Motorcycle Riders

[NorCalToy]

Ordered a set of tires for the bike today and Motorcycle Superstore seemed to have the cheapest prices and free shipping on orders over $75

[86bobbedtoy]

well whatd ya pay?

[NorCalToy]

204.98 shipped for some michelin pilot activ's

Iv heard decent things baout them although I was looking more for a set of Metzelers or Avons. The michelins were the only thing I could find that had both stock size tires available. All the other were either front only or rear only.

[kneedownnate]

At this point in your riding career, you'll likely not notice differences in tires anyway, except maybe how quickly they warm up.  Wtih manufacturers putting more silica in tires now, they tend to warm up quicker and stick better in the wet weather too.  Those tires should do great on that bike, you won't likely desire stickier tires till you want to move to a sportier bike 

[NorCalToy]

At this point in your riding career, you'll likely not notice differences in tires anyway, except maybe how quickly they warm up.  Wtih manufacturers putting more silica in tires now, they tend to warm up quicker and stick better in the wet weather too.  Those tires should do great on that bike, you won't likely desire stickier tires till you want to move to a sportier bike 

Yea thats pretty much waht I figured. For now the Hawk is awesome. Its got plenty of power to get to 100 uphill downhill whatever and rides pretty good and is comfortable. Iv put about 60miles on the bike so far and its been tons of fun. I might be going on a longer ride this weekend but im not sure yet. Ill try to take some pics if I do get to go.

[NorCalToy]

I just found another site for tires and theyre a whole bunch cheaper than where I ordered mine from. Couldv ahd the Avons under 90 a tire. ANd from what everyone on the night hawk forum says they have a very fresh inventory (recently made)

www.americanmototire.com

[NorCalToy]

Gettin the tires mounted up today. Was kinda bummed to see both the michelins were already a couple years old but I guess still within shelf life...

[kneedownnate]

As long as they were stored inside and in a decent climate, they're likely totally fine.  I think 6 years old is the legal cutoff, but I'd probably personally question at about 4 or 5 years on new tires.

Dig your thumbnail in and see if they feel soft, then see how long your impression stays in there. 

[NorCalToy]

As long as they were stored inside and in a decent climate, they're likely totally fine.  I think 6 years old is the legal cutoff, but I'd probably personally question at about 4 or 5 years on new tires.

Dig your thumbnail in and see if they feel soft, then see how long your impression stays in there. 

The impression is good for at least a few minutes. I left one when I was at the tire store and walked back a few minutes later and could still see it clearly.

[NorCalToy]

I went for a "tire Break-in ride" today. Went up to castle lake. Some mild to decent twisties on the road. It was great for me for breaking in the tires and learning more about the bike.



still partly frozen over








http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=ney+springs+rd+to+castle+lake&sll=41.246192,-122.339802&sspn=0.051499,0.110378&ie=UTF8&ll=41.253936,-122.355251&spn=0.051493,0.110378&z=13

[86bobbedtoy]

sweet man.

[NorCalToy]

sweet man.
mine will be all done here in a few days.
just got the angel eyes in
and yosh trs carbon fiber exhaust ordered

post up some pics of the bike as it is now

[86bobbedtoy]

 
how warm was it on your ride?

[NorCalToy]

It actually was really nice. Iv got a riding coat I wear with the built in crash pads but it's only a mesh coat. It was a little chilly riding through the shady areas where there were still banks of snow on either side but otherwise not a problem at all.

[kneedownnate]

Nice, good to see you're taking advantage of the new ride!  Any impressions on the tires or bike yet?  Quite a bit different than dirt, huh?

At what elevation is the lake?  I was just looking at some pics I took a year or two ago in the alps in the first week of june and the lake at about 6200 feet was still partially frozen over too.  Nice to see so much snow up high still!

[kneedownnate]

Forgot to mention, had several cold tire slides on the bridgestones and am impressed with how predictably they slide.  Not big slides, just hitting an on ramp corner in 2nd gear, then rolling on it fairly hard about half way through while still leaned over and getting a slight breaking loose exiting the corner.  I'm not really trying to do it, but I'm not trying to prevent it either 

[Gixxer Jon]

this is what happens when you leave your facebook logged in on my computer and forget to log out...

took a photo of my buddies bike after we got back from a ride, added some high performance mods and then posted this pic on his facebook page..   lol

He was pissed... I only picked on him since hes a noob

[kneedownnate]

[86bobbedtoy]

well I dont see anything wrong with it.



................if your friend is a girl

[NorCalToy]

Nice, good to see you're taking advantage of the new ride!  Any impressions on the tires or bike yet?  Quite a bit different than dirt, huh?

At what elevation is the lake?  I was just looking at some pics I took a year or two ago in the alps in the first week of june and the lake at about 6200 feet was still partially frozen over too.  Nice to see so much snow up high still!

