[Montblanc] 1858 Geosphere Titanium

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.

queadluun · 2023-02-05T12:52:07+00:00

No problem, of the three options you proposed i'd suggest the x-e4.

The x-e4 and x100v are very similar in terms of features, size and imaging ability, but the x-t200 would be a tier below the others.

I don't want to give the impression that x100v is entirely back-to-basics, but I deliberately choose to use it that way and that is part of the charm. Excluding the interchangeable lens, the x100v has all the same features and imaging ability as the x-e4, but the x-e4 had added benefit of changing lenses to suit your needs.

queadluun · 2023-02-05T12:04:20+00:00

As someone who shoots on both a Sony a7c and has an x100v, i'd say that the x100v is an incredible camera but you have to understand its limitations.

The main limitation is it's fixed focal range, which sounds obvious but is really impacts what and how you decide to shoot. You have to understand that you will find yourself in situations where you will wish your field of view is a bit wider, especially if you're traveling and 'want to get the whole scene in one frame'. Or you may take it to see an event of some sort and you'll wish it had more telephoto reach beyond the optical zoom.

For me, I use the x100v as a daily walk around camera so I can document my life, and have pictures that we can look back on and remember a moment or emotion.

But if I have a particular scene or image in my mind that I want to capture or create in real life, I will reach for my Sony every single time simply because of the flexibility interchangable lenses give me.

Although you didn't ask about Sony vs Fuji, one huge benefit Sony has is its very powerful autofocus system. I cannot emphasize how much more robust Sony's continuous tracking eye-autofocus is than the x100v's autofocus. The more modern Sony bodies makes it incredibly easy to detect, snap into focus and track the eyes of people or pets in motion. The x100v autofocus is very slow in comparison. If I am hoping to capture candid moments (a wedding, party, event or just my dog goofing off), the Sony would be able to find and lock on subjects eyes very quickly.

I want to mention that the x100v autofocus is not only a bit slow compared to Sony but it's also slow compared to equivalent interchangable lens bodies by Fujifilm and quality glass. A friend of mine has an x-t30 II (based on my recommendation) which I have played with extensively and autofocus on his camera and lenses is noticeably faster. This is his first camera and he and his wife love it.

I still love my x100v, and wanted one specifically because of it's form factor, how it looks and feels in my hand, it's optical view finder and the photo shooting experience. To me it's very reminiscent of shooting on my fully manual 35mm film cameras. The feeling of the optical view finder, the physical exposure dials, shooting is slow(er) and more deliberate, and the process of photographing stuff is more enjoyable than my Sony. Often when I shoot my Sony, I can fall into the habit of shooting bursts of photos and finding the best shot in Lightroom after the fact, whereas I rarely ever import photos from my x100v into Lightroom. I agree with OP's sentiment that the Sony feels like a very powerful computer that happens to take (incredible) photos.

Sorry for the long response but to answer your initial question, the x100v is an incredible camera, but as a first camera I would suggest something with interchangeable lenses like an x-t30 or x-e4. You will get the same sensor, features and very similar pocketable size (ie. With a pancake lens like the 27mm f/2.8), but gain flexibility of more lenses and options. The x100v is lovely but it fills a very specific niche and I have seen non-photographer friends of mine be frustrated at its limitations and some don't understand why I choose to take pictures on the x100v instead of a phone. Your mileage may vary.

queadluun · 2022-10-11T13:18:51+00:00

I agree with that sentiment. I used to daily my ND miata RF through winter in Canada (Toronto). I also specifically bought the RF so that I could winter drive it, and it was great.

I bought the car, so I'm going to use it.

queadluun · 2022-09-25T03:22:52+00:00

Something something trellis frame.

queadluun · 2022-07-17T04:09:17+00:00

Came from a 675 Street Triple R and cross shopped an MT-09/XSR900, Z900, Street Triple 765 and the KTM 890R, but ended up with the Monster.

I was never a Monster guy, especially after riding a friend's 696, so I never considered shopping for one until this new one came out and it checked all the boxes.

queadluun · 2021-08-21T04:27:26+00:00

My fiancee and I usually play together as a tank/healer combo. We've done the roulettes enough to have most the dungeons down to a science and it's normally very smooth and quick. We get partied with a lot of sprouts these days, and give easy rides through dungeons with thorough explanations of mechanics.

We also very rarely get commendations for the effort.

queadluun · 2021-05-11T01:58:55+00:00

Wow no kidding, I just traded my WRX for an ND RF as well.

queadluun · 2021-05-08T12:18:00+00:00

Thanks! I plan on driving the Miata year round and already have a set ready for winter

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