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shorthawk

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Last Activity: Jun 24, 2009 01:11 PM

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  • Last Activity: Jun 24, 2009 01:11 PM
  • Join Date: May 9, 2009
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Showing Visitor Messages 1 to 6 of 6
  1. shorthawk
    May 14, 2009 11:31 PM - permalink
    Continuation, last page: Before you ask about fancy suspension/ wheels/etc: the buck stops here. I only spent about $5000 (not calculating labor) for the bike (including purchase price) and I intend to keep it that way. I spent $ 15000 on a new Ducati 1098 and it’s worth it. It would be a waste to do that on a 98 VTR. Which one is better: there is no definite answer.
    When legs are to be stretched the Ducati has the edge. Try some tight canyons (or any canyons for that matter) a 11 year old V twin Honda will probably put it to shame.
    Mission accomplished…
    PS. If interested see pictures in my album and hear the sound on youtube:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onXPEqVErdY
  2. shorthawk
    May 14, 2009 11:29 PM - permalink
    Continuation: Exhaust: initially got an under seat muffler (a’la RR) but changed it again to an under engine shorty (half of a Renegade race Slip-on). All work done by Mark Muffler in Hesperia, CA (great guy). It comes with ear plugs…and “back off throttle when you see a cop” reminder.
    Altogether lost plenty weight and mass centralized as much as possible (412 LBS wet). The bike feels more like a 600. Not when you open the throttle though. It eats rear tire for breakfast…(see album picture: no, it’s not a slick. It’s a Dunlop 208 GP street tire with 1600 miles canyons, no track). Riding position is more like but-up and you are dragging pegs before anything. Unparalleled to 110-120, will do 145 but it’s thin air and it can’t keep up with new inline 4s at v high speeds (confirmed by a couple of cops with radars, pens and no sense of humor…)
  3. shorthawk
    May 14, 2009 11:28 PM - permalink
    Continuation: If you think it’s easy put some gloves on, smear some honey and try to do a shape out of feathers (oh, you have about a minute before it hardens). Then wait a day, sand it and apply another coating. Repeat 10 times and meanwhile try to suppress coughing
    ( carbon fiber and Kevlar dust is yummy and, I bet, healthy! ) Ignore the skin itch from the dust, it will only bother for about another week…Not in pictures was the carbon fiber gas tank. Lasted about 2 years. The gas eats the resin so it starts leaking. After patching about 5 times I finally gave up (riding on top of Los Angeles Crest Highway with my leaders soaked with gas and thinking of a new meaning of the expression “balls of fire”…) . Sadly I put back the original gas tank. In house (my garage) painting: Fire Fly red over Clear Carbon Weave.
  4. shorthawk
    May 14, 2009 11:26 PM - permalink
    Continuation: Electrics: change the cable main to an ’04 to accommodate the newer instrument cluster (with the digital display). And no, the gas level gauge is not working. 1098 taillight, Custom HID front, LED turns.
    Brakes: Galfer braided lines, with EBC race pads (needs time to warm up). Still needs a touch of rear because the front is a handful.
    Body: Carbon fiber all around. No, I can’t duplicate any since I made my molds on Styrofoam and yes, they melt under resin. Oh, and also I spent months to do it…
  5. shorthawk
    May 14, 2009 11:24 PM - permalink
    Continuation: Shimmed (about 3/8”) stock shock works surprisingly well since the rear load is way less (forward weight bias) but likes low rear tire pressure (23PSI). Still offers full rear hop under heavy braking combined with downshifts. A slipper clutch would help but for now I rose idle to 1500 and use throttle blip. Otherwise when you ride hard, the rider behind watches the rear tire antics (practically in every corner) and thinks you are a crazy, suicidal maniac … plain, clean fun…
    Storz steering damper. Vortex Clip-ons. Vortex Alloy sprockets (front 1 less tooth for better pull), 520 DID chain.
    Engine: Dyno Jet II, K&N tuned by Crago Racing in Van Nuys, CA, 112HP Rear on their dyno.
  6. shorthawk
    May 14, 2009 11:21 PM - permalink
    I hope I can answer everybody’s question, so here it is:
    98 VTR bought wrecked in 04 with 3000miles on.
    Chassis: New short welded aluminum sub frame (less than half the weight of original steel), welded aluminum custom fairing/cluster support. Seat brought up 2 inches and forward 1 1/2 inches, smaller gel battery and electrics under the seat.
    Front fork with stiffer springs, revalved, hard oil, raised about 1 ½ inches in the triple(lower front), very stable under braking but plain scary over ripples at full lean (got used with it) .

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