EX-XX

I'm looking to grab a spare rear caliper and refurb it, while the original is still on the bike. Can't find a resonably-priced 5th Gen one to save myself, but 6th gen ones are plentiful. Are the 6th gen ones a simple bolt-on proposition for 5th gens?

Cheers mate. Happy to leave (the clutch) as is. Only concern is making sure that I have all the rights bits and pieces to bolt the later engine straight in and go. From what you're saying, it sounds like I can order the Y2K-specific clutch plates/springs, chuck those in, and the rest of the clutch system on the '99 will work with it. Happy with that!

Hmmm... I've posted a similar question on the "other" forum, but I'll ask it here also. I have a '99 bike, in which I plan to install a 2000-model engine (as it has half the kms) after "refurbing it"). Questions: If I replace the Y2K clutch bits and pieces with the appropriate Y2K parts, is that going to work in the '99 bike? I assume the mechanics are identical (hydraulics/pushrod etc.), but the thing about the change in Master cylinder has me wondering. If it's all about lighter feel at the lever, but has no effect on the inner workings of the clutch, no issue, If not...? And yes, I'll be refurbing the '99 throttle bodies (hoses/injectors) and installing those on the Y2K engine. Are there any other gotchas I should be aware of in doing this swap (different sensor locations/part numbers, major differences in wiring looms between the 2 engines etc.)??? Or am I over-thinking it?

I'm sure the "dutiable value" will be less than $1000 when shipped 😉

For that kind of money, you'd be better off swimming over there to collect it. Can you get mine while you're there? Thanks. 😉

Aus Post refers to a service called "ShopMate" for this purpose. I haven't used it, as I'd either have the person ship it direct, or use another service (Shipito etc.) for the purpose. Have any of the other Oz members used ShopMate for US-based purchases...?

Like (many) others, I'm pretty happy to see something like this looking like eventuating. It's taken a long time to be potentially this close (not for lack of effort on behalf of a number of people!) While I've put my hand up as interested in the headers themselves, "if" there is a full system eventually available with Carbon slip-on, I'd almost certainly be interested in the whole thing. (Will need to get a handle on shipping to Oz, though). Given that the $AUD is falling against the $USD, I'd also be very keen to pay for the header/system in $USD if at all possible. (I guess the question there revolves around methods of payment available).

You could be right about the non-linked brakes, I'll have to double check (i.e. go through pictures of the parts until I find some of the brakes etc. 😉 ) They were - apparently - produced from 2001-2008, and have a number of differences to the standard 5th Gen. "Ventilated" rear rotor (presumably for low-speed work with lots of rear braking), ABS, completely different instrument panel (all digital), and quite a few differences in plastics etc. given the intended (Police) use, plus some other stuff I've forgotten.

Coincidentally, I saw an RC49 for sale on the Japanese auctions last night. A cool $AUD24K (~$USD17500)...

No worries. Problem is, actually finding one where I live (Canberra). From what I gather, there's only one business in the place (a small city of ~300,000 people) who has the machinery necessary to clean/flow test injectors...Talk about a captive market. Got in touch with a bloke in Sydney (~3 hours up the road by car). Turns out that not only can he do them, but if I post them in the next day or so, he should be able to clean/test them, and bring them down with him when he visits in-laws here in Canberra (~10 minutes from my place) on the 23rd. Bonus!

TBH, it probably wouldn't make much difference in my case anyway, as I have an aftermarket mosfet style Reg/Rec. One thing that makes things interesting, is that the stator part numbers are different for the '99 and '00 bikes. 1999: 31120-MBG-003 2000: 31120-MBG-D01 I think that's where the confusion (on my part) stemmed from.

Thanks for your input. No-one (least of all me) suggested that it should be a "race header". What I (and others - not quoted, BTW) was after was some kind of empirical data on the headers when actually fitted to a motorcycle. My comments weren't directed at Lextek. They were directed at BW which, as most know (and has been photo-documented in this forum in other threads), has had issues in terms of construction quality (particularly around merge welds etc.) The current (seemingly collaboratively designed) versions "appear" to have less than optimally placed O2 bungs, which may or may not have 00/01 bikes throwing codes/requiring spacers/fitting of O2 eliminators etc. So, I'd have thought it natural to want to see how the system tests on a bike, rather than simply buying it "sight unseen", wearing freight and exchange costs, only to (potentially) wind up with a system that's no better (and potentially worse) than the one I currently have. I'm not suggesting it would be. What I am suggesting is that I don't know one way or the other. I I also take umbrage at the comment about "people whinging about the product probably wouldn't buy it anyway". What would you know about what I would/wouldn't buy? All because I (and others) wanted to see a bit more rigour around the product's sale than "here it is, buy it". Good on them for (co)designing it. No issue there. If it turns out to be a decent system, I'll be more than happy to put my hand up for a set, noting that people here in Oz will wear (significantly) higher freight, and exchange costs, than will the UK and US-based people. (And likely pay a GST on top of all that). It won't be as "dirt cheap" as you suggest, by the time its landed here. But in BW's case anyway, I'd suggest that they have some goodwill to make up from the "SandyBike Spares" days...and some empirical testing on a bike would go some way to restoring that.

