Me and my 1700 on the road

[HMB Don]

After having a great weekend at the Eastern Regional ride-in I headed west. I got to ride with Barrett, Marty and Mike and Vicky, for a day and a half. I rode I 70 all the way into Denver. Today I was able to do some canyon riding, seated the new front rotors and brake pads.

[Air Force]

looks like great weather there in in Denver Don.

[HMB Don]

My trip is over, I'm home safe.
The last update I was in Denver, on that Friday I rode down to Colorado Springs to meet my son. The roads I chose were some I'd never ridden. One was from Pine Junction to Deckers. Its a winding road with good pavement. The 1700 ate up that road at a good pace. After Thursday's ride I set the rebound on the rear shocks to 4 as the back of the bike was pogoing in medium to fast turns. After a 140 miles of these back roads I got to my coffee stop named SPEEDTRAP, in Palmer Lake, Colorado. The Galfer Wave rotors and brake pads worked perfectly. The harder I used them the less pressure I need to apply. It did take time to seat them.

On Saturday I rode with my son and his girlfriend. He rides a Triumph Trophy and she a Triumph 675. We rode to Cripple Creek the long way. The 1700 was running good but loaded it's weight was 1000 pounds plus, their two motorcycles were from 300 to 500 lbs lighter. Horsepower was 75 to 80 maybe on the 1700, the 675, 105 and the Trophy 130. It was a spirited ride, but this was a ride I missed riding my Voyager 1200.
The ride back to North Carolina was via back roads. In Colorado US 50. I did have a flat tire in KY, while at Hannagin trailers & trikes. The trike employees had me pull into the shop and they installed two plugs, it stopped the leak, but we were trying to repair a cut in the tire. The repair only lasted 75 miles. I was 18 miles from Dickson, TN. I rode the 1700 with a rear flat tire to the nearest town and gas station. A good Samaritan came and said "wait here I'll go home and get my trailer." At American Motorsports in Dickson they had a tire, a Shinko 170 70 16 model 777. I've never used a Shinko i always thought it as a less then tire. By noon on October 1st they had me finished and off I go. I had to remember I was once again riding on a new tire and a brand i'd never ridden. It wiggled in the turns and over bumps, but by the end if the day 200 miles it was working just fine. I put it to the test on Friday on I 40 at the eastern end of Tennessee and the western end of North Carolina the Interstate is 30 miles of motorcycle bliss, with turn after turn. The Shinko preformed, so add this tire brand to your choices. After 450 miles on the Shinko tire its not a bad choice.
When I got home I had traveled 4,800 miles, with almost every day the temperature in
the 70s.

[cranky]

.. took 50 thru west Co. after climbing the Million Dollar Highway, 550, and it was all fun!!!
Got a VROC rally next July in Montrose, Co for 3 days, ought to be fun, plus the to/from trip!!!

IIRC, went over Monarch Pass @11,3XX' on 50 and all the roads I saw were great!!!! Glad
ya had a good run, sorry for the problems... I only got 3750 miles in 13 days.... but I did
also get to cross Beartooth Highway and thru Jellystone.... er Yellowstone... all fine 'til my
front tire speedo receiver ate itself and I lost speed control 3/4 days out....

[Air Force]

Glad you are home safe Don! I put Shinko 777 HD tires on both XII's two years ago. They give a smoother ride and handle better than the Dunlop E-3. Also much better in the rain. Obviously a softer compound and the rear tires on both bikes do not last as long. I am still going to use them as I feel more confident with them. I am putting together another XII and I might use Avon tires on that bike. I am going to talk to Gene Kap first since I know he is using them. I ran Avon tires years ago on a Suzuki GS850G and was very impressed with them in the rain. Ride safe!

[ekap1200]

Hello all. Don, glad to hear your trip went well , even with the tire issue. Wish I was with ya's....
Chris, Avon's will always be my choice. I have no issues with going 15K on them . When I toss them to the curb they are gone before the sun goes down. I had been riding on Monday nights with a group of riders, quite a few HD's and keeping my rpms up over 2200 to offset for their high torque they have not spun out at intersections. There are a few of them that really like to use all the h/power their machine will put out... I tend to like riding in the front of the pack.... They handle good on wet roads. (Ask Marie )

On another note. I am up and around and cleared for driving the pick-up , but not the bike yet. Been out in the shop every day for the past week. Hoping to be back on the 1200 in Dec. and back to work before the new year. Glad to be alive, it was a close one.

Gene Kap.

[cranky]

... Askin' for the very Best for ya my friend!!! Get back to 110% for next years riding!!!

[VoyKimmer]

What is the Shinko PN / size for the rear tire on the 1200 ? Also what’s the Avon rear PN / size ? I had an issue with my 96 and not sure what fixed it but will be replacing the rear spare tire E3 .

[GrandpaDenny]

On another note. I am up and around and cleared for driving the pick-up , but not the bike yet. Been out in the shop every day for the past week. Hoping to be back on the 1200 in Dec. and back to work before the new year. Glad to be alive, it was a close one.

Glad to hear you're home, Gene. Take it easy on yourself.

[ekap1200]

What is the Shinko PN / size for the rear tire on the 1200 ? Also what’s the Avon rear PN / size ? I had an issue with my 96 and not sure what fixed it but will be replacing the rear spare tire E3 .

Here is the old p/n for the rear 2700014 this was the AV72 COBRA REAR TIRE. They have changed the name but the tires size and speed/load is the same (rear) 150/90B15 - 80H XL
---------------------------------- ( front ) MT90B16 - 74H XL its old AV71 p/n was 4710213

Kim, I am still looking to verify the U-Joint P/N , I can't seem to find where I put the parts bag with the old u-joint ...
Gene.