First ride, first impressions...

[moenko]

So I finally got around to take the new Nomad out for a little bit last night and hit everything from local traffic to back roads to Interstate, which gave me a good opportunity to get some feeling for the scoot and compare it to the C50, and there are quite some differences.

Obviously the additional weight of the machine is noticeable but well manageable. The engine pull is something else, a huge difference from an 805cc bike and put the fattest smile on my face. Shifting is very effortless and especially quiet; there are next to no "clunks", something that bothered me a lot on the Boulevard. Braking was strong and well controlled. The toe shift leaver was too low to get my boot under, so I adjusted it to the next higher position and now it's a bit too high - will probably bring it back to the original position and up-shift with heel only.

Off on the Interstate to stretch her legs. It's never been easier to pull up to 70 mph, the torque of the engine is strong, but not mind-boggling (I am reminding myself I am riding a cruiser, not a street bike). Fast curves are different than the C50, I found it takes more rider input to get the bike into a sharper curve, where the C50 would practically "fall" into them. Small irregularities on the road surface are - to my surprise - felt much stronger than on the lighter C50 (which had a size 180 rear tire). Something to get used to.

At one lonely stretch I opened her up and hit 105 mph (indicated). It took a little to get there, but the C50 would barely come close to that speed. I am not sure what the top end would be and I didn't want to find out either (would be interesting to hear what the fastest speed was that you had her up to).

My butt hurt after about 45 minutes. I am still not sure if it's the seat or just the missing backrest that is now on its way to me. Had the same issue on the Boule but the Mustang combined with a backrest remedied the situation - that is something I will need to monitor.

I have the windshield on the highest position, at which point the top of the shield is about level with the bridge of my nose. I was a bit disappointed about the amount of buffeting after around 65+ mph. Either I have to lower the windshield a little again, or perhaps folks here found a way to keep the buffeting in check?

Overall conclusion for now: Fun to ride, powerful, roomy but not as nimble as the smaller C50, which would take curvy roads with a bit more confidence; that might be something I have to get used to and not necessarily a design/weight issue - time will tell.
The Nomad is more of a "travel the distance" bike than a quick hop in the twisties - IMHO. Yet I certainly do not regret the upgrade at all, as I'm convinced that with every mile on her, I will get to know her temper better and learn how to deal with it.

Just installed a nice luggage rack from Custom World to accommodate my Dowco Rally Pack and the dealer made me two add'l keys within minutes, so I have 3 now instead of just the one it came with. Tomorrow will bring more maintenance, lubrication and the installation of a 12V outlet for the GPS.

Looking forward to any comments or your own experience during the first couple of 100 miles on the Nad :)

Cheers,
Moe

[beezer]

Again, ask Idaho for the pattern he made for lowers and make a set out of Lexan. You won't be diappointed. They are way better than stock.

[mrfuni]

moenko...
Went to the Mustang seat and that solved the sore butt problem...
Joe

[moenko]

Beez, thanks for the tip on the lowers (I think I read some in the corresponding threat - PM sent to Idaho)!

JOE - yes I think that will be a purchase that will have to be made for the next season ;)


Again, ask Idaho for the pattern he made for lowers and make a set out of Lexan. You won't be diappointed. They are way better than stock.

[dank]

Fun to ride, powerful, roomy but not as nimble as the smaller C50, which would take curvy roads with a bit more confidence; that might be something I have to get used to and not necessarily a design/weight issue - time will tell. Moe

With a new bike be sure to check your rear shocks. My dealer delivers bikes with no air in the shocks. Adding some stiffens the suspension and makes a huge difference in cornering.

Mine are set at 14 lbs, with the rebound damping set on position 2. If I put more air in, say 20-22 lbs, it is really firm and corners well, but the suspension joints on the freeway become too harsh. 14 lbs is a nice compromise for ride and cornering for me (I weigh 220 lbs.) Anyway, check you shocks. Doesn't make it handle like a sport bike, but it does make a huge difference.

[moenko]

^^^ Excellent tip - greatly appreciated, dank, and PM sent with a tech question :)

[dank]

^^^ Excellent tip - greatly appreciated, dank, and PM sent with a tech question :)

I sent you the information. Hope it helps. I was not impressed with the cornering initially, but getting the pressure set, as well as changing to Metzler 880's once the OEM tires wore out, made a very dramatic difference. I love how it handles now.

Many riders have complained about sidewall flexing on the Bridgestones. You may notice that as well. Makes you feel like you forgot how to ride through a corner when you have to adjust your arc part way through. Can be very unsettling.

Hope you enjoy your Nomad as much as everyone here does. They are fantastic bikes.

[moenko]

Dank - well received and thanks again for the helpful tip - thought that deserves an "exalt" ;)

[tkd]

I have both bikes in the garage as well. Very good comparison of the two.

[ronnie]

Bought my bike new in 06,,,,,rode it a couple of weeks, and one day had it on the parkway,,and decided to see what it would do.... to my ammazement, it would only get barely past 90 mph, and took it forever to get there.........very very disappointing.......but, after it got about 8,000 miles on it..... it loosened up noticably, and will jump up to 100 plus in a flash... after the 8,000 miles, it was like a different bike...... I don't know what it will do....but, I'd say well over a hundred..........

