Convert Love.

[wirespokes]

You Convert guys - tell me what you think. I recently got a 76 Convert with what is essentially a LM1000 engine. It had been sitting for over 20 years and needed some sorting out. I've now gotten it running and on the road. It runs well, is strong - definitely no slouch off the line, Looks good, handles well and stops like it should.  No complaints, really. Looks like the final drive level plug is seeping, but it's what it is. I'll deal with it.

Anyway, getting to the point, you guys who really love these automatics - tell me why you love them.

I've ridden it about 150 miles now and getting the hang of it, but frankly, it seems kind of boring. I can understand the police liking it - riding in stop and go traffic dealing with the clutch and shifting in warm weather can get old.
It seems odd to me not shifting, and I guess I actually find it (shifting the 5 speed) fun. Especially once I've gotten the feel for that particular bike (no two are the same). 

Also, the convert has me sitting straight up and high about like the airheads, and I'm more into the sport ergos with rear sets and sitting low like on the early LeMans.

I'll give it a while and evaluate my feelings at that time. But right now I wonder what it is about the converts that attracts the loyal owners.

I've heard that it's wonderful cranking the throttle through a turn. But why is that any different than being in the right gear with a five speed?

With my other bikes I don't use the brakes much, not that I use the engine to slow down fast - I don't normally, but with the convert, it seems I'm always using the brakes. Too bad the torque converter doesn't also give engine braking.

So, tell me, why do you love the convert? What's so special about these bikes?

[Bulldog9]

Simply put, the Convert is a motorcycle that encourages you to slow down and smell the roses.

If it were a song it would be this: https://youtu.be/NjgYzPrKYYs?si=I203YvKFgeBf3TwI

Or maybe this: https://youtu.be/tnV7dTXlXxs?si=nP2WYVyTuD-ADOkG

It's the only motorcycle I've ever owned that tells me to slow down and enjoy.

If you still don't get it, try this song: https://youtu.be/nhVfuacsLDw?si=E0-MxxgeJ8DdlAwu

[jkguzzi]

I think it was the boring part that I liked.

[bigbikerrick]

The convert drivetrain works amazingly well. You can just loaf along always in the correct "gear" and enjoy the "music" like Bulldog says, or you can throw  it in low range, where you do get some engine braking , and enjoy it in the canyons, powering out of the turns. If you have more than 1 bike in the stable, one of them should deffinitely be a convert, for when the mood strikes.  You will find that you ride it alot more than than expected. Its just one heck of a cool, chill, ride. Life is good as a "Convert Pervert"!   !
Rick.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Ride away from a group of bikes waving with your left hand.

I have a 76 1000 with only 15,426 miles on the odo

Anyone want to buy a magic carpet ride?

[wirespokes]

Ok - I guess that's the mindset, and yes, I've experienced it. I've told new riders that bikes have personalities and want to be ridden a particular way. Some aren't happy unless you're flogging them, and others allow you to sight see and smell the roses. I have noticed that riding it, I'm totally happy putting along at the speed limit. I thought that maybe I wasn't feeling particularly sporty that day. But now after what you guys are telling me, it might have all been the convert.

[chuck peterson]

I think it has to do with the absence of attention to the bike demands, that creates a space for your brain to pay attention elsewhere

Whether you pay a lot of attention to shifting or not, it takes up space in your grey matter. Now remove that neural activity…multiply that effect over distance

It’s a Barcalounger, sit back and roll on…effortlessly

I once arrived home in shoreline Connecticut Sunday evening and was able to say sunrise in Canada was spectacular…all while connecting the dots on Rt100 VT, Rt8 thru Mass, Rt8 to the shore…that’s a ton of 2 lane using low range all the way…I would use hi range for interstate only above 60, stopping to change ranges

First bike i ever did 600 mile days on..4 days 2000 miles in New England…several week long trips…one glorious month long trip never sleeping under a roof…90k miles on vert #1, and 50k on #2

The wide police bars, Russell Day Long saddle and Wixom fairing out front definitely was a sit up straight arrangement…but my #2 was short flat bars without fairing and I naturally rode that more aggressively

In either set up the Vert was happy to do as you please

It’s amazing to me how many keep popping up

[Moparnut72]

I would love to ride those New England roads again especially Vermont's Rt 100. I had a BMW R50/2 at the time, it was another bike that demanded the rider to just cruise and enjoy the scenery. I wish I still had it, it didn't work well with Colorado passes and altitude.
kk

[wirespokes]

So far, I've only run in high gear. I'll have to try low. But I will say, I never lacked for power in high.

I rode airheads from 1990 till the Guzzis took over. They're an easy-going relaxed sort of bike. Once you know how to handle them, they're quite sporty, but even then they're not dramatic. Pretty low-key. This convert reminds me a lot of the airheads and the way I felt on them. Even the riding position is similar - sitting up high and tall with taller bars.

Both BMWs and Guzzis have a lot of low end torque, so not much thinking is needed. And besides, I've been riding bikes and shifting them for closing on 60 years. It comes pretty naturally.

There have been discussions about why the older bikes are more pleasurable and one of the conclusions is they require more input, more understanding and skill to control. A bike that doesn't require an understanding of cold start technique, braking in the wet, how to smoothly change gears, what gear to be in - and knowing what gear you're in without a display showing what gear you're in, where things are taken care of you automatically sort of removes you from the equation. The connection gets lost. A newer car is great for burning up the miles, but it's not the one I wish I'd never sold.

Maybe I need to try some lower bars and a different seat. Make it a little more sporty. That's an idea.

[chuck peterson]

Low range at 50, roll it on hard…it’ll sound as Pete Roper calls it, two cheese graters in a cement mixer. Good for 75-80 in low range….!

[wirespokes]

Low range at 50, roll it on hard…it’ll sound as Pete Roper calls it, two cheese graters in a cement mixer. Good for 75-80 in low range….!

I can't imagine what two cheese graters in a cement mixer would sound like. But I have to laugh at the phrase.

Ok - I'll try low range. No one will beat me off the line. :-)

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I can't imagine what two cheese graters in a cement mixer would sound like. But I have to laugh at the phrase.

Ok - I'll try low range. No one will beat me off the line. :-)

I think what Pete actually wrote was "two cheese graters fornicating".