New Member - 1st Post

[Lee510]

I didn't find a thread for new members to use to introduce themselves. I must admit, I didn't dig too far. Some fora have new member's threads as a "sticky", so it stays on top.

I've been riding on the street for a year, putting a total of 7000 miles on a Honda Nighthawk and a Yamaha FZ6. I took the MSF course in June last year and highly recommend it. It taught me things I never would have thought to look out for, coming from a dirt environment.

I'm in the process of buying a 2000 LT from a lady whose husband died in the spring. We're waiting for the title to come back in her name. The bike has 17,500 miles and I'm paying $7500. From what I have seen on e-bay and kbb.com, this is a good price.

The bike is in excellent condition, not a scratch on it. The lady says her husband was meticulous about EVERYTHING and it looks it. I have looked the bike over three different times, riding it on the last look yesterday. I'm glad I was able to look that many times, because sometimes my vision gets cloudy and I don't see things that I should. Gotta have it, syndrome!

I'm not sure which trim level this bike carries. It has the heated grips and seat, 6 disc changer, elec. windshield, cruise control, ABS, and numerous buttons and switches to keep me busy for a month. If anyone can give me a rundown of the differences in the trim lines, I should be able to guess which one I will soon have.

I'm used to a full face helmet and ATGATT. Will the windshield and fairing make me not want a FF helmet and riding gear, due to low air flow?

I appreciate your taking the time to read my ramblings. If you have advice to pass along, that will be appreciated as well. Take care and ride safe.

Lee

Soon to have a :bmw:

[sheldan2]

welcome, hope you get many miles of enjoyment from your bike. Ask lots of questions, someone on here should know the answer

[michman]

As far as the Full Face helmet goes.... that is personal preference. I always wear a full face helmet and yes it does get hot during extreme conditions.

There is a ton of knowledge on here and I am certain that someone will be able to help you with any other questions!

Take care and enjoy!!

JC

[Offwego]

You are going to love the bike! When did they move Denver? The last time I was there it was in Colorado. Stick to the full face helmet. She's a beast and you may find her wanting to lie down when she goes real slow in tight turns! If your saddlebag trim is chrome, it's an LTC like mine. This forum will teach you all you need to know. Read the FAQ in technical. Remember the slogan "just ride it". ood luck and I'll look for you on the highway!

[bowlesj]

Welcome Lee. And you're right here in the hood. Hope to see ya around.

Enjoy.

[Tandemfusion]

I'm yet another newbie here, from NC as well. Bought an '05 LT 5 weeks ago, replacing a 2002 Triumph Trophy on which my wife just was not comfortable. I cant get her off the LT. The LT is just an oustandingly comfortable ride . . .although I miss the Trophy's crisper handling just a little.

In spite of what from reading seems to be the common perception that the bike is hard to handle at slow speeds, I don't really find it all that daunting. Might be because the Trophy is SERIOUSLY top heavy, although about 200 lbs lighter. On that thing, the engine is verticle and with a full tank there's 7 gallons of fuel all above your knees, and its significantly taller than the LT, so you pretty much get used having a little respect for what happens if you stop from a turn or with the bars not centered.

As good as the bike is, this forum is really a superb resource. Most of what I wanted to know I was able to find already addressed somewhere on the site, and reading through many many threads and posts provides a great baseline of knowlege about the bike and it's preculiarities.

[bmwriderm]

I purchased my 00LT in june of 06. Was surprised by its size at 1st but 12k
later with no real issues, me and the wife are very happy. I think you'll be happy with the riding comforts. I prefer an open face helmet but am thinking more about safety now and we may change to full face. I hope it won't affect the stereo sound. Good luck and safe riding.

[andy]

I'm not sure which trim level this bike carries. It has the heated grips and seat, 6 disc changer, elec. windshield, cruise control, ABS, and numerous buttons and switches to keep me busy for a month. If anyone can give me a rundown of the differences in the trim lines, I should be able to guess which one I will soon have.



