Going to the Dark Side

[Patriot]

I'll be heading up to run the Dragon in about three weeks. Already found a nice little hotel for 50 bucks a night, tax included. Secluded little place just outside Robinsville. Gonna give the Exalto a good work out. FWIW, I prefer to ride 365 D.P.Y. with the CT. I'm used to it, the little bit of extra push it may take on the bars is of no issue to me. Let's see... I have to exert maybe 8.6 ounces on the bar to initiate a turn... instead of perhaps 1.2 with the MT. That's about half the weight of a good pancake. Hmmmph. That's only a problem when I eat too many of them

Just ride.

gee, we could meet in Mobile and ride back roads up together stopping at Barber Motosports in B'ham

 

[SkooterG]

I was cornerworking this weekend watching some of the beginners poke around the track. I was thinking it might be fun to get out there and pass some folks with full bags and a CT on the back. You know, show them "Your bike WILL go faster round those turns!" kind of thing.

Post #3060

Just put the CT back on this past weekend. Since I do most of my riding with it on, I thought it would be good to have on for the Lee Parks course that I have coming up in a couple wks.

Unfortunately, you will not be allowed to participate in the Lee Parks course with the car tire. I would call and verify, but I would hate to have you show up and not be able to participate.

 

[TripperMike]

I was cornerworking this weekend watching some of the beginners poke around the track. I was thinking it might be fun to get out there and pass some folks with full bags and a CT on the back. You know, show them "Your bike WILL go faster round those turns!" kind of thing.

Post #3060

Just put the CT back on this past weekend. Since I do most of my riding with it on, I thought it would be good to have on for the Lee Parks course that I have coming up in a couple wks.

Unfortunately, you will not be allowed to participate in the Lee Parks course with the car tire. I would call and verify, but I would hate to have you show up and not be able to participate.

Thanks for the heads up on that. I'll email/call and find out.

 

[FJRacer]

The only *negative* I found with the car tire is picking the bike up from it's dirt nap. Fuel cell and car tire = PITA trying to put it verticle.... or so I'm told

Well.......I discovered a situation where a CT acts differently than a M/C tire. Lock that rear end up in a lean, either by over braking or downshifting and you'll find the Bike wants to stand back up. In a hurry. I did it several yrs ago on my Wing racing down the Va side of Black Mt. My fault for sure. Musta been dragging the rear brake when I let the clutch out in a downshift. Almost flipped me off the Bike. Glad nobody saw that. I was impressin' the hell outta the SportBikers on the way up. And damn near wrecked going down the other side. I still run a CT on the Wing and ride more subdued now. And will likely mount one on the FJR for touring purposes.

 

[garyahouse]

The only *negative* I found with the car tire is picking the bike up from it's dirt nap. Fuel cell and car tire = PITA trying to put it verticle.... or so I'm told

Well.......I discovered a situation where a CT acts differently than a M/C tire. Lock that rear end up in a lean, either by over braking or downshifting and you'll find the Bike wants to stand back up. In a hurry.

Guess I would have to ask, how does one accidentally lock up the bike tire on a bike with anti-lock brakes? I've activated the ABS on my FJR many times, but I have honestly never locked up the back wheel, as the ABS simply won't allow it. I do a great deal of downshifting, but NEVER when the bike is leaned way over. That's the time I'm very cautious with the throttle, clutch and gears. I would assume we all are.

FWIW, those amazing brakes are...

EXACTLY WHY I BOUGHT AN FJR !!!!!!!!

Gary

darksider #44

 

[FJRacer]

The only *negative* I found with the car tire is picking the bike up from it's dirt nap. Fuel cell and car tire = PITA trying to put it verticle.... or so I'm told

Well.......I discovered a situation where a CT acts differently than a M/C tire. Lock that rear end up in a lean, either by over braking or downshifting and you'll find the Bike wants to stand back up. In a hurry.

Guess I would have to ask, how does one accidentally lock up the bike tire on a bike with anti-lock brakes? I've activated the ABS on my FJR many times, but I have honestly never locked up the back wheel, as the ABS simply won't allow it. I do a great deal of downshifting, but NEVER when the bike is leaned way over. That's the time I'm very cautious with the throttle, clutch and gears. I would assume we all are.

FWIW, those amazing brakes are...

EXACTLY WHY I BOUGHT AN FJR !!!!!!!!

Gary

darksider #44

IF you had read more carefully, you might have caught the word "Wing" in my statement.

AND, FYI my 04 FJR started locking the rear tire pretty consistently with a PR3 on the back. Maybe the A-L Brakes were failing by then(40,000+ miles) but it happened numerous times.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Did your 04 have Anti-Lock brakes?

 

[TripperMike]

Unfortunately, you will not be allowed to participate in the Lee Parks course with the car tire. I would call and verify, but I would hate to have you show up and not be able to participate.

