8Rider6
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Posts posted by 8Rider6
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I had the same issue with my scorpion and solved it the same way with a doo rag. Solved properly by wearing a shoie for a long time at ip. Every head and every helmet is different.
I had that same issue with a Vega (gasp) that a co-worked gave me when I got my first bike. I was borrowing my brother in laws helmet til then. I was planning to get one, but he offered and I was a little strapped for cash at the time (got the bike originally when gas went to $4.00+ per gallon). After about 30 minutes of riding it started to hurt my head a bit to wear.
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What type of head do you have, i.e. Shoei or Arai? Just looking for a point of reference.
If I had to say, it'd definitely be Aria. I tried on a Shoei RF-1100 at the same time and it felt terrible for me, same with a Nolan that I tried on (I think it was the N-85). The Arai(forget which model) felt very similar to the Bell RS-1 to me. My head's more of a long oval shape.
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I'm in the same boat as Blitz... I can do basic maintenance on my bike, oil change, chain adjustment, etc. However, I need to get the suspension rebuilt and/or upgraded in the front, and a new shock in the rear. I'm not really comfortable messing around with that on my own. I'm also due to change the chain and sprockets soon as well (could maybe used a valve adjustment too, not really sure what to look for regarding that).
My brother in laws helped me with learning to do oil changes and chain adjustments, spark plugs, etc, but his experience beyond that is a bit limited, though he's more mechanically inclined than I am. We did bleed my front brakes one night as well, which was a learning experience for both of us. He said he's willing to work on the suspension and chain/sprockets with me, but given that neither of us are very experienced with it might mean my bike being out of service for a while.
I did see there's a shop up somewhere around north-east Ohio that does suspension work/upgrades and I'm wondering if it'd be worthwhile to take it there for that.
It was on Race Tech's website:
http://racetech.com/page.aspx?id=35&menuid=94
Maximum Performance and Handling Peninsula, Ohio Doug Duane Scheibner Mega-M.A.X. 330.922.8000 Doug@MPHOhio.com
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I'm in the market for a new helmet.
I really like the Bell RS-1 but the price of the HJC's are almost to good to pass up.
Did you look into our RidersDiscount board sponsor, Nathan? I got a good deal on a new RS-1 with him... I love the RS-1, best fitting, most comfortable helmet I've ever owned, or tried on. I personally think the RS-1 is worth it over an HJC... I also got an HJC CL-16 at the same time as a backup/passenger helmet. It's good, but definitely not as good as the RS-1, and not a ton cheaper than you can get through Nathan.
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I may be in depending on the dates and my bike's current state of affairs (tires & suspension).
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How is this jacket in the summer? I currently have an X-Element leather jacket that has a removable liner and it's quite hot to wear in the summer (even w/ the liner out), but it's non-perforated. Is this one fairly cool, or should I just keep looking for a textile for summer?
I'm 5'10" ~220lbs, my current jacket is a size XL, which they have defined:
Men's Motorcycle Leather & Textile Jackets
Size S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL 5XL 6XL
Chest 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62
Waist 42 43 45 46 47 49 50 52 54
However, that doesn't really seem very accurate since neither the chest or waist for the XL are close to me, or what I wear in other clothes.
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I don't know about these, but the NC700X and NC700S I find interesting. They seem like affordable fun all-rounders with good features. The storage compartment where the fuel tank normally is being able to carry a full face helmet is pretty awesome. It's not an all out powerhouse, but it seems fast enough for overall use, having some fun and gets great mileage.
If they had a version of it that had slightly more power, ~20-30hp I'd be a lot more tempted, but I might change my mind with a test ride.
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Here's what I use on my 919 (boxed in red). It's a RAM mount that's placed around the fork. Works very well and is a pretty cool angle, see video here:
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Basically, Shoei, Arai, Top shelf Bells, the new HJC series that are renamed, etc are all great choices. You just need to get yourself fit and try things on and decide what fits you and fits into what you expect from it.
