...errr, I mean MOTARDED!!!
I am now the proud owner of a practically new 2005 Suzuki DR-Z400SM. I love it already.
To those of you who don't know, a supermoto is essentially a dirt bike with bigger brakes and sticky tires on wider rims. They weigh in between 250 and 300lbs, typically, and have an AMA race class all their own.
I have only ridden the thing 30 miles or so, mostly highway, but I am in love already. It has comparable power to the GS, but weighs about a hundred pounds less. It only has a 5 speed gearbox, but the gears are tall and the powerband is as wide as the RPM range. The thing is very light and very tossable. It has a practical top speed of about 80, but it can go higher if you give it the room. But below that... and look out.
I can honestly say that I have never laughed as much as I did when I rode home on the DR-Z than I ever have in my life. I was laughing so much and so loud that my friends could hear me; inside the truck; with the windows up; and the engine on. It's not exactly the quietest engine, either. It's a 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel (F-250). I am still laughing and giggling about it now.
The suspension is fantastic for my weight. The front springs are perfectly matched for a 130 lb rider, and they are fully adjustable inverted forks. The rear is a bit stiff for my weight according to RaceTech, but I didn't notice a problem with it yet. The front springs are actually about as soft as the stock GSes, but since it is dirt bike derived they are supposed to be that soft. All that weight transfer leads to easy stoppies under heavy braking (don't worry, I was in a parking lot).
The gearing is wide, as noted above, so wide in fact that you have to give it a lot of gas in 1st and slip the clutch otherwise it stalls out. However, if you let the clutch out too fast the tires will stick pretty easily and power the front up faster than I ever expected. Again, don't worry, I was in a parking lot.
But seriously. It's a f%$king hoot.
Pictures later.
Yeah those things are awesome :cheers:
Definately buying either that or a GS when I'm 16.
Congrats Brian! :thumb:
Your names Brian? I thought it was someting else.
-ash
total lies without pics
You thought his name wasn't brian? I magine how suprised I was when I found out he was black.
Quote from: ashman on November 16, 2006, 08:40:45 PM
Your names Brian? I thought it was someting else.
-ash
His name is actually retard, but some call him brian.
Alpha, post some pics, congrats.
Quote from: makenzie71 on November 16, 2006, 08:41:42 PM
total lies without pics
You thought his name wasn't brian? I magine how suprised I was when I found out he was black.
:laugh:
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on November 16, 2006, 07:50:48 PM
Pictures later.
Stop kissy-kissy'ing your new retard....er....motard..... We want pics NOW!! :P
(http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/121/937/1833649-worthless.gif)
Oh....and...CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
you sure you're ready for a 400?
I have no picture that I have taken, but here's one the guy took for his ad:
(http://web.mac.com/tschoepe/iWeb/Tschoepe%20FirstServer/DRZ%20For%20Sale%20-%20layoff_files/IMAGE011.jpg)
Sweet! :thumb:
Chilly
Ok...that pic'll hold us over.....'til tomorrow when you can take a pic! :icon_mrgreen: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
What Chilly Willy said....SWEET! :thumb:
I'm still calling the bluff.
sweet on the track too...with equal riders it can easily keep pace with a 600 supersport on a tight track. one straight and its done for though...
Quote from: pantablo on November 16, 2006, 10:51:30 PM
sweet on the track too...with equal riders it can easily keep pace with a 600 supersport on a tight track. one straight and its done for though...
Curves are more fun than straights anyways, as we all know.
It's just better matched to the type of riding I do. Commuting, mainly, with the occasional sport ride and the occasional track day. I got passed in the straights by the GS, but I don't care, frankly. It's just more time for me to set up for the next curve. :)
I have an old video of me at streets of willow trackday taken by a rider I met there who was on that very bike...and he had no trouble keeping up with me. it was a blast as my other friend was on a xr650 converted to motard as well...
sweet man, glad you got it. I told you... perma-grin :icon_mrgreen:
How did you come out on the mods? You get them or did you buy the bike stock?
Grats on the new bike
I got the modded bike! Already plan to replace the front fender with an Acerbis one, and what is the tail light you are using, Stephen? I like it a lot.
I really need to take it easy on the bike for the next couple of weeks as I get used to the whole instant torque, super high first gear, etc...
It's still a fuggin' hoot though.
i got the DRC edge original (not the edge2) from Forrest at wheeling cycle supply... It looks like the tail light that Suzuki should have used stock on the drz. I've been thinking about a new fender, let me know if you get it and the difference it makes on the highway. Has the previous owner done the 3x3 air box mod? I've been putting off untill i'm ready to rejet.