Thanks for the heads up on that. I'll email/call and find out.

Just heard back from the folks at LPs, and you are correct, they do not allow CTs.

Am I ever glad you posted that Scooter, if ever we happen to be in the same cheap bar at the same time, I owe you a few beverages of your choice. Thanks.

It wouldn't have been the first time I woulda looked/felt like a fool if I hadn't seen your post.

 

[garyahouse]

Racer:

My bad. Wing. Got it. Also realized that not all FJR's have ABS. It appears that 04 was the first year they were available. Anyway, the input was appreciated.

Ride safe.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[Spud]

Unfortunately, you will not be allowed to participate in the Lee Parks course with the car tire. I would call and verify, but I would hate to have you show up and not be able to participate.

Thanks for the heads up on that. I'll email/call and find out.

Just heard back from the folks at LPs, and you are correct, they do not allow CTs.

Am I ever glad you posted that Scooter, if ever we happen to be in the same cheap bar at the same time, I owe you a few beverages of your choice. Thanks.

It wouldn't have been the first time I woulda looked/felt like a fool if I hadn't seen your post.

Damn it! Why did you tip him off, instead of showing up with a video camera??!!

That would have been the greatest youtube video ever! "Grown man cries after rejected b/c of C/T..."

 

[FJRacer]

Did your 04 have Anti-Lock brakes?

Yes. A-L Brakes= Anti-Lock Brakes

Wing did not.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Gotcha, was checking. They weren't standard then and I've found them to be few and far between, at least for sale.

 

[user 213]

AND, FYI my 04 FJR started locking the rear tire pretty consistently with a PR3 on the back. Maybe the A-L Brakes were failing by then(40,000+ miles) but it happened numerous times.

You might want to check that the front ABS engages correctly. If the valve block for the ABS has gotten some corrosion, the piston may be stuck, or sticking, which would cause you to no longer have ABS. That would explain the rear locking up. Usually only happens when the fluid is never changed or the rider never uses the ABS, but that doesn't sound like you're situation. Sometimes they just die, (and I know of one that did just that, despite good service and occasional use).

Used valve blocks are available for reasonable prices on eBay. The new part is ~$1400.

FWIW, an easy way to test the front ABS w/o soiling your shorts is at low speeds on gravel. 20-25 mph and a quick squeeze will engage the ABS on gravel w/o resulting in dangerous loss of control if it locks up.

 

[TripperMike]

Unfortunately, you will not be allowed to participate in the Lee Parks course with the car tire. I would call and verify, but I would hate to have you show up and not be able to participate.

Thanks for the heads up on that. I'll email/call and find out.

Just heard back from the folks at LPs, and you are correct, they do not allow CTs.

Am I ever glad you posted that Scooter, if ever we happen to be in the same cheap bar at the same time, I owe you a few beverages of your choice. Thanks.

It wouldn't have been the first time I woulda looked/felt like a fool if I hadn't seen your post.

Damn it! Why did you tip him off, instead of showing up with a video camera??!!

That would have been the greatest youtube video ever! "Grown man cries after rejected b/c of C/T..."

Yeah right....funny...hahaha. Actually that would of been only half of what would of had been funny. I'm sure the viewing audience would of got a bigger kick at watching the <crying> grown man's wife standing next to him sceaming at him for being such a doofus. She would not of been happy. No siree uh uh.

 

[txvoyager]

Another one... After 10 years on moto tires, my 2003 FJR now sports a Michelin Pilot Exalto... 35PSI to start... Road grooves are a bit interesting, otherwise a non-event...

Thanks -- as always -- for all of the information needed to make this mod happen...

 

[user 213]

Welcome to the Darkside txvoyager, you have been added to the Darkside FAQ as Darksider #62.

 

[txvoyager]

Welcome to the Darkside txvoyager, you have been added to the Darkside FAQ as Darksider #62.

Thanks! It's going to be an interesting experiment. I typically ride 25-30k miles per year and have just started commuting 100 miles a day, so that total will likely increase. The regular mileage added to living in TX where we have precious few curves makes me a pretty good candidate for the longevity of a CT I would think... I'll report back...

 

[gixxerjasen]

Welcome to the Darkside txvoyager, you have been added to the Darkside FAQ as Darksider #62.

Thanks! It's going to be an interesting experiment. I typically ride 25-30k miles per year and have just started commuting 100 miles a day, so that total will likely increase. The regular mileage added to living in TX where we have precious few curves makes me a pretty good candidate for the longevity of a CT I would think... I'll report back...

I've been thinking the same thing for me. Only 60 miles round trip daily for me though.

 

[not2shabby]

Welcome to the Darkside txvoyager, you have been added to the Darkside FAQ as Darksider #62.

Let me know when the number 68 position is filled...

 

[wfooshee]

That was muh-chure!!!