Bought an AE last week. $14.2 OTD with 5 years YES. I've ridden clutched bikes for 30 years, but love this thing. I know people think that if you just plonked down $14k you are not going to admit to making a mistake, but honestly I couldn't care less about admitting it if I thought I'd done the wrong thing. This thing rocks. Plain and simple it's great. It does take some learning - I've only done 350 miles and still make mistakes - like shifting down instead of up, but overall I'm happy. In LA in traffic it rocks. There are many people who can't do a decent u-turn on any kind of bike and will tell you that the AE makes it harder. However as a police driver for over a decade and having trained in the UK police and the US police I can tell you that it's all about practice. Anyone who can flip around a big heavy bike for a u-turn can do it (after practice) with an AE. I'll be on the ride on Sept 29th (or is it 26th I forget? - but its north of LA somewhere) anyway if you want to ride my AE you are welcome. Hope this helps.
You still have to shift, but it's less effort.
Takes some getting used to. Personally I'd prefer a manual for low speed manoeuvres, but you learn to do it OK.
It's awesome - just open the throttle, and the only skill to get the maximum the bike is capable of is stopping the rear wheel from spinning up or keeping the front wheel down. No, the ultimate acceleration is not quite as good as the 'A', but you can achieve it every time.
That's why I got mine (called the "AS" not the "AE" for some strange reason here in the UK). My left little finger suffers from arthritis and I couldn't use the clutch without considerable pain on my previous mount.
I have a scafo-lunate ligament seperation in my left wrist as well as arthritis. My AE really helps in this regard. As others have said, there's a learning curve with the AE, but, once learned, it's very convenient. I like it. If I ever wanted to, I'm sure it would be no problem converting it to standard clutch operation. This idea has already been discussed on this forum.You still have to shift, but it's less effort.
Takes some getting used to. Personally I'd prefer a manual for low speed manoeuvres, but you learn to do it OK.
It's awesome - just open the throttle, and the only skill to get the maximum the bike is capable of is stopping the rear wheel from spinning up or keeping the front wheel down. No, the ultimate acceleration is not quite as good as the 'A', but you can achieve it every time.
That's why I got mine (called the "AS" not the "AE" for some strange reason here in the UK). My left little finger suffers from arthritis and I couldn't use the clutch without considerable pain on my previous mount.
As others have said, get an AE because you have a problem with a conventional clutch lever, either because you do a lot of commuting in traffic or because you have a disability. If you really want it because you like the colour, or because the dealer makes you an offer you can't refuse, that's OK as well, you get used to the differences from a conventional one.
And it's funny taking off from lights next to another bike, and your left hand is on your hip.
I let a friend try my bike. He's very experienced, a very good rider (police trained). He sat on the bike, started it, then did what many do to get a "feel" of the throttle, he blipped it. And shot forward. So warn anyone who might ride it not to blip the throttle when it's in gear!
3 seconds on my '06
Don't still own a clutch lever bike, however when I got my AS (AE), I decided to only use the hand switch to change gear. This means if I ever go to a levered bike, I won't accidentally change gear clutchlessly with my foot. I may still sit at the lights revving furiously, or stall when stopping :blink: ...
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Don't still own a clutch lever bike, however when I got my AS (AE), I decided to only use the hand switch to change gear. This means if I ever go to a levered bike, I won't accidentally change gear clutchlessly with my foot. I may still sit at the lights revving furiously, or stall when stopping :blink: ...
I adopt a similar technique when in a car; I normally drive a manual. When I use an automatic, I consciously plant my left foot on the floor (footrest, whatever), and this helps ensure I don't use it for moving off, gear changing, coming to rest. This seems to work OK for me. (Since this coincides with trips to the USA, it's another problem to add to your driving on the wrong side of the road over there
Yes we do. Some just feel a need to fondle a stiff lever while they do so. :bleh:
