Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[RickC]

After (a) observing a lot of discussion here about the Traxxion Dynamics AK-20's and Bitubo shocks; (b) being unsatifisied with the ride/handling of my 09 SERG, particularly when riding 2-up; and (c) having my ribs bruised by my BSR when she grabs hold after every significant bump in the road; I decided to bite the bullet and invest. I called Mike at T-D (Hmmm... T-D for my H-D...) on Tuesday and made an appointment for today.

Got up at 4:30 this morning (CST). Left at 5:00am and rode the 240+ miles to T-D. I've been sitting in their break room with my work laptop connected to their wireless network. I'm connected to the corporate VPN and using Skype to attend conference calls and customer meetings. I even did a 1-hour demo for a customer this morning!

Karen, who is the first person you see when you walk in the front door, made my first cup of coffee for me and brought me a sandwich from Jersey Mike's for lunch. When I've had a few minutes to stretch my legs, the guys in the shop have let me watch the work on my SERG and they've patiently answered my questions.

I trust that the results are going to be as dramatic as everyone has said here. Between the improvements to the scooter and the way I've been treated all day while monopolizing their break room, I have to say this has been an incredibly good experience. Every company in the motorcycle business should treat it's customers this way. Those that do are going to survive the economic downturn. Those that don't may not fare as well.

Thanks everyone for helping me find yet another way to spend $$$$ on the SERG!

RickC

[TN]

best 24 hundred mod i've done. ....what length did you choose for the rear?

and Karen is a peach.


enjoy


TN

[hard10]

... I've been sitting in their break room with my work laptop connected to their wireless network. I'm connected to the corporate VPN and using Skype to attend conference calls and customer meetings. I even did a 1-hour demo for a customer this morning!

What you didn't get the back massage while you were there?
Can wait to hear the ride report.
AJ

[RickC]

best 24 hundred mod i've done. ....what length did you choose for the rear?

and Karen is a peach.


enjoy


TN

TN... with the forum discount is was under $2300 for me. I went with 11.5" Bitubos on the rear... same as stock on the SERG.

Karen is definitely a Georgia peach!

[RickC]

What you didn't get the back massage while you were there?
Can wait to hear the ride report.
AJ

Damn, AJ, I didn't think to ask. Next time... 

[RickC]

O...

MY...

GOD...

 

Three words... MUCH MORE PREDICTABLE AND PRECISE...

Okay, that was five words. So sue me...

Basically, I feel like I upgraded the suspension from an American luxury car with a "squishy comfortable" ride to a finely-tuned European sport car with precision handling.

As soon as I got on the SERG, I noticed the difference. The bike didn't "squat" so much with I mounted up. I'm a relatively heavy guy at 250+/-. The stock shocks and forks squashed a lot when I got on. The AK-20s and Bitbuos... they don't...

Driving out on Rope Mill Pkwy, I coiuld immediately tell that everything was "tighter."

When I made the left off of Sixes Rd onto the I-575 South entrance ramp, I had my first "OMIGOD!" moment. This turn is a downhill left-hander. The road surface is off-camber. I leaned into the turn like I always have... and the front end felt like it scooted to the right an inch or two. As my heart skipped a beat or two, I straightened her up just a little and got on the throttle.

On the 250-mile ride home, there were a lot of little revelations about how different this bike rides now.

• Bumps encountered at speed are not nearly as "bone-rattling" as they once were.
• The bike now responds marvelously to much more subtle input. It's almost "you think about it and the bike does it."
• The bike seems even more stable at high speeds. I rode 75-95mph most of the way home. The little front-end wiggle I'd been getting above 85mph is almost completely gone. What's left I attribute to the Avon Cobra skins. They are radials, but not quite as good a ride as the D407s.
• The bike doesn't nose-dive when breaking even in a quick-stop. AMAZING! It also does not squat so hard when accelerating.

Another great investment in these bikes. Thanks everyone for the tips.

[Twolanerider]

When I made the left off of Sixes Rd onto the I-575 South entrance ramp, I had my first "OMIGOD!" moment.

I remember all that .

I was there one day and TC the next right after I discovered Traxxion Dynamics and told the crew here I was going to go try them out.  That immediate difference is startling.  You really do have to relearn how to ride the bike just a bit.  Entries and exits aren't quite the same because you have to do a little less to make the bike do more.

Did you notice how used you used to be to how much the front wheel wasn't on the ground as the old suspension bounced?  And it is now.

[hard10]

O...

MY...

GOD...

As soon as I got on the SERG, I noticed the difference...

Another great investment in these bikes. Thanks everyone for the tips.

Being that you rode to TD made somewhat of a difference. You still had the memory of that 250+ mile ride in your head when you mounted your "new" ride. This is one upgrade that is money well spent. Glad to hear you like the setup. 

[Indenial]

How does your BSR like the new shocks?

[RickC]

Did you notice how used you used to be to how much the front wheel wasn't on the ground as the old suspension bounced?  And it is now.

Yes, sir! It was a little scary at first. After a few miles though, it is just sweet, sweet, sweeeeeeettttt!!!

My favorite part of the ride home? Approaching my driveway at 60+ and locking down the brakes for a quick stop to make the turn into the drive. I swear the bike didn't dive at all... dead level all the way to the end.

Rock On!

[RickC]

This is one upgrade that is money well spent. Glad to hear you like the setup. 

This is probably the best $2.3K I've spent on the SERG.

Yes, I do like it... boy, oh, boy, do I like it!

[RickC]

How does your BSR like the new shocks?

Haven't had her on yet. We've been running in opposite directions today since my 18-year-old son came in from Texas. He'll be here until Wednesday, so her first taste of the new setup just might be the morning we leave!

Sure hope she likes it...

[hard10]

Haven't had her on yet. We've been running in opposite directions today since my 18-year-old son came in from Texas. He'll be here until Wednesday, so her first taste of the new setup just might be the morning we leave!

Sure hope she likes it...

Linda says she doesn't lean as much with the Bitubo's installed. I did it a little different and installed the Bitubo's before the TD's so I could feel the difference between front and back.

[Twolanerider]

Yes, sir! It was a little scary at first. After a few miles though, it is just sweet, sweet, sweeeeeeettttt!!!

My favorite part of the ride home? Approaching my driveway at 60+ and locking down the brakes for a quick stop to make the turn into the drive. I swear the bike didn't dive at all... dead level all the way to the end.

Rock On!

After the surprise at just the initial feel leaving their parking lot that lack of bounce is what took me longest to figure out.  Knew there was nothing about the differences that I didn't like.  But for about five miles just could not figure out what was this startlingly different and even slightly unsettling feel from the front.  Then finally realized it was the front wheel being on the road all the time.  Had to laugh at myself that it actually took a bit to get used to the front wheel not hopping anymore.

[Hotrod50]

Please explain what this upgrade is.