Welcome to our niche of the verse!

Re trim levels: In 2000 the bike came in basically 3 different 'standard' trim levels. The Standard, The Icon, and the Custom.

The easiest way to tell if you have a "Standard" is that the Standard AFAIK did not have a BC (Computer) and for sure did not have heated seats.

The Icon had the computer, the CD changer, but the side trim, on the saddle bags was black.

The Custom had chrome (plastic) side trin and heated seats.

[Lee510]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! I'm glad I found this fora a few evenings ago. I lurked a bit to get a feel for things and to make sure there wasn't constant flaming and ugliness going on. I've seen some places that made SmackDown (which I don't watch) look like a church social. LOL! My observations are that people here are willing to help others and that's what most of this stuff is about anyway.

My Denver is "Denver of the East", as the sign coming into town reads. (My wife is a HUGE John Elway fan. If anything ever happens to me, that man is going to have one heck of a stalker.) Where else would a crazed Elway fan live, if she couldn't get to CO? Elway appeared at a black tie event a couple of years ago. My wife asked me if I thought she should go. No invitation, no evening gown. "No, I don't think you should go." She went anyway. Didn't get in. The next day, he appeared at a furniture store. Of course, she went and wasn't supposed to, but got autographs and pics with her hero. Poor man. He doesn't know what he's in for.

The Custom had chrome (plastic) side trin and heated seats.

Mine (soon-to-be) must be the Custom. It has the chrome side trim. Thanks for clearing that up for me, Andy.

Lee
I've got to set up my signature.

[info]

Welcome! Full face all the time for me.

[ademarzi]

ATGATT! And FF helmet.

There are different alternatives for hot weather riding.

There is mesh gear that you can wear, a lower windshield, and cooling vests to be had.

I personally wear Fieldsheer mesh pants and summer UnderArmor or BMW underwear. Top, again, a perspiration wicking shirt and a mesh jacket.

We have here many riding days in the 100's and with lowered shield and the wings folded it is not too bad. Of course it gets hot when you are in stop-and-go traffic.

As they say: "It is better to sweat than to bleed". In the group that I occasionally ride with there have been 4 get-offs in the last four weeks:eek: . The damage was much less than the alternative, had they not had their gear on. One of the accidents was only a couple of miles from home.

Ride safely.

You will love this bike.:)

[vernvernvern]

Lee,

You'll learn a lot of good LT stuff here on this site.

Full face helmet for me too. I do have the modular so I can run up the windshield, flip up the front of my helmet and drink my coffee while riding down the road at 70 mph. Yee Haa!

Ride safe.

Vern

[Lee510]

ATGATT! And FF helmet.

There are different alternatives for hot weather riding.

There is mesh gear that you can wear,

Thanks, Alvaro. I am ATGATT. I have a mesh Joe Rocket Honda jacket and Joe Rocket Alter Ego pants that I planned to stay with. We don't usually get above 95 here, but the humidity and dew points make it feel like it does.

I wore the mesh jacket in the cooler months with the liner and a wind shirt. My limit was mid 40's. The FZ6 had a half fairing, but no real wind protection. Still, my hands were the only parts that got cold. I figure with the heated grips and large fairing, the riding season may get extended from 10 months to nearly 12.

I sold my FZ6 two weeks ago. Can you say "Withdrawls"? Let the Scorpion EXO-700 go with the sale. That helmet put a red mark on my forehead on my 40 minute commute to work. Anything longer than that and it felt like a railroad spike being driven in. I was glad to be rid of that thing. I'll be trying the Shoei RF-1000 again that I should have purchased in the first place. Trying to save a buck NEVER works out the way I plan. I usually end up spending more, replacing the thing that wasn't what I'd hoped for anyway.

[Lee510]

I do have the modular so I can run up the windshield, flip up the front of my helmet and drink my coffee while riding down the road at 70 mph. Yee Haa!

