What did you do today?

[Speed 3 Pilot]

This is why I keep notes.  The front of the bike was just a bit stiff for you. We were at the minimum allowable sag at the stock preload. Backing off the preload didn't change the settings at all so we left it at stock. Wouldn't do any good to tighten up preload as that would just make things worse. Nothing was done to any damping settings front or rear.

The rear ride height / preload was adjusted to make it softer for you and we actually got it into the proper sag range. This actually would have raised the front a bit during actual riding so I was thinking that would make the bike a little stiffer to turn. We just sent you out to ride it and see where you wanted the damping to go. You were also just about to get new tires so you wanted to see what difference that would make before you started adjusting anything else.

Nice to have someone remember all this stuff for me...

[MadDuck]

Did the shop thing again today.  Fixed a weird brake howl only in slow right turns on Gloria's 560SL. Sanded brake pads and lubed pad dampers. Adjusted wheel bearings that were slightly loose. Turned out to be a backing plate that would just touch the disc enough to set it off. Nobody believed that would do it until after the fix. Too strange but glad that got the job done otherwise it would have been another expensive repair that I don't need this month!

Brandon was supposed to bring the new bike down to get some base suspension settings done but it wound up going to the shop for bad cam noises. He had an audio recording and it sounded as sick as an engine could be. Super bummer for him & South Seas. The coming week should be interesting but it has already led to some negative idle speculation about the Chinese manufacturing of the BMW parts. Even bigger bummer because of the superb reputation of the BMW build is now in bigger question......  Motorcyclist Magazine Bike of the Year my ass......

Went home and had some beers that couldn't be beat, some good jazz and a good cigar.

[DRKWNG]

I went out with a bunch of CAM guys yesterday for about two hundred miles of twisty riding through southern Maryland.  Took the SD this time, and made several small adjustments to the damping on the rear shock which got the bike feeling better, but it still feels far from super stable. The front end becomes a touch unstable when traversing rough pavement while leaned over at a decent clip.  I know I shouldn't expect a streetfighter (style, not model) bike to excel at a SBK's work, but DAMNIT I want it to!! 

and a good cigar.

So what did you have?  I burned a Padron Anniversary '64 the other day and was quite pleased with it.   

[MadDuck]

So what did you have?  I burned a Padron Anniversary '64 the other day and was quite pleased with it.   

That was a LFD Double Ligero ---- somewhere around 6" and a 54 ring I reckon.

[MadDuck]

The front end becomes a touch unstable when traversing rough pavement while leaned over at a decent clip.  I know I shouldn't expect a streetfighter (style, not model) bike to excel at a SBK's work, but DAMNIT I want it to!! 

Sound like a steering damper issue and maybe a bit of a short wheelbase. ---- SBK? You know the answer.

[DRKWNG]

Sound like a steering damper issue and maybe a bit of a short wheelbase. ---- SBK? You know the answer.

Yep, a damper was the first thing that popped into my mind.  Not really sure if I want to go down the road of throwing a lot of money at it just to find out (the even more expensive way) that it still won't do what I want it to.  I guess I need to hurry the hell up and start commuting on it.

And here's a funny bit of trivia, the (factory specified) wheelbase for the SD is almost an inch longer than the SC.  I think it's just as much that the weight bias is much more to the rear on the SD, which allows the front end to un-weight too easily.

[MadDuck]

Even more incentive to switch.    You liked the 675 I recommended? You'll love the Aprilia!  [moto]

[DRKWNG]

lol

Even from afar, you are still a bad influence. 

[MadDuck]

lol

Even from afar, you are still a bad influence. 

Just trying to do my part.      

[Speed 3 Pilot]

Autocrossed the M3 today...drove like an old lady...

[MadDuck]

That was a LFD Double Ligero ---- somewhere around 6" and a 54 ring I reckon.

You know that was exactly it. LOL. Called a DL654 & I highly recommend it but I warn you that it is a strong one.

[eltristo]

So so tired.  Woke up around 5 yesterday morning, awake all day, duty all night, and couldn't sleep when I got home today.  But, the toilet works now and the sink sorta does too.  Drain is leaking, but otherwise juuuuust fine 

[Speed 3 Pilot]

Put the M3 back to street trim after yesterday's autox.

Replaced the cracked left side faceshield cover on my helmet, along with the shield mechanism on that side...it took 3 phone calls and 7 weeks for Arai to cough up a set of replacement shield covers, the mechanism came from newenough.com...the Arai rep claimed that the cover cracked becaused I used windex to clean the helmet and not soap & water as prescribed...I think it was a defective or incorrectly installed shield mechanism because it never worked smoothly and seemd to be exerting pressure on the cover...Andy even commented about it when he replaced the original left side cover back in January...so, two cracked left side covers, defect or windex?...

[MadDuck]

Windex of course!! What else could it possibly be?

[MadDuck]

Installed some Rizoma bar ends on the 848 tonight.  It are nice stuff.