This morning I took my Dakar on a test ride to get a feel of the new Race Tech front suspension. I went north on 101 cut west on 84/Woodside then back down to Mt View via 280 south. Whilst riding south on 280, I noticed there was no traffic headed northbound. Weird, even taking into account that today was Presidents day. A couple miles in I noticed a black cow trotting in the middle of the northbound lanes of 280. I slowed down to 70mph from 80mph and stood up on the pegs to get a closer look.
Yep, a single black cow must've broke outta the fenceline and gotten loose on the highway. There was a police cruiser, a John Deer atv and several people trying to reign in the cow. About a mile and a half up the road, two police cruisers had completely stopped. I smiled and laughed under my helmet as a continued on my test ride.
The front end is much firmer and responds a lot better than stock. The fork dive on full panic braking is gone. Big bumps are no longer harsh and smaller bumps like highway lane reflectors are barely noticable. Now I'm hoping the weather next weekend holds up and doesn't rain. The offroad ride down to Hunter-Liggett will be a great venue to test out the offroad capability of the Race Tech upgrades.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Motorcycle DIY
I'm not paying someone to do something I can do.
Yesterday I finished my motorcycle maintenance and fork upgrade. I started last weekend with an oil and filter change but when I started to tackle the fork upgrade, I noticed the springs Race Tech sent me were the wrong size. So with the correct springs in hand, I finished up the job. It was a pretty easy install.
I considered having a local suspension shop do the RaceTech emulator and spring install but when the gave me the $300 quote I was like, "Fuck that!!!" Off I went to Harbor Freight to buy a motorcycle lift and Lowes for some hand tools. I also asked my buddy, Nick if I can use his garage to which he obliged.
While I had the bike torn apart, I installed Touratech radiator guards and fork protectors. When I removed the original radiator "guards" I was surprised to find out how much they "guarded" the radiator. Basically, no protection except from the side. The radiator fins were out in the open. The new rad guards will protect the radiator much better. I don't know why BMW made the F650GS so lacking in what it needs to accomplish its dual purpose capability. Buy hey, it makes buying shit and installing it fun. Also personalizes my bike from others out there.
Now gotta save for some Jesse luggage and an Ohlins or Wilbers rear shock to match the new forks.
Yesterday I finished my motorcycle maintenance and fork upgrade. I started last weekend with an oil and filter change but when I started to tackle the fork upgrade, I noticed the springs Race Tech sent me were the wrong size. So with the correct springs in hand, I finished up the job. It was a pretty easy install.
I considered having a local suspension shop do the RaceTech emulator and spring install but when the gave me the $300 quote I was like, "Fuck that!!!" Off I went to Harbor Freight to buy a motorcycle lift and Lowes for some hand tools. I also asked my buddy, Nick if I can use his garage to which he obliged.
While I had the bike torn apart, I installed Touratech radiator guards and fork protectors. When I removed the original radiator "guards" I was surprised to find out how much they "guarded" the radiator. Basically, no protection except from the side. The radiator fins were out in the open. The new rad guards will protect the radiator much better. I don't know why BMW made the F650GS so lacking in what it needs to accomplish its dual purpose capability. Buy hey, it makes buying shit and installing it fun. Also personalizes my bike from others out there.
Now gotta save for some Jesse luggage and an Ohlins or Wilbers rear shock to match the new forks.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
G2SF ride, 2 seconds & train track traps
Today, Russ, Joe, Nick and myself went on a ride from Google to SF. We left under an overcast sky and a chill to the air, but the forecast said it was going to be a gorgeous day. We left the shop thirty minutes after our intended "wheels rolling" time. It was chilly at first but quickly warmed up after a mile or two, but my hands were chilled because I forgot to bring my full-fingered gloves.