I guess you know about the drz forum at Thumpertalk...
Quote from: Stephen072774 on November 17, 2006, 09:12:37 AM
i got the DRC edge original (not the edge2) from Forrest at wheeling cycle supply... It looks like the tail light that Suzuki should have used stock on the drz. I've been thinking about a new fender, let me know if you get it and the difference it makes on the highway. Has the previous owner done the 3x3 air box mod? I've been putting off untill i'm ready to rejet.
I guess you know about the drz forum at Thumpertalk...
He hasn't done the 3x3 mod yet, and I am going to hold off too.
I actually had no problem on the highway, but I like the looks of the SM fender.
I know about the forum at TT, but I have yet to get over there. Maybe later this evening. :)
I really need to get used to the clutch. It begins engagement right off the bar, and stops at the end of lever travel. It can be... startling.
I also really want to get some boots that I won't feel bad wearing on the road. I'm thinking either the Oxtar Super Motard boots, or the Sidi Force SRS boots. $300+ though, I'll have to look into them.
yeah the TT guys push the MCCT cam chain tensioner and the case savers, both of which are pretty cheap insurance... for the most part, the bikes bullet-proof. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have mine :thumb:
Don't forget to get the radiator guards.
He's already got those pretty gold unibikers :thumb: Which btw, my gold ones have faded in the sun... they are much closer to the fork color than they started out.
Quote
Curves are more fun than straights anyways,
Quote
you say that until you date a fat chick....
supermotojunkie.com
Hey, congrats on the bike. That is pretty cool. Seems like the perfect bike for you.
Hey, maybe you should. . . dunno. . . adjust that clutch cable or something. Just a suggestion! My clutch on the SV was like that. The friction zone was right off the bar and the throttle response on the SV is stupid. I got used to it. Then a racer and mechanic rode my bike. He was like, WTF is wrong with your clutch! He adjusted it and gave it back to me. Took him like3 seconds.
Quote from: pantablo on November 17, 2006, 02:41:46 PM
supermotojunkie.com
Already been there for a while. Just joined ThumperTalk today.
Quote from: Jake D on November 17, 2006, 04:00:29 PM
Hey, congrats on the bike. That is pretty cool. Seems like the perfect bike for you.
Hey, maybe you should. . . dunno. . . adjust that clutch cable or something. Just a suggestion! My clutch on the SV was like that. The friction zone was right off the bar and the throttle response on the SV is stupid. I got used to it. Then a racer and mechanic rode my bike. He was like, WTF is wrong with your clutch! He adjusted it and gave it back to me. Took him like3 seconds.
Yeah, I know how to adjust it, but the thing is... it's already got the proper amount of free play in it. It's just got a short throw with a lot of engagement. I'll get used to it.
its a four stroke dirtbike ... its supose to be that way :) learn to ride it and its a blast ...... not that i'd ever get a motard .. i'll stick to eather a streetbike or a dirtbike(2 stroke you cant beat it )
Still no picture!?
He's in San Antonio this weekend. Pictures to come soon...
-Alpha's Spokesman.
Quote from: FearedGS500 on November 19, 2006, 12:19:58 AM
its a four stroke dirtbike ... its supose to be that way :) learn to ride it and its a blast ...... not that i'd ever get a motard .. i'll stick to eather a streetbike or a dirtbike(2 stroke you cant beat it )
Yeah, it's a lot different than the old XT250 I rode trails on when I was first learning to ride. I wish there were some Supermoto schools here in Texas, but it looks like I'll have to practice in the dirt to up my skills on this one.
Quote from: Turd Ferguson on November 19, 2006, 12:48:27 PM
He's in San Antonio this weekend. Pictures to come soon...
-Alpha's Spokesman.
Bingo. I got a few of the bike, but it'll be a while before I get around to pulling them off the camera and onto the laptop, resizing them, sticking them on the web, and then posting them here. Give it a few days! :lol2:
lies... all lies...
:laugh:
j/k
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/2006-11-18179.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/2006-11-18180.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/2006-11-18183.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/2006-11-18185.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/2006-11-18185.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/2006-11-18189.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/2006-11-18191.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/2006-11-18182.jpg)
NICE.
I may have missed it in the thread, but I hope you're going to do something about that cargo rack. Either paint it black or the darkest shade of gray on those decals or, just toss it and get something else, Either way, I love motards.
Quote from: Blingmasta on November 20, 2006, 09:39:48 PM
NICE.
