Bike Weight Opinions Please!

[roosed]

Here's another question to draw from all of your vast experiences...what are your opinion(s) on the weight of the Nomad?

I'm preparing to re-enter the fray but I haven't found a dealer or event where I can actually take a test ride a Nomad. At the IMS show this year in Chicago I spent a LOT of time setting on about every bike I could swing a leg over and just love pretty much everything about the Nomad but it did "feel" heavy, even more so than a RK, even though the numbers basically match.

I'm much happier about water cooling and shaft drive and really like the hard bags but my daily commute through Memphis traffic seems a bit intimidating on a "heavy feelin' bike". I'm sure once you're rolling the wt. actually smooths the ride but in traffic... :-/

Any insight(s) will be GREATLY appreciated!!! http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

THANKS!

[bluetongue]

The 1600 is very nimble for a large bike, it handles pretty well in parking lots. The weight does not pose any problems for me. To put in another situation my 5' 3" mother can ride my nomad her only complaint is it is a little tall for her short legs.

[dip]

Ok - let's try this again... At first the Nomad's weight and heaviness was a bit intimidating for me, especially as a female - who is not what one would consider a heavyweight. However, everything else about the Nomad was right on point in terms of what I was looking for so I said what the heck and bought it. I'm still trying to adjust to cornering and tight turns since I went from the VN750 to the 1600. I could corner and do tight turns on the VN750 and virtually be parellel to the ground (hence the name), but the 1600 is a bit more of a challenge, though I seem to be doing ok. Just don't ask me to pick up the Nomad - you would want to sell tickets just for the shear humor of watching me. Although this too is another hurdle that I'm going to be working on. :-[

[jd]

Just don't ask me to pick up the Nomad - you would want to sell tickets just for the shear humor of watching me. Although this too is another hurdle that I'm going to be working on. :-[

Look here: http://tinyurl.com/2e2mld

The dropped bike pickup video'll give ya something to do http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[waynem]

The Nomad feels a little top heavy because the gas tank is higher and raises the center of gravity. I'm surprised at the number of people who don't know how to stand a bike up. NO ARMS. From kickstand to upright is done with the thighs. It keeps the center of gravity lower and is a lot easier than trying to muscle it with the arms. With a full tank of gas you are looking at ~800#.

Dip, you have to remember that the 800 pounds is already half way up for you with the engine guards. Watch the video. Have some friends lay it down gently in the garage. (Preferably no on kickstand side) Put the kickstand down, back up to it, squat, lift. Youl'll have to find your own grip t lift depending on your body structure. I found under the seat, and wherever else I could grab.

Now, if you lay it down on the kickstand side, be prepared to raise it slowly, balance it at the top, stand on one leg, put the kickstand down - and when successfully done - shout, "Wheeeewwwww!"

Semper Fi!

p.s., the video makes a good point. Make sure the bike is in gear before you pick it up. (First gear preferably) Keeps it from rolling on you.

[trip]

One of the reasons I bought a Nomad was for the "weight". I had always owned and rode a 750cc Honda. Nice "flickable" size, but is a little light for the road.

The size and weight of the Nomad is just right for in-town and road riding, once you're used to it.

[ponch]

Yes it is a heavy bike. 820lbs wet I believe. The downside is that it is a whale at low speeds. The upside is that wind and tractor trailer wash doesn't move the bike so much. My 800 got pushed around all the time, as did my GPz and KZ.

[dip]

I did have a chance to look at the video. The part where I lay on the ground and hope someone pulls over to help is my favorite part (might have to give it try if all else fails). http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif One of my friends says he will work with me to practice picking up the bike -- so hopefully I'll get it. I'd better, cause I ride alone quite a bit and learning how to pick up the bike is not really a choice, but a necessity. Today was a good riding day, another friend and I went out and she took me on some really nice roads with a lot of curves so I could practice my cornering and tight turns. Did very well - except once...went a little too wide but I did ok. I'm getting adjusted to the weight fairly well. Tomorrow I get the risers put on so this should really help.

[dip]

oops this was different video jd. Still very helpful, I see she depends a lot on walking the back with her legs. I think I got the picture now it's on to the practice.

Like others have said the extra weight is nice - not at all unmanageable. I ordered ride like a pro 4 http://www.ridelikeapro.com/ this helped my skill and confidence tremendously especially during low speed maneuvers. I love the wide front tire on the nomad it feels so much more stable than previous bikes I've owned. I can let go of the handlebars and the bike tracks straight. The lady cop in the dvd is awesome!! Next time someone says you ride like a girl it might just be a compliment!

