So the FE was down with electrical problems (which turned out to be a loose ground wire on the ignition coil), so it was me and the 450, up in the mountains, trying to beat the heat and find a thunderstorm or two. We did not encounter any rain on the trails, but it was nice and cloudy for much of the ride. It had rained at the staging area, I discovered upon my return to the car.
No. I have been wearing that Suomy since about 2014. Probably about time to update it with a new replacement.
Might just be you but something is making that helmet look very good; I'm sold on these lighter helmets for helping ~stop my neck pain during extended riding times; Does that helmet run true to its' sizing or does it run smaller\larger in size as compared to most brands of helmets? I still see it sold out there and still under $400; That is still well past my limit but maybe?
The model is very popular, and the size SX I am wearing runs a bit large compared to other brands such as Bell and Troy Lee. It is the lightest helmet that I have ever had, weighing in at just over two pounds, and also has the best ventilation of any helmet that I have ever worn.
Couple guys have gone to Suomy in my group. They became hard to get for a while, but I'm seeing them again. They are super light. Are you up on Palomar Man, again?
I have Suomy for my road bikes. They are very quiet and have excellent vis. DD love to read your impressions of the FE 501 over your TE 450, if you have the time. Cheers.
There is no comparison, that's for sure. The 501 is more nimble feeling, has a nice technical feel to it. It is 12 pounds lighter than the 450. The suspension works quite well without revalving, I just installed softer springs. The power is just nuts, with gobs of torque, even with stock tuning and gearing. 6th gear is so tall that the 501 isn't even straining at 70 or 80 mile per hour, and the engine is very smooth, not much vibration felt. The clutch engagement is nice and progressive too. It is slightly taller than the 450, so that is about the only awkward thing about it.
That is a pretty good wrap on the 501. I guess some real progress has occurred over the past 5-10 years. The only bummer on my old 450 was that 5th and 6th gear were too low. Many thanks for your thoughts DD, wish I could go to lower spring ratings, unfortunately I have to go the other way. Ciao.
