Need some informations, please

[Xandros]

Hello everybody. First of all i want to apologize for writing in english but i don`t speak german, although i wish. My name is Alex and i`m from Romania (sad, i know).
I`m a new owner of a Freewind (1998) and i have some questions, if you don`t mind. I have 2 problems: the wind (i need a bigger windshield) and the seat (after driving 200 km or more it becomes quite uncomfortable). Are there any "customs" seats ? Or i`ll have to modify by myself ? What windshield would fit to my 1998 Freewind ? Thank you in advance.

Alex

[Nazguhl]

Hi and welcome to this Forum,

first of all, it`s no problem that you write in English, most members here will understand.
And that you come from Romania is also no problem, the Freewind is a bike for everybody all over the world
About your questions:
1: I know that there are certain different shields on the market (one is made by a company nemed "PUIG"). They should fit on the XF. Try at e-bay, the German translation for shield is "Scheibe", in your case "Tourenscheibe"
I just found an offer , look here ->
http://cgi.ebay.de/Tourenscheibe-MRA-Su ... dZViewItem

2: The seat is little low and narrow, I`m almost 2meters tall, so I decided to cover it up with foam for about 3 cm. Dont forget to make it a little wider too, your but will like it
Look at this thread in the forum from one of our best Freewind technicans. His nick is "Brummbär", he has installed lots of gimmicks at his Freewind and is absolutly great to solve problems. -> http://www.xf650.de/forum3/viewtopic.php?t=1185

I hope this will help you a bit, if you have more questions, dont hesitate to ask

Keep on riding the "one" cylinder and lots of fun with your bike in Romania,

Grrets from Austria, Jan

[Xandros]

Thank you ! I looked over the offer on the ebay and it seems very interesting. The bikers in Romania are often buying from Louis or Polo but i couldn`t find there very much for Freewind. Thanks again and keep in touch.

Alex

[Linus]

Hi Xandros,

the answers of Nazguhl are complete. My question is, why it is sad, that you are from Romania. I have heard, that it is a wonderful country. And important are the people, not the nationality

Greetings from the wild, wild West

[Xandros]

Perhaps i`m a little off-topic right now but i`ll give you an answer. Romania is an absolutly magnificent country and if you decide to visit it, don`t hesitate. But i`m sick and tired of most of the people here ... this is my problem. I can`t find a decent job cause i`m "overqualified", can you imagine ? And another example: the minumum wage is about 100 E, how does it sounds ??? I`ve been recently to Germany and the differences are BIG !
Anyway, thank you and keep riding !

Alex

[Xandros]

I`m back with a new question: i want to change the tires (Pireli MT 80, standard tire for XF).... what can you recomand me ? I want a mixt tire (on-off) but soft, for the curbes ... are there any ?
Thank you !

Alex

[Maad]

A german motobike-magazine tested some tires for the freewind. The best tires for the freewind are Michelin Anakee and Metzeler Tourance. Also some users in our forum changed from pirellis to Anakee or Tourance and everybody was suprised about the positive changes in all points.

Greets
Marek with Metzeler

[Nazguhl]

Hi Xandros,

Maad is completly right...

I just dumped the original tires and changed to the Metzler "Tourance"

How can I say? A complete new feeling, specially in small curves... grrrrrrate

But look carefully, there is a new "Tourance" on the market now! If you have the chance to get this one, I would recommend it.
As far as I know it has even more grip but also a better rubber mix, so it lasts much longer.
But for a small budget you may take discount on the "old" version of the tyre.
If you get a price, it`s up to you how good you can negotiate
Just tell the dealer that the tyre is not up to date anymore....

By,

Jan (with new (old) Metzler)

[Xandros]

Thanks. I`ll look for Anakee and Tourance.

Ride free ! (like the wind, of course)

Later edit: a friend of mine with BMW GS 1200 R had Anakee and he said they sliped a lot on the wet ... now he bought some Continental Road Atack and he`s very happy.

[AoS]

Yeah, the Tourance is notorious on the Beemer. But simply said: You cannot compare a tires' behaviour across different kinds of bikes. The Beemer is heavier and more powerful than the Freewind and I'am pretty sure that the Tourance comes in a different specification for the Beemer. Many tires come in a wide range of specs (marked by numbers an letters after the name) and if they are not one hundred per cent equal most conclusions will be insignificant.

If you want to draw real conclusions from a tires' behaviour by comparison you first have to look for bikes that are similar (i. e. in weight, power, geometry -> e. g. BMW F650) and second you have to be sure that the tires compared are really the same.

Regards,
Dirk

P.S.: I will move this thread to Freewind technical discussion since this branch is the "wanted/for sale" area. And additionally it might be better if you start a new thread whenever you have a different question. That makes it easier to follow for the others.

[Xandros]

Ok, i`ll do that. Thank you.

[AoS]

You're welcome. Enjoy your bike and the summer.

Regards,
Dirk

[Xandros]

Hello !

Coming back after 1 year, my Freewind runs great an i`ve decided to keep it (although i must admit i was thinking about an BMW F 650 with ABS).

I modified the seat, put about 3 cm of sponge, it made it wider, too, and now i can really sit comfortable on long roads.

Now i want to change the windshield with a bigger one. I`ve read everything i could find here and i understand that there isn`t a particulary better touring windshield but the combination between the rider`s height and the size of the windshield is what matters the most. I`m 1,78 m tall and now i sit a little higher with the seat modified.

My question is: is there any of you of this height with a bigger windshield ?

Thank you in advance !

Alex