939 Video Review (Part 2)

phil808 · Sep 13, 2016

Still besotted. Here's the video review part 2.

Just fitted Dunlop Roadsmarts - more info in part 3.

Cheers,

Phil.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZdHr7CSfEo

DaveTheYank · Sep 13, 2016

Nice review Phil. Beautifully filmed. I just picked up my 939 last week, and I've only been on one proper ride, but I'm loving it too!

I haven't watched any other reviews on your channel apart from the Hyperstrada one, so I didn't get the cheese part, but I live in Australia where humour needs to smack us in the head.

astrocortex · Sep 14, 2016

im sending this to my friend whom I'm trying to convince to buy one. nice work!

RSL · Sep 14, 2016

Always a pleasure to see such effort to create a video with creative photography and original content. Thank-you.

RSL · Sep 14, 2016

1) Spray lube your clips and especially the locking parts on the luggage. Works flawless afterward. Choose your lube wisely, non staining yet long lasting.

2) The Diablo Rosso IIIs will be a pleasure as if they were make for the Hyper.

3) Dirt bike comparison so accurate. Why I ditched the tank bag in favor of smaller handlebar bag. Slide forward for fun.

4) I seldom use rear brake, unless panic stopping, so non issue for me. Rear brakes are mostly for calming handling anyway. (Off road use use of rear brake much different.)

phil808 · Sep 14, 2016

Thanks all - glad you like the video.

@Dave: The cheese came about as usually I do a beer review half-way through and I like to mix things up a bit. And I love beer! As I also love cheese, I thought, well, why not. I reckon in the huge sea of forgettable YT videos someone might just remember the bike video with a piece of cheese in it. But yeah, it's probably my northern English dry humour also

@Astrocortex: Thanks - let me know if it works!

@RSL: Thanks for comments..The HS really deserves a bit of video care and attention. Thanks for the tips also - I'll give the panniers a go in the next day or so. I'm not bothering with a tank-bag either - all I've got is a clear map pocket velcro'ed to the tank. I'm expecting it will fly off at some point but it seems OK at the moment. As for the dirt-bike analogy - I had a XR600 years ago with both dirt and 17" wheels and the HS so reminds of that - the exhaust tone and that kind of slow revving responsiveness you get from a big single.

astrocortex · Sep 14, 2016

RSL said:
1) Spray lube your clips and especially the locking parts on the luggage. Works flawless afterward. Choose your lube wisely, non staining yet long lasting.

2) The Diablo Rosso IIIs will be a pleasure as if they were make for the Hyper.

3) Dirt bike comparison so accurate. Why I ditched the tank bag in favor of smaller handlebar bag. Slide forward for fun.

4) I seldom use rear brake, unless panic stopping, so non issue for me. Rear brakes are mostly for calming handling anyway. (Off road use use of rear brake much different.)

I'm starting to think I'm the only person left that trail brakes... I rarely depress only the rear or only the front. Depending on the situation, a slight touch of either can settle the bike so the brake that is being called for can do its job safely. I come from dirt bikes though, so for me its a logical progression.

Anyway, I love my rear brake. Do not fear it, fear slamming on it! The front forks on this bike are pretty soft, so I find the only problem I've had with the brakes is if I overbrake the front. It dives REALLY fast.

If you've never read the keith code books, they are really worth the read. I had been riding my whole life, got those books and studied them because I couldn't believe how much I actually didn't know. Or didn't know why I did something that was probably learned from wiping out on the dirt. Better to learn from the book than the ground lol

I also am liking my pilot road 4s much more than the Pirelli. But in defense of the Pirelli, they were the originals on a 2013 with 1000 miles. So I'd guess they probably started getting a bit stiff with age. Swapping them to the michelins last week has made HUGE differences in cornering stability. I was starting to lose the rear a lot with the pirellis (which I admittedly love to have happen, when I expect it) but the michelins are like glue right now. In a few thousand I'll swap back to pirellis.

kuksul08 · Sep 14, 2016

astrocortex said:
I'm starting to think I'm the only person left that trail brakes... I rarely depress only the rear or only the front. Depending on the situation, a slight touch of either can settle the bike so the brake that is being called for can do its job safely. I come from dirt bikes though, so for me its a logical progression.

Anyway, I love my rear brake. Do not fear it, fear slamming on it! The front forks on this bike are pretty soft, so I find the only problem I've had with the brakes is if I overbrake the front. It dives REALLY fast.

If you've never read the keith code books, they are really worth the read. I had been riding my whole life, got those books and studied them because I couldn't believe how much I actually didn't know. Or didn't know why I did something that was probably learned from wiping out on the dirt. Better to learn from the book than the ground lol

I also am liking my pilot road 4s much more than the Pirelli. But in defense of the Pirelli, they were the originals on a 2013 with 1000 miles. So I'd guess they probably started getting a bit stiff with age. Swapping them to the michelins last week has made HUGE differences in cornering stability. I was starting to lose the rear a lot with the pirellis (which I admittedly love to have happen, when I expect it) but the michelins are like glue right now. In a few thousand I'll swap back to pirellis.

I use the rear brake in most turns, especially the tighter ones. It helps steer the bike so much and keeps everything really well balanced. Also came from dirtbikes, where rear brake is pretty essential!

I am thinking of trying the Bridgestone T30 EVO's next. Maybe they will last longer than 1200 miles...

phil808 · Sep 18, 2016

Evening...as a prelude to review #3, I'm 2 days in, have done around 900 miles, with 400 of those in torrential rain. I'm totally soaked, but the bike has been brilliant even fully loaded in the rain. Total control is a phrase Honda use, with the HS it's total confidence - I've been cruising at 85mph, with standing water and none of that floating slightly nervous sensation I've had with other bikes..I had to kill some miles on the motorway, but even going in and out of services stations is fun. Has that ever been said before? What I find amazing is the stability on the motorway, it tracks like something 7 feet longer. Tyres are Roadsmart 3 - completely fab.

Currently getting 50 mpg and no problems at all...2000 miles on the clock.

Cheers,

Phil.

939 Video Review (Part 2)

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