Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: gamewood on February 14, 2011, 04:31:24 PM
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first solo ride was 26 Jan 48 hours after getting the endorsement on the test ride
missed the next 9 rides
But starting today...here is my b lo g
Morning was at 42 degress and I was slightly over dressed. Scuba neoprne hood, 2x gloves with hand warmers, jeans/sweat pants, 2x socks trash bags, black boots.
Didnt do a TLOCS...will need to do that today. Bike revved up to 4K on 33% Choke. So I'll have to do a better job of lowering the choke once I get it started.
No headache from the helmet today...but a new XXXL is on order. No fogging issues until I got to the base.
Had to perform two passes. One on a two lane road and one on the freeway. Handling the bike was interesting as it got more solid. First pass drop to/kept it in 3rd gear...hit 70 MPH and was able to change lanes again. Freeway was interesting. Did a granny shift to 3rd early and revved to 4K. shifted to 4th then decided to pass (merging really). Ended up looking down for a minute and saw 90 MPH and 7K on the tach. Got her to 70Mph pretty easily.
My throttle hand got pretty tired...may be the gloves or I need a stronger right hand.
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More night time riding
I have an habit of over slowing for turns. 5-10 MPH. this is one part being new and the other part being unsure that I'll have traction on a fine dirt/sand covered asphalt. I am amazed at how little concern I really need, but Don't ever want to be surprised.
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Much better to go slower than you need to than to go too fast! :bandit:
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well more learning.... the frank thomas stuff I got was obviouly made for the cheap. Gloves are striaght fingers which help cramp the fingers. Not sure if I'll cut a re-sow or what?
More wind here wednesday, so I got to piss everybody off keeping my speed between 55-62 (normall traffic speed is 70+ MPH...in a 55!).
Corners are still challenging from the aspect that I unknowingly over engine brake. Got to keep the throttle in longer. The biggest thing is that a car won't slow as much (auto) and I am still more comfortable with late braking on a car than a bike. I think the biggest problem is depth perception. When relaxed I have fairly decent depth perception, but when stressed or "trying too hard" it goes away.
My goal this week is to become a better rider by allowing the bike to work...being one with the bike. Too bad winds are predicted at 20 MPH tomorrow...I think I'll drive the jeep...need to get the vette running for these moments.
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Well finally broke down and bought a new helmet to replace the 10yr old one from racing days. Tried to get dot + snell...but nothing fit. Ordered a XXXL thourgh cyclegear...in trade for this one not giving me head aches it was big every where. settled for a bilt Dot only spirit...the one with the sun shade/blast shield inside.
Of course the weather turned super sour...20 MPH winds, and it rained/snowed. So I had to wait a few days for wind to die down. Unfortunately the dirt road from my garage to the street was 8" deep of mud. Being the guy I am, I had 5 tons of rock delivered and sholved my bad day at work away.
Then I went for a ride. 27 Miles to pick up my cell phone that I left at work...isnt any excuse to ride a good one? I like night riding...especially since I cant see the dismal dispar of the open cali desert. The Bilt helmet is definetly a summer helmet lots of air flow. Tomorrow, I may just deal with the older helmet because its warmer.
Was definitely faster on the normal pavement turn, but I didnt fully take the advice of my salesman to keep the RPMs at 6K while turning. Keep it at 3k ish and rolled the throttle.
Now only if I can get rid of all these cars while I ride my bike?
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Well I guess I am doing better. I had cop pull out from his speed trap and "follow" me. I really like night driving...is that evil?
When i compare cost per mile I am laughing
Jeep $1.27 per mile
Corvette $3.70 per mile
my bike 32 CENTS!!!! per mile
all smiles though!
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Hey, uh...do I call you Gamey? Woody? Anyway, hey!
Enjoying your posts, and they bring back memories of...not so many years ago. I kept a scrapbook which turned into a website which is now a blog, so in some form or another, I can revist every stray thought I had learning to ride, etc.
