X-Pect Backroad Development

China Rider 27 · 07-30-2022, 10:00 AM

The Back Road put the evaluation on the X-Pect and a few team members last week and they took a Back Road beat down! The Bike and the riders were both dropped multiple times on the left and the right. Coming up a steep hill covered in fist sized loose rock she went down hard on the left side. The Handguard did its job well protecting the levers and absorbing the blow but it can only do so much. The rider shaken, but no major injuries other than some scrapes. The left handlebar got bent, but it was rideable. You go down on hard pack or rock most times on this Back Road. Think Hand Guards are optional?

Right handguard

Left handguard

Left side Bent Handlebar

Thoughts: The reason? Loss of Rider confidence.

As the Team Leader I have to assume the responsibility. I put the Rider in terrain that overcame their mental preparation. I had never been down that track other than looking at the Ridge Line last year so I had no exact idea either what to expect. Riding down gravel roads with a few potholes is one thing but the Rough Back Road is another thing altogether at times technical and challenging. You have to rise to the challenge and overcome by performance or it will eat away at your confidence. It is not that it is above your skill level necessarily but that it is challenging and there is no compromise you must perform or pay the consequences.

Moral of the story, you need to think about all Rider skill levels before you take the plunge. It will not be fun anymore if someone gets hurt a long way from medical treatment. The only answer is to prepare mentally for the challenge and take the equipment to deal with any circumstance. The Team highly recommends a satellite emergency communicator on any road that lacks cell service and a good first aid kit and training to go with it and then plan for the time and expense to fix a torn-up bike. Motorcycle riding on the Back Road is a CONTACT sport.

The Team noticed when dropped the X-Pect leaks gas they think from the overflow drain tube in the tank under the gas cap. It leaks or gas is forced by the seal. The other unusual behavior is that sometimes after being dropped the bike will start up and idle but when you apply throttle it dies. Multiple restarts would not correct it. This happened twice. A guess is the force of the drop or sideways motion messes up the throttle position sensor in the manifold because to fix it you hold the throttle open say half and push the starter button and it will start and rev immediately to the position of the throttle. The throttle needs to be opened far enough to make this work. Next time we might just open it WOT couple of times before a restart to see if that will work.

The X-Pect is in pretty good shape considering. She is not as pretty as she once was, but she has proven her Back Road Heart!

07-30-2022, 10:00 AM	#31
China Rider 27 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: PNW Posts: 982	X-Pect Back Road Test results The Back Road put the evaluation on the X-Pect and a few team members last week and they took a Back Road beat down! The Bike and the riders were both dropped multiple times on the left and the right. Coming up a steep hill covered in fist sized loose rock she went down hard on the left side. The Handguard did its job well protecting the levers and absorbing the blow but it can only do so much. The rider shaken, but no major injuries other than some scrapes. The left handlebar got bent, but it was rideable. You go down on hard pack or rock most times on this Back Road. Think Hand Guards are optional? Right handguard Left handguard Left side Bent Handlebar Thoughts: The reason? Loss of Rider confidence. As the Team Leader I have to assume the responsibility. I put the Rider in terrain that overcame their mental preparation. I had never been down that track other than looking at the Ridge Line last year so I had no exact idea either what to expect. Riding down gravel roads with a few potholes is one thing but the Rough Back Road is another thing altogether at times technical and challenging. You have to rise to the challenge and overcome by performance or it will eat away at your confidence. It is not that it is above your skill level necessarily but that it is challenging and there is no compromise you must perform or pay the consequences. Moral of the story, you need to think about all Rider skill levels before you take the plunge. It will not be fun anymore if someone gets hurt a long way from medical treatment. The only answer is to prepare mentally for the challenge and take the equipment to deal with any circumstance. The Team highly recommends a satellite emergency communicator on any road that lacks cell service and a good first aid kit and training to go with it and then plan for the time and expense to fix a torn-up bike. Motorcycle riding on the Back Road is a CONTACT sport. The Team noticed when dropped the X-Pect leaks gas they think from the overflow drain tube in the tank under the gas cap. It leaks or gas is forced by the seal. The other unusual behavior is that sometimes after being dropped the bike will start up and idle but when you apply throttle it dies. Multiple restarts would not correct it. This happened twice. A guess is the force of the drop or sideways motion messes up the throttle position sensor in the manifold because to fix it you hold the throttle open say half and push the starter button and it will start and rev immediately to the position of the throttle. The throttle needs to be opened far enough to make this work. Next time we might just open it WOT couple of times before a restart to see if that will work. The X-Pect is in pretty good shape considering. She is not as pretty as she once was, but she has proven her Back Road Heart!
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