I am privileged to proudly present Alegany, lil’ Red’s big sister. Y’all know how I luvs lil’ Red my Versys, so to include Alegany in her family is the highest of praise. Along our route, I determined Alegany is female because she is way too composed, confident and competent to be male Well, that and I checked to see! ;D
Enroute and after a little coaxing, this fine blue young lass revealed to me her name. Alegany followed me home on a 235 mile all byways and backways route south along the toe of the Allegheny Front (eastern continental divide) and subsequently thru the southern heart of her namesake mountains.
Initial impressions: she handles very light and likes to be hustled thru the twisties. Stable and content in all conditions encountered thus far, including seeking out some BIG potholes on the backways just to see how she would do…very easy and solid when up on the pegs, chassis remains unruffled; she just steps over them with ease. Stock suspension settings are a bit stiff, though they may prove to be just right for two-up. Spkldoe and me will soon find out.
Gearbox is VERRy smooth…like a Gixxer..snick, snick, snick either up or down, makes an FJR’s rig look like Fred Flintstone’s car.
Her legs are a little long, so easy does it when turning around at slow speeds. Oops, wrong turn in the dark, I hit gravel and being as how Spkldoe hadn’t met her, I just did not have the heart to dust her up thoroughly on her maiden voyage. I bugged her up enough as it is. I will try the seat in the low position and will rotate bars towards me just a bit. Levers need to be brought a bit closer from stock setting and all will be good.
To me, the saddle is hard as a brick; heads above most stock seats surely (especially compared to lil Red’s!), but definitely not a Russell DayLong. I foresee a Spencer Mod over what I hope will be a very brief winter.
Good headlight, but I will immediately open a save your pennies account for auxillary driving lights …definitely need to see a wider field when negotiating turns on night maneuvers. On our way home, we hit Deerfield Valley Road off U.S. 250 right at dusk and the forest rats made clear their steadfast resolve to live up to their valleys name; definitely need mo’ light.
Risers, hmmm, maybe but not yet decided; position when standing is VERY good now; requires more miles to determine. Brakes, controls and such all good. Very anxious to see how the ABS system performs offroad when Alegany is all scrubbed in.
This bonny beauty’s immediate lingerie will include: AltRider crash bars, skid plate and tail rack in sexy black, Givi 46L Trekker topcase (ooo shiny) w/ Spkldoe’s backrest and luggage rack atop; 36L Caribou side cases mounted on SW-Motech sideracks for tarmac but Nelson Rigg softbags when on designated offroad journeys; and DirtSkins fork seal covers (kudos to Combo) and Fenda Extenda from Pyramid Plastics. Farkle shipments enroute as I type (kudos to AltRider and especially to my pal Alex).
If I ever emerge from behind the poor farm fence, additional near term farkles will be Aux driving lights, fuse block and power receptacles. Long-range wish list: A SPOT Tracker, Wasp’s adjustable windshield bracket, a GPS mount and GPS, and a headlight protector.
I’m goin’ out now and pat Alegany on the butt! Spklbuk long time gone…
alegany
Enroute and after a little coaxing, this fine blue young lass revealed to me her name. Alegany followed me home on a 235 mile all byways and backways route south along the toe of the Allegheny Front (eastern continental divide) and subsequently thru the southern heart of her namesake mountains.
Initial impressions: she handles very light and likes to be hustled thru the twisties. Stable and content in all conditions encountered thus far, including seeking out some BIG potholes on the backways just to see how she would do…very easy and solid when up on the pegs, chassis remains unruffled; she just steps over them with ease. Stock suspension settings are a bit stiff, though they may prove to be just right for two-up. Spkldoe and me will soon find out.
Gearbox is VERRy smooth…like a Gixxer..snick, snick, snick either up or down, makes an FJR’s rig look like Fred Flintstone’s car.
Her legs are a little long, so easy does it when turning around at slow speeds. Oops, wrong turn in the dark, I hit gravel and being as how Spkldoe hadn’t met her, I just did not have the heart to dust her up thoroughly on her maiden voyage. I bugged her up enough as it is. I will try the seat in the low position and will rotate bars towards me just a bit. Levers need to be brought a bit closer from stock setting and all will be good.
To me, the saddle is hard as a brick; heads above most stock seats surely (especially compared to lil Red’s!), but definitely not a Russell DayLong. I foresee a Spencer Mod over what I hope will be a very brief winter.
Good headlight, but I will immediately open a save your pennies account for auxillary driving lights …definitely need to see a wider field when negotiating turns on night maneuvers. On our way home, we hit Deerfield Valley Road off U.S. 250 right at dusk and the forest rats made clear their steadfast resolve to live up to their valleys name; definitely need mo’ light.
Risers, hmmm, maybe but not yet decided; position when standing is VERY good now; requires more miles to determine. Brakes, controls and such all good. Very anxious to see how the ABS system performs offroad when Alegany is all scrubbed in.
This bonny beauty’s immediate lingerie will include: AltRider crash bars, skid plate and tail rack in sexy black, Givi 46L Trekker topcase (ooo shiny) w/ Spkldoe’s backrest and luggage rack atop; 36L Caribou side cases mounted on SW-Motech sideracks for tarmac but Nelson Rigg softbags when on designated offroad journeys; and DirtSkins fork seal covers (kudos to Combo) and Fenda Extenda from Pyramid Plastics. Farkle shipments enroute as I type (kudos to AltRider and especially to my pal Alex).
If I ever emerge from behind the poor farm fence, additional near term farkles will be Aux driving lights, fuse block and power receptacles. Long-range wish list: A SPOT Tracker, Wasp’s adjustable windshield bracket, a GPS mount and GPS, and a headlight protector.
I’m goin’ out now and pat Alegany on the butt! Spklbuk long time gone…
alegany
