The story so far... [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

thecharmed01

10th April 2011, 19:19

Well, I got a new bike recently....
It was a bit of being pushed into it, and a small amount of bribery, but now that she's nearly finished, I'm actually pretty stoked with it!
A lot more so after today's effort!

I wasn't ready to upgrade, but the boys convinced me to pick up a CRF150F

When I originally looked at it, I didn't want it cause I didn't want to sell my DRZ125 cause it was perfect for me, and I loved the colours.... I hate red, so I wasn't terribly keen. I was also worried that it would be too big...
So in order to convince me, I was promised that if I sold the DRZ125 and bought a CRF150F, the boys would sort out black plastics (cause I hate red) and pink graphics OR they were gonna get me pink plastics and black graphics LOL
They thought it would be an easy task.

So I bought a bike. Cost me $4k.
Then we started ordering parts....

Starting with plastics : of course, no one actually did anywhere enough research before they found the bike, so it wasn't until I'd spent $260 on a set of plastics, they arrived and were wrong. So back they went to the store.
I spent another $300 on a different brand, only to find that again, they wouldn't fit.
Apparently, most brands don't manufacture a plastic for the 150F. Only the 150R, which incidentally is totally different...
In the end, only one brand in the world make a set of A/M plastics for a 150F - Maier. And if you think about buying them from a store in Wellington, don't bother. They will only lie to you - I was told (to my face) that I had to wait three months for the other half of the kit I purchased, after being told it was all in stock, because (and I quote) "they don't keep them on the shelf, the company only make batches to order, every 3 months"
Utter rubbish as I discovered after contacting the American manufacturer, who had them landed on my doorstep 4 days after I paid for them.
I cannot recommend Maier enough, as they were fantastic to deal with, emails replied to promptly, they know their product and were able to ensure me that they had the correct parts for me, and their shipping estimate was 1 day longer than it actually took! Maier were fantastic! She even forewarned me of mounting differences and took the time to email me after it was all done and sorted to see if I'd gotten them installed okay!

Next up on my 'upgrade' list were;
New tyres front and rear
Barkbusters
Carved out and recovered set - gripper covered
Heavier grade oil in the front forks
Alloy bars
New 14T sprocket for the front
Rear grab strap

A few other issues I've had along the way were with my levers.
Apparently Zeta don't make an unbreakable lever for the 150F either... -sigh-
So we've managed to make a lever for the DRZ125 fit the clutch lever on the CRF150F but I'm still waiting on another brake lever after the first one ordered was the completely wrong one.
We're hoping a CRF150R brake lever can be made to fit....

Oh.. and I'm trying to source a black front numberplate that will fit the CRF150F too. I haven't found one yet :-(

Lastly, once my plastics had finally arrived, I was able to put on the new graphics that I got from AMR!
I put them on over a few nights, then today spent 4 hours cleaning my bike to UBER clean status...
Took off all the old plastics and got them all wrapped up for sale.
Put on all the new plastics and put the stickers onto the frame....
Then put her outside to model her new clothes.

What do y'all think?

ps. if anyone CAN'T recognise me at a ride now, you need new glasses! So you better come say hi!

Photo Album (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/album.php?albumid=4020)

Before and After
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207666_1983125144641_1438601356_2327877_4166812_n. jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/215937_1983095263894_1438601356_2327812_3173311_n. jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/216770_1983095583902_1438601356_2327814_1006742_n. jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/208200_1983092103815_1438601356_2327785_4099315_n. jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207870_1983091103790_1438601356_2327775_2380385_n. jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216916_1983094463874_1438601356_2327805_2844125_n. jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216462_1983093423848_1438601356_2327795_4974435_n. jpg

thecharmed01

10th April 2011, 19:23

Ok, no clue why the pictures won't appear, sorry you will have to click the links :-(

Mungatoke Mad

10th April 2011, 20:46

ARRHHH To bright !! It needs DIRT

thecharmed01

10th April 2011, 20:48

haha yeah it'll get it's fair share of that this weekend.....

Just had to have it pretty for some photo's before I take it out and wreck it :rockon:

pete.ktm

11th April 2011, 00:50

pretty damn sweet!

if you went to moonshine today it won't be looking like that anymore.

or did you do apiti or masterton?

