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What have you done to your bird lately?

678K views 6K replies 418 participants last post by  smokeyfish 
#1 · (Edited)
I've seen these threads on other sites and have decided to blatantly rip them off.

I will start:

Tore the rear shock out to take to my local suspension guru to use as a baseline in the rebuild of my 'blade shock. Pulled all the plastics to find a spot for the shock reservoir, change the R/R to a mosfet unit, and do a bunch of stuff up front. Changed the upper fairing stay as the old one had a slight tweak (anyone who wants the old one can have it for shipping $), fabbed up a bracket and installed my Stebel Nautilus (thanks Twisted Throttle for the on-line install guide, it saved me a bunch of noodling to find an appropriate mounting point), tidied up the gaggle of wiring, relays and circuit breakers I have stuffed behind the gauge cluster, and (finally) installed my indiglo XX tach face. Forks are coming off and new springs and gold valves will go in when they arrive.

Thoughts:

The stock horn is anemic and pointless. My twin Fiamms were LOUD. The Nautilus is GAWDAWFUL LOUD. I love it.

The tach face overlay required a wire be run out the back of the cluster which was made easier by releasing the actuator motor from the PCB. I did this without paying close attention to the motor's orientation and had a 50/50
chance of putting it back in the right way. Reassembled and test fired. Tach now runs backwards. Aargh. Man card revoked. IQ downgraded to "sometimes remembers to breathe without reminding and doesn't drool on self. Much".

So what have YOU done to your bird lately?
 
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#59 ·
We plan on a three day ride E of mnt rainer and mnt st Helens then up mnt st Helens. July 20 weekend
 
#64 ·
You've left acid-laden bug juice unattended on that beautiful paint? Tsk tsk.. For shame.
 
#65 ·
Don't loose sleep, Shewie. They are parked on the plastic body guard that I have covering the nose cone. Okay, okay, I'll clean the old girl today. Peer pressure, sheesh.
 
#67 ·
Well. Well. Well. 4 days until Winter officially kicks in ... and we had a 22 degree Cel day. Soooooooooooo due to extreme peer group pressure (bloody Canadians) I cleaned the Steinway.

I had hose in hand. The bugs looked at me again. I motioned the hose towards them. Their eyes widened in growing realisation. I motioned to the driveway, the footpath (remember that they had lost their wings, so escape would have to be by foot). Wide eyes were joined by furrowed wee insect brows. A wave of panic rippled through the squished fairing dots. Their legs had fallen off two nights ago. The hose twitched with impatience. The smudges squirmed (well, as much squirming as one can accomplish without wings or legs). I quietly and patiently asked them if they knew how to swim. The bugs exchanged perplexed glances. The hose came alive with 'The Death of One Thousand Litres' ...

:hotsmile:
 

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#68 ·
Well it's about time. I'm relieved that there was no mention of chisels, grinders or adzes in the removal process. Your Kiwi bugs must not be related to the ones here, which are directly descended from Ridley Scott's creature from the Alien movies and have acid for blood.

Got my fork cartridges apart. The compression valves were practically welded in place, as were the rebound valve nuts. Perhaps tomorrow will see the Race Tech valves install themselves. Or, more likely, I will have to help the lazy buggers in. This suspension stuff is a bit like witchcraft and I'm fresh out of 'eye of newt' and 'toad liver oil'.
 
#73 ·
Quiet in the Peanut Gallery. Besides, the bugs and their legs had already parted ways, according to Bwana's last garage expedition report.

Pics, Inuit.
.

Alright, alright. Keep your feathers smooth, ya penguin. I'll try to pull the iPhone out and avoid getting it covered in oil long enough for a few snaps
 
#71 ·
New front pads, back ones went back in, still plenty of life left in them, Oiled the chain,

New Z8 rear going on tomorrow, Big Queens Birthday run to Eden coming up and my tyre wont last that long, 2500 Kays in 3 days, Two up.

Will wash my headlight, I like to see where I am going,

The rest can stay dirty, It looks like its a bike that is ridden, Not kept in a display case, hahahahahahaha.

