I have been working on my bike for quite a long time. Ever since I got her, the modifications began.
Before I begin, if anyone has an instagram, my username is @akapellen17. My instagram has almost every mod start to finish if anyone wants to check that out.
So here is my plan for this project.
My list to do yet is...
Honda RS250 Tail
Preload Adjusters
Airtech Fuel Baffle
Keyless Gas Cap
Lever Guard
SBK Rear Reservoir
Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Number Plate (When she goes full track)
Safety Wiring
Nissin Brake Upgrade (Credit to GS500Schultz. He directed me to Nick and I requested if he could make one for me. Nick made the 4 piston caliper bracket and now its available to all you guys!)
What I have so far...
A million things to list but... (Also in my tag at the bottom of my posts)
GSXR Rearsets
Vortex Clip Ons
Racetech Springs
R6 Shock
Katana Wheel
Battlax S20 Evo Tires
K&N Lunchbox and rejet
Delkevic Exhaust
R6 Throttle
Fork Brace
GP Shift Setup
SV650 Master Cylinder and Clutch
Here is the day that I first got Ellie. (I will tell the story behind the name later)
These older photos might be blurry or sized weird because they are screenshots from my instagram. My computer got wiped out a year and a half ago and I lost all pictures.
(http://i61.tinypic.com/359ix42.jpg)
A couple months into the modding process. At this point I had the Zero Gravity Double Bubble, got rid of the big stock pegs and did the peg mod, but kept the stock rearsets. The plan was to do something that no one has ever done yet. I was going to use fiberglass to cover up the headlight hole and the holes for the blinkers so it was a full track fairing kit. That was the plan until recently. Here is the picture of a couple modifications. Also removed the mirrors at this point and had a bar end mirror. Also added flush mount turn signals.
(http://i60.tinypic.com/232u6w.jpg)
During that winter (this past one) is when I really started getting serious. Here is a picture of the process of putting in RaceTech Springs.
(http://i57.tinypic.com/29m0neg.jpg)
Since going to the track isn't only about modifications, I started making it easier on myself. I made the tank cradle and got front and rear paddock stands.
(http://i58.tinypic.com/rrtf2w.jpg)
I then did the katana rear wheel mod so I could fit stickier tires on the rear.
(http://i61.tinypic.com/vgljis.jpg)
This is what I am going to post today. I don't want to post all of it in one day, so the feed will continue tomorrow. I hope everyone enjoys this project. I will try to keep it updated as much as I can.
very nice! i like the red accents.
Please send Nick and I a pick once you install the caliper. The 6 piston I have is looking massive and I actually might be doing a front end swap very very soon
Cool beans!! I like your idea of not posting everything all at once... can't wait to see more :D
Making a big road trip today!! Won't be able to sit down at a computer and upload pictures until tomorrow! Updates to come!
So continuing on, I got GSXR rearsetds because I started rubbing the stock rubber pegs, then the pegs that were from the peg mod, so I invested in some rearsets. It took a while but I was able to make it run GP shifting which I now love and never want to go back! If anyone ever had the chance to try it. I say go for it! Up shifting is so much easier and faster and downshifting doesn't make a difference! Here are the rearsets.
(http://i59.tinypic.com/2iik035.jpg)
I also started braking faster and harder and kept sliding forward on the tank... Crushing my jewels a couple of times... So I contacted Techspec to send me some templates to test out. These ones are from a vfr800 and fit very well with the stripe on the tank. They really help with cornering confidence and braking stability!
(http://i59.tinypic.com/15of53b.jpg)
I also needed a way to work on the bike easier. I also started scraping the center stand so I knew I had to remove it. I got custom adjuster plates for spools from a guy here on the forum. I'm sorry but I can't remember his name. Really awesome guy though!
(http://i60.tinypic.com/52xfo2.jpg)
:thumb:
But forget the preload adjusters and go for some gold valve emulators instead.
Or do both ;)
What is the benefit of the emulators? Or how do they work/what do they do?
Instead of 1 damping setting (stock) which is a compromise of too soft for braking and too stiff for large bumps you get a little tuneable contraption with a spring in it which allows the damping to be stiff until you hit a big bump, and then the spring opens up another passageway for the fork oil and you get softer damping. They emulate cartridge forks.
Does it stick out of the fork or do the forks need to be taken apart to adjust the setting?
It's internal.
