ptolemyx

Cheers again lads. Can't believe I'm 58 years old now 'cause I still look at twentysomething women Old and Disgraceful

Thanks guys. Just logged on in work 3/4 way through a 10 hour shift - what birthday..........I'll make up for it with a few runs on Friday at Santa Pod and a bottle or two of wine over the weekend Old and Disgraceful

Bear in mind that even with a costant rate spring your monoshock linkage geometry changes throughout the suspension travel resulting in "rising rate" suspension - i.e. it is progressive to start with, getting stiffer as it nears full compression. (that explains why lowering with longer dog-bones makes the suspension a little softer) I'd still like to know how the hyperpro spring rate varies through it's normal compression/extension cycle and how that compares with the stock spring - perhaps hyperpro could show us a hysteresis curve for their spring????? Old and Disgraceful

Well aware of effect of longer dog-bones softening the suspension. Lowering the rear 50mm on a B-King via longer dog-bones will soften the suspension about 10% for the first third of the suspension travel; with the effect lessening somewhat as the suspension travel increases. Old and Disgraceful

That looks like my pic of Gen2 Busa and B-King shocks side by side???? The Busa spring is about 10mm longer but will just about fit on the B-King shock body to give a reasonable range of preload adjustment. You will probably need to increase the compression and rebound damping to max or near max settings to complement the spring which is about 35% stiffer than stock. I think the spring rates are in the order of 9.7kg/mm for B-King and 13.4kg/mm for Busa spring. You're welcome to come down to me one weekend and we'll try my shock on your bike Old and Disgraceful

Dave, you know my bike is set for the drag strip. With the rear lowered 65mm and the front 22mm lower, together with my other chassis mods my bike does not handle like a MotoGP racer through the twisties, bargelike springs to mind, though knowing it's limits I feel safe on the road. I would not lower this amount for the riding you do - suggest 50mm rear and 12mm front are the maximum practical lowering figures for a road only bike. I keep plugging this for helping anyone setting their own suspension. Demystifies the mystic art with clear explanations and advice on step by step progress for optimising your ride:- http://www.gostar-racing.com/information/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm Old and Disgraceful

Give it plenty of nice cat food and water and it won't eat the bikes Old and Disgraceful

Could you get a busa engine to fit in that chassis Looking good though Old and Disgraceful

How much have you lowered the back? Mine is 65mm lower (for the drag strip as you know) and never gets anywhere near having wheel/ underside contact, even on the bumpiest of Devon roads. There again you are a bit lardier than me Also I've just realised I don't have all the crap under the seat that you have. Sounds like you need a bit more preload on the shock............I suggest you try and get the "rider sag" 30mm to 35mm and the "static sag" 5mm to 10mm. Problem is the B-King rear shock is well known for having too soft a spring for heavier riders and you might need a stiffer spring. Once you've set the rider sag to 30-35mm check the static sag, if it is more than 10mm it indicates a stiffer spring is needed. Adjusting the suspension yourself is nothing to be frightened of - learn the principles of the effect of the various adjustments first then taking one step at a time; do the front and rear preload, then front compression and rebound damping and finally rear compression and rebound damping and check the front and rear damping is matched so that both ends compress and return at similar rates. Make a note of the stock settings first and note each adjustment as you proceed. You can always go back to stock settings if need be. Or you can take it to a "suspension guru" and spend money without learning any more about your bike. Old and Disgraceful

I think Dave's pointed out that the B-King seat's foam is quite thin to start with and there's not a lot to be gained there. Customs charges Dave are not Soupy's fault, you should have been aware that importing anything from outside the EU will incur 20% vat and the buggers also often sting on a "handling" charge. With that, and the extra carriage costs anyone from the US like to put on, bits from across the pond aren't the bargain they seem. Anycase, I'm sure you'll find that lowering the bike will suit you better; though be prepared to now be less able to emulate McPint And lowering both ends is definitely better than lowering one end only. Old and Disgraceful

Same on b-king.org (my last post wasn't about emotions.....emoticons (emote-icons) or smileys) Old and Disgraceful