I may have missed it in the thread, but I hope you're going to do something about that cargo rack. Either paint it black or the darkest shade of gray on those decals or, just toss it and get something else, Either way, I love motards.
I like the bling the gold offers. Matches the forks and the radiator guards.
I plan on getting the Acerbis front Supermoto fender to reduce the buffeting at high speeds, and I'll be installing some case savers that I got with the bike, as well as a stainless steel front brake line. I need to pull off the shifter and smooth the edges, just in case. I'm probably also going to get the Stage tail light that Stephen has on his DR-Z because it looks freakin' sweet.
But first, I need boots.
Eh, maybe if it was the exact same color as those radiator guards, as it is now it looks too much like the gold color on the little fake crowns from burger king or some other cheap childs toy. But, alas, tis only my opinion, and it's your sweet bike, so do with it as you please.
PS: It looks like the color matches the forks perfectly, but the color on the forks is much deeper, therefore nicer. That is all.
Quote from: Blingmasta on November 20, 2006, 10:04:02 PM
Eh, maybe if it was the exact same color as those radiator guards, as it is now it looks too much like the gold color on the little fake crowns from burger king or some other cheap childs toy. But, alas, tis only my opinion, and it's your sweet bike, so do with it as you please.
PS: It looks like the color matches the forks perfectly, but the color on the forks is much deeper, therefore nicer. That is all.
According to Stephen, the radiator guards fade to the color of the forks, and I'd imagine the rack will too. It should all even out in a month or so.
I'll be ordering some Sidi Supermoto boots tomorrow, although it's still kind of a toss up between them and the Force SRS.
Nice bike, how would you compare that seat to stock? Is that your reno in the background?
Quote from: 94suzuki500 on November 20, 2006, 10:21:26 PM
Nice bike, how would you compare that seat to stock? Is that your reno in the background?
Haven't tried the stock seat yet, but this Suzuki "comfort" seat isn't all that great. After about 50 miles my ass starts getting sore. 80 miles (tank range before reserve) is about all I can go so far before needing to get off and get blood flowing back in there. I'll give the stock seat a try sometime this week, just to compare.
That's my girlfriend's Reno in the background. Her sister has a blue one. I wish I could find a copper SV so I could take pictures of the two together.
Well I guess that would be the only downside really to a supermoto other than top speed, but super motos are so much fun, I have a zx6r and it sucks as far as fun riding goes. I was asking about the reno because my mom has a red one, I was maybe thinking we could be twinkies.
Quote from: 94suzuki500 on November 20, 2006, 10:57:08 PM
I was maybe thinking we could be twinkies.
I don't think you should EVER mention anything like this again...
Quote from: 94suzuki500 on November 20, 2006, 10:57:08 PM
Well I guess that would be the only downside really to a supermoto other than top speed, but super motos are so much fun, I have a zx6r and it sucks as far as fun riding goes. I was asking about the reno because my mom has a red one, I was maybe thinking we could be twinkies.
Saved.
:laugh:
Quote from: 94suzuki500 on November 20, 2006, 10:57:08 PM
Well I guess that would be the only downside really to a supermoto other than top speed, but super motos are so much fun, I have a zx6r and it sucks as far as fun riding goes. I was asking about the reno because my mom has a red one, I was maybe thinking we could be twinkies.
saved again ;) :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Quote from: 94suzuki500 on November 20, 2006, 10:57:08 PM
Well I guess that would be the only downside really to a supermoto other than top speed, but super motos are so much fun, I have a zx6r and it sucks as far as fun riding goes. I was asking about the reno because my mom has a red one, I was maybe thinking we could be twinkies.
What the hell... one more time won't hurt.
Pics!! At last!!! w00t! I actually like the gold, too. It's *understated* bling. It doesn't jump out and hit you on the head. It just sits there and looks purdy. :thumb:
Sooooooooo....gonna go on a nice, long holiday-weekend ride and post up a full report!? :icon_mrgreen:
Quote from: pandy on November 21, 2006, 08:20:27 AM
Pics!! At last!!! w00t! I actually like the gold, too. It's *understated* bling. It doesn't jump out and hit you on the head. It just sits there and looks purdy. :thumb:
Sooooooooo....gonna go on a nice, long holiday-weekend ride and post up a full report!? :icon_mrgreen:
Long rides are out of the question. 50 miles and my ass starts to hurt. 80 miles and I need to refuel and rub my ass for a few minutes.
