Took a test ride
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
Took a test ride
after my upgrades yesterday.
I finally added my True Track and replacement Intiminators. An acquaintance with a car shop was nice enough to let me borrow a corner.
Sniper77 drove up from Augusta (3hrs) and helped me out and I wanted to thank him publicly.
So....with the TT in place the bike feels tight. I think I like it. Of course my test ride was only a couple miles up and down the road as I was pressed for time today. The g/f wants to go pretty herself up and who am I to stand in her way.
Adding the front TT wasn't bad. Per Sniper's previous experience, we removed the rear tire. We had a heck of a time getting the rear axle out. The shop owner was nice enough to let me borrow some anti-seize so that shouldn't happen again.
Of course when we removed the two front bolts the motor dropped. A bottle jack came to the rescue to realign the holes.
I didn't feel any adverse vibrations so I believe install was successful. A longer ride to allow for settling will be in my future.
I also want to thank Joe (JRK) for powdercoating the TT. Looks great.
I didn't bother trying to photograph the rear bracket.
The front end feels a little more worthy too. With the slightly shorter spacers and a little less fork oil. Ricor suggested measuring between 4" (for more fork oil) to 5" (a lilttle less). I went with 5" and it feels good. I've become a darn pro at front end disassembly.
Oh, and once again...the service manual didn't show me anything worth a lick when it came to removing that problem rear axle. Other than torque values, it's becoming apparent it's almost a waste of money.
I finally added my True Track and replacement Intiminators. An acquaintance with a car shop was nice enough to let me borrow a corner.
Sniper77 drove up from Augusta (3hrs) and helped me out and I wanted to thank him publicly.
So....with the TT in place the bike feels tight. I think I like it. Of course my test ride was only a couple miles up and down the road as I was pressed for time today. The g/f wants to go pretty herself up and who am I to stand in her way.
Adding the front TT wasn't bad. Per Sniper's previous experience, we removed the rear tire. We had a heck of a time getting the rear axle out. The shop owner was nice enough to let me borrow some anti-seize so that shouldn't happen again.
Of course when we removed the two front bolts the motor dropped. A bottle jack came to the rescue to realign the holes.
I didn't feel any adverse vibrations so I believe install was successful. A longer ride to allow for settling will be in my future.
I also want to thank Joe (JRK) for powdercoating the TT. Looks great.
I didn't bother trying to photograph the rear bracket.
The front end feels a little more worthy too. With the slightly shorter spacers and a little less fork oil. Ricor suggested measuring between 4" (for more fork oil) to 5" (a lilttle less). I went with 5" and it feels good. I've become a darn pro at front end disassembly.
Oh, and once again...the service manual didn't show me anything worth a lick when it came to removing that problem rear axle. Other than torque values, it's becoming apparent it's almost a waste of money.
Last edited by SC-Longhair; Dec 9, 2009 at 11:54 AM.
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
One thing I did notice is that it feels like more power is being transferred to the rear wheel, with the TT installed. Don't misunderstand that. I'm NOT saying the bike is making more power, Im just saying that a slightly larger percentage is actually making it to the back wheel.
When I rode the other day and let the clutch out kind of quick, the bike jumped hard where previously, it didn't do anything hard except take bumps.
It make sense that with the motor in a more rigid position, some gains in rear wheel power would be seen and not lost due to engine play.
I wish I could ride more...
When I rode the other day and let the clutch out kind of quick, the bike jumped hard where previously, it didn't do anything hard except take bumps.
It make sense that with the motor in a more rigid position, some gains in rear wheel power would be seen and not lost due to engine play.
I wish I could ride more...
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 883
Likes: 2
From: Irving-Texas
SO. the Intiminators are on sale 20% off till the 24th, I was going to put the TT on 1st but cant pass up that deal, Ill be ordering mine next week. TT will have to wait till Jan
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Augusta, GA
I was more than glad to help with the install and I'm glad you had one decent day to get out and at least "feel" the difference.
If that rear axle hadn't kicked our asses we might have been finished by dinner time. I do think the spacers were the culprit(s) though.
With a longer ride like you had spoken of down Hwy 1, you should get a good feel for how much a properly made set of intiminators works. I think the true track really shines when you are on long high-speed sweepers though it may have helped on the Dragon but you didn't seem to be having too much problem staying out in front of me then, lol.
If that rear axle hadn't kicked our asses we might have been finished by dinner time. I do think the spacers were the culprit(s) though.
With a longer ride like you had spoken of down Hwy 1, you should get a good feel for how much a properly made set of intiminators works. I think the true track really shines when you are on long high-speed sweepers though it may have helped on the Dragon but you didn't seem to be having too much problem staying out in front of me then, lol.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 1
From: ,,
yeah, that rear axel can be a huge problem with out enough anti-seize on it.
When they assembled my bike it looks like they completely forgot about it. First flat on the rear was a 2 day process to get the wheel free.
Then i had to replace the bearings, just wailed on it too much to be comfortable riding on it... you might want to do the same, wheel bearings seizing up and failing sucks. (Everytime)
When they assembled my bike it looks like they completely forgot about it. First flat on the rear was a 2 day process to get the wheel free.
Then i had to replace the bearings, just wailed on it too much to be comfortable riding on it... you might want to do the same, wheel bearings seizing up and failing sucks. (Everytime)
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
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From: Passaic County, NJ
Personally, I'd get the TT first since I have both and actually can feel the difference but that's just me.