NordieBoy

11th April 2011, 08:23

Before and After
<img src=http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207666_1983125144641_1438601356_2327877_4166812_n. jpg>

<img src=http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/215937_1983095263894_1438601356_2327812_3173311_n. jpg>

<img src=http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/216770_1983095583902_1438601356_2327814_1006742_n. jpg>

<img src=http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/208200_1983092103815_1438601356_2327785_4099315_n. jpg>

<img src=http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207870_1983091103790_1438601356_2327775_2380385_n. jpg>

<img src=http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216916_1983094463874_1438601356_2327805_2844125_n. jpg>

<img src=http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216462_1983093423848_1438601356_2327795_4974435_n. jpg>

thecharmed01

11th April 2011, 08:43

haha yeah it'll get it's fair share of that this weekend.....

Just had to have it pretty for some photo's before I take it out and wreck it :rockon:

Nah we took the weekend off.
I think we've ridden every weekend this year and i knew the whole super clean and getting the plastics on was going to be a mission, but I had a photoshoot on Saturday.
Took 4 hours on Sunday to get it all sorted.

Am tossing up whether to ride out at Ponogoroa with mates who have booked accom up there, or just to do the Twin Peaks ride with other mates... hmmmmmm.

NordieBoy THANK YOU!!!!
Duh, I felt like a dork but I have no clue why I couldn't get the links to show images in my post!!!!!
:love:

del-solider

11th April 2011, 09:42

Great looking bike :clap::clap:

Best crf150 ive seen, really looks good well done!

NordieBoy

11th April 2011, 14:14

NordieBoy THANK YOU!!!!
Duh, I felt like a dork but I have no clue why I couldn't get the links to show images in my post!!!!!
:love:

It's because somehow bbcode has been disabled in this thread...
236441

If it is disabled then you can't use [ img ]picture[ /img] and have to use < img src= picture>

thecharmed01

11th April 2011, 15:28

Thanks guys, having a bit of trouble sorting out a Zeta unbreakable brake lever to fit :facepalm:

Who'd have thought this bike would be such a mission!

noobi

11th April 2011, 18:20

2fitty

11th April 2011, 18:44

Thanks guys, having a bit of trouble sorting out a Zeta unbreakable brake lever to fit :facepalm:

Who'd have thought this bike would be such a mission!

I would, definately cannot let my misses see this!! shes got an 07 15of and had been looking for new plastics too, ended up just getting number board background decals cos parts for the 150f's are like you said "a mission".

cheese

11th April 2011, 18:49

You don't really need to bother with unbreakable levers if you're running bark busters.

cheese

11th April 2011, 18:53

Oh and can you just fit some different forks to the bike? I found my sisters 150f had really soft forks and they have no adjustment. They are a nice little bike to ride though and have a surprisingly grunty little engine.

blackdog

11th April 2011, 18:58

freakin' mint!

very nice job right there.

thecharmed01

11th April 2011, 19:12

Zeta application guide from the zeta site http://www.zeta-racing.com/lever/pivot/application.html

You want to order this lever DF-ZE41-3206 from Northern Accessories, just go into the bike shop with that part number on a piece of paper and tell them to order this.
Done

Dude, you ROCK! I'll be heading out tomorrow to order me a lever by the looks!
Thank you SO much!

I would, definately cannot let my misses see this!! shes got an 07 15of and had been looking for new plastics too, ended up just getting number board background decals cos parts for the 150f's are like you said "a mission".
Not to mention pricey, has cost me a bit under $2'000 for plastics AND decals :crybaby:

You don't really need to bother with unbreakable levers if you're running bark busters.
I actually do, the reason I run Zeta's is not for the breaking aspect, but for the fact that they adjust more than factory levers.
I'm really little and have tiny hands... so I find I really struggle (like now) with factory levers as when you adjust them in to where I can reach comfortably, they do silly things. Like the brakes don't work as well because the cable isn't moving enough.
I suffer from RSI from hairdressing, so have real issues with fingers and having to reach a long way, but when I went to Zeta's I found they are perfect for me, as you can wind in the lever, without compromising the cable at all!

