Took a 40min ride today. Temp low to mid 40's, sunny day, 10+/- MPH winds, roads clear. I'm 5'10", 30" inseam (short legs and long torso) and 188lbs. I had on sport riding boots, Freeze Out long johns under lined mesh riding pants, Freeze Out long sleeve shirt under a t-shirt under a Hotwire (similar to First Gear) heated jacket liner under a quilt lined mesh riding jacket, Hotwire heated gloves, and Shoei GT-Air helmet.
I adjusted the windscreen to about 85% up, heated grips to high (10 on a low of 1 to a high of 10 scale), seat in the lowest position (cannot flat foot but I still feel in control), handlebars in the middle position, no luggage attached.
I started with the Preload set to One Rider w/out luggage - this can only be set when the bike is stationary. I also set the Drive Mode at Touring (only adjustable with the throttle off) and the Dampening at Soft 0. Riding along straight and smooth roads this setup feels plush...kind of like a big Cadillac. Go around some curves, especially with bumps, and I feel disconnected from the road and a bit unsteady. I changed to Hard 0 and it felt so much more secure and able to be pushed. Changing to Standard 0 and it was a good compromise between the two...this will be my usual suspension setting for general riding. For those who don't know, there are three suspension settings: Hard, Standard, and Soft, all of which can be changed on the fly. Within each of these, there are SEVEN levels, from -3 to 0 to +3, which require the bike to be NOT MOVING to adjust. Do the math and that is a total of 21 different suspension settings.
The cruise is simple to use, just like the one in cars. Turn it on with the push of the On/Off button on the left side then set it with the push of a toggle. Adjust one MPH up by pushing the +/Resume (up) toggle and one MPH down by pushing the -/Set (down) toggle. There are three ways to deactivate the cruise: tap either break lever, pull in the clutch or push the Cruise ON/Off button. New for 2014, you can set the cruise above 82 MPH and also increase it from there all the way up to 100 MPH. I set it at 82 and increased it to 85 with no issues!
Cruising at 70 MPH the RPMs are 3700. Observing the manufacturer's recommendation, I kept the revs below 4500. This is required until 600 Miles, at which time the Oil, Oil Filter and Final Drive Oil all need to be changed. Then, the revs can go up to 5400 until 1000 miles. After that, only the 9000 RPM is your limit. I felt no buzziness or additional vibration from the 1050 RPM idle up to the temporary limit of 4500 RPM .
I adjusted the windshield from all the way down to all the way up and many points in between to determine what setting worked well for my height and helmet. With the windshield up about 85% of its travel and my helmet top vent close, it was the lowest amount of noise I’ve ever had riding. The wind seemed to hit me at the top of my faceshield and moving it down created more noise and turbulence as well as more cold air. When I moved the windshield up the quite air and turbulence moved a bit and I did not like how it felt compared to the 85% setting. Compared to my ’08, Yamaha has done something different in the design of the shield and/or airflow underneath to create a more effective still-air bubble at a usable position. Note, Gen 2 windshields will NOT fit the Gen 3 (or at least not the 2014) bracket. The holes do not match up and the ’14 does not have the hole (or the middle trim piece) in the middle center where the trim piece for the Gen 2 attaches.
With my layers and the bikes wind protection, I did NOT turn on my heated jacket liner or gloves. I was very comfortable and alternated the Grip Heaters between Med (5) and High (10). I did not try changing the position of the “adjustable” wings on the side fairing since I’ve read that most people who have cannot determine if there is any difference between up or down. I may try this in a later ride. I also rode tonight in low 40 degree temps and without the sun shining, it felt cooler outside, to the point that if I rode more than 30 minutes, I’d probably turn on my heated jacket liner. My hands were still comfortable, but I kept the Grip Heater on High the entire ride.
Well, that is the full review. I hope it answers some questions others may have. If you have any specific scenarios or questions, I’m happy to try to answer them. Note, I will be trying Two Riders with and without luggage over the next few months. My wife has been down at her mom’s for Thanksgiving and is still not available to do this yet!
Two Brothers Exhaust
My cord for heated gear and battery tender.
I adjusted the windscreen to about 85% up, heated grips to high (10 on a low of 1 to a high of 10 scale), seat in the lowest position (cannot flat foot but I still feel in control), handlebars in the middle position, no luggage attached.
I started with the Preload set to One Rider w/out luggage - this can only be set when the bike is stationary. I also set the Drive Mode at Touring (only adjustable with the throttle off) and the Dampening at Soft 0. Riding along straight and smooth roads this setup feels plush...kind of like a big Cadillac. Go around some curves, especially with bumps, and I feel disconnected from the road and a bit unsteady. I changed to Hard 0 and it felt so much more secure and able to be pushed. Changing to Standard 0 and it was a good compromise between the two...this will be my usual suspension setting for general riding. For those who don't know, there are three suspension settings: Hard, Standard, and Soft, all of which can be changed on the fly. Within each of these, there are SEVEN levels, from -3 to 0 to +3, which require the bike to be NOT MOVING to adjust. Do the math and that is a total of 21 different suspension settings.
The cruise is simple to use, just like the one in cars. Turn it on with the push of the On/Off button on the left side then set it with the push of a toggle. Adjust one MPH up by pushing the +/Resume (up) toggle and one MPH down by pushing the -/Set (down) toggle. There are three ways to deactivate the cruise: tap either break lever, pull in the clutch or push the Cruise ON/Off button. New for 2014, you can set the cruise above 82 MPH and also increase it from there all the way up to 100 MPH. I set it at 82 and increased it to 85 with no issues!
Cruising at 70 MPH the RPMs are 3700. Observing the manufacturer's recommendation, I kept the revs below 4500. This is required until 600 Miles, at which time the Oil, Oil Filter and Final Drive Oil all need to be changed. Then, the revs can go up to 5400 until 1000 miles. After that, only the 9000 RPM is your limit. I felt no buzziness or additional vibration from the 1050 RPM idle up to the temporary limit of 4500 RPM .
I adjusted the windshield from all the way down to all the way up and many points in between to determine what setting worked well for my height and helmet. With the windshield up about 85% of its travel and my helmet top vent close, it was the lowest amount of noise I’ve ever had riding. The wind seemed to hit me at the top of my faceshield and moving it down created more noise and turbulence as well as more cold air. When I moved the windshield up the quite air and turbulence moved a bit and I did not like how it felt compared to the 85% setting. Compared to my ’08, Yamaha has done something different in the design of the shield and/or airflow underneath to create a more effective still-air bubble at a usable position. Note, Gen 2 windshields will NOT fit the Gen 3 (or at least not the 2014) bracket. The holes do not match up and the ’14 does not have the hole (or the middle trim piece) in the middle center where the trim piece for the Gen 2 attaches.
With my layers and the bikes wind protection, I did NOT turn on my heated jacket liner or gloves. I was very comfortable and alternated the Grip Heaters between Med (5) and High (10). I did not try changing the position of the “adjustable” wings on the side fairing since I’ve read that most people who have cannot determine if there is any difference between up or down. I may try this in a later ride. I also rode tonight in low 40 degree temps and without the sun shining, it felt cooler outside, to the point that if I rode more than 30 minutes, I’d probably turn on my heated jacket liner. My hands were still comfortable, but I kept the Grip Heater on High the entire ride.
Well, that is the full review. I hope it answers some questions others may have. If you have any specific scenarios or questions, I’m happy to try to answer them. Note, I will be trying Two Riders with and without luggage over the next few months. My wife has been down at her mom’s for Thanksgiving and is still not available to do this yet!
Two Brothers Exhaust
My cord for heated gear and battery tender.
