tecman

I am having an issue with my left front turn signal. For a while my turn signals did not start flashing the first time I engaged the toggle. I figured it was just an old bike (I have an '02 Bird) and since they still worked I ignored it. Just recently my left front blinker will not come on when the turn signal is not engaged. The right one works fine and is on all the time. The left one only comes on when the turn signal is engaged, otherwise it is dark. Any ideas for an easy fix or what the problem may be? I am not a great mechanic or electrician and probably just need to make an appointment at the shop, but I wanted to ask around here first. Thanks.

Problem resolved. Not a perfect fit to the header but I can make it work with some tie wire. Not as loud as the Two Brothers, either.

That looks very familiar. Thanks.

I measured the header and it is 2". I took some pictures of the muffler and the crack. Looks like the header is not quite straight and it finally wore out the side of the neck of the muffler. I was looking at these two mufflers as possible replacements. https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/yoshimura-rs3-slip-on-exhaust https://www.revzilla.com/product/yoshimura-rs1-street-bolt-on-exhaust-honda-cbr954rr-cbr929rr I appreciate the link to the full systems but I do not want to have to change the entire thing, just get a new slip on. If that is possible.

So I heard back from Two Brothers and they do not make anything that will fit the system I have on the Bird. I sent them pictures and they said no go. I am looking around and not finding anything specific for a 4 into 1 for the Bird. I see some mufflers that are rated for the CBR 929/954 and was wondering if that would work on a Blackbird or if the increased ccs would blow it out. I have looked at mufflers that are for bikes with larger ccs, like the Kawasaki Connie, and some of those look like they would fit. I just don't want to get a muffler that "looks" like it will work with my system but then be an issue later. I may just buy an inexpensive stand in to use temporarily while I get the Two Brothers repaired. Something like this: https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/danmoto-conical-gp-slip-on-exhaust Thoughts? Suggestions? I would love anyone with better knowledge to give me a hand. Thanks again.

You know, I thought about mentioning that but did not. When I got the bike (I am the third owner) it had 18K miles. The second owner put the 4 into 1 system on the bike but I don't know what the mileage was when he did so. I got some photos when the clock hit 100K. I will take more when it hits 118K knowing that I put 100K on my Bird. :-)

I have reached out to Two Brothers to see what they may have for a replacement. I think that is really going to be the best way to go to fix the problem properly. If Two Brothers doesn't have something comparable I would love some suggestions on alternatives. Thanks again.

I have an '02 XX that the previous owner put a 4 into 1 Two Brothers exhaust on. When I got the bike it had 18K on the clock. I am nearing 104K now. I like the exhaust, the way it sounds and the weight savings. My issue is that there is now a crack in the neck of the muffler, right before the can starts. I noticed it the other day on a cold morning when I noticed a secondary puff of exhaust coming out of the hole. I have looked all over but Two Brothers does not seem to make this same muffler any more. I have not reached out to them directly but I have looked at their web site extensively and there is nothing listed as being for the Bird. I have also looked at Ebay and found nothing. I thought the exhaust was getting a little loud and wondered if I needed to get the can re-packed. I had also thought about buying a new muffler. Now that there is a crack I am feeling more pressed to do something. Can I get JB Weld or something else to fix the crack? Would another muffler, not a Two Brothers, have a problem fitting on the pipe? Any suggestions for mufflers? I would be grateful for some help and guidance with this. Thanks.

I was wondering if you still have the pilot foot pegs. Mine are almost worn out and I need a new set. As for the bodywork I guess it is silver since it is an '02? Do you have a full set: front fender, side panels, rear section? I might be interested if they are in good shape and we can work out a good price for both of us. Thanks.

Great. Thank you very much. I will look for the PM tomorrow.

Very true. I have always been a pitcher, not a catcher. Still interested in windscreen #8.

If you are "taking" the #8 then I am interested. If not then I am interested in windscreen #8. :-)

I know this post is old but I was wondering if any of the screens are still available? I am interested in #8, the Powerbronze light tint touring screen. If it's still around let me know, I think I'd like it. Thanks.

I took part in the group buy a few years back and got a Penske 8983. It was a great upgrade to the Bird. Now it is shot. It leaked out its oil and is no longer functional. I ordered a rebuild kit from Penske but neither of my local dealers will fix it. One says it does not have the proper tools to rebuild any shocks and the other says they will only rebuild stock OEM shocks. They recommended I send it back to Penske and have them rebuild it. Well, that is really not an option. Suggestions? I am going to try some of the other shops around to see if anyone can/will rebuild it. If anyone knows of a shop in the San Fran Bay area that will do the work I would be grateful. Thanks.

Thanks. I was lost on the fact that the shock is connected to the swingarm-DUH!! I will have my buddy give me a hand. Thanks for the advice, and for not pointing out too much how stupid I was. That is why I love the .org!!! And just one more question: the open end of the shim should face forward??

The rear wheel is already off the ground. I would think the weight would simply pull the shock down but it did not.

I got the 6mm shim from John's Bike Bits (great price, great service) but I am having an issue installing it. I found the instructions here in the garage (thanks Techno and Redbird!) and was able to get to the top nut of my shock and loosen it. The rear wheel never got any lower, though. I don't have a center stand because I have a 4-into-1 exhaust so I am using a PitBull rear wheel stand, so I was not really expecting the wheel to drop all the way to the ground but I was hoping for some movement. I did upgrade my rear shock with the group buy a few years ago and got a Penske 8983. Could that be why I did not get any action when I loosened the nut? I don't believe the shock changed the ride height of my Bird at all so I am at a loss as to why I am having such a hard time with this fairly simple procedure. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions as to what I am doing wrong or why it is not working I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

The front tire looks like a Macadam but I would swear the rear is the old Pilot Road, not the new duel compound PR 2U. The Macadam was a decent tire, I rode them on an old Katana I had, but they are bias ply tires, not radials, and I don't think BB's were ever meant to run bias ply. Could be an issue. Just my .02.

