---Original Message---
From: nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com
Sent: 3/9/2012 11:55 am
To: nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Well?
*Ron I think your assessment of the GL1100 is insightful and comprehensive.
And you're right, the low-speed footwork issue improves with time.
Personally that was my 5th Goldwing so I was more accustomed to adjusting.
Obviously you can remove the engine guards if you desire. I only put them
on so I could mount highway pegs. When going down the highway I love being
able to sit back with my feet forward and being able to lean back against a
driver backrest. Allows me to go many more miles than if I were just
sitting straight up.*
*
*
*As for handling, you're wording about it being "deceptively light and
easy" is so true. People tend to look at the bulk of a Wing and assume they
are gonna handle like the Titanic trying to get around an iceberg, but once
the Wing is moving they are quite nimble and responsive.**
Paul LeBoutillier
*
*
*
*www.hondanighthawks.net*
On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 11:34 PM, surfswab <surfs...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Good question.
>
> Compared to my NH750, first impression is just pure riding comfort.
> You hear people say it's an old man's bike. Well, I AM an old man and
> it's true. I would compare its ride quality to a Chevy Camaro vs.
> maybe a modern Caddy or Lincoln Town Car.
>
> But It doesn't wallow or float, just kinda takes the bumps in stride
> with well-damped rhythm and keeps on motorin'. It's definitely not a
> bouncy machine. Part of that is due to weight. It topped out on our
> freight scale at 680 lbs., semi-wet (about a gallon and a half of gas
> in a 5-gallon tank)
>
> Second, is available torque. It's a low-revving motor to start with,
> comparatively-speaking, and the power band is down low, not up in nose-
> bleed territory near the red line like most Japanese bikes. I tried
> roll ons in every gear and was very satisfied with the response.
>
> Acceleration is not hyper like the 750. It's much more subtle and I
> found myself going faster than I actually perceived, based on gear
> selection and engine sound. Exhaust note is very mellow and the motor
> just doesn't sound like its working all that hard.
>
> My quibble at the moment, based on very little riding, is low-speed
> footwork. Though the seat height is just about the same, the opposed-
> cylinder engine is much wider than the 750, I found it more difficult
> to get my long legs away from the motor and my feet down smoothly,
> coming to a stop -- and up on the pegs from a standing start. Part of
> that is probly habit and unfamiliarity, but it seems awkward. A
> contributing factor is this bike has crash bars that stick out another
> few inches beyond the cylinders and the foot pegs are very close to
> the cylinder heads.
>
> An oddity is handling, compared to the 750. The gas tank and bulk of
> the engine are below seat-height on this bike, so the center of
> gravity is not that high off the ground. Handling is deceptively
> light and easy for a relatively heavy bike.
>
> Fit and finish are, no question, superior to the 750. A review I read
> described it as over-engineered and I tend to agree. But I'd be quick
> to add that I've developed a new found appreciation for over-
> engineered machines.
>
> This is not your cross-town errand runner. It's a road warrior, and I
> like that.
>
> Anyway, that's what little I know, based on a hundred miles or so of
> piddlin' around with it.
>
>
>
> On Mar 8, 10:12 pm, "Allen Thomas" <althomas...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > So now that you have had a decent ride on her, what are your thoughts?
> > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: surfswab <surfs...@gmail.com>
> >
> > Sender: nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com
> > Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 17:00:00
> > To: Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!<nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com>
> > Reply-To: nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com
> > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Well?
> >
> > Okaaay...bike's titled, tagged, gassed and ensconsed in its new home.
> > Had to rent a bigger space it'll share with its NH750 roomie and
> > assorted household flotsam. But it's all by its lonesome for the time
> > being.
> >
> > Since it's now legal I had to ride it there by way of McDonough (for
> > non-Georgians, that's not real far, but it's not a straight line from
> > Conley to Forest Park either, if you catch my drift). Took about all
> > the daylight I had left after dealing with motor vehicle bureaucrats
> > most of the day.
> >
> > I'll be looking for the care package, Paul. Got a tracking number?
> >
> > On Mar 8, 4:21 am, Paul LeBoutillier <paul.leb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Wonderful! I couldn't be happier.
> >
> > > Oregon also requires a VIN inspection on all out-of-state transfers but
> > > those are done at the DMV office at the time of registration.
> >
> > > I'm glad the GL made the trip safely. :-)
> >
> > > Sent from my Xoom Tablet powered by Android
> > > On Mar 7, 2012 6:00 PM, "surfswab" <surfs...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > > Indeed it did. In fact, I left the house this morning about 10
> > > > expecting to camp out at my workplace and wait out their 11 a.m. - 1
> > > > p.m. delivery window.
> >
> > > > But as I pulled in the driveway at about 10:20 the truck was right
> > > > behind me. We had the bike off, inspected and paperwork done by
> > > > 10:30 !!
> >
> > > > All was intact and it looks gorgeous -- better than the pics even.
> > > > Put a little gas in it and tooled around our lot some. Starts good,
> > > > runs good, rides like my living room sofa would if it had wheels.
> >
> > > > That was the best part of the day, however. Georgia requires a "VIN
> > > > Inspection" before they'll allow out-of-state registration. A semi-
> > > > cool feature of that is any beat cop can do it -- and they'll come to
> > > > you -- record the number and run it thru their "hot sheet" computer
> to
> > > > see if it's been reported stolen.
> >
> > > > The not-so-cool feature is that because it's a low priority call,
> they
> > > > take their sweet time. Called 'em before noon, but they didn't show
> > > > until after 4, so the tag/title offices were closed by the time that
> > > > little piece of work was done.
> >
> > > > I used the time to get acquainted with the bike, though, so it wasn't
> > > > a total waste. That means I'll burn a good bit of daylight tomorrow
> > > > waiting in line to transfer title -- and again, in a different
> > > > location, getting license plates.
> >
> > > > Bike is sweet, though, and I'm a happy camper.
> >
> > > > On Mar 7, 3:30 pm, Paul <p...@hondanighthawks.net> wrote:
> > > > > *Hey Ron, did the bike arrive? *
> > > > > *
> >
> > > > > Paul LeBoutillier
> > > > > *
> > > > > *
> > > > > *
> > > > > *www.hondanighthawks.net*
> >
> > > > --
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