Just a few thoughts on my upgrades. FW it's W, the Goodridge brake lines took five hours to install, bleeding etc. Ten lines and not an easy task, my tech told me. I just ordered the clutch line from Jaws to be installed along with the HID's I bought from John. The Penske rear shock is a vast improvement as are the 100 mm over front springs. I stuck with OEM fork oil weight. The remote had to be installed right by the centre stand grab rail b/c of how the resevoir exited the shock. Penske wasn't much help when called to ask for mounting instructions. I have to lift the seat to make any adjustments to the remote. Perhaps because of the Givi luggage set up that's not a bad location.

I've ridden twice since the installs, due to "global warming" and tons of rain, WTF. I'm not a knee dragger, however I could be now, and the Bird sticks to the tarmack like glue, holds the line and rides very smooth, "soft", and comfy. I know the "set up" will have to be "fine tuned" but I'm very pleased with the ride now. I haven't had a long ride of twisties but the few I have been on instill much more confidence. The braided lines look brilliant but I just don't do "hard" braking so I'll have to wait till I get into the mountains, perhaps next month, to determine the effects of braided lines. I intalled a Pyramid Hugger but now, after reading a tread concerning tire rub, I'm a little worried b/c I buying a pair of Pirelli Diablo Stada's in a week or so and I'm wondering if they'll rub. I'll be installing new wheel bearing at the time of tire install. At 102 thousand kms it seems to be a good idea.

New head bearings, battery, plugs, valve adj, all done as well.

I only went with the HID low beams and will install a 100 W high beam as it apparently takes a moment to spool up and if I want to "blip" the highs, by time it's bright, the car is gone. I don't do much night riding so it should be more than adaquate.

I suppose the next purchase will be a top line Radar Detector, maybe a GPS from Garmin. Perhaps an undertail but I don't like wimpy turn signals so I'm unsure.

If I can figure out how to post jpegs, I will. I had to buy my wife a new car to appease my concious for dropping such a "boat load" of cash on my Bird. She's happy now. OK, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Cheers, Canadian Bird

Good job, that sounds like a lot of work. I'm almost done with a very similar maintenance agenda on my 97 XX.

A couple of questions:

1. Did you replace the steering head bearings with OEM or the aftermarket tapered ones.

2. Did your valves need adjusting. At 49K miles I had six exhasut values that were just a little too tight.

Congrats on the mods. I've been running the same suspension set-up for a while now. I love it.

I replaced the stearing head with OEM bearings and although the valves were adjusted they didn't need shims. I will use OEM wheel bearings as well. I used Silkolene fork oil and Motul Semi Syn and a Motul "race" coolant. I used a Swiss dot 5.1 brake fluid. all this is probly "over kill" but it's my dime. Also EBC HH brake pads, all round. If I could find a turbo kit, I just might bite.