Get back.

[jandijkgraaf]

The score is ..to many problems with the bike.
I dropped it again at some small mountain road.
Trying to make a turn backwards on a small road like that just
don't work..no way to hold that weight.
Now..in the past I never dropped a bike in similar conditions.
So..I'm thinking to go back to a 900 or so.
They outrun me on the highway anyway.
Both in speed and mileage..and weight.
I don't really want to do it..because I love my 1600.
What you think?

[macmac]

You're not riding your own ride is what I think. The last time I did that, I dropped my 01 Nomad too. I am a lot smaller than most of these other guys, and I have never dropped my 06.

[ringadingh]

They are heavy bikes to handle in awkward places, when I sit on a co workers 800 it feels like a toy compared to my bike. However your the one that knows your own limits better than anyone. If its no fun and a chore to maneuver I downsize a bit.

[caddman11]

I'm 280 and dropped mine; what I've learned is stay off the front brake.

[ken]

I learned something from the ex-cop video. Using the front brake while backing up the bike and turning it is a bad deal. I do it all the time, but I do it very slowly. I lost mine one day and trapped by leg between the handlebars and tank...fortunately I was in sand and got help right away.

So when backing up and turning, do it very slowly and keep both feet solid as possible. you'll manage it. Don't give up a great bike.

[skeeter]

Get a car tire and go to a parking lot once a week and practice pushing that big girl around. Or just go practice until your more comfy. Slow speed keep yourself more upright in balance and push the bike over. You probably know that already and have lots more experience than me. Please take no offense. Maybe someone else needed to hear it. I still go to the lot and practice once in a while with the tight turns.

[usranger74]

I learned something from the ex-cop video. Using the front brake while backing up the bike and turning it is a bad deal. I do it all the time, but I do it very slowly. I lost mine one day and trapped by leg between the handlebars and tank...fortunately I was in sand and got help right away.

So when backing up and turning, do it very slowly and keep both feet solid as possible. you'll manage it. Don't give up a great bike.

+1 very, very slowly http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

[wheelie]

Practice practice practice! And remember...Bikes are like women, never ride one that is too heavy to lift off of you.

[jandijkgraaf]

All good comments and very helpfull guys.
Maybe I should have mentioned a bit more of the conditions.
I was in the north of france...Normandy..not really mountainroads..but.. 4/5 % hills.
Now..over there you ride some road and get into a dead end full of rubble.
No sighn..no warning..nothing.
That was my situation..so I had to turn one way or another.
These roads have a raindrain in the form of a split in to half concreet pipe on the side.
That was my greatest obstacle..going backwards over that pipe at 4/5 %
This time I have serious damage on the left bag..also the clutch lever.
The engine guards did'nt save on that road full of stones and rubble.
As a conclusion I might say..the Nomad is just NOT for that kind of roads.
On the highway she's great and I have no probs at all.
I think I'll keep the bike and just try to avoid certain roads.

[dooley]

That's why you see so many bikes such as the BMW GS, Honda ST1300 etc on those roads.
Not saying you can't ride a Nomad on these conditions, but definitely NOT what it was made for.

[billmac]

Don't let her get you down. No pun intended. Practice & practice.

That Nomad has a long wheel base to go with all that weight. Shorter wheel and less weight, you can make some mistakes.

Hang in there! Now that you have learned more, understand that weight and front brake, it will harder for her to have her way with you.

[blowndodge]

I've been riding for over 35 years and the Nomad is the "clumsiest" bike for maneuvering at slow speeds I've ever ridden. I've learned where NOT to take her.

On a mountain road with car tire I can drag both floorboards at will with ease. Get me stopped going up hill and have to back up and turn around I look like Todd in leotards on ice skates!! Not a pretty sight!! ::) http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[macmac]

jandijkgraaf, You and I have seasons, meaning we can't ride all year long.

It took me 2 full seasons to just get used to the way a Nomad handles, and still at this point riding Nomads in seasons from Spring 05 to right now I am not totally free to toss this bike around.

I do not feel at one with it yet, like I do with my little 850 triple. 900 pounds is a hell of a lot of weight to toss around no matter how big a guy is.

One wrong move with a slow Nomad and it is down after that. The first thing I found was to stop the bike must be dead striahgt up. No cheating like I could on that 850.

At a walking speed turning, to hit that ft brake will send the bike down every time. Same thing on wet grass to park. Hit that ft brake on wet grass and yer down.

Other guys I know better riders than me bigger than me tell me they have to spend that 2 seasons and a few I know who ride year round have spent a full 2 years getting to know the Nomad.

I have no idea how long you had your Nomad. So don't give it up if you don't want to.

I can't get Nomads out of my blood ... yet.

