Bottlehead Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Doc B. on March 05, 2015, 11:13:12 AM

Title: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 05, 2015, 11:13:12 AM
but the weather was perfect for a motorcycle ride to work today in the ol' Northwet. That's PB's FJR on the right.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: RayP on March 05, 2015, 11:24:52 AM
Six inches of snow here at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. We have all had enough snow for a while but it is a good excuse to stay indoors, listen to the system and gaze out at this.

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi87.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk125%2Frperry13%2F001_zpsxsgnozmj.jpg&hash=0f2573b37604eca01b871582f3b2215ffda294f0)

ray

Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: wullymc on March 05, 2015, 11:57:39 AM
Beautiful!

Had to look up where Chesapeake Bay was.  Enjoy the listening.

Here in Ottawa it was -20 Celisus with the wind chill.  Worst winter for cold weather since the 30s!!


All I can say with winter is.....I'm Done!

maybe I should move to Bainbridge Island.  Looks nice.  Enjoy the bike ride Doc & PB!.......Dave
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: 2wo on March 05, 2015, 01:29:31 PM
Ah man, mine is in a million pieces, at lest I have a place to prop the snow shovels.
 
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 05, 2015, 02:51:55 PM
The Motosnoplow. I have a CB77 that is in about the same shape, but it's the base model without the plow attachments. And there may be yet another project added soon.

Uh-oh, I'm registering another out of control hobby warning on the sensor array.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 09, 2015, 05:25:23 AM
So this really nice guy had this really cool Aprilia RSV Mille project on CL, and he really needed some tube audio gear and I think I need a bigger garage now.

Just a little reminder that I do trade Bottlehead gear for items of interest to me.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: butchbass on March 09, 2015, 08:11:32 AM
The abbreviation OT, what does it mean? I have seen it many times and can't figure it out.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: fullheadofnothing on March 09, 2015, 08:21:41 AM
Off Topic.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Mikey on March 09, 2015, 09:29:39 AM
So this really nice guy had this really cool Aprilia RSV Mille project on CL, and he really needed some tube audio gear and I think I need a bigger garage now.

Sweeeeeeet!  Once you go Italian, you won't go back...   ;-)
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 09, 2015, 10:31:39 AM
Yo Mikey,

This is an ex-WMRRA racer. So the good news is it came with a set of race fairings, stands, extra fuel tank, Spidi track suit that happens to fit me, etc., and it's all safety wired. Dunno if this old body is capable of doing a track day anymore, but it's sure gonna be fun on the street. Then there's that run what you brung class out at Bonneville that keeps beckoning. I hear you about Italians. In my autocross days it was Alfas. The bang for the buck of Alfas was a big attraction back then, and the Ape seems to have the same quality. Can't believe how inexpensive they are used.

The bad news is "won't turn over." Not clear what that means yet, but I am being optimistic that I will find the sulfated battery and maybe some other electrical issues are to blame, and not a bad motor.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Mikey on March 09, 2015, 10:49:43 AM
Lotsa cool extras included!  How's the other side look?

You've already got one really nice street bike...dress the RSV up for the track and flog it.
If it hits the deck, no biggie, right?

Dunlop is having a $50.00 rebate on Q3 tires, I just got a set delivered to my door for $185.00 (after rebate).
They are great trackday tires...  ;-)

Even if the motor is spent, you could probably part that bike out and make some ca$h.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 09, 2015, 02:01:14 PM
Right side fairings are kinda chewed, but fixable. Peg, brake lever, turn signal, mirror gone. Pretty typical.  The guy threw in a new peg, lever, and the rear caliper bracket that failed and dropped him. Even threw in a whole new set of decals. Only real sad part is the Akropovic muffler is kinda chewed and might be a challenge to repair. The race fairings look unscathed - kind of ironic.

Cross your fingers for me tonight, that i can get the crank to spin...

Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 09, 2015, 05:45:44 PM
Progress! Oil looks OK and motor turns over cranked from with a known good battery. Looks like the issues may be mostly electrical. And that I can deal with.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: mcandmar on March 09, 2015, 05:58:10 PM
Your problem is its Italian, the electricity doesn't understand the wiring diagram  :)

Lovely bike though, big twin, Italian, doesn't get much better than that.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: wullymc on March 09, 2015, 11:16:17 PM
Progress! Oil looks OK and motor turns over cranked from with a known good battery. Looks like the issues may be mostly electrical. And that I can deal with.

Congrats Doc!  Sounds like you know where your going!
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Mikey on March 10, 2015, 04:11:56 AM
Progress! Oil looks OK and motor turns over cranked from with a known good battery. Looks like the issues may be mostly electrical. And that I can deal with.

