Back from the Trip

Had a great time riding with Mike and Don down to the Black Hills last week. We went the week before Sturgis, in order to miss the huge crowds and Harley Tomfoolery that usually accompanies that time of year. Despite this, traffic at times was a bit of a pain, but at other times and locations we had the (great) roads to ourselves. As well, we had no interaction with the local constabulary. Mike's idea was that it was so that the police could take the week off before Sturgis, and then EVERYONE would be on duty the following 2 weeks. Makes sense.

One of these bikes is not like the others'... we stopped the first night in Bowman, North Dakota. We had excellent results hotel-wise -- $55 divided by 3 is a pretty good deal. The restaurant next door opened at 5 am as well... on a Sunday!

One of the neat places to stop was "Cheyenne Crossing", at the end of the Spearfish Canyon run. Our first day we got to the canyon at around 11 am, so it was crowded. We went the next route the following day with less traffic, and it was a real blast. At the end, when you decide to go west to Wyoming or East to Sturgis, is a little Cafe and gift shop. It wasn't uncommon to see 20-40 bikes parked out front depending on the time of day.

Our second day we ventured into Sturgis. It seemed "busy" to me, but a lot of parts vendors weren't open yet -- so I can only imagine how many more people congregate here during bike week. We walked around and bought some souvenirs and gifts, and then had lunch at the famous Knuckle Saloon. Good food, and there is a radio station in the restaurant giving attendees information about events, and regular reminders to take it easy. Played some good music as well. On the way in, 2 vintage dirt track bikes greeted you -- a BSA and a Yamaha...

We also stopped by Mount Rushmore -- me, camera-less, will have to wait for pics from Mike and Don. We did stop on 2 occassions at Grizzly's Bar and Grill. Good food, and a great outdoor vantage point to watch the bikes go by. It's in Keystone, SD -- just 5 mins from the monument. After wearing leathers all Day, the bear is pointing to me, and saying how bad I smell. At the start of the trip, that shirt was actually white...

Our tip home was pretty epic -- we went from Belle Fourche, SD to Brandon in one day -- about 1100 km, I think. A long day in the saddle, with primarily less than inspiring roads. We were able to use the posted speed limits as just a suggestion, and our liberal interpretation and mathematical error in coverting the speed to km/h meant we made great time. We had thought of stopping in Minot, but the town was still reeling from the euphoria of the Taylor Swift concert during the state fair, so we pressed on. Along the way, there were some chances to see some great scenery.

Once home, I began the slow process of cleaning the bike. Any trip like this really does a number on a clean vehicle of any sort. Once again I am reminded how silly it is to have wheels any color than black on a long-distance bike. I'll be breaking out the WD-40 and the rags to get the brake dust off of these. The back wheel was even worse, as after day 2, I lubed the rear chain in the dark -- both the chain and the rim were liberally coated...

I also brought home some wildlife on the front of the bike, and in the intake screens. Part of the tidy-up process is not only cleaning, but making sure the air filters aren't clogged with this crap as well. Overall, I was really happy with how the Duc ran. It doesn't start as well as it should, but that I think can be adjusted out at a competent dealer. It's not yet time for a valve check and adjustment, but I think I'll do it over the winter months. It did get a bit warm trolling through traffic (104 C), but quickly cooled down when we got underway. Often, bombing along the highway, it was reading 68 degrees -- nice and cool. Just about everyone thought I was riding a bag of nails, as the dry clutch is so loud with the vented cover... time for some exhaust tweaking. As well, some heli bars are in order, as after about 3 hours, it became a bit of a tourture rack. That being said, it's fate, because I know there was no way I would have been able to ride the other Ducati down there, with the postage stamp seat, lack of instrumentation, and no windscreen. Everything happens for a reason...

Asthetics Complete

Leave tommorow for the big trip with Mike and Don. However a few spare moments allowed me to get the RS50 sidepanels painted and clear coated, and the rest of the decal kit installed prior to departure.

Pretty happy with how it looks. The tail doesn't seem to work quite right with the rest of the fairings, but I do like the "real" seat and the ease of how it attaches to the subframe.

3/4 view. Most of the companies listed on the fairing have nothing to do with the bike it is on.... 2D data acquisition? Perhaps that stands for "Dumb and Dumber"... at least these tires are Dunlops...

A view many riders will see... just before they pass me!