However, I will be going to Cycle Ranch (http://www.cycleranchmx.com/), a Motocross track near San Antonio this weekend. I'll no doubt get some experience sliding this thing around on road tires in the dirt.
SWEET! And, SWEET! :thumb: O0 :cheers: :thumb:
Alpha, I'm jealous and drooling. The guy here that parks by me has the same color, except he has the barkbusters with the integrated turn signals. I don't know if you've come across those yet, but they are super sleek and really clean up the front of the bike.
Jake
wow, an mx track... i haven't got that brave yet and I have dirt tires :) You should be ok on the d208's as long as you stay off the front brake... I was so used to using it that it gave me trouble at first on the dirt. One great thing about the drz is how well it crashes. Mines been down 3 times and the only thing that got scratched was the end of my handguards. The stock bars bend about as easy as butter but alum bars are cheap and much stronger. I found the limit of the d208's on some steep hill climbs and dropped it, momentium is key when traction is limited.
I think you'll get used to the seat better, it bothered me at first... but i can now ride 200 miles before I get sore. I've never used anything other than stock, but i've heard most people say the gel seat is about the same as the stocker, except lower seat height. I was gonna try and get a pic of my rad guards soon to show you how they had faded... pretty odd i thought, since my bike sits in the sun a very limited amount of time.
Quote from: Stephen072774 on November 21, 2006, 03:28:52 PM
wow, an mx track... i haven't got that brave yet and I have dirt tires :) You should be ok on the d208's as long as you stay off the front brake... I was so used to using it that it gave me trouble at first on the dirt. One great thing about the drz is how well it crashes. Mines been down 3 times and the only thing that got scratched was the end of my handguards. The stock bars bend about as easy as butter but alum bars are cheap and much stronger. I found the limit of the d208's on some steep hill climbs and dropped it, momentium is key when traction is limited.
I think you'll get used to the seat better, it bothered me at first... but i can now ride 200 miles before I get sore. I've never used anything other than stock, but i've heard most people say the gel seat is about the same as the stocker, except lower seat height. I was gonna try and get a pic of my rad guards soon to show you how they had faded... pretty odd i thought, since my bike sits in the sun a very limited amount of time.
Well, I won't be goin' on the jumps or on the MX track, really. I'll be in the fields and on the trail. I'm mainly there to take pictures for my last photography project. But I do need to get used to this thing sliding around. I just don't feel confident in the 208s, and that mental quirk might be affecting how I ride. I do need some time to get used to the bike still, though. There's always an acclimation time.
I don't intend to slide the tail end, but I figure it's going to happen eventually, so I ordered some Sidi Supermoto boots ($202 shipped!) with replaceable soles. They should be here next week. :)
I got my insurance switched over to the DR-Z today. I was paying $145/year for minimum liability with the GS. It went down to $87/year for the DR-Z. Sweet.
My SM picked up a nail in the rear tire on Tuesday night, so it's been stuck at my parents' place for the past couple of days. I have a lot of stuff planned for it this weekend including:
tube patch/replacement
valve check
radiator flush
oil change
CFC Case Guards
Kick start kit
Acerbis Supermoto front fender
Stay tuned for pictures... :)
The tube patch went well, but getting the wheel back on was a challenge. I had to remove the rear axle three times due to brake caliper complications.
My valve check turned into a valve adjustment. Valve adjustments on the DR-Z require you to remove the camshaft and pull the bucket out to get to the shim (shim under bucket).
While my father was out getting the shim at the dealer, I began working on installing the kick start kit. As you can see, the entire right side of my engine was pulled apart, and I hadn't even finished disassembly when the picture was taken. It was taken just after I removed the clutch pack and throwout bearing; I still needed to remove the clutch hub and primary drive gear, THEN install all the necessary parts for the kick start kit. Installing kick start kit took far longer than I anticipated, in the neighborhood of 5 hours or more. After finishing the valve adjustment and installing the necessary kicker parts I began reinstallation of all the disassembled parts from the kicker kit. When I was putting the clutch springs back into the clutch pack my father advised me to tighten them down more than I had. Since he's been doing this sort of stuff since he was 14 or so, I trusted him. Big mistake. A few twists of the wrench and I sheared part of the clutch hub apart. Dammit.
So after that I finished putting the side case back on and then proceeded to clean up my work area. It had been 10 hours since I started everything and I was exhausted and frustrated. My bike is sitting in my parents' garage with no bodywork (except the front and rear fenders), no oil, no antifreeze, no seat, no skid guard, and a broken clutch hub. Thankfully the clutch is behind a removeable part of the side case, so all I have to do is remove three or four bolts, pull out the clutch, replace the hub, and put it back in and I'm done. The kickstarter is ready to go so that nightmare is over. Also, the CFC case guards are simple glue on items, so I'll take care of that at a later time.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/bikework.jpg)
too bad there isnt a kick start for the GS mine never turns over in the cold.
