TimXX

Hi XXers, I finally bought a Fenda Extenda, Shrooms and a 100 watt bulb from Jaws. John was great with working out shipping etc. The only problem is that using Paypal, I got a bad conversion rate from Canadian to US dollars and then John had to get US dollars converted to Pounds. Seems silly for a Canuck to buy from a Brit and use Yankee dollars. BTW: David Cork also answered my questions promptly, and his price was about the same as Jaws. I just picked JAws because he had other stuff that I wanted and he included these with the same shipping cost. The Extenda went on easily but I had to file off the screws on the inside because I was paranoid they might rub on the tire [my fender is also on cockeyed-are they all?]. I haven't yet put on the 100 watt bulb- any suggestions re reducing the chance of burning wires, etc? TimXX

I also use a filter wrench that looks like a large pliers type clamp with little teeth at the end. It works great. On the other hand- when I was traveling in California and needed to change my filter, a bike mechanic showed me how to use my leather belt to loosten the filter. This might not work with an over tightened filter, though. TimXX

Re: the rainy season- it has already started here :sad: . My situation is that my next few weekends are booked [Thanksgiving this weekend and visiting next]. I am also planning on visiting friends and relatives in the states starting Nov. 14 and ending around Dec 5 [we are driving because we are wimps]. So- my riding season is just about finished for the year. I will probably put the rear shock on before the end of Oct. but won't have time to test it out on long fast trips. Such is life. Tim

Hi Jim, I have not received the rear shock yet. I figure I will have it by next week. In any case, I will put it on at the end of my riding season [it's Nov. 30 in rainy Vancouver]. I will probably sell my old shock and springs [i have the stock and the Hyperpro] but not until I have ridden the new one for a while. And that won't be until April 2004. Tim

Hi Troy, I ordered it from Hyperpro [888-963-1212] and I did use their fork oil. 1 litre covered both forks and there was little left over. I talked to Doug about preload etc.; he is the tech guy there and also has a Bird. I also got the rear spring from them. It would be fine except it is SO HARD to change preload on the rear I am getting Hyperpro's rear shock and spring with remote hydraulic preload adjustment. It really does piss me off that Honda did such a poor job with this bikes suspension- it deserves better. TimXX

Hi XXers, I don't get a marbles sound. Guess my CCT is fine even after 16,000 km. Does the 2002 model have the X-11? However, since new, the bike has a howl when coming off throttle at 3-4,000 rpm. Goes away when I accelerate and then comes back when I roll off. Sounds like the gears. It's not very loud, but it is noticeable. Do the rest of you get this too? If it is not "normal" now is the time to let me know- my 1 year warranty expires in November. Thanks, Tim

Try a Hyperpro progressive spring with the same preload tubes. Works for me riding solo [27mm sag] and with a passenger [29mm sag]. The ride was rougher until I changed the ork oil to 5wt. Now it is smoother and still handles all the weight. TimXX

Thanks Ronnie, The pictures were clear, :???: but the instructions were a little hard to follow. My question is still: how do you know when the CCT is not working properly? How does the engine change? TimXX

Hi Toxxic Tim2, My Bird is Red [see my Avatar]. I must have waved to 500 bikes, a few of them Birds- so all my wavees and wavers :shock: are a blur. Sorry I missed you. The people I rode with said they [we] will NEVER do this again- this is the 3rd time we have been there as a group and the 3rd time we have said that. In my opinion, the Kelowna Sportbike Rally was more fun. It lasted 3 days,we got to ride fast with other bikers on curvy roads, got breakfast and a BBQ [though the beef was TOUGH], and got a T-shirt. Plus there were door prizes- including a KAw 600. All for $45 Canadian. The Oyster Run was just a parking lot full of bikes: and it cost me $22US for a T-shirt, $5 for Oysters [had to have them], and $10 for beer [definitely had to have that]. Such is life.

Hi XXers, How do you know when you need a new CCT? Is there a noticeable vibration difference? When? I am nearing the end of my 1 year warranty on my bike and have over 16,000 km. Any suggestions on what to look for that may be covered under the warranty? Thanks ofr any info. TimXX

I definitley recommend the Vista Cruise. I bought it for my FJ1100 about 15 years ago, and just transferred it to my CBR1100xx. It is durable, simple and works. You can set the pressure on it so you can easily override the lock and close the throttle if you need to. And it is CHEAP. I paid $12 15 years ago and $21 now seems reasonable. BTW: I rode with a friend who has a BMW 1200GT with electronic cruise control. I think these cost about $1,000 :oops: and the only advantage is that it maintains speed whether going uphill or down. Probably not worth the difference in price-eh?

