bamabikeguy
Active Member
I picked up my first ever Bent last Friday, when Justin rang it up, bike/faring/accessories and sales tax, he said "one one, one two, one three", a really spooky number to write on a check. That's him, in pic#1.
The weather hasn't cooperated, I had the engine mounted on Saturday, but didn't get around to putting in the first tank of gas till late yesterday afternoon.
Everybody warned me that the balancing part would take a little getting used to, and the steering would feel different. But nobody told me that when peddling, it used a whole new set of muscles on the thighs.
On the first 10 miles, I positively never assisted the engine, was downshifting the gears to see how I could get some foot power into the equation, but never caught up with the Robin/Subaru. So, to compensate, I went on a different route coming back, with 3 pretty steep grades, downshifted, and pedaled like a crazy person.
It took the hills fine, and I was noticing that "different" feel in the pedaling.
Now its a few hours later, and I'm sure feeling I overdid it. Hopefully the weather will cooperate today and I can get 30-50 miles on the break-in, do some seat adjusting to make sure I'm doing it right.
I'm going to test mileage, using one of those 50 cc cattle hypodermics syringes, to get exact measurements, without, then with the wind faring.
Hope one of you math wizards will help me out with the math.
My J&B catalog said the Sun Sport came with 14 gauge spokes as standard equipment, but this one had 16's, so I'm running with another bikes rear wheel until I get mine replaced, after the Christmas rush. Justin got in the wrong item on a basket that fits on the back of the seat, so that's another add-on for the new year.
And I ordered the 105" throttle cable, maybe should have asked for the 92". Julia at GEBE sent me a replacement throttle clip with the invoice, thinking I might shorten it. But I have it running along the bottom, some more miles and getting one of those saddlebags somebody pointed to at Tractor Supply will delay that decision.
In picture #4, I used a wider piece of aluminum for the front strap, thinking ahead to the saddlebag placement.
Too early to give a verdict...but I do think a newbie should start with a regular bike, not begin the adventure on a bent until he or she gets all the other MBuilding experiences.
A bent tricycle might be a whole different matter, because the balance/steering issues would cancel each other out.
The weather hasn't cooperated, I had the engine mounted on Saturday, but didn't get around to putting in the first tank of gas till late yesterday afternoon.
Everybody warned me that the balancing part would take a little getting used to, and the steering would feel different. But nobody told me that when peddling, it used a whole new set of muscles on the thighs.
On the first 10 miles, I positively never assisted the engine, was downshifting the gears to see how I could get some foot power into the equation, but never caught up with the Robin/Subaru. So, to compensate, I went on a different route coming back, with 3 pretty steep grades, downshifted, and pedaled like a crazy person.
It took the hills fine, and I was noticing that "different" feel in the pedaling.
Now its a few hours later, and I'm sure feeling I overdid it. Hopefully the weather will cooperate today and I can get 30-50 miles on the break-in, do some seat adjusting to make sure I'm doing it right.
I'm going to test mileage, using one of those 50 cc cattle hypodermics syringes, to get exact measurements, without, then with the wind faring.
Hope one of you math wizards will help me out with the math.
My J&B catalog said the Sun Sport came with 14 gauge spokes as standard equipment, but this one had 16's, so I'm running with another bikes rear wheel until I get mine replaced, after the Christmas rush. Justin got in the wrong item on a basket that fits on the back of the seat, so that's another add-on for the new year.
And I ordered the 105" throttle cable, maybe should have asked for the 92". Julia at GEBE sent me a replacement throttle clip with the invoice, thinking I might shorten it. But I have it running along the bottom, some more miles and getting one of those saddlebags somebody pointed to at Tractor Supply will delay that decision.
In picture #4, I used a wider piece of aluminum for the front strap, thinking ahead to the saddlebag placement.
Too early to give a verdict...but I do think a newbie should start with a regular bike, not begin the adventure on a bent until he or she gets all the other MBuilding experiences.
A bent tricycle might be a whole different matter, because the balance/steering issues would cancel each other out.