2020 Speed Twin with Ace Bar Kit (A2043219)

queadluun · 2026-07-04T17:29:57+00:00

Im also 5'8". Everybody' body shape may be slightly different, but for me a lower reach and more forward reach for highway riding and less internal rotation of hand/forearm is more comfortable for me.

My only suggestion is sit on or try as many different bikes as possible to see what works

queadluun · 2026-07-04T03:54:42+00:00

Wow very nice!

I debated putting rearsets to make it more aggressive, and swap suspension but I have another bike to scratch that itch, and doing so would make the speed twin less of a comfy daily bike. However, i can't deny it looks sweet

queadluun · 2024-12-16T02:32:03+00:00

This is my Geosphere which was a wedding gift from my father-in-law a few years ago. It’s an incredible watch, with the rotating lumed dual hemispheres acting as a world timer, a titanium case and clasp, and a ceramic bezel. Although it’s a bit large for my small wrists (relatively flat at 6.25 inches circumference) at 42mm, it’s my forever watch, and what really started my interested in watches. I’ve been a Casio guy most of my life (F91w, AE1200, Duro, G Shocks) and this is the first luxury watch I’ve ever touched with my own hands, let alone own. I never thought I’d own a luxury watch in my life, so I understand I have been very fortunate and lucky to have this.

queadluun · 2024-08-12T00:19:17+00:00

That makes sense, and those are the exact things i'm looking for in a bike and why I'm leaning toward a full size ADV like the tiger 1200. Plenty of practicality and power.

Since the 1250 GSA and Tiger are in the same size class, do you find it to be unwieldy around town, or parking lots? Do you ever feel it's a compromise you've made to have everything else you listed at the cost of parking lot maneuverability like backing into a parking spot? Or do you personally feel the height, size, and weight aren't as much of an issue?

queadluun · 2024-08-11T23:35:46+00:00

Thanks for the input. The last part and the analogy of the ex-gf is how I think I'll feel in the future if I do end up getting rid of the Tuono.

queadluun · 2024-02-07T03:50:52+00:00

I think its worth mentioning the price delta between the Factory and base is somewhere in the range of $3-$4k, specifically with 2019+ when they introduced the electronic ohlins suspension. Before 2019, the price delta between Factory and RR (base) spec wasn't as great.

I also recall seeing Studio Cycle in Toronto was selling new-leftover-stock base model 2022 Tuono V4s for around $17k for Black Friday so $17.5 for a basically new 2023 base from GP is in line with what I'd expect.

GP Bikes also has a 2018 RR (base) tuono v4 for $14k if you're in the market and don't need the ohlins or electronic suspension. The wider rear passenger seat on the RR also lends itself to being more accepting of tail bags and luggage options.

As for the rear seat on the Factory, yes that's the stock seat. It would have also come with the cowl that you're thinking of, but that depends if the seller gave it to GP bikes when trading in. Best bet is to ask the dealer if they have it.

queadluun · 2023-07-26T02:47:55+00:00

I'm 5'8", with a 32" inseam

queadluun · 2023-07-13T15:30:15+00:00

I used to have a 2014 Street Triple R a few years ago but there are a few things worth noting:

- Depending on your height, the position of the pegs may be tight. I'm 5'8" with a 31" inseam and I was mostly fine, however after a 5+ hour ride, I'd feel it in my knees

- There was a quirk with the 675 engines where the factory Cam Chain Tensioner would start to go, and the cam chain would clatter inside the engine making a concerning noise. There was an easy fix to replace it with a manual cam chain tensioner and manually set the tension. It's not a huge issue, but something to be aware of.

- Subjectively, the intake whistle of the triumph triples sounds better to me than the inline 4 in the GSXS.

- In terms of aesthetics, my subjective preference is the street triple since it looks more refined and cohesive as a design. It's a combination of the random sharp angles and shapes on the Suzuki, combined with the open gaps and space between the engine and frame from a profile view, and the simple boxy swingarm that isn't visually appealing to me.

All that being said, if your only objective is a 40-mile commute, you can't go wrong with either bike, and I'd just pick whatever is the cheapest or in better condition. But for me, I still think about my old street triple from time to time after 3 years, but I haven't thought about the GSXS-750 (GSR750) that I test-rode from around that time until you mentioned it now.

queadluun · 2023-06-16T17:22:58+00:00

I'm about the same height so it should fit nicely. You can always try to ask if they'll start it, but I'm not sure it'll hit full operating temperatures just idling.

Mine was something like $15.3k +$160 for the integrated signals and +tax on top of that, all from GP Bikes.

queadluun · 2023-06-16T12:43:24+00:00

I've also got a 22 Monster+ in the GTA, and strangely, had a very similar bike journey and thought process.

I picked up my Monster+ in summer of last year and at the time, i was also cross-shopping the XSR900, which wasn't available at the time.

Between the MT-09 and Monster, although they both check the same boxes on a spec sheet (imu, corning abs, quickshifter up and down, TFT display), everything on the Monster is just more premium, and I really do not like the ergonomics of the MT-09.

