Introducing Thumper

[javawocky]

Ok - I know its not technically a big bore single - but its my bike and I will call it what I want! :calm:

Picked her up on Sunday and haven't had time to take spectacular panoramic pictures yet, but had to share my excitement.

Was looking mainly at 600ish sports bikes, but after testing the SV out I was surprised. Awesome sound from the microns - lots of torque which is what I love and a comfy pillion seat for the misses. Plus its light enough for work and back. Just needed to adjust the forks down in the front to bring her down to a manageable hight. Plus she fitted well within the budget.

Anyway, there she is - SV1000S K6 24k , Micron cans :hug:

[vifferman]

Ok - I know its not technically a big bore single - but its my bike and I will call it what I want!
Not that I'm into names for bikes (it's a tad effete, unless you're gurrlie), but big single or not, it's an apt name for it.
Nice bike!
Congratulations. :niceone:

[Slyer]

You can call me flower if you want tooooo

[dipshit]

Nice. Looks good with the tinted screen.

You will probably only be able to raise the forks up through the triple clamps 5 or 6mm extra.

Ironically i traded my SV1000 in on a 600 screamer just yesterday. :whistle:

[javawocky]

Nice. Looks good with the tinted screen.

You will probably only be able to raise the forks up through the triple clamps 5 or 6mm extra.


:gob: I took about 15mm off the front. Mate of mine suggested I put a small cable tie on the forks as a marker to see how far they are traveling. When I lowered them I noticed a mark where they haven't traveled past in what may be a while. Hope I haven't taken too much off - will have to check what happens when I replace my front brake pads this weekend and start applying some harder riding.



Ironically i traded my SV1000 in on a 600 screamer just yesterday. :whistle:

I suppose its just a different experience. I plan on keeping Thumper for a good while, if cash allows the next one might be something like a Gixxer 600/750 - but right now, I can't wait for home time!

[dipshit]

I took about 15mm off the front. Mate of mine suggested I put a small cable tie on the forks as a marker to see how far they are traveling. When I lowered them I noticed a mark where they haven't traveled past in what may be a while. Hope I haven't taken too much off - will have to check what happens when I replace my front brake pads this weekend and start applying some harder riding.

It may be okay if you keep an eye on it. Also watch out for the front wheel making contact with the bottom of the radiator.

I raised my forks up that much as well so i could put the clip-ons on top of the top fork yoke... but i also increased the front preload to max to compensate. So net dropp was about 7mm.



I suppose its just a different experience. I plan on keeping Thumper for a good while, if cash allows the next one might be something like a Gixxer 600/750 - but right now, I can't wait for home time!

Different all right!

[javawocky]

Looks like I might have taken too much off (http://www.sv-portal.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21163)

[dipshit]

Looks like I might have taken too much off


Not necessarily. I did exactly that and had no problems whatsoever and found it made a big improvement...

http://www.sv-portal.com/forums/showthread.php?p=474075#post474075

I did however wind preload completely down to compensate. If i didn't do that then it may have bottomed out.

[javawocky]

Its funny that I had exactly the same though about moving the clamps up when I was adjusting my forks ;) I will have a play with the preload. I was worried about the stability issues that were talked about, but if she is stable up to 200 I reckon that's plenty for me.

Not quit sure I am ready to try them higher up just yet, if my wrists start to hurt I may conciser it.

I think I may still put it back to 10mm to be on the safe side as the ride hight is pretty low.

[dipshit]

I was worried about the stability issues that were talked about, but if she is stable up to 200 I reckon that's plenty for me.


Yeah, i had done 20,000km since then without any problems.

[Blaise]

Hi - nice bike. The mufflers (can they be called that on a SV1000?) look real nice. Must sound real nice.

Just picked up a SV K6 in black on monday. No flashly name brand cans though. Still a real sweet sound though.

Will have to keep an eye out on trademe for some stainless microns or sim.

Good pick of bike again.

[javawocky]

Hi - nice bike. The mufflers (can they be called that on a SV1000?) look real nice. Must sound real nice.

Just picked up a SV K6 in black on monday. No flashly name brand cans though. Still a real sweet sound though.

Will have to keep an eye out on trademe for some stainless microns or sim.

Good pick of bike again.

