Stew

Fitted the Denali Soundbomb horn and the bar risers. The new horn is awesome, I am only concerned people might have heart failure if I use it. The risers, well, they are superb, but not for me, so I'll be removing them again. I don't feel like I have the same weight over the front (I did put them in the up and back position) , and it made the bike feel even more 'hingy' between the front and the rear on bends. Admittedly I was riding in torrential rain on roads I didn't know well, but I sort of didn't feel as confident. Oh well. Next thing, call the suspension guy on Monday, as I got an email to say that my front and rear suspension k-tech shiny bits have arrived and to phone to arrange a ride down to have everything done, yahooooooo!

Stunning scenery and photographs @daboo

Congrats on getting a Tracer, as a recent convert myself I am well impressed with the bike, and this forum.

I have the same one, but in the smoked colour. (with beak of course) Riding home today from a trip to see family, down the A78, it was battering down with rain. At 6ft I was just getting wee bits of water on my visor, and sticking my head out to the side of the screen blew it off beautifully.

ooooh, lovely. Going by the 'speed warning signs' around here, mine reads about 2mph high. Googling sprockets next, yippee.

That would be perfect , if so, after my new suspension gets sorted , I'll be whacking on a 47 tooth rear sprocket.

This sounds like my idea of good fun. How much does it throw the speedo out by?

I just use my thumb.

Yep, stay loose, don't death grip the bars , it is counter intuitive, teach yourself to relax. The same with looking where you want to go, rather than a couple of yards in front of your front wheel. And use the rear brake. And I hate gravel, I absolutely hate the stuff. I don't mind sand, mud, deep water, anything but gravel. Gravel is my sworn enemy.

Photos or it never happened.

Temperature is definitely not an issue here. Appreciate the feedback though folks.

Cheers @texscottyd , I did think long and hard about going with the K-Tech Fully adjustable 20IDS catridge system, but I had budget constraints and really I think I'll be getting such a leap in suspension and handling that it would have been over the top for me. Partly also, I am not sure about the Dunlop Sportsmax tyres on the bike, I can't feel much from them, but that may be purely down to the stock suspension. They haven't given any cause for concern, but I ride with my toes and backside, and if anything I like my bikes set up as soft as possible, most would call it wallowy, but that's what I like. I have a suspicion that the sidewalls are really super firm. Ordered the parts yesterday, so I'll get a call from the suspension place when they arrive, then ride down, sit around all day excitedly, then ride home, hopefully grinning even more under my helmet (and of course I'll take photo's of all the shiny bits for everyone)

Front wheel missing any balance weights? Front tyre squared off? Front wheel bearing shot? Steering head too tight or loose? The only time I ever had anything even vaguely like that was with dried out and seized head bearings on an old GS550 that I bought 2nd hand.

The please give me a ticket officer mode would be great if used along with an alarm for anyone trying to tamper with the bike.

Seconded. I was feeling quite nervous about the combined throttle twitchiness/engine braking when going into bends hard. Switched to B mode, got used to things, now back in std mode now I am more used to the bike.

So I've decided to get the bike exactly the way I want it. I'm not that fussed about tweaking and fiddling with the suspension once I get it working the way I like. Here is what I'm strongly considering, and I'd welcome any feedback. Fully strip and service forks and Install K-Tech-20 SSK Piston Kit with springs to suit your weight Replace the stock shock with a K-Tech Razor R Performance shock fully adjustable in preload, compression and rebound All done for me by a suspension specialist shop, so will all be setup just the way I want it.

Thanks, I'll have a fiddle around with it tomorrow and make sure it is as out of the way as I can get it.

And so it begins.... Took delivery of my first shiny new bits today. Bar Risers (from Turkey) and a Denali Soundbomb Mini Horn upgrade.

Congratulations.

Some fantastic photos there, the mountains look really majestic.The sort of roads that you would just want to slow down and smell the air and take in the scenery, perfect. That advertising sign of the wee guy with the bear is amazing. I doubt it would be made nowadays sadly.

Cheers. If I had a garage or a big shed I would cheerfully do it myself, I have built a few bikes in my time. I contacted Maxton this evening, and am awaiting a spec sheet. My brother in law is a mechanic and mot inspector, so I'll order the shock, ride the bike up to his place, and do it there. The front forks, I'll just have to take them off and use the CRF for a week or two I suppose I appreciate the offer though.

ok, here we go. Once upon a time, I owned an old Suzuki 500 2 stroke. It had the steering lock down on the frame, separate to the ignition. One morning, I was in a hurry to go somewhere, so I rushed out of the house, started the bike (kickstart ofc) , stuck it into 1st and dropped the clutch. And round we started to go. I nearly managed to hold it up for about 2 seconds, wondering why my handlebars wouldnt turn, until we wen't down in an unceremonious heap. My wife saw the whole thing from the window, and she said she nearly died laughing.

hiya @andz It is a great part of Scotland, but most tourists etc. drive right past to head to the highlands. Which, being selfish, suits me just fine , as it keeps the roads from getting busy. Every time I go out I find more and more great bits of road, and there is so little traffic around it is almost like I have the place to myself at times If you want any photos of anywhere , or info, just let me know. I am originally from Glasgow, so I am still discovering the area. And aye, the weather can be rubbish at times, but thats what keeps it green and fertile.

@BBB aye, I saw that. I think I'll order a Nitron from Maxton, having looked on their site. They have been around a long time as well I think, I'm pretty sure I remember their name from the olden days. I'll keep you posted. The trouble is I don't have a garage any more, or anywhere dry to work on the bike. I will need to time it all really well with the weather I only have a bike cover now.

Thanks @BBB I'll have a look at both, and then give you a shout. I am loving the bike, and want to invest in getting these small but confidence sapping issues out of the way. (And sorry for hijacking someone else's thread, I really didn't mean it)