Categories: all aviation Building a Biplane bicycle gadgets misc motorcycle theater
I've had the Ninja 250 now for 367 miles and about 2 and a half weeks. I've added a bunch of stuff, notably: new grips, new fuel filter, LED taillights, a BMW power socket, hazards-enabled left switchpod, louder horn, stainless braided front brake line, and a few days ago, the bar-end mirrors which had been on the Z750s.
The bike is comporting itself well, with a few odd things I've noticed. The front brakes make a dull grinding noise when applied, which I think means they're still getting broken in. Nothing looks amiss, so I'm going to leave that one for now.
The engine seems to have an odd hunting/surging feeling at mid-throttle and mid-RPM, which I suspect means it's running lean right there, and I need to raise the main jet needle a little bit. The valves are also ticking a bit, and cold idle (even when it's fairly warm out) is still shaky, so the valves probably also need a bit of attention. I also suspect that the idle mixture screws, while closer, aren't yet adjusted exactly right. I'm going to tackle all of that at the 600 mile service, which should be coming up in a few weeks.
The suspension is still very definitely on the "goofy" side. I'm looking forward to installing all the suspension modifications. The gold valve emulators showed up a couple of days ago, so one out of three down. I expect the front springs will be here within the week, and the rear shock is kind of a mystery. Some time before August, is my best guess. Fortunately, the front and rear can be done at different times, although I'd rather do it all at once.
The stainless brake line is definitely worthwhile. It just makes a great difference. Now if only the brake pads would bed in and stop making that grinding noise. I may pull them at the 600 mile service and make sure nothing untoward is happening.
The motor seems more powerful than the previous 250. It's hard to know if I'm imagining it, or if it's a real difference. I'm guessing that long term oil consumption and fuel mileage will ultimately tell the tale.
Posted at 16:45 permanent link category: /motorcycle
My new favorite bumper sticker
In a military-stencil font on a black background:
We kicked their ass!
Now where's our cheap gas?
Seen on a big 'Murrican truck, of course.
I... I just don't know what to say.
Posted at 13:14 permanent link category: /misc
Categories: all aviation Building a Biplane bicycle gadgets misc motorcycle theater