Member Contributer bmart Posted December 28, 2024 Member Contributer Posted December 28, 2024 I got to ride in NZ for two weeks back in 2005 and tried to move there for years... Quote
Member Contributer St. Stephen Posted December 30, 2024 Member Contributer Posted December 30, 2024 On 12/28/2024 at 2:06 PM, bmart said: I got to ride in NZ for two weeks back in 2005 and tried to move there for years... Don't blame you bmart! Did that almost 10 years ago, just over two weeks riding the south island. Here in Sonoma County we've had 25 inches of rain since October 1; I could use some NZ summer right now. So, post a few more pics Terry! Have to admit, the RT wasn't too bad a bike: 1 Quote
Member Contributer Terry Posted December 30, 2024 Author Member Contributer Posted December 30, 2024 Be careful what you wish for Stephen. Some ugly bastard got in the way of the scenery today. Sorry about that. In my defence before this I took the dog for a 10km walk, then mowed the lawns and then put too much protective clothing on for a warm day of riding. And I forgot to do my hair... 1 4 Quote
Member Contributer FromMaine Posted December 30, 2024 Member Contributer Posted December 30, 2024 Great photo. Spent a bit over 4 months working in Auckland in 2004. Was brought in to repair 2 100+ foot masts on a boat at Orams. Lived in Freeman's Bay as the boat was hauled. Got exactly 2 days off during that time as pressure was on to get the boat ready for sea. We left Hauraki Bay, and 26 days later pulled into Puerto Montt Chile. Wish I had a bit more free time and acsess to a motorcycle while there, but as usual, work got in the way of some of my better riding plans. 1 Quote
Member Contributer Terry Posted November 30, 2025 Author Member Contributer Posted November 30, 2025 Today was the continuing saga of the DMr shock absorber. In May I spotted a used item on eBay, recognised correctly as DMr-modified CBR600 shock, and bought it for not too much money. When it arrived, it was a bit oily and when I fitted it up, was apparent that it was free of damping (little oil/gas) far too hard (wrong spring) and a bit short. EBay refunded my purchase but I lost the freight. Jamie advised what I needed to do, and a local shop quoted me more than NZ$1000 to swap the spring, replace the seals, re-oil and regas. Jamie offered to do that for about half, so I shipped the shock to him. Unfortunately due to misplaced honesty, our post office decided the shock was a prohibited item, held it for 8 weeks, then returned it to me with lot of DANGER/EXPLOSIVE type placarding. Morons. And I lost the freight that I had paid. Again. Then I had a chance encounted with an old mate now running a mountain bike suspension business in a nearby town, we got talking and he agreed to do the rebuild for me, so I got the parts shipped from Jamie, and had Norm do the rebuild. Norm took his time and so many, many months have passed since I ordered the shock. Jamie supplied a new spring, seals, piston, shims, and a modified clevis (to correct the length). Today was Der Tag, I got the spanners out and fitted the rebuilt shock to Sakura. That short sentence does not tell about the finger trapping, knuckle scraping, knee breaking and sweat-inducing work that probably takes a mildly skilled Honda employee about 30 seconds on the production line, but took me more like 4 hours. Does it work? Is it worth all the effort? No idea...it is hosing down outside and I have no interest in getting wet. Stand by for next weekend! 5 Quote
Member Contributer Lorne Posted November 30, 2025 Member Contributer Posted November 30, 2025 15 hours ago, Terry said: Does it work? Is it worth all the effort? Ooh, inquiring minds want to know 😉 Looking forward to your verdict, and some pics of the test ride. 2 Quote
Member Contributer Terry Posted November 30, 2025 Author Member Contributer Posted November 30, 2025 50 minutes ago, Lorne said: Ooh, inquiring minds want to know 😉 Looking forward to your verdict, and some pics of the test ride. That would be two of us! Bear in mind that this is not a current DMr product but does contain a new piston and shims. The refitting was a giant PITA; I came pretty close to just jamming the original shock back in a few times. The modified clevis has a particularly long threaded shaft, and that makes it tough to get into the socket in the frame while the bottom of the shock is constrained by the swingamr and exhaust system. I assume the length of the shaft allows one to add more shims to raise the rear end, not something I want/need to do. Quote
Member Contributer Terry Posted December 6, 2025 Author Member Contributer Posted December 6, 2025 Just back from a sun-drenched, twisty road test of about 280km. The verdict? Totally worth it. Although the spring is notably stiffer when you bounce on it, this translates to much less unneeded suspension movement on dips so the net effect is to absorb bumps better and keep the chassis much steadier in bumpy turns. It is also more comfortable, and of course confidence-inspiring. $usp$pension upgrade$ - the best money you can spend! 5 Quote
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