Modding and slimming down

[mik_str]

Well, with the snow finally gone from the ground here in the Great White North and another summer coming around, it's time to get moodding, lol Nothing too insane this year but I have invested in a few items to shave weight, including:
- race-style fuel cap (-0.5 lb)
- Turntech battery (- 6 lbs)
- carbon fibre front fender
- aluminum fairing bolts
- aluminum fairing stay
- Ontario Moto Tech triple clamps (aluminum lower clamp and stem)
- aluminum steering stem bolt

I also removed the rear inner panels in the fairing.

All told, these should help me shed close to 10 lbs, much of it placed fairly high up. I will also be replacing and re-locating my oil cooler. While there will be a very minor weight loss here (lines will be much shorter), the new cooler will be mounted much lower on the bike (small change, but it all adds up).

Other mods done or coming include:
- BMC air filter (further to dyno tests conducted by superhawk forum member Tweety)
- ceramic coating of Akra exhaust
- one new fork leg (to replace the right one which is perpetually blowing seals)
- new fork slider for left side (current one has slight chip in the chrome; no leaks, but it bugs me)
- new bushings and seals in both legs
- ceramic bearings in wheels
- 190/55 BT-016 rear tire
- aluminum valve stems
- new (used) front rotors (current ones have over 80K miles on them...)
- LED (smoke)taillight with integrated signals
- painted chin fairing (blue to match bike, fastest colour BTW )
- new handlebar grips (black with red accents)
- Hella 100/55W bulb

Cheers

[Pete.L]

Ah Mik!
You never disappoint
A new year , a new set of mods you are going to have to post up a new set of pics my friend, it's been too long since we've had a good look at your steed. I plug in to Speedzilla every now and again but I don't follow it too closely.
Just noticed you've got 80k listed for your bike, that's 50k of our miles. Pretty good going by UK stds Post your BHP and Torque figures again, give the newbies something to strive for
Have a good one!
Pete.l

[benny hedges]

Pretty good going by UK stds :clap

you can find out more about uk stds here: http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/hospital ... al-health/

[mik_str]

Actually Pete, the real mileage is 130K km, or about 80K miles (and still going strong, btw). MY last dyno run was 113 hp and 71 lb-ft of torque. However, I have since made a few airbox mods which from past experience (previous dyno runs, confirmed by a superhawkforum member who performed the same mods and got the same results) generate about 2.5 hp and same on torque side, which puts me right at about 115/74 (again, keep in mind the mileage on the ol' girl, lol). I am going will ceramic bearings this year too (are in my PVM wheels but they are having some service doen to them) so, while I cannot confirm what, if any effect, they will have ont eh dyno, I do know they spin waaaaaaaaaaaay more freely than the previous bearings (whihc were spinners in their own right, with low-friction seals and C3 clearance).

I will post pics once I get the (PVM) wheels back on I am also looking forward to getting it on a scale; will report those numbers too.

cheers

[sirch345]

Hi Micky, interesting to hear how far you've come so far with all the different mods you've done to the Firestorm, for weight reduction and power gain

I'll be interested also too hear what the weight is now, so do keep us posted.

Chris.

[Pete.L]

Benny,
Not those standards

Nice one Mik.
That sort of mileage puts a lot of us Boys (me included ) to shame. It's very hard to sell a bike over here with decent mileage on it. The Garage didn't even want my old Storm with 32,000 mile on the clock, said they couldn't sell it The engine was still strong, immaculate condition and reasonably well maintained( well, I put stuff back on when it wore out or fell off )
I'll look forward to the piccies Mik, even if the bearings don't make a difference, It sound's like pretty good kudos to me

Pete.l

[mik_str]

After numerous delays in trying to get my PVM wheels all fixed up and re-mounted, it seems it will finally happen in the next two days, woohoo!!!!!!!

So, by Friday noon, I should have my lightweight wheels back on (with ceramic wheel bearings and newly fabricated sprocket carrier), along with a new 190/55 BT-016 rear tire. While there will still some minor work to do (stick coils, BMC air filter and aluminum fairing stay), the major stuff will be done (for this year of course, lol)

Will post pics and updates soon

cheers

P.S. The new tripleclamps are on and the forks are all fixed up, feels nice to have a tight front end again. The slightly altered front-end geometry seems to have reduced the bike`s previous slight tendency to fall into corners...

[sirch345]

After numerous delays in trying to get my PVM wheels all fixed up and re-mounted, it seems it will finally happen in the next two days, woohoo!!!!!!!

