Canadian Bird

Try Jaws on the Brit site.

Doesn't your owner's manuel suggest lubrication every 800 kms/500 odd miles? Many install systems to lube the chain. Do you wheely? I'm on the 3rd chain/97,000 kms.

I'm looking for an AIR HORN for the Bird. I just want to swap horn for horn. No fuss no muss. Can someone provide the part # and the best choice. Thanks, C.B. Perhaps it's not an "air horn", just a louder horn.

I assume those who do a fair amount of night riding convert to HID or 100 watts therefore if one never to extremely rarely rides at night it isn't necessary. In the states do the headlights stay on during the day? Is is ok to ride with high beams on? Just a few ?'s b/c I can't sleep so I'm up and about.

Who's your dealer, are you in Vancouver? I just replaced my tires, chain, sprockets. BT 020's, $430.00 minus 15%, front & rear sprockets, $208.00 minus 10%, DID 530ERV-120 Gold Chain, $230.00. Minus 10%, Labour 2 1/2 hours at $90.00 per hour. You do the math, 13% tax= $148.00. tire levy. IT AINT CHEAP. I used to get more of a discount. I think you can get your tires elsewhere at a cheaper price. Same with chain and sprockets. Stick with Honda sprockets is my suggestion. Learn to wrench your own bike, good advice which doesn't relate to me. I never wrench my own bike and have paid big time as a result. It's the price I pay to ride my Bird.

Is there something special about Honda polish? or will Mother's, Maguires, or the like be ok?

Chuckle, chuckle, a bit of both. Two months of, with pay of course, actually it's 9 weeks off and today is threatening rain and I rode 1000kms over the weekend so I'm resting It's also TWO Wheel Tuesday and I just watched Brands Hatch and now its more racing from Mid Ohio so I'm hanging out and and having random thoughts. Where's the "wanking" icon? However, all that being said, I'm searching for reasons for the "whinning" sound that comes from the right, low side of the bike up to 4,000 rpm but disappears when I pull in the clutch. I can't really hear it above 4,000 rpm. I don't think it's the CCT and the Bird runs strong regardless. 96,000 kms and I just returned from a 3,500 km romp. It can't be the "fan" or why would it disappear with the clutch in. Counter balancers? This board knows I don't "wrench" my own ride so the tech who works on my ride will have to listen to it. :icon_nono: No boo's please I've heard them all. My tech spotted my burned stator before I was out on the road somewhere. I've no complaints other than it cost a lot over the years. It's the price I pay. :icon_shhh: In truth I "never" see myself selling my Bird but just perhaps adding to the stable. I'd give it to my daughter, who rides, before a stranger. I think there is a question somewhere in this ramble. Cheers

Would a Clay Bar work and a top quality wax/synthetic shine. Use an electric buffer? there are products that take out "swirl" marks.

I guess I have too much time on my hands, one more month off. Too many hours watching racing today. God bless Speed Channel. Has anyone replaced their clutch or rebuilt it. Is there an alternative choice to Honda and should one even bother with other than Honda if it's just street/road riding?

What about road tar and the like after long rides?

I think this has been done in the past but: is it necessary to use high test or is it just burning $ out the tail pipes? Owner's manual states, '86 or higher (02). I always have a chuckle when I'm at a station that doesn't sell high test and Harley riders leave. In BC the lowest is '87 up to 94. I use 87 and occasionally higher. Does the Bird really demand high test?

But not metal polish? Wax only but no metal polish? :icon_hand: Are the pipes coated with something? They are 2-Bros. thanks

What's the best method, other than warm soapy water, to clean Titanium pipes. I don't want to use metal polish b/c it blemishes the pipes.

Wow your mechanic is either making alot of money on you or you have had the only XX that has needed it's valves adjusted twice with only 62000 Miles! Or you are really are anal and do everything the book says. I just turned 50,000 Miles and am on 3rd set of plugs, 3rd Chain, 2nd set of sporckets, 2nd set of brake pads, 1 brake and cluth fluid swap, 1 radiator flush, 1 fork oil swap, never adjusted the valves and never changed my CCT on my 02', oh and one Givi Key repair. Both, I follow the book and probably over-service my Bike.

I love the sound of my 2-Bro C5 Titanium slip ons. Sounds best at 7,000 rpm and above. Dynoed with a pc lll and a K&N. 02 Bird. Much lighter than the oem's. They can be re-packed and the cenre stand stays.

