New Age Sensitive Bikes

[Mr Jensee]

Where are these frame bolts you guys are talking about? I have never had the bike stripped down enough to look for any. I dont know if Carl Leo did any tightening of mine when he had the engine out last December. It would be helpful to know. Other than that, I know that tightening my steering stem, installing progressive front and back shocks, going with 10w Honda oil in the shocks have severely improved handling for what I ride. I have seldom ever had the bike over 80 which it will easily do but it handles great on the interstate. My usual riding speed on back La. roads is only 55 to 65 mph. so handling is less of a problem. I just wish I could ride it again. Thanks for the info Don.

[ekap1200]

Hello from now chilly New Jersey....
I am sure Carl has taken care of that for you. But if you must know.... look in the repair manual , towards the back under ( FRAME )
section. There you will see the section that is removable.

[ghostler]

Other than that, I know that tightening my steering stem, installing progressive front and back shocks, going with 10w Honda oil in the shocks have severely improved handling for what I ride. I have seldom ever had the bike over 80 which it will easily do but it handles great on the interstate. My usual riding speed on back La. roads is only 55 to 65 mph. so handling is less of a problem.

Your experiences mirror mine. I prefer the offbeat paths like you, less traffic and more relaxing. Been using ATF oil in my front shocks, works fine, too.

I just wish I could ride it again.

Know what you mean, getting old isn't for wimps. I hope all's going well for you with the challenges you've been going through. Quietness in this forum hasn't been helped with my bummed up knee.
I like doing all my work, but need to get a mechanic locally to do some for me to get my ride back on the road.

[Nails]

Jensee,
It's the subframe that supports the fairing. I think there are 3 on each side, about 14mm. as I recall, the back 2 are under the "tank" but the others are under the fairing.

[ekap1200]

As a potential owner, I've found this post to be quite helpful! I'll definitely be keeping this thread in mind when I go to test-ride the bike. . .

When you do get a chance to ride the bike,, Be very aware that any one of a number of item's on the front end, may cause a front end wobble if you REMOVE both hands from the bar. Mostly on decel... at or about 30mph. "There again, any one of a number" which
are easy to remedy. Could even be a low air pres in the front tire.... So not a deal breaker but a bargaining chip in your benefit .
Gene K.

[MotoSquirrel]

As a potential owner, I've found this post to be quite helpful! I'll definitely be keeping this thread in mind when I go to test-ride the bike. . .

When you do get a chance to ride the bike,, Be very aware that any one of a number of item's on the front end, may cause a front end wobble if you REMOVE both hands from the bar. Mostly on decel... at or about 30mph. "There again, any one of a number" which
are easy to remedy. Could even be a low air pres in the front tire.... So not a deal breaker but a bargaining chip in your benefit .
Gene K.

Thanks! I shall take note of it!
I don't often take both hands off of the bars unless I'm stopped, so I'll see what I make of it under my "normal" riding. . .

[ghostler]

When you do get a chance to ride the bike,, Be very aware that any one of a number of item's on the front end, may cause a front end wobble if you REMOVE both hands from the bar. Mostly on decel... at or about 30mph. "There again, any one of a number" which are easy to remedy. Could even be a low air pres in the front tire.... So not a deal breaker but a bargaining chip in your benefit. Gene K.

Thanks! I shall take note of it! I don't often take both hands off of the bars unless I'm stopped, so I'll see what I make of it under my "normal" riding. . .

Gene, you'll find with the XII that once you get the few minor issues sorted out, that it is one of the world's best kept secrets. I even carried a sheet cake in my trunk for a birthday celebration at a park out of the area. The XII has one of the deepest trunks of any bike, and the saddle bags aren't too shabby either. Plus, the turbine smoothness of the detuned upsized Ninja 4 cylinder and its overall road handling, especially with the shocks upgraded make for a really nice distance rider. It also gets reasonable gas mileage even towing a small trailer.

[ekap1200]

I know that George, I will have put on 100,000 in just a few more tanks of fuel. I have all the issues of front end problems long sorted out when this ol girl was just a spring chicken. Along with the water log, water pump oil seal and the missing vent hole. No oil or coolant leaking here. Just wanted to make a newbie aware without him finding out the hard way and going back home to change his shorts
Gene

[ghostler]

Actually, Gene, I meant the reply for MotoSquirrel and not for you. Somehow I got fumble fingered when I replied.

[ekap1200]

It happens as we get older.

[HMB Don]

I agree with you all about the 1200 is the most comfortable when below 65 mph. On my cross country trips Trisha would ask me to go just a bit faster. But when people ask about the capabilities of the 1200 I want to share with them that these big touring bikes are able to run and run hard.

I read here about not removing your hands from the handle bars. That is a test I often did on my 1200 to make sure that it was in good shape. One was coming of the pass on hwy 92 on the westside. This is the road that takes you into Half Moon Bay from the San Francisco Bay. This was a steep pass, at the bottom there was a bridge with a bump on the leading edge, as I'd descend I'd let go of the handle bars and when I'd go over the bump and the 1200 didn't go into a wobble I'd smile all the way home. But there were many times that it would snap into a wobble. I would get home and start looking for what it might be. Note; once you set up the major items, forks and steering head bearings, it's going to be small things that caused the wobble. The front wheel balance, most times, air pressure in the front tire, maybe the air pressure in the rear tire, air in the forks, how the saddle bags or trunk were loaded or even the front brake pads dragging. Only once did I check and the front wheel bearings were beginning to go bad. It took me ten years and many miles to tune my 1200.

Last clean all of the grounds on the 1200, if you have a battery that showing signs that its ageing JUST REPLACE IT! You don't save money by trying to keep charging the battery so that the engine will start. This is the cause of most component failures, fuel pumps and Alternators.

[MotoSquirrel]

Actually, Gene, I meant the reply for MotoSquirrel and not for you. Somehow I got fumble fingered when I replied.

I wondered at that. . . LOL

I know that George, I will have put on 100,000 in just a few more tanks of fuel. I have all the issues of front end problems long sorted out when this ol girl was just a spring chicken. Along with the water log, water pump oil seal and the missing vent hole. No oil or coolant leaking here. Just wanted to make a newbie aware without him finding out the hard way and going back home to change his shorts
Gene

I appreciate that. I'm a rather careful buyer (having been repeatedly burned by over-hyped basket-cases), so all the input I can get is enormously helpful. I ride Harley touring bikes frequently as part of my job (Eagle Rider motorcycle rentals), so I'm not as concerned about the weight/size as I am about the overall handling characteristics, maintenance quirks, and other specialty information. I've learned to poll owners and compile my findings to gain a cohesive overview.