KevCarver

RC51 brakes are pretty sweet as is! 4 pot Nissin's do the job. Some argue that the radial 4 piston Tokico are not a better caliper, but I don't know for sure.

I'm no engineer, but it seems to me the calipers are mounted to adapters, which are not radially mounted to the forks. So you don't get any of the benefits of radial mounting calipers. The adapters still will allow flex under braking forces.

IMHO the only reason to mount adapters is aesthetics. If that's what you're after, more power to ya!

Radial Brembo master cylinder with the stock RC51 setup, however... There's your bigest gain.

Sorry, I have no experience with ABS. So nothing definitive to add there. Does it make a difference to the ABS system if there are no longer all the extra hoses, pistons, and PCV associated with the stock linked system?

Also, keep your calipers clean. Make sure the pistons are clean and can retract enough to reduce the friction of the pads rubbing on the rotors when the brakes are not engaged. I know Trace suggests that new o-rings aid in this.

By the way, I'm not telling you not to do it. Just that for $140 I don't think you will get any noticeable results and my above suggestions are free.

I thought about it, but it's pretty cost prohibitive, in my opinion. I can't believe you would ever notice any difference in normal usage.

Here's something I noticed when I had my front wheel apart to have powder coated:

Just for fun, I installed the front axle into the forks with the bearings and spacers in their proper positions. What I suppose I kinda knew, but never really thought about is that the only moving parts are the bearing outer races (and ball bearings, of course). Meaning that the inner races are locked in against the outer spacers and inner spacer. The dust seals are locked into the wheel, so they spin against the spacer. Point of my comments? I never greased the dust seal before, but now I do. There is a groove im the inner diameter of the seal, so I smear a bit of grease in there to help reduce friction against the spacer. I think that you would see more benefits in friction reduction from that over the ceramic bearings.

Anybody found some real Titanium lug nuts with the proper ball/radius seat? All I can find is the cone seat for tuner/racer wheels.

What's the consensus on average clutch life? Im in excess of 74,000 miles and never removed the cover...

(I was wondering this back at about 50,000 but never got around to doing anything)

Unless the previous owner removed it, center stand works a treat! Blocks or a jack under the headers will lift the front while on the center stand.

Otherwise get yourself a rear stand made for a single swing arm bike. Go for the Pitbull, you won't be sorry! As for other brands, some are good, some aren't. Pitbull is great.

Just curious why you didn't get them cut locally?

Made it to Harrisonburg, VA. Circumstances conspired against us making our goal of Bristol or Johnson City tonight. We'll give it a go on the morrow.

Tire lost about 2-3 psi at the most over the day. I'll check it out in the morning.

Agreed

We're trying to work out getting The Carver Party together with Timmy and (?) Fifth Gen Jim for a Gear Driven Cam Love-Fest!

Anyone have a fifth gen side fairing bolt to spare? The big one at the back of the side panel.

Stock gauge face is green numbers. LCD would show whatever color bulb you use. I went with blue. It's crisp, but not too bright as to ruin night vision. I guess you could try red if you're concerned.

I'm making my beer run on the way home from work tomorrow. Can't really swing a batch of pricey stuff like I did for TMAC, but I will grab a couple cases at least. Everyone seemed to like the Magic Hat and I know the Spaten Oktoberfest will be a hit... bottle of Kahlua for the wife... check.

If Timmy remembers the Tailgator we'll be in for a good weekend!

Keith votes Spaten

The 'Carver' crew - white 5th gen... can't wait to see that! (Yet another color of primer, right Timmy?)

Yeah, uh that ain't white...

While I have the Meters out of the bike, I'm going to change the bulbs for LED's

I found the printed copy of KPerham's led list, which seems to have been lost.

I notice that he says not to use LEDs for the FI light and the turn signal indicators.

Did this ever get sorted out??

Also does using a non-load sensitive flasher solve the problem.

You doing a Fifth Gen? On mine, the signal indicators and the FI indicator all stayed on at less than full brightness. I guess enough power goes through to light the led, but not enough to illuminate an incandescent bulb under normal conditions?

I have a relay to allow normal flash rate, but if course it is separate from the FI. So I'd say the relay is not at all a factor.

The "inverted cone" led bulbs I use don't have any hot spots in my display.

Approximately 25 hours away from the Carver Party departure.

Be warned: the colored markers flow charts and spreadsheets are out and in full swing :)

I'm just gonna follow folks that seem to know where they're going...

I have been out of town for the past week and am heading back out again this sunday....returning Tuesday night and on the road Wednesday am...MiniCarver will have to mow the neighbors lawn to get his tires mounted at this late date...they aren't even arriving until Monday or Tuesday....

any GPS files avialable. I know the route is open to revision due to the storms and road conditions...

I can do his tires Tuesday afternoon as a last resort. Or Sat if he wants Power front and rear (I have an unmounted set in the garage)

You got my number...

What did you find for clip ons? Get a set of 1200 stockers?

Did we forget to tell CornerCarver there's a new board? He's been awfully quiet lately...

My upcoming schedule pretty much means this is the last day for bike prep before the ride, so new tires and oil going on and in today! See ya in a week, or so.

That's how mine looks. Since I used his as a model, that makes sense! Don't recall the material of the bolts. Either aluminum or stainless...??? Lock nut and Loctite.

Crap, I can't find any record of an oil change in the past 18 months or so...

Surely I did it when I did all the other work this winter?

I guess I'll have to do it before we leave just to be sure. New tires are stacked up in the garage. (New pair of Powers for both bikes!)

Had some troubles this past weekend with the MOTY starting my RC51 in cool morning weather. That'll be a fun experiment for the ride!

Is this a "Leave the mesh at home and pack the heated liners" time of year?

Help a brotha out, and remember I'm a native Floridiot!

Hey Rob, the bent steering stop saves further damage to the frame neck!