How Tall ? ... What Mod Have You Got To Suit ?

Tim

Dear Metzi,

No no, no offense at all - you are of course very right about changing the character of the XX by those mods.

Thanks for the info on jaws - I happen to run into that sight while surfing when I bought my XX.

We never got it in the US but there was a "standard" version of the XX. CB1100 I beleive... I think it had the similar motor but also many different parts.

I love the engine, the refinement and the stability of the XX; I just need a slightly more upright riding postion.

As always thanks for your comments - I enjoy reading them here as I do all of the comments on this BB.

We have a lot of Aussie cops here in the mission and they are the greatest guys - and that joke about Aussies drinking a lot of beer - well from my viewpoint it aint no joke...

I think I found the bars, spiegler, and I am thinking to use the stock seat, but I need to find the tallest/best wind screen for the XX.

Tim

Metzi

Hi Tim, here is something I found on screens. You might find the other bitz here too. I'm off for another beer....

Screen options for the Blackbird

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Tim

Metzi,

Just the few minutes before I saw your response I found that same site about screens.

Looks like the zero gravity sport touring one is right for me - looks like it will give decent wind protection and won't be hideous.

Thanks again,

Tim

Metzi

Just check with them that the screen does'nt allow the sun to melt your dash (instument panel). There has been a bit of a problem in the past with aftermarket screens.

Good choice.

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Tim

Now that's the kind of info you could only get here...

Thanks Metzi.

Do you think the darker one of the bunch would prevent most of that? I don't think I will be able to look through the screen much so i don't think it would matter if it were really dark for night riding...

Tim

mmmm, melting... a toasted cheese would be nice right about now...

Tim

With these mods and the peg lowering brackets I should have the rolling easy chair of XXs.

All of the bikes I had and rode for years when I got started were dirt or dirt oriented bikes - I am just familiar with the upright riding position - being bent over seems like a monkey humping a foot ball.

One guy here said the riser crowd should "man-up". Yeah, probably, but I if I get to ride my XX longer and with a lot less pain, then I can be Ok with being a little less of "manly". If I fart more would that even things out?

I just never rode a bike that was this fast and this stable/solid. I just HAVE to make some small adjustments to this bike so I can ride the wheels off of it - its just too cool

Tim

Metzi

Take a look at this

Melting Clocks

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Bordo

Yes I have suffered from this with my powerbronze screen. I had a hole burnt through the dash just below the FI light. I had to cover it with a piece of plastic. It doesnt look the best but it doesnt stand out to much. I havent had any further dramas with it and if I am parking somewhere for a while I just put a piece of rag in there to stop it from heating up. No biggie but a pain in the ass just the same.

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Tim

Metzi,

Again nice info.

I'm going for the tallest screen zero gravity sells... I think it the sport touring model - not sure.

Just don't have the interest to ride a big fat goldwing, but like the more upright riding position and the tall screen. So, I'll just have to mod up the XX.

I'm sure the Kawasaki 14 is sick fast, but the XX is so very fast and SMOOTH... and because I fell in to a deal with a buddie it was really cheap too... lol Fast, smooth and cheap...? I'm just gonna mod it and ride the poo out of it.

Thanks again Metzi

Tim

ArmyStrong

6'1 and 255 right now. 6mm shim and dave's peg lowering kit.

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If it's stupid but it works, it ain't stupid.

Tim

Hey Army,

I'm very close to your dimensions. A shim and peg lowering brackets sound just right.

Spiegler sells these LSL bars for the XX. I think I'll try thos too along with the tall wind screen.

Ever consider a taller seat to create a longer hip to foot distance? The stock seat seem pretty nice. I'll probably just ride the current seat and see if its something I really want to change.

Pop smoke, move out, draw fire...

Tim

ArmyStrong

Tim,

When I sat on the Bird I knew it was exactly what I was lookin for ergonomically. Everything else was a plus. The 6mm shim and peg lowering to it from good to great! I've got a corbin on there which came w/it now that I've grown accustomed to. At first I thought there was too much room between the arse () and the back of the seat rest when I hugged the tank properly, but I've found that when I tuck in for some serious speed it's just right! I've considered bars, but don't wanna slide to far away from the sporty end of the scale.
Trackin...?

