycle market segmentation that a machine should be ready to serve its rider right off the showroom floor. If it's not ideal (and a single bike rarely is) then the rider tries another model etc.
Manufacturers sell a lot of bikes this way, but that keeps many of us frustrated in a tantalizing search for that one perfect bike. Some bikes came close, but that was luck and those went through the ‘optimization’ process anyway.
For me that process starts with adapting the bike to me ergonomically:
Handlebars and controls: I want a choice of bars, levers (style and angle), grips,
throttle etc
Foot controls: Footpeg design and choice of location. Lever angle. Shift pattern.
Seat: Shape and height for me.
Assuming the bike’s performance and handling work for me I consider setting the bike up for my riding environment and personal style. This involves gearing, tire selection, chassis mods and any powertrain tweaks that yield USEABLE results. E.G. I don’t consider 180mph factory gearing USEABLE on a bike that isn’t being used for top speed endurance record attempts…you know WFO around the Monza bowl for 24 hours, or cruised on an autobahn at 100+mph all day, so I regularly lower the gearing a bit to gain the smoothest drive line and optimal gear selection. E.G. I have never spent $$ on increased power on a streetbike OR RACEBIKE unless I could already use 100% of its performance potential. I see no benefit from having even more potential than I will ever use!
So the Supersport is not the first perfect bike ever for me, but it has the potential for development into another great bike. Modifications are not for others to see, but to make the connection with my bike personal. That development process is when I begin to bond with the bike...to make it mine.
And so, it begins again! :grin2: