My body hurts

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion) 07/31/2020 at 13:53 • Filed to: None

5

20

500 miles on these two was an absolute blast, but the knees, butt and shoulders weren’t doing so hot by the end!

Left early in the morning, foregoing a backpack and instead going with the mid-sized tank bag.

Here’s the route. We went south from Seattle, crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and hood canal floating bridge on the way up to Sequim. From there, we stuck to the coastline and sped along the strait of Juan De Fueca, with Canada a constant companion to our right.

Absolutely incredible roads. The entire coastline section is seemingly endless curvy roads, 90% of which are in fantastic shape.

Unfortunately... 101 is completely closed off right before Neah Bay in the top left corner by the local Indian tribe. I assume it’s Covid-19 related, but didn’t feel inclined to stay and chat, as even by today’s standards the police blocking the road were pretty... *unfriendly*.

So we didn’t hit our final destination. Boooo. But next time... We’re planning a two or three day trip where we’ll follow the entire western coastline as well before circling back to Seattle.

I had three oh shit moments.

1. Someone tried to merge into me on I5 heading south to Tacoma. My buddy started yelling in my com to warn me.

2. I dropped into second gear exiting a corner and was still leaned over juuuust enough to slide the rear tire a few inches.

3. Mid-corner—hanging off the bike—hit a pothole and upset the bike pretty bad. My natural reaction was to get upright which.... Sends you into the guardrail on the outside of the turn. Didn’t hit anything, but did go off the road.

4. Riding home, I see this 6 series pull up next to me on I5. Starts pulling forward, and then slowing down to get next to me. Repeats this a few times. I’m not responding, so eventually he just speeds up and leaves.

Now... I don’t know about you, but when I’m on long trips I like finding a fast driver and following them from a safe distance. The hope is that they catch the cop’s attention while I still have time to slow down. Does it work? Well... I’ve yet to get a speeding ticket so... Maybe?

Anyways, after doing this for ten miles, a modded 3-series comes flying up on me and gets next to the 6. Clearly trying to have some fun. They speed up, I follow. From a safe distance.

Now at this point, we’re all going very, very, legal speeds. The most legal. Stupendously legal.

The 3 series and 6 were neck and neck in adjacent lanes, and then the 3 goes one lane over. OpenIlane between the two. Oh God... I hear “do it” in my coms and “fuck it, why not” in my internal monolouge, and change lanes. I used my turn signal, I’m not a monster. I dropped a gear, and disappeared, parting the two BMWs like Jesus if he pounded redbulls and had a sick neck tattoo.

Keep in mind, all this time my friend on a Ninja 400 was sticking to us with a combination of what I can only assume is black magics and a rev-limiter that’s getting beaten like a side of beef.

Oh... That’s a cop sitting on the side of the highway.

Huh. All four of us are on an empty highway.

Hmm. Might just want to ever so lightly tap the ol’ brakes!

This dude was either asleep or lazy, as we made it another five miles and managed to unclench our collective butt cheeks.

That’s Canada off in the distance. Funny enough, both of our phones were picking up cell service from Canadian providers. Neat!

I’ve done 2100 miles on the bike as of today, and I think I’m starting to sus out the differences between it’s deficiencies, and my own as a rider.

Suspension is not great. Common complaint for Interceptors, and I’m beginning to feel why. I have no plans to change anything for awhile, but at some point there will be improvements made here.

The seat is also not great. I’m using an aftermarket Sargeant seat and am hurting by 100 miles. Or less. I’m going to try throwing the stock seat on, see if that’s better for me.

On long sweepers I can smoothly adjust my line and lean angle, getting lower and lower as I apply more throttle, until fluidly going upright as I exit the corner. The bike seems to excel here.

On super tight windy roads where the switchbacks-per-mile feels like it’s somewhere in the thousands range, I really start to notice the above suspension issues, as well as the overall heft of the bike. Feels like I have to really manhandle the Honda when changing from a left corner to a right corner, absolutely hucking it over. Next week my friend and I are going to trade bikes on a long ride, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how different a Ninja 400 feels in similar situations.

As far as gear goes... I’m very happy with my jacket, pants, and boots.

