Goonie said:
Feel freel to answer 1 or all. Thanks! Just picking your brain for our opinion.
Oil filter factory or aftermarket?
Air filter K&N?
What helps MPG the most? Other than coasting down hill. Lol
If you had 5 scooter tools/parts to keep on the scoot at all times what would they be?
If you had 5 gagets at all times?
What where your first 5 mods and would you do it again?
Worst mistake/s?
Do's & Don't's?
Oil Filter - As far as I know, there are some fine aftermarket oil filters. However, there have been a lot of concerns written regarding Fram oil filters but, I don't recall the details. I just avoid them.
MPG - If the great majority of you riding is within a narrow speed band, specific slider weights would likely best impact your fuel mileage. However, where they will help within a certain range, at other times they can hurt so, consider this carefully and do a lot of research.
K&N - You can get a K&N on eBay cheaper than a OEM air filter. Have to also get the cleaning solution and recharge oil but, these can also be found on eBay cheap and last multiple applications. Lots of dollars saved over time. K&N sometimes arrive warped and makes it difficult to get the air box top on securely. Hold back part of filter frame in boiling water a minute and it softens up nicely and makes fitting easier (or, check on arrival and immediately send back for replacement if defective...I realized the problem too late).
Tools/parts - (Besides OEM tools or better quality replacements): Fire extinguisher, package of Lemon Pledge wipes, tire repair stuff (small 12v tire pump, repair kit, bottle of Slime - sorry if lumping these is cheating), bottle of oil, short, light-duty jumper cables (don't need to be long since you can always roll bike to a car's battery side). Also make sure your fuse box has fuses in the "spare" slots.
Gadgets - Cell phone, phone mount (for when using phone for GPS or tunes) with power to phone "permanently" routed through front of bike, "shorty" 12v USB outlet (allows plugging in of charge cord with glove box door closed), communications set (my wife and I have ScalaRider G4's and like them - helmet to helmet up to a mile, blue tooth with phone/gps, built in FM radio).
Mods - This is going beyond 5 but, I would not do without any of them: Grip Puppies, side deflectors, Givi Airflow windscreen, Bestem 929 T-Box with DIY electrical contacts (don't have to manually plug/unplug wires), "homemade" tunnel bag (re-purposed camera bag) which serves as rain suit storage and
insulated CUP HOLDER, Givi 479 saddle bags (with only the buckle strap going across the trunk, and the Velcro straps attached to mating Velcro straps adhered and screwed to the trunk side walls to minimize blocking trunk access), 19 g Dr Pulley slider weights, DIY backrest (somewhat like the Isuzu style). I would do all of these again, with a couple of caveats. My Givi bags have single access zippers. These bags replaced a cheap set of Rally Pack bags. The Givi's are larger, look and "hang" much nicer but, I prefer the double zippers on the Rally Packs as it makes access much more convenient. I haven't yet had the bike out in all the conditions I want to experience the Dr Pulley sliders in so, haven't made a final decisions on them. Finally, I'm not getting all the functionality I expected from my ScalaRiders. I haven't contacted the company to find out if I am doing something wrong or, if what I am experiencing is simply a limitation of the set (being able to listen to the radio and have intermittent voice communication with the paired headset). Still, I'm pretty happy with everything and consider each piece a great investment and addition.
Mistakes - *Dropping the bike. Even at low speed, the cost of plastic on these things plus a couple of chrome parts adds up fast (if ever in need, Shopzilla has very good prices on OEM parts). *Not thoroughly researching the Givi side bags and realizing they had the single zippers (may not have been a deal breaker after researching alternatives but, I was miffed at myself for missing it). *Purchasing a three-season mesh riding jacket a little small (could wear it year-round if enough room to get inner jacket on under it) with 3/4 sleeves (I think I would have preferred full-length sleeves but, am not sure as this is the only riding jacket I've owned) in black (it looks cool and the reflective parts really stand out for visibility but, could be "cooler" in hot weather). *Not including pants when I was initially acquiring safety gear, and one of my knees suffered from it.
Do - *Take a riding safety course if you haven't done so. *Use head to toe safety gear: Good helmet, hearing protection, gauntlet gloves, armored jacket and pants (I recently purchased some Slider jeans and like them) and over the ankle footwear (I've got some watrproof Merrel hiking shoes with Vibrum soles, and wear them all the time). *Presume people don't see you. *Carry gear for the various weather conditions you may encounter, including rain gear. Being uncomfortable can spoil an otherwise glorious ride. *Pay attention to weather forcasts to avoid getting stuck when roads ice up. *Especially if your bike is black, accessorize it with "super black" reflective tape. It blends well with the plastic but, reflects white. *Learn to do as much as your bike maintenance as you can. Here, I would include some plastic repair. When I dropped my bike, I saved enough by repairing the plastics and having them painted, plus ignoring some minor scratches on chrome parts that I had enough left over from the insurance settlement to almost cover the cost of buying a second bike (which we did, for my wife). *Ride often and go on adventures. *Enjoy the mental picture you know people have when you tell them you ride a scooter, and their reactions when you whip out a picture of it.
Don't - *Drop your bike if you can help it. Avoid the front brake going slow and turning (Maintain slow control such as in a U-turn by keeping revs steady and high enough to partially engage the clutch (4000 rpm) and limiting speed with rear brake.) *Ride on loose gravel. *Not do any of the stuff in the "Do" heading. *Ever loose your Burgman grin!