Oh and can you just fit some different forks to the bike? I found my sisters 150f had really soft forks and they have no adjustment. They are a nice little bike to ride though and have a surprisingly grunty little engine.
I'm not sure, we haven't looked into that yet... I've only had the bike 3 weeks haha.
I'm pretty little though, and I've ridden once with the heavier fork oil and so far it feels okay. I didn't bottom them out at all at Mt Biggs.
We figured if I do start, we'll likely upgrade the spring kit as there is one on eBay and then go from there.
I'm only 5'1 and weigh under 50kg so I don't have a whole lot of weight to throw at the bike hahaha
Bike weighs 3 times what I do!!!

noobi

11th April 2011, 19:32

You mean clutch doesnt work because the cable doesnt move far enough? Should be hydraulic brake..

Reckless

11th April 2011, 22:00

Bloody nice job you've done of that bike girl looks awesome!!!

Utter rubbish as I discovered after contacting the American manufacturer, who had them landed on my doorstep 4 days after I paid for them.

You've just found out why 2/3 of bikers (road & dirt) are buying direct from the USA! 1/2 the price and 10 times quicker!! LOL!!! :facepalm:

thecharmed01

11th April 2011, 22:20

You mean clutch doesnt work because the cable doesnt move far enough? Should be hydraulic brake..

Sorry yeah you are right, but it's still a problem with the brake, as part of the brake hits the bars too soon if you get what I mean? Right now the brake is too far away from my finger to be comfortable - I'm missing my DRZ like crazy for that fact.
Not braking as much as usual though on the upside hahahaha

Bloody nice job you've done of that bike girl looks awesome!!!

You've just found out why 2/3 of bikers (road & dirt) are buying direct from the USA! 1/2 the price and 10 times quicker!! LOL!!! :facepalm:

It was definitely as quick, it took the same number of days for the store in the Hutt to get me HALF the plastics from Christchurch as it took me to get the rest from California.
I don't know if it was much cheaper though.....

I paid a bit under $600 for the front & rear fender and the side numberboards through the store.
Then I paid about $300NZ for just the front air vent panel things direct from Maier including shipping.
Made for bloody expensive plastics :crybaby:

Thanks heaps for the comments though, hoping I'll not blend into the crowd so much now - so yeah, when I'm on my ass on the ground you should ALL know who to point and laugh at later hahahahaha

thecharmed01

11th April 2011, 22:23

CRF119

12th April 2011, 21:51

Looking good, sounds like a lot of effort but look at the reward. Every girl will be jelous.

You should be able to make leavers fit. I made ASV leavers fit my pit bike. That wasn't to hard.

If you have the full wrap around bark busters you wont need them. But if you have hand gaurds that just stop your fingers getting cold in the winter then un brakeable's are a good idea.

Well done.

noobi

13th April 2011, 01:14

Upon more investigating...
We've already had and returned that lever. It doesn't fit. :(

Interesting, wonder whether the master cylinder has been changed to something more common, I did read somewhere that they had the brakes off an XR400, I had a crf-f back about 100(4) years ago.
I dont mean to sound condescending, but have you tried to match it with other levers the bike store? Honda, or otherwise. As you could kind of work sideways, in that if it matches something else, and that different lever then fits a KX for example, then logically a kx zeta lever should fit.

Although, if I was to guess at another model lever I would go with the DF-ZE41-3105, which fits XR's.

Reckless

13th April 2011, 03:39

hey brain wave :woohoo: what about heating the lever up with a heat gun, gas torch or in the oven and bending it in slightly?? If its only 10mm you want out of it it could just do the trick!
Be careful not to weaken it by over heating but it could be the answer and cheap?? you ain't got much to loose?

thecharmed01

1st May 2011, 23:34

Well, have my fingers crossed that the latest pair of Zeta's we are waiting on *might* do the trick! If not I think modifying them is on the agenda hehe

Also picked up (and am reselling) a CRF250 exhaust as it was way too big to be modified for my bike.
Currently eying up a new exhaust on eBay as there doesn't appear to be much around in NZ.