[timebandit]

Practice practice practice! And remember...Bikes are like women, never ride one that is too heavy to lift off of you.

http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[gghost]

+2 on the front brake. Pretend you don't have one. If you still get the urge to ride those less safe roads, buy an old, smaller bike. You still get the enjoyment without losing out when you want to tour in comfort.

[skeeter]

All good comments and very helpfull guys.
Maybe I should have mentioned a bit more of the conditions.
I was in the north of france...Normandy..not really mountainroads..but.. 4/5 % hills.
Now..over there you ride some road and get into a dead end full of rubble.
No sighn..no warning..nothing.
That was my situation..so I had to turn one way or another.
These roads have a raindrain in the form of a split in to half concreet pipe on the side.
That was my greatest obstacle..going backwards over that pipe at 4/5 %
This time I have serious damage on the left bag..also the clutch lever.
The engine guards did'nt save on that road full of stones and rubble.
As a conclusion I might say..the Nomad is just NOT for that kind of roads.
On the highway she's great and I have no probs at all.
I think I'll keep the bike and just try to avoid certain roads.

Well now you tell us! lol! What a way to screw up the day.
I've run into the end of the road gravel cul-de-sac. They've all been fairly flat but full of ruts. No the Nomad is not much fun off-road. Need a Granny gear and a reverse.

[jandijkgraaf]

All good comments and very helpfull guys.
Maybe I should have mentioned a bit more of the conditions.
I was in the north of france...Normandy..not really mountainroads..but.. 4/5 % hills.
Now..over there you ride some road and get into a dead end full of rubble.
No sighn..no warning..nothing.
That was my situation..so I had to turn one way or another.
These roads have a raindrain in the form of a split in to half concreet pipe on the side.
That was my greatest obstacle..going backwards over that pipe at 4/5 %
This time I have serious damage on the left bag..also the clutch lever.
The engine guards did'nt save on that road full of stones and rubble.
As a conclusion I might say..the Nomad is just NOT for that kind of roads.
On the highway she's great and I have no probs at all.
I think I'll keep the bike and just try to avoid certain roads.

Well now you tell us! lol! What a way to screw up the day.
I've run into the end of the road gravel cul-de-sac. They've all been fairly flat but full of ruts. No the Nomad is not much fun off-road. Need a Granny gear and a reverse.


Right you are..lol.
But that's the prob you know..these roads are fine to ride.
And then they change into some magical mystery disaster.
So..there's no real way to avoid them until it's to late.


A few things about the comments here linger on in what's left
of my mind,first is MMacc who never drops the bike.
Second is the advise to get a CAR tire.
Why?
Would it give me a more stable ride in tricky conditions?
Third is the advice to never use the frontbreaks when trying
to turn backwards downhill.
I think that's exactly what I did as a natural reaction.
I mean..you gotta do something if you don't want to end up as
some bloodstain at the foot of the hill..right?
On the other hand..using the front brake automatically gets the
bike out of balance...and down you go.
I think that's what happened to me..all in a split second.
So..your comments made me think.
What a great board it izzz.
As great as the bike itself.

[Loafer]

A few things about the comments here linger on in what's left
of my mind,first is MMacc who never drops the bike.
Second is the advise to get a CAR tire.
Why?
Would it give me a more stable ride in tricky conditions?
Third is the advice to never use the front breaks when trying
to turn backwards downhill.
I think that's exactly what I did as a natural reaction.
I mean..you gotta do something if you don't want to end up as
some bloodstain at the foot of the hill..right?
On the other hand..using the front brake automatically gets the
bike out of balance...and down you go.
I think that's what happened to me..all in a split second.
So..your comments made me think.
What a great board it izzz.
As great as the bike itself.[/quote]

Easy big fella...
The Nomad is my all time favorite ride.
I have been down on the Nomad in a parking lot at a stand still, I was trying to keep it upright on pine needles. Didn't work.
It is a clumsy piece of weight under 5 mph. I have lived on a dirt road for 35 years. I have had lots of experience driving all my bikes on it. And I still get nervous every time I'm on it. If you are going to use the front break at slow speeds or on loose road surfaces, try to straighten the front wheel before squeezing. That's the only thing that I have found to help, depending on the situation will determine if you will be successful.
Ride proud, ride with a smile, RIDE SAFE. :)

[jandijkgraaf]

Thanks Loafer..you made me feel better about the bike.
Also the other comments.
I think MMaccc is right I need time to get used to the Nomad.
I won't give her up..if it was only for the eye..she's beautiful.
And after all..to answer your question MMaaacc...I have the Nomad for only 4 months now.
In that time I made 4000 miles.
So..I'm ready for new oil...(I know..don't talk about oil )
What about oil anyway..does it really help to sustain the bike?
Lol.