Where are you located? If you would, put a city/state in your profile, and keep posting your re-entry adventures.
PS: The Psycho Gear store stuff is, as you said, mostly cheap. I tend to use them for consumables (oil, brake pads, etc) rather than gear. The more I have to live with something, the more I need to love it.
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Hey Sven, Woody is fine. I'm in Northen Sothern California..aka next door to middle of now where and just south of hell.
This weekend marked a few milestones.
-rode about 200 miles in a day. Alas it was with breaks at 75 miles, 100 miles, 150 miles, and of course home. Probably getting rid of the back pack (laptop books) helped.
-hit 70 MPH, comfortably. I mean by comfortable is that I was enjoying the sight and took a gaze a my speedo and there was 70 (This wasnt the fatest but it was the most easy)
-Rode in rain...didnt mean to nor did I recognize it. It was a light mountain rain. I thought I rode thru several misquito clouds when I slowed down for taco's, but it was water. Kind of explained a few things. Like the bike not turning like it should...I thought it was new rider so I just hung in there and let it do its thing.
-Rode in snow...funny things about mountains in early March. Well my stop for tacos turned into a gulp and stretch, I had 5-10 miles to go or stay in=get stuck overnight. Kept it at a lower speed at let it roll.
- Paid $4 bucks for gas
- use the center stand (2d successful time) to fill the gas tank
- New bad habit...this is the fourth time I'm rolling down the road and find my helmet strap flapping in the wind. Gonna nip this in the bud.
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Nothing to report motorcycle wise. I am mainly playing aroun shifting. Allowing the bike to grab hard with clutch release/down shift to slow the bike.
Went to the local VFW where there were a bunch of Harley dudes. Darn those dudes were big...all of them. Just a contrast thats all...just a contrast.
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Probably a First. Had a nice ambulance ride to the ER on Monday. El mucho scary as I had no idea what was going on. Took a short ride on tuesday, decided not to take my gloves-bad mistake very cold. As of today, went ahead and drove it to work today 27 miles. My stomach is a little queasy, but right now I am more concerned about LIVING while I can than dying.
well ridin' forum bro's and sisters
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Woody, what was the ambulance ride all about?
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Not sure. NY body attacked it self. Few drugs later and I just want to leave. My stress. Behind.
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Glad to hear the ambulance ride has nothing to do with motorcycling...and hope you're doing fine now.
I relate to your helmet strap thing...still do it now and then. Basically, anything that distracts me from the routine ends up in an error. This especially a problem when riding with someone else...I am bout to get on the bike and he asks a questions and I forget to put on gloves. I am about to take off when I realize I need to change maps in the tank bag and forget the sidestand is down and bike won't start. There seem to be so many things going on at the same time when you are riding, and a lot of them have to be mindless, rote and second nature. All that got better over the years, but it's still a weakness.
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Well tonight was very interesting for this new rider. As many of you have guessed thus far, my minimum ride is 27 miles one-way and ALL errands are a minimum of 60 miles one-way. Today was the day for me to get caught in a freek Socal record setting rain day (IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CLOUDY).
Of course, it was wasted trip except for the 100 mile ride did me good. 965 miles on the bike in 8 weeks (couldnt ride for 3 weeks for weather and vacation).
the 50 mile return trip took 6 hours. I am slow as well as nuts. From my last rain trip I knew when the buike becomes "lazy" I am losing traction. Ended up underneath a bridge for about 30 minutes. After continuing water shed blasting from semi's I decided to just ride the emergency lane to the next exit. Being the true motorcyclist I decided that it was time to find a new place to stop.
Now gambling isnt supposed to be legal in california but there this place is. A casino. $5 minimum bet card games...and a resturant. the Check person giggled as I walked in with double fogged visor and glasses. so the 2x gloves, scarf, glasses, and helmet came off. the giggles were from a 50 year-old lady with dyed hair. I told her she looked hot. After calculating my gambling budget $2.57, I decided the stakes were too high for me and headed for the resturant. stayed there for two hours waiting for the sun...
