"Volcano Grey" Pannier side panels

[Red of Corse]

I'm very happy with the decision to opt for the Volcano Grey side panels:




Taken after the 300km wash!

[Murf46]

Looks good

[Red of Corse]

Thanks, Murf. I had to wait for a cloudy day to take the pictures. When it's sunny, the panels have a blue tinge; when it's late evening, they have a reddish-orange tinge. It all depends on the major light source. The panels here show off an accurate colour of what to expect.

Picked up the bike on Thursday, and have been having a blast! It's very respectful to a rider who hasn't ridden in a quarter century. At first neutral wouldn't offer itself, although sometimes it would wave at me at the stoplight. After a hundred miles, it becomes easier and easier to find.

Had one experience of losing fifth when downshifting on the first day of riding. Generally it conks out when trying to escape the driveway, when cold. Once the clutch warms up, it's fine.

The decision to reset the suspension is still a long way off. I find some curves sometimes require too much effort to keep a straight track-line, even though for the most part it tracks itself beautifully. Brakes are fine, but there is a curious, excessive discolouration of the outer side of the right front disc.

Torque is astonishing; the break-in is sort of a gradual hard break-in, and it hasn't hit more than 6,500 rpm, yet. Momma mia, it's got torque! I now understand the dealer's comment that you have to rein in a 1200/1260, but you can push a 950. Darn, it's so much fun to ride!

These are all issues that have been reported before, here on this forum. I'm very grateful for the pre-warnings of those who have come before; it certainly helps relieve the stress of riding/breaking-in a new model bike. Kind regards to everyone!

[Murf46]

Good repot and very accurate

Great quote
dealer's comment that you have to rein in a 1200/1260, but you can push a 950.

[Conman]

Thanks for that  It'll get better as it loosens up 
If you're riding on those sort of roads I recommend a "fender extender" for the front, I think it makes a difference to how much crud ends up in your radiator.
More info and pictures on the disk discolouration please, that's a new one on me 

[Red of Corse]

@Conman: On the first day of riding, it seemed as if the outer side of the disc was stained brown, in the same way a disc shows "bluing" when the pad is stuck to it. Today, the brown staining is gone. I've noticed that both outer sides of the front discs show more 'pad-burn' than do the inner sides, but no longer does the right outer side show more than the left outer side. Perhaps it was pad dust that made the disc brown?

Thanks for the advice regarding mud and stones. That's not the sideroad, but the driveway. There's only 1/2 mile (1km) of hard-packed gravel road to travel before the bike sees pavement, and the intention for now is to keep it to the pavement for as much as possible.

[Conman]

Sounds like rust to me. Disks can get a light coating of rust but it soon scrubs off 

[Darsey]

Radiator guard is a good investment. I made one from an 3mm aluminium plate and bored 3/5mm holes in it every 10mm. £8.00 of ebay.