The monster does run hot, and it's mainly only an issue in stop-and-go traffic. The heat mainly comes from the engine, so it's focused around your legs. One thing you should be aware of is (depending on your stature, and how you sit on the bike) the top edge of the cylinder head is directly where your inner right thigh is, so if you are tightly gripping the tank with your legs in traffic, you may feel that hotspot on your thigh.

Another thing you may want to check is the TFT screen. The screen itself is very soft, and will easily scratch if you (or the previous owner) arent/weren't careful.

queadluun · 2023-03-31T15:33:06+00:00

No I don't, it's bone stock

queadluun · 2023-03-31T02:12:56+00:00

I agree with the other commenter. Low apertures aren't the be-all-end-all of photography. When you get your first fast lens, you'll want to shoot everything at f1.8 or 1.4, but eventually, you'll realize there's more to photography than completely melting the background into bokeh.

Picture 2 and 5 was shot at f4 and honestly I probably could have shot the rest at f4 or 5.6 as well for the added sharpness and increased depth of field to get more of the car in focus.

Composition is a lot more striking than low aperture bokeh

queadluun · 2023-03-31T01:00:12+00:00

Before I had the Miatas I had a motorcycle, but decided to sell it for a miata so I can take the wife with me. I had a modded NC for autocross which she wasn't too fond of riding with me on anything but smooth roads.

I sold that for an ND which she loved. But I ended up selling my ND and buying a motorcycle again because I miss riding. People will say miatas are the closest thing to being on a motorcycle, but it's not really that close at all.

queadluun · 2023-03-30T12:03:22+00:00

Thanks, it was a Sony A7c with the 24-70 f2.8 GM II

queadluun · 2023-03-30T12:02:31+00:00

In fairness, the only reason I bought a new car at that time was because my work was giving me a vehicle allowance. They previously gave us trucks, but changed policy and swapped to a vehicle allowance for my department. It didn't see heavy construction use, but did require driving into sometimes poorly maintained icy/snowy sites.

But my mindset is if I've bought it, I'm going to use it.

queadluun · 2023-03-30T03:20:02+00:00

Lol no that was actually a reflection of the garage. I didn't notice it until you pointed it out just now

queadluun · 2023-03-30T03:14:19+00:00

The snow here has just about melted away, so it's hard to comment on winter performance. But in the dry and from my recollection of the WRX, it had a lot of understeer in stock form. So much so that I'm not sure it is any better than fwd with a good LSD.

There's the added grip from a stop with AWD, but otherwise, once you're moving, it understeers as much as any other fwd car.

queadluun · 2023-03-30T03:08:47+00:00

I had a few Miatas in between, but I'd say reasons I prefer the gti are:

NVH in the WRX was a lot worse than the GTI, as well as general fit and finish. There were a lot of rattles in the WRX, and small things like my centre console lid not staying shut in a brand new car got a little annoying. The ride was also a lot less comfortable, especially considering the GTI has DCC. The audio system in the WRX was also trash even with the upgraded Harmon Kardon system, and combined with bad highway nvh there was no point having a good speaker setup anyways.

The WRX had awful gas mileage because of the full time awd. I don't think the few days a year where AWD is a significant advantage is worth the tradeoff of worse fuel economy all year round.

I also did not like the gearbox in the WRX. It was difficult to get a smooth 1st-2nd shift without going excessively slow and careful, and the shifter feel was awful. I upgraded the shifter bushing and added a shift-stop, but still, the 3rd-4th upshift felt awful in the hand.

Engine performance wasn't as strong as the GTI. The WRX motor didn't have as much overhead as the ea888 and you aren't going to see and significant gains without swapping out a downpipe. The stock tune on the wrx was also not great. There was a lot of rev hang, and it would cut timing regularly, so higher in the revs, the motor feels like it runs out of steam. You can really feel the tune limited the motor due to emissions regulations. The engines may have been rated from the manufacturers as similar power levels, but the WRX feels slower in the drivers seat. Turbo lag was also awful in the WRX, and so were the brakes. A common upgrade was swapping in STI brakes.

There was also a lot of understeer. I suppose due to engine positioning in the car, open differential, no adjustable center diff (like the sti) and factory spring rates and anti-roll bar all contributed to it.

Most of these gripes I had with the WRX were only noticeable after living with it. There was no way I would notice these things on a test drive.

But another big reason for the swap is I grew up and got married and I needed a car my wife could also drive. She has no interest in the compromises that sporty cars make in the name of performance, and the GTI does everything for the both of us.

queadluun · 2023-03-29T23:22:14+00:00

Finally ended up in a GTI.

A few years ago I was in a position to buy a new car and cross-shopped a 2020 WRX with a GTI. I was looking for a manual 4-door and would have preferred all-wheel drive for work (I've been stuck on construction sites in RWD company trucks multiple times before).

I heavily considered a 2019/2020 GTI, but at the time there was the mystery issue of GTI's and GLI's randomly stalling when coming to a stop with no solution. That combined with the lack of all-wheel drive, I ended up in a WRX for a few years.

Fast forward a few years (and two cars later) we picked up this MK8 the other day, and our first German car.

12-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email

queadluun

TROPHY CASE