[moenko]

^^^ Ronnie, I purchased my '05 "pre-owned" and it has 10k miles on it. Think the previous owner went too easy on it during break-in. There's more and more talk out there that bikes (and automobiles) should be driven hard right from the get-go for proper piston and valve break-in. It's a radial idea that not everyone subscribes to, but I have heard from a few people on the Volusiariders board that they did it hard and the bike pulls hard and rides wonderfully.

[cactusjack]

The stock Nomad seat is hit and miss. Some folks love it. I couldn't take more than about 50 miles before I'd want to get off it. I consider it to be some type of medieval torture device. I bought a Mustang, and although I couldn't do a 1000 mile day with it, it was a vast improvement in comfort.

[moenko]

Scott, before spending over $400 on Mustangs again, I ordered the "Butt Buffer" that was discussed on Volusiariders. Especially made for motorcycles, some memory foam/gel combination, heard a lot of good about it. Was like $130 - I'll give that a try and post my findings here!


The stock Nomad seat is hit and miss. Some folks love it. I couldn't take more than about 50 miles before I'd want to get off it. I consider it to be some type of medieval torture device. I bought a Mustang, and although I couldn't do a 1000 mile day with it, it was a vast improvement in comfort.

[redeye]

I think the 1600 seat is different from the 1500 seat. I've done 350+ mile days on my 1500 w/o any discomfort.

Get yourself a backrest, risers, & hiway pegs & you will have a 70 mph lounge chair...-Rich

[moenko]

^^ Rich, pegs installed but have to be adjusted for my leg length. Backrest is on its way to me and risers are on the list. I truly think once all is in place, this will be a 2-wheeled Cadillac!

[moenko]

HOLYYYY!!! I think I found out why the cornering of the Nomad was abismal - tire pressure in the rear: 26 psi. Front: 19.5 psi http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif This bike must have stood for quite a while or the previous owner was a read ditz!!! All properly inflated now, off to riding this afternoon and tomorrow - should make quite a difference :)

Yeah definitely get the pressure up and I think you'll find it corners fine. 40 front and 42 rear works good for me. I also run the metz 880. The bike really handles well riding 2 up. 105 is about as fast as you're going to get it. It runs faster in 4th than it does in 5th. The bike has a rev limiter so don't be afraid to wind it up. I have the windscreen all the way down and wear a 1/2 helmet and the buffeting doesn't bother me (It is bad for me with a full face helmet) The bike has a positive N finder so if you are parked in 1st one click will put it in N so you shouldn't really need to get you toe under the shifter if you use the heel shifter. I don't run any air in the shocks and it handles fine for me. Good luck with your new bike Its a great ride!!

[moenko]

Wolf, thank you very much for your post! I am enjoying "her" already, am in the process of making her mine with a few minor add-ons etc. Next season it will be new tires for me as well, and while the ME880s seem to be the most popular, I'm following the tire threads with great interest and see what other options there are, perhaps less pricey (I find tires is one of the largest expenses of motorcycling).

Thanks again and if that lady next to you is your wife, you must have done something right ;)

Cheers,
Moe

[chainsaw]

Ditto that Moe.

Well she was legally blind when we first met. After we got married I got her lasik eye surgery. Now she has better than 20/20 and she stayed around so I guess everythings cool

[rksaw]

Moe,
Keep watching the threads about tires, but I agree with Wolf. The Metz are incredible. I just got rid of the 'Stone on the back and now have 880's on both. Last Friday I rode Hwy 101 down to Cali and was having the darndest time keeping it under the limit!!! She rides like she's brand new and thinks that she's a sportbike.
Rich

[moenko]

Rich, thanks - I know they are excellent tires. We'll see, perhaps I'll get them just so I make the experience with them. My 'stones will still last this season (about 2-3k miles left) ;)

[nighthawk700]

I got my seat done at http://www.greatdaytoride.com He did a very good job, I got the seat reshaped and the LD material put in. Before I couldn't put on much miles before getting some leg burns. Yesterday I went for 200 miles before my butt started getting sore, but it's been about 3 years since I put in over a 100 mile day, so I have to get myself reconditioned too.

[ells]

Moe,

Its mostly been said, I hope you are getting around the corners better now with higher pressures. The 880s really grip if you are having any issues there. I keep the rear shocks at high pressure and settings for riding two up and see no real disadvantage to keeping there when going solo. I've gone with a gel pad on the seat looking to improve the seat some, although, I was not having that big of problem with the stock but thought it could be better. The gel moves the pressure points forward and get rid butt pinch the stock tends to have.

Oh yeah, ssaw several recommendations to lower the windshield as much as tolerable to you. Mine is all the way down and at 6' and long torso seems fine with little buffeting, just an occasional bug strike or two to the face when wearing the 1/2 dome.

[moenko]

Thank you guys! I ordered the "Butt Buffer" especially made for motorcycle seats and should see a bit relief on long stretches with it - report to follow. With that pad on, I will sit a bit higher so I will leave the windshield in the middle position; without pad, most of my face is now exposed but I rather have wind head-on than from buffeting. In summer, I wear a half from Nolan with goggles, in the colder seasons I have a HJC 3/4 with visor - both work well for me :)

[broker26]

moenko you might want to consider the dunlap elite 3 tires when you change tires alot of the guys on the vulcan riders site run them I have them on my nomad. they have 19000 miles on them and plenty of miles left on them

[moenko]

Hi broker, yes, the decision will be between the Metzelers and the Dunlops, I still have some time to research and make up my mind ;)