MSerfozo

2 hours ago, yoshiii said:

I went to try on gear...

...Want to start buying gear but maybe have to order online.

 

Most shops do not have a good selection of gear to try.  From Cinci, the closest place with a decent selection is probably the place that took over the Competition Accessories in Springfield - I think it's called Ride 1 Powersports now.  But the absolute BEST choice for shopping for anything motorcycle related is Iron Pony on the east side of Cols - you won't believe it until you see it.

Hope yours works better than mine did.  

I would have suggested you adapt the existing pin until the experience I had two days ago! 

My Bandit needs a 24mm pin ('03 Hayabusa stem, triple, and forks) so I took the 13mm pin I had and put a stack of 12mm flat washers on it (24mm OD) and welded the ID of top one to the top of the pin.  It fit the steering stem perfectly and I pulled the wheel and one fork to replace seals.  While pulling the second fork, the pin cracked and folded just below the bottom washer.  It didn't break all the way through or my bike would have fallen on the floor.  If I had a fairing it would have gotten its nose cracked from the stand folding up.

I was able to get a floor jack and the scissor jack from my wife's car under the frame rail on each side and get it back up so I could get the front stand out.  I finished the forks and I was very happy to get the wheel back on and remove my hastily jury-rigged lift.

Needless to say, I won't mess with a half assed pin again.

Adjusted valve clearances on the old Bandit.  Had planned to do new fork seals but a friend stopped by to change his fork seals on a 1st gen SV 650 and he needed a lot more help than I'd anticipated.  Helping noobs is one way I try to give back to the sport.

8 hours ago, okeefe01 said:

I don't recall ever hearing anyone complain about safety there.  I know they moved the wall back off of the front straight after a fatal accident, and turn 1 has to make your sphincter pinch a hole in the seat, but I can't think of anything else that is bad.

I understood it was this corner that didn't have sufficient runoff.  Mid-O doesn't own the road to the east so they can't fix the problem.

Made a seal driver from a PVC fitting to replace the weeping seal on my fork.  I have the new seals, oil, and now the tools - just need the time to get the job done.

$12 rebate on 5 quarts of M1 synthetic through May.

https://mobiloil.com/en/promotion/mobil-promotions/up-to-15-dollars-off-with-mobil-1-and-mobil-super

On ‎5‎/‎15‎/‎2016 at 5:36 PM, Wolfman1 said:

Another option is DuPont Teflon Chain-Saver.  It is a wax based chain lube, but dries in 30 min or less.  It goes on quick like WD40 and dries really fast, but leaves a very light white film on the chain probably due to the molybdenum.  It will not fling and is not sticky.  Great for anything including dirt bikes and ATVs.

+1

This stuff cleans like WD40 when it's wet, dries quickly to a white wax, and the last time I bought it on Amazon it was less than $7 for an 11oz can.

Just now, motocat12 said:

Unsure about those fork slider guards 

After the USD fork swap I wanted something to protect the sliders from road debris.  The forks are from a 1st gen Hayabusa and I couldn't imagine THAT FENDER on my Bandit.

I researched and taught myself how to bend and form acrylic sheet one cold winter weekend and that's the result.  I haven't given up on the idea of a front fender but it hasn't yet floated to the top of the mod list.

Hi.  My name's Mark from Columbus.  I ride what was once a brand new, unmolested '01 Bandit 1200.  Until day 2 of ownership - then the modifications began.  Every time I think I need a new bike, I just mod something to make the old Bandit a bit different.  In the 16 years and 50k miles  I've had it (it's an "it", not a "her"), nobody has put a wrench to it except me.

I really don't enjoy touring and avoid the superslabs at all costs.  I have a trip planned to the NC, TN, GA, SC mountains in Sept for the 4th year in a row.  Yes, I trailer down & back but ride all day when I'm down there.  Last year we rode over 1000 mi of twistys in 3 days - 425 mi on one day almost never in top gear.

I found you guys from a link at the Mid-Ohio trackday page and I've been thinking of doing a trackday but not sure I want to invest in the required gear.  Modding the bike, I have no problems with!

I've ben a member on a couple of Bandit forums (fora?) for years and photos are "strongly encouraged" there so here's one from the parking lot at work last week.

Seems like a good bunch of folks here and I look forward to hanging out.