New Parts! - Shock and Chain!

I picked up a new (used) rear mono shock and sprocket & chain over Easter weekend. I needed the chain & sprocket and I wanted to see if my ride height would go back to normal with a new shock. See, when I rode my buddy's girlfriend's CBR125r, hers was much higher than mine. I figured it was because the guy I bought it from was 6' 170-185 or so. So maybe the shock just got worn out. After all, it had 17,000km+ on it.

I picked them both up for less than the cost of a new chain & sprocket online so I was happy. I also bought a feeler gauge 4 weeks ago now. Damn thing still isn't here...

Here are some pictures of the shock and chain (not like you don't know what they look like already...)

Until next time, 'Live to Ride, Ride to Live'

"Carbon Fiber" Fender and New Name Badge!

Over the winter I had the bright idea to wrap the front fender in the carbon fiber vinyl I have. It was NOT easy. At least for me... I had to do a bit, go back, do a bit, and go back. It finally got done and it looked like total garbage! I wasn't ready to rip it off and try again so I just left it for the remaining months of winter. I took it out from the lower shelf a little while a go, saw how crap it was and installed it anyway. I'll eventually get fed-up with it looking so bad that I'll take it off and redo it. But until then I don't really care...

The other thing I added to Kenna over the winter was a new name badge! I found the Honda font type online and sent away to get a matching decal done in green. (Matching to the grey Honda on the other side) I applied it with NO PROBLEMS it was nice and easy and straight! I recently install the lower fairings a little while a go (same time I did the front fender) and found it was pretty low on the fairing. My girl said it was still visible, either way, I'm not going to change it!

Peanut Butter Photo Time!!

Until next time, 'Live to Ride, Ride to Live'

New Gloves from the Spring Show

March 18th Spring Bike Show in Toronto.
So I missed the other two shows (well I wasn't really interested...) but I got to go to this one with my buddy Adri it was small, but cool.

The custom bikes were sweet. There were some old ones I've seen before and some really nice new ones. The people who do them really spend a lot of time, money and effort on these bikes. It's quite incredible. I didn't get any photos.... Adri may post some on his site later.
There was one bike that comes stock that looks like a cheap café racer.

It has a little more power than Kenna, 18 horsepower and is a 250cc. But the top speed is 120km/hr. I don't know if the person testing it really wasn't trying, or of that's actually the top speed. I mean damn! Even Kenna hit 145km/hr once.
There were quite a few bikes, motorcycle mags and a few stores selling gear. I picked up a pair of new (cheapo) gloves for about $33.

They're pretty much just as crap as my other ones, but at least they fit better. 'If you think they're crap why did you buy them?'you ask? Price mostly....I'm really trying to save to go to Australia by September with my girlfriend. (no not Kenna) so I don't want to drop $100+ on gloves right now, but my old ones are too small and cut off the blood supply to my thumbs during long rides.

Anyway, seeing all of those bikes, and talking to the cool people at Motorcycle Mojo, makes me want to ride! Oh, side note I canceled my insurance, FREE FROM THOSE A-HOOO AT CIB MAN DID THEY SUCK!!!! Time for a new broker!

See you on the road!

Until next time,
'Live to Ride, Ride to Live'

Is that a Custom pipe?! Why no, no it's not.....

Finally! Some nice-enough weather to work outside! The winter has been cold and long and now it's time to get ready for some fun in the sun! Since the winter began I had some ideas of what I wanted to change on Kenna. Some of what I wanted change was a name decal on the lower fairing, 3M carbon wrap on the front fender, a tail tidy and a painted exhaust pipe.

So far I've completed the name decal, part of the front fairing wrap and as of today, the painted exhaust. This post is about the exhaust and how I painted it. I'll post pictures later on the name decal and fender wrap.

What you'll need
-Paint, I used rust paint but I now have to redo it because I should have used high-temp paint. So use that not rust paint.
-Sandpaper, different grit levels
-Wrench and general tools...
-An other set of hands (mostly for the reinstall)

To start, take the lower fairings off. I already had them off to do the name decal. This isn't tough, just make sure you DO NOT loose the screws you take out. You'll end up taking out quite a bit of them too.

Next, locate the two bolts holding the pipe on. One is under the passenger foot peg and the other is under the engine right in the centre. There are also two nuts holding the pipe to the engine that need to be taken off.

PICTURE TIME!

Once you get the pipe off (being careful not to drop it and damage it more) it's time to start sanding away at the rust. Keep in mind I've never done this and I winged the entire project. I sanded it down with a heavy grit sand paper and worked my to a finer one. I also used the rotary tool to make it go a little faster...

This is what it looked like once I got it off...

And this is what it looked like after I sanded it down...

Keep in mind that the sun is making it look better than it is. You may choose to spend more time on yours but I'm a lazy guy when it comes to projects like this. (Not when it comes to the mechanically important projects.)

After that I simply laid it down and sprayed it in an even flowing motion left to right at about 6-12 inches away.

One thing you have to watch out for is the moving metal thing...that as you flip the pipe to paint the other side and when you go to install it will ruin all of your hard work!

This is the part I'm referring to.

This is the paint I used. DO NOT USE THIS GET HIGH TEMP PAINT

For the reinstall, screw the front two nuts on part way to get the front of the pipe off the ground. From there work your way back putting on the centre bolt then the end bolt. I had a lot of trouble getting the last bolt on straight.

I definitely recommend getting someone to help you hold the piper during the reinstall. It'll make it A LOT easier and you'll be less likely to damage the work you just did.

This is the pipe fully painted. I don't have any on the bike shots cause my phone died, but I'll be uploading some to Kenna's web album later so check there for more photos.

Until next time, 'Live to Ride, Ride to Live'