Growing into the New Bike

            I could have called this blog entry “Indian Summer Part 2” because it was another gorgeous, sunny, warm day.  The remnants of Nicole passed through Thursday and Friday, and we did have to wait on the roads to dry.  Even so, the roads in the shade were still damp when we rode at noon.

            But I chose to call this “Growing into the New Bike” because I really felt the differences in the R Nine T on this ride.  When we head out onto our curvy road, I feel the different grip of the tires as I lean into the curves.  I also notice the wider rake of the front tire. The R Nine T has a rake of 28.5 degrees versus the 24 degrees of the Ducati Desert X.  This difference means my U-turns, S-turns, and circles are a bit wider.  But I was able to tighten them up a bit this week.

            I still find the riding position a tad uncomfortable.  I have to reach for the handlebars so that I feel stretched out and my riding position is that of the letter C.  This issue can easily be corrected by getting some handlebar risers that would bring the handlebars higher and back toward me some.

            What I particularly noticed on today’s ride was how I have already adjusted to the dry clutch.  As I rode, I thought about why that might be, and I concluded that my early driving experience with manual transmissions in cars helped me adapt to the R Nine T clutch.  I found myself playing with the friction zone at times even leaving the clutch out and riding in the courts in first gear.  But I realized that I don’t want to do that as having some clutch to release to increase speed when doing slow speed maneuvers is a must.  Remember that the motorcycle wants to straighten up but needs speed to do so.

            It was a squirrelly ride in that Bill had to stop four times for squirrels dashing out into the road including one crazy fellow who stopped right in front of the massive Rocket.  I didn’t see any butterflies but noted a shadow fly overhead.  Bill spotted it and said it was a black swallowtail.  Next week I doubt we’ll see even one butterfly.  Our highs are forecasted in the upper 40s—leather jacket time.  Oh, and the R Nine T has heated grips; I can’t wait to try those.