Personally, I hate the inner shield lids. They have a deeper cavity and the eye port is weird when the shield is up. But, they kinda make sense. I just don't see the hassle of having a shield in your bag for when it gets dark, etc... But, that's why they make all different sorts of helmets these days...
You know... For a while I was so fixated on having an internal sun visor, I almost ignored other aspects of a helmet like fit, how clear the visor was, visor action, fogging, etc... Now neither of the helmets I use have an internal shield... On my Bell, I have the transition visor; problem solved. On my HJC, I have a mirror visor and a clear visor,with pinlock inserts (clear and smoked)... I don't really miss the internal shield now. My helmets fit much better, provide better vision, comfort, and ventilation.
That GT Air does look nice however... I may have to look into one when I'm looking into another helmet, but that'll be quite a while.
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So jealous... Can't wait to get back into a shoei instead of this bell
Which Bell do you have? I got the RS-1 and I love it. I tried a Shoei RF-1100 on and it did not fit my head at all, so I guess that could be a big factor.
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In regards to the forks, Tpoppa said it best. Install stiffer springs and heavier oil, and add emulators. That's all I did to my track bike and what a difference! I'm not sure what adjustability you'll get, but you should get something that's better spring than what you have now.
Changing springs and oil requires no special tools, just the means to get your front wheel off the ground to remove the forks. On my bike, once they're off, all you have to do is unscrew the cap at the top of the fork and then drain the oil. Springs come out and you can upgrade at that time if you wish. Replace with heavier oil and reassemble.
Seems fairly simple. I think I'll give that a go when I get a chance.
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I'd love to but it's a little cost prohibitive... Unless you go military. Grew up playing flight simulators and one of my dad's friends let me take the controls of a twin prop Piper (don't remember the exact model) for a few minutes when I was 12. May be something I want to invest in if/when I could afford to.
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Since this has been post poned... I'm definitely interested after posting about my suspension on my 919... Any Saturday or Sunday would probably work for me if you're still thinking about holding it, even if waiting a month or two for a bit warmer weather.
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From above: 04+ 1000RR uses the same shock with same compression and rebound. One inch longer. I don't think it fits.
One of the wrist twisters links shows pics of how a guy did it. It required cutting a hole for the reservoir clearance, and heat shielding near the exhaust. Seems like too much work to me.
I was not aware that a CBR1000RR shock would fit on a 919. I'm not saying it won't fit, but that wasn't a known option when I was looking into it.Those 1000RR shocks have onboad (rather than remote) resevoirs. Not an issue as long as you have enough clearance. You would also need to verify the eye to eye length is compatible along with the spring rate...
Alright, so it looks like that's a "no go" with the CBR1000 shock... That leaves the F3, or getting a Penske or Ohlins for the rear, F3 definitely appeals more price wise and I *won't* be racing this bike, but I would like it to be able to hold a line on "aggressive" cornering on the street, my '96 Bandit 600 did it well enough for me, I don't see why this couldn't with a bit of modding.
8Rider6- If the bike is truely "yours", you won't have trouble rebuilding the forks. They come off easy and you may need a special tool here or there, but if they're anything like the Bandit forks, any special tooling can be bypassed with a little creativity. (speaking from experience)See if your library has a Haynes book for the 919. Thumb through it and look at the fork disassembly and then make the decision to do it. Get a friend if you need to, or one of your fellow OR members in Columbus may be willing to help you out. It'll save you a bunch of cash and you'll feel good knowing you modded your bike by yourself.
Once you do that, get whatever fork you can afford. Penske would be the best, but if you can't afford one, find something you can. The F3 fork may not be perfect, but going by what everyone is saying, it's better than what you have now.
You have a good starting point in the 919, making it great is up to you. Get your wrenches and get to work!
I do already have the OEM Honda manual for my bike the previous owner gave me when I purchased it. I do find it lacking in detail in some areas though. Things like changing the oil, adjusting the chain, taking the rear wheel off for tire changes, etc I'm not finicky about doing, but I feel like I'm in uncharted territory when it comes to much more than that (have bled and refilled the front brake lines too). At the same time though, I would like to learn as much as possible working on my own bikes.