Its raining here and cold, So washing it is a waste of time,

Just about to clock over 60,000 Kays in 3 years, It sat in the garage for 12 months last year, Unridden, The Moped is not happy, She feels so neglected, she loves to stretch her mighty legs,
 
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#74 ·
Oil change
Gas


CCT - the previous one I put in 43670 miles ago!

Tool accessory


New (secondhand)clock for the dash

Speedometer Auto part Technology Vehicle Gauge



then a clean up for the engine whilst the fairing was removed.

.............. all done and dusted in 5 hours.

........ and the usual 600+ miles and 5 tank fills ...........this week every day was dry just a bit of early morning fog. Due to be back to normal in the coming week with rain and thunderstorms.
 
#78 · (Edited)
I wondered if the oil would draw attention :eyebrows:
The oil that came out was still in good condition (6500 miles) but I drop it into that old container that has seen many oil changes (car/van/bike) along with catching 'wash off' from chain cleans etc etc so it has a decent layer of 'residual sludge' that colours up dropped oil nicely.

Half a day later it appears that the clock is keeping time, so it appears that LCD clocks can loose time since as I suspected the wiring and connectors were all fine. For years I've never bothered about the clock (very occasional looks) but since it started to loose time I kept seeing it showing totally wrong time and it was bugging me ........ good old Ebay!

EDIT I note shewie has a 'spare hand' as well, far better with a camera than mine :clap:
 
#76 · (Edited)
Per the flightless bird's request:

Fork out and ready for a bath in soap and water:


Cartridge assembly out:


These little alloy caps were really stuck on:


A little judicious tapping with a wrench eventually got them off:


Some more tickles on the (temporarily reinstalled) lower bolt to move the compression stack far enough to gain access to the circlip:


Then use the damper rod as a slide hammer to force this stubborn little SOB out (note the amount of debris accompanying it:


Trip to the solvent tank for the compression and rebound valves:


File the peening off the end of the threaded area to remove the nut:


A screwdriver to catch the stack and keep everything in order. This will be helpful later.


The new Gold Valve bodies. They all (4) require a relief hole be drilled with a #55 bit. Hard to see, but it's there:


No photos of the valve assembly process, there was much mumbling and scratching of head and involved. You have to log onto Race Tech's website and input a code provided with the kit and your weight, skill level and riding style. This generates the numbers you need to assemble the shim stacks.

Bloody hell.

I hope I got this all right. Here are the cartridges ready to go back into the forks:


Unfortunately, I am missing the new upper bushings so I can't proceed any further. Not a tragedy as I am still waiting to get my rebuilt 900RR shock back from Accellerated Technologies. Everything is waiting on the bushings and rear shock now. Should be riding next weekend though.
 

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#79 ·
6500 miles? Eeek. I do mine every 5000kms. And I use Castrol Power1 GPS 4T semi. And I love Michy Pilot Power 2CTs. At 36/38 cold. And I love muesli with soy milk and a banana for brekkie. :popcorn:
 
#81 ·
The third hand is my daughter who spent part of the afternoon chatting with me so, naturally, she got put to work.

No frame pics, G. When I discovered that I had no upper bushings I started working on the other items on my list. Changed the wax unit, cleaned and reinstalled the K&N, changed oil & cleaned my fancy billet/SS mesh filter (overdue at 5800 kms) :), greased all the suspension pivots and bolted a few items back on. I'll take a pic when I get home.
 
#89 · (Edited)
The third hand is the result of inbreeding.
Fixed that for yar, Cleetis.

Perry. I just use an aftermarket copy of the OEM screen in a super dark tint. It's good for 60 to 180. I'm only a 5'8" midget with stunted arms (inbreeding) so I'm virtually lying on the tank to reach the 'bars, even at the lights... Cool avatar BTW.

Bubbles, oohhhhhh, warm soapy bubbles, oohhhh, goood bubbles. Mmmmmmm. All I need to complete the picture is a stripper...
 

