I'm 59 next year and really love the handling and power of today's bikes, along with the braking power. Best handling bike I owned was a Honda 900FZ, after I'd fitted Konis, a box-section swinging arm and steering damper. But, from memory it still handled like shit compared to the MTS. And I will never forget the brown-trouser-inducing 90mph tank slapper I experienced on my Laverda Jota. What an overrated bike that was. Awful to ride. Just a poser machine. Loads of noise and loads of power, for the era, but most of it unusable. I did manage to pick up 9 points in my first six months of ownership though - probably because of the noise!
I didn't go down the route of Termi's could not justify £1200 quid at the time, so I bought Arrows for it, no remap done, the power curve is the same as standard exhaust, and 1 tooth less front sprocket. Where did you get your's tuned I am considering going to CJS in the new year and have a day on a dyno and see what he can do. I don't think I ride mine hard maybe I do got no idea. I have red lined it in 6th and squeezed 151mph on the clock. It wheelies like a demon just off the power, best endeavors 3rd gear at about 80ish up she pops.
Yep. Chris at CJS did mine. Can't recommend him highly enough. Absolutely transformed the bike. The on/off trottle response is smoother and he's lifted up the entire torque and power curves, fattening out the mid range and adding quite a bit more at the top end which also comes in about 500 revs earlier. I'm not very good at wheelies but it wheelies involuntarily in almost any gear above 8K if you're not careful and with ease off the throttle in third when pootling, but the main improvement is smoothness. Its punchier but smoother at the same time and so much easier to ride hard. Louigi-Moto are doing the rebuild and overseeing the engineering work and Chris will be doing the headwork and another remap. The main reason for doing it is increased smoothness, durability and reliability (the standard main bearings aren't that strong I'm told). But Rich Lewellyn expects a 10% power and torque gain, unless they discover that my engine was perfect to start with which isn't very likely - fuel mapping was all over the place. I'm lucky. CJS and Louigi are only an hour's drive up the road from me. I know what you mean about Termis. Fortunately mine had them when I bought it. They're silly money but man alive do they sound nice.
I see you are from Crawley. I'm a journalist and started my career on the Crawley News. I was bad in those days. Worst one was 80mph along Crystal Palace Road (30). Cop chasing me on a BM complained he couldn't keep up with me round the bends and only caught me when I slowed for a junction. Summons alleged dangerous driving but the court accepted that as it was 3am on a Sunday (I must have woken dozens of people) and there was no one around, it wasn't dangerous! That was 1982. Wouldn't get away with it today. I got a £50 fine and three points for speeding! I haven't had a speeding endorsement for ... Oooh, three years now.
The arrows sound good too and only £400 nicker, yeah I could do with throttle response being a bit smoother but have lived with that since 2008, My 848, and my 848 evo were exactly the same, I will definitely be looking CJS up then thanks mate.
Really, I was there in late 1981 or early 82 (Crawley news that is) did my work experience there as I wanted to be a journalist but unfortunately I hated school and never got an education, or any exam results.
I was there in 1985. Was Phyllis Hughes the editor then, do you remember? She was the editor before the one I worked for, Graeme Campbell.
I think so, The editor was female, and another youngish bloke was there to. It was so long ago mate and my memory ain't what it used to be (sorry who are you again) Yeah I get up to Box and down to Bury over to Loomies, any excuse to go for a ride, You might have already seen me this summer either matt black streetfighter or matt white 899
Ah Somerset. wrong time of year to be planting your turnips? Your only 40mins up the road when in Richmond so yeah meeting up at Box Hill in new year is a plan, I'll show you down to Bury then maybe on to Loomies West Meon.
Loomies looks good. I usually end up at the café by Snell's in Alton. Don't really like Ryka's. Was better when it was just a van! Before your time. I first went there in 1972 on a bloody moped! They took the piss out of me but I was back within two years on an RD350! They were mental wheelie machines. Thousand rpm on-off power band.
Not before my time, I remember my early days down there 1977 dad would drive us over there to go for a walk up the top. I was back there 81 with my own little moped Yeah I loved my RD350LC very light on the front end.
Planning to get down to Somerset (Crewkerne) in the New Year to test ride one of these: Ariel Ace. Will get one if I like it. If not it'll be a 2014 Pikes Peak I guess.
It looks snazzy I do like it, how long does it take to get down to somerset ? you doing there and back in a day?
I was on an air-cooled RD350. But always admired the black and gold 900SS Ducati that used to get down there. A mate just sold one for £26,000!! 1978 vintage.
Shit me and it probably cost him less than 3rd of that price back in the day, fair play to him good investment.