I suppose the next 2-3 months is the best time to do it while it's still Winter, only problem is I've done all the work on my bike at my brother in laws place since he has a garage, I don't (keep it in a Cycleshell). I'm not sure if he'd be ok with keeping it there possibly weeks at a time during this process.
As far as:
Once you do that, get whatever fork you can afford. Penske would be the best, but if you can't afford one, find something you can. The F3 fork may not be perfect, but going by what everyone is saying, it's better than what you have now.
You mean fork internals or replace them completely? I'd like to keep things "as cheap as possibly" because I was planning on picking up a second bike around April for track days at Mid Ohio, but my tax refund should help quite a bit... I suppose I could budget $1,000 to taking care of both the front and rear suspension, but keeping it to around $500 would help (so obviously going with an F3 rear shock at over an Ohlins or Penske).
As far as fork internals, what's most important, and what's going to make the biggest difference: springs and fluid vs. emulator kits vs. cartridge kits, and how are each set up for the riding once installed? Do you need special equipment to have it configured/set up according to your weight, etc?
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Consider this - buy a good used shock and AT MINIMUM, fix the front with springs and fluid. You really owe it to yourself to have a basic cartridge kit installed. You can get a 25mm Ohlins kit or GP Suspension kit for about $300. Add $100 for springs and get the front dialed. Buy a good used rear or even a CBR1000 shock as mentioned and get it refreshed. You really need to plan on spending about $1k total and you'd get new and updated components.
You can buy an older shock like an F3 shock, but realize the nitrogen is most likely needing replaced and coming from a guy who raced the F3s back in the day and had RaceTech revalve and respring the stock shock, they are pretty much shit. You'll be ahead to buy a CBR1000 shock if you can, but you run into two things with the notched pre-load. No fine tuning and typically, the nitro needs recharged. Might as well buy a used Penske, man...
Hmmm, how would either of these do?
Looks like they don't include the reservoir... Could I use one from my stock shock or is that not an option?
What used Penske's would work besides the 8900E? Doesn't seem like I can find a used 8900.
Is the F3 shock really that bad? If it would be a fair improvement over what I've got it may be worth it, but if I could get a used 1000RR for not much more, or a Penske for not much more than that...
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Argh, I find it hard to believe they would have put suspension this bad in a bike like the 919.
The rear shock I'm moderately confident I can handle, but when it comes to the fronts, I feel like I'd be hesitant to attempt since you'd have to take all the controls off, take the forks off, etc, or am I thinking this is more difficult to do than it is? How much would it cost to have that done (new springs, cartridge kit and fluids)?
I'm almost debating if it'd be better to sell the bike and get something with better suspension than put that much time/money into it, but at the same time, it is "mine" and I've already put quite a bit into it, enjoy it, plus they're fairly rare.
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If this is in the wrong section, feel free to move it, wasn't sure if it should go here or Tech and Tips, or Part Shop.
So, even since I got my '02 919, I've been a little disappointed in the handling, and that's coming from a Bandit 600 which isn't exactly the sharpest handling bike.
The first corner I took hard (in my neighborhood after getting back from WV where I bought it) caught me a little off guard, felt like the rear end bounced some, and the rear end has seemed uneasy ever since if I take a corner a bit aggressively, never felt that with the Bandit.
Now, I can adjust the suspension (pre-load only I believe) with a spanner wrench. It's currently on the 2nd to last position (#4), stock is #2, so it may be too stiff. I am heavier than most (I assume) riders though, 220lbs no gear, with my riding gear around 225-230, so I would almost think having it on the #4 position would make sense for me.
I've been looking into aftermarket shocks and the Penske 8900E looks like a good option. However, this is $500-650 new... I really don't want to spend that on a shock, so I'm looking to see if I can find a decent one used, at least that will be a big improvement over the stock. Ohlin would be nice, but those are something like $1,200 to $1,400 new... Not gonna happen, lol.
I don't really want to spend more than $200ish. This is my street/commuting/touring/all rounder bike. I'm possibly going to get another bike to track with, so I don't want to put a ton into the shock on this one.
