BarryG

Sweet.....I dunno who looks better for its age; you or the bike! You don't even look 50 much less 60....do you use Oil of Olay?

Start bike.....choke on for 10 seconds, turn off choke, let bike idle. By the time helmet, jacket, gloves, shades are on....bike is ready to roll.....

Well I guess I learned the hard way....I know my carb'd Bird definitely runs cooler for some reason than the FI did. How many miles you got on your titanium now, Will?

Yeah the choke is a new thing. But it's never cold here anyway. About 5 seconds with the choke on and then she idles normally. It's not all day comfortable to me but I don't do more than 200 mi days anyway so doesn't matter. Perfect for my riding.

But nothing.....that's all. I can't believe I have a 10yr old (shiney) bike that cost me less than a new Ninja 250 and I don't know what I'd rather pilot. Bird is soooo nice. Glad I got that cruiser bug out of my system....been there....DONE that.....yuck! Man I love my Bird.....one smooth beast! I'm a lucky bastard. I'm sorry I sold my '02 but I think I like this carb'd one even more.

Can't imagine being told my a woman to give up my bike. My g/f is NOT into motorcycles. She doesn't like to ride on the back of the XX...but when I had a Wing she was a passenger quite a few times. Doesn't matter really since I don't like riding 2 up. But she has no problem with me riding as she knows I like it and wouldn't overstep that boundary. If I wanna go for a 2 hour ride.....I can and do.

Maybe on paper. But the Bird is still on top for me.....then again I only paid $3100 for mine

I'm sure the Busa is not nearly as smooth as my Bird. My '05 Busa was a buzzzz saw. I was so happy to dump that vibrator. Maybe the '08 is better in that dept but I doubt it's near Bird quality. As far as the extra power.....it's almost irrelevant. The Bird is so excessively powered for everyday use, what the hell is an extra 50hp going to do for me? Wear out my tires a little quicker? If I was that into extra power and handling, I'd be going to the track and getting a new 1000RR.

Stop with your nonsense. Yeah, really. It shouldn't be loose at all with the suspension compressed. That's what the manufacturer's specs on chain slack are for, to compensate for the slack taken up as the suspension compresses- that's why you check it with the suspension topped out or close to it. If you're adjusting the chain with the rider aboard all you're doing is complicating the process unnecessarily. Odds are you're getting wrong, anyway, as you're just guessing instead of going with the process and specifications supplied by the people who designed the bike. If you're adjusting the chain to the factory recommended slack with a rider aboard, you're way too loose. So, if your slack was "perfect" (~1.25", IIRC) with a rider mounted, then your chain is way too loose- I think that was your original question. Makes sense. Thanks.

It'll never rub the centerstand since I took mine off I prefer it a little loose than too tight. Yeah I roll the bike and check the slack while I'm sitting on it or someone else is and it's just not that loose when rider weight is involved. I don't usually measure the slack, I can tell pretty much by looking at it.

My chain is somewhat loose when I check it while it's on the sidestand. But if I sit on the bike and reach down to check it, slack is less. Had my neigbor sit on my bike tonight and I checked the slack and it was actually perfect. So is accurate chain slack to go off of.....when rider weight is taken into account?

My '02-in 22K miles-left fork seal had to be replaced. Nothing else My current '98 w/almost 17K miles-nothing. I got it with 14K miles though. Question-is fairly obvious when the CCT needs to be replaced?? Does the bike just get real noisy, run rough..etc? FYI....mine does neither.

yup...borrowed my friend's '05 FZ1 for a whole afternoon then got back on the Bird. No question...Bird is so much smoother, more refined, better power delivery.....etc....etc.

If you have longer arms, then it probably won't bother you. I'm 5'10" and have VFR bars on my '98 which has the stock shorter windshield than later versions. I'd NEVER go back to stock bars. My back was always sore from the excessive reach. I get no windblast or none that bothers me at all and I'm always travelling at 80+. But you're taller so maybe you notice it more. My shorter arms love the VFR setup. I'm not sure stock bars will make much of a difference in windblast either.

Worked for me. Pasted info here. FYI...I have the same bike. It rocks. This is for a friend of mine that's selling his toy in preps for his upcoming first baby. 2003 SV 1000 5500 miles Yoshi slip-ons Tires have 500 miles on them Undertail fender eliminater kit frame sliders. KBB lists $5015 before add ons. Asking price: $4800 Contact brian.hollingsworth@kennametal.com, or PM me and I'll give you his cell phone number.

I dont get it?

Dunlops SUCK for tire life. Had them on my SV....qualifiers...lasted 2K miles....never will I buy Dunlops ever.

I formerly owned a 1st gen FZ1. It was a great bike, extremely upright seating position, almost like being perched on top of a motocross bike. Compared to the bird it is very 'buzzy,' makes good power up high, and is very clunky when shifting gears. Check the FZ1OA http://www.yamahafz1oa.com/ for information - it is a great bike, but just no comparison to a Blackbird. I would strongly recommend keeping the bird - get the VFR bars and lower the pegs for a better seating position. Agree with plottsd.....rode my buddie's '05 FZ1 for a whole afternoon. Buzzy...didn't care for the riding position....nowhere near the smoothness of the Bird anywhere.....no comparison.

I just installed Scorpions on Jackie's bike a few weeks ago. You don't need the gaskets, it is a very tight fit between the Scorpion mid-pipe and the mating stock exhaust header. Installing bracket with the rubber sleeve was a pain in the ass though. Thanks for the compliment. I didn't put the pipes on. I had the shop do it since they were doing the jet kit. But I removed the left slip-on when I removed the centerstand (didn't have to though) and didn't see any gaskets but like TFT says....it's a tight fit so don't think any are needed. I didn't find putting the bracket and rubber sleeve to be much of a pain either.

What he said. My '98 was stock when I got it a few months ago.....back was sore a lot from the hunch/reach. VFR bars have been on for a month or 2 now....back pain gone. Ride is so much more comfortable it's like a different bike. Found the bars for $90 shipped on Ebay too.

I've had Scorpions now on my 2nd Bird. First was an '02...they were Carbon Fiber. I DID remap and get a PCIII..did I have to? Probably not but I did when I bought them. On my '98 I have aluminum Scorpions and re-jetted.....again don't know if I had to but I did. Scorpions are AWESOME sounding pipes. Not obnoxiously loud by any means but have a mean rumble. They're much lighter than stock, fit great....shouldn't have clearance problems....no repacking...etc. And they're priced very competitively.

PM sent

PM'd you on the tank bag. thx.

straps only or is it magnetic?

Original rubber front and rear? (no I'm not interested but others will want to know)