More mountains

The daughter and I decided we better get some miles in before heading out for the big ride to the INOA rally next month.

We rode 375 miles across Colorado on Saturday to catch the last day of the 4 Corners Rendezvous. Had grilled burgers and picked up a couple great door prize T-shirts along with a fun bullshit session around the campfire.

Headed out the next morning for another 375 miles back home. It was a great ride with about 8 passes and lots of twisties. Finished it off with a 50 mile - 85mph blast up the interstate back to Pueblo.

The only casualty was the drive chain on the FJ1100 lost most of its o-rings and grew about 1 inch in length. I guess it will get new chain and sprockets before we head out. Jim

comnoz said:

Finished it off with a 50 mile - 85mph blast up the interstate back to Pueblo.

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What size sprocket do you run?

I noticed that with my current 21 tooth sprocket that I am doing ~ 70mph @ 4000 rpms and ~ 80mph @ 5000 rpms (with a 19 inch back wheel) which seems well under the red line, but it is a bit buzzy.

Sounds like a great trip. Nice the chain only grew in length! My old stock 850 likes about 75 mph. I think the front sprocket is a 23, but I haven't been in there for a while and had changed it a few times. My son is only two and I haven't even had him in the Swallow sidecar yet. Can't wait to travel with him. Fun times.

Which passes did you ride? I was out there last year. Monarch and Red Mountain are my faves.

Very cool Jim, what a great fathers day thing to get to do together w/your daughter.

o0norton0o said:

comnoz said:

Finished it off with a 50 mile - 85mph blast up the interstate back to Pueblo.

Click to expand...

What size sprocket do you run?

I noticed that with my current 21 tooth sprocket that I am doing ~ 70mph @ 4000 rpms and ~ 80mph @ 5000 rpms (with a 19 inch back wheel) which seems well under the red line, but it is a bit buzzy.

Click to expand...

I run a belt drive front and rear. It is geared very tall.

4133 rpm at 80 mph.

6200 rpm at 120. Jim

Danno said:

Which passes did you ride? I was out there last year. Monarch and Red Mountain are my faves.

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The big passes were Wolf Creek -two ways, Poncha pass, La Veta pass and then several smaller passes that I don't recall the names.

Here is the waterfall along the side of Wolf creek Pass.

o0norton0o said:

comnoz said:

Finished it off with a 50 mile - 85mph blast up the interstate back to Pueblo.

Click to expand...

What size sprocket do you run?

I noticed that with my current 21 tooth sprocket that I am doing ~ 70mph @ 4000 rpms and ~ 80mph @ 5000 rpms (with a 19 inch back wheel) which seems well under the red line, but it is a bit buzzy.

Click to expand...

Commandos really shouldn't get buzzy if the isolastics are working. Mine is smooth from 3,000 rpm all the way to the red line if desired, though I generally shift at 6,000 Max.
I find that 70 MPH is a comfortable speed for an open bike, but the mirrors stay stock still even running up to 90 MPH when passing.

Glen

good memory maker comnoz though I would of passed more than 8xs on that length of opportunities. Someday all front isolastic cushions will be beveled.

comnoz said:

o0norton0o said:

comnoz said:

Finished it off with a 50 mile - 85mph blast up the interstate back to Pueblo.

Click to expand...

What size sprocket do you run?

I noticed that with my current 21 tooth sprocket that I am doing ~ 70mph @ 4000 rpms and ~ 80mph @ 5000 rpms (with a 19 inch back wheel) which seems well under the red line, but it is a bit buzzy.

Click to expand...

I run a belt drive front and rear. It is geared very tall.

4133 rpm at 80 mph.

6200 rpm at 120. Jim

Click to expand...

Ahhhhhh!!! I didn't even consider the difference a belt drive makes in the final ratio when I asked the question,... but thanks for adding your RPM/MPH ratio because that answer's my question just the same...

worntorn said:

Commandos really shouldn't get buzzy if the isolastics are working. Mine is smooth from 3,000 rpm all the way to the red line if desired, though I generally shift at 6,000 Max.
I find that 70 MPH is a comfortable speed for an open bike, but the mirrors stay stock still even running up to 90 MPH when passing.

Glen

Click to expand...

I probably have my iso's a little snug at the moment. I am enjoying a much improved handling lately after riding a motorized slinky for 35 years... Depending on how tight I run them the footpegs buzz a little more or less. I rather have a tiny bit of buzz then loose iso's.

hobot said:

good memory maker comnoz though I would of passed more than 8xs on that length of opportunities. Someday all front isolastic cushions will be beveled.

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Sorry, I guess I should have been more specific for you hill country boys.

Overview
A mountain pass as it appears on a contour map: Bwlch Maesgwm in Snowdonia, north Wales (53°4′52.8″N 4°7′57″W, height contours from SRTM data).

Mountain passes make use of a gap, saddle or col (also sometimes a notch, the low point in a ridge). A topographic saddle is analogous to the mathematical concept of a saddle surface, with a saddle point marking the highest point between two valleys and the lowest point along a ridge.[1][2] On a topographic map, passes are characterized by contour lines with an hourglass shape, which indicates a low spot between two higher points.[3]

Passes are often found just above the source of a river, constituting a drainage divide. A pass may be very short, consisting of steep slopes to the top of the pass, or may be a valley many kilometres long, whose highest point might only be identifiable by surveying.