I wouldnt mind something a bit sportier bikewise and I think my next bike will be a crotch rocket but this bike is great so far. Has plenty of power for what I need to do right now and the fuel mileage seems ok. Certrainly better than driving around the jeep.

Still takin it easy on teh new tires tryin to get teh oil off em. So far though they seem real good. Its hard to compare though since the old ones were so dried out.

And compared to dirt, yea its different for sure but not that unrelated. Dirt is just different because its always loose and you can never count on leaning and your always sliding...   I think the biggest difference is using the brakes....You cant just stab the pedal and its all good. Gotta be more gentle on road and not lock up tires.


Castle Lake is at 5500 feet.

[NorCalToy]

painted the grey crap on the bike black. I think it looks a million times better now. Im also thinkin of removing the sissy bar, or tryin to find a way to make it a quick disco setup...

[kneedownnate]

Just a reminder to the locals, GRUDGE MATCH RACING AT THE REDDING DRAG STRIP SATURDAY STARTING AT 6PM    I know somebody who'll be running their black and white f4i    Lubed the chain when I got home tonight since it was hot, will adjust to take up a little slack tomorrow, then probably drive the truck to work instead of riding, snag a quick bite on the way home, jump on the bike and head to the strip.  Little bird told me they want you to run leathers and full gear if you go 120, but I did that the first time and they never said squat to me, maybe cause I already had on leathers.  Maybe I'll throw them on just in case, but it's been so long I don't see doing that well.

Looks better for sure blake!

[86bobbedtoy]

wish i could make but work calls

[kneedownnate]

Drags went pretty well, though I didn't post the times I'd like to see.  Babied it off the line for the first run, totally short shifted and got a 12.08 at 117.58 mph. 
Got a great launch on the second run but missed the shift into 2nd gear, 11.59 at 122.11 mph - woulda been my 11.40 beater if I'd done it right! 
Clean run but kept short shifting, 11.7 at 120. 
Got a great reaction time, decent launch and a little better shifts, 11.67 at 122.15. 
Got a bad launch and didn't clean up till half way down the track, 11.87 at 116.9.
Felt the rear tire spinning slightly on one or two runs, just don't remember which ones, and I doubt it was enough to have a real noticable difference in times.

Started racing at 9:52 pm and stopped at 10:37.  There was nobody there and I was the only bike that got through tech, only cause the other 2 dudes had ankle high shoes.  I was sweating my balls off, but wearing leathers was a wise choice cause I woulda been sent home to get them after the 2nd run.  2 cars schooled me; a built 66ish mustang with license plate "racer guy" even though he was 7/10 second and 8 mph slower.  Other was a tubbed out mopar or something that ran an 11 flat at 125.57 mph.  Cars have it so nice off the line!

[NorCalToy]

thats cool as hell nate...sounds like the bike drag night kinda flopped though huh? you had fun of course but no one really showed up it sounds like.

what kind of gear were you wearing?

[kneedownnate]

Full leathers and hiking boots, then just my normal helmet and gloves.  Woulda worn the track boots but I have to get used to riding/shifting in them.  There were lots of bikes there, just none of them ran.

[Stocker]

Got a great launch on the second run but missed the shift into 2nd gear, 11.59 at 122.11 mph - woulda been my 11.40 beater if I'd done it right!  

I figured it would be quick, but dang!!  Mid-elevens and 120+ is beyond the reach of most street cars, unless you're talking highly modified and/or very expensive!

Power-to-weight ratios yup 

[kneedownnate]

The mopar was no longer a street car, drag only.  Mustang was definately worked over.  Ran against a turbo charged neon and he'd launch better than me but I'd smoke him about the time I'd finish letting out the clutch.

Went for a long ride today, redding yamaha river run.  Made the mistake of letting a bunch of guys pass me on the straights assuming they'd know how to corner.  Won't do that again!  Got out early with a group of the faster guys and had way more fun, except when 2 of them almost collected each other right in front of me when they mis-judged their corner speed and hit the brakes.

[86bobbedtoy]

we need to go riding some time,
my bike was dyno'd at 182 rear wheel hp stock.
now it has stacks, exhaust, PC3, K&N

hoping for 195+ well see soon

sounds like you had fun,

[NorCalToy]

Full leathers and hiking boots, then just my normal helmet and gloves.  Woulda worn the track boots but I have to get used to riding/shifting in them.  There were lots of bikes there, just none of them ran.

why would so many poeple show up but not wanna run? Id love yo if I had the chance, my bike isnt fast but i dont care. itd be fun as hell anyways.

we need to go riding some time,
my bike was dyno'd at 182 rear wheel hp stock.
now it has stacks, exhaust, PC3, K&N

hoping for 195+ well see soon

sounds like you had fun,

its crazy that you bike has more horsepower than your truck...