F4i

[12,000 RPM]

Getting a good helmet is worth it. I am due and I think my next one will be a hi viz Bell with their Transition shield. I'm gonna hold off until this winter though till things get desperate.

And yea a centerstand is key. I have a bike stand and its a PITA. Plus it only works for the back... I'm SOL if I want to do anything on the front.

[MX793]

I have not heard good things about Bell helmets.  There's a shop near me that specializes in motorcycle helmets (huge selection, lots of brands) and they won't carry Bell because the quality is poor and they got sick of complaints and returns.

[12,000 RPM]

Gah that sucks. Worse than Scorpion? Bell is the only company that has the transitions visor. I don't mind my tinted visor, but I don't want to have to have another helmet or be swapping visors all the time to ride at night.

[Cookie Monster]

Honda designed the lower fairing to largely hide the center stand.  This bike has one and I doubt anyone who wasn't looking for it would notice.


VFR800 Interceptors have had center stands up through at least the last generation. I think they currently still have them.  Again, largely concealed when not in use.

Hmm... I think for the cost of a center stand I could get some spool tabs welded on and a rear stand. I'll look into both options.

Speaking of helmets, I can't complain about my CL-17. It's comfortable and fits well. Only problems are the visor doesn't like to move up and it's super noisy. Hopefully the chin curtain will help with noise. If I do get a new helmet it's going to be the big dog RF-1200. $580 after tax.

[Cookie Monster]

OK I'm confused. The CL-17 has always been relatively comfortable and its rated as a neutral/round helmet. The RF1200 I wore yesterday was extremely comfortable from the minute or two I had it on for but it's rated as an intermediate long helmet.

I guess I'll seriously start helmet shopping when the Snell M2015 standards come out. Till then I'll just hope my visor doesn't eat more screws and I'll keep using it.

[Speed_Racer]

Getting a good helmet is worth it. I am due and I think my next one will be a hi viz Bell with their Transition shield. I'm gonna hold off until this winter though till things get desperate.

And yea a centerstand is key. I have a bike stand and its a PITA. Plus it only works for the back... I'm SOL if I want to do anything on the front.

In case you're looking, I picked up this one and it's awesome for any front end work.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050H39OW

[MX793]

Gah that sucks. Worse than Scorpion? Bell is the only company that has the transitions visor. I don't mind my tinted visor, but I don't want to have to have another helmet or be swapping visors all the time to ride at night.

I just wear sunglasses 

[MX793]

Hmm... I think for the cost of a center stand I could get some spool tabs welded on and a rear stand. I'll look into both options.

Speaking of helmets, I can't complain about my CL-17. It's comfortable and fits well. Only problems are the visor doesn't like to move up and it's super noisy. Hopefully the chin curtain will help with noise. If I do get a new helmet it's going to be the big dog RF-1200. $580 after tax.

I'm always leary of welding on aluminum.  Especially tempered aluminum.  As soon as you weld on it, you reduce its strength considerably.  Post-welded strength of 6061-T6 is roughly half the strength of the tempered wrought alloy.

You can probably get the factory center stand and all of the hardware for $200 or less.

Another option is a hook style wheel stand that doesn't require spools.

[shp4man]

So this won't work on a sportbike?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Big-Red-1-500-lb-Motorcycle-Jack-T66751X/100594527?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cG%7cBase%7cPLA%7cD25T%7cTools&gclid=CJORxP-Tl8YCFYqDfgodBzYA3Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Cookie Monster]

I'm always leary of welding on aluminum.  Especially tempered aluminum.  As soon as you weld on it, you reduce its strength considerably.  Post-welded strength of 6061-T6 is roughly half the strength of the tempered wrought alloy.

You can probably get the factory center stand and all of the hardware for $200 or less.

Another option is a hook style wheel stand that doesn't require spools.

I didn't want to drill into the aluminum for the same reason. Can I remove the rear wheel with the center stand and not have it fall over?

[12,000 RPM]

I just wear sunglasses 

Im guessing you have one of those chin flip visors? Hmm I guess that could work.

[MX793]

Im guessing you have one of those chin flip visors? Hmm I guess that could work.

No, I have a regular helmet.  I have prescription lenses, so I have to wear glasses under a helmet one way or another.  It does limit what helmets I can wear, though.  Shoeis, unfortunately, don't work with glasses.  Creases for the cheek pads are positioned where they grab the bows and lift the glasses off my nose.  I've found HJCs work fine, as did my old Icon.

[MX793]

I didn't want to drill into the aluminum for the same reason. Can I remove the rear wheel with the center stand and not have it fall over?

Yes.  When on the center stand, the weight is split between the front wheel and the stand.  Rear wheel can be spun freely (great for chain maintenance) or removed entirely (which just shifts the weight balance even further forward).

[Cookie Monster]

Yes.  When on the center stand, the weight is split between the front wheel and the stand.  Rear wheel can be spun freely (great for chain maintenance) or removed entirely (which just shifts the weight balance even further forward).

Hmm, I'll look into it.

I'm also looking at a Sena headset, Power Commander V (unlikely though) and integrated LED turn signals and an under tail kit from Hotbodies. I should probably fix my car but this stuff is too addicting.

[Speed_Racer]

Hmm, I'll look into it.

I'm also looking at a Sena headset, Power Commander V (unlikely though) and integrated LED turn signals and an under tail kit from Hotbodies. I should probably fix my car but this stuff is too addicting.

