Ok here's the skinny: I was planning on doing a combined site seeing/racing tour Down South over the Chrissie break, re-aquainting myself with where I grew up (North Otago), and giving it a squirt at a couple of the National events (Clubmans only, nuthin' too serious here fella). All sorts of plans were made, bits and bobs purchased, a top end service organised for the poor ol' R1.....and that's where things fell in a heap.
The guys found major valve recession problems, with zero cam to valve clearance and obvious poor sealing on lotsa valves.
The bike is fitted with a ram air air-box, which is notoriously difficult to tune with carbs and I always thought the low end "fluffiness" (it's a prick to get off the line without going "US Postal" on the clutch) was a result of this. Ha, more like the valves have been on the way out for quite some time... It would idle ok and howl up to redline ok, but just under load, at low revs, it would tend to bog.
I'm used to being passed into/around corners ("after you sir"..."no, after you sir, I insist") but being passed by Mr Poo's Gixxer 750 in a straight line even allowing for a better run out of a corner was a bit disappointing and has had me wondering for a wee while now.
I had a few choices really, one being just shim it up and flog it off quick smart. I like to think you get what you give so dumping something like that on somebody else was never going to sit very well with me.
The bike is actually my missus' bike from Oz (I had to sell my bike) and has a mildly interesting history (to us anyway), having spent most of it's life as a friends' racebike so the valve recession isn't a complete suprise. It's also perfect for us in that I've accumulated extra rims and spares to go with the race kit when I wanna pootle around the track. We put it back on the road (yep, the missus got her hands dirty too, helping to refit the starter gears/motor, alternator, harness etc), painted her up etc, so she was always keen to hang onto it. And realistically I'm not gonna be any quicker on a new bike, and Poos will still pass me (hopefully not in a straight line!) no matter how much I'd like one, 'cos I just don't get to ride very often.
Anyway the decision was made to do it once and do it right, so the engine was shipped off for what has turned out to be a complete set of valves (bastard 20 valve head!) tickle up the ports, revised cams etc.....all of which takes time....and a shocking amount of dosh.
Cutting to the chase, after nearly three months off the road the bloody thing should be nearly ready when I get home next week, but is gonna need setting up on a dyno.
So, can someone recommend a good dyno operator who doesn't mind getting their hands dirty with a set of carbs between Wellington and Palmerston North?
I'm in the Wairarapa so it doesn't make that much difference to go the extra distance to Palmy for a good recommendation. I really don't want to have to take pot luck and be dicked around by someone who'd rather have their head in a laptop than their hands on the ol' girls dirty bits (the bike, you grubby bugger!).
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Originally Posted by Sparky Bills
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