Have been on a few more rides with her now though and I love it! It's such a wicked little bike and so much more grunt than my DRZ or TTR had combined haha
:love:

NordieBoy

2nd May 2011, 07:54

You'd better change your profile info now.
:scooter:

D3ALN

2nd May 2011, 17:40

That bike looks grouse in those colours I quite like it.

thecharmed01

3rd May 2011, 21:16

You'd better change your profile info now.
:scooter:

LOL

thanks, just did :P

nomnomnom

4th May 2011, 13:25

Wow your bike looks amazing Sharyn!!! its so you! heheheh good job:niceone:

ktm84mxc

7th May 2011, 08:39

Now that's a sharp looking bike. The internet is a God send for kiwi bikers as we can get what we want at a price that's affordable.
A idea for your exhaust try Musket in Welly as they make a lot of pipes for older bikes & quads at very reasonable prices & may built what you want. Get your local shop to help.

glukasil

7th May 2011, 09:03

NordieBoy

7th May 2011, 09:07

Blagger

7th May 2011, 11:47

sorry for being negative but what a waste of money and time...........bike looked fine before.

all those stickers and other stuff you dont need for dirt........
remind me same situation with jetski i used to be great fan.....

dirt bike has to be dirty :)

p.s.happy to ride 1990 kdx 200 ...... scruffy as hell

So..you say you don't care what people think of how your bike looks but insist on commenting on how someone else's bike looks?
I smell hypocrisy

If we were to follow your lead we'd all ride shitty looking bikes eh? Some of us do, but to me if someone else is riding a flash looking bike it's just another person into dirtbiking which is all good.
Also cleaning ya bike is a good way to run an eye over everything and check that it's up to scratch - I like to make my ride as reliable as possible so as to cut down on long walks..

unstuck

7th May 2011, 11:52

So..you say you don't care what people think of how your bike looks but insist on commenting on how someone else's bike looks?
I smell hypocrisy

If we were to follow your lead we'd all ride shitty looking bikes eh? Some of us do, but to me if someone else is riding a flash looking bike it's just another person into dirtbiking which is all good.
Also cleaning ya bike is a good way to run an eye over everything and check that it's up to scratch - I like to make my ride as reliable as possible so as to cut down on long walks..

Here here and amen.:yes:

DJSin

7th May 2011, 11:52

Hey C1 good to see you are still into bikes with motors.

Your new bike looks cool. Hope it's riding well with all that effort you've put into it :woohoo:

thecharmed01

8th May 2011, 00:38

hehe yup, still stoked on riding!

In fact, even more so since getting myself on the Honda.
The difference in the way the power is has made a HUGE difference for me with riding it. I've noticed my speed has gone through the roof compared to what it was before, because now I've actually got more behind me to get me outta trouble... LOL
It used to be that I always rode alone because 1) I was too damned slow and 2) I was too damned slow
But the last half a dozen rides have been quite wicked because while I'm still nowhere near quick, I am at least starting to hold my own.
Still got certain things I'm really not strong at, but I've improved on them a lot and my strong points are stronger than ever.
It's nice to be able to actually ride with my bf for the first time since I started riding EVER. I've never been able to do that before as I was always too slow and his bike kept fouling plugs trying to ride as slow as I did.... LOL

One thing I am struggling to get used to though is the excess power on clay corners.
Last big ride, several times I put on the gas going into a corner and found myself facing the wrong way down the hills again as it's got more power than I'm used to so I was kinda spinning out. Oops.... :facepalm:
Really gotta get that figured out cause I got crashed into once or twice as the boy tends to follow pretty closely. :shit:

thecharmed01

30th July 2011, 23:16

Well, the boys decided to play with my bike and it's been out of commission for a bloody long time :facepalm:

But it seems that it's finally fixed YAY!

They put a new exhaust on it, a 2 Brothers that was for a 250R modified with new stainless piping.
Which made it start running like a pig and missing and just sluggish as all heck.
So it was re-jetted and adjusted as much as possible.
But it didn't fix it.
He ordered four sets of parts from a useless local bike shop who kept ordering the wrong bits, or giving him the wrong parts and trying to pass them off as the right ones (gah.... still so angry about those IDIOTS) and they also were complete jerks about giving us information and helping us out.
Also emailed another store to try and order parts, with 3 weeks and no response at all.
Is it any wonder local bike shops are a waste of time and space and people go offshore?
:angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry:

Cause in the end, I jumped online, found an AWESOME website in the US that had everything I needed, information, parts and so I ordered, had the RIGHT parts within a week landed in NZ and now my bike ROCKS.

