Well, just been out on the first (brief 20 mile) run on the X-Max. Also my first time on a bike since last summer so I was a little nervous. How was it? Not bad at all although nothing like the grunt of the Norton. Oddly, the suspension also seems bouncier and clunkier than the antique plungers on the Norton which are like a magic carpet in comparison.

It needs a very conscious effort not to treat the rear brake as a clutch (failed a couple of times) and it’s very odd having nothing to do with my feet. Slow corners were a bit threepenny-bit but it was fine on the sweeping bends of the A4189 out to Henley and back. It ran up to an indicated 70 fairly readily and with no fuss. I even got a nod from a kitted-up GS rider coming the other way.

All in all I’m very pleased I went for it. Getting on was OK but getting off again when I got home was a bit of a struggle as I had to use my right (defective) leg to hold it up while I searched for the prop stand which is lurking under the side fairing. An extension may help. Or maybe training wheels. I’m looking forward to some longer runs….

Don't worry about the phantom clutch thing, we all do it. It's far worse the other way when you pull in the clutch and expect to slow down

At least you are having fun on the bike. That's the main thing! Ride often, post often. Good luck!

Transitioning from bikes to a scooter (arrives tomorrow).
Any tips on not treating the rear brake lever as a clutch lever…????

If you forget about gears and treat it like an automatic car, twist to go, and go faster, both the brakes are on the handlebars. After awhile, it seems perfectly natural.

chinnorbiker wrote: Thu Nov 25, 2021 7:49 pm Transitioning from bikes to a scooter (arrives tomorrow).
Any tips on not treating the rear brake lever as a clutch lever…????

I don't find it too difficult to go from bike to scooter because the riding position is very different. My problem is that my bikes are a mixture of new(ish) and old some have the gear lever on the left others on the right and they are a mixture of up for up and up for down. So what happens in practice is that I take gear changes very carefully until I have acclimatized then still sometimes get it wrong if I try to hurry!

Having ridden conventional bikes for 50+ years with gears / brakes on both sides and shift patterns patterns, I've always used the "both hands" rule for any emergency - leave the feet alone (rear brake doesn't do a lot on a "normal" bike and gears can be left alone) and pulled the clutch right in while progressively applying the front brake. However of course this results in a lurid slide with a left hand bar controlled rear brake.....

Time for some unlearning although "emergency" situations are thankfully rare.

Thanks for the сmoments

Comments; not “cmoments”
Dooohhhhh….…Management will tell me to visit the memory clinic….

chinnorbiker wrote: Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:47 pm
Dooohhhhh….…Management will tell me to visit the memory clinic….

I'd remind you myself, but you'd only forget....