What Tony says is wise sage advice. However from what I've see of your riding, Dave, the negative effects on handling would be outweighed by the benefits for you in lowering the bike. You won't be radically altering it for the drag strip and, as I've suggested elsewhere, I believe lowering the front (see your workshop manual) up to about 12mm will go some way to compensate for the amount you lower the rear. This will also reduce the seat height so you won't need to lower the rear as much. It will handle differently from stock and obviously you'll have less cornering clearance but you're not a TT racer. As long as your changes aren't extreme you'll still have a safe ride. Old and Disgraceful

Things get changed like this to keep someone in a job; happens all the time in work - in a factory employing around 350 we have SIX "change agents" who's sole duty is to change noticeboards around etc Old and Disgraceful r:......there, couldn't find me racer emoticon for a while

The Manx is a hidden gem in the road racing calendar. Less crowded and less hype than the TT. You won't see the likes of McPint and Dunlop but the guys racing there still have far bigger balls than any of us mere mortals - you might spot the next King Of The Mountain before he's famous? If you're planning on going to the Manx next year count me in on the trip, haven't been since 1979 so it's time to go again Old and Disgraceful

Lane Hoggers should always have been up for castration - especially the female ones They always could be prosecuted, "Driving Without Due Care and Attention" - but that would mean your traffic cop would have to do some work, writing a report etc. Perhaps with the much easier to administer Fixed Penalty they'll get round to actually policing the lane hogging menace Old and Disgraceful

I'm in work and I HATE it Old and Disgraceful

Yes you can sign the service book yourself, keep reciepts for oil, filter etc as proof. Old and Disgraceful

Dealer servicing is for those who don't trust themselves to change a light bulb and have loadsa dosh to fritter away. For the lucky ones amongst us with an iota of bike know how DIY is DO IT RIGHT And contrary to popular myth own servicing does not invalidate your warranty - unless they can prove you've done it wrong Old and Disgraceful

Thanks Stu. I've printed that article and have it with my insurance certificate now - just in case. If you need it remember to quote "Davis vs Shrogin" Old and Disgraceful

Before anyone completely dismisses trikes,I'm a member of the National Association For Bikers with a Disability and a lot of our members have trikes for obvious and valid reasons. Shit might happen to you one day.......... http://www.nabd.org.uk/ Old and Disgraceful

For the past couple of years I've recorded all the ITV4 coverage and edited to make a couple of videos for my archive. Of course I will not copy my DVDs of "2011 TT", "2012 TT" and coming soon "2013 TT" so please, if you're interested, do not pm me for details Old and Disgraceful

Great info' Lee. Here's a question for you.......are the all in one l.e.d. rear lamps that incorporate the indicators that are readilly available on the interweb legal?????? And are the "costruction and use" guidelines that the boys in blue use the same as m.o.t. testing requirements????? Old and Disgraceful

Have an Abba too. Brilliant for working on wheels/brakes/chain etc The only downside is with my radically lowered B-King it's a fair old grunt to pivot it up and down, this wimp could do with a pet Stu around at times Old and Disgraceful

Like you said Lee, you have to take it on the chin. Nobody is out to get bikers per se, we all know the law and if you're caught it's your fault. Saying that a lot of traffic officers I've talked to broadly agree that 30 is 30, 40 is 40 and you must obey those speed limits; outside of that they use their judgement and look more at due care and attention/ dangerous riding and will pull you for speed as it's easier to prove. They also take a very dim view on anyone, drivers and bikers, crossing solid white lines and you will get done heavily if they see this. Unfortunately there are less and less experienced officers out there and a lot of reliance is placed on cameras, but to be fair they are NORMALLY placed where excessive speed has contributed to casualties. P.S. This mumpty currently has 9 points, pays the extra insurance and the wife nags me wicked about it Not throwing stones when I live in a glass house, just rational observation of my own and others misbehaviour Old and Disgraceful

Well, what do peeps think.....is it true??? Fairings are for Fairies Old and Disgraceful