[waynem]

DIP,
You be careful on those twisty roads. Remember, you go where you look, so look ahead and don't look down. Always look to where you want to go.

Semper Fi!

[roosed]

DIP, I realize this is a Nomad forum but being that you mentioned you're a female rider, combined with Wolfman's lady cop comment, I feel compelled to share the link below with y'all. This link belongs to a young lady V'Strommer who rivals the adventure level of MANY riders, male or female! Check it out!!!

ENJOY!

http://www.seizethejourney.com/

[dip]

Wow - I can only aspire to make those kinds of rides. I have many years before I can retire so my riding time is limited to weekends, holidays and vacations - and even then I still have other family obligations to attend to. Course during the riding season, family is learning not to press your luck http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif

PS Waynem, I'm taking it real easy on the Nomad but each time I go out I'm feeling more comfortable. I think my problem yesterday was my speed was way too high. Put the bike in the shop today, they say they "might" be able to get everything done by tomorrow - cause Saturday is coming and I need to get my bike back. I am definitely going to take a maintenance course. I hate being at the mercy of others.

[waynem]

DIP,
Miles = Comfort Level. Make darn sure that you don't get overconfident. (I did - darn it, but it wasn't all my fault). Once a week on my way home from an in and around town, I take it to a large parking lot and do figure 8's and circles. That has saved me many a time on dead end U-turns. (Of course, you can nose in one way, back peddle, nose in, back peddle, and be on your way instead of the U-turn. But I think the U-turn looks more "professional," and gives an "appearance," that I might know what I'm doing.)

Semper Fi!

[dip]

I don't know what happens...I will write a whole message and somehow erase the whole thing before I can post it. Well back to the drawing board. I understand what you are saying, please don't get me wrong I have great respect for riding, meaning I don't take much for granted. There are some pretty good practice lots near my home. In fact the Community College I took my MSF course is nearby and the have the whole course I can practice on when they aren't teaching a class. Tomorrow I'm going to Richmond VA, this is about a 3 hour ride so...as you say more miles = comfort and practice. Still can't back that baby up in a parking space with an incline...sigh...so much to learn, so much time to learn - God willing.

[waynem]

Well, if the incline is when you pull in, pull in, leave it in gear and put the Kick down. If you back it into an incline you will have a tendency to have the Kick roll-out from under it. If the incline is down, then definitely back into it. (Is that logic?)

Hey! Did you get your bike with the risers put on it back yet?

Semper Fi!

[dip]

Hmmm. I'm going to read the post again waynem. The visual didn't hit me the first time. Yes - I did get the risers on they work great! They really make a difference. I took a pretty long ride and didn't feel at all stretched out. Almost don't need a backrest, because the riser make me sit straight up. Put some new grips and my throttle boss and stilletto end caps back on. Need to adjust throttle boss a little - wrist was sitting a bit to high than what I'd prefer.

Thinking about riding to Boston next weekend, so I should really know what else I need to do in order to be comfortable on long rides when I come back. Finally took my stickers off using the hair dryer method. Worked pretty well - except rubbing off the leftover glue with my thumb wasn't the best idea in the world - rub so hard my thumb swelled up a bit. :-[

[waynem]

let me try again.
IF you are pulling into a parking spot, and the incline is nose-up, then there is no need to try and back in. You can easily back out of that incline. If the incline is steep, then you want to make sure you put it in first gear to keep the bike from rolling back.

Now, that same incline, and you want to huff-n-puff and back your rear end into it, once in place your bike will have a tendency to roll forward. The kickstand will give way and the bike will fall over. You would have to put it in first gear and reset the kickstand if you want to back into an uphill incline. Does that make sense.

Semper Fi!

[dip]

waynem -makes perfect sense. I'll have to work on it in about 4-8 weeks. went down on the bike yesterday morning on way to work. broke my collarbone. :'( all things consdering everything is fine. :) bike didn't sustain much damage. http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif engine guard worked like it should. bike still in great riding shape. need to replace windshield, don't have to cut it down now, one saddlebag - wont lock, few other scratches but not on the paint.

