1.29.2011

Moto Fun Day!

We took the CB970 in to be run on the Dyno. The results should be back
later this week. After the drop off, we ran to the Ducati Dealership and
drooled over some fine Italian motorcycles. They were all pretty damn snazzy.

We met the owner of the dealership and talked to him for quite some time. I never knew we had track day training classes locally. The price seems pretty fair too, $160 for a single day, $250 for two. That's something I'd definitely like to take part in. He also told us about a few bike nights around town that we had never heard of before. I think in the past, I've been too blind when viewing the motorcycling population in my town. While we are overpopulated with squids, "bikers" and cooler than you guys, we seem to have a hidden section of regular riders and touring guys.

I have to admit, I really do prefer the BMW, Triumph and Ducati dealerships over the others. It's different inside. No skulls, flames or bad metal music. Sit back, have a cup of coffee and watch a race on TV or wander around and drool over bikes. Sign up for ride days, try on gear you can't afford. It's cool.

I know they're selling that "vibe" and I'm a willing customer.



Out of all the Ducs I saw, nothing has dethroned the F800GS from the most wanted list:





The GS is also tied with F800ST



and of course the K75s




Crap... I'm think there's a pattern going on here.

1.26.2011

Trip idea....

So we (the TA Moto group) are meeting this Friday to discuss some ride ideas for this year. One destination is Nova Scotia, an awesome trip but not one I can make due to funds and time off. I've never stepped foot onto America's hat (Canada), I've flown over on my way to Alaska. Yesterday, I looked for the quickest way to the land of maple syrup and hockey. Looks like I can run the super slab up to Sault Ste Marie and be there in two days if I take my time. From there I can rip up Trans-Canada Highway 17 to any small town I choose. Roughly 840 miles from Indy to Terrace Bay, Ontario.

(Just using Terrance Bay as a distance marker, I don't know anything about the town.)

I have no rough idea of when this could happen. I was thinking about leaving on a Thursday, stop somewhere in Michigan and enter Canada on Friday. Head for home on Sunday.

Anyone want to take a trip to Canada? Gymi?

1.16.2011

Yamaha XJ600 SECA II : Kimpex Heated Grips

After the cold run to Nashville, I wanted to have heated grips installed before spring. I picked up the Kimpex heated grip kit from Aerostich. They still have the fragile ceramic resistor but for $29, it's a great deal for broke riders like myself.

The install is pretty straightforward if you want to take the chance to drain your battery if you forget to turn the grips off. So, I took advice from Canyon Chasers and used a distribution block and relay. By tapping the rear running light, this will turn the relay off when I shut the bike off. No worries about a dead battery. Canyon Chasers have a great wiring diagram. *EDIT* This diagram is not correct. The relay will work but it's not the right way to wire it. Here's a correct picture:





My install is slightly different since my switch (on-off-on)has an LED. From the distribution block, I ran a hot and ground to the switch and split the ground off for the switch and grips. The hot feed runs to both the LED and the grips. All of this is protected by a 20v inline fuse between the battery and the relay.

Parts list:

- Heated Grip Kit (duh)
- Black and Red wire (18ga)
- Inline fuse (20a)
- 12v automotive relay
- 8 pole distribution block
- 4 pole jumper (split in half)
- soldering supplies
- shrink tubing *
- zip ties (plastic and metal)
- trusty electrical tape
- spade connectors
- 3 position switch (on-off-on)

* sizes for wire and 1" or larger for left grip and o-rings

I've read a lot of people saying the clutch side stays colder due to the added insulation of the throttle sleeve. The fixes range from a few wraps of electrical tape, friction tape or shrink tubing. It took me a while to track down tubing larger enough to fit over the throttle sleeve but Fry's Electronics carries large sizes that will work. You can also cut small rings and use it to secure the elements.

So, remove your old grips (knife, air pressure, magic or whatever you prefer) and clean up the bars. Measure and cut a piece of shrink tubing for the left side and shrink it down from the control side out. Now, remove the backing to the element and wrap it around the bar. Take 3 of the shrink rings and slide them over the element and heat 'em up with a heat gun. Be careful not to melt the element. Easy, huh? Now do it again on the throttle side but make sure you have enough slack and flexibility to roll the throttle from closed to wide open.






Now that the grips are on, let's wire up the back end.

Crack open your manual and find the hot feed for the tail light. Make sure it's not the brake light or you'll only have heated grips when you hit the brakes. If you're positive you have the correct wire, cut it, strip it back and solder your relay feed together then shrink wrap it. The feed wire goes to terminal #86 on the relay.

So, the relay has power, now run a hot feed from the battery (with the inline fuse)to the relay (terminal #30). From pole #87, run a hot feed for the distribution block. Run a ground from the negative battery terminal for the distribution block. You should have one pole left on the relay, #85. This is your relay ground, run this to the negative side of the distribution block.

Take the 4 terminal jumper and split it into 2x 2 terminal jumpers. Unscrew the terminals and hook up your hot to one side and your negative. Use the jumper to connect two terminals, one one each side.


It will look something like this:

++|--
++|--

I don't have a picture of my block but it's really simple, just use common sense.



With your relay tapped into the negative side of the block, all of the poles should be used. Now, run a feed from the block for both hot and ground up to your switch location. Route your grip wires and connect one from each to the ground and one from each to the hot. It doesn't matter which one you use, as long as you have one from each grip going to the ground and the hot. The hot lead splits into two wires. One has the ceramic resistor, this is your High setting. Hook it up to the appropriate terminal on your switch. Hook the other up to the Low. Secure the resistor to your frame with the metal zip ties. Make sure nothing will come into contact with the resistor.

If your wiring is all either shrink wrapped or taped and your switch is hooked up, it's time to test them. Do it now, before you put the grips on. Start with the Low setting and then switch to High. Do you have toasty digits? If so, good job, now clean up the wiring mess, make sure all your connections are covered, mount your switch and put your grips on. If you don't, go back and check your work.






I haven't put my grips on yet, since I'm having trouble tracking down 135mm grips. I'll post that adventure when I can.


I apologize for any errors, I'm beat from working in the shop since it's about 20 degrees in there. If you notice something isn't right, let me know and I'll fix it. If you have questions, let me know. I'll gladly help out.

*update*

Thanks goes out to Stacy from Bolty.net for pointing out I had the terminals hooked up incorrectly. I corrected the post, now I just have to correct my wiring.

85- Ground
86- Power for the relay switch
87- Power Out
30- Power In

I was also too worn out to give credit where credit is due. Here are all of the sites that I used for tips, tricks and inspiration:

Canyon Chasers
Bolty.net
VFR Discussion
DucatiWiki
Weendoggy.com (for the relay diagram)

1.14.2011

parts is parts

I got my 3 position rocker switch in the mail from Eastern Beaver in Japan. If I can pick up a set of grips (looking at Pro Grip 714s), a relay and distribution block, I can get my grips installed this weekend.

The laundry list of to-do items:

- install heated grips
- replace fork seals
- oil change, plugs and air filter
- new chain & guard
- replace gauge bulbs
- check valve clearance
- paint headers
- install mirrors
- new tires (Kenda K671)

That should get the scoot ready to roll out this spring. In addition to the maintenance, I'm trying to make budget friendly choices on luggage and a few other pieces of gear that I still need.