Canada 1, Italy 0

We leave for the Wild Hogs '09 tour in about a week. I thought it would be a good idea to change the belts and the oil, even though the oil is recent, and the belts are no where near their service limit mileage wise, but are over 6 years old.
The problem with the belts is that there is no commercially available belt tensioner for the home mechanic for the narrow valve heads. Considering the "fish scale" technique I and others use with the 900ss, the 916 models had a mechanical deflection tool to measure tension, and the 999 and newer models used a vibration tool. Apparently if the belts vibrate at 110 hz, the belts are in proper tension.
A guy on a Ducati forum pointed out that a proper A note is 110 hz, and had a picture of a Korg tuner he had to set tension. Turns out it was the exact same model Kate had to tune her Cello. Dad was by for a visit (and he helped me a lot with the deck too), so we set the belts to the tension he thought was right, and I plucked them and took a reading -- G# -- very close right off the hop! For each belt we got within an acceptable range -- from G# to B flat readings, with a few A's thrown in. Good enough! The 999 is still apart, as I want to mount the vented cam belt covers while it is dissassembled, prior to going on the trip. They should be here sometime this week, but if they don't arrive by Wednesday, its going together as is.
The dealer did not remove the oil filter screen during the oil change, so I did, and found gasket sealer -- the grey yamabond stuff -- on it... so it is still being broken in (?). It is supposed to take 3.7L of oil. Used 3 to get it to the max fill mark on the case, and will fire it up and add as necessary.

I got the new CVK40 carb and RS50 sidepanels for the supermono, as well as some sticky take-off tires (Mom and Dad's courier role). Switched the items necessary for the conversion from the dodgy carb to the new one, and fired up the bike. Took a bit of fiddling to get it to idle and run properly, but I think I've got it. Running on the stand is nothing like riding the bike, but its a start.
The RS50 panels went on really easily. A few pieces of aluminum strap, a few riv-nuts, and presto -- the sidepanels went on with decent clearance all around. They immediately came off, and I'm in the process of painting them as well. Should look alright. Swapping the tires are next -- I have a pretty good feeling that the bike is ready to begin proper testing -- as in pull on your leathers and go out during a session testing. We'll see if I can't arrange that sometime during the August race weekend.

I also got a neat email from Dave Pearce of Tigcraft. He sent me some photos of the KTM supermono, finished, with the swingarm he got built for it. A really sexy machine. I also asked him about this supermono race available on youtube http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4566741028621927922... here was his reply:

Oh by the way reference the Monza Supermono race, we were there that day. I was showing Dr John Wittner around the paddock, he was intrigued. Monza is just down the road from Mandello de Lario where the Moto Guzzi factory is, and no, the Germans did not allow me to have anything to do with the racing after the bikes were delivered.

Dave

Watch the video if you get the chance -- it's nearly 30 mins long, but worth it. FWIW, the tigcraft Muz bikes were the white and green machines -- rider #2 (Mike Edwards) leads for awhile late in the race before his engine gives up the ghost.

Off to work on the deck -- 4 hours of bike racing being recorded today -- Mid-Ohio and Sachsenring.

This is the KTM with the new swingarm. From what I can tell from the pictures, the oil tank has also been moved, and the rear seat support changed a bit as well.

Rear 3/4 view.
















With bodywork. That is (I think) RS125 widebody bodywork on the bike. Looks pretty good -- but should be orange, I guess. If I win the lottery, I'll take 2. One to race, and one to terrorize the streets on. By the way, Dave is currently working on a Triumph 675- powered Moto2 racer!

brief update

Not a lot to report. At the last race, when the reffing was done, I went out for a couple of slow, cautious laps. The bike turned and stopped as it should, and acceleration was better with the jetting. Still the BSR 36 -- really want to get the CVK40 installed and figured out. My first try with a dodgy example of the 40mm carb led to copius flooding. Problems with the float vavle... when I priced out a new float valve, seat, etc.... just bought another (newer this time) carb off of ebay.

Temps didn't get past 65 celcius (hooray!) so I think the rad will suffice. Will need to put more revs into it before I make a final decision.

Installed my APE manual cam chain tensioner. Piece of mind -- the stock camchain tensioners in the pre-2003 models were known to fail with expensive consequences.

In other news, a plan to make a few repairs to the deck out back of the house has turned into a complete teardown and rebuild. A tip -- DO NOT coat your back deck with 2 sheets of plywood and indoor linoleum. It lasts for about a year, and then turns to mush. Lucky we didn't fall through... everything had rotted! That may take up a significant amount of my time over the next while.