The ride home was on the miserable side...gotta get real riding pants that zip into the jacket...and riding boots to boot.
Wierd here's this harley guy that passed me doing 70 (i was doing 40). Maybe he had magic tires because all I got from my bike was F-You traction.
Finally I end with my first of the ride:
1) first time reaching down to put the fuel on reserve while riding (moving)...it was thankfully uneventful. though the enginer stutturing was due to poor traction and high gear than fuel starvation.
2) Understood the issue with the choke I hear people complain about. It either idled at 4K or not at all; after it had warmed up but was is 40 degree temps
3) Did the motorcross slide as I tried to jump the bike over a driveway to get to my apartment. It sounds worse than it is, but with the rain and no pavement from the street 100' to my paved/concert parking space/garage I thought it was a good idea to avoid the 8" deep mud trough (sp?) at the street and try to use the driveway to get to 1" deep mud instead. I was pretty proud of myself as I perfectly executed maintaining rear wheel speed, not locking/using the brakes, and placing the foot down versus planting the foot...pretty good for only seeing this on movies.
later gaters
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Good Job on the diary.
It sounds like you are doing great with the bike too, most of my early years if written down would have been dropped the bike today, and again and so on.
I did want to ask about the 90 mph at 7K, seems a little slow at that rpm as i am running 70 at 4k in 5th.
Good luck and enjoy.
Mike
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FWIW - I have Michelin Pilot Road 2's on my B12 and they work GREAT in the rain. The new PR3's are supposed to be even better. Will probably give them a shot when the OE 'Stones on my C14 wear out.
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Woody, you are a caution !!! :thumb: :clap:
Great blog you've got going here.
It's quite interesting to read about your adventures because I've always had a bike of one sort or another for the last 50 years and so have never been "away" from bikes as such....
well, except for the 5 month winters we have each year here in the Great White North. :grin:
I look forward to reading about more of your adventures.....but be careful out there, buddy. :bandit:
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Thanks H2Rick for reading my crap. And always to all here, I recognize I dont have the experience so chime in.
Last couple of days have been rought for me, and I was starting to wonder if I was taking it out on the bike. I am glad to be alive, though my body isnt quite sure what to with itself.
So to help with the curve issues I have started an agressive campaign. basically, instead of lean then add throttle...I pick a throttle angle and just lean till the radius of the curve is right. I'd call it agressive riding if I wasnt the one hanging on. It just seems the little motor (the engine in the vette is 6x larger and is built for torque from 1000 up) cant ever seem to get a happy smooth throttle. So at least for now I decided to :yikes: set throttle first, then corner. at least until I can better match the two.
The other thing is to skip gears. I actually drive my stick shift the same way. on the bike 1 to 3rd. In my car 1st to fourth. What is whacky of course is the close ratio of the bandit's five gears. I can skip the 4th gear as well and go to 5th. My ear has a very hard time telling the rpms difference from the gear changes.
Which leads me to another point. At 39 years old I was asked to take a hearing test to support a project. well my right ear failed pretty harshly. I had a slight head cold, but I rode the bike in that day. Since it was important for me to pass the hearing test I retook it. skipping the bike ride and adding anti-allergy meds as well. Well I passed, but it taught me that my hearing is a little more supsectable than I original thought. I wear a full face helmet, but will add ear plugs here shortly..
still no wheelies as of yet and I am gratful for that.
luv all
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I recognize I dont have the experience so chime in.
You might be sorry you said that, Woody. :wink:
Well it seems you're on the way to figuring out basic cornering.....
pick your speed, get all necessary braking and shifting done BEFORE you enter the corner, get yourself set in the saddle where you want to be, keep your speed constant......and then ride through the corner. You can, if you wish, accelerate out at the end of the corner but keep in mind that the bike will want to run wide on the corner any time you accelerate.
