Your Opinions on Modifications Please

[The Stranger:Me]

Thank you Bonez and SPman, and yeah I'm a member there already. Been sorting out which mods are worth making from the members there.

[The_Dover]

One thing regarding mods is insurance. If you chuck it down the road, as some of us are prone to doing, will you get an sort of cover for the mods?

Spending a couple of grand extra on goodies and then losing them when you run out of talent is a pisser.

[pritch]

There is another option when it's time to sell, although maybe less so for an X11.

Re-install the original hardware and sell the "fruit salad" separately on Trade Me.

It was somebody else doing that which enabled me to buy my Ohlins.

[Phenoix]

One thing regarding mods is insurance. If you chuck it down the road, as some of us are prone to doing, will you get an sort of cover for the mods?

Spending a couple of grand extra on goodies and then losing them when you run out of talent is a pisser.

Im sure Chistine will be able to sort out a good deal

But it will be interesting to see what you do to your bike, maybe a tweaty horn or something ?

[R6_kid:Me]

But it will be interesting to see what you do to your bike, maybe a tweaty horn or something ?

Maybe he could put a cool white fibreglass fairing on it :spudbn:

[Gremlin]

I don't think mods add value to a bike as a potential buyer...

but, when looking at the few zx7r's on the market, my opinion was swayed a bit by the mods for a simple reason. The potential cost of having to make those mods myself. Jumping 500cc and tourer to sportsbike, I figured better rear suspension (and brakes) might be a good idea.

So it doesn't increase the value, but does make it more attractive over other offerings. That said, I believe you have the only 1 in NZ?? Or 1 of 2?? So not exactly many around.

Anyway, you do the mods because you enjoy them, not because of how much you can sell them for.

[scumdog]

How many seconds/ tenths of seconds did it take off your 1/4 mile time?
I spent $1,700 taking a whole second of my F100s (Old 1955 Ford pick-up truck) time.
So I would expect you to have achieved about a 3 second improvement in you time??
Or am I a bit naive (sp)?

[Phenoix]

Maybe he could put a cool white fibreglass fairing on it :spudbn:

Hell yea, bring on the white, its the only way I found it in the pack of a
1000's bikes :P
But I am trying to decide on a new colour, and pink WONT go with the leathers

[The Stranger:Me]

How many seconds/ tenths of seconds did it take off your 1/4 mile time?
I spent $1,700 taking a whole second of my F100s (Old 1955 Ford pick-up truck) time.
So I would expect you to have achieved about a 3 second improvement in you time??
Or am I a bit naive (sp)?

You really don't like corners do you?

The cost to reduce the quarter mile time is relative to the start point.
In general terms it is easier to reduce 1 second if you start at 20 seconds than to reduce 1 second if you start at 10 seconds

[The Stranger:Me]

Maybe he could put a cool white fibreglass fairing on it :spudbn:

Don't be afraid to go naked Gareth, you might enjoy it.

[scumdog]

You really don't like corners do you?

The cost to reduce the quarter mile time is relative to the start point.
In general terms it is easier to reduce 1 second if you start at 20 seconds than to reduce 1 second if you start at 10 seconds

Hmm, well not in my 'lorry' but how DO you measure the effect of all the mods??

[The Stranger:Me]

Hmm, well not in my 'lorry' but how DO you measure the effect of all the mods??

That is going to mean different things to different people.

For some it is the look and they will spend big money on looks, how do you measure that - Shows I guess? how many additional chicks you pull per $1,000 spent?

You can measure an effect on a Dyno for a strictly technical assessment.

For me though I will measure the effect by looking at the improvement (or otherwise) in acceleration, drivability, cornering, safety and enjoyment. Probably with more emphasis on the last one.

[The Stranger:Me]

Well I installed the front springs a few weeks back, and I must say they are well worth it. At only about $250.00 for new springs and oil ther is a huge benefit in this case anyway.

One comment in the information sent me by Robert Taylor was along the lines "correct spring rate is everything" having now experienced the effects I must say that is absolutely correct.

Big bumps are smoother, I am able to carry more speed through the corner with confidence. An excellent upgrade, and I venture to think probably the best value for money upgrade I could make to my bike.

Today I fitted the new Ohlins shock/spring unit.
Again, what a huge difference. The bike is riding a bit higher, which feels a little strange.
The bike sits near flat now, whether braking or accelerating, which feels real nice and is confidence inspiring.
You really notice a difference on sunken manholes and rough road. The bike just sits there. Instead of aiming to avoid them I have been aiming for them and you really don't notice them at all.

I haven't given it a good wind up yet, but Clive road in Mt Eden form bottom to top has a nice right hander then into a nice left hander, with a twist, the hill crests on the exit of the left hander. You come up there banked over and carrying too much speed and the bike jumps sideways. The new rear handled it real well today.

It has made such a huge difference, any bike I purchase in future will have the suspension done straight away.

Next up will be a Power Commander to take full advantage of the cans and air filter, then that will do it for a while.

[bugjuice]

it's actually nice to hear of someone looking at the suspension, steering and stopping of a machine, rather than just trying to make it go faster with engine mods..

Personally, if I see a modified bike, I think one of two things;

First I look at the bike overall. If the tyres are fairly well rounded, and the bike doesn't look too shabby (you expect a bike to be ridden now..), then it's a rider who appreciates their machine and looks after it well.

If the tyres are getting square, the bike is filthy and hasn't seen soap for a while, shabby in places and just neglected, then it's a potential squid, who wouldn't give a crap about the bike. Things like oil, filters and brake pads are most likely screaming to be changed..

The first I'd buy with no hesitation.
The second I'd bargain like hell, and still wonder..

You'll never get back the money for the mods, so forget that idea. But you will retain the value of the bike, because I know you look after it. Compared to bikes of equal value and spec, with the extra mods, I think you'd be able to confidently add some onto the base value imo

[TLDV8]

I don't think the amount of mods on a bike is a very good indicator of thrashedness, lots of people put all the $$$ bling on their bikes & still ride like nannas.

Cheers
Clint

It works for me,i spend most of my time looking in shop windows
*
Suspension mods are money well spent as far as ride improvement..but you will not get that money back at resale,so its better to remove as much as you can as said already.
With Mods the keyword is You.
As long as money spent doesn't become a liability in actually using the bike,no worries.