So, by Friday noon, I should have my lightweight wheels back on (with ceramic wheel bearings and newly fabricated sprocket carrier), along with a new 190/55 BT-016 rear tire. While there will still some minor work to do (stick coils, BMC air filter and aluminum fairing stay), the major stuff will be done (for this year of course, lol)

Will post pics and updates soon

cheers

P.S. The new tripleclamps are on and the forks are all fixed up, feels nice to have a tight front end again. The slightly altered front-end geometry seems to have reduced the bike`s previous slight tendency to fall into corners...

Hi Micky,
I bet you'll be happy to get your lightweight wheels back and fitted. I hope all goes well with them.

Is this new triple clamp a one off special, or an off the shelf item

Chris.

[mik_str]

Hi Chris,

Am taking the adternoon of to go riding (is beautiful outside....)

The triple is an aftermarket item that was developed and sold in the mid to late 90s. In addition to beign lighter (all alum, includind stem), it has double pinch bolts on the bottom and has reduced offset (30 mm vs 35 mm for the 96 Blade unit) which increases trail slightly (for increased stability). It`s no coincidence that Honda followed the lead by reducing offset by teh same amound on teh 98 Blade.

Will report back shortly (with pics).

cheers

[sirch345]

Hi Chris,

Am taking the adternoon of to go riding (is beautiful outside....)

The triple is an aftermarket item that was developed and sold in the mid to late 90s. In addition to beign lighter (all alum, includind stem), it has double pinch bolts on the bottom and has reduced offset (30 mm vs 35 mm for the 96 Blade unit) which increases trail slightly (for increased stability). It`s no coincidence that Honda followed the lead by reducing offset by teh same amound on teh 98 Blade.

Will report back shortly (with pics).

cheers

I never knew that about the triple. Very interesting how Honda followed that with the 98 F/Blade. I like the double pinch bolt idea on the bottom. I look forward too seeing the pic's Micky and hearing what you think of the new triple, and of course, your lightweight wheels

Cheers,

Chris.

[mik_str]

More news:

Finally got down to the Superhawkforum admin's place yesterday (he lives in upstate NY in the US and was stocking parts for me, some eBay sellers do not ship to Canada, others rape you with shipping fees) to gather up my (warehouse) of parts. I proceeded to put my newly acquired BMC (street) filter in (made a slight tweak to the Flo-Commander to compensate for the added airflow) and replaced the stock coils with the stick coil set-up (coils were orginally from a CBR600RR) I picked up from a fellow Superhawkforum member recently. I went out for a short (100+ miles) ride today and was quite happy (yet again!) with the results. Power and response were improved slightly (but noticeably) across the board and bike just pulls and pulls. Another neat development is how quickly the bike fires up now. It seems the engine hardly gets a full turn in before it rumbles to life. Curiously, some Speedzilla forum members who also went to stick coils on their SPs also reported this.

I ordered some oversize 320mm front rotors and caliper relocation brackets last week....now if they can show up.....

Will post pics once rotors are on, promise

[sirch345]

Hi Micky,

I was reading recently about the Flo-Commander you have fitted. It sounds like a handy piece of kit for that fine adjustment. But then you have many trick parts on your bike that I like

I've come across stick type coils before but have never really taken a lot of notice of them. Also I didn't know they could be fitted to our Firestorms.

How exactly do these stick type coils work Are they used with the existing coils or just on their own

Chris.

[mik_str]

HI Chris,

the Flo-Commander is a dandy little device that makes jetting adjustments a snap. A few members of the Superhawk forum have bought them since and all seem happy with their purchase.

AS for the stick coil issue, they replace the stock coils and high-tension leads. What they do, essnetially, is take the high tension lead out of the equation by mounting the coil direction over the tip of the plug. IN the case of the VTR, it is lighter (by 0.8 lb), and more efficient (there are reasons they are now the industry standard).

I initially became intersted in the idea after reading on Speedzilla bout a number of SP-1 and SP-2 owners who made the switch on their bikes and all reported positive results. When a set of said coils (adapted to a VTR) came for sale on the Superhawk forum, I jumped at the opportunity. So far so good

cheers

[sirch345]

Hi Micky,

Thanks for the info on the stick type coils, that's definitely made things more clear.

I admire your never waning effort in trying to reduce more weight from the bike every little bit adds up

Keep up the good work

Chris.

[mik_str]

Thanks bud