Avoid braking in a corner if you possibly can because the bike will want to stand up out of its lean when you apply the brakes. If you apply too much brake you will highside. This, as we say in the biz, is a bad thing. :bandit:
The NEXT thing to learn is countersteering...if you're not already aware of such a technique.
As to the short shifting thing (going from first to third, etc), I would NOT recommend lugging your engine by doing this. Keep in mind you are NOT riding some low revving V twin agricultural style motor when you're on a Bandit. These Bandit motors love to be kept in the 4000 to 8000 RPM range. That's where they work the best.....even though YOU might think they sound overstressed. These engines will run all day and all night at 5000RPM with no worries at all. So, don't be afraid to wind the tach around to the higher numbers. Just make sure you keep the oil up to the FULL mark in the sightglass. These engines will NOT thank you to run them low on oil. You're not dealing with a 350 Chevy here. LOL
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H2Rick, funny you should say that...
Well another weekend is drawn closed. 100 miles round trip to see a movie have a dinner and followed by a 160 mile round trip for church/gas/shopping/church/coffee/lunch
for those into numbers; I put 37,000 miles on the 14 mpg jeep before I bought the bike. I am now at 1350 miles/60 days...$275 bucks saved on gas alone.
This weekend's rides showed me that I am more comfortable and cross wind capable. Thought the report said 11 mph wind speed i promise that the gusts were 30-40 mph. I actually kept the speed above 65 mph despite the crosswinds. though dense fog slowed me when i went over the mountains.
Of course I kept looking for sixth...my other car has a sixth, why not my bike. Dare I say too comfortable? I found myself letting the bike be and there it was 5k...90 mph...too fast...i cant afford another speeding ticket...especially in broke california. Then there was 8K at 4th gear...uh y'all can figure out the math on that one. So
in short, it seems that my comfort seems to be easying up on speed thus I need to addmore over sight to the whole "what your speed"?
Sadly I have only one week to to ride the bike before departing on a business trip cross country. Wish I had the $600 bucks to shipp the bike.
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PS When I shift from 1 to 3 I am already at 5K rpm...so the being that the bike is close ration (feels really really short) my rpms drop to about 3K. I am starting to let it accelerate more in the lower gear first, before shifting. probably not a technique I'll stick with
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I just now read your sig file...
"oh yeah a 48 state 1200s green GSF"
48 state? I know Cali has their own version, but what other state uses some other version than the rest of the country?
All this time I thought I had a 49 state version. :bandit:
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Yeah you caught me!
I just now read your sig file...
"oh yeah a 48 state 1200s green GSF"
48 state? I know Cali has their own version, but what other state uses some other version than the rest of the country?
All this time I thought I had a 49 state version. :bandit:
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Finally a perfect turn!
3rd gear - 1850 rpm...steady - nice and easy - 22-25 MPH ... steady - No brake needed - No lurching
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well another perfect turn....10 bad ones. I am starting to think that entry speed, gear, lean angle, and throttle matter but are different from every curb.
BTW I stopped the gunning technique before the curve, and I've gone back throttle as you go around the corner. Had to get over the fear and learn how the bike responds.
Also 3rd day riddin' luckily the ridin pants I bought were really rain pants...who knew.
Finally, got my pre-deployment schedule. training starts 1 Jul...Afghanistan by Xmas! Yea!
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Well today it happened lost control of the bike...
Granted it was a bad habit I was developing. The roads are so bad here that is seems like they paved over wagon trails. It is very hard at times to keep the bike in the grove; when it is the grove that bounces your bike.
I was coming to a stop light and with the road being so torn up I was using the center part of the lane because it was a smoother surface. Well that last ten feet was all oil and tranny fluid. It became very clear that I was not going to be able to come to stop before the cross walk...so I made a decision to make my stop longer. The bike just didnt want to stop...So with the front end going left and ring AND the back end going right and left...
...I skidded to a stop.
God helped me that day, may he help you to
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Well today it happened lost control of the bike...I skidded to a stop.
