Picked up a cheap black bellypan from a 848 to try out. I like the contrast between the gloss paintwork and satin belly, so think I'll go for satin carbon fibre from Full Six. Excuse the terrible iPhone photo quality.
Love the 1098s but it's a pet hate when people badge things up as things they are not.... Unless they made a 1098SP and in which case I apologise. Reminds me of them 318 bmw's with a m3 badge on because they've got some big alloys and m3 side vents on wings ....
d8mok, I can totally understand about badges, but any of my bikes from 1981 bear so little resemblance to the standard bike, you might as well make them stand out. It's not like a 'Escort Turbo' badge. Here's my 1998 TL1000R which I was caning today. 1998, so 17 years old in June. I keep my bikes and make them like they should have been from the factory. My 1098S took 5 years of development to be better then the TLR. It's what they should have built in 2007. Each to their own. My mate's 2001 R71 put's out 178 bhp with a half decent torque curve. 154KG wet at the moment. My 1098s is 174kg and 157bhp at the moment, but hey in a year or two's time maybe 167 bhp and 145kg? Love riding the arse of bikes and developing them! J
My 748 pictured above has taken 5 years to get it where it is now. Its much easier to ride, less uncomfortable, looks great (even if i do say so myself), handles much better and weighs less. I toy with the idea of turning it into an 853 every year. It has made me realise just how much you can improve on any standard bike and make it your own.
duke63, Totally agree! Just simply setting levers, sorting suspension, makes a huge difference. Personalising by any amount is part of ownership. The previous pic was my NC30 (VFR400) I raced in 1990. I've only sorted my 1098 rear Ohlins after 7 years this month. Drove me nuts! Never known a rear linkage like it. I call the rear 1098 rising rate linkage.... the Wall of Death! Here's my X7 from when I was 17 years old, looks a joke now... but back then before the LC came out it was the bollox! I should have put an 'R' sticker on it! only joking.
