Two bikey things

[azekeil]

The 2009 Yamaha V-Max is full of 200 hp V4 goodness of awesome and win:

However, it currently costs £16k. Boo.

In other news, I plan to fix the suspension on my blackbird. After speaking to the technician and him taking a ride on it and it nearly dumping him, this has turned into: upgrade the old, tired front and rear suspension, replace front suspension bushes, head stock bearings, rear linkage plate bearings, remove the air intake restriction petals (+16hp). He also told me de-linking the brakes will remove 23kg of weight (although I suspect the replacement system will put some of that back on), but that's something for another time. All this should cost me around a grand I suspect, but to be honest that includes a bunch of fixing stuff that really needed to be fixed anyway.

This morning I also removed the exhaust baffle for the first time since I bought the replacement exhaust. OHMYGODitsoundsnice.. :D It is getting me into trouble round town too; I just can't resist giving it a handful at the moment. And it burbles on the overrun in the most pleasing way too. Hurrr.

I've got all excited about my bike again; it's like riding a new one just from the noise - and when the suspension is fixed it should really handle like a new bike too :)

So I got home and actually cleaned it. I'm looking forwards to getting it fixed up :)

Comments

[unclesatan.livejournal.com]

How do you find linked brakes, I've always feared them, but I accept that it's a fear based on ignorance.

And how do they work, do you only have on brake lever?

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

It's not completely straight forwards - and mine are broken anyway, in the sense they're acting (mostly) unlinked. Essentially you still have the two standard brake levers but applying either one applies a smaller proportion of the other. It's good in the sense that it makes a single brake application more effective, but it's bad in the sense that it takes ultimate discretion and control away from the rider.

[unclesatan.livejournal.com]

That's no so bad then, I like the idea of rear linked to front as it could limit the chance of a rear lock up (if you had abs), but I still not sure I'm completely comfortable with front linked to rear, as when I only use the rear it's cause I dont want to use the front at all.

Its all purely academic though as it will be some time before I can afford a bike modern enough to have it fitted ;-)

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

Ah, here's a page explaining how blackbird linked brakes work.

[stuartl.livejournal.com]

Changing the suspension settings on my Fazer changed the whole character. I strongly recommend that if you have even a sneaky suspicion of suspension woes and the cash to sort it that you do so...

Enjoy ;)

[mandalorean.livejournal.com]

I'll refrain from saying I told you so..........

;0)

[azekeil.livejournal.com]

Heh, I didn't doubt you were right - I just wasn't prepared to believe I needed to spend that amount just then. I'm more comfortable with it now :)