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 

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! 

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...

Dammit....hate it when I spew coffee all over my LCD! 

Yeesh....I need to go on more Doc Wong rides and develop my mad skillz.

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.

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

this guy lives 15 min south of me:

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:


Macro:


Lying on the ground (I am, not the bike. I'm not pandy after all!):


Bikes look best from the right side when not in motion:


See?


Closeup of my radiator guards (bling!):


Here you can see how chewed up the leading edge of my old rear tire is:


I need to go on more sport rides. Commuting leaves chicken strips


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.

naughty boy