Hi XXers, Thanks for all the info. I have sent queries to Jaws and David Cork. BTW: Jeff- do you still have the Fenda Extenda you bought- and do you want to sell it? Hi Jeff- how have you and Susan been doing? Here is my latest riding news. I have been riding a lot lately. Went to the Kelowna Sport Bike Rally and had a great ride with people there. Unfortunately, I got a flat on my rear tire and had to plug it temporarliy, and then buy a rear Pilot Sport for a LOT of money in order to make it back to Vancouver. I just got back from a week ride down the Oregon Coast with an old friend of mine who just bought a BMW 1200GT. Had a good ride but he rides a bit slower than me. On the way back I visited with another old friend in Bremerton. He is a HOG rider, and I joined him and 4 other piglets on a ride to Anacortes for the Oyster Run yesterday. These guys are SO SLOW that they do not excede the speed limit. I got so frustrated that when I HAD to pass one of them, I cranked my bike in 2nd and pulled a 20 meter wheelie. Unfortunately, Barbara did not expect it and when the bike front hit the ground, she banged her helmet into mine. This scratched the visor on her helmet and I have to buy a new one for her- it was still worth it. The Oyster Run is basically 50,000 bikes parked in town, queues [line up for you Yanks] for everything form bars to food to the very expensive T-shirts. AND- a loooong traffic jam leaving Anacortes until we got to Route 5- and it was HOT. So Sunday ws the worst riding day of the trip. BTW2: with all my frustration with changing preload on the stock shock, I decided to order one with remote hydraulic preload from Hyperpro. I have been using their front and rear springs and have been very happy with it. However, I set the preload for dual riding [and it is very confidence inspiring- I definitley recommend them]; and have been using this setting for solo also [much too stiff]. I should get this in 2 or 3 weeks. This shock has adjustable rebound and comp. damping also. Hyperpro emailed me a form asking for my weights when riding solo and also when touring with a passenger and all my bags. They will set up the shock for this range. Hopefully, this will improve the comfort and handling even more. I am still pissed at Honda for putting such a stupid set of front and rear suspension pieces on this bike-what are they thinking? BTW3: I took the suggestions people gave me re: windscreens and bought a Cheetah SST form National Cycle. This screen is a bit SMALLER and LOWER than my stock screen [2002], but has a flip up. It is a bit noisier for me, but Barbara is now comfortable even up to 100 mph. However, she just bought a new helmet, so we are not sure if that is the reason for the improvement. So- next I will put back the stock screen and we will compare it for her with her new helmet. That's my news. Still- this bike is wonderful to ride under all kinds of circumstances. Glad I bought it. I just have to buy more pieces to fit my circumstances.

I took a look at the front part of my bike and noticed that the radiator has a row of dented fins, and the plastic below that has tar and gravel dings. It seems that the fender kicks up crap into the radiator. Is there an extender that stops this from happening? TimXX

I too have that line on my rear Road [it's only got 1,000km], but I can't remember if the tire went on the bike like that.

Thanks for all the feedback. I have a 2002, which I think has a higher screen than the 2000 and earlier bikes. The screen is fine for me, it is just my passenger who gets buffetted unless she places her head against my back- and then she can't see. How tall is the Cheeta, does it have a flip? So far that sounds like the best idea. Thanks again, TimXX

The rear shock preload is really difficult to adjust. The easiest way is to tilt up tthe gas tank [ I used a large reversable clamp to hold it] and then hammer it from the top. It moves so slowly :cry: but at least you get a clear shot at the rings. It is so difficult that I will probably get a rear shock with remote hydraulic preload adjustment- I switch too often from solo to touring with passenger mode. Hyperpro and Ohlins both make these. When I put on the Hyper pro rear shock spring, I measured the stock spring-it was 221mm [8.7"?] long when off the shock. So- measure the length of the spring on the shock to see how long it is while on the bike with it on the centerstand. The difference is how much it was compressed. Then measure the sag with you on it and figure out how much you want to compress it more.

Hi XXers, I am asking for an update on this question because there seemed to be differences of opinion whether Givi, Cheetah ST or Zero Gravity ST gives the least buffeting for a passenger. I need something for my constant passenger since she bangs my head when I go faster than 120 kph [Approx 75mph]. She says her head gets blown from side to side above those speeds. You all know how hard it is to ride below these speeds :sad: . So- any feedback and opinions? I have to get something within 2 weeks since we are planning another trip then. Thanks a bunch

I still think the most effective cheap modification of the front fork is to put in Hyperpro continuously variable fork springs and change the fork oil to 2.5SAE. The Sag with me on it is 27mm and the bump harshness is much improved. Also because the the springs are progressive, I get less brake dive than stock. BTW: Hyperpro springs are about 15mm longer than stock springs, and I used the original preload tubes to get the 27mm sag. I have been reading articles on preload and FOX for example says front preload should be 25-35mm. So I run at the stiff end of the range. Interestingly, when fully loaded [tank and saddle bags and a passenger] the front sags 29mm. I like this setup a lot better than my stock system- especially on rough roads. TimXX

