Never too old to learn new tricks!

[Shep]

2000 mile now on my 'new' Airhead, i've been trying to resist spending too much on the old girl as I feel she deserves a little respect, i don't really want the 'silicon tits on a pensioner' syndrome that a few on here suffer with, so i've been trying to make do with what i've got up till now.

Luggage has been sorted by a little luck ( i won the panniers in a raffle at the hogroast)
Bolting the panniers on made the handling 'interesting' It was always a little lively especially on the TKC's but with the new luggage it was getting to the scarey side of interesting.

I had thought the Fournales shock was OK and the problem was the forks I could feel a rythmic 'gallop' starting at speed (70+) and I could see the forks moving in all directions when I looked down the fork legs so I set my sights on re-building the forks over the winter along with the frame painting stripdown.

I also ordered an Ohlins rear shock, the fournales has a good reputation on here but I like to see a spring and a few adjustable bits and bobs on my suspension (and the spring was yellow which just so matched the rest of the bike)

So on Friday I decided to bolt the Ohlins on

Well what a difference, without any adjustments the ride is smooth and controlled, there is still a little weave at speed but this has risen to the giddy heights of 90+mph so its unlikely to bother me on a normal days riding. And the cornering has been improved beyond all expectations, the hinge in the middle has now totally disapeared

I'm now wondering if the Fournails was fekked

Ohlins, worth the money??? I think so, it has transformed the bike IMO, expensive, yes. Quality? Top notch!

Shep

 

[Thunder]

Silicon tits on a pensioner? How dare you sir, not even sure the shoe fits but I'm outraged!

Look forward to seeing the little darling in all her glory this weekend, when I started reading this I had a massive feck moment as I've a new Ohlins rear going spare in the garage as the bike it was for is now with a knew custodian of course then I remembered yours is a para!

 

[Kenny]

Silicon tits on a pensioner? How dare you sir, not even sure the shoe fits but I'm outraged!

If the cap fits......

 

[Shep]

Touched a nerve methinks

 

[John Armstrong]

If the cap fits......

Says the owner of a mono made to look like a para

 

[Thunder]

You know normally this nastiness would be like water of a duck's back, but I'm really upset, I think it may be the menopause finally kicking in

PS

As for you Kenny you can Feck right off ya tart,

 

[John Armstrong]

Back on the threads topic what bling / farkle is next?

 

[Shep]

Back on the threads topic what bling / farkle is next?

It's gonna get an over winter spruce up, powder coat the frame, heads off for new valves and a check up, a new timing chain and tensioner perhaps. New oil cooler and pipes, i want to find a narrower taller one so I can move it out of harms way a little. Take all the non standard wiring off (alarms, immobilisers etc). Get the wheels re strung and tidied up. That's it really, i doubt i'll bother with painting the 'Tins' although I am owed a paintjob by a local custom painter

I might look for a standard rear light and a pair of original mudguards in black, the ones on it have been knocked about a bit and the rear has had extra holes drilled in it for the non standard LED rear light.

If i'm feeling flush I might try and sort out a heavy duty rear subframe but i'll also be on the lookout for another para and i'll have one set up as a tourer (big tank, comfy seat and panniers and road biased tyres), and one all knobblied up and in a bit sportier state of tune for day to day use and as a plaything.

I'll guess there will be more to it than that but thats the plan anyway

Shep

 

[John Armstrong]

Only a little work then!

I take it Thunder has let you know all of the German suppliers of bits that he's used

On the oil cooler front, seen this: http://www.touratech.com/shops/008/product_info.php?cPath=3_36_232&products_id=4033

 

[Shep]

No, I hadn't spotted that, I just thought that that wasn't possible with the high mudguard i guess thats a TT front guard as well then

I can see I have lots to learn in the way of bling and farkle

Shep

 

[Kenny]

Says the owner of a mono made to look like a para

It is how they SHOULD have been built !! Ask Proff

Blimey Shep, you are certainly not going to be flush !!!

 

[(RIP) Proff]

It is how they SHOULD have been built !! Ask Proff

Blimey Shep, you are certainly not going to be flush !!!

Spot on Kenny.....
I do actually Covet yours

My 65gs has the same high oil cooler with STANDARD high Mudguard...

 

[Rob Farmer]

After having my oil cooler chew a big hole in my leg I'll vouch for the fact that moving the cooler under the frame tubes is a good modification

 

[John Armstrong]

It is how they SHOULD have been built !! Ask Proff

There's a balanced opinion lurking in there, I can't find it though

 

[Thunder]

There's a balanced opinion lurking in there, I can't find it though

Who you calling balanced? He cant even walk in a straight line FFS