Best of luck matey. Which bike is this, I've lost track :-? Is it SteveL's or have you fixed the 620?
Hello!
All was good. Well not really, but it was ok.
Its the 620, road chassis. Motor was fine, better than last year without the airbox. Probably still not more than about 50 horses, but that ok for a wet behind the ears newbie like me. Anyone heard from StevL?? I tried to drop him a line, but to no avail! Maybe he can smell a blag coming on!!
The chassis however was awful
Chattering like a b@st@rd first time out, both front and back. At least the tyres are gripping!
So I backed off the preload on the back, and went back out. Next I backed off the damping, on the basis that I thought it was ratcheting down over the bumps (ie. not dully returning). So its on the lowest preload, and the 2nd lowest damping.
The forks were like pogo sticks, with very little damping. I had just set them up as per standard FZR (10w oil), but examination of everyone else's bike soon showed what they should really be like. So I'll put a greater volume of 20w oil in and test again.
As I softened the back, I found that I could get the front to behave. By gassing it in the corners. As it lightens, it stops bouncing around. I know this is pretty elementary, but it seemed like a nice practical demonstartion or the theory I've been reading (various books from "the greats", on how to be "a great"...)
I've already dropped the yokes 15mm, but think I'll drop them another 10mm, and probably turn the damper up a couple of notches.
BUT! And this pleased me-
Rog- the plug you made for the decompresser was spot on- no oil leaks!
Boyd- the fairing brackets worked a treat, it didn't flap about (or crack) at all. In fact it even kissed down on the deck a wee bit
Once I get the chassis sorted, I may need some tyres. And given the way the intermediates were going, I might invest in slicks. But that also means having wets. And that also means buying another set of wheels..... Hmmmm. Maybe just buy more intermediates!! Or will try and fix the money-printing-machine I have stashed away in the loft. Its been out of order for a while now...
Anyway, I'll try and test once more before Brands on the 14th.
Then:
Snetterton on May 6th & 7th (tho I think there's qualifying, and its a European Supermono round) Dunno if I would qualify...
Pembrey on 16th 17th June
Cheers! Thanks for the support/interest/bits of metal! (blag blag blag!)
Oh, now I mention it....! I think I'd like to carry some replacement ally rearset plates, for spills. If I supply a carboard cutout, could anyone maybe cut em out?? I'll pay for em, obviously, cos this prolly can't be made out of scrap... Also gotta buy some cheap replacement levers too! Would hate to miss a race for a stupid spill in practice. Or worse, pay for a weekend (Snett weekend is 230 quid) and miss it all!
Catch you soon! All the best
a