My bike fells better with 25mm sag front and rear. This is probably because I am used to a FIRM feeling bike. Also I sometimes ride with Givi bags and also with a passenger- so I don't have to hassle with the extremely difficult changing of preload. TimXX

I put the Hyperpro fork springs on and ran them with the original fork oil and then with the 2.5 oil they sent me. The bike is smoother over rough roads and yet dives less when braking. I like them a LOT better than stock and the sag is fine when riding solo or with a passenger and fully loaded. I definitely recomend these. It gave me more confidence when riding fast on roads that varied from smooth to bumpy. BTW: these springs are progressive and longer than the stock springs. I did NOT cut the preload tube and so there is more preload on these than the stock fork springs. This worked out great. DO NOT cut the tube to get equal lengths. Also- the lighter fork oil improves the handling and gets rid of the bump harshness. TimXX

My 90X rear got a flat at about 14,000 km[had tread for another 1,000km] and I replaced it with a Pilot Road. Now that it is scrubbed in, it feels better than my 90X tire. Any idea how long these last? TimXX

Just came back from a trip from Vancouver to Kelowna [sports Bike West] and then back. I rode with 2 loaded GIVI E45 and a tank bag plus a passenger [150lbs with gear] for part of the ride, and solo with 1 Givi bag for the Sport bike tours. My front spring is a Hyperpro with 2.5wt fork oil and the rear is a stock shock with Hyperpro spring. I have no idea what the spring rates are, but they are continually progressive. The front HP springs are longer than stock and use the same length preload tubes-so more preload and less sag [15mm-bike; 27mm with me [210lbs with gear] + 2 Givi bags; 29mm fully loaded with passenger. Rear was really compressed from 227 to 213mmspring length and sag was 6mm bike; 23mm with me + 2 Givis, 53mm fully loaded with passenger. Net result: the bike felt pretty good fully loaded with passenger. I could keep up with most of the sport bike people on tight twisties and sweepers. I did ride more cautiously with a passenger- but felt secure. Riding solo with most of the same people was fun. The bike felt very secure but was a little stiff in the rear. If the XX had decent preload adjustment I think the ride would have been great with maybe a spring length of 215 -217mm. Why did Honda make it so HARD to alter the preload? It is impossible without removing the tank. What the hell are they thinking? I think this is a pretty good fairly cheap way to improve the stock suspension. I still will want to eventually get a rear shock with easy preload, comp and rebound adjustment. It pisses me off that this was not included with the bike. The front seems to be fine whether solo or loaded; so maybe preload adjustment is not so critical here. But damping adjustments would be nice-why isn't this included with this bike? TimXX PS: Thanks Peter and others for the help when I got a flat tire. I was able finally to get a Pilot Road in Kelowna for an outrageous price. You US riders have it good re: tire prices- but I was desparate and paid $339CAD to have it installed :shock: .

I recently received the Hyperpro front and rear spring kit. It came with 2.5wt oil, which does look a bit thin. However, I started by just changing the springs and riding for a while on them. The front springs are progressive and have some preload already dialed in because they are 253mm long instead of the stock 223mm. I used the same preload tube. The front didn't skip as much as the stock, but was still too stiff on compression. Yesterday, I put in the 2.5wt fork oil and re adjusted the rear preload to suit my weight, Givi bags and passenger. The rear spring was compressed from 227mm to 213mm- this gives me 6mm static sag, and 25mm sag with me fully clothes and with 2 Givi bags on. I also get 53mm of sag fully loaded with my passenger. I don't know yet how it will feel at speed, but will find out on our weekend run from Vancouver to Kelowna for the Sportbike rally. Will let you know how it feels. BTW: Honda :twisted: should be ashamed of the way they designed this suspension system. NO preload or damping adjustments, you have to remove the front wheel to take out the fork oil [why not just an easily accesible tap on the forks?]. You have to remove the gas tank to get to those puny preload rings on the rear shock so you can punch the shit out of them to adjust preload. And- no comp damping adjustment. Hopefully, just the Hyperpro springs and fork oil will be a good enough improvement for my sport TOURING kind of riding. TimXX

Hookman, What are the differences between the GIVI and the SST? I will be interested in getting one of those- mainly because my pillion complains about the wind at speeds over 120kph. Do you have a pillion to help with the evaluation? If not, pick up a passenger who is about 5'-6" and offer her a fast ride . Thanks, TimXX

I met a guy with a Honda ST1100 who had a Laminar Lip on his bike. He said that it reduced buffetting by about 75% and lifted the airflow about 2 inches. HE did not know how it would work on my bike [and its shorter windshield]. Anyone out there who has tried the Laminar Lip on a Blackbird? TimXX