Replaced my front Pilot Power 2CT with a Pilot Power 3 (still a 2CT). The new version looks like it will be much better. They are more of a slick on the outside of the tire. They also made the outside part stiffer by using a stiffer compound under the softer compound. As a bonus they put some lines on the slick part to show where you are wearing out your "chicken stripes". The new groves are supposed to work much better in the wet times too, not much of a issue in my area.

 

I just got to see one today for the first time. The look and feel of the tire is great, but I'm a little curious of how the tread will last. I'm due for a new rear soon, so in a few weeks, the Power 3 is what I'm going to order.
My rear isn't terrible now, but the recent rains have shown me that it's not where I need it to be for all the wet weather we are already getting.

 

You'll like it. I just levered on a new front and rear power3 and did a track day on them. Endless grip once warmed up. I cut 10s off my previous lap times at the same track. I'd like to think that it was an increase in my skill and confidence but I know the new tires definitely helped. They are an improvement over the pilot pures I was running last year.

 

Good to know:thumbsup:. I don't do track, but I like to know that my tires will take what my little bit of riding skill can push them to.

 

Learned 2 lessons the hard way today.

1) Red Loctite is permanent unless you heat it up... So getting my sliders back off should be fun.

2) Loctite eats plastic. I thought I would loctite the plastic threads on my flush mounts and checked them this afternoon and it just fell apart.

So I spent most of today tearing down the front end, rewiring my spare set of turn signals, and getting laughed at when I called my dad to ask if red loctite always eats plastic (which is where I learned my lessons for the day)

 

Learned 2 lessons the hard way today.

1) Red Loctite is permanent unless you heat it up... So getting my sliders back off should be fun.

How much did you use? All you need is a small drop and you should have no problem with it getting loose or getting things apart later. I've seen people new to wrenching get overzealous and cover the entire bolt with Loctite :spank:.

 

Saw her go.

 

Been there, done that. Never again.

Enjoy the vstrom.

 

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For 2013 I decided to wrap the race bikes rather than have them painted to save some $ as well as provide some means of easily keeping the bike looking professional if I have an off.

I got started on the tank today...

and the finished product

 

I went to Barny's in Brooksville to watch some friends buy a 2013 Kawasaki 250 Ninja (still in the crate) and found a Zero Gravity tinted windscreen on their parts sales table. It was marked $30, took it to the sales counter, bought it for $25!

Pretty great day...new bike for them and new windscreen for me. Win!

 

I went to Barny's in Brooksville to watch some friends buy a 2013 Kawasaki 250 Ninja (still in the crate) and found a Zero Gravity tinted windscreen on their parts sales table. It was marked $30, took it to the sales counter, bought it for $25!
Pretty great day...new bike for them and new windscreen for me. Win!

How can that be? I thought the 2013 was a Ninja 300?

 

Super job, Slow!!!! Looks great!

 

I made a tool for the stem nuts!

 

I changed handlebars. I've been using an SM2, but at 60 years old, my back is wanting relief after 50 miles, so I put the stock bars back on. It feels better, but the handling just isn't the same. It's funny how a bit of positioning and weight distribution can have such a major effect. Not sure what I'm going to stay with long term.

 

Went from this...

to this.

 

I installed my new Battlax S20, a rear 47T sprocket, bled the front master cylinder, installed new throttle cables, installed a rear set riser, and cleaned up the SV for next weekend. All done inside my dining room.

 

I installed my new Battlax S20, a rear 47T sprocket, bled the front master cylinder, installed new throttle cables, installed a rear set riser, and cleaned up the SV for next weekend. All done inside my dining room.

Like a boss! :roflmao:


Nice flooring. Maple?

 

Installed the Motosliders. Thanks Blair!

And remember, your 3/4 deep socket is just .05mm bigger than 19mm, so you can use that when you don't have two 19mm sockets

 

me to and kicked it repeatedly when the neutral light give up the ghost and the chock cables buggred lol

 

This weekend I changed the oil on the SV. It turns out, sometimes the old gasket stays on the block, and if you don't check that sh*t you end up sandwiching it between the new filter/gasket and the block. And then bad / exciting things happen.

I'm glad it didn't happen about 10 seconds before, while I was in a traffic circle. It would have been a LOT more exciting... and painful... and expensive. I'll have it home tonight and will know just how bad the damage is by the weekend. I shut it down as soon as the light came on, but you never know how long it takes to do real damage. We'll see how the oil looks when I drain what's left.

On the upside the new Nelson Riggs rain / wind gear I picked up works great, and should significantly increase (lower?) the temperature range I can ride in now. Also more hi-viz ftw

 

Took the exhaust apart :thumbsup:

I'll be putting a Carbon sleeve on in the near future.

 

Installed Fauxoma turn signals all the way around. They look good, work good and blink properly. Fine by me.

 

Rode the Living snot out of it all over endless twisties north of Asheville...oh yeah and I did that yesterday too!


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I neglected it some more.

 

removed the worn out pilot races that came on the spare set of rims that came with my racebike. Reinstalled the upper fairing on the streetbike and made it road legal again.

 

Lubed the chain, changed the oil and rode the hell out of it
We had a beautiful day so I went out with my dad up "the racetrack" and ditched what was left of the chicken strips on the rear tire.


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I re-installed the MRA windscreen.

I changed handlebars from SM2 to stock; the SM2 windshield install required that the mounting arms be cut down about 2", so they were too short for the stock bars. Ordered a new mounting kit from Twisted Throttle, which arrived today. It was 43* and raining, but I got it done.

I love that windshield, it makes a huge difference at highway speeds.

 

I installed Moto Elite bar end sliders, some bar end mirrors, and 434 shorty levers

 

Replaced PO's slightly bent, rashed frame sliders with a brand new full set. (Both motosliders)

 

Re-installed the passenger pegs, exhaust hanger, and rear sets after getting them powder coated in satin black.

Big shout out to the guys at JTS Coatings & Cycles (http://www.jtscoatingsandcycles.com/) here in Illinois. Turned out all the powder coating in the same day and did an excellent job. Truly high quality work at an extremely reasonable price (about $7-$10 per piece) . Check out some cell pics below.