They do sound great, but for me right now they are too loud :ar15: - On the open road and at higher rpms it doesn't bother me its a low rpms and speeds that it actually hurts my ears the sound pressure is so high! I am an everyday all weather rider so she must be put right :angry2:

Heading down to Cycletreads this weekend to replace brake pads and get some fresh packing material which I hope will solve the problem.

Mmm, I reckon the Black one would look flash! Post a pic when you take some. Personally I like the black frame on the K6 more than the old aluminum ones

[Burtha]

welcome to da club - even though I only got mine 2 weeks ago also - fab arent they.
:yes:
although I'm not an everyday alweather rider I'll be interested in hearing more about ye handlebars.
Have already bought progrip714's and gloves with added padding in the palms for slow riding vibrations etc.
But CONGRATS - its all good!

[javawocky]

...I'll be interested in hearing more about ye handlebars...

Last night when I got home I adjusted the preload right in and put a zip tie on the shock to see how far up its traveling. This weekend will be going for more of a ride so will report back on Monday of my findings.

I also turned the turnover adjuster up a tad as it stalled a couple of times yesterday. Today it stalled once at the top of the drive, may need a little bit more.

[Blaise]

They do sound great, but for me right now they are too loud :ar15: - On the open road and at higher rpms it doesn't bother me its a low rpms and speeds that it actually hurts my ears the sound pressure is so high! I am an everyday all weather rider so she must be put right :angry2:

Heading down to Cycletreads this weekend to replace brake pads and get some fresh packing material which I hope will solve the problem.

Mmm, I reckon the Black one would look flash! Post a pic when you take some. Personally I like the black frame on the K6 more than the old aluminum ones

Nice set of new K7 mufflers on trade me at the mo. Was thinking about a spare set for my spare set of originals. Pick those up and save the microns for when you feel like being noisey.

Will post a pic this weekend when there is some daylight (and the rain stops). Got asked today if I had polished it yet. Cant stop taking it for rides to have time to polish it. Not much point when riding in the rain. Poor ol girl. Will give her the showroom sparkle this weekend.

[madbikeboy]

[QUOTE=javawocky;1129190658]:gob: I took about 15mm off the front. Mate of mine suggested I put a small cable tie on the forks as a marker to see how far they are traveling. When I lowered them I noticed a mark where they haven't traveled past in what may be a while. Hope I haven't taken too much off - will have to check what happens when I replace my front brake pads this weekend and start applying some harder riding.


[QUOTE]

15mm is a significant amount of fork to drop the yokes by. Be aware that by doing this, the steering head angle increases in steepness, the front may turn in faster, and may border on unstable if pushed.

If you need to lower the bike, suggest you PM Robert Taylor - he can give you the correct way of doing this.

On my GSXR1000, 6mm makes a REALLY big difference...

[javawocky]

Right, report back time.

Last weekend I took Thumper around some round abouts concentrating on leaning her over and checking how she reacts. Obviously it was low speed stuff, but from that I found not so nice handling ill which was predicted here by wiser bikers. Sure enough, it was fun to learn her over, but if there was the slightest bump the bike tended to oscillate (wobble :weird:) a little when it hit a bump. Quite weird if you ask me! So I decided its probably a good thing to raise the front again at some point.

This week I took the cage in for brakes and the wife wasn't too keen on driving the evil RG in to work, so I gave her a lift on thumper in the rain at 6:15am. When I got to work I noticed a burning plastic smell :doobey: so I investigated. It was coming from the radiator - sure enough the plastic protector grill was touching the radiator in the middle and melting! Yep, the front wheel has been coming right up and pushing the plastic back because the forks were too low - luckily it doesn't seam to have damaged the radiator - so yesterday I quickly pulled the forks up to about 5mm. Form the short ride I took handling seamed better, but its early days yet.

Anyway, moral of the story - don't drop your SV's forks too low - I recon 10mm is a maximum.

madbikeboy - I did contact the dude you recommended but sounds like he does Ohlin replacements which are a little pricey for me at this stage. I have heard of a guy who fabricates suspension linkages to lower bikes, I might try to get hold of him to see if they can do it for a reasonable buck.

For the moment its like riding my old MX bike ;) tall in the saddle.