Two Faux Endurance Racers @ Lake Isabella

[Tetge]

I thought for sure that it was a joke that you rode back to LA on that tire. I also thought that you must have trucked your bike up there, considering the weather and road conditions and all. And, you wonder why I never want to take a nice little ride along with you? Ah, come on, you would say, it's only a long day's ride to the Canadian border and we can be in Alaska the next day. And the fact that you actually rode that tire home just adds to your mug quotient. No wonder that I never see you except as I limp into the wait up stops when we group ride, and there you are with the fast guys, helmets off, politely waiting to regroup. No fear = Hot pace.

To offer a bit more evidence, Brakelate, did allow as to how the pace was elevated enough to fade out the brakes on his 1986 superbike, causing a bit of an awkward moment, but he survived by riding it out. That's all I could get out of him as he was still under doctor's care for post event battle fatigue, but, third hand reports say that he had slowed to about 70 mph from the 140+ mph that he was at initially, so his post event decompression was working. Great things those decompression chambers even if he does have to stay in until he gets to zero MPH, which is considered normal when not operating a vehicle.

[xbacksideslider]

Well, have pity on Brakelate as that Honda is . . . . . well . . . . . not really a match with the GSXR in terms of weight, wheelbase, geometry, brake components, although the two seemed to be well matched in terms of power and red/white/blue appearances.

[Brakelate]

Just received my new steel braided line kit for the FR/RR/&Clutch hydraulics. Also got some fancy EBC Sintered pads for the rear, and some European "Miracle" Sintered HH whizbam pads to go on front. I also found some NOS brake / clutch levers to throw on since the original owner hacked the original clutch lever up and all the fancy experimental goodies that came on that bike at the time (Read: Mucho Heavy Stuff, but cool to look at, talk about and fiddle with) seems to have gained some slop from wear over the years. This should tighten up the feel, feedback and all of that, with some good brake fluid, though they were new (stock) pads and fresh fluid that had been pumped through the entire system.

I just forgot how heavy this bike was back in 'the day'. And I am stuck on skinny tires, though new, were a hard compound... and the dog ate my homework... etc, etc.

It is a pretty bike and has tons of character. It is just NOT a tight road bike. Now on the big open sweepers up on the top of ACH or better yet, the very top of Azusa Canyon (haven't been there in 30 years) before the road closure at the top, we may have a chance at that Gixxer. I bet even flat out, they may be close.

I got back and found a bitchen New Old Stock windscreen back east in a warehouse for $100, still in the box! I bobbled on the purchase, and lost it. I went back a few days later, and the next best thing was one in Germany for like $400 plus shipping! But, no rush. The one on there is 'OK'. So I will learn the art of patience and try to relax and just let this project play out over time, as opposed to the Instant gratification "Gotta have it NOW" mentality that has plagued me my whole life. Perhaps I have learned something from this whole experience I have been going through.

On a funny side note (no pun intended) , Though the Ol Gal puts much more weight on my wrists, and I get knotted muscle cramps right in my hip sockets every time I lift my feet up on to the now- seemingly much higher pegs, I am very pleased with all the 'right' sights, sounds and feel that the bike brings back. That engine alone has so much character, even if it corners like a freight train loaded with coal. ...buy my point was going to be, on the topic of the F1 period-correct cans. They are just slip ons from the era, but I guess they do more now, because there is no Cat. Converter to muffle things down as when you pull the tips off modern bikes. But, I thought it sounded pretty mellow and was fairly quiet. I can't believe all the comments various riders made about how loud it was. I guess in a good way... from the saddle it sounds to be just purring along at speed. I guess from back in the forest, it bellows out at WOT and echos through the woods like a beast. I sort of got worried that people had heard us coming-and going as I chased that Suzuki, both all tucked in, well into the triple digits right through the scenic campgrounds and hiking trails up by the "Trail of 100 Giants" with the massive Redwoods blurring by. It felt like a ride though the dense forests of Germany flat out with the flashes of sun and shade, the exhaust echoing through the crisp air, etc. But I suspect someone along the Kern River Rd (which we also took down at warp speeds) was not amused. Luckily, we got bottled up behind a forestry truck, after running unrestrained for hours, just in time to see a Kern County Sheriff truck hauling ass up the hill in the opposite direction. I wonder if he was responding for calls about us, and we were just faster than he thought and were almost already off the hill by the time we crossed paths. Again, fortunately during one of our brief moments at sub-legal speeds as we strolled along stretching and searching for some relief from the ricky racer riding positions waiting for the fire crew truck to pull off. Had it been several minutes earlier, I don't think the Sheriff would have been impressed with the pipes... or our pace.

[xbacksideslider]

Good write up. It IS a sweet bike. Find a stock exhaust, if you can. It likely will boost the resale value more than its cost.

The Supertrapp exhaust that came on the GSXR hangs from my garage joists. Found the stock exhaust and air box on ebay a few years ago.

[Brakelate]

I agree. I actually found one down deep in Orange County. A super low mileage set without a scratch from a bike that was just being parted out. Not crashed, just sat for years. The guy selling it decided to piece it out, rather than get it going or sell it complete in as-is condition. He was neither mechanically inclined, nor very bright. He asked me when I called "Hey, what's so important about these pipes? Why does everyone keep calling about them?". It was a Craigslist deal.

This was before I even purchased the bike. I could have had the full set, both cans and all in perfect shape for $300 before haggling. But that whole trip this year was just an exercise in
flying by the seat of my pants. And after driving from here non-stop last minute down to 29 Palms, with the event the next morning, I sure was NOT going to wage battle with the traffic
down in that area, coming and going, with big truck, trailer and all - on little to no sleep. The haul back up to "The Place" and arriving barely on time (missing the arrival ride up the hill, unfortunately) was bad enough in itself.

But I guess it proves that they are out there and with all these other little trinkets I am looking for to improve the shape of the VFR, and now going from One bike to Three seemingly overnight, all with tiny to some pretty time consuming major work planned on all of them, I guess I can afford to wait and see when the next pair pops up. Some will, some time.

I've got plenty to do. The cosmetic / suspension freshen up on the DRZ, the full brakes and 100 other insignificant things on the VFR, and it took me 30 minutes in the hardware isle
over at True Value yesterday just to find some 'neat', but not too oddball little fasteners to hold the new plates on both the VFR and BMW, when I get them in. Wanted something in
Stainless, but nothing that looked like regular wood screws sticking out the back. Finally found some, hope they don't clash with that Brassy looking Vintage Plate on the Honda, or the
fancy Carbon Fiber looking frame I purchased for the BMWs plate when it arrives.

I'll photo-document all of it for something to post and share the progress. Something is still tugging me inside that I should have gone for some type of colored stainless lines and contrasting tips and Banjo bolts for all the lines on the VFR. But, I think the clear / slightly tinted ones I purchased will be properly obscure and fade into the background and preserve it's natural look, rather than making it too much to soak in, distracting from the overall , already flashy looks.

In the end, who really cares... as long as I can improve upon it's current set up, which slows and stops with the apparent urgency of a skateboard.

[xbacksideslider]

I actually have a second muffler, had dreams of gutting it and sticking a straight through core in it. But that's kind of like boring and stroking the Norton out to 920. Why? I could dump time and money into both of them and they'd still be wheezing behind contemporary 600s.