Joe was asking where the taco trucks were since he apparently skipped brekkie and was hungry. By the time we got to Belmont, we stopped at the Burger King next to the small airport. Twenty minutes elasped before we got back onto the bikes headed toward our goal. We left the parking lot down the road, and had to make a left. Nick rolled through the stop sign just a a pickup truck came towards the intersection. I was going at a good clip, hit the brakes hard coming to a stop next to Joe. I was still clipped in and intended to clip my left foot out, but my ankle still not having the strength to clip outwards (as is my norm) I attempted to clip out by twisting my ankle inwards (which up til now worked great). I probably trackstanded for a good two seconds before keeling over to the left like a tree felled by a lumberjack. My shoulder took the brundt of the short fall so no harm done to me nor the borrowed bike. Not long afterwards, we hit the spot on our route that was a good long run which paralleled 101. Using the slight downhill, I ramped up my speed to just haul til the end of the bike trail which emptied out next to Postini, a recent acquisition of Google.
We continued on through Redwood Shores and at one intersection, Joe rolls up behind Russ and me and says, "Nick, I'm two seconds away from punching you in the back of the head". Joe was pissed that we (Nick and I at the time) we going along at a speed Joe couldn't keep. Joe didn't have clipless pedals and cycling shoes the rest of us had. He went on to complain that we were on a "group ride" and not a race. We left the intersection and reduced our speed to appease Joe. A couple miles later, Joe appoligized.
We quickly passed through Coyote Point and SFO. We again stopped at the McDonalds in SOuth City for a piss break. Joe complained about his wrist and shoulder which he injured during the holidays. As we passed Brisbane, approaching SF proper, we saw the first and only steep hill on our route. I made quick work of it with a minimum of effort. I dont know whether it's because of the gearing on the borrowed bike or better fitness since the last time I rode this route two months ago.
The rest of our ride towards downtown SF would be primarily downhill except for two moderate hills. We made it into the heart of downtown around 12:30pm and made straight for the SF Google office on Spear street. We stored our bikes at Google and headed to Palomino for a well deserved lunch. After lunch, we quickly headed to the Caltrain station on 3rd and King to catch the 3pm train back down to Mt View.
It was a great day for a ride. The company was great and entertaining as well as an exercise in group dynamics. I felt better this time than the same ride I did with Russ two months earlier.
Joe was asking where the taco trucks were since he apparently skipped brekkie and was hungry. By the time we got to Belmont, we stopped at the Burger King next to the small airport. Twenty minutes elasped before we got back onto the bikes headed toward our goal. We left the parking lot down the road, and had to make a left. Nick rolled through the stop sign just a a pickup truck came towards the intersection. I was going at a good clip, hit the brakes hard coming to a stop next to Joe. I was still clipped in and intended to clip my left foot out, but my ankle still not having the strength to clip outwards (as is my norm) I attempted to clip out by twisting my ankle inwards (which up til now worked great). I probably trackstanded for a good two seconds before keeling over to the left like a tree felled by a lumberjack. My shoulder took the brundt of the short fall so no harm done to me nor the borrowed bike. Not long afterwards, we hit the spot on our route that was a good long run which paralleled 101. Using the slight downhill, I ramped up my speed to just haul til the end of the bike trail which emptied out next to Postini, a recent acquisition of Google.
We continued on through Redwood Shores and at one intersection, Joe rolls up behind Russ and me and says, "Nick, I'm two seconds away from punching you in the back of the head". Joe was pissed that we (Nick and I at the time) we going along at a speed Joe couldn't keep. Joe didn't have clipless pedals and cycling shoes the rest of us had. He went on to complain that we were on a "group ride" and not a race. We left the intersection and reduced our speed to appease Joe. A couple miles later, Joe appoligized.
We quickly passed through Coyote Point and SFO. We again stopped at the McDonalds in SOuth City for a piss break. Joe complained about his wrist and shoulder which he injured during the holidays. As we passed Brisbane, approaching SF proper, we saw the first and only steep hill on our route. I made quick work of it with a minimum of effort. I dont know whether it's because of the gearing on the borrowed bike or better fitness since the last time I rode this route two months ago.
The rest of our ride towards downtown SF would be primarily downhill except for two moderate hills. We made it into the heart of downtown around 12:30pm and made straight for the SF Google office on Spear street. We stored our bikes at Google and headed to Palomino for a well deserved lunch. After lunch, we quickly headed to the Caltrain station on 3rd and King to catch the 3pm train back down to Mt View.