Over the years, I've found that my handling of motorcycle "instinct thinking" has grown and I react to unexpected circumstances (or miscalculations of road/traffic conditions) less to "conscious thinking"...that is, my body just seems to do what needs to be done to get the bike back under control before my brain has time to think about it.
This happened a couple times (a couple weeks ago) when I was coming back through Death Valley after about five hundred miles of riding so far that day. I wanted to take the Wildrose Canyon "back door" into DV, a rather challenging and poorly-maintained road. My brain was tired, and a couple times I really tried to ride the bike off the road, but by body kept correcting my brain's bad decisions and everything went fine.
All this is to say, even the most cautious rider will find himself in situations he didn't expect, and learning to recalculate your actions quickly to the point you don't even know you're doing it...that's a good thing! Kepp sharing your stories, I really enjoy them.
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I should add a couple more salient points.
1) of my 1800 miles thus far, only 150 or so have be in cities with more than one/two stop light(s)...new situation=trouble is possible
2) I was prepared to either make the "light" or do a combat stop...didnt give myself enough correction margin for risk
3) I am glad I check the brakes before hand...nothing wrong, but a good piece of mind
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Well this marks the first long over night trip for the bike...two weeks near the west coast beach. The first week I rented a car to get my stuff down there. The first saturday I switched it out for the 1200s.
basically 180 miles from house to the hotel, with a stop for church in the middle. I notice how nice it was to have the zeroG windshield and no back pack tiring me out on the ride. Did notice that like driving my jeep that the sun makes me very very tired. Got Coffee and decided that I SHOULD use the built in visor in my helmet...dumb ass I am.
So for the week I didnt oil or wash the bike. just drove it, cruise it, and did the PCH to LA on it. I also had the first instance of lifting the front wheel from the ground...not a wheelie, but the uncomfortable position where the handle bars became useless. Apparently, the bike is in tune...at that altitude and barometric pressure.
Well I'mn back on Mars, and wash the bike, and oiled the chain. I am approaching 2600 miles, so an oil change is due. I also did the snorkel removal mod and discovered an air filter that resembled concrete rather than a pourus paper filter. Online ordering here I come!
Wife comes the visit me shortly, but I'll be in the jeep as there is no place for bags (she travels like we have a 40' trailer). Probably take her to the places I went to in Oxnard, CA
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Well did the big trio. spark plugs, Air filter with cut lid, and oil change. Though my first ride was very eventful as it refuses to turn past 4K. hits it and then surges hard between 2 and 3K. hopefully my reformed bike nieghbor can help diagnose.
A need to re-jet couldnt cause this much problem...could it?
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Just got caught up with your recent posts, Woody.
A need to re-jet couldnt cause this much problem...could it?
Yes it could. Air box mods are NOT what you need, especially in CA at/near sea level. These bikes run lean to start with....even with the stock unmodified airbox. Drilling holes in the airbox makes it LEANER yet. Bad idea numbah 10.
Now you can either duct tape over the holes you cut so you can get back to stock airflow/mixtures......or start messing with larger jets and revised needle position.
It is amazing to me why people have to screw around with stuff on a stock bike in the hopes of gaining some mysterious power gain.
Really.....is 100 HP not enough for you ??
If not, go out and buy a Busa or Gixxer Thou......instead of trying to find 50 more horses from a Bandit 12.
My .02 worth....
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thanks for the reply, but considering I only planned for normal stuff (filter, ignition, exhuast). If you know me, you know that this being very very good. I've got small block chrsyler 426 ci in the works for the jeep, and I am currently working the kinks with the small block chevy 427 in the vette.
What's going on here is not gaining 50 Hp, but rather letting the engine breathe and enjoying the noise. Im a KN guy period. One of the points I do enjoy is the increase in mileage with a free flowing filter. my hiway mileage is 32ish at 80ish.
Given the surging and burping, it has to be a loose connection, vacuum tube, fuel petcock (that's what the neighbor thinks), or jetting.
kinda make wish it was FI so I'd know what the heck is going on. It almost seems like the secondaries (do these carbs have secondaries) are refusing to open or the fuel isnt igniting.