Roads have long been built, and more recently railways, through passes. Some high and rugged passes may have tunnels bored underneath to allow faster traffic flow throughout the year.

The top of a pass is frequently the only flat ground in the area, a high vantage point, so it is sometimes a preferred site for buildings. If a national border follows a mountain range, a pass over the mountains is typically on the border, and there may be a border control or customs station, and possibly a military post as well. For instance Argentina and Chile share the world's third longest international border, 5,300 kilometres (3,300 mi) long. The border runs north-south along the Andes mountains, with a total of 42 mountain passes.[4][5] On a road over a pass, it is customary to have a small roadside sign giving the name of the pass and its elevation above mean sea level.

Aw shucks comnoz I am only a pseudo-hillbilly so playing dumb on the passes which are head lifting and ear crackling either version to me. Was not teasing about some day all isolastic front cushions will be owner beveled to suit their sensitivity, so when you try it & give it public legitimacy the rest will follow. Frank Damp and me know Cdo should go smooth about 2000 and cutting the peaks off nicely even before that. On my ordinary Trixie 90 mph is about tops for intervals of cruise but Peel spoiled me for rather faster as long as I could get away with it. Freeway cruise 80=85 not to siick out too much - did not get chain as hot as the tranny nor tires too hot to hold hand on but head stayed below 330 F*. Everything has priority over my cycles this year so living it up off others joys and hope to hear more.

hobot said:

Aw shucks comnoz I am only a pseudo-hillbilly so playing dumb on the passes which are head lifting and ear crackling either version to me. Was not teasing about some day all isolastic front cushions will be owner beveled to suit their sensitivity, so when you try it & give it public legitimacy the rest will follow. Frank Damp and me know Cdo should go smooth about 2000 and cutting the peaks off nicely even before that. On my ordinary Trixie 90 mph is about tops for intervals of cruise but Peel spoiled me for rather faster as long as I could get away with it. Freeway cruise 80=85 not to siick out too much - did not get chain as hot as the tranny nor tires too hot to hold hand on but head stayed below 330 F*. Everything has priority over my cycles this year so living it up off others joys and hope to hear more.

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Yeah I know.
There is sure some smoothness to be found by beveling the iso rubbers -but they sack out pretty quick after that.
I am still loving my spring mount with no iso rubbers. Jim

Its great to spend time with your daughter on bikes and having such good roads to ride together, my daughter has just turned 18 last Sunday and can now go for her bike licence, she has been driving for 2 years now but here I Queensland you have to have a car licence for a year before they can go for the bike, but she has been riding dirt bikes with me since she was 9 years old, but she wants to ride my Thruxton but I told her she only ride the Thruxton if she can kick start the Norton or get her own bike, I can be mean sometimes.
Anyway such pleasure to spend time with the kids.

Ashley

Yeah, it's been a lot of fun. Hannah and I have been dirt riding since she was 6. She is 20 now and when she showed up with her streetbike license and wanted to know if we could get the old FJ back on the road so she had something to ride -I was a bit concerned.
She's been riding it for a year now and loves it like I did when i rode it many years ago. jim

Saturday Wes invited me out 30 miles on 125cc butt beater in/out of overwashed flood paths and was so so, so sore could hardly touch my bottom. Off pavement is my bane yet worthy opponent to point next Peel tires are mostly real knobbies. Wes got the small bikes for his yearly outtings in CO on same specve tacular Mt. he says easy to get lost so big an area to tour. Before we hit the paved steep down for 5 miles he said kil in and ride like coasting bycycles, Chain singing and tire texture humming sillyness. Btw in Arkansas its the roads with Gap in the name to seek out. Closest to me is Low Gap as part of a ride magazines call Jasper Disaster. Once we get to passing around a vibe logger beveled front cushions may become more common. I am easy disqusted by poor surprise handling upsets but still happy with the sooner deeper isolastion. More than one way to skin the chinny chin chin of a Commando too, tooless in my case.

comnoz said:

.... and wanted to know if we could get the old FJ back on the road so she had something to ride -I was a bit concerned.

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Understandably so - what went wrong that she accepts anything less than a Norton? :wink:


Tim

Tintin said:

comnoz said:

.... and wanted to know if we could get the old FJ back on the road so she had something to ride -I was a bit concerned.

Click to expand...

Understandably so - what went wrong that she accepts anything less than a Norton? :wink:


Tim

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Probably the fact that I won't build her another one like mine...

She also rides a stock Mk3 that I have here but she prefers the FJ for long rides. The MK3 makes her butt hurt and shakes it's head when she goes over 80mph...

Jim, great stuff, my 16 year old daughter isnt riding yet but loves the pillion view from the Roadster
Complains after the long hauls even though i put some modern cushioning in the seat foam.(Mind you so does my butt after 2 to 3 hours.
A mate who does big miles on his fleet of modern bikes recommended these, takes them on his overseas bike trips as well, I bought two different styles recently and have to say for the long hauls are just perfect on the Roadster
Regards Mike
http://www.airhawk.net/airhawk-products.aspx

Nice weather for riding in the mountains.

On Sunday I saw a guy ride through here on a black interstate. He was all geared up and loaded down,
I figured that there must have been something going on ('tis the season).

I'm glad it was a good ride for you both. Making memories is what it's all about.