Blimmey!

I got my Gixer Thou a few weeks ago, and due to the crap weather I is
still running it in.

Over the weekend SWMBO suggested that we go to some friends [1] for a
drink on the bike [2]. We discussed what sort of kit she might need;
helmet, gloves & a good sturdy jacket.

So off she trundles in the family car [3], to look for a Helmet and a
Jacket that will do for riding and generally every day use.

Well I'll be dipped...if she hasn't come back 250 GBP lighter with a
pretty reasonable lid and a nice Heine Gericke two piece leather suit,
gloves 'n all!

And to top it off, she's even got the colors pretty close, too!.

That's what I call a seal of approval.

Mind ewe; I over heard her saying to a mate of hers on the phone last
night, "...oh it'll be al right, Mike's still running it in." Hmm I
wonder?

[1] About 15 miles
[2]Tonight Wednesday
[3] Sensible like

 

Black?

 

The K1/2 was a rather generous pillion perch. The K4 looks a bit less
friendly. The K5 is R1 territory.
You can get a neat little grab rail for the Gixxer with a small rack.
Loz has one he might dispose of, may fit yours too.

Hog

 

LOL VG

 

Hmm don't want her to get too much of a good idea. Might cramp the
style ;-)

 

'Hog says...

I'm keeping the sportsrack for my trip to Malta. It wouldn't fit a K4
anyway.

Btw. I took those carbon covers off the frame today and was pleasantly
greeted by perfect frame rails. I'll stick them back on should I ever
get my arse round to booking a track day. I also spray painted the rear
light lens gloss black leaving just the two round sections showing red,
it looks 100 times neater from behind now. I didn't have any trouble
removing the bulb holder plate, I dunno what all the fuss was about.

 

Black Mike says...

You mean to say you didn't leave the seat hump on and remove the
footrest hangers and replace them with one exhaust bracket from new?

What's up with you man?

 

Oh yer. I best get my act together.

 

To be honest if were to travel, I'd probably go for something like a
tail pack and panniers. I can't see us getting away from the kids for
too many years.

Plus I don't think she would be too keen on the kind of riding holiday
I would have in mind :0)

I did look at a Yoshi pipe, but can't justify one...just yet.

 

Black Mike says...

I'm lucky that I don't