More progress

Got the clearcoat finished last weekend, so by today, it had properly cured. Not my best work, but a durable finish for a racebike. The clear covered the rattlecan Krylon quite well, and while the finish isn't consistently glossy throughout, had I wet-sanded and put on a second coat of clear, I think it would have come out (too) nice.






I also ordered a Rizla decal kit off of eBay -- came from the UK. I know I mouthed off about what Rizla papers are (sometimes) used for, but the yellow decals really make the bike stand out. Not sure how many people around here even know what "Rizla" is... so I decided to leave it as is.












I spent most of today trying to get the 40mm CVK carburetor working properly. When it did, the bike ran beautifully. However, there is a bizzare flooding problem going on -- perhaps a stuck float? Either way, it was so flooded the last time (after I had shut it off) that it was fully upright, yet fuel was flowing out the tip-over hose... so I put the stock carb back on, with the needle jet spaced upwards to deal with the lean condition I noticed the last time I was at Gimli.

The plan this upcoming weekend is to lash it down to the trailer again and haul it out to the track for the second round of testing. Might have time to put the manual cam chain tensioner on -- seems like a very simple process. Already have the tach/water temp guage in place, and it seems to run cool enough -- on the stand at idle! We'll see how hot it gets when the engine is revved up somewhat.

A new era...

A pretty exciting time... got my hands on my first Superbike (of any sort) this past weekend. Thankfully, its a Ducati. Its a 2003 999 Biposto. Only 4700 miles, and is in great condition overall. It had gone down in the past, but it had all the paint and graphics re-done, as well as the wheels and frame painted, before I bought it.





I got it for a reasonable price -- the seller had house/baby/family issues, so had to unload it for a loss. This had all the paperwork done and up to date -- just a switch from the transfer of ownership documentation, and its all official. I put on the plate from my other Duc and took it for a quick spin...







Considering the last "new" bike I got was in 1997, and that was an EX500, looking at the amenities of this thing is pretty cool. Fuel injection, digital dash, lap timer, low fuel guage... and it brakes like hitting a brick wall. As well, it is new enough for me to find data on it, like suspension settings, and hints about maintenance and that sort of thing. I was also able to find an owner's manual on PDF, so I'll print that off and do things like set the clock...







Don't yet know how to access the trip meter, or the lap timer (!)..... perhaps I can also change the setting to read in metric rather than Mph...









Starting with the 900, in the condition it was, was good for me -- I've got no worries about doing the scheduled maintenance myself, and I'm not going to be racing it, so it will be treated well. The drive home was pretty cool -- on the trailer with Kate, a couple of young guys in a truck blew past us, and then slowed down and pulled alongside the trailer to check out the bike... then gave a thumbs up as they pulled away.






The graphics scheme is a copy of the 749 that Lorenzo Lanzi raced in WSS back in 2004, except for the flat black. Breil is a watch company, not quite rolex quality, but nicer than ESQ (Esquire). The rest of the decals look a bit "Ricky Racer", but to be honest, I really like it!





Aside from the paint and graphics, everything else seems bone stock. The forks appear to have a Titanium Nitride coating on them... researching whether this was stock or not. The clutch is louder than the exhaust (especially since I put the vented on one from the SS), but sounds pretty cool. It also has the passenger pegs, but I may leave them on as they would help secure the saddlebags when I go on the Wild Hogs 09 tour with my buddy Mike.



There are some other neat mysteries around -- there is a small section of high-$ Samco Sport Hose from the water pump... did it originally split, or was it replaced for another reason? Looks like when the oil was changed last (at the dealer) they overfilled it slightly -- likely put in 4L instead of 3.7. Drained out the excess prior to going out for my spin today. I also have a record of the service bills from the Duc dealership. Rediculous labour charges. Thank god I can do most of this work myself!

testing, testing...

I've started the slow process of testing the 'mono. Was reffing at the race this past weekend, so I took the bike on the trailer and rode it up the slip road off-track after Saturday was completed. A bit lean in the needle jet, but otherwise bike ran straight and true, and sounded OK. Want to get some guages on it to check temps and RPMs prior to really caning it. The trailtech guages from the Ducati will be switched over to the 'mono as soon as I have some time to do it. A new 16T front sprocket is in, and I also got a 40mm CVK carb for a good deal -- will check to see if it will fit...