The helmet is amazing in all regards other than one, and that’s noise. Even with good earplugs inserted properly, I’m still getting some noise-fatigue after long rides, and my buddy has difficulty hearing me even with my microphone positioned right in front of my mouth at anything over 40mph . Not really sure what to do here, as I don’t want to give up the lightweight CF.

My gloves are painful, and I borrowed my roommate’s for this ride. Absolutely love them. Thinner goat skin full-gauntlet style with less seams made for no painful pressure hotspots. If these had a couple touchscreen compatible tips they’d be perfect.

The full-gauntlet style actually works a lot better with my jacket cuffs too!

TheRealBicycleBuck > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 14:02

3

“ I don’t know about you, but when I’m on long trips I like finding a fast driver and following them from a safe distance. The hope is that they catch the cop’s attention while I still have time to slow down.”

I used this trick regularly when I was driving back and forth to Houston almost every weekend. I also learned where the common hiding spots were located. Having a rabbit to chase and knowing the hidey holes works most of the time, but if you lose focus (thanks to my wife on the phone), you get tickets. I was nabbed twice in two years , both 10+mph over.

VincentMalamute-Kim > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 14:04

2

Reading about long rides on sport bikes (even the VFR) makes me ache at my age. When younger, the high pegs and folded legs on my GS550ES made my knees ache. Raising the seat height with a layer of foam and sheepskin helped.

I do the same; follow a fast car and hope I see them tap their brakes to alert me to cops or the cops get them first.

Nice that you’re learning about road hazards without injury. I’d think my ‘81 550ES was in between your VFR and the 400 in flickability. It felt flickable.

fintail > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 14:15

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I use the fast driver thing too - handy to let someone else “run interference” (maybe I’ve watched Smokey movies too many tunes) for you, even if my cars are usually a little under the radar.

Congrats on making it through 5 in the Tacoma area in one piece. No fun to drive or ride there.

I know some on the coast are becoming hostile to visitors in these days, leery of cooties and having local resources consumed. I assume similar for up on the peninsula.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 14:20

1

Basically me when driving my Datsun between motor home s on HWY 93 South .

I dropped a gear, and disappeared, parting the two BMWs like Jesus if he pounded redbulls and had a sick neck tattoo.

AestheticsInMotion > fintail 07/31/2020 at 14:28

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It was strange. Definitely didn’t get the friendly vibes like I did from everyone on SR20. At the same time, the vast majority of people out here didn’t seem fond of masks, or enforce the policy. Also very few political signs of any kind, which seems odd t o me this late in the year, especially in these small towns. 

AestheticsInMotion > VincentMalamute-Kim 07/31/2020 at 14:30

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The sad thing I'd that this bike already has handlebar risers. Maybe I should rent a Supersport just so I can get a better frame-of-reference on pain

fintail > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 14:47

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Where I was on the coast, last week, masks were prevalent, but people are leery, as much of the population isn’t in tip-top shape, and there has been a flare up of ‘rona cases after the 4th of July weekend. That area was swamped with tourists, most coming from Puget Sound metro, I’d wager.   The hospital system out there will be pushed over the edge without much work.

I don’t notice many national level political signs there either, but plenty of local level.     I suspect these are areas who bought into a certain hype in 2016 and maybe some realize now they were sold a bill of goods.

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 14:52

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Keeping someone going very quickly  just on your horizon is an excellent tactic and can enable getting between two points in less time that should be possible. Or so I’ve been told.

cmill189 - sans Volvo > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 14:55

1

Shoulder and butt pain subside with seat time. Same as a bicycle.

Regarding your suspension...while it’s not the best it’s pretty good for a bike of that vintage. That being said, fork and shock oil wear out. NOBODY ever changes it. It’s likely completely, beyond worn out.

Looks like a great time though! I miss my VFR. Such a fast and smooth bike. 

Future next gen S2000 owner > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 14:58

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Wrists hurt me the most. Everything else is fine in that, don’t move because it will hurt sorta feeling. If I stay tucked, I fine but once I stretch out my body disagrees with my mind’s plan.

DipodomysDeserti > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 15:33

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“ I dropped a gear, and disappeared, parting the two BMWs like Jesus if he pounded redbulls and had a sick neck tattoo.”