It was a great day for a ride. The company was great and entertaining as well as an exercise in group dynamics. I felt better this time than the same ride I did with Russ two months earlier.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Commuting by bike
Since my truck gets horrible city gas mileage, my motorcycle is in pieces, the weather is nicer and the fact that work is only around 3 miles, I decided to ride my bike(bicycles) to work. I'm lucky in the fact that Stevens Creek Trail is right next to my apartment complex and runs right up to the commercial park that Google occupies. Almost all multi-use trail and a minimum of street to travel. Even then, there's designated bike lanes.
I love that fact that there are great bike lanes and trails in the Bay Area, didnt have the same in NC or VA. Plus the great weather makes for bearable year-round riding.
I love that fact that there are great bike lanes and trails in the Bay Area, didnt have the same in NC or VA. Plus the great weather makes for bearable year-round riding.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Gaahhh!!! Race Tech!
So I worked on my motorcycle Saturday with mixed results. The oil and filter change went smoothly. First hiccup: Then I broke out the spray can of engine degreaser that I bought from Cycle Gear. Popped off the top and lo and behold... it was lacking a spray nozzle! I wanted to clean up the underside of the engine and around the front sprocket. I did my best to get the caked on stuff off.
I then tackled the removal of the front forks. I placed the motorcycle lift under the bike, removed the front wheel and loosened the triple clamps. Breakdown of the forks was easy. Pretty basic suspension looking at the guts of them. Reason I'm upgrading the forks by modding the dampner rods and adding a Race Tech Gold Valve Emulators and Springs. Using an el cheapo Black and Decker drill/drill bits makes slow work of the dampner rod mod. Enough so that I was only able to do one side. I had to go out and get a decent drill bit specifically made for metal. Next I studied the placement of all the bits to include the new. Emulators: check, new spacers: too short! I mis-measured the needed amount, 270-275mm. Then the new springs: too big!!! The overall diameter of the springs were 40mm. I needed 33mm. Faaack!!! I bought the Race Tech bits back in September during a F650.com group buy. Didn't get around to tackling the install because I was still and crutches. Install ground to a halt. It being a weekend, I had to wait till Monday to call Race Tech to work out an exchange. I hoping to get the part by Friday so I can knock out the bike this Sunday and ride.
I'm really looking forward to checking out the performance of the mod. Posts from other folks on F650.com seem pretty positive.
I then tackled the removal of the front forks. I placed the motorcycle lift under the bike, removed the front wheel and loosened the triple clamps. Breakdown of the forks was easy. Pretty basic suspension looking at the guts of them. Reason I'm upgrading the forks by modding the dampner rods and adding a Race Tech Gold Valve Emulators and Springs. Using an el cheapo Black and Decker drill/drill bits makes slow work of the dampner rod mod. Enough so that I was only able to do one side. I had to go out and get a decent drill bit specifically made for metal. Next I studied the placement of all the bits to include the new. Emulators: check, new spacers: too short! I mis-measured the needed amount, 270-275mm. Then the new springs: too big!!! The overall diameter of the springs were 40mm. I needed 33mm. Faaack!!! I bought the Race Tech bits back in September during a F650.com group buy. Didn't get around to tackling the install because I was still and crutches. Install ground to a halt. It being a weekend, I had to wait till Monday to call Race Tech to work out an exchange. I hoping to get the part by Friday so I can knock out the bike this Sunday and ride.
I'm really looking forward to checking out the performance of the mod. Posts from other folks on F650.com seem pretty positive.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Motorcycle maintenance
So I've put off doing an oil change on my motorscooter for a while, but now I've gotten off my ass and started to prepare. I've ordered a stainless steel oil filter, oil and some various o-rings and washers to get the job done. While I'm at it, I'll also install the Race Tech cartridge emulators that I got last year. I bought a motorcycle lift at Harbor Freight for $60 bucks. Should make this weekend and future wrenching on the bike easier. Since I cant work on my motorcycle in my assigned carport at my apartment complex, nor my truck for that matter, I'll be using my friends garage.
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