Featured Grab Yourself Some Popcorn. This Might Take A While.

Yes. Finally. Finished work earlier than expected so 80% of the bodywork is now back on. Just the lowers (still waiting on extension panels) and the seat cowl (more on that later). Hope to fit the new mirrors at the weekend which will complete the front end. Pics to follow.

 

Managed to find a half decent copy of the video I took, after the first run with the Termignoni D200 system fitted. Doesn't really do the sound justice as it is very loud (even at tickover) plus the dry clutch somewhat overwhelms it, when echoing off the garage walls but you get an idea, even at low revs, of what it sounds like.

 

OK so another minor set back, as I have managed to lose the small rubber gaskets that are sandwiched between the nose fairing and the front subframe, so I have ordered a set which should be here in a few days, then I can install the mirrors. No real surprises as to the choice. Sort of an obvious one really.

 

Here is a sneak peak of the new Vulturebike carbon tail cowl, which will replace the OEM plastic one. It is currently being painted in a similar OEM paint scheme, to match the bike's livery. Really looking forward to seeing it finished. Pics to follow, once it is ready.







Here it is mocked up on the bike, prior to painting, along with the bump stop.



Main side fairings and nose cone are back on the bike. As I said, just waiting on a few parts to re-fit the remaining panels. Not much left to do now.

 

OEM lower fairing extension panel kit finally arrived. The steel sprung washers that hold the panels to the lower fairings are an extremely tight fit, so much so that I had to slide them over some tapered metal dowel, to expand them a little first, in order for them to fit over the plastic lugs on the fairings. Heat reflective panels are also included, which required a few cuts here and there, so as they would better conform to the shape of each panel



Unlike the full Akra system, the Termignoni pipework follows a different path, so that meant I was able to add in the infill panel, which ordinarily you can't. Not before making a heat reflective panel for it, however. A fiddly job as always, if you want it to be accurate. This infill panel is held to the extension panel by the four supplied self-tapping screws.





Here's a view of one of the clear coated winglets, now that the bodywork is on.

 

With the lower fairings fully assembled, there was nothing left to do but fit them. The RHS was pretty straightforward. The LHS not so much.

I had an issue with the gear lever fouling the fairing when upshifting. Discovered this was due to the longer gear shift rod, which was setup to work with the Rizoma rearsets the bike came with from the factory and not Gilles, causing the lever to sit much higher than usual. Pretty simple fix, which involved adjusting the length of the rod by a few mm.

Next headache was getting the front underside fairing bolt to line up, which for some reason was a nightmare. As with all builds, things move and need adjusting during reassembly, so with patience, some swearing and a little fettling, I managed to get everything to line up correctly as it should.

Last but not least, reattaching the gear position sensor cooling duct to the fairing, though this is more down to technique really.

Since the gaskets I ordered arrived today (that are sandwiched between the front subframe and the nose fairing) means that I can at last fit the mirrors, so that's next on the list. Pics to follow. As I said, really not a lot left to do after that. Seat unit should be ready in a fortnight, which is when I hope to take some decent pictures and/or video of the bike outside once it's complete.

 

Mirrors finally fitted. Just got to set the chain tension and torque up the rear eccentric hub and rear axle nuts, fit the painted seat unit (once it is ready) and the bike is pretty much complete. I will post up pics and a video when I am at the finishing post. Until then here are the mirrors in situ.

 

Was actually thinking the other day of replacing them with coiled cables the sort you typically see on compressors (albeit pneumatic, not electric) as it would be a lot neater, but not sure if that would affect the voltage or cause extra heat. That or some nice braided cable, instead of the stock Optimate flat twin core stiff offering. Not exactly high on my list of priorities FC but it has crossed my mind!

 

So I'm told the seat unit should be ready in two weeks. A little longer than originally anticipated but understandable as my painter has enough on his plate dealing with his son's serious ill health at the moment and naturally his workload has taken a back seat. I'm happy to wait and don't feel it appropriate to ask him about progress as I'm sure he's got more pressing concerns right now.

 

Made up a protective grip tape adhesive cover for the underside of the side stand foot to protect the billet aluminium from scratches, or at least that's the theory.

 

Ouch! Keep 'em handbags coming Andy. Always amusing.