Gas mileage on the RS and S are about 40 mpg and the RT was 33-35. I'm thinking the carbs may need some work (diaphragms?). It ran beautifully and idles better than any airhead I've ridden. I can get 33 mpg in a car, so I don't like that low mileage.
Once you have checked into all the basic tune settings, it would be nice to test the fuel economy again. I doubt that the big fairinged RT will get as good mileage as the RS or S bikes, especially above 70 mph.
I would also look for some slightly lower or less reach bars. Leaning forward just slightly will lessen the butt and lower back pain, as you move in to a three point stance. S bars will probably too much. I have a set of /2 USA bars on my /5 and find them a nice balance of reach and upright. The problem is they look like they came off a 70's Jap dirt bike.
Zombie Master wrote:What exactly does a 1000 mile day prove? I would think that at your age you would have learned to smell the roses, and ride roads on which a 1000 mile day would be impossible. Curvy roads rather than droning on Interstates and other boring straight stretches. When I was in Europe last year, I was encouraged to ride on the Autobahn, after a short stint on what was basically an Interstate, I avoided them as there were twisty backroads to enjoy. Is this some kind of bucket list thing?
I already posted about that in another thread. Somehow, I don't think I have to defend my desire to do a thousand mile day.
Chuey
You don't need to defend it but you'll need a sense of humour to deal with the harsh and unfeeling comments
"You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know"
The Grateful Dead
Garnet wrote:
Once you have checked into all the basic tune settings, it would be nice to test the fuel economy again. I doubt that the big fairinged RT will get as good mileage as the RS or S bikes, especially above 70 mph.
I would also look for some slightly lower or less reach bars. Leaning forward just slightly will lessen the butt and lower back pain, as you move in to a three point stance. S bars will probably too much. I have a set of /2 USA bars on my /5 and find them a nice balance of reach and upright. The problem is they look like they came off a 70's Jap dirt bike.
I figured a certain amount of the lesser mileage was from the bigger frontal area but I would expect about 1mpg. And, of course, I always keep it under 70.
I don't have butt or lower back pain on the RT - or any of my bikes. I did expect it on the RT but it didn't happen for me.
Zombie Master wrote:What exactly does a 1000 mile day prove? I would think that at your age you would have learned to smell the roses, and ride roads on which a 1000 mile day would be impossible. Curvy roads rather than droning on Interstates and other boring straight stretches. When I was in Europe last year, I was encouraged to ride on the Autobahn, after a short stint on what was basically an Interstate, I avoided them as there were twisty backroads to enjoy. Is this some kind of bucket list thing?
I already posted about that in another thread. Somehow, I don't think I have to defend my desire to do a thousand mile day.
Chuey
You don't need to defend it but you'll need a sense of humour to deal with the harsh and unfeeling comments
I think the neck pain (mine, anyway -- don't know about Chuey's) comes from having to hold my chin up a little higher than that for which I was designed. This morning riding the R65 I tried to tilt my head so that the crown of my head was uppermost, but that tilts my chin down so that the face shield on my helmet is near the upper end of it's view as I look down the road. My neck was more comfortable but it was harder to see. I even get neck pain sometimes riding my bicycle, especially if it's windy or I'm riding on loose gravel and need more control and use the drops. I guess higher bars would situate my upper body such that my head could tilt forward more but I would almost need a cruiser and lean backwards to be perfect. That's not going to happen, and I suspect it would cause other problems anyway.
Ed Miller
'81 R65
'70 Bonneville
Falls City, OR
"Gasoline makes people stupid." -- Chuey
"I'll believe corporations are people when the State of Texas executes one." Bumper sticker
My RS just is uncomfortable & I cannot wait for the ride to be over; got some bar backs recently to try. I think though it has more to do with the riding position as a whole, not just the bars. The RT, as you've described it, would probably solve that for me & is something I've considered.
I've been thinking about the RT thing in metaphorical terms. Somehow, the thinking turned toward sexiness, or appeal. I now have an analogy for the situation and hope it will explain my position.
Have you ever known a person of the opposite sex who you thought should be an ideal mate but didn't have that chemistry? I think I'll let brevity take over for once. That pretty much says it all.
Chuey
PS My intent is to use the RT to make my thousand mile day and then sell it. My metaphor actually makes me feel like quite the heel.
Chuey wrote:I've been thinking about the RT thing in metaphorical terms. Somehow, the thinking turned toward sexiness, or appeal. I now have an analogy for the situation and hope it will explain my position.
Have you ever known a person of the opposite sex who you thought should be an ideal mate but didn't have that chemistry? I think I'll let brevity take over for once. That pretty much says it all.
Chuey
PS My intent is to use the RT to make my thousand mile day and then sell it. My metaphor actually makes me feel like quite the heel.
You know you get no credit for a 1000 mile day on a Hondapatamus. Wouldn't that also apply to a RT?