The insurance company is called VanGuard. They handle the insurance for National Car Rental. The guy who drove into my bike rented a Toyota van from them and was attempting to park in San Francisco . I think since they did not have many dealings with motorcycles it made it easier for me. Even though the damage estimate was fairly steep it was not that much compared to what a damaged car could have cost them.

The estimate that the adjuster came up with was $4219. I spoke with the company rep and she told me a check was being cut to me for that amount, plus an extra $30 for the time it would take to order my parts since I was nice and didn't rent a bike to ride. I went to the shop and spoke again with the techs about what really needed to be replaced. They think the muffler can be bent back out so it does not rub the swingarm, and other than that it is just plastic, a support for the front cowl, a mirror and the gas tank. All told, the parts ran me $2650 including tax. I think it is about three hours of labor to replace the parts, so another $240 for that, and I should end up around $1000 ahead. I may need to get just a new can, not a whole system, so I am waiting on getting an Ohlins and new fork springs until I know the exhaust is ok as is. Overall, it was fairly painless in having to deal with the insurance company. They did not fight me at all over whether or not their insured was at fault, and once the estimate was in they were prompt in settling with me. As a matter of fact, I got the check today and should be getting my parts in on Wednesday. Thanks for the advice and ideas.

The insurance adjuster came by today and looked at the bike. There was a ton of stuff on the estimate that was not related to the accident, and some things that were not even damaged, like the brake lever, shift lever, left mirror (which does have a scratch on it but not from this), and the rear cowl around the subframe. With everything else, except the swingarm, the estimate is about $3685, and with the swingarm it is about $4618, both of which are less than the value of the bike, in my opinion. I know $3700 is low, and I thought I could have gotten $5500 for the bike on the open market if I had tried to sell it. My hope is that I can get the $4600, replace everything except the swingarm because it is nothing but a scratch that should polish out, then spend the extra on an Ohlins rear shock and some stiffer fork springs. Here's hoping it works out!

Looking at the parts list from the shop there are quite a few things that I don't think the bike needs to be back in the same shape as before. All the body panels need replacing, except the one around the subframe. The right mirror and windscreen need replacing, as well as some structural bracing underneath the front panel that goes around the light. The mechanic said the swingarm is not bent, just scratched from the exhaust, but I am worried that if if keeps getting scratched a little at a time that it will become structurally unsound, and the cost of a new swing arm is right at $1K. I have checked out Craig's List here in the Bar Area and there is an '02 SilverBird for sale for $5200 with 25K miles on it. If I can work him down on the price a little I may go for it, but I think I will have to upgrade the exhaust since it is still stock. I am not sure how bad my current exhaust is, but I think the pipe coming from the headers is a little bent. The can itself seems to be ok. I also have a Power Commander that came with the bike when I bought it used. I don't have any software for it, or a laptop to take to the bike to to program with. Can the software be downloaded from the Net? I can borrow a laptop from my landlord to use, so that should not be an issue. I was also wondering if I could negotiate withe the insurance adjuster. I do not have comprehensive insurance, so everything is coming from the other guy's insurance company. So far they seem to be reasonable and are accepting that it is their insured's fault, but we will see how they feel when they see the damage estimate. I think I could easily work a couple thousand off what the shop came up with, I just need to see if they will deal with me. By the by, anyone know the Kelly Blue Book value of an '02 with 33.5K miles, just tuned, and in generally great overall condition? The shop was saying around $4200, but that seems low by about $1000 to me. Thanks again for the advice and support. If I get enough from the insurance co. then the hookers are on me!

I need some advice. Sunday my bike was knocked over by a dunderhead while I was at work. Luckily a policeman came by and wrote up an incident card with all the other driver's info. I am dealing with the insurance company now. At first, it really looked like just cosmetic damage: Zero Gravity winscreen, both side panels, the gas tank, the right mirror and the front body panel around the headlight. I was able to ride the bike home after work. Well, I just got back from the bike shop and the damage estimate is around $7000! Holy shit! Seems the swingarm was slighty damaged by the muffler being pushed into it, and my Two Brothers pipe isn't made anymore so it is about $1k for a comparable Yoshi replacement. What do I do? My bike is going to be totalled and it pisses me off. I only had 33.5K miles on it, and just paid for the 32K service in November. Do I buy it back and fix only those things that are really necessary, like the panels, tank and mirror? Do I try to find another '02 Bird? Do I give in and get the ZX 14? Do I hunt down and kill the motherfucker who dumped my bike? (As a side note, if he had backed into my bike I think I could understand a little better, but the fact is he drove forward into my bike knocking it over.) I have never had a salvage bike, and don't know that I really want one. The shop guys told me the frame is fine, and the swing arm is ok, it is just being rubbed by the pipe when it goes over bumps. That sounds to me like I will need a new muffler to replace my Two Brothers, which was a 4-2-1. Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated. I think my Bird is the best bike I have ever owned and do not want to give her up without a fight, if it is worth it. Thanks for hearing my vent and for any info.

Thanks. I have email Red J so hopefully he has one left for me. I appreciate the quick response. Tommy

Hey. I am new and just bought a 2002 Blackbird. It has a Two Brothers 4into1 exhaust and the center stand is not mounted on the bike. I have the stand and wondered if there is an adapter I need mount it back on. Any info on what I need to do would be greatly appreciated. Tommy