Inane ramblings to avoid thread jacking

[duc_fan]

Well, the trackbike was put on indefinite hold when I lost my job at Collins 4+ years ago, then got married, then battled cancer.  NOW, finally, I have hauled it out of my parents garage and gotten it "home" to my place.   
Since it's been sitting so long, it needs another coolant flush-n-fill.  Prolly also need to siphon out the gas and replace it with fresh stuff, too.  A couple places in the Gorge sell ethanol-free premium.

Gonna use some scrap aluminum to brace the instrument cluster/front fairing bracket.

Need to buy or fab the coolant bottle bracket.

Then... bodywork.

I'm just gonna eat it and put an Armour Bodies set on it.  They're the most affordable of the decent, crashable/repairable bodywork.  Thankfully the price hasn't changed since 2009... tho Woodcraft is no longer doing their "free sliders" promo (which was just an introductory thing anyway).

My brother and I will go flog it for at least one track day.  If we like it, we'll keep going.  If we don't, looking at Craigslist, I should still be able to get all or nearly all my money back out of it.

Great thing is: ORP is only just over an hour south of me on 97.    Can't wait!  I'm gonna try to have the bike and gear ready for the September PSSR day at ORP.  Gotta check the tires tho... I have a set of Pirelli race take-offs.  Not sure that they're 80%.  They're more than street legal, but that's all I can tell.  That would be another $300-$400... 

[duc_fan]

Anyone know a good local supplier for Michelins?  Would rather not patronize Cycle Gear.  Last couple times I've been in there the sales guys have been idiots.

[krolik]

Not off hand.

[INFIDEL]

Give Beaverton Honda a try.

If not Motosport.com.  They're based in Tualatin.  Last I knew EDR was willing to price match anyone and they had the lowest mounting charges around.

MotoCorsa was trying to get in on the price match game ...

Just a matter of making some calls and stuff ... and things ...

[duc_fan]

Ah crap, that's what I forgot to ask.  I was at MotoCorsa on Saturday to buy a new helmet.  My old Arai has expired, so I picked up a new Defiant in metallic black.  Anyway... meant to ask them about tires, and totally brain-farted.  There was a beautiful siren calling to me from across the street... a Bimota DB5R.  I tried it on for size.  It fits.  My wife is now anxiously waiting for someone else to snap it up, so I stop dreaming about it. 

She is tempted by the idea as well tho... I offered to sell the Cagiva, the track bike, and the GTI if I could have the Bimota.  She likes the idea of me consolidating down to one toy.  But, we just bought a new Scooby-doo (Outback 3.6R Limited), and we still have 9 months of payments on the Sky, so we can't really swing the Bimota right now.  If it's still around next spring, though... that could be dangerous.

Anyway... thanks for the suggestions!  Looks like I have some places to call and negotiate with.

[duc_fan]

Got the oil changed in the Cagiva this weekend.  It's just shy of 30,000 km on the clock.  Due for valve check and belts... but I am going to wait 'til fall to tear it apart.  You have to disassemble a bunch of the bike to get to the rear cylinder, so it'll be out of commission for a while when I do that.  Will also do a bunch of wiring upgrades while I'm in there... relays and heavy-gage wire for the headlights, HID conversion, upgrade the harness going to the voltage regulator, etc.  I got a starter wiring upgrade as well, but will try to install that sooner without removing the fuel tanks.  That may end up waiting 'til the winter teardown.

Also threw a new battery in the CBR.  It runs!  After looking at some videos on the interwebz, I'm tempted to order a set of tires and try mounting/balancing myself at home.  If I can't get 'em on, I'll take them to the local shop in The Dalles.

[jaxduc]

Anyone know a good local supplier for Michelins?  Would rather not patronize Cycle Gear.  Last couple times I've been in there the sales guys have been idiots.

I never want to be the mean type, but I completely agree.
True story,
I had them mount a tire I bought online (front tire), they installed it backwards. I didnt notice untill I had the wheel back on the bike (calipers and all) which is a pain on the new models. Disassembled, brought back, they fixed it, reinstalled wheel on bike.
Yesterday I was there to see if they carried fuel filters (no they dont) this guy walks in with his wheel and tells them they installed it backwards.
Wont be going there anymore

[duc_fan]

My most recent experience was with helmets.  I was trying to replace my old Arai Quantum 2.  Looking for the Vector 2 or the RX-Q, they have neither.  Guy swears up and down the Signet-Q is the new "round" Arai.  The sticker, right on the visor, clearly says "long oval".  Plus it's on the Arai website, plus it's on webbikeworld, etc, etc...  


It cost more, but I went to MotoCorsa.  Janelle knew her stuff, put me in the new Arai Defiant.  Fits great.  Worth it.  

[krolik]

I went to MotoCorsa to check out the Moto Czysz exhibit.

http://motocorsa.com/post/beauty-in-engineering

[duc_fan]

I wish I'd had time to go into town for that.  I very much appreciate the engineering that goes in to the MotoCzysz bikes.

[scott_araujo]

I got down to see them a few days ago.  It's really nice to see them all together.  It was pretty cool that the latest Isle of Mann bikes didn't even have the bugs cleaned off.

Scott

[duc_fan]

Great Saturday... they still had the MotoCzysz bikes at MotoCorsa!  So cool.  Really neat to see the C1 990 motor on the stand there, too.

[MendoDave]

ORP is only a 4.5 hour drive up highyway 97 from me. I should go check it out sometime. Thunder hill is a little closer though. But I sold the CBR some time ago...

[duc_fan]

ORP is about 1-1.25 hours south of me.  Almost a straight shot from Goldendale to the track.  Need to put skins and tires on the CBR project, and I think that's it.  Oh, instrument cluster bracket is cracked and needs replaced as well, though I have some strap aluminum that could be used in a pinch to bolt it back together.

The bigger issue is: does my brother really want to put up any money for this stuff to go do track days.  He owns half the bike.  If he's not gonna put up the cash for consumables (tires), and of course the $180-$190 for the track day itself, then I'm leaning toward just getting rid of it.  I have lots of other things to spend that money on.

In other news... went up to Seattle this weekend.  Wife and sisters-in-law went shopping, so I was left to my own devices.  Went to Ducati Seattle.  They had a couple demo bikes... including an 1199 Panigale S.  The guys were cool, offered me a test ride.  Holy crap, that is a potent machine.  Gets a bit roasty underneath ya when stuck in traffic, but once you're moving?  Wowsers.  Eyeball-flattening acceleration.  You roll the throttle open, and it feels like space-time compresses around you.  The ergonomics are surprisingly friendly, and the electronically-tunable Ohlins suspension is surprisingly compliant on broken asphalt and concrete.  I'm still not sold on all the blasted electronics... traction control, ABS, and throttle-by-wire.  But, the demo bike seemed to work well, and I would *love* to have a chance to try one out on our winding roads out here in The Gorge.  Better yet, on a racetrack.  The Ridge or ORP.

[krolik]

It was good to see all of you last night.