Robert Plant and the dancing banana

[jrandom]

It was forcibly removed in 1992 by a 72 year old driver exiting a side street (with integrated stop sign) in Picton at 9:30pm on an unlit street with his headlights turned off.

Owwwwwwww. Well bloody done on getting back in the saddle. *Respect*.

Why on earth wasn't the driver charged properly... I mean, if he'd walked past you blindfolded, swinging a baseball bat, and connected with the back of your head, *he* might have argued that he didn't see you, but he sure as hell would've been up for assault.

[James Deuce]

Owwwwwwww. Well bloody done on getting back in the saddle. *Respect*.

Why on earth wasn't the driver charged properly... I mean, if he'd walked past you blindfolded, swinging a baseball bat, and connected with the back of your head, *he* might have argued that he didn't see you, but he sure as hell would've been up for assault.

I had the accident on a Sunday, the courtcase was on the Monday because the bloke that hit me was a "respected local businessman" and he was retiring and moving from Picton to the Hibiscus Coast that week so they rushed it through. I wasn't seen by the orthopaedic surgeon until after the courtcase, so my injuries weren't known to the judge, and the Traffic Officer that attended was made redundant on the Monday. My accident was the last he attended as it was the weekend that the Police took over traffic duties. So he wasn't at the court hearing.

[riffer]

Nasty business Jim.

Good to see it hasn't affected your sense of humour...

or your ability to ride.

... and get out of the way of mad buggers bearing down on you at 200+ with dodgy brakes - sorry again for that one dude.

FWIW, I pulled the brakes apart when I got home yesterday.

Turns out the fluid had gotten a bit low and there was a bit of air had got in them.

Brakes work MUCH better now.

Actually the real reason I was so close behind you was your TRiXie sounds so good at that speed. Love that 270° twin sound!

[matthewt]

Wot would we do without this internet thing, eh?

The Brutale makes 93.4Kw at the crank at 12.5krpm, which I suspect is a bit more than your RC30, rev limiter at 13100rpm, gearings give these speeds at the rev limit:

1st - 103.4kmh
2nd - 136.5kmh
3rd - 170.0kmh
4th - 201.5kmh
5th - 229.2kmh
6th - 250.0kmh

So I'm afraid that on, say, the Utah salt flats, you'd have to go all the way to third gear if you wanted to overtake me on a Brutale once the FXR was up to speed

One suspects that a bigger rear sprocket might become a popular mod on the Brutale.

I'd probably go with the 103.4 in first. I can't imagine it doing 150 in first. The MV Agusta F4 SPR does do 150 in first given its close ratio gear box and choice of 3 rear sprockets you get with it. I know some people in Europe had one on loan and added 7 (yes 7) teeth to the rear sprocket to make it usable in the Swiss alps.

Why do you think a rear sprocket would be a popular mod on the Brutale ?? I know it's very popular on Ducati's and the MV F4 (I went up 2 teeth on the rear on mine) but so far from what I've seen of the Brutale you wouldn't need it. Mine is still being run in so until I get 1000k on it I won't be able to do a great deal (I'm currently limited to 6000rpm, after the 1k service that changes to 11,000rpm). When I rode the test bike last year I remember lifting the front wheel out from the dealers because it had much better power delivery below 7000rpm than my F4, I don't know if this is a Brutale vs F4 thing or a 2001 motor vs 2004 motor thing. Most people add teeth to the rear to get better accleration with the side effect of dropping your top speed (the F4 went from 285kph down to 251kph). I think if you did this to a stock Brutale you'd end up with a monster wheelie machine (which may be what you want )

[jrandom]

Why do you think a rear sprocket would be a popular mod on the Brutale ??

(blush)

My turn to be a numpty. On re-reading it becomes clear that I was thinking of a smaller rear sprocket, not a bigger one.

Just looking at the power output and the existing Brutale gear ratios it seems that longer legs would be desirable for some (depending on one's style of riding - me, I'd go for the 'monster wheelie' approach but it looks like the stock gearing and power delivery does that well 'nuff).

[James Deuce]

Nasty business Jim.

Good to see it hasn't affected your sense of humour...

or your ability to ride.

... and get out of the way of mad buggers bearing down on you at 200+ with dodgy brakes - sorry again for that one dude.

FWIW, I pulled the brakes apart when I got home yesterday.

Turns out the fluid had gotten a bit low and there was a bit of air had got in them.

Brakes work MUCH better now.

Actually the real reason I was so close behind you was your TRiXie sounds so good at that speed. Love that 270° twin sound!

Thank you Sir! It was great to meet another Comm Arts refugee.

Thanks for fixing the Brakes. I was looking in the mirror thinking, "He's getting awfully close, awfully fast - FAAAARK!" Though I do like your "real" reason

[matthewt]

(blush)

My turn to be a numpty. On re-reading it becomes clear that I was thinking of a smaller rear sprocket, not a bigger one.

Just looking at the power output and the existing Brutale gear ratios it seems that longer legs would be desirable for some (depending on one's style of riding - me, I'd go for the 'monster wheelie' approach but it looks like the stock gearing and power delivery does that well 'nuff).

Yer, strangley I think they actually got the gearing right this time.

I think you'll find most 750's and above (and probably 600's as well) all try and hit 100 in first. Probably just for good 0-100 times.