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Hey Gamewood
What's going on here is not gaining 50 Hp, but rather letting the engine breathe and enjoying the noise. Im a KN guy period. One of the points I do enjoy is the increase in mileage with a free flowing filter.
A couple of comments...
1. Most tuners recommend AGAINST using a K&N filter on a 2nd Gen Bandit with a stock airbox. It can complicate jetting, and doesn't yield any advantages (performance wise), but also should not have the effect you are describing, but maybe?
2. Rick's point is that the B12 is already very lean. If you want to free up/increase the airflow, with air filter and exhaust changes, you MUST plan to rejet to get proper results.
You can do some research here:
http://www.holeshot.com/
http://www.ivansperformanceproducts.com/
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bike carbs dont have secondaries like a car carb does. they are a whole lot more precise in the metering than car stuff.
if you have ever worked on old english cars with SU or CD stromberg carbs, thats pretty much a cv bike carb, but a bit more basic.
if you stick a K&N in it or a free flow exhaust can, you need to get the jetting checked and if need be, get a dyno jet or similar jet kit for it.
a bike motor is a whole lot more sensitive than an old 427 chev to an air filter or exhaust change, simply because they are still a very high performance motor, that has a very high compression ratio, and revs pretty hard .
not as high performance per liter as the 250 bandits ( approx 180 hp per liter) but still pretty good at nigh on 100 per liter ( use old gsxr 1100 bits for heaps more go ). imagine how sensitive to a small change a 700+ hp 427 would be if you went to a higher flowing air filter or exhaust, you'd need to tune it to make it run right.
it may only be an air filter, but on a realitively high performance motor, it can screw the jetting up enough to get, surging, hiccuping,flat spots etc etc.
my 250 has just an after market exhaust can, but needed a dyno jet kit to run just right.
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Thanks all for the replies. I actually didn't expect much change from a k&n replacement filter and slightly opening the air inlet. I can see why the "tuners" recommend against the k&n, it gets rid of any usefful vacuum signal. However, there more air available so the power should be there as long as the bike knows how much spark and fuel to add.
So the piece of carpe/8 yearold filter is back in and it revs ok now. Sent email to holeshot for their advancer, exh can, and of course jet kit.
Btw my other motors are fuel injected which I tune my self via wideband. This jetting business will be fun.
And for the Guy that thinks an air filter makes you a gxxer racer, you are needed in california with the other emissions nazis. I bought my bike same as everyone else here...because it fit...and nothing else does. Except for a new GSF1250s!
luv the comments and sneers, keep em coming
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MPG first 100 mile - 33.6 MPG
MPG second 100 miles - 47 MPG
A first, leaned over enough where the ground kissed my boot. Didn't do anything to the bike just a little feedback. Though, I looked at Suzuki blvds; given their low ground stance, I don't think they'll corner like the 1200s.
Another first, 180 mile trip. thought I did stop for lunch and pictures.
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So the piece of carpe/8 yearold filter is back in and it revs ok now.
I'm glad to hear you've got your performance back. Lesson learned, I'd say. :rofl:
I bought my bike same as everyone else here...because it fit...and nothing else does.
I'm not sure exactly what you mean, Woody.
I bought my Bandit because it DOES what I need it to. If it had less power, I'd still be happy with it. If it was naked instead of half-faired I'd still be happy with it.
If by "fit" you mean how the ergos of the bike work for you/me, then that's a secondary consideration on my part. For a bike that does what I need, I can always adapt my riding position to what the bike offers, within certain limitations, of course.
Old-school Bandits are air-cooled, chain driven, four cylinder inline engined motorcycles with carburettors.....exactly what a real motorcycle should be, IMHO. The fact that they're built by Suzuki is a great bonus. :wink:
given their low ground stance, I don't think they'll corner like the 1200s.
