MontanaXX

The ZVM2 has been upgraded to the ZVMX I found out last week. Contacted DID rep and he confirmed that the "X" chain is different, better and the one I needed for a Blackbird.

I pulled my carbs last weekend to replace the jubilee clips on the thermostat housing. Get energetic - they hold on pretty well. Brute force is all I used, with some WD40 to get them back on. Try pulling up on the carbs to pop the bottom of the carbs out first, that works best for me.

For a cheap stand that works good I use a discarded grease barrel. Its a metal can about 30" tall that mechanic shops get there bulk grease delivered in. It has about an 18" opening the wheel sits in there on the spokes. I use one at home and at work for about 2-3 tires every week, dirt and street. I use two 16" tire irons and WD40 for lube, easy peasy.

So its got 20,000 kms on it and you think it will go at least 5,000 km more? 25,000 kms is over 15,000 miles... holy crap that is a lot of miles for a rear tire on a 'Bird. I would be over joyed to get even 10,000 miles out of a rear.

Thank you for the great writeup! I am going to Radio Shack right now.

This new ethanol blend fuel definitely goes bad quicker than fuel from a few years ago. We have had this problem with our dirt bikes. When I went to winterize my wife's TTR125 it had already clogged up from sitting from July to late September. I had to pull the carb and clean the jets. I spoke to a friend at the local Yamaha shop and he said he replaced dozens of pilot jets this summer in bikes that sat just a few months with no stabilizer in the fuel. This spring there will be lots of small engines that don't run if owner's don't winterize them properly.

Thanks for the review. Interesting that yours was slippery in the wet; I have read that many UK riders like the Avon for its wet traction. But I also read that their asphalt is a different compound that ours, so maybe that makes a difference in tire traction. I ran an Avon last summer and found it acceptable, had no complaints in the wet or dry. I did like the fact that it resisted flatting off for more miles that other tires I have ran. It was still toast at 5500 miles though, so I have a set of PRs on now. Running three pieces of heavy luggage on my bike seems to kill my rear tire quickly, haven't gotten more than 6000 miles from any rear. So when your rear broke loose did you let off or ride it out with throttle input? I wonder this because I have raced dirt bikes for years and typically when you slide the rear in the dirt you can just let off and regain traction, but I am afraid if I really slide the rear on my 'Bird I am going to let off by instinct then get pitched over the top!

My fuel light usually comes on about 170 or so... but my fuel gauge only reads the bottom 1/2 of the tank, is that normal? I can ride a 100 miles before the gauge comes off full.

I just use Pledge for detailing on my bike, on my helmet, and my face shield. Its cheap, comes in a few different flavors and is available at any grocery store.

I am running the new Avon Storm rear. Based on reviews here I was hoping for more mileage, at 4,500 miles I am into the wear bars. I figure between three loaded Givis on board and lots of 90mph riding that no rear worth using is going last... Got set of regular Michelin Pilot Roads to go on next.

Wow. I copied that explanation and intend to post it when I see this question on other forums, with proper credit given of course. 1,387 words; that's longer than the papers I wrote in school!

So the stock rear sprocket can last through more than one chain? That's pretty incredible really given the amount of torque it is subjected to...

Are those pink? Both of those pairs must be for his wife, cuz they are pink!

The valves don't get longer [more mass], but rather they pound their way into the valve seat thus tightening the clearance over time. I checked my valves last Fall on my 30k mile 97 model, no shim adjustments were needed.

So very true. When its not going well just step away, step away and come back later...