-ash
Damn... In spite of my projects, I like to leave stuff together for at least a few months after I buy it. Enjoy it for a while before it takes up residence in a dark corner for a month or six ya know? :icon_razz:
Shim under bucket valves should be outlawed.
Let's see how many spare parts you have left over. :laugh:
Quote from: GeeP on December 03, 2006, 11:31:09 PM
Damn... In spite of my projects, I like to leave stuff together for at least a few months after I buy it. Enjoy it for a while before it takes up residence in a dark corner for a month or six ya know? :icon_razz:
Yeah, but I also bet you're like me and you like to tinker. You have a lot more projects that allow you to do that, so some stuff can stay together for a few months before you get to it. However, this is the only thing I have to tinker with, so it comes apart immediately! One advantage though is that I get to learn how this thing works right off the bat. Convenient. And if I ever decide to swap the cams to something that gives a little more juice, I already know how. Sweet deal, eh?
Quote from: GeeP on December 03, 2006, 11:31:09 PM
Shim under bucket valves should be outlawed.
I'm sure there is some benefit that would dictate it in an engine like mine, but I don't know exactly. Probably has something to do with not wearing the valve down by having the cam lobes constantly rubbing them.
Quote from: GeeP on December 03, 2006, 11:31:09 PM
Let's see how many spare parts you have left over. :laugh:
Thankfully the only parts I have left over are the ones I'm SUPPOSED to have left over from the kick start kit. My bike has automatic decompression (whereas the E model the kit was made for does not) so the manual decompression stuff doesn't fit onto my SM. Just need to replace the bodywork, skid plate, put in fluids, and fix the clutch, and I'm done.
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on December 04, 2006, 08:08:58 AM
I'm sure there is some benefit that would dictate it in an engine like mine, but I don't know exactly. Probably has something to do with not wearing the valve down by having the cam lobes constantly rubbing them.
Everything I've ever read stated that the only benefit of shim under bucket was to eliminate the shims popping out. At extremely high RPM's, shim over bucket shims can get spit out of the bucket when the valve begins to float. Shim under bucket was also likely created by some nerd who had never adjusted valves :mad:
-Turd.
That is a cool bike, Alpha. It is really growing on me. It would be good for me to have just to scoot around the City.
BTW, curves are fun, but going straight can be a blast too! My bike is just as much fun to right straight as it is to hit the twisties.
Quote from: Turd Ferguson on December 04, 2006, 08:54:40 AM
Everything I've ever read stated that the only benefit of shim under bucket was to eliminate the shims popping out. At extremely high RPM's, shim over bucket shims can get spit out of the bucket when the valve begins to float. Shim under bucket was also likely created by some nerd who had never adjusted valves :mad:
Extremely high being what, exactly? Just whenever valve float occurs, or a specific RPM? My bike revs to something like 10k or 10.5k (no tach) before the rev limiter kicks in.
Quote from: Jake D on December 04, 2006, 09:03:08 AM
That is a cool bike, Alpha. It is really growing on me. It would be good for me to have just to scoot around the City.
BTW, curves are fun, but going straight can be a blast too! My bike is just as much fun to right straight as it is to hit the twisties.
Yeah, pullin' around town is a hoot, even just going stoplight to stoplight. I have yet to have time to get to the twisties on this thing, so I can only imagine how much fun it would be there. It's been nothing but commuting and back and forth to see my girlfriend since I got the bike.
cool man, I like the front fender... post up some more pics of it when you get done...
Which valve was out of spec? I haven't checked mine yet.
I had trouble with the rear tire too, but reversing the chain guide bolts helped a bunch. I stay in good practice because I switch tire sets about every weekend.
Quote from: Stephen072774 on December 04, 2006, 10:58:56 AM
Which valve was out of spec? I haven't checked mine yet.
Right exhaust. Clearance is .20mm - .30mm, we got a .35 to fit. Dropped it down .08mm and now it's within spec.
Quote from: Stephen072774 on December 04, 2006, 10:58:56 AM
I had trouble with the rear tire too, but reversing the chain guide bolts helped a bunch. I stay in good practice because I switch tire sets about every weekend.
