[TrialsRider]

If you are planning to do any of your own service work you can’t beat a large displacement single for easy to work on, you will never tire of the exhaust note …and if you ever want to upgrade from that chopper look, RYCA has an incredible conversion offering

[TrialsRider]

go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCeC2K_fBUg to see what the BMW can do …notice the rider does NOT put his feet down

[TrialsRider]

If you ask; does the dealership charge 100 $ph plus loads of coin for parts, yes. But they are far better bikes to self service and break less, everything fits right and the fasteners are top quality.

[TrialsRider]

I usually get grief for asking this, but is the deer OK ?

On the subject of whistles; my mom never hit a deer in decades of driving, ( now 88 and still driving ) I laughed when her friend convinced her to put them on her car 4 years ago and within weeks she hit her first deer. So I’m thinking no, they provide yet another false sense of security against an ever present danger.

When you encounter an animal it reacts to your presence, but if you scare an animal it will flee and often in the worst possible direction. As an example I have seen deer that could easily jump over a page wire fence and yet once they were running in fear of traffic, they run straight into the fence wire with horrendous results. So I’ll take my chances with the deer that is standing still and hope that nothing scares him.

[TrialsRider]

Works for inexpensive standard roller chains only:
Requires recycled plastic jug ( oil or windshield washer size )
Insert chain and add solvent, replace cap:|

Agitate …lots
Drain off dirty solvent ( and recycle where facilities exist
…repeat cleaning steps if the chain is seriously dirty
Add 90 weight gear oil or thicker and replace cap
Agitate and allow to soak
Remove the chain from the jug and wipe excess oil off with a cloth
Reinstall the chain ( and make sure you put the master link clip on in the correct direction !!!

[TrialsRider]

My research says your chain is an O-ring type chain, considerably more expensive and very different service requirements than a standard roller chain. Assuming you have the OEM type chain installed, regular maintenance is simply spray on lube and wipe off the excess with a rag.
With a sealed chain …You are simply protecting the exposed metal from rust. O-ring is considered a low maintenance chain.

While the o-ring seal design does reduce dirt from getting in and lube from getting out, seals also prevent you from cleaning and lubricating the actual load bearing roller surfaces, that would require very frequent service on a regular roller chain. On a regular roller chain you are trying to flush out the dirt and introduce lubricant, everywhere inside the chain that you can not see.

[TrialsRider]

note the fully compressed rear suspension and forward, toe down ridier position.

[TrialsRider]

Working on my FT500 today I discovered a big problem, the exhaust pipe and muffler were completely full of mouse nest material, rust and water. I had to cut about 8 inches of tube and rusted baffle material out of the middle of the muffler, slide the tail part back onto the megaphone and fill all the gaps back up with muffler cement and sheet metal screws. Actually looks like a reasonable repair, as long as it doesn’t make her too loud.

The original brake light lens was cracked and since I need to re-certify the bike in the spring, I bought an inexpensive tail light assembly from a local dealer. It’s actually a NOS(New Old Stock) Kawasaki part, but should look fine tucked up under the tail section, once I build myself a fender eliminator / license plate bracket.

The front brake cleaned up easy and is working now but the rear brake needs some serious help, the rubber plunger boot on the brake amster cylinder was full of rusty water, so it comes completely apart very soon.

Lesson to be learned by all ! …When you store your motorcycle, plug the tail pipe. Motorcycle mufflers rust out fast enough without the help of mice building a nest inside them and the low parts fill with water.

[TrialsRider]

This one has rear suspension, shaft drive, mufflers, fenders and paint.

…would this not be a better start point to building yourself a chopper, or am I missing something ?

[TrialsRider]

Missing just a few items for my liking; fenders, chain guard, air cleaner, mufflers, rear suspension, front brakes, to name some.

[TrialsRider]

… (that’s a joke, not a challenge:) I like to ride in groups on the dirt, it’s not really safe to go big when your riding partner is your dog.

You’ve fallen down, would licking help ?

Any more than 4 riders on the street starts to feel like either a parade or a street race.
If it’s really well organized, as in police escorted; ride for sight or boys riding through town wearing their colors, that pretty much qualifies as a parade

[TrialsRider]

1670cc 48 degree V twin with 8 OHV, FI and air cooled hmmmm, that should have enough torque to satisfy the urge for a while I love the brakes, tons of pad an puck area should provide a nice light feel at the controls. R1 type rear suspension is an excellent design, even if it does make a center stand impractical. That long stroke and low compression should have no problem with low grade fuel and it looks like Yamaha spent some time to make the valve train ‘unique’. Will be interested to hear how much primary shake those 835cc ba-bangs give you. I totally understand you wanting one of these, it looks like a bike that you could enjoy for life. …and if your truck breaks you could even tow it home with this one

Very few things not to like about ‘brute force’ ;I think that’s what I would name her. I would loose the little red, rear side reflectors, the horn mounting looks like an afterthought and those rear passenger pegs are positioned as high as the helmet lock on my bike, why bother ??? I want to see a picture of this one with your wife sitting comfortably on the back Or maybe motorcycles should just loose the passenger pillion and pegs completely and lobby for reduced insurance rates.

Madjak, the MT-01 is a piece of machinery you could easy stare at instead of a TV, don’t you think the wife would be good with your bringing her home without fuel in the tank and parking her in the family room for the winter ?

[TrialsRider]

I think I agree, snow tires don’t sound like great fun on an icy road surface.

Now studded tires, that would be a blast ! Studded tires are even legal in your province, aren’t they Madjak ??? Imagine the looks you would get, ripping around on a motorcycle in the nastiest of winter weather, and considering we pay for year round license and insurance up here, I think it would be well worth the effort.

[TrialsRider]

Here’s a fairly full explanation of leather types. http://www.ehow.com/about_5562049_naked-leather-vs-cowhide.html Leather production is associated with such nasty pollutants that North American tanneries have mostly closed down and our leather goods are all imported from Italy, China and countries that have lax environmental controls.

[TrialsRider]

That’s a nice looking jacket, it’s hard to find a men’s jacket that has a tapered waist like that, it has the right type of collar plus the storm flap behind the zipper, the shoulder gussets in the back are nice, so the arms don’t ride up when you reach for the bars, the extra material on the lower back is good to keep your kidneys warm. I’d buy it, provided the sizing can accommodate a sweater underneath.

As Munch said layers are the best solution to all season riding. An inexpensive cotton scarf is an excellent addition for around your neck, it keeps your chin warm and stops the helmet chinstrap from getting uncomfortable on your neck. Get yourself a full coverage helmet if you don’t already wear one. For hand warmth, in the absence of heated handle grips, ‘Hotshots’ are great, anywhere that sells ski or outdoor sporting goods has them, they are little disposable exothermic packets that activate on exposure to oxygen and provide several hours of heat.

If you get caught out in the cold and carry a rainsuit, put it on to stop the wind completely and keep you from freezing

…keep in mind that tires don’t have as much grip in the cold !

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