Searching for improvement ...

Hello all.

So far I'm quite happy with my 1200 Bandit but I would like to find some improvement in a couple of areas to make it more tour-worthy and easier to commute on.

I'm doing Sydney-Newcastle twice a week and commuting Newcastle-Hunter regions during the week ... the biggest single issue for me is the wind blast. I'm talking long, straight, expressway miles here and the buffeting is at times ridiculous!

Now when I bought this bike, I didn't expect to be doing these long, straight, fast runs ... I have considered swapping for something with more fairing protection (eg Honda Blackbird) but I'm looking at other options first as I really do like this bike

So, in the interest of comfort I'm considering the following:

1. Changing the handlebar to something lower and flatter ... Renthal Low Road bar is a consideration ... has anyone done this?
2. Installing a different screen to give better protection ... not sure which is best?
3. Modifying/replacing the seat (numb bum after about two hours)

I also want to look at a chain lube system such as Scottoiler ...

Any advice and recommendations on the above would be greatly appreciated  

Cheers,

Roden

How big are you and are you riding "sitting up"?
Any change you make will be a personal choice. What works for someone else may not work for you.
All your suggested mods could and should work. Especially the Blackbird option because thats what there were built for.
It doesn't cost twice as much to garage 2 bikes.

I'm 6' and 92kg ... I'm sitting as far forward as the stock bar allows ... running two bikes is not an option unfortunately, so I either make the Bandit work better for me or trade ...

If you type in renthal or screens into the search box , there is some info in there about what some of the others have done 

Hi Mate,

Another thing also to look at here, given that you are doing high K`s, will be tyres. You will probably have to go for a harder tyre, cause you will be wearing the centre out if your running soft at the moment.

I personally can`t offer that info. I do regular 1500km round trips on top of every day riding, every 6-8wks. I am running P3`s, but the in between ridding of those trips, are made up of a fair bit of cornering, so I do get a decent wear pattern over the life of the tyre. If it was just straight ridding, I wouldn`t use these. There`s a tyre for every application.

Wind blast & wind noise was my biggest problem when I started riding my Bandit, I am 5'8" and have also fitted the Sargent seat.
I tried adding a laminar lip to standard screen, little use, more noise
Then fitted Zero Gravity touring screen, better with less wind buffeting but wind still hits top of helmet so noise still  a problem
Have fitted Madstad screen, what a difference no wind buffeting & no wind noise. Amazing result
This screen cost me $340 delivered + Sargent seat another $350 = $690 best money I spent on this bike

Hey spanna ... I forgot to mention the wind noise, earplugs help ...

I have ordered a Renthal Ultra Low bar and a Zero Gravity Touring Screen ... the screen is only $152 and I'm banking on the lower bar getting me below the blast zone ... also I don't like the sit up and beg chrome bar installed as standard, the Renthal will be way cool  

I also ordered a Stebel Nautilus Compact "Ear Cannon" air horn ... 139dB ... can't wait to unleash that sucker on some poor unsuspecting fool who drifts into my lane on the M1  

Cheers,

Roden

Hi Roden,

Where are you getting the horn from?

Rod.

Hi Rod,

Ordered the horn from this mob

http://www.amcmotorcycles.com/contents/en-uk/d465_Horns.html

Already received the screen from them in two days! Pretty impressed with the service

Cheers,

Roden

AMC are on here. They are under Business Traders in For Sale.

They were offering a discount to forum members, I guess it still apples