 Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illinois?
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 74
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 74 |
I bought my Ducati without riding it and regret it because my hand goes tingly within 20 minutes. I don't want to make the same mistake and not like the America - I should really ride one before I buy one. I am going to call tomorrow, but I have 3 dealers within 4 hours of me and I am not sure any of them have a demo that I could ride. QUESTION: Is anyone near central Illinois that wouldn't mind me riding their bike? I realize it's kinda hard to agree to, but I thought I would throw it out there. You can e-mail me at jsdugan@gmail.com if you would like. Hope I get a ride somehow, if not, I may have to cross my fingers and hope I like it and am satisified with it. Thinking it is a bit similar to my old Vulcan 750 (I believe the America's bars are further out and back than the Vulcan 750)
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 Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
Longest I've been on my America for one trip is about 6 1/2 - 7 hours with maybe 4 gas/pee stops. No problems like that because the engine is counterbalanced. Unfortunately, I live some 600 miles from you on an old dirt farm road.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 820
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 820 |
i never rode my bike before i got it.... i went from a suzuki bandit to an America. At first I was tense, due to the laid back seating... after say, 10 miles, i found it very relaxing. Rather than all tense with my hands taking my upper body weight.
get a test ride, but I'm sure you'll like it anyway no matter what. One thing that I do buzz off, is my feet seem to float on air at about 60-70mph... i didn't get that on my bandit.
Nick
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 74
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 74 |
Oh, once I also rode a Honda Spirit 750 I believe - the bars were low and wide. I think I have an idea of what it will be like, but you never know. Nick - I am thinking Warrington, England might be a bit over 200 miles away from central IL for me to ask you for a test ride, huh? 
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,382
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,382 |
RPM Motorwerks in Belleville has demo bikes. I live in St Charles, Mo and bought from them rather than a more local dealer. Superior personnel and service. RPM
Tony G
'03 America
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,026
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,026 |
Isnt there a dealer close to you in Decatur?
Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and will never be.----Thomas Jefferson
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 74
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 74 |
Well, RPM just sold their demo 2 days ago or something, and Decatur doesn't have any left - they are waiting on 08's. I talked to the Triumph dealer in St. Ann, MO and they said that they have one left that they would let me take for a spin. I doubt they can match MCC's price, but I can give them a shot AND I get to ride the bike.
Anyone know about the dealer in Decatur? Good place? I would prob. get my work done there after I get a bike.
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 380
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 380 |
When I ride mnt. bikes I do not ride w/ elbows locked.
It takes weight off your ulna nerve thats on the palm of your hand and makes your hand tingal it also works your abs so your getting a little bit of a work out. Also because its a sport bike use you knees/thighs to hold your position to help keep your elbows bent. This new riding position is a little different at first but you wont notice it after awhile. Also look @ any bicycle gloves and check out where the pad is on the palm of the glove, then try to find motorcycle gloves that are simular. Try these things till you get a Go fit w/ your bike
Good luck Scott
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 74
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2007
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So I drive 2 hours away to St. Ann, MO to the Triumph dealership to try the America out. WELL, he sold it 1 hour before I got there, so I wasn't able to take a ride on it. They also were not able to match MCC's deal - so looks like I will be making a trip to Chicago to get a 2007 Blue and white Triumph America. Hope it all works out, and hope I don't regret not riding one before I buy!
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,664
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,664 |
I'd compare the Triumph America seating position and ride to a HD Deuce. If that helps.
I would actually prefer the standard Bonneville or T-100, but I love this America. There are several inexpensive adjustments you can make, like handlebars, risers to fine tune your ergonomics.
Ride Safe,
Dennis
Triumph, it's how I live and what I ride.
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,026
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,026 |
Ever think about calling SIndt in Dubuque, IA? They are great people there. If you call, ask for Ryan.
Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and will never be.----Thomas Jefferson
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 525
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 525 |
I get that tingle in my hands after @ 1&1/2 - 2 hours. Feels like Ive got an echo (for lack of a better term) on everything i touch. Ive heard the Kuryakn grips are great for dealing with it, and am considering them. Could anyone else who has those grips jump in with a comment?
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illin
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 43
Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 43 |
Quote:
Ive heard the Kuryakn grips are great for dealing with it, and am considering them. Could anyone else who has those grips jump in with a comment?
Well, I just got them in and I installed them tonight. I bought them for their looks, and have only ridden about ten miles with them so far. But so far I LOVE them!
I was pleasantly surprised with how comfortable they are. The rubber pads hold your hands out a bit from the chrome part and that allows air to circulate under your palms.
Another thing I really like about them is the thickness. They are quite a bit thicker than the stock grips. In my case this makes for a much more relaxed grip that feels more substantial at the same time.
One pointer that I have for you... The instructions say to cut off your stock left grip with a razor, but I didn't want to destroy my stock grip. My TBA is brand new and the cost of a new set of stock grips seemed worth preserving. Here's how I got the left grip off without destroying it...
I removed the bar end-cap and stuck the little red tube from a can of wd-40 up as far as I could between the rubber grip and the handlebar and shot WD-40 all up in there. I worked the grip a bit by gripping it with a rag and twisting it back and forth, and then did it again.
Squirt, twist, repeat, squirt, twist, repeat, squirt, twist, repeat...
as needed
Eventually I got about half of the grip released from the chrome. Then I loosened the control cluster from the bar and slid it up the bar a few inches so I could work the WD-40 in from the other side.
In a few minutes I had removed the left grip without damaging it. I washed it with soap and warm water, dried it thoroughly and boxed it up with the original throttle grip.
Before installing the new Kuryakyn on the left side, I cleaned the bar thoroughly with lacquer thinner and a dry rag.
Here is where I got mine...
http://cgi.ebay.com/?ViewItem&item=280132965874
$60 plus $8.95 shipping is a little cheaper than retail, with no sales tax or other fees. 
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illinois?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 255
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 255 |
I am in Cedar Rapids Iowa... if you get no other rides pm me
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Re: Anyone within 200 miles of Jacksonville, Illinois?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 532
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 532 |
Indy Victory Triumph will let you test drive an America or Speedmaster. They have 2, 2007 models and 1 each of the 08s I think. Not sure of the 08s. Indy is about 1 hour from West Lafayette so not sure where in central Ill your are.
Steve
Where's my $6 million??
05 TR America;2010 T-Bird
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