Excellent.  What year is that bike?
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 10, 2015, 08:07:40 AM
It's an 01 RSV Mille. The standard one, not the R. Already have an upgrade plan worked up for the starting circuit. Yamaha R1 R/R (Shindengen FH020, an excellent MOSFET R/R), fresh connectors, Yamaha 100A rated starter relay, and I'm thinking of a LiFePo battery for the extra cranking amps.

Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Mikey on March 10, 2015, 08:17:00 AM
The MOSFET R/R is a good idea.  I installed one on one of my bikes, it works a treat.
I don't know about the Aprilia battery and starter cables, but on the Ducati's they are horribly undersized.
There are kits out there to improve that weak link too:

http://www.motolectric.com/makes/aprilia.html

Of course, if you're like me you will just make your own with some welding cable and a solder pot...

In addition, I rewired all the way back to the stator itself with heavier gage wire:

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/56-superbikes/136928-1997-ducati-748-stator-testing.html

and hardwired right to the R/R, eliminating a high current connection in the process.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 10, 2015, 08:39:32 AM
I put an R1 R/R on my CBR and it was really a nice improvement. And yeah, bigass wire and solder, baby! The Aprilia has the same issues with crappy connectors and undersized wire and batteries. Even my truck battery was struggling to gets volts to the starter, so I know I have a lot of stuff to clean up. Luckily the Yamaha parts are way cheaper, have beefier ratings, and bolt right in with minor connector changes.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: goozy on March 10, 2015, 09:15:29 AM
First ride of the year ;D Took the WeeBee R for an 80 romp just above freezing! The Guzzi Griso stayed in the shed though.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 10, 2015, 12:12:21 PM
Yeow! You are a lot more macho than me. I was whining to myself about getting a little cold last week when it was 50.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 10, 2015, 12:18:18 PM
For those of you who don't know, along with making awesome turntables and bracket racers, Mikey is a knee dragger:

(https://scontent-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/10348727_822542111091191_7714306536113322464_o.jpg)
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: mkane on March 11, 2015, 02:59:39 AM
    I'm 62 and still doing trackdays. Age is just a ##. Been at it 50yrs.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Mikey on March 11, 2015, 05:51:41 AM
Is that...Valentino Rossi??   :D
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 11, 2015, 06:01:20 AM
The helmet is too conservative, I think not.

Looks quicker than stink, though. Maybe it's Biaggi.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: pdxgrampa on March 11, 2015, 07:07:11 AM
Agostini? :)
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: goozy on March 11, 2015, 01:06:38 PM
Ages around here more likely Hailwood or even Woods.  ;)
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: mkane on March 12, 2015, 04:23:28 AM
  Mid 80's stuff. We had a few big singles back then.

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi285.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fll58%2FMKane63t%2F022_zps9a396511.jpg&hash=06d7d6ae97dbf806657014cf3141fc226cf49035) (http://s285.photobucket.com/user/MKane63t/media/022_zps9a396511.jpg.html)
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: goozy on March 12, 2015, 04:32:13 AM
That last pic was of me on my Yamaha xt550 at a vintage group track day a couple of years ago, I haven't decided whats more vintage, the riders or the bikes!
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: pdxgrampa on March 12, 2015, 06:08:59 AM
Is that Gary Nixon behind you? :)
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: mkane on March 12, 2015, 02:49:33 PM
 Walt Nitto. He 'was' the fast guy in the class.
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: pdxgrampa on March 13, 2015, 04:56:38 AM
Hey MKANE
I was having an old guy moment, the 9 on the number plate reminded me of this guy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Nixon

who also carried 9 on his number plate:
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: mkane on March 13, 2015, 02:07:26 PM
  Thank's I am very aware who Gary Nixon was. Old dirt tracker myself. These picks below, same bike, same rider, 35 years apart. I finally stopped racing. Track days are enough.


(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi285.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fll58%2FMKane63t%2F001_zpse934cdac.jpg&hash=f21e2ff8cf88d7c63393ee7bdee9f55030ac4bea) (http://s285.photobucket.com/user/MKane63t/media/001_zpse934cdac.jpg.html)


(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi285.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fll58%2FMKane63t%2F009-1.jpg&hash=dc16fbef469d6f19ee3a1decb1a6980375a875c7) (http://s285.photobucket.com/user/MKane63t/media/009-1.jpg.html)
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Mikey on March 22, 2015, 09:32:53 AM
Dan, my return PM to you was blocked...check your e-mail.

Mike
Title: Re: OT - not to rub it in or anything
Post by: Doc B. on March 22, 2015, 12:13:58 PM
Got it, thanks!