Replaced all the jets, and the rev box which fixed all my poor bikes issues and now it's apparently running like a dream and with a huge power increase.

Will see tomorrow when I take it for it's first post-upgrade spin!!!
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::w oohoo::woohoo:

Blagger

31st July 2011, 10:49

Good to hear you're up and running - if you have the "accidental 180 degree turn" thing happening on clay then that's not just you - if it's in Akatarawa, especially within 2 or 3 days of having rained, those bald-top bits of track get really slick.
It's happened to me and I've seen it happen to others - the only thing I found that worked was maintaining a minimum speed through the clay sections, esp uphill, but that's only a partial fix..

thecharmed01

1st August 2011, 13:07

Had the BEST ride on Sunday!

Took it up Long Gully, just for a wee play and she's running like a DREAM now! So so cool. A lot more power than it had before and when I headed up one of the hills, I wasn't even able to rev it out completely as I kept losing traction hahaha
Was a bti of a shock as that's never happened before, but I think once I have spent a bit more time on it I am going to love it even more :woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::w oohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woo hoo::woohoo:

merv

1st August 2011, 13:35

Fantastic story.

Sad to hear the problem you are having with the local shops. What is wrong with some Kiwis as I am still waiting for a response about a part for my Yamaha 18 months later.

As you say, no wonder we buy overseas :facepalm:

thecharmed01

2nd August 2011, 08:03

I don't get it really, they complain that they don't get enough business, but when people who will spend money TRY to spend with them, they muck you around, supply incorrect parts and misinformation and make you not want to go back.

So far we've had lousy service from every bike shop in Wellington and I'm a pretty easy person to deal with.
I generally go in knowing what I need and who makes it.
All I expect is the store to either hand it to me, so I can pay and leave... or order it in so I can pay and leave. Not so hard?
I always go in with cash, so I'm not sure what the problem is - and I've even asked other people to go into stores for me in case it's me, and had the same or worse results.

I've spent around 2k in parts for my bike, and only about $500 was in New Zealand. The rest I went straight to the manufacturers, or as in the last case, an overseas webstore for.
If I am honest too, if the first store didn't lie outright to me, I would have gone back - but now I regret even paying them any money.
:facepalm:

My bike is awesome and I love it, I don't love that it's been a bit of a mission... but it's sure burnt me from ever even looking in New Zealand for anything ever again.
I've found overseas companies have better service, better prices and better ranges.
Delivery is often quicker too hahahahaha

NordieBoy

2nd August 2011, 08:58

I've found overseas companies have better service, better prices and better ranges.
Delivery is often quicker too hahahahaha

Yep. I've ordered stuff Sat morning from the States and it's arrived Tuesday morning.

I've been waiting on a camera from ChCh for 7 days now...

thecharmed01

2nd August 2011, 11:11

Yep. I've ordered stuff Sat morning from the States and it's arrived Tuesday morning.

I've been waiting on a camera from ChCh for 7 days now...

Crazy!!! I've had the same thing!
I don't get it, you would think being in the same country and all it would be quicker. But I bought a flash from Christchurch which took 2 weeks to arrive.
Then I bought a $1700 lens from overseas which was landed in NZ and processed in customs within 36 hours and delivered to my house in under 48 hours.

noobi

2nd August 2011, 11:52

Some of the smaller bike shops wont put orders through the same day you tell them to get you a part. They will wait until theres more to get from that supplier, sometimes its a day, sometimes its the end of the week. Its poor on their part not to just absorb the shipping costs on every order they need to make so they keep the customer happy, instead of trying to save $10 on a inter island courier.
FYI, any part iv needed, for ktm, gasgas, or any gear I want, iv had in 3 days max through MR Motorcycles, who are a kawi/suzi shop. Although any shop should be able to emulate this type of customer service, its not particularly difficult.