`27 801 SE

[CurveRider]

Hi all. I'm a newbie here and bought a 801 a few days ago (sight unseen) after watching several video reviews which sold me on the bike. The OEM tires were swapped for Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4 tires and I headed for the nearby Tail-of-the-Dragon for tire-scuffing and to explore the 801. After some intense curves and feeling the great roll-on torque, I knew it was the right bike. Bar-end mirrors also replaced the OEM mirrors and I'm looking for a tail tidy and other mods. When I got home from the first ride, there was a puddle of oil on the floor and thought I already had an output shaft leak until I realized it was just excessive chain grease that had collected around the countershaft sprocket and dripped down. Relief...! Cheers from the Smoky Mountains.

 

[Dhd12]

Hi all. I'm a newbie here and bought a 801 a few days ago (sight unseen) after watching several video reviews which sold me on the bike. The OEM tires were swapped for Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4 tires and I headed for the nearby Tail-of-the-Dragon for tire-scuffing and to explore the 801. After some intense curves and feeling the great roll-on torque, I knew it was the right bike. Bar-end mirrors also replaced the OEM mirrors and I'm looking for a tail tidy and other mods. When I got home from the first ride, there was a puddle of oil on the floor and thought I already had an output shaft leak until I realized it was just excessive chain grease that had collected around the countershaft sprocket and dripped down. Relief...! Cheers from the Smoky Mountains.

View attachment 8952

Hi and welcome to the forum. You need to keep an eye on your toes. The inside one looks close to the tarmac and you don,t have much lean angle in this photo.

 

[Eames5]

Welcome to the forum. I’m glad to hear it was only excessive chain grease you found and not an oil leak. Have fun out there.

 

[Husquito]

A puddle of oil after the ride being chain grease?

I would check again after cleaning it/riding it.
Alot of bikes have the seal leaking and is an easy fix under warranty.

 

[CurveRider]

Hi and welcome to the forum. You need to keep an eye on your toes. The inside one looks close to the tarmac and you don,t have much lean angle in this photo.

Thanks for the welcome and advice. You probably know that life is rarely as simple as it appears in a single photo. You astutely observed that my lean angle is shallow but my modus operandi does not show in the photo. I adjust my feet positions proportionally with the lean angle--upward as the lean angle increases and downward as it decreases. I do that because, at almost 83 years of age (with two artificial hips and bone-on-bone arthritis in my knees, ankles and feet), it hurts too much not to. My technique allows me to sport-ride with much younger mountain twisty riders which I enjoy immensely on the nearby Dragon. Should you be able to ride in your 80's, I can only hope your form will be more ideal than mine.

 

[CurveRider]

A puddle of oil after the ride being chain grease?

I would check again after cleaning it/riding it.
Alot of bikes have the seal leaking and is an easy fix under warranty.

Yes, I understand. It was the first ride on the bike and the dealer had "greased" the chain heavily. The puddle was actually a thick, lumpy pile. Otherwise, I would be concerned. Subsequent rides show no drips.

 

[Jester1971]

Awesome, I hope I'm riding still at nearly 83. My little 401 knackers me out and I'm "only" 55. Enjoy your lovely new bike, ride safe.

 

[blue_monkey]

Congrats and welcome! Bike looks great and you are obviously having a ton of fun... happy days!

 

[Dhd12]

Thanks for the welcome and advice. You probably know that life is rarely as simple as it appears in a single photo. You astutely observed that my lean angle is shallow but my modus operandi does not show in the photo. I adjust my feet positions proportionally with the lean angle--upward as the lean angle increases and downward as it decreases. I do that because, at almost 83 years of age (with two artificial hips and bone-on-bone arthritis in my knees, ankles and feet), it hurts too much not to. My technique allows me to sport-ride with much younger mountain twisty riders which I enjoy immensely on the nearby Dragon. Should you be able to ride in your 80's, I can only hope your form will be more ideal than mine.

@CurveRider, as we get older things definitely get more complicated. As a mere 71 year old my problem is hips and the ability to extend my knees to enable the slider to tarmac interaction I use to get. All I get now is pain. The comment was not meant as criticism ( I caught a boot many moons ago, ripping the sole loose and pulling my foot back at a painful angle ) I can only hope to still be fit enough to ride at your age.
How are you liking the bike? I am thinking of changing mine as we seem to be getting more and more gravel on the rural mountain roads here in Andalusia. Maybe an adventure/trail style bike. Time will tell. Saludos

 

[CurveRider]

Ahhhh...yes, the bike!
After almost 4 dozen fine 2 wheelers in 69 riding years, the 801 promises to be a keeper alongside my KTM 390 SuMo. The 801's torque, sharp handling, relative uniqueness and comfort (to my surprise), add up to exceptional joy in my world. Cheers!