Can anyone pillion me from Auckland to Huntly this evening? (Fri 21 Dec 2007)

[beyond]

48 hours later and a few more kilometres on the odometer:



Which would be there cos it's a fuckin' long way to Cape Reinga and back



(Excuse cellphone photos; I didn't think to take a proper camera.)

Oh yeah and I dropped her in the driveway taking her off the centerstand tonight after lubing the chain and broke the end off the front brake lever and put a couple of scratches on the sticky-out engine bit. Ahem. Now I know not to stand beside a 250kg bike and flop it off the centerstand without making arrangements for something for it to lean on as it overbalances in the other direction. Like maybe putting the sidestand out or getting on the bike first. Goddammit. Burned my knee on the exhaust trying to catch her, too. Any motherfucker who giggles at me will be shot.

Oh, yes, and she went just swell on the gravel to the Cape and back. Go go quarter-ton mountainbike!



I must say, the suspension was better than I expected. Certainly a lot better than the K2 GSX1400 I rode. It could perhaps be a little less wallowy, though, so adjustments will be investigated forthwith.

On the whole, she is awesome. I am well pleased. Can't wait to get the oil changed and start using a few more revs.



Edit: Oh, yeah. Ground clearance is a bit of an issue, isn't it. Half my left peg feeler is gone and so is a chunk of the sidestand foot...

I won't laugh mate. Nothing worse than dropping a new bike

Yep, get on it and straddle it when you flop her off the main stand.

Ground clearance. Yep a real issue till you get the suspension sorted but also here's a tip for riding these things which helps cornering a lot and that is you can hang off the bike moto gp style but it's not necessary. Lean into the turn with your inside shoulder and get your head and upper body leaning off the bike. This helps a hell of a lot once you've mastered it.

[BarBender]

Awesome Dan. Betty looks Swweeeett.
Glad you are enjoying it. Rode Beyonds again last weekend and had a ball. Fantastic bike and I know you're going to enjoy it.

[vifferman]

Hmmmm... do I go "Tee heee heee - Dan dropped it!", or not?

Nah, that would be mean.

Sorry to hear of your mishap, Dooood! But at least it didn't have a whole bunch of tupperware to break. Big advantage of a naked, hmmm?
Oh - despite the crappy pictures, it lloks nice! Can't wait to see it in the paint.

[jrandom]

Poor Betty.

I rather suspect that she will not have an easy life.