I will be doing all new tires, and chain & sprockets relatively soon (next 2-3 months probably), so it may make sense to do the shock at the same time while I have the rear wheel off.
I don't really know about about how shocks fit from one bike to another. I hear about people taking shocks from GSX-R 1000's and using them on other bikes, etc, but I don't know what to look out for and how to tell if it will work in a 919.
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My Bell RS-1 arrived today from Riders Discount... I couldn't resist taking a ride and trying it out so I bundled up and took a short 25 min ride tonight (hippo hands, jeans under mercury 2 pants, balaclava, etc). Awesome helmet at a great price.
The only negative thing I can say was at the temperature, it did "fog" up... I have the photochromatic lens on it, so I'm not sure if it's different but it didn't really seem to fog up in a traditional sense, it looked more like everything would defocus instead of the visor clouding up if that makes sense. Didn't try the standard visor yet.
Unless I can find (or possibly make my own) a pinlock visor for the RS-1, I may be more likely to use the CL-16 for colder weather, but the RS-1 overall I definitely like much more... I think it's the first helmet where I could almost forget I was wearing one. Very comfortable, amazing visibility... At one point when I came to a stop a questioned if I had the visor down because it was that clear.
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Yeah.. I think you get 50% off' date=' or something like that.
[/quote']For real? Damn, wish I'd known that.
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anything against Arai?
Price... lol
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IronPony is a sponsor' date=' if I remember correctly.[/quote']
Hmm, do they give any discounts in store if you mention OhioRiders?
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Shipped it back for a refund. They should receive it tomorrow, hopefully I'll be getting my refund without a hassle...
In the meantime, I went to Iron Pony over the weekend to look at and try on some other helmets...
Their helmet guy was very helpful. Ended up walking out with an HJC CL-16 in matte black. I knew I was probably going to order something online through a board sponsor, but figured for the convenience they provided for being able to try things on and their staff helping me, I should get something, and you can't get a CL-16 much cheaper online (maybe $20-30 less). The pinlock anti-fog system on the CL-16 is pretty awesome. Took a ride Saturday and enjoyed the helmet much more than my Sy-Max II.
While I was there I also tried on some others and I loved the Bell RS-1. When I tried that on, I felt like it fit perfectly... I contact Nathan at Riders Discount and just placed an order for one along with the transition visor. One of the guys at Iron Pony said the Bells fit more round shape heads, but I definitely have more of an oval shape and the RS-1 felt great... The Nolan N-85 and RF-1100 did not fit my head at all.
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Hmm, I think I tried sending a PM.... Not sure if it worked. It's not in my sent box, but then I tried to send another and it says I can only send 1 every 120 minutes. Do I need more posts before I can actually PM? I would have though I'd have received a notification if that were the case.
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Return it for a full refund and buy a better lid through one of our sponsor vendors. Scorpion is ok' date=' but I'd bet one of our guys can get you into a nicer helmet for that money. You paid more for that Scorpion than I paid for my Arai.[/quote']
Nice, how do I go about doing this? The reason I was interested in the Scorpions to begin with is the internal sun visor... Plus I've tried them on at Iron Pony and they fit me pretty well.
Right now I'm using an HJC Symax-2 (bought used from a co-worker for $50, so I can't complain) which fits well and has an internal sun visor, but it's modular, and quite noisy. I'd prefer just a solid full face helmet that's quieter.
The Bell Vortex or Bell Star have some appeal because of the SOLFX transition visor, you basically wouldn't need a flip down sun visor at all then. I don't know if Arai has something similar...
My helmet size is XL, and my shape is more oval than round.
I already took photographs of the helmet, sticker, my receipt and everything, it's in the box right now. I'll drop it off before or after work tomorrow... Was excited to have a new helmet to use to ride Saturday.
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Congrats, good to see you went with that after the one thread... I can't wait for the weather to break... Although I do need to do a lot... Got new front forks and rear shock on the way, I'll need to have them rebuilt and adjusted for my weight... Then I need new tires, chain and sprockets too. After that I'll be golden for a while besides oil changes and chain adjustment.