had to swerve to avoid hitting the car in front me when traffic came to dead stop immediately after i had changed lanes. didn't hit anything. bike fishtailed on me when i hit the brakes. i guess i just fell off and bike tipped over and skidded a bit before it stopped. :-[ don't really remember hitting ground, but must have skidded too 'cause my helmut has skid marks from ear to middle of helmet. something to be said about those helmet laws. didn't have to worry about picking up the bike because by the time i got myself together other folks who stopped to help had already picked the bike up and it was sitting tall on it's stand. another rider stopped to help. thought i was ok until trooper went to help me up - i asked him to, then felt the pain rip up my shoulder blade. still was able to get up and survey damage to bike. needless to say i was pleased she didn't suffer much. trooper asked if i needed an ambulance and considering the pain in my shoulder i said ok - after making arrangements to have bike towed. bad mistake - tow service charged me $384 to tow bike http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif ; should have waited to have someone come and ride bike home. anyway for the most part all is well - but it looks like i'll be out for a good portion of the riding season. this going to be long, boring and hot summer.

[Top Cat]

First, sorry to hear about your accident. I broke my collarbone twice when I as a kid. Painfull!
Second, the towing bill is outrageous. I joined the American Motorcycle Association and signed up for MoTow. It cost me something like $55 total. MoTow is a service for members of the AMA that will get you help ( towing,bring you gas,fix flats etc ) from garages that are familiar with bikes. They will tow 38 miles free and then so much a mile after that. Never used it but I think it is good to have.
Anyway, rest up, take it easy and you will be riding again before you know it.

[dip]

thank you tc - appreciate info on tow bill also. i'll look into the ama - sounds like it is well worth. needless to say i was shocked about the towing charge.

[unwind2]

Hi dip!

So sorry to hear about your accident :(. I took a spill 3 years ago when a dog ran out between 2 parked cars right on my front wheel. I've been chased by dogs but this one came right in front of me. I could not see it for the cars. I did not break any bones but was black and blue, little road rash on one arm. Bike (not the Nomad-did not have then) had some road rash and on broke mirror.

Get back on as soon as possible. Don't be surprised at feeling a little nervous at first....it will pass.

As far as the weight. At parking lot speeds I can U-turn sometimes and sometimes I duck walk. :-[ Just depends how much room. The length and rake on the Nomad is 66.5/32...as an example the Harley road king has a length of 63 with rake of 26. The shorter rake makes for easier tight turning; the longer rake makes for better straigth line stability when out on the hwy cruising. I also have a moto guzzi which has 61.5 length, rake 29.....I can U turn it much tighter. My hubbie has a Goldwing he can turn good, lenght 68 but rake of 29.

Hope you're healing fast and with little discomfort.

[dip]

thanks unwind2 - it's funny you mention "the get right back on and ride nervousness." although i wasn't going to admit it, i had thought about the nervousness issue...i experienced this when i watched my husband go down 2 years ago; i was trailering my bike as he was riding with a group of friends. anyway - the first time i rode after his accident i was a little nervous - couldn't figure it out since i wasn't the one that went down. however, after a week or so -- the nervousness went away and all was well with the world again. i've never considered not riding again, but i have decided that i would do my first couple of hundred miles by myself e.g. just me and my bike once i'm given the green light to ride again.

i've still got to work on those tight turns. i used to have a vn 750, and could maneveur turns virtually parallel to the ground - hence the name dip, but i need a lot more practice on the nomad. first problem is my speed...i need to slow down. i learned how to ride with folks who ride hard and fast and i've gotten into some bad habits in terms of speed.

It actually took me a couple weeks to get used to the way the Nomad handles..... I used to ride a '98 Shadow 750 ACE and then a 2000 Roadstar Silverado 1600. Although the weight of the Roadstar and Nomad are close, it handles very differently. The wide front tire threw me off on U-turns and cornering. I finally realized you can virtually turn the handle bars all the way on U-turns and feather the clutch to keep it moving (remember to turn your head and look where you want to go.. not down). Also it seems that I actually lean my body less on high speed turns on the Nomad, and counter-steer much more with my arms straight..... leaning the bike rather than myself..... anyway, glad you're doing ok & I agree that miles = confidence. Nico

[unwind2]

dip - Yeah after my incident with the dog that was in a subdivision. My stomach knotted up for a long time when we went through subdivisions and I creeped along. For a long time if I saw a dog in a yard that was even just sitting or laying there I would cringe bad! Finally got over it. Too bad we're so far apart would be fun 2 ladies on Nomads to ride together. :-/

Machodc- The Nomad is the 5th bike I've owned. It took me a lot longer to get used to it than any of the other 4 bikes. Of Course it is also the largest I've owned. I worked my way up to it: 250 cc,500cc,1100cc (2 different ones), now the Nad 1600. What was finally the clincher for me to get used to it was a long trip on it from TN to Canada. Me loves it now- http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

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

[dip]

unwind2 - yeah it would be nice to ride with another lady who recognizes quality :)

machodc - what was it about the long trip that helped you feel more comfortable on the nomad vs some of the other bikes you've ridden.