The tire wasn't a problem, but getting the wheel and caliper on was just frustrating because of how it fits together. The second time was because I forgot to put the little rubber thing over the gold shaft that holds the caliper in place.
So, I'm getting my track plastics together. So far, I have:
Tank (blue)
Rear fender (green)
Side panels (yellow)
Front fender (black, but it's the one I use on the street too)
Fork guards (black, street use too)
Hand guards (black, street use too)
Before late April, I'll have:
Front number plate (white)
Radiator shrouds (dunno what color yet)
This is going to be the ugliest color scheme on the planet. Maybe I'll get an orange front fender and some red stuff other stuff.
paint all the track plastics camo, then no one will see you coming :laugh: :laugh:
But then if he parks it in the grass it will get lost! .......duh?!
Update on the DR-Z:
I've been averaging about 41mpg lately, but this week I'm going to be riding it as conservatively as I can in order to maximize my fuel mileage. This is simply for curiosity, as I rather enjoy riding it aggressively and don't think I could tolerate riding like this for much longer; heck, I'll be surprised if I make it through the entire week without opening it up.
The mileage is getting close to 3000 right now, and the stock tires are going to be up for replacement pretty soon, unfortunately. Not only are they starting to wear thin, but they are cupping horribly on both sides. When it comes time to replace them I will be trying out the Continental ContiForce Supermotard tires (150/60 in the rear and 120/70 up front) not only because they have excellent reviews, but because I can get a set for $180 + shipping. My commute is only 5 miles, unfortunately, which means I have only been putting on about 500 miles a month (though I'll have had it for four months in mid March, making the average more like 625 miles a month).
This bike is still a hoot. I commute through downtown rather than along the interstate because it is just a lot more fun ripping it up and down the downtown streets than cruising along the highway (or sitting in stop and go traffic at 3mph).
The bike begs to be ridden hard. I can't help myself when I get on it; it's as if it takes control of me and makes me do bad things on it no matter how hard I try not to. It's gone so far as to make me stoppie into my parking spot on a regular basis now. I just can't help myself!
I haven't washed the thing in so long. In the 4 months of ownership I have only washed the thing once, and that was last month I think. I should probably get around to cleaning the chain too, as I don't even remember the last time I cleaned it.
I have a track day on April 21 in Houston that I'll be going to. The track plastics are going to make this thing have the ugliest color scheme ever. Uglier than Mak's bikes! :laugh:
Cupping is usually due to braking in corners; get on the gas more!
I remember when my sportbikes, because of their aggressive seating position, made me ride more aggressively, and my cruiser made me want to relax. Engine rpm's helped, or didn't.
Quote from: scratch on March 06, 2007, 02:54:50 AM
Cupping is usually due to braking in corners; get on the gas more!
It's the rear tire that is cupping, and I never use the rear brake; the engine braking isn't that significant either. I thought it was because the tire was gripping more along the leading edge due to power being applied.
And my gas saving "ride like a pandy" plan didn't work. As soon as I hopped on the bike today I opened her up. Oh well, so much for that idea. So much for self control...
Are you off the gas?
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on March 06, 2007, 04:09:16 PM
And my gas saving "ride like a pandy" plan didn't work. As soon as I hopped on the bike today I opened her up. Oh well, so much for that idea. So much for self control...
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :flipoff: Dammit....hate it when I spew coffee all over my LCD! :nono: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Yeesh....I need to go on more Doc Wong rides and develop my mad skillz. :P
Quote from: scratch on March 06, 2007, 04:57:09 PM
Are you off the gas?
No, I use maintenance throttle through turns.
Quote from: pandy on March 06, 2007, 05:23:24 PM
Yeesh....I need to go on more Doc Wong rides and develop my mad skillz. :P
Zee D ahn zee S are zo cloze togezer, zay cahn geet eentershanged on aceedent! Oui oui!
QuoteThe bike begs to be ridden hard. I can't help myself when I get on it; it's as if it takes control of me and makes me do bad things on it no matter how hard I try not to. It's gone so far as to make me stoppie into my parking spot on a regular basis now. I just can't help myself!
Yeah,Supermotards tend to do that cause they're so fun!
Can't wait to build me one and practice sliding it into corners and powering out of them....so much fun :icon_mrgreen:
this guy lives 15 min south of me:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/Menachem/IMG_1835.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/Menachem/IMG_1836.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b121/Menachem/IMG_1834.jpg)
Marchesinis, damn. Talk about bling wheels. Personally, I like spoke wheels on SMs because they just look so much better. The alloy wheels make it look too much like a normal street bike, and in potholed roads and jumping curbs and the like, the spokes flex in order to absorb the impact rather than having the whole wheel absorb the impact.
damn, those wheels look hot, i'd love them on mine.