You'd be right about that, Woody !!! You can go around corners at speeds/angles on your Bandit that would be totally impossible to do on most any cruiser.
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Sorry I dont learn very well. :bandit: jet kit on order and KN filter will be back on next week. Didnt expect the carburator not to have a venturi.
Spent most of sunday night specing (sp?) out a FI kit. Wonder that a long tube runner would do to the bike.
Finally, I actually do mean ergonomically fit. Been in a lot of physical "challenges" and thank God for each day I'm able to get up. There's about five bikes that don't cause debilating pain when I get on it. Bad knees, bad hips, bad back, bad shoulders, bad neck... Live while you can, die well!
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for those that dont know, I have a tinkering problem. Unfortunately, the combined joint issues, inability to find parts, and the problematic issue of not leaving well enough alone.
I have once again fell into a slump, where the body just doesnt want to live. It's dibilitating and demoralizing. its not R. arthritis, but might as well be. The back an hips just sit there in pain. When I think back to funnier days,the adrenlin is enough to cause more pain. Then I get reminder pains in the knees, feet, and hamstring. If it was just lower body it would be just horrible, but the upper body is junk as well. If anything, this is the reason I chose the 1200s...because it didnt hurt the wrist, hips where in a neutral position, legs where bent (vice straight leg), and it was tall enough to be balanced by my upper/inner thighs without squating.
Well I am stubborn...and I am glad I am. The outward purpose of the current mod effort was to run a KN filter and get some more spark into the engine. So between the filter (slightly cut lid ~3" hole). purple oil, and dual tip sparkplugs...the engine would not run. I know now that the design of the carbs required the restriction of an inefficient filter/box. Additionally, since the bike marginally runs with the new oil and spark plugs, it is clear that it was set way too lean. So I ordered a jet kit/spark advancer from holeshot.
Going into a "running" anything for minor surgery is my disease. However, what I found was a carb set that desparately needed cleaning and rebuilding. So I started a campaign to rebuild it. My local riders XXX ended up being the best source of parts. mrcycle was slow and max retail price. It didnt help in my quest to rebuild it, that I lost parts that were hard to find-no longer in production. So ebay ended up being a source of parts. There was so much junk in the carbs, that there was way for it to run as advertised. It'll probably be 5 hp increase just in the investment of degreaser, wd40, Qtips, high pressure air,, anda lot of scrubbing. The mid jets were all gummed up to different sizes and were replaced. A full rebliud kit was installed (orings ). So outside of adjusting the carbs fuel screw, needle, carb balance; I dont see a reason why I need to go back in there. In fact any more changes and I'll just weld up a fuel injection manifold and install a aftermarket FI system...mini squirt.
So with the last part finally in hand, I am ready intall to install ite. current mods will be jet kit (with slight mods from holeshot), 4" aperature for the air box, KN filter, 18" carbon fiber muffler, spark advancer, purple oil, and spark plugs.
To finish it how I want it, I'll gear down hthe bike at least 15% (48 rear to a 42 rear), change the chain, possibly add accel/msd coils, and of course clean it. I didnt change any of the fuel fittings, so I might be taking everything apart again to replace the nine-year-old gasket.
The main disease was averted, however. Having the carbs off the bike I saw the horrible rough cylinder heads. I wanted to desparately port the heads. Which meant adding cams, which meant replacing the valve train, which meant boring out the motor to a 1370cc, which meant adding that $3500 turbo kit.
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
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To finish it how I want it, I'll gear down hthe bike at least 15% (48 rear to a 42 rear)
If you're going from a 48 to a 42, that would be gearing the bike UP, not down.
You do know that the stock sprocket was a 45 tooth, right? So someone has already geared it down.
Stock gearing is 45/15 or 3:1, 48/15 = 3.2:1, 42/15 = 2.8:1
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the gearing is to DECREASE engine RPM at highway speeds. hopefully get it below 4250 RPM in fifth gear.