Probably why they're coy about releasing dyno data. In the email I posted an excerpt from, the BW salesperson was waxing lyrical about "how much better their new system would be than my old '99 one." Really? Prove it (with empirical evidence) and I'll consider a purchase. Genuinely not fussed one way or the other. My ceramic-coated headers will probably last the life of the bike, given that I live in an environment that doesn't experience heavy snowfalls/salt on the roads etc. So, for me to consider changing them out with something else...well, I'd need to be convinced that the "something else" was demonstrably better, wouldn't I? So...who on the forum is going to be first to grab a set of these things and "back-to-back" dyno test them against a control set of '99 headers?

I did find those guys in another search I did...honestly didn't think they'd still be around, given the blurb on Dropbears is over 20 years old. Looks like they are though, thanks! I'll dig up someone who can do the injectors. As for the stator, it's an interesting one... I "have" a Y2K stator, which I can re-wind and chuck in the bike. From what you're saying, it should work no worries. Or... I can buy a new 1999 stator, which I see listed as in stock (whereas the Y2K one is listed as "unavailable". Appreciate the help!

Oh, if you could also drop the actual name of the business in Newcastle that rewinds stators, that would be great. I've had no luck searching for them. The company I chased up this morning - in Newcastle - is a "large commercial refurbisher of major electrical components and generators. As such, our prices are likely to be beyond your expectations", was the response I got from them when I told them what I was after. Clearly, they are not the business you were referring to...

Also, one other question, while I'm "on the topic". In looking at part numbers for the stator, it seems that the 2000-model had an extra "voltage sensing" wire (part number 31120-MBG-D01), versus the 1999, which didn't (Part number 31120-MBG-003). My spare engine is a 2000, which will eventually find it's way into my 1999 bike, when I've done all of the refurb work mentioned above. I guess the question is, is there any point sending off the 2000-model stator for rewinding (given that that engine isn't in the bike/being used)? Will the presence of the extra sensing wire cause any issues in my bike (noting that I'm using an after-market mosfet-style reg/rec and VFRNess already)? I'd have thought not, but would be keen to hear people's thoughts...

Just to resurrect the thread, I've just pulled the injectors from the spare engine, with the intention to send them off to get refurb'd. Who did you send yours to? Or does it not matter, as long as whoever it is specialises in the work?

Pretty sure that people here (in Oz), have 1997-plated bikes. I'm almost certain that, like you, I saw a 1997-plated bike (a silver one) at the end of 1997.

For those wanting Sandy Bike Spares/Black Widow dyno numbers, I'm going to paste an excerpt from an emailed response I had from them on this topic. " We do not release Dyno results on any of our exhausts as these can vary due to the age, mileage and set up of the bike, we are happy to post owners results as these are specific to their bike and are unbiased. Please see our Facebook page for owners results from some of our other designs, they are excellent. " Sorry, but that's crap. For the record, I asked for dyno comparisons between a stock, "catless" header, and their design. They refuse to provide this info. Also, not sure how relevant "seeing a Facebook page for owners results from some our other designs" actually helps one form an opinion as to the gains/design eficiency of this new header... Maybe I'm missing something...? Or not. No. I won't be purchasing either of these until I see empirical, back-to-back dyno testing. Same bike, same dyno, "catless" headers vs these new ones (obviously with the same slip-on fitted to both headers). Pretty simple, really. They either provide them, or they don't.

To my untrained (jaundiced) eye, they look press-bent. Probably won't make a huge difference (assuming everything else stacks up). just an observation...

Good luck! More than likely, you'd need to "adapt" an ABS system from a non-Honda bike, because all the Hondas are either: 1) Linked brakes + ABS (which would be a nightmarishly complex retro-fit, IF it could even be done). 2) Are very new bikes ('Blades etc.) which would no doubt have a pile of integrations into other areas of the bike. Whichever way you go, you can be assured of one thing. "Simple", it won't be. Sounds harsh, but better hazard awareness/more progressive braking (on current set up) may be a more viable route...

I won't dispute that out of hand ('cos I don't know), but I'd be very interested to see back-to-back dynos of a '98/'99 and an '00/'01 with the same exhaust setup (whether the 98/99 headers or these new "you beaut" ones). And yes, I'm happy enough to keep my '99 headers if nothing better presents itself.

It's probably god enough for most people's purposes. Same bike, same day, same dyno, and same filtration (only difference being headers), should give a good enough guide as to real-world gains from the aftermarket header. Oh, and if we can get the measured weights for the standard and aftermarket header, that too would be handy...

Bit late to this, but if that had been me, I would not have wanted even to test ride it in that condition. That is not "in excellent condition, needing nothing". I sold my previous 5th Gen in 2015, with ~73,000kms on the clock, and I can guarantee it was in WAY better condition than you've described this one. My current one (AB's old bike) with a raft of "mods" etc. is also in way better nick than you describe...and has ~136,000kms on the clock. Something fishy going on with that seller, for mine. BTW, echoing VFROZ' post/s, I've bought and sold plenty of bikes here. Aside from my first 5th Gen, which I flew to another State, paid cash for and left to ride home on it (no test ride), I generally take any bike I'm considering for a ride. Similarly, I allow people to ride a bike I'm selling, as long as I have licence and cash in hand, and conditions (i.e. rain etc.) don't markedly increase the chances of the buyer having an off...

No doubt with attendant one-off production costs...