Moshe was the Jew into parting things. Jesus would have just walked on top of them.

Mid Engine > fintail 07/31/2020 at 15:40

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I have a Passport 9500ix jammer/detector in my Cayman (legal in WA and OR). I’m usually the rabbit, because I invested in the hardware :)

bob and john > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 15:50

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for the handling, yes, that is a think with the VFRs. even my lighter 750 I feel it.

if I want to go out and really carve up some twistiest, i take either the Daytona or the 250. the VFR and the CBF get held for the longer distance stuff.

fintail > Mid Engine 07/31/2020 at 15:56

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Other than the AMGs, all of my cars have been relatively “under the radar” so to speak, I’ve never had such tech, but it has been tempting.

Although really, even when alone, I don’t speed more than 1o-15 or so over other than in spurts, that combined with my old man choices in cars might make me low risk.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 16:18

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“Riding home, I see this 6 series pull up next to me on I5. Starts pulling forward, and then slowing down to get next to me. Repeats this a few times. I’m not responding, so eventually he just speeds up and leaves.”

I’ve had jackasses do that to me... and I drive a friggin’ Honda Fit.

“I don’t know about you, but when I’m on long trips I like finding a fast driver and following them from a safe distance. The hope is that they catch the cop’s attention while I still have time to slow down. Does it work? Well... I’ve yet to get a speeding ticket so... Maybe?”

I do the exact same thing for the exact same reason on a daily basis. Or if I’m not in a hurry, I’ll just follow a big truck and get a better better fuel economy due to a beter drafting effect due to the larger size as well as lower speeds.

And I haven’t had a speeding ticket for over 8 years. And it was my last speeding ticket that made me decide to do this speeding ticket avoidance strategy.

And there has been at least a few times recently where I would have totally gotten nailed for speeding if I was driving like I used to.

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > cmill189 - sans Volvo 07/31/2020 at 17:15

2

Eh, if the seat foam is too soft, it’s unlikely to get more comfortable the longer you sit on it , in my experience. I’ve always found firmer-than-stock seats more enjoyable for long distances.

Padded bike shorts + Corbin = long distance bliss

cmill189 - sans Volvo > Dead_Elvis, Inc. 07/31/2020 at 19:05

1

This is true and I agree. Too often do people immediately look for the softer saddle or seat, or bike shorts when they really just need to ride more. 500+ mile days are just gonna make you sore regardless. 

My point was mostly about seat time since he’s a newish rider.

Dead_Elvis, Inc. > cmill189 - sans Volvo 07/31/2020 at 19:18

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Ah, got it.

That said, I’ve never once regretted getting back on the ZRX the morning after 600+ mile days & doing it again (at least from a comfort perspective - multiple days of droning along superslab is just boring, and to be avoided unless mile-eating is necessary).

It might take a while to get the ergos fully dialed in too, although sometimes you’re just incompatible with certain machines. There are plenty of bikes that fold my legs up too much to be worth considering. I had that complaint at 22, and it’s not any better at 50. (Cruisers are a hard no. I’m not interesting in giving up that much handling, and find feet-forward seating more uncomfortable than anything else.)

rockingthe2 > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 19:44

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I’ve done a few longer rides on an 07 GSXR 1000, weirdly I like that riding position. Sure after a few hours it starts to get annoying, but nothing painful. Honestly, when i was still recovering from my accident I took that out for a ride, and some weird combination of heat, pressure, and i guess the leg position actually helped my leg feel better.

Now I’ve got the FZ-10 and my only concern is keeping the front wheel on the ground when the fuzz is around.

Also, for anyone needing gloves, check out the Sedici Lucca gloves ( https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/sedici-lucca-gloves ) cause they are way better than they have any reason to be. 

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AestheticsInMotion 07/31/2020 at 22:20

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Maybe think about a quiet helmet for longer rides, and use the CF one for shorter/faster rides? Schuberth or GT-air, something like that.

Rev it gloves are so good! Their latest generation has improved touch compatible fingertips. I’ve got a couple pairs and am thinking about more because I like them so much. No other gloves fit me as well, not even dainese.

To help alleviate soreness on long rides, stand up periodically and get off the bike no less than every two hours to stretch for a few minutes. Preferably more like 1-1.5 hours.