You can leave the forks on the bike, but you need to pull off the cap and fish out the guts. The emulators sit below the spring.
You do need to remove the forks for primary install. I wrote up a very detailed "how to" a few years back that's somewhere on here if you search.
Sounds good! Thank you!
I have just started to settle into Florida so I have decided to throw out another update. Track days won't be happening for a while because the tracks are usually closed in the summer because of the intense heat. The other problem is that I need to find a way to get to the track. At the moment, I only own a bike. I haven't driven a car in quite a while. The clipons I have here are vortex clip ons. I hated the way that the triple tree looked without the stock bars so I bought a used upper triple on ebay for $7 and it was a bit banged up. I grinded off the handle bar clamps and used bondo and sanding to finish it up. I sprayed it and then I put some carbon vinyl over it to protect the paint and I think it looks pretty sweet.
(http://i58.tinypic.com/15f3w5j.jpg)
Here is the setup I have and a bit of the body position. It isnt crazy far forward but there is a difference.
(http://i60.tinypic.com/aotfgm.jpg)
Here is a picture of Ellie sitting next to a palm tree. The weird thing is that my GS was titled in Florida in the past and now she is titled again in Florida. The clip ons make a huge difference. On the street, I prefer the stock bars. With my setup, It can get a bit aggressive on the street and I actually think that the stock bars do look better. The difference is cornering. My body positioning feels much better as I am closer to the bike and the front end feels better to me.
(http://i57.tinypic.com/o9ogo3.jpg)
hmmm clip ons under the triple huh...
maybe that's the what I should do
Looking good! How close do the bars get to the tank at lock?
I can take a picture when I get home later, but since you can change the angle that they are at in the forks, you can fine tune them to your liking. Also, since they are below the triple, the tank actually isn't the problem. The first thing it would hit is the frame so there is plenty of clearance there!
Today I abused the $h!t out of my girl Ellie! Got the knee down on both sides. I love that after moving down to Florida, I have found lots of people my age, (young 18-23 ish) that have the same passion for bikes as me. Met a great guy that I'm now really close to that rides track and just got an internship at TST Industries! But anyways, he has helped me break past my comfort zone and has greatly helped me with my riding progression! Going to fire back up my little build thread because a track day is looking to be in a near future. Scrubbed the chicken strips right off and am ready for more. I don't know where I would be today without motorcycles. It has consumed such a large part of my life and I absolutely love it. I wouldn't give it away for the world. I will be moving from the GS to a larger bike sometime in the future but I don't think I will ever sell her. (Maybe in the way future). But it is such a fun bike and I put so much work into it! Thanks for reading, I am just very excited about the knee down and especially doing it the right way. Not rushing, learning body positioning, and not crashing :woohoo: But I went out many times hoping to drag knee but it didn't come. I reviewed my riding videos, my buddy helped analyze my riding and each time we went out I inched past my comfort zone. Funny thing is, that I have been feeling very very comfortable on my GS recently and was planning on making the first pass on the road just to check out the conditions. Next thing I know, my knee was on the ground. I know I know, map out your road before you ride fast, but I didn't even feel like I was pushing past my limits. One thing my friend said was to hang off of my bike a little bit more and get my chest down. After that I was dragging like no tomorrow. I also noticed that it was harder for me to get me left knee down though. My friend has been to 3 track days and recently went to tail of the dragon. He drags knee like crazy on his left side, never touched his right knee down. So I am extremely happy that I was able to get it on both knees. It's not even the fact that I got my knee down, I'm happy because I set a goal for myself and I achieved it, and the other part is that I can't believe how far I've come in riding. I still have a ton to improve but I am very eager to keep improving. The pictures are actually this very nice corner in his neighborhood. It's funny because all the neighbors on that corner ride bikes so a couple of them came out and watched us film and take some pictures at that corner! I also can't get over how beautiful my helmet is. Yes, a little self loathing but hey, I am a huge Valentino Rossi fan and this is my dream helmet so let me have a little fun lol. My body position still needs some improvement but I am taking it one step at a time. Thanks for reading my crazy long update. I am just in a really good mood at the moment! And I actually wasn't dragging in this these pictures. I wasn't extremely comfortable in this corner yet and I didn't want to try my luck. I can save that for another day. Progression is the name of the game. As long as I am progressing, I am happy.
(http://i61.tinypic.com/2dqolrm.jpg)
(http://i59.tinypic.com/2niwoxi.jpg)