Update on the DR-Z:
I bit the bullet today to buy a new tail light for the bike. It's a DRC Edge taillight, the same one that Stephen072774 has on his. For $50 shipped (from Langston Racing) rather than $60 + shipping (from Wheeling Cycle Supply) it was hard to resist.
I also bit the bullet on tires. I've been debating over the past week or so whether or not to spend $140 on an OEM replacement rear tire, a Dunlop D208SM, or to spend $200 on a brand new set of Continental ContiForce Supermotard tires. I decided on the Contis in a 150/60 rear and a 120/70 front. I plan on pulling of my front D208SM and selling it to help offset the cost of the Contis.
Pics and stuff when everything comes in. :)
cool. I'm about ready to change my tires too. I'm close to the wear bars on my stock rear. Of course, it helps having an extra knobby wheelset, i've had them on almost all winter. I love riding this thing on knobbies... much different handling bike. LOL, but now I have a almost worn out a DOT dirt rear.
I'd like to hear your impressions of the conti's after you get them. I haven't decided if I want them or the avon distanzas.
Did you ever get the hang of the kick starter?
I got a call from Langston Racing this morning, informing me that my order was going to be delayed about 5 days while they waited on getting the Edge tail lights in since they were out. Apparently someone hacked into their system and created a coupon code that didn't exist, then posted it up on ThumperTalk. They had to cancel a bunch of orders, but thankfully mine is still in, and they are still giving it to me for $50 shipped! There's a company that goes on my Highly Recommended List now.
From what I hear, the Contis are stupid sticky, and their mileage shows it. I saw people getting 1200-2000 on their rears.
Quote from: Stephen072774 on March 15, 2007, 06:54:16 AM
Did you ever get the hang of the kick starter?
Yeah. It takes all of my body weight and a pretty committed kick to get it over, but if it is warm out it will kick over on the first or second try.
After much struggling, muscling, and general frustration, I finally got my new Continental tires on. They were surprisingly difficult to put on, and getting the valve stem on the tube through the hole in the wheel... jeeze, such a pain!
When I did finish getting them on it was too dark out to take pictures, so here are pictures I took after washing the bike and before putting tires on.
One-eyed duck:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1388.jpg)
Macro:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1390.jpg)
Lying on the ground (I am, not the bike. I'm not pandy after all!):
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1372.jpg)
Bikes look best from the right side when not in motion:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1373.jpg)
See?
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1386.jpg)
Closeup of my radiator guards (bling!):
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1402.jpg)
Here you can see how chewed up the leading edge of my old rear tire is:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1397.jpg)
I need to go on more sport rides. Commuting leaves chicken strips :(
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1395.jpg)
I'm going on a ride on a pretty twisty road tomorrow and should hopefully get some action shots of me on the DR-Z.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1397.jpg)
naughty boy :nono: :icon_mrgreen:
Hey Alpha, nice bike you got there. Certainly a different breed. Have you taken it on any long rides? The seat looks like it might be a ball-buster.
Quote from: groff22 on March 29, 2007, 01:21:39 PM
Hey Alpha, nice bike you got there. Certainly a different breed. Have you taken it on any long rides? The seat looks like it might be a ball-buster.
I can tolerate about 100 miles of highway before I start to get sore. If I am moving around on the bike (i.e. sport rides) then it is a bit more manageable. Tank range is about that long. Stephen072774 says he can stand up to about 200 miles on his before things start going numb.
On a side note... I LOVE THIS BIKE! :)
New tires, new tail light!
Look how nicely that tail end is cleaned up:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1496.jpg)
My father and I made some custom brackets to hold the turn signals in their original position:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1499.jpg)
The front tires turn to slicks for the outside inch of the tire. Traction is amazing:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1502.jpg)
Rear tire has grooves all the way through:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1504.jpg)
That looks fantastic. :bowdown:
That tail looks way better now... Man, every time I see the DRZ 400SM I like it more and more. Very sharp. :thumb:
Quote from: Turd Ferguson on April 09, 2007, 10:03:41 AM
That looks fantastic. :bowdown:
Yeah, it does. :) :icon_mrgreen:
Quote from: groff22 on April 09, 2007, 11:34:47 AM
That tail looks way better now... Man, every time I see the DRZ 400SM I like it more and more. Very sharp. :thumb:
No joke! Here's a close up of the new tail light. Very tight fitting, cleans it up so much.
