340 lbs is heavy to a beginner!

[VTXorcist]

Just wanted to comment about my wife's initial reaction to the GZ. She'd been riding 2-up on my VTX1300 for the past 3 years, and she's gotten used to larger cruisers. She thought the GZ looked "tiny" when she saw it and I was honestly afraid we were going to end up having to get her a 600 to start on (which would've been dangerous and expensive). However, after a lot of discussion we ended up getting the GZ.

The other day, she tried to walk the bike around our parking lot for a little bit, just to get a feel for it. Boy, was she surprised at how heavy 340 lbs can be! Now, she's very happy she'll be starting on the GZ. I think the fact that I always come home with an ear-to-ear grin after taking it for a cruise helps, too!

[mrlmd1]

Mine is 302 lbs. - a '99.

[VTXorcist]

Sorry, meant wet weight. Mine's 302 dry and a '99 as well. :)

[Easy Rider]

Sorry, meant wet weight. Mine's 302 dry and a '99 as well. :)

Never mind HIM. :shocked:

We tend to take a detour into Nit Picking Land occasionally !! :roll:

And, yes, I do it too. :biggrin:

[mrlmd1]

Just playing around and trying to figure out why it's so heavy.
Gas weighs about 6 lbs./gal x 3.2gal = about 19 lbs. full tank.
Oil weighs about 7 lbs./gal., oil capacity is 1400cc, that's about 2.45 lbs. ( trust me, or figure it out yourself).
So maybe wet, it would be about 320-322lbs.
What else do you have on there ? Windshield? Bags?
Tell your wife not to complain so much, it's only 320 lbs. - much lighter than she thought.
Ha, ha. :roll: :)

[Water Warrior 2]

320 is light until it is laying on your leg. Don't ask me how I know. And YES, it will leave a mark. :lol:

[VTXorcist]

Heh I was guesstimating 340 lbs wet since I know water weighs about 9 lbs/gallon. I didn't realize gas was so much lighter. 320-322 sounds closer to the mark from mrlmd1's analysis.

[alantf]

320 is light until it is laying on your leg. Don't ask me how I know. And YES, it will leave a mark. :lol:

That's what "engine protectors" are for! I wouldn't ride without one. In England they're known as "crash bars". It certainly saved my leg a couple of months ago when a car sideswiped me, & the bike went over. The crash bar got badly bent, but my leg was undamaged :2tup:

[Water Warrior 2]

320 is light until it is laying on your leg. Don't ask me how I know. And YES, it will leave a mark. :lol:

That's what "engine protectors" are for! I wouldn't ride without one. In England they're known as "crash bars". It certainly saved my leg a couple of months ago when a car sideswiped me, & the bike went over. The crash bar got badly bent, but my leg was undamaged :2tup:
Sacrificial bars are better than a sacrificial leg. Same rule applies to helmets and all the rest of that stuff I wear. Some of us old guys just do not heal all that well.

[mrlmd1]

Sacrificial bars are better than a sacrificial leg. Same rule applies to helmets and all the rest of that stuff I wear. Some of us old guys just do not heal all that well.

Maybe the idea is not to have to heal at all.

[Water Warrior 2]

Sacrificial bars are better than a sacrificial leg. Same rule applies to helmets and all the rest of that stuff I wear. Some of us old guys just do not heal all that well.

Maybe the idea is not to have to heal at all.

Totally agree. So far my theory works, no riding gear = no riding. The only time I hurt is from doing maintenance on the bikes and too much twisting or kneeling is involved. And of course the answer to that is exercise exercise exercise.

[Easy Rider]

**ALL** of us old guys just do not heal all that well.

Fixed that for you! :biggrin: