1981 R65 W/O Steering Damper

[montmil]

Followed ShutterPilot's very nice steering damper install on his '81 R65... same model and vintage as one of mine. There is a very direct connection to Shutter's damper install and my ride yesterday.

Wed 06 Aug- Benght Phorqs and I were en route to one of our favorite lunchtime spots up in the n'west part of North Texas. The Greenwood Grocery and Grille is a funky, friendly place with excellent burgers. Anyway...

Northbound out of Krum, there's a straight, vacant stretch of FM2450. The road has, perhaps, 1% uphill grade. This day, there was also a light following breeze.

Benght was behind me on his R1100S Oilhead so I just wound the throttle back and gave the R65 its head. At 85mph, I tucked as best I could behind the small cafe-ish fairing and easily hit The Ton.

Curve ahead so I rolled off the throttle and as the bike came down through 85, I sat up. Oops! The lift created by my upper torso -now exposed to the wind- lightened the front end gave the bike a case of the head shakes! Nothing overly sever but enough to get my full attention. I tucked back down and as I went back to full throttle the shaken but not stirred activity disappeared.

No plans to fit a damper; just gonna stay in the tuck a bit longer.

[marcmax]

Dang! You Texas guys have all the fun.  

[Luca]

Makes me think that the LS's small fairing--advertised to reduce front end lift by 30%--might actually be good for something.

But jeez, if I sit up at that speed I'm hanging onto the bars like you read about.  We might have to call you Monte "Iron Grip" Miller  8-)

[ShutterPilot]

Its nice to hear you hit the ton, Monty, as my speedo only goes to 85, and I don't have a gps.
But on August 24th, I hope to get a timing slip proving at least 100mph, especially after the head, carb, and clutch work.
Maybe I can then boast "worlds fastest R65" in the record books?!

Sounded like a good ride - I haven't found a good spot in central NC to try WFO yet (well, without risking a fat ticket)

[montmil]

Y'all please don't call the 5-0 on me, but I have semi-frequently pushed the R65 to 100+ on I-35 between Valley View and Gainesville, Texas when traffic is light. There's also a highway loop around Denton's north side that provides a similar opportunity. The R65s, either naked or with a small LS-type fairing, are more than capable of doing The Ton.

Don't get me started on the performance of the R100S... or that howling Triumph Triple.  

[montmil]

... But jeez, if I sit up at that speed I'm hanging onto the bars like you read about.  We might have to call you Monte "Iron Grip" Miller

It wasn't just my hands that had a firm grip... There really is such a thing as "the pucker factor".