Yesterday I passed 95,000 kms and should have 100,000 kms by Labour Day. '02. 3rd chain and spockets, 3rd Cam Chain, 5th set of tires, 1 stator, 3rd set of plugs, 4th set of brake pads, 2nd replaced fork oil, 2 valve adjustments, 3rd brake/clutch flush, 500 washes and waxes.

Interesting responses. :icon_clap: Quite informative as well as opinionated and almost a "flame up". However, is Honda oil realy different than top quality dyno, semi, synthetic oils? That being said I've gone from whatever the bike came with to Castro Semi, to Amsoil full synthetic :icon_nono: and back to Motul Semi. I did buy a Scott billet lifetime filter, beautiful, expensive, very expensive, and haven't installed it on the advice of my "tech". :icon_nono: I do have it sitting on the shelve, sort of like a work of art, and dust it once a week. It's interesting to me, some times I post a ? and get tons of responses, sometime, nary a bite. Cheers. As I write this a new add for Castro with sludge raining down on those who don't use their oil, is on the tube. Hope there's not too much of that shit in my engine. :icon_pray:

OK, I know this has been done to death but here goes. How frequent is too frequent to change ones oil? Let it rip. What's wrong with following the recommended milage in the owner's manual? Does it ever become a waste of money, oil, to change too frequently? Yes, I know "opinions are like ass holes, everyone has one" and we earn it we can spend it. Is, say, 3,000 kms too often? Is 9,000 ,kms too long?

Do these devices also perform as an accurate speedo? average speed, milage? etc.

Is there really such a thing as the, "Harmonic Balancer Backlash adjustment (er)?" If the clutch was wearing out, 95,000 kms, what sounds would one hear?

Are you a member of the British Blackbird site? and have you posted this question on it? Contact Jaws on that site. It just seems close to home. That being suggested, solutions to this and almost every problem usually appear on both sites. Cheers.

Why not consider Penske? Highly recommended and adjustable.

I suspect the different road surfaces in Canada, USA, Auz, NZ, various countries in Europe, determine, to some degree, how tires perform. I'm on a 3rd pair of 020's and feel they work on West Coast Canadian roads. I found it difficult to get hold of a B series Avons so I'll wait till I can find them at an affordable price. I'm tempted by the Metzeler's Road Tec Z 6, as well as Perellie's. I tend to ride 25-30,000 kms per year, 95,000 kms in three years and a bit primarily touring. I do not ride like many on this board, quite "spiritedly" is my description. I replace my tires every June and take my bike off the road Nov, Dec, Jan, and Feb. The last year I only rode 20,000 kms. I'm fortunate as I have two months off every summer so I get to tour a lot and I ride to Edmonton every year to visit family. I just returned from a 3,500 kms round trip. I confess I've become a "nervous ninny" when it comes to rain and try to avoid it. :icon_hand: When touring I take what comes. The BT 020's are excellent "in the wet" tires. All this being said I'm "wowed" by the knowledge that exists on this board, the Brit site as well. I've discovered that I can "ride" my Bird but can't really "handle" the Bird. It can do all sorts of stuff that I can't but others obviously can. I still have the "chicken strips" but that doesn't bother me. I often wonder about the "type" of riding that only yields 5-6,000 miles. All this being said, I'm reminded to the expression, "opinions are like ass holes, everyone has one". Cheers I watched "Super Bike", Speed Chanel, last night and I'm amazed at what they wear, or rather don't wear, when they ride in NY city But hey, I'll do my thing and they can do theirs.

This is how I deal with hot weather riding. I ditched a black helmet for a silver one. I have a Joe Rocket leather and mesh perforated jacket. Unfortunately it's black. I bought an L,XL,XXL, XXXL which ever fits, long sleeve Nike "tech", white shirt which I pull over the jacket. It cools my body temp noticeably. It actually works especially when the temp rises above 30 C. + for wetting the shirt under your jacket, also a tech, wick away type. Stop frequently and drink cool/cold h2o!! + for a Camal Back. Avoid coffee and cola's. However that said I do drink Red Bull when I'm touring. Now 30-35 C is the upper range of the temps in BC/Albta/Wash. Unfortunately black leather sucks up the heat. I highly recommend the white t-shirt methods and who cares what it looks like b/c it works. Cheers

what is a good method, product, for cleaning the rubber on the r.v. mirrors? They catch bug juice and they are difficult to clean. Same for cleaning the radiator after a long road trip. Thanks