Russ

__________________
Murphys 6th law of combat operations:
If it's stupid but it works, it ain't stupid.

Tim

Russ,

I've owned a few bikes over the years and I just couldn't get over the smooth power and solid feel. It was really shocking the first time I rode it.

The XX may not fit me exactly, but its worth the effort. I'll let you know if the LSL bars are just too much - I suspect with the taller screen they will be right on for me.

With this motor I don't think I can slide too far away from the speedy end of the scale.

I don't know if you saw the top speed and fastest track times for a bunch of current bikes, but while many were faster than the bird, none had the ergos, smoothness together with the power of the XX.

They picked the Suzuki 1000 as the best over all, and it seems like a great bike, but I'd really rather have an XX.

If I'm gonna go that way I'd rather have one of those 1098s.

Take care,

Tim

the germans would say that a machine gun aint a machine gun unless its on a tri-pod with a T&E

cannon1968

Superbike store has a very good touring windscreen made by powerbronze. It has an upward flip that works and looks very cool.

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TESLACOIL

reply to mr "man up"

try riding round the block with yer butt pushed right back to the pillion grab rail.

not so easy to get it off the side stand now hey?

not so easy at stopping the traffic light now hey ?

not such a good view of the road ahead now hey ?

hows yer arm and neck now hey ?

ahhhh ..... now we have it !


oh and this is without adding 100lbs of lead weight in order to maintain the rider bike weight ratio


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Im 5ft 8in , ive rotated the triangle rear linkage,raised the bars by 1/2 inch and im sitting on an old bb seat with the white plastic removed ( just the sponge ) i cut slats in the underside of the sponge so it curves to my shape more readily - im also going to get some VFR bars

X1rider

I am 6'2", 252lbs. ready to ride on a cold day, 37" waist, 34" inseam. The VFR bars and Johar foam grips have helped with the wrist and palm area. I also have Throttlemeister Cruise Control, and the Speigler SS brake line "kit" (I use that term lightly) for better braking and giving my hands a break on long rides.

However, my most recent purchase for comfort wasn't for the bike, it was for me!

Check out this site: Lee Parks Design, World's Finest Deerskin Motorcycle Gloves and Accessories for the Deersports gloves. Not the sportiest looking, but after going through 3 pairs of gloves that were from 3 companies in a year that were all sized differently, I decided to give these gauntlets a try. To sum up my experience in a single phrase:

I wish I had gotten them years ago!

They fit like the proverbial glove!

Have a look at Lee's web site. It explains a lot of things about seams, and that has been the problem for me. The last pair of gloves I purchased (Teknic) were 3XL, and they still hurt my hands. The LP gloves (XL) were a little snug at first, but one 50 mile ride and they felt like second skin.

I highly recommend this product, plus they are made in the USA. And shipping was free! The pair I got differed slightly in appearance (rear Velcro strap not as long as shown) from the pair on the web site, but I didn't care.

Another good product is Gusset Jeans, Diamond Gusset Jeans Official Web Store available in odd sizes and made in the US as well. Armor fits underneath, and no one knows any different.

As with anything that is domestically produced, you pay a premium for the above products. But you get what you pay for..........

Tim

That's why this is such a good place for information.

Good report on these two products X1. Its always much more helpful to hear about how things work when used in the real world and not just what the advertising says.

I did want to ask what you meant by using the term "kit" lightly. I was thinking of buying one of their LSL handle bar kits and wondered it there was a problem with Speigler.

Thanks,

Tim

CanadianBird

Excellent web site. Thanks, I have a great pair of gusseted jeans with kevlar and a stretch section at the back, below the waist band. Very comfy. Better and much more affordable than Draggon Jeans. IMO

Bordo

CB,
How much are Draggin Jeans over there ?? I have two pair of the camo jeans from them. They have slipped up to around 210 to 220 dollars here now. They are great kit to but are getting a bit expensive now.

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The More I Know The Less I understand - Don Henley