Rode the bike today after fixing the carb leak (adjusted the car bowls). first ride in more than a month of chasing parts. Though it was risky as my hips are swollen and hurting for over acting muscle. mid range is very luggy (lean/rich?). At least with the jet kit I can adjust it easily.
My bike has a 17 front sproket and 48 rear sprocket 2.82 ratio
so I could go stock and be better of for sure!!... 6% decrease to cruising RPM
or go 17 front and 42 rear... 2.47 ratio...13% decrease to cruising RPM
maybe I was speeding but my weekend cruising rpm was 5500. This is good for a 600/750 horrible for a 1200 that got 32 MPG
luv u all!
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Well Im still alive. Thanks God.
There have been two inattentive vehicles that have almost killed me since my last confession.
I have sped
I have cheated the yellow and the red lines.
I dont always keep my foot down for more than three seconds at a stop sign.
I sometimes crouch down like a 1000cc racer only to situp with no effect on speed
I had another chick break my "girl on the bitch" that wasnt my wife
But I did save money on my car insurance
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It sounds like you are having fun when your back isn't strangling you. If you're anything like me you've got super-tight hamstrings which jam up everything else.
Keep on riding and writing.
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thought i'd post a few things since Im still recovering from injections in my back.
-This is the status of Mods: hole shot jet kit (145), new mid jets, K&N, 3.5" hole mod, dual tip spark plugs, purple oil, and delvakic (sp?) 17" oval muffler. gearing is at 17/48.
-On trips to work I get a 32-34 MPG. On my last weekend trip (190miles), i Got 42-44 MPG.
-Oh and I hit 4500 miles in 4 months of riding
-I am now working on shifting my ass over the seat so I do more than 30 MPH on those round on/off ramps to highways.
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Sorry for the long update. Its been a whacky couple of months. School, minor surgery, and now changing jobs. So where I am sitting at...
Over 8000 miles on the bike now and have experience three riders thus far. I am not an expert, but there is a huge difference between a rider who knows how to ride and a rider that can get on the bike. I like the hugger types versus the hands on the back type of rider. Not for manhood justification reasons, but balance, control, and ability to make good decisions.
When the riders don't hold on I have no sense of where they are on the bike...and everytime I feel an uncomfortable shift in wieght when I take off...and I imagine them sliding off the back of the bike.
When riders put their arm around me, I have control of their mass and the center of mass of the assembly. What is also Key is that I like to accelerate. Riders like to accelerate. so when they hold on I can get into the throttle.
I still havent found the opprotunity to fully open the throttle, but I am having fun.
BTW is the passenger supposed to give a reach around too? :bandit:
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Well life is moving foward, and I've been just logging miles. Health issues still provide some limits, but also motivate to ride as long as I can. A few reflections observations:
Watched a BMW cornering school one weekend, and purchased several books on cornering. Still going through it...but the study quickly added much ease and speed to my travels. First time I felt really comfortable using one of the techniques I was going 30 MPH faster than usual. It was a looping hiway on ramp and I was looking well ahead...typically I was at 40 MPH, then I was at 70 MPH. But for some reason I got in the habit of looking right ahead of the motorcycle versus down range.
Another observation, is that engine braking effects the rear tire traction much more than I realize. Given a cold-lean running bike, gearing down has locked up my rear tire more than I realize. Add dirt and grease at an intersection, and a slide results. To make it a possitive though, I now use engine braking in normal driving. So rather than braking or changing gears, i just chop the throttle a bit agressively and the bike slows. My last canyon run was a beautiful cacaphony of sounds but of the 20 miles, I only shifted twice (once to pass a group of Harleys).
Lastly fuel mileage is down to low-mid 30's. Gotta slow down I guess.
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Well it happened...first tangle with law enforcement. "unattentive driving". granted I was hands free...using balance to steer, but at 30 mph speed limit its best for me to trlax. But the cop had an issue with my plan. No ticket...how do you explain not paying attention while riding?
At lrast I didnt have the mp3 player in