A Few Nevada Questions

[Calculon]

Hey Everyone -

I've finally gotten everything sorted on my Nevada and have been able to put some miles on it.  The bike looks great and seems to run well, but I've got a problem.  My old bike was a TU250x and it fit me perfectly.  If I sat on it for a hour plus, my hind end need a rest, but other than that, it was great.  I went on Cycke-Ergo before purchasing the Nevada, and it said the Nevada and TU250x were nearly the same with the Nevada being slightly more crouched.

I've found in practice the Nevada is more uncomfortable and I feel stiffer when I get off.  While the spec says the Nevada is 30.2�, based on how high I have to raise my leg to get it over the seat, I would say it's at least a couple inches shorter than the spec.  I think the pegs sit a bit wider and it's a wider bike, so when you combine that with the lower height, it makes my hips sit slightly more turned out, which causes the discomfort.  It's not super bad and it takes a longer ride for me to notice it, but I'd like to find a solution for it, though I'm not sure what that is.

I've tried sitting all the way forward and back, but that didn't do anything.  I'm not sure about moving the pegs.  I don't think I can go inward, since they're already against the frame.  Lowering the pegs would require moving them outward and I'm not sure moving them forward.  Making the seat higher seems like the best option, but I'm not sure if that's a possibility.

The Nevada has been sitting for a while, so it needs a good wipe down and polish, particularly the mufflers.  Does anyone know of a good product to do it?

Lastly, the kickstand barely sticks out from under the muffler, so sometimes it's hard to catch with your foot to put it down.  Today, I had to get off the bike to get it to go down.  Is there some solution for this?  Thanks for any help.

[pete roper]

Yes! Sell it and buy a motorbike more suitable to your needs.

Pete

[Muzz]

Lastly, the kickstand barely sticks out from under the muffler, so sometimes it's hard to catch with your foot to put it down.  Today, I had to get off the bike to get it to go down.  Is there some solution for this?  Thanks for any help.

When we went for a big slide in an oil slick the end of the stand on the Breva wore off, giving us the same problem. I bolted a bit of flat steel on the end, works so well I have yet to go to the hassle of removing the stand and welding an extension on it.

[malik]

 If your Nevada's stand is similar to the Breva/V7, a nut, bolt & a couple of washers works.

[leafman60]

Be sure to replace the in-tank plastic fuel filter and fuel lines asap if this has not been done.  Ethanol fuel will deteriorate them and you will eventually be stranded on the road somewhere.

[leafman60]

If your Nevada's stand is similar to the Breva/V7, a nut, bolt & a couple of washers works.

Something just a little more aesthetically pleasing would also be easy.

.

[sign216]

Keep the stand pivot joint lubed makes deploying it easier.  It needs it quite often.

The Airhawk R seat pad did wonders for my ride when touring.  Try it, and easing your seat may make the other issues disappear.

[Fuzzy]

Sadly, what Pete says.
If you can make switch without taking a beating it might be worth it. You can spend half a lifetime fiddling around to make it more comfortable. Like I have done. Maybe you can fix it, maybe not.
It really speaks to taking a substantial test ride before buying, if you can.

[oldbike54]

 Geez fellas , a different seat and a short "catch" peg on the sidestand will resolve most of the issues the OP is having .

 Dusty

[Lannis]

Hey Everyone -

I've finally gotten everything sorted on my Nevada and have been able to put some miles on it.  The bike looks great and seems to run well, but I've got a problem.  My old bike was a TU250x and it fit me perfectly.  If I sat on it for a hour plus, my hind end need a rest, but other than that, it was great.  I went on Cycke-Ergo before purchasing the Nevada, and it said the Nevada and TU250x were nearly the same with the Nevada being slightly more crouched.

I've found in practice the Nevada is more uncomfortable and I feel stiffer when I get off.  While the spec says the Nevada is 30.2�, based on how high I have to raise my leg to get it over the seat, I would say it's at least a couple inches shorter than the spec.  I think the pegs sit a bit wider and it's a wider bike, so when you combine that with the lower height, it makes my hips sit slightly more turned out, which causes the discomfort.  It's not super bad and it takes a longer ride for me to notice it, but I'd like to find a solution for it, though I'm not sure what that is.

I've tried sitting all the way forward and back, but that didn't do anything.  I'm not sure about moving the pegs.  I don't think I can go inward, since they're already against the frame.  Lowering the pegs would require moving them outward and I'm not sure moving them forward.  Making the seat higher seems like the best option, but I'm not sure if that's a possibility.

All of my bikes are "standard" or "sport-touring" style - footpegs either right under my center of gravity or biased rearward, bars flat and narrow (except the Stelvio where they are "adventure-bike" style), and with enough space between seat and pegs so my legs aren't cramped.