Hi, Vern. I started with a KBC FFR flip-face, found out later that they aren't the safest helmets in the event of a mess, (refer to my statement in the above post about buying something different) so I went to a FF. My luck, I'd flip the face and catch a crow like John Travolta in Wild Hogs.

[vernvernvern]

Hi, Vern. I started with a KBC FFR flip-face, found out later that they aren't the safest helmets in the event of a mess, (refer to my statement in the above post about buying something different) so I went to a FF. My luck, I'd flip the face and catch a crow like John Travolta in Wild Hogs.


Lee,

Coffee drinking and motorcycle riding are my only vics left so didn't think drinking coffee through a straw with a FF helmet would work out so went with the modular. But you're right, that front might fly off on impact. It'll keep the crows out of my face though. That movie was a good one. LOL

Carry on!
Vern

[longbow]

Welcome to da HOOD yall. :beer:

[Hal9000]

Hi Lee,
I just turned my pristine 2002 LTE (GPS navigation and all) with only 11K miles back to the dealer after a 5 year lease. I advertised the bike for $11K and received very little interest. This bike was perfect, I hated to let her go.

My advice is you can probably do better, but whatever you do, good luck.

Hal

[pickerbiker]

Hey Lee, welcome to the most informative and supportive web site on the internet. Great group, always willing to help and some very knowledgeable folks. Enjoy the new ride!

[hybridcage]

You'll love the LT, prolly a BIG change from the fizzer.

I worked for years in your neighborhood,big city of Sherrill's Ford.

See you around, you should check out the NC tech session when we get settled on location and date.

[Lee510]

You'll love the LT, prolly a BIG change from the fizzer.

I worked for years in your neighborhood,big city of Sherrill's Ford.

See you around, you should check out the NC tech session when we get settled on location and date.

Thanks, Chris. I will look for the tech sessions dates/times. I'm sure they will be helpful!

I think the LT might be a little bigger change than BIG, but I'm ready for it.

How long ago were you in Sherrill's Ford? I'm not too far from there, near 150 & 16. Lots of growth in this area. East Lincoln has exploded in the past few years.

[dandoble]

Welcome to the site. Full face helmet to saves your face. May be hot but you will look better.

[Heracleitus]

Welcome to the board!

Jeff Dean (http://bmwdean.home.att.net/) has a great article located here (http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/swisher.htm) on the subject of full-face helmets. It is some pretty good reading.

I will only ride with a full-face helmet. My new dome cover is a flip-face BMW System V (http://blogs.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/09152004161722MWEJRX.htm). I got the non-bluetooth variety as BMW doesn't support it here in the Vaterland. It is a best-of-both-worlds solution to me. I can flip up the face for talking or getting a drink (or, most importantly for me, showing my face to the gate guard so I can get on base) yet I still have a full-face protective helmet while I'm riding.

I had a high-speed get off in my yoot that would have resulted in me either being faceless or worse (the chin bar ground off while I was sliding) had I not been wearing a full-face helmet. I've been sold on them ever since. I wear a helmet by choice regardless of local laws.

[rando]

Lee,

Welcome! I think there are several other LTers down your way. I met Dan Brown in Statesville last week and know there are others down there. I teach the MSF class in Statesville. Where did you take yours? We get lots of folks from Denver, Lake Norman, etc in there. Heck you may have been in one of my classes.

Glad to have you - hope to meet up with you someday , somewhere.

Randy

[StLHeadake]

Let the Scorpion EXO-700 go with the sale. That helmet put a red mark on my forehead on my 40 minute commute to work. Anything longer than that and it felt like a railroad spike being driven in. I was glad to be rid of that thing. I'll be trying the Shoei RF-1000 again that I should have purchased in the first place. Trying to save a buck NEVER works out the way I plan. I usually end up spending more, replacing the thing that wasn't what I'd hoped for anyway.

