longer range cruising needs...

albertaduke said:

I think a good rub-a-dub by a pair of female hands would do wonders to a numb bottom , after a day of riding . I always try to stop my day riding in places where massage parlors are available

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albertaduke said:

which crack would we be talking about ?

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Enough wise cracks ,air Hawks are all they are cracked up to be

I love my 2014 R3R.
I put on the Russle Day Long with back rest, kyriakyn ISO grips, highway pegs, I can ride for hours, that saddle is a blessing, it may not be as pretty as some saddles....but my arse doesn't care.
I have the windscreen which I have to upgrade as the buffeting drives me nuts, so I'm currently using just the fly screen, I'd rather the wind than the buffeting so I'll try the clearview next.
To make things a little more comfortable I'm going to upgrade my riser, I think it's the Rico riser, 1" higher and 2" back, good reviews on the forum.
As for that I'm a pretty happy guy.
6th gear....hmmm, not totally sold on that. Then I go on long trips I try to stay off the interstate and keep to the twisty back roads, better scenery and much more fun....no need for a 6th. I only use the interstate if I need to.
I was, considering switching to the R3T so I could have some rear tire choices but I'd rather change my tire once a year and have a comelian for a ride...it's a beautiful muscle bike or a long haul touring machine when I need it. The way I look at it, no matter what you ride your going to change something in order to make it suite your needs or comfort.

cusso ken said:

Enough wise cracks ,air Hawks are all they are cracked up to be

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I purchased one for my Triumph Explorer and it sure helps because that saddle isn't what it's all "cracked " up to be....

1olbull said:

FWIW -
My Roadster has been across the country twice, first on a 11,500 mile trip and then on a 6,400 miler.
My seat and pegs were stock; however I consistently used my engine guard pegs on the open road.
I averaged 300+ miles per day for the whole trips, even with several days off riding.
I DO know what a sore butt is! At each gas refill I do a short walk around and stretch which helps me out a lot.
Everybody has a different butt and pain threshold, so comparing same seats to different butts is rather futile IMHO.
I usually cruise at 80 to 85 mph and have had NO vibration problems.
Would NEVER do a long trip with a small screen, only the standard screen.
I believe a 6th gear would be useless, My 4th gear already out performs 5th gear! 3,000 rpm at 80 mph is great and less than half the rpm range!
Now that I have mounted Standard boards and use the beads on the seat, I can't wait for my next long ride, perhaps Seattle to Maine next year!

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AND the ROCKET is geared as high as the v twins with 6 gears like the Harley 6 peed trans and like others said if your cruising use the larger screen and of course get a big touring seat and like Bull says crusing at 80 to 85 is comfy but to fast to be legal in most states and there are nice highway pegs that fit I have them on my HOT ROD ROADSTER they work great and look great and are made by RIVCO

Bedifferent said:

I haven't really felt the need for another gear considering you're only running about 3024 rpm at 75 mph and 3226 rpm at around 80 mph. My Harley use to run that with the 6th gear. Plenty more rpms available even without any ECU mods. I do start to get a little/some vibration in the grips at that speed, but what are you going to do about that. I heard that Triumph could have put a counterbalancer in the engine design, but the focus group wanted to have the feedback feel Of the engine. As for me, I would have taken the counterbalancer.

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THE ROCKET has a counterbalancer where have you been ?

Dawg68 said:

I love my 2014 R3R.
I put on the Russle Day Long with back rest, kyriakyn ISO grips, highway pegs, I can ride for hours, that saddle is a blessing, it may not be as pretty as some saddles....but my arse doesn't care.
I have the windscreen which I have to upgrade as the buffeting drives me nuts, so I'm currently using just the fly screen, I'd rather the wind than the buffeting so I'll try the clearview next.
To make things a little more comfortable I'm going to upgrade my riser, I think it's the Rico riser, 1" higher and 2" back, good reviews on the forum.
As for that I'm a pretty happy guy.
6th gear....hmmm, not totally sold on that. Then I go on long trips I try to stay off the interstate and keep to the twisty back roads, better scenery and much more fun....no need for a 6th. I only use the interstate if I need to.
I was, considering switching to the R3T so I could have some rear tire choices but I'd rather change my tire once a year and have a comelian for a ride...it's a beautiful muscle bike or a long haul touring machine when I need it. The way I look at it, no matter what you ride your going to change something in order to make it suite your needs or comfort.