If you are at all the same way, a Nevada isn't going to be good for you unless you can get the bars down, the pegs down and back, and the seat fixed.   The whole geometry of the bike might not be right if you were happy on a TU250.

Sort of up to you whether you spend some money and experimentation with the bars, seat, and pegs, or whether you get a bike that is laid out more like you want.

I had a 1990 California III with the same issue.   Garden-tiller bars, wide and high, footboards way out front, and seat way down THERE somewhere.   I made several 300 - 500 mile trips on it and realized I was either going to have to turn it into something else, or sell it.   I sold it, and the present owner, who is built very differently from me, is very happy with it .... !

Lannis

[leafman60]

I wouldn't give up on the Nevada so quickly!

With a few ergo changes, you may find that you like it. Handlebars are easy to change and that may make a lot of difference for you.

Same is true for the seat. You may could have an upholstery shop modify it to improve it for little money spent.

[neverquit]

I have a Nevada and I had the same problems when sitting on it, even for short periods of time.  I made a new seat for it that is narrower and higher.  Also I made brackets that lower the foot pegs by one inch.  Those changes made it more comfortable for me.  The seat took some time to fabricate and cover but I think you could cut down the sides of the stock seat a little and put some extra padding on the top side in that step area and then get someone to recover it.  People were selling machined aluminum L shaped pegs for it on Ebay that had a 1 inch offset.  There is enough adjustment in both the rear brake and the shift lever to handle the inch lower pegs. 

The side stand doesn't stick out far but I got used to that.  I also bent in the lower front corners of the exhaust heat shields slightly because I almost snagged the top of my riding shoes on them a couple times when starting out.

[Calculon]

Thanks all for the replies. 

Interesting to hear about lowering the pegs.  Didn't you have to move them out to lower them?  Mine sit just above the exhaust.

I'd love to try an Airhawk, but those are expensive.  I'd hate to spend another $200 and have it not work.  My understanding of Airhawks is you want to put the minimum amount of air into them, so your hind end is just above the seat, but will that add 2" to get it close to old bike?  I don't know

I think the handlebars are fine, but it's the shorter height combined with the wider pegs that cause the discomfort.  I'm not even sure I would have noticed on a test ride as it takes 15+ minutes for it to set in.

For now I'll just keep riding it and see how it goes.  I can't do anything with it until I get the title, which is still probably at least a few weeks off.  Thanks again.

[Lannis]

Thanks all for the replies. 

Interesting to hear about lowering the pegs.  Didn't you have to move them out to lower them?  Mine sit just above the exhaust.

I'd love to try an Airhawk, but those are expensive.  I'd hate to spend another $200 and have it not work.  My understanding of Airhawks is you want to put the minimum amount of air into them, so your hind end is just above the seat, but will that add 2" to get it close to old bike?  I don't know

I think the handlebars are fine, but it's the shorter height combined with the wider pegs that cause the discomfort.  I'm not even sure I would have noticed on a test ride as it takes 15+ minutes for it to set in.

For now I'll just keep riding it and see how it goes.  I can't do anything with it until I get the title, which is still probably at least a few weeks off.  Thanks again.

Yes, the AirHawk technology is the same as what is used for old folks who are bed-or wheelchair-bound, to relieve pressure and prevent bedsores from lack of circulation.

Just barely inflated, your body should actually touch the seat at times, you're just trying to get the pressure off, not provide a balloon air cushion.   It won't add anything significant to the seat height if done right.

Lannis

[neverquit]

"Interesting to hear about lowering the pegs.  Didn't you have to move them out to lower them?  Mine sit just above the exhaust." 

They are out about a quarter inch due to the mechanics of the new mounts fitting into the original brackets.  I have the same year and model as you, a 2007.  They are close to the exhaust but they clear.  One negative is that there is always a little melted boot rubber on the left exhaust where I touch it sometimes while shifting.

My Nevada now has about the same sitting position as the V9 Roamer, only the Roamer feels a little better and the Roamer seat is better than the one I built.  I am thinking of buying a Roamer for a couple reasons, one it is better than my bike and two, I haven't bought a new toy for nearly two years.

[Calculon]

Thanks for the replies.  I was on the Airhawk website and did see they said it only raises the seat height slightly.  I don't I think I want to make the pegs wider.  The Nevada is already wider than my old bike and I don't like really wide pegs like on the Yamaha Bolt or Harley Street.  I did notice if sit as far back as I can, that did help some, but then I'm sitting on my jacket.  Now, if I could find a pad that did raises the seat a few inches and added some comfort, that'd be good.

Took a picture of the Nevada today now that it's done for now.  I'll be adding the crashbar and maybe the rear rack if I decide to keep it:

[kingoffleece]

AirHawk has a refund policy if you don't like it.
It's no risk at all to try.  Get the R model if you try one.