Be careful with the integrated LED signals. Some locations and/or states are real sticklers and will fail your bike's inspection if they're not 9 inches apart as per federal standards.

They've let mine slide so far, but they did chew me out for my former flush-mount front blinkers, which I swapped out for LED stalks.

[Cookie Monster]

Be careful with the integrated LED signals. Some locations and/or states are real sticklers and will fail your bike's inspection if they're not 9 inches apart as per federal standards.

They've let mine slide so far, but they did chew me out for my former flush-mount front blinkers, which I swapped out for LED stalks.

Aw crap, the undertail I want does away with the turn signals and integrates them into the tail light.

I guess that's a no go.

[MX793]

So this won't work on a sportbike?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Big-Red-1-500-lb-Motorcycle-Jack-T66751X/100594527?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cG%7cBase%7cPLA%7cD25T%7cTools&gclid=CJORxP-Tl8YCFYqDfgodBzYA3Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

Would crush the exhaust on my bike or Sporty's 650.

[MX793]

Be careful with the integrated LED signals. Some locations and/or states are real sticklers and will fail your bike's inspection if they're not 9 inches apart as per federal standards.

They've let mine slide so far, but they did chew me out for my former flush-mount front blinkers, which I swapped out for LED stalks.

A lot of those tail light (and headlight) units aren't DOT approved.  Many of them say in the fine print "not DOT approved" or "not for highway use" or "Off-road use only".

[Speed_Racer]

Aw crap, the undertail I want does away with the turn signals and integrates them into the tail light.

I guess that's a no go.

What if you got creative?

I love my flush underbody kit, but my integrated tails are way dimmer than stock. And I really don't want to get rear-ended. So I'm trying to find a stock tail-light to swap back in and I'll custom mount signals separate from my tail-lamp (location TBD)

[Cookie Monster]

Eh I'm not too worried about it right now. I think I'll spend that money and save it for maintenance. I'm hopefully going to pile the miles on it.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Gah that sucks. Worse than Scorpion? Bell is the only company that has the transitions visor. I don't mind my tinted visor, but I don't want to have to have another helmet or be swapping visors all the time to ride at night.

I've had my Bell a few years now and it has held up well! The Transitions shield is great! It's totally transparent and and always has just enough tint! It's not cheap but it's worth every penny!

[Cookie Monster]

So I didn't realize my HJC came with a PinLock. I installed it. Hopefully I won't have to crack the shield anymore to get it to unfog. I'm excited to try the new chin shield as well.

[MX793]

So I didn't realize my HJC came with a PinLock. I installed it. Hopefully I won't have to crack the shield anymore to get it to unfog. I'm excited to try the new chin shield as well.

Are you sure the chin vent is open?  That diverts air to the inside of the shield to help with fogging.  I've only ever had fogging when it's cool and extremely humid, like when it's raining.

[Cookie Monster]

Yeah, it's open. My glasses still fog up, though.

[Cookie Monster]

Yay waiting at the DMV... Fees are going to be around $400 I think. I could lie and say that I purchased the bike for less than I did and pay less, but I'd rather not. You know, karma and all that.

Gonna do an oil change this weekend. I'm going to put off any mods till next month.

[MX793]

Yeah, it's open. My glasses still fog up, though.

Pin lock won't help glasses, unfortunately.

[Cookie Monster]

Pin lock won't help glasses, unfortunately.

Yeah, I figured as much. The visor itself doesn't really fog up anymore. I think the chin shield also helps a lot with wind noise but it's still really noisy in there.

Anywho, either I'm doing something wrong, or these newfangled pumps really don't let you pump unless the nozzle is pressed against something. It shut off after 2.7 gallons but I was able to sneak in 3.5 gallons, and probably could have gotten 4 gallons in. Since I've been filling it all wrong (not all the way to the top) I still can't get a good read on MPGs. I probably won't ride to work tomorrow so tomorrow evening or Saturday morning I'll go elsewhere and try to top it off for reals to start counting my MPGs.

Still, even if the tank could take 4 gallons, that'd leave me with another .8 gallons left before filling. The odometer read 113.9 miles. I think that's in the low 30's. That's honestly some bad gas mileage considering that was all highway mileage. Could aero be killing my MPGs? I don't even have to brake on the highway when traffic slows down. Just sitting up will scrub speed like crazy. I want to get a different windshield but Revzilla only has the Zero Gravity Double Bubble which is pretty small (I think it's for racing) and I want something a bit taller, but the Sport Touring one looks silly on a CBR. Hmm...

Also, since I had to go to the DMV I was on the crappier highway with more traffic. Lane splitting honestly was not bad at all. I was splitting at up to 40 mph, after which I'd just pick a lane and cruise in it till traffic slowed down again. It was a ton of fun. Just need to keep paying attention to the cars to make sure they're not going to change lanes without warning.

[MX793]

114 miles on 4 gallons is <30 mpg.  That's terrible.  Looking around the web, seems like most people get between 37 and 43.

[12,000 RPM]

I get 40 MPG all day, something is def not right there. Give it a few more tanks

[Cookie Monster]

114 miles on 4 gallons is <30 mpg.  That's terrible.  Looking around the web, seems like most people get between 37 and 43.

I think the thing is, last time I just stuck the nozzle in the tank and let it fill up, and didn't try to top it off. It took about 2.4 gallons and there was a lot of room left over on the top of the tank, so I was starting off on a 75% full tank. This time I tried to fill it up as much as possible and there was much less room left at the top of the tank (but I still couldn't fill it to the top) so that may be why my mileage appears to be so bad.