Well, technically Max is a 2009 model and is 5 years old, but he lived the first two years at a large motorcycle orphanage in Beaverton, Oregon waiting for someone to take him to his forever home.
On Saturday March 5, 2011, we picked the bike up from the shop after having to wait a few weeks for the rectifier recall to be fixed before they'd let us ride him off the lot.
It was a cold and rainy day and Troubadour gracious rode him home for me.
 |
| (Big Smile - first ride on the bike) |
Over the last three years we have gone many places together and seen different people, places, and things. Click the following highlighted words for blog posts on the trips iffin you are interested. We've taken three day trips to the Wolf Creek Inn and saw forestry roads and peacocks; moto-camped by Crater Lake; did some group riding; attended the IMBC 2012 in Eastern Oregon; searched for covered bridges on Thanksgiving - twice; and ridden many miles of local roads on day trips.
We've also done a few modifications and farkling including installing frame slider/crash bobbins, grip heaters, V Strom hand guards, an IXIL slip on muffler, blue rim tape on the wheels, replaced stock rear shock with GSXR shock, and a GIVI top case.
 |
| (Max - Summer 2013 - with Givi top case, the last farkle added) |
After owning the bike for 3 years I can honestly say it isn't without its quirks. It has a really notchy throttle at low speeds with a very abrupt on/off of the throttle. The pegs are a little high for my long legs and the seat is tilted forward slightly and isn't very padded. All manageable for the most part.
Is it a perfect bike? Not by any means. But it is the perfect bike for me right now.
There are still a few items on the to-do list such a steel braided brake lines and perhaps bar risers. One thing I do want to do is purely non-functional frosting. It serves no purpose but to look good. Sort of a temporary tattoo for motorcycles. I'll save the details for my next post, but will leave you with a hint: checkerboard ...........
- Au Revoir
" A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip." - Author Unknown
.
sounds like you and Max are getting along just fine, and there is no perfect bike.....they all have their shortcomings/quirks....its what makes them almost personable.
ReplyDeletealmost personable...... I chuckled at that. Yeah, I think all bikes have their issues, which is why I am in no hurry to trade him.
DeletePlaying "Happy Birthday" in my head.... Wishing Max many more.
ReplyDeleteI've never thought of dealers as "motorcycle orphanages" before, LOL...
The orphanage term was all Brad. I was telling him Max was 3 and he said technically 5, but he spent two in the orphanage. I told him I was going to steal it for my post.
DeleteMax was a dealer hold over so he really had been just sitting there waiting for the right owner like a lost puppy.
So where's the cake and wrapped bottles of fresh oil…
ReplyDeleteThat really is a nice looking bike and the personalizations just made it better. Very nice color.
Speaking of......he may be ready for another oil chafe. Will have to check my records when I get home.
DeleteThank you for the compliments Richard. I too think it is a rather striking color combination.
Congrats… of sorts, I think. My Sportster is going to turn three (well, 3 years in my possession as it is a 2008 model) in July.
ReplyDeleteI can highly recommend steel braided lines, I just had it done on my bike, and breaking performance has improved.
If you are going to stick with the bike, why don't you upgrade to a custom seat? It's well worth it.
We've been thinking of the brake lines for a while. Brad's Tiger has them too so in comparison he thinks my brakes are soft. We can't order just stock lengths though if I want to put bar risers on. Hard part is dying to figure out what stock length is then add a bit.
DeleteWe've talked about a custom seat but I am too frugal to let go of the $300 or so bucks to get one even though we have a nationally known guy in Albany that does them. I've sat on a Gladius with the optional tall seat and that is an option, but would be as good as custom.
Trobairitz:
ReplyDeleteI like these flashback posts. Reading them again is like reading them for the first time. You and Max are creating so many memories to look back upon, like an old friend who leads the way to new adventures. A custom sea would do wonders . . . I had a chance to buy a used one recently but I waited too long but if you order one, put in the heat elements.
bob
A weekend photographer or Riding the Wet Coast
Thanks Bob. I laughed as I read some old ones too while trying to remember all we'd changed and added to the bike.
DeleteA seat may be an option, I just have to unclench my tight fist. I wouldn't heat it though for the same reason I don't usually use the heated seats in the Subaru when traveling - makes me pee often when the kidneys heat up. Not always good on long trips with not many rest areas, lol. TMI, I know.
3 years and how many miles old? I hope you guys have many more...well, until it is time for Max to go live on a farm. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou don't want to know Dave. We didn't do near the riding we wanted to last year so the mileage didn't go up much. I think there are just under 10,000 miles on it now. There are a lot of years before he needs the farm, lol.
DeleteHappy Birthday Max! Keep on doing what you're doing! I love that you write so consistently, it is inspiring. Time to get off my lazy bum and take Runkle for a spin! Maybe we'll see Max around!
ReplyDeleteJessica!! I don't know how consistent with posting I am anymore. Not as much as I used to be it seems, but thank you for the kind words.
DeleteYou don't live that far away, you think we'd meet up at some point. Let's hope this rain stops so we can get back on the bikes.