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/IMG_1495.jpg)
And thanks! :thumb:
The Doctor Z is getting some bling in the next few days.
A guy made some CF parts for his DR-Z to get experience making molds, and these were some of his first ones. They aren't perfect, but they look pretty dang good in the pictures. They should be here in the next few days.
Exhaust pipe heat shield, sprocket cover, and case guards:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/DSCN1389.jpg)
Heat shield on his bike:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/CFpipeCover.jpg)
Sprocket cover:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/CFspocket.jpg)
Case guards, which I won't use because my aluminum skid plate covers where they go:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b123/AlphaFire_X5/DR-Z400SM/caseCF.jpg)
Can't wait to get my carbon brakelines... Mmmm Carrrbon
I got my suspension dialed in the other day, and now I can't flatfoot my bike with both feet. I am on the balls of my feet even with a full tank of gas. As measured, I had roughly 85mm of sag in the rear, and after maxing out the shock for all practical purposes they got it to mid- to high-40s. The front didn't need to be adjusted much, as it had 48mm of sag right off the bat. Just a few clicks on the rebound and compression dampers to even the front and back out, and the front was good to go. The rear shock was too softly sprung even for MY weight and should probably be resprung if I ever get around to it.
Haven't had a chance to ride it much yet, but it has a bit more even turn in that I've noticed already, even with my squared off rear tire (from commuting). I practiced locking the rear tire up while bringing it around to the side (just getting used to the tail coming out) and it felt very controlled and comfortable. I'll have to try backing it in pretty soon here.
I am pretty sure no one ever in the history of motorcycleing has mentioned their squared off rear tire without adding the "from commuting" disclaimer. I digress.
Did you have somebody help you set it up or did you do it yourself? I guess I should have my suspension set up correctly but I don't because I am lazy. If I knew how much of a difference it would likely make, I'm sure I'd make a point of it.
Yeah how'd you get it set? I've played with the clickers, but I spend so much time with knobbies in the dirt I figure I would shoot myself in the foot trying to change the settings too much. I would prefer a compromise rather than good for one, bad for the other...
Quote from: Jake D on June 11, 2007, 09:06:54 AM
I am pretty sure no one ever in the history of motorcycleing has mentioned their squared off rear tire without adding the "from commuting" disclaimer. I digress.
Okay okay, commuting and wheelies. I just don't get to sport ride very much these days, even though my tire is worn edge to edge :(
Quote from: Jake D on June 11, 2007, 09:06:54 AM
Did you have somebody help you set it up or did you do it yourself? I guess I should have my suspension set up correctly but I don't because I am lazy. If I knew how much of a difference it would likely make, I'm sure I'd make a point of it.
I had a shop do it for me. Half hour of labor, came out to $30 even. Had I done it myself it would have taken a few hours, these guys did it all in pretty much right on 30 minutes.
Quote from: Stephen072774 on June 11, 2007, 09:25:02 AM
Yeah how'd you get it set? I've played with the clickers, but I spend so much time with knobbies in the dirt I figure I would shoot myself in the foot trying to change the settings too much. I would prefer a compromise rather than good for one, bad for the other...
I have no idea how they set it. I don't plan on touching it, since I don't know what the hell I'm doing in terms of fine tuning that sort of thing. Since I don't ride in the dirt with it, it's going to stay just how it is. They told me that the rear was very soft, even for dirt. You might consider stiffening up the rear a little bit, although I doubt you'll need to max it out.
Quote from: Jake D on June 11, 2007, 09:06:54 AM
I am pretty sure no one ever in the history of motorcycleing has mentioned their squared off rear tire without adding the "from commuting" disclaimer. I digress.
Did you have somebody help you set it up or did you do it yourself? I guess I should have my suspension set up correctly but I don't because I am lazy. If I knew how much of a difference it would likely make, I'm sure I'd make a point of it.
Hmm, my tires aren't squared off :dunno_white: I digress as well
Any way being in Tulsa we are lucky to have K&N motorcycles who happen to be the McDonald family, Aka AMA pro racing for 3 generations McDonalds. Tyler who is 16 is riding this year. Oh yeah off on a Tangent. Phil McDonald is really cool and ocassionally does suspension setup parties for us mere mortals, it's nice having a top AMA mechanic and former roadracer to set your suspension up for you.
You have somehow managed to prove my point, Bettingpyton. Well played.
OK Next step,go to the garage,drop the engine out,create it up and I'll pm you with my address. :icon_mrgreen: