What did you do to your motorcycle today?

[ANSAracingb]

Haven't been on here in awhile. I have done a few things to my Honda but nothing major. A couple weeks ago, I replaced the battery. When I removed the side cover and was gaining access to the battery, I noticed that the hold-down bracket was missing (thanks, previous owner). So I ordered the part from the dealer. In the week that followed, I changed the oil and filter. Last week the part came in so I installed that. Now the battery is secure and won't move side to side while cornering.

I have been riding this Honda for almost two years now and it has never let me down. It truly is a wonderful machine, but as I am 6'2" it is a bit uncomfortable during a long ride. I have always wanted to eventually move up into the 1000cc class of bikes as they are bigger and more powerful. After riding on 700 to 750cc sized bikes for around five years, I've decided the time to move up is now. So, today I officially purchased this:



Coincidentally, this is actually one of the first motorcylces I learned to ride. Its a 2000 Kawasaki KZ1000P retired police bike (duh). It was in service in Oklahoma somewhere and auctioned off here in CA with only 36k miles on the odometer. In 2006 my girlfriend's dad bought it from the auction and taught me how to ride a motorcycle. It now has just over 38k miles on it but for the most part, it has been sitting in the garage and is used only a couple times a year. I always loved riding this bike and figured recently I could help out my girlfriend's dad by putting some cash in his pocket and buying myself a bigger bike at the same time.

One battery, one oil change, two front fork seals and one tuneup later, the pinkslip changed hands and it is now ready to ride!

[96GTI8v]

Began the complete teardown of everything after my green connector fried and left me on the pavement. Big things coming for the SV this winter. Slowly, very, very slowly

[torxim]

hooked up my heated gear leads last night, starting to get cold enough for it

[Spinnaker]

went riding (last night), almost time for the fleece underpants and windstopper bala clava!

[disenfranchised]

more like what did my motorcycle do to me...

[Spinnaker]

more like what did my motorcycle do to me...
[/I

Is that your wrist?

[disenfranchised]

Is that your wrist?

Back of my forearm, yes... setting my brake lock in a hurry and lost my balance.

Took that picture in the class I was almost late for.

[ANSAracingb]

Replaced the spark plugs on the KZ. Next thing to do is inspect/replace fuel filter.

[TurboWraith]

Put stabil in the tank, took the battery out, and put it up on the stands. I don't think I'll be getting anymore riding time this year.

[Sizzla]

Rode to & from work today and yesterday.

This is the good time of year in Arizona!

[Amdek]

New tire! Adios sportec M3, hello pilot power

[Amdek]

Rode to & from work today and yesterday.

This is the good time of year in Arizona!

yes it is! Rode the street bike, then the dirtbike and jumped in the pool. Not too shabby for almost being November

[Mk1Racer]

Put the new Mustang Fastback seat on my '04 Wide Glide. Me likey!

[stoves]

rode it.

[Knock Sensor]

Tried to sell my 74 cb360... no luck

Been looking at my xs850 for weeks now, too many other things to do right now, can't wait to finish it over the winter. Been trying to figure out what colors I want to do it up in.

[kerridwen]

New tire! Adios sportec M3, hello pilot power

I think that I'm going to buy Pilot Powers for my CBR, dragging knee on the OEM D218s was not a good idea...

But I just saw the Sportec M5 Interact, should be the replacement of the M3, with multiple compounds. I wonder if it is worth the extra price? (I'd have to pay a bit more, like $10 over the price of a set of Pilot Roads, that for some reason are more expensive than Pilot Powers).

[Mtl-Marc]

Put stabil in the tank, took the battery out, and put it up on the stands. I don't think I'll be getting anymore riding time this year.

This.

[Amdek]

I think that I'm going to buy Pilot Powers for my CBR, dragging knee on the OEM D218s was not a good idea...

But I just saw the Sportec M5 Interact, should be the replacement of the M3, with multiple compounds. I wonder if it is worth the extra price? (I'd have to pay a bit more, like $10 over the price of a set of Pilot Roads, that for some reason are more expensive than Pilot Powers).

Check out the pilot road 2 also. Maybe 40$ more than the pilot power, but it will perform the same in corners with all the benefits of dual compound for longevity. I should have gone with the pilot road 2, but I was being cheap the day I picked up the power.

[Sizzla]

A quick little two hour ride around town with no destination.

[kerridwen]

Check out the pilot road 2 also. Maybe 40$ more than the pilot power, but it will perform the same in corners with all the benefits of dual compound for longevity. I should have gone with the pilot road 2, but I was being cheap the day I picked up the power.

I have the OEM D218s on my 600RR, and the rear tyre on the SV 1K is about done for. So I rather swap the D218s, which do fine on the street, they just can't keep up for too long in the track, into the SV and put some sticky rubber on the 600RR.