Happy Birthday to Max!
ReplyDeleteThere's no such thing as a perfect bike. Luckily for us all, imperfect bikes are pretty loveable.
Thanks Lucky. Well said, they are still pretty lovable.
DeleteHappy Birthday Max! I'll be interested to see the new bling - I've always thought he looked ok (for a guy yunno)...Good to see you still have farkle ideas - that must mean you want to keep it.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you're still enjoying the bike. I still love my Connie after 6 and half years and can't see me parting with her.
You'd be surprised at the attention that bike gets. I am always surprised, but even when it says Suzuki on it, people don't seem to know what it is.
DeleteAnd yes I mean to keep it. The farkle is just some window dressing, like a nice new tie.
I am glad you still love your Connie - it shows in your posts.
Treat yourself to a seat rebuild.....the one I see there is the thickness of a pancake!
ReplyDeleteMany happy returns from England.
Gretting to you Nikos.
DeleteA pancake might have more cushion than the stock seat. It is what people are complaining about in the forums along with the suspension. We fixed that with the GSXR shock though. A seat rebuild just might be in the cards. We'll see.
Happy birthday maxie, and hope there is much more happy rides to come.
ReplyDeleteMe too Steve. We are really hoping to get more riding in this year. Last summer was kind of a bust for riding so this year we are scheming for some overnight rides.
DeleteThats good, I look forward to reading them, the overnighters are usually good. Make sure you guys go on a ride to the 3 sisters mountains so we can compare ours with yours ok!
DeleteDeal. The 3 Sisters isn't even too far away so it shouldn't be too hard to get you some pics.
DeleteWe also have a '3 Fingered Jack', do you have one of those?
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Glad you found a good home, Max! Sweet springtime rides!
ReplyDeleteIf the rain stops or at least eases some, we'll be out on two wheels...........
DeleteTrobairitz:
ReplyDeleteI never mentioned it but Max's BD is the same as Mrs Skoot's BD, just different years
bob
A weekend photographer or Riding the Wet Coast
Happy Belated Birthday Mrs. Skoot!!!! Give her a big hug for us.
DeleteI wore out the seat on the Bonneville and had it re padded, which was well worth it. The seat pan is too hard to sit on. I find myself now riding an inch taller than before, but comfortable. A comfortable seat will encourage you to ride.
ReplyDeleteGood advice and thanks for stopping by MB. A renewed seat would definitely make longer rides more comfortable and actually a little more padding might help sit me taller and add length between the seat and foot peg too. Hmmmmm
DeleteHey - Just a thought. How come you didn't come up as KeyWestDiary? Are you incognito? Did I just spoil the air of mystery?
Deleteyes jessica i agree with you...
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for stopping by.
DeleteUpgrading to braided stainless steel brake lines is a good idea if you intend fitting harder (sintered race-type) brake pads with the corresponding extra handlebar lever force required. The advantage of such pads is that they fade less under heavy braking. Otherwise, the stock brake lines (if new) are perfectly adequate to match the standard brake pads. If the brake lines are old and you have the cash available, I would definitely upgrade. Have a sunny day whatever you are up to!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info Walter. No intentions of putting sintered brake pads on. I'll not be racing by any means.
DeleteMy Bonneville had steel braided brake lines and there was a huge difference in braking ability with them. They grabbed quicker and seemed more rconsistent. The lines on Max are 5 years old - first 2 years he was warehoused though out of the elements. Always been garaged but Oregon is damp.
We have a fellow forum member that is big on SV650s and SV1000s and he recommends them as well since the Gladius bikes can be known for their softer brakes. Built to a price point I guess.
Be aware that some sintered brake pads carry warnings such as:
ReplyDelete"Sintered Road Race brake pads are a closed circuit use pad only and street/highway riding with this material is highly inadvisable and dangerous. Such high friction levels as delivered by these pads are for ideal track conditions with race tires or slicks on prepared asphalt surfaces and NOT for use with highway tires or on the highway."
There can be the danger of having too-good brakes particularly on a lightweight, sports bike! Cruisers are another story.
I definitely don't want too good of brakes but I want to be able to do a quicker emergency stop if needed some day. Max is 440 lbs not too light compared to the Street Triple or KTM 690 Duke, but also not a heavy weight either.
DeleteTrobairitz,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your bikes birthday! :-) I got my Sportster in July of 2011 so she'll be 3 soon (even though she's a 2012 model). Maybe you and Troubadour can do a cross country ride and visit Texas...it would be nice to ride with you guys. You can never see too many new places and people.
Cheers,
Curt
Live free. Ride Hard. Be Happy
www.curtcarter.com
Thanks Curt. Your Sportster is almost 3 too, that is cool.
DeleteOne day we hope to do a cross country ride, but it wont' be anytime son. We need to wait for the cat to pass away. He is almost 9 and doesn't handle cat sitters well and we only leave him alone for about 4 days/3 nights as it is.
And I agree, you can never see too many new places or people. Well said.