Warchild

Yeah, I gotta couple pics you can see....... And here is the current setup I have on my Night Train. This arrangement is several orders of magnitude superior to any of my previous set-ups. It features 4300K HID lamps in both high- and low-beam stock lamp housings, and Philips HID (PHIDs) Driving Lamps mounted high and wide: Source for these brackets: http://www.blm-accessories.com/AuxLights.cfm

Nope, it spins just fine, though as you can see, it does come very close.

Perhaps the fastest, cleanest method: two common garden hose washers. They are a perfect ft, as you can see: I mounted one ballast behind the headlamp assembly: The other ballast/ignitor was mounted to the instrument panel sub-frame, firmly attached with zip tips (2 yellow arrows)

This photo is several years old..... above the speedometer is a Valentine One remote display. Above the tach is an ambient air digital thermometer. The bike is a 2000 model year.

Kinda like a deadly accurate Datel voltmeter, here showing a healthy 14.4 volts even at a paltry 1500 RPM:

Yeah, they are probably expensive. Amazingly enough, they are not! This last set I picked up for my FJR was like $13/pair. Though I suspect they are the only reasonably priced BMW part ever made.

I had almost 20,000 miles on a Tsubaki chain, it kicks serious ass. Have had to adjust it just once it's entire life. No dissapointments here.... I'll be replacing it with another Tsubaki right before the Utah 1088 in late June just for piece of mind...

I use the #1 grip favored among the Long Distance/Endurance Riding community - BMW Sport Grips:

+1 on the Oxtar Matrix. Highly, HIGHLY recommended.

Be prepared for the latter. From your description, you haven't run enough of the Injection Cleaner through your system yet to have that much of an impact, IMO. Perhaps after you've run through this tankful, you might feel a difference, but not after just a couple miles or so of use, I would think.

Yeah, my ISP says it's a bad hardware issue.... there are going to have to replace the entire server....

Sorry gents, this GB isn't going to light off for another 7-10 days. Got a lot of work between now and then that is going to prevent me from launching the Pro-Oiler gig until then....

There is one noteworthy aspect about the OEM front sprocket that I have never seen on any aftermarket front sprocket: the presence of the rubber damper. This reduces chain noise to a noticable degree compared to aftermarket versions.

Did ya read that news article closely? Look at this paragraph towards the end of the article: Now, this is all news to me, and I imagine Mike at CTSMoto might want to discuss these developments with Traxxion. That having been said.... consider the following observations: I believe - but am not sure - that Traxxion might concentrate on their track bike community before they get into the sport-touring community. A Blackbird-specific gas cartridge might still be a ways off in the production pipeline. Too, my best guess is that the gas cartridges are going to be more expensive, given the new technology. Speaking of which, it might be prudent to see how these gas cartridges *actually* perform in real-world conditions, vice a smooth, pothole-free racetrack.

I did this mod several years ago. It fits fine.

AXXION AK-20 Kit GROUP BUY STARTS NOW!!!! http://www.superblackbird.com/traxxion/ This Group Buy runs ~ 2 weeks; last sign-up day is May 8, 2006 And for those that have requested, you'll be happy to note that two different models of the Penske Racing Shock are also available through this group buy. The prices offered are only good when also buying the AK-20 Cartridge Kit. I tell ya what, people, the more I ride my Blackbird with these Axxion AK-20 Cartridges installed, the more amazed I am at just what a staggering improvement it has made in the bike. This is the forks the Blackbird should have had all along. No exaggeration, trust me.

No, that likely to be towards the end of next week.

This one is taking me longer to assemble..... but I am striving for a Monday launch (Apr 24).

Damn, guys, I am behind getting the Traxxion and Pro-Oiler GBs rolling as it is now!!!

Fairly ambitious to have the XX as your first new bike. But as long as you give the machine the respect it requires, you should be okay. Welcome, and enjoy your 'Bird!

You are looking for a 4-digit codes embossed on the sidewall of the tire. The first two digits represent the week it was manufactured. The last two didts represent the year it was manufactured. So if you see a code that says "2505", that means it was made in June (week 25) of 2005.

They are nylon caps that fit into the two frame holes located on each side of the frame. Here's a set of the left-side frame plugs installed; I scored these from Jaws many years ago:

If you aren't going to swap out yor '97 suspension components (for whatever reason), than you probably want to consider doing the Axxion AK-20 Group Buy when it lights off next week. In addition to the front forks, CTS Moto is also going to offer a combined deal and have Penske Racing shocks as part of the GB package. He'll offer the Penske 8981 double adjustable for $705 (retail is $795) and also the Penske 8987 triple adjustable for $1050 (retail is $1175). I believe Traxxion Dynamics will dial-in the shock for you according to your specifications/ride habits, and that, combined with the AK-20 cartridges, you'll be living the Good Life, 'bro, trust me! I tells ya what, gentlemen, every time I ride Night Train now that those AK-20 cartridges are installed, the XX is like an entirely different bike (mind you, I have the high-end Wilbers #641 shock dial-in pretty well, including a 5mm ride height increase). My XX now steers light as a feather compared to before, and I have a LOT more feedback on what the front end is doing under any given riding condition. The Axxion cartridges are what this bike has needed all along!!!! The results are just frickin' unbelieveable, you just have to experience it to appreciate it. :icon_thumbsup:

If you are lucky enough to take it out of the packaging and have it lay properly in its final correct oreintation, it will seal by itself. Frequently, however, one has to apply a little bit of Permatex Hi-Temp sealant (or equivalent) to ensure the corners, half-moons, etc of the gasket lay properly and remain in position while you install the valve cover.

Next week, and it will be similar to other GB's.