Dip,
I think it was just getting used to way it handles.... the old "becoming one" with the bike thing.... the clutch friction zone, the gear ratios, how much the bike can lean, engine braking, stopping and starting, low speed handling.... everything... just being able to "trust" it I guess.... Now that I'm completely used to it I wouldn't go back for the world and love the way it handles.... I'm still obsessed with finding out what a slightly narrower front tire will do to the handling and am going to do it against some pretty good advice .... but I'm a hard-headed southern Italian and gotta find out for myself.... lol

[blowndodge]

I thought it was a heavy bike at first, it was the heaviest bike I've riden but now it seems totally managable! I wouldn't hesitate to try a bigger bike now that I have a pretty good handle on her!

[dip]

yeah - i do understand about being one with my bike - i felt that way on my vn750; but haven't developed that relationship with my nomad. looks like it will be awhile now...be careful with the new tires...you know what they say a hard head makes a soft a@#.

[bluetongue]

Coming off a LTD1000 to the Nomad was a shock in many ways. The LTD1000 was stupid fast but had terrible handling but it was a light weight bike versus my Nomad. I do enjoy the windsheild, bags and the smooth ride versus the LTD's rough ride. Sure do miss the speed even though now Marla rides with me more. That is what makes the change all worth it.

Thanks dip.... I know, I know , I know.... I will.....

[flightdoc]

Have you taken the MSF basic rider course? Or get the ride like a pro dvd as someone else mentioned. Get to a large empty parking lot and practice. You'll be amazed at what a difference that will make. Get someone else to go along with you.

[blowndodge]

I neve let my Nomad hear that she's heavy. I just say she is big boned!

Waiting Nico.............

Let me slip in a remark here about my new front tire that I've been loving.... the Maxxis MT90-16....... I figured out why Nomads come with a 150/80/16 front tire I think.... My bike absolutely truns and corners easier, etc....... but........ I noticed it kinda "falls into the turns" When I had the 150/80 on there, I could turn the handlebars all the way on u-turns.... now I have to stop just short of that or it feels like it' too far... make any sense? Shed some light on this for me..... I know you guys all told me not to go with a smaller tire.... but who the heck are you!!!! LOL

[blowndodge]

Just the group above the bar?? LOL I notice when I drink, sometimes I fall into a turn also! I have to make my steps more deliberate. Your bike will sober up soon...

Geez BD........ I was hoping for some words of wisdom..... lol Groundhog????

[socwkbiker]

Nico, how does it feel on twisties and sweeps?

In the twistys and sweeps it feels the best......... holds it's line great & stays put.... I can take much more of an outside line. It feels and handles like a lighter bike. :)


Just got it back from the stealer.... rear brake pads $75.89 total!! Took 1/2 hr........ I was pleasantly surprised for once they didn't try to jack me! I was ready for battle.......... & I think they could tell.... http://s2.images.proboards.com/angry.gif:(" title=">:(" border="0"/>

[vulcanvixen]

Good one, BD!! lolol

[vulcanvixen]

I started riding on a Shadow 750 and got my 900 Classic LT last summer. It took me a while to handle the heavier weight of the bike, especially in slow turns. I figured that would just about be my limit........until I test-rode Nico's Nomad one day. It's obviously much heavier than my 900, but I could hardly tell the difference. Don't know whether to attribute that to more experience as a rider, or the great handling and design of the Nomad.....or BOTH!! I'm not intimidated by the bigger size, now, and am really looking forward to when I can upgrade.

[blowndodge]

Geez BD........ I was hoping for some words of wisdom..... lol Groundhog????

Ok, get tough and tell your bike to stop drinking!!!

Kidding aside for the sensitive, of course a smaller tire will turn in easier. What is a tire? A large gyroscope. Why does a gyroscope stay balanced on a string? the Centrifugal force of the "outside edge". A smaller circle's outside edge has less force than a larger one. That ouside force (Centrifugal) is resistant to anything upsetting it like turning your wheel. Smaller wheel, less Centrifugal force to overcome.

Ya???

YAH........ on my way to Walmart to look for the oil. bfn