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#82 ·
My owner's manual states new oil & filter every 19.2 kms. I usually do 6-7 or so. I have at least 5-6 on the oil now and yesterday it looked like honey, still. Anyone changing oil every 3,000 kms or so is just wasting money and filling the recycling bin. imho
 
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#83 ·
Fair enough CB. As stated, I change mine at 5000kms/3000miles and do the filter every time. I ride fairly hard. I don't like the feel of the 'box when the oil gets a bit thin. I don't like revving the engine to redline when I know the oil is thin. Oil and filter work out to approx $2 a tank. A flat white cost about $4. Cheap enough for peace of mind. I also change tires at about 1/2 worn because I hate loosing the front when the profile wears and the tire has gone through a few too many heat cycles. Each to their own, my friend. Gazza.
 
#85 ·
The dealer had upper bushings in stock (!) (seriously. what are the odds?) so I got the tubes and sliders together. Then I disassembled them and reassembled them again with the seal washers installed. :rolleyes: Still have to get a measurement and cut the spacer tubes down (sweet 6061-T6 tubing, btw) as the Race Tech springs are longer than stock. Didn't happen tonight, it's pushing a gajillion degrees outside with about 185% humidity and I'm wiped from work. Now where's my bottle and blankie?
 
#87 ·
#86 ·
Ghazzah, your bike looks fantastic! What wind screen ya got on that jewel and can you tell me the effect at 60mph and above:confused: Lovin the smoooth look. :love: This double bubble isnt workin.:hmm: Land vehicle Vehicle Motor vehicle Motorcycle Car


Changed oil tonight. 1st time since I got it, (200miles) not looking too bad. Short 1/2 qt though:bonk:Thought fer sure I had an extra qt. Need to flush the radiator next. Learning from you guys as I go. :nworthy2:
 
#90 ·
Shewie (aka Mr Donut)

Here are my fork internal settings (remember that we don't have donuts here in the South Pacific, so I am a moderate 80kg nekkid.

Springs: 288mm linear Eibach 0.9kg/mm (not sure of the OEM progressives' length)
Spacers: 163.5mm (OEM = 200mm). Tried 150s on the advice of the Ohlins Guy, but my static sag was too great. Longer spacers = less sag (Maybe you should try longer spacers around your moobs and belly...)
Oil: Ohlins #5 (23cST at 40 degrees. Not cheap, but worth every penny. Liquid Silk as it passes throug the valves, my man.
Compression Valve = Racetech Gold
Rebound Valve = OEM but modified by Kenth's technician for much more flow.
Air Gap: 154mm (OEM=150mm. I prefer a bit more of a solid feel under full compression (less air to compress)
Free Sag = 28mm (Ohlins suggest a range of 20-30mm)
Ride Height = 34mm (30-40mm)
Fork tubes 5mm up in the 'clamps.

FYI:
Rear Free Sag = 10mm (5-15mm)
Rear Ride Height = 32mm (25-35mm)
No shock spacer for Gaz. Tried a 6mm and hated it. Too nervous. Tried a 3mm. Nup. Bike turns fine with no spacer and +5mm in the 'tubes IMHO.

Slim.
 
#91 ·
I believe Race Tech uses Eibach springs. Could be wrong, happy to be proven so by someone who knows better.

Stock springs, by my measure, are 234mm and are alleged to be 0.9kg/mm while my new ones are 313mm and 1.2kg/mm. I'm thinking I will not need a bunch of preload with these stiff things. The instructions include directions for determining the spacer length. That is going to be tomorrow's job, previous engagement tonight.
 
#92 ·
By Jove, I think you are right! Horrors. Eibach are often the primary wholesale supplier to named brands.

I'd be interested to see the spacer calcs supplied. I used the tried and tested method of 'guessing'. A mere 1mm difference in spacer length makes a difference, believe it or not. I went from 150mm to 155mm to 160.5mm to 163.5mm and now have the ride height sitting smack in the middle of the Ohlins recommended range. and, yes, you can certainly feel the difference in ride/handling when you are near the extremities/outside this range. Horrid. We hates it, we does, My Preciousss.
 
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