I'm sure that after the D218s are gone on the SV I'll replace them with Pilot Roads, but right now I'm looking for good track day tyres that can also be rode on the street (I'm bike only, so I don't have a truck or car to tow a trailer, I have to ride the bike to/from trackdays). I'm not planning on taking the SV to the track, that's what I have the 600RR for, and I fear of running Pilot Powers on it, the twin will just eat them and square them off in no time.

[kerridwen]

New tire! Adios sportec M3, hello pilot power

By the way... Where is the exhaust???

And... Is that a 5th or 6th gen VFR? I'm wondering how is maintenance for the 5th gen bikes. I'm really digging the VFRs, but the fact that the 6th gen requires a special tool to do the valve clearance on the VTEC valves is a deal breaker, as it was never officialy sold in Mexico and no dealer or shop will do that job (and I'm not eager to buy a special tool that I might use once or twice during the bike ownership).

[Gary C]

sneaking in 10 minutes here 20 minutes there on my shovel. Ground up rebuild. Rebuilt the trans from the case up already - 4 speed ratchet top. Andrews gears - FX Close ratio set. Nice stuff. Motor is actually now sitting on the bench on it's stand, that was just a quick picture after popping it out of the frame on the cell. I'll be tearing that down over the next few days then sending everything off to the machine shop...

All this because I plan on riding the slug up to Alaska, crossing the arctic circle and riding back down. 15,000 miles over 2 months.. on an AMF Harley. Screwy? Probably. But should be a helluva good time.

[Mtl-Marc]

All this because I plan on riding the slug up to Alaska, crossing the arctic circle and riding back down. 15,000 miles over 2 months.. on an AMF Harley. Screwy? Probably. But should be a helluva good time.

The yer a peein & taliban tour

[Gary C]

The yer a peein & taliban tour

Doug's actually one of the bad influences that brought about and inspired the trip. He's a helluva nice guy to boot if you ever get the chance to talk to him.

Another couple friends of mine go up to AK on their GS's every couple years....and somehow I wound up getting talked into doing a trip of my own...and I had the bright idea to do it on my shovel. Getting a set of +1 Progressives out back. I'm building a 'tracker' style seat pan for it. Fabricating some quick detach luggage. Swapping back to a prepared narrow glide instead of the wide glide. Fabricating some mid controls. Running the same Duro tires Doug ran on his recent Eastern European expedition. Should be a helluva fun time. I hope.

edit:

If you get the chance, I highly recommend reading Glenn Heggstad's books & threads on ADV. He's duking it out with some medical issues right now, but he spins one heck of a tale. His books are well worth the coin.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41699

Walter Colebatch is another one who I stay up to date with on ADV. Good mix of comedy, ride report and all around shenanigans. Exactly what I hope for my AK trip to be.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=602168

[Mtl-Marc]

Yes, I already read both of Heggstad's books. Great stuff. Hope he gets his health back.

It looks like Colebatch's bike was stolen...

[disenfranchised]

Doug's actually one of the bad influences that brought about and inspired the trip.

Doug is the DEFINITION of a bad influence. I can't even count the hours I've spent following him online when I should be working...

[Amdek]

By the way... Where is the exhaust???

And... Is that a 5th or 6th gen VFR? I'm wondering how is maintenance for the 5th gen bikes. I'm really digging the VFRs, but the fact that the 6th gen requires a special tool to do the valve clearance on the VTEC valves is a deal breaker, as it was never officialy sold in Mexico and no dealer or shop will do that job (and I'm not eager to buy a special tool that I might use once or twice during the bike ownership).

It is a 98 (5th gen). I have a two bros. high mount exhaust that sandwiches the rear wheel/tire in there pretty good, so I find it easier to take it off for changing the rear tire.

The 5th gen VFR is pretty damn bullet proof machine (minus r/r problems). motor is completely over built, and gear driven cams ensure timing. No Vtec, valve adjustments are typical and done with shims. I think service manual calls for valve clearances to be checked every 16k or something, it is low maintenance for sure.

[dubrmine]

I just finished installing these rear set plates on my SV; going riding in a few to test them out!

[U n i o n 0015]

I washed mine, lubed up the throttle cable a bit and took it for a quick spin.

[modular]

Installed the color matched pillion cover....

[Amdek]

Installed the color matched pillion cover....

looks sweet!

[Spinnaker]

I dug a path to mine through the snow and fired it up with the intention to go for a ride, then thought about all the ice on the street and changed my mind.

[modular]

.....then thought about all the ice on the street and changed my mind.

Smart man, smart man

[GoFaster]

I waited for parts for two different bikes today

[Amdek]

Rode to the post office, then a "detour" on the way home

The Bike



The Rider



The Scenery