Hey welcome to the forum! Like everyone has already said, You'll love the LT. As for the railroad spike goes, IF EVER that happens again try this: First I pulled all the padding and lining out that I could. Then I took a cue ball from a pool table and rolled it around in the area of the forehead. This mashed the styrofoam down enough to releive the pressure. Really helped me!

Now before the flames start, I'm not talking about fundamentally altaring the helmet. Just enough pressure to slightly compress the foam around the area that is paining. I got that tip from a helmet vendor at Americade a couple of years ago.

My HJC FF flip front fit and feels fine when I purchased it. It wasn't until I'd had it on for while, then the railroad spike started, and doesn't stop until I've had it off for a couple of days.

The cue ball fixed that!

Anyway, welcome, read, don't be afraid to ask questions, and whatever you do check out the tech sessions if at all possible!

[rglassma]

Hi Lee,

I am in the Denver area and I sent you a PM.

Regards,

Bob

[Lee510]

Lee,

Welcome! I think there are several other LTers down your way. I met Dan Brown in Statesville last week and know there are others down there. I teach the MSF class in Statesville. Where did you take yours? We get lots of folks from Denver, Lake Norman, etc in there. Heck you may have been in one of my classes.

Glad to have you - hope to meet up with you someday , somewhere.

Randy

Hi, Randy. I took the MSF at Mitchell last year(June). Danged if I can recall the instructor's names. One was of the last name Tutu and the other, I believe was first name Ron. Ron had just bought a brand new H-D. I think Tutu lived in Sparta and rode a GW. I enjoyed the class and need to get the ERC. I keep trading bikes, so I have to wait till I'm comfortable on the LT. By the way, I picked up the new baby this evening. He/she is sleeping in the nursery(garage).

Got to update my signature again.

[Lee510]

I'm ATGATT, FF helmet included. I rented a H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic a month and a half ago. All the wind barriers had me wishing for a breeze.

I rode the LT for 20-30 miles this evening. Air flow gets to the face and body with it. I'm liking it so far.

[rando]

Hi, Randy. I took the MSF at Mitchell last year(June). Danged if I can recall the instructor's names. One was of the last name Tutu and the other, I believe was first name Ron. Ron had just bought a brand new H-D. I think Tutu lived in Sparta and rode a GW. I enjoyed the class and need to get the ERC. I keep trading bikes, so I have to wait till I'm comfortable on the LT. By the way, I picked up the new baby this evening. He/she is sleeping in the nursery(garage).

Got to update my signature again.

I have worked with a couple of Rons ( both great guys) and know Butch Tatu, but he doesn't ride a 'wing, or didn't. He could now though. He was a big Victory rider at one point. And looking back, I couldn't have been the coach then, since I was recovering from the crash that landed me on an LT [eventually].

Glad you got the bike home.

Randy

[FlyOrBike]

If you want some place to ride to, give me a buzz. I'm in Concord.. Yeah, it's hot this week behind that big windscreen. Not as much fun to ride until the sun goes down a bit but in the PM or later in the Fall when the weather is nice, it's like driving a Cadillac. Those Germans build nice machinery.
-Kent
Concord, NC
704-784-1874

[Lee510]

Hi, Kent. Might be good to get together for a ride. Can't go this weekend. We're going to heck(got to keep it clean, family forum and all), I mean FL to visit my wife's aunt in Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando and Tampa to ride roller coasters at Universal and Busch Gardens. I haven't been told how long we're going to be gone. Just that we're leaving Sat. after one of my son's friends birthday party.

I thought about a ROAD TRIP!! on the LT, with my wife taking the car. She doesn't ride, doesn't want to. My 6 year old does. Not having much practice with the LT and needing service, I'm not sure it's a good idea for a run that far. Have to find time for oil change anyway. Even with the wind roaring in my helmet, it's quieter than being in the car! :rolleyes:

[rando]

We have two kids, so taking the car and bike on vacation is kinda "normal" for us.

Do it and enjoy.

Randy