"channellling the Pleideans"
stock the thing is as long as an oil tanker with a 19 inch front wheel and more rake and trail than you could shake a stick at. So it wouldnt need a steering damper, right?Originally Posted by jellywrestler
If you shorten the front end, jack up the back and fuck around with the geometry then it might but not sure OP is still doing that.?
I thought elections were decided by angry posts on social media. - F5 Dave
Highway Biker
Saw this elsewhere recently & thought it not too bad for a relatively "stock" look... ?
Hardcore Biker
I'll catch myself up on this one later tonight. I've been riding the old Kat in and out (great fun bit of an adjustment from the Blade). I might do a completely unreasonable comparison! I'll be getting the new Kat in for a look re-certification process tomorrow. I even rode the Kats back to back so will compare there also (new Kat is just so much faster, brutal fire breathing dragon).
Been fun having on in the traffic. It is horribly load I really really hate that so KEEN as to fix that (ideas for cheap exhaust on original Kat that does not look to shit or cost to much would be good). I will read all and post on latter, I've not read anything new yet so looking forward to that.
Hardcore Biker
Right. Yeah sounds like something I'd be thinking and you are right if it needs one then it will just have to get one. I'll find out on the track next week in Taupo! Keeping in mind I am no pro and will be going slow in group 4 and try load it up within my abilities and desire not to kill it as the day goes on. If it shakes the head then it will get a damper for sure (or more knowledge riding to see what it needs).
I remember the RF900 having a good shake of the head on certain bits of road giving it the beans but it stayed the course.
Hardcore Biker
I'll get some photos up later of the two together and do a measure to see if they are much different given the mods. It looks shorter between the wheels but could just be that smashingly comfortable seat.
Hardcore Biker
Kind of cool is that a gun mount at the front. That would be handy for right hand lane squatters.
The first big paint mission will be me this weekend with some spray cans doing a prime on the tank just to keep the rain off the bog. Oh it looks pretty rusty in the tank so I will revisit my other thread where people talk about cleaning out the rust. Mmmm Coke maybe? Works for old coins?
Hardcore Biker
OK so it would seem at least 2 cm shorter in the wheelbase (the new Kat being shorter than the original) but that is a fairly rough measure it is shorter but could be 1-3cm shorter in my basic estimation (not much room in there to do a better job).
Some more pics of them together
Hardcore Biker
The original Katana is suppose to have a GSX1100E Engine that was re-jetted to the Katana 1100SZ jets and therefore should be identical with a standard about 111HP. When I brought it I had the bike shop compression test it and it was a little down across the line and within 10PSI across them all. I've never ridden a proper 1100SZ and I cannot confirm the carbies etc so it might not be a full 1100SZ as it is, so I compare just the two bikes I have a 2016 Fireblade and a 7/11 Kat at least with some GSX1100 engine and normal GSX carbies with unknown jets.
1: No surprise the handling is a lot heavier and slower (no really)
2: The breaks are not great on the Kat I make plenty of room for breaking
3: The down low type power (not in the rev range) is powers of magnitude less
4: Power at decent rev in the Kat's range, I don't know it is to loud so I need a clear road to make that much noise
5: 4 gears take some getting use to (I am for ever trying to find that next gear all the time every ride)
6: You need to use the choke and you have to warm it up also it runs a bit erratic has not gas, heat, gear, clock etc gauges (no really 1983)
However riding the new Kat it is SO MUCH nicer. Breaks are decent (not blade but more weight etc). The Power is MUCH more like the blade. It comes on more aggressively and it wants to stay on but it is pretty decent and through the range more. I've not yet really taken it into the red through a few gears and I am sure it will run out of rev miles before 13,500 but I can live with it.
The real question is can I actually give up the Blade and sell it and accept I cannot chew through the traffic like I would?
Probably. Even after a few days on the standard Kat I started to take it through the traffic more and open it up more, filter etc.
This leads me to an interesting thought. I might have to paint the new one non-descriptive. It is a commuter not a show pony or trailer queen and I do tend to piss people off at times (cages). So glossy black with gun metal wheels might still look good and keep me off anyone's shit list (2 hours same commute every work day similar times). Make it not to loud and less recognisable but still nice. I am leaning this way for practical reasons. I do still like gun metal grey idea and that is likely generic enough to be less noticed. Certainly the traditional colours make me feel very identifiable and that is not a good thing.
Be great to see how I go on the track, nanna all day? God forbid I dump it! Or will I get into it and get some game on (my game is not flash on the blade even but I mean game for me). We will see.
Forum whore
2cm could be just the way the chains on each bike are adjusted.
Oh and it's 'brakes' not breaks...
Forum whore
there's also height of important points changing the rake and trail.
Hardcore Biker
Gimme a brake
Hardcore Biker
The original 7/11 verses the modified 7/11
The new one is amazing to ride compared to the old one. It very handles well at general speeds, feels very light and flickable.
The front tire is very pointy so it wants to turn in on a sharper corner but a new tire should sort that out.
Power is MUCH better through the range but the old bike is not a good compare to a good fresh 1100SZ in fact I remember the original bike seemed to perform better so perhaps it needs a tune up and just as likely a rebuild and possibly jets (not sure what they are potentially not true 1100SZ).
So the bones are good, really good. Also not being painted in the new supports and strengthening may be a bonus to certification (can see the welds which are all very good).
The chain has contacted the back tire (may need thinner tire) and is close to the frame (will have to see if that is ok). At least it is with the man who knows these things (and will be certified to certify bikes when the NZTA get through their list). He's been involved in plenty of custom bikes.
It was a real joy to ride today, great big smile all the way. Little hard on my wrist (throttle not position, position is great) but either it will be adapted or I will adapt. No real doing anything in a hurry so lots still to discover in Taupo next Friday. I am much happier about getting on the track now (so I might well change up to group 3 through the day all going well).
Back tire is a bit old but with good tread. Builder suggested it might be getting hard. Really I should change it but god it has been expensive recently! Just put a back foot on the Blade, just paid for clutch on old Kat etc. The floating mortgage portion is taking on water!
Still not killing the bike is always cheaper than cheeping out on something like tires.
Fuck the mortgage and ride on.
Forum whore
You may need to either go back & count the gears again, or get the gearbox fixed.
Hardcore Biker
Shit it really does have 5 gears
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...atana%2081.htm
I've ridden it a few 1000 kms (not loads like other bikes but a few). Hell in the last 7 days I've ridden it (5 * 75 = 375) and all that time (had the bike for some years) I thought it was a 4 speed. Mentally deficient? I have to wonder. Just spend some time in the shed dry shifting it out of disbelief of my own stupidity. Really that seals it from now on I am not listening to anything I say. I might ride a lot but clearly I know little (at least I don't pretend otherwise).
The 7/11 has a odd issue where the rev counter shows much higher than what it can be or is clearly doing by ear. Is that a feature of a 750 electrics and a 1100 engine? I don't know but given you cannot understand RPM by gear and I just change up and take no notice (until it runs out of gears) I just never counted them and had it in mind there where 4.
I amaze myself (and not in a good way).
Hardcore Biker
Come to think of it I seem to try change up from top on every bike I've owned even after all those KM's. That includes the blade at times (especially if changing between bikes a bit) it has 6 gears so perhaps there is little hope, switching about bikes, that will ever change (I don't do it if I stick to one bike for an extended period).
I can claim some level of being good at certain things. It would appear however it comes at a cost to other things..
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