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re windshield there is an alterative between the fly screen and the standard tall screen I bought and mounted one with the added extra lip it kicks all the wind just above my helmet look up the SECDEM BULSTER site and you will see the R3 dual headlight windshield .I made a video unrelated to but showing the shield mounted and painted

Laminar lip adds a couple inches to the Triumph tall screen but it costs a hundred bucks and mine blew off when I got caught in a thunderstorm

Great day!
First ever for me - 9 motors together cruisin300+ miles at 85 all day!
God bless Montana!!!

cusso ken said:

Enough wise cracks ,air Hawks are all they are cracked up to be

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I have tried AIRHAWKS - other airpads - GEL - MORE GEL and 3D honeycomb skins/pads. They all have their place.

This comes from the web site of Dan Medica in the UK. They really make wheelchair cushions for the permanently disabled - but they do bike stuff.

Air cushions are considered high risk, are specifically customised to your body, are great for straight long distance travelling but are prone to puncture (they can get snagged on buckles, studs etc), they are sturdy but aren’t as long wearing as gel.

Gel cushions are considered medium risk, are great for winding roads, are long life, require no maintenance & good for travelling shorter distances but hold the heat so aren’t fabulous in hot weather.

Air mesh cushions are considered low risk, good for simple numb bum or medical issues (coccyx sensitivity/cancer etc), great in the rain and heat.

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What they don't specifically say ( they do want to sell after all) is that air is TERRIBLE in the twisties. it provides NO lateral support. And ime a bugger to keep inflated correctly. ime - the airhawk budget cushions do not last long - they go at the welds.

I have two layers of gel (two different grades) set into the the R3 seat and a honeycomb skin over the top (this eliminates the heat issue). On my Guzzi just the Honeycomb skin and an air pad in my 4WD. (it was an Airhawk but failed - is now a DanMedica - so far so good)

Their honeycomb things are brilliant in the wet - your bum stays dry. And brilliant in the heat as there is a constant flow of air under your bum.

I bought a treatlite for the 4WD and it is MUCH MUCH better than air - but it will not fit properly into the dished part of the seat. So I use it for my office chair.
Knowing what I now know - I'd seriously entertain this Treat Lite2 Motorcycle Comfort Seating – Dan Medica South Ltd

Laminar Lip - chuck it - it scratches fast and you'll get light scatter - it's worse at night. Make new brackets - lift the screen.
This will also give you airflow between lights and lower edge of screen - same effect as those screen vents.
You can also fit the flyscreen behind the big screen then - and this directs the air up behind the screen.

'bul - My wife says thanks - her name is Montaña

Maelstrom said:

A 6th gear would be nice...I wouldn't worry too much about the higher RPMs as the motor was designed to operate at higher Levels than standard cruisers. But a 6th gear for long range cruising at high speed would be more efficient and would probably save some gas I would think. A seat change would help, I would advise some form of lumbar support (either integrated into the seat or as an added accessory) for long range or short range as well. I use a "Lazy Rider" sissy bar bag, it rests in front of the sissy bar and has an adjustable lumbar support that has made a WORLD of difference in riding comfort.
Not sure what is causing the "vibration" problem, mine wont start vibrating until around 115 mph and gets pretty bad at 125, not that I go that fast very often...

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5th gear on the Rocket is already overdriven. Like .950:1. (I may be off a tad going from memory) Harley's 6th gear is 1:1. I'd think performance wise it's a pretty great set up as is......