Friday 17 June 2011

Mr T gets his first outing...... at last!

Wednesday

Well, he's been sat in the garage over a week now with 21 collection miles on the clock.

J & I decided to have a ride over to her mates to drop of a birthday card for her daughter so we took "Mr T" for his first outing.

The first thing that was different was J getting on and off the bike as it is so tall but after a quick test and adjust it was easy, J climbing onto the front seat then slide back onto the pillion seat, job done!
As we forgot the card it was a quick U'ee and back to the house to pick it up. Straight away J commented on how quiet and comfortable the bike was. Result!

Heading out towards Littleborough I realized how deceptivley quick the bike is to say it makes next to no sound at all compared to "The Beast".
Over towards Todmorden, right at the round about in Tod & out towards Hebden, then straight through Hebden on the Halifax road. We called in at Russell Dean Furniture shop but could not find anything that didn't cost an arm and a leg. Then back towards Hebden before a quick lefthander and up the hill towards Littleborough. Ann lives at the top of the hill in Cragg Vale.

The road is as un-even as they come but "Mr T" just soaked up the bumps. We dropped the card off to lots of whooo's and arrr's from Ann, J's best mate from school days, who is also a biker.

The road was closed over the tops so another U turn and we headed back down the bouncy hill with no issues what so ever. The steering on "Mr T" is more of a sweeping and relaxing ride, not what I've been used to for the last few years. It feels so easy it's about the only way I can describe it. No more point and squirt, bend to bend riding, it reminds me of the IAM course taking a smooth comfortable line round the curves and bends. Outstanding!

When we got back I felt as fresh as a daisy and J was over the moon with the new bike. Quite, comfortable and so easy to ride, I can see her falling to sleep on this bike even more often than the last.

I am really pleased with the way it handles and feels so much safer, even if I was tailgated all the way through Todmorden coming back by a PLANK in a Volovo 6 inches from my back wheel. I pulled over and waved him past , following him at a safe distance into Littleborough where he ran a red light so as not to have me pull up at the side of him.

Sadly the rain came down and Lilie Rose arrived home so life took over as it has a tendancy to do.

The only negative I've come across so far is the lack of a gear indicator, something I have had on the last 3 bikes but I'll see how it goes and if I find it a major issue I can always buy an after market one.

So with 60 miles on the clock "Mr T" is back in the garage. As I'm not fit enough to do the RBLR1000 it has taken all the pressure off getting him run in and serviced before the weekend. Something I have done with the last few bikes. Mind, 600 miles will soon mount up then I can look at venturing a little further afield. NordKapp beckons me thinks but that will take a little organizing on the home/carer front so we will just have to wait and see.           

Not done an "farkling" as yet. I did tidy up the wiring from the heated grips. As ever they just wired them up and left the connectors exposed and wound the spare cable up and tucked it under the battery strap so I taped up the connectors with black electrical tape. Took the wirring out wound it up and tucked it out the way at the side of the battery.

I'm pleased to say there is a great deal of space behind the right side pannel for an electrical accessory fuse box so I will get one orded.

As for "Dripping with aftermarket goodies" ................

Yes I have a few bits on order from Touratech

1 x Cover for rear axle, left-hand side for the Yamaha XT1200Z Super Tenere 1 x ABS sensor protection (set) 1 x Lambda sensor cover
1 x Side stand switch protector
1 x Handlebar bag CORDURA®
1 x Windscreen adjuster with GPS mounting bar1 x Side stand base extension
1 x Ball joint-Adapter, lower ball with bow

Plus I have the Garmin Sat Nav to fit along with the Starcom system

I'm just waiting for the parts to arrive from Germany. Plus the Yamaha Spot lights and clear indicators will go on at the first service.

So all in all prity well all boxed off, or at least he will be.


Thursday

Well I had a great ride over to see my Dad & Ang yesterday. I headed out over towards Milnrow past the Gallows pub, through Shaw, Oldham, Ashton then on towards Glossop, hanging a right for Chappel en le Frith then over the tops towards Buxton. Right at the Buxton turn towards Backwell on to Matlock then out the back of Matlock over towards Chesterfield on Alic Lane turning right on Birkin Lane and round the backs to my Dads place at Alton.

Other than a 2 mile tail back at the road works on the tops at Dove Holes which I rode straight to the front of & some poor chap having his collar felt after coming off on the Backwell road bends heading towards Buxton from Bakwell the ride was a breeze.

I discovered I have 6 yes SIX gears, Mt T cruses at 50 in 5th at just 2,500 rpm and does 70 at 3,000 rpm in top. Out bloody standing.
He has the engine braking capacity of a Land Rover Dicovery. Nearly enouph to through you over the bars if your not holding on well enouph. So the pads will last for ever. Mind I guess some of that breaking capacity will wear off a little once he is run in properly.

After a couple of hours with Dad & Ang it was back on the road, I did'nt want to be messing with the road works again so it was back towards Matlock, left at Bakwell tpwards Buxton then a sharp left over the tops before Buxton and up over Harper Hill, wher I used to go to college for two years a very very long time ago.

A quck left past Harper Hill, heading towards Leek then right at the botttom and over the best road in the Peak District the A537 or more comonly know as


 



  The Cat & Fiddle

The 50 mph speed limit did'nt bother me as I'm still scrubbing in the tyres and bedding the motor in but what a road to do it on....................

Outstanding! The only down side was hitting Stockport town centre at rush hour just as the rain came down as I headed round the M60 towards Ashton, Chadderton, Oldham, Rochdale and home.

k towards Matlock, left at Bakwell tpwards Buxton then a sharp left over the tops before Buxton and up over Harper Hill, wher I used to go to college for two years a very very long time ago.

A quck left past Harper Hill, heading towards Leek then right at the botttom and over the best road in the Peak District the A537 or more comonly know as
So Mr T is now sat in the garage with 200 miles on the clock, tyres scrubbed in and needs a bit of a clean but what a ride. I loved it. Just wished I'd have had a bit of company when I got to the pub, I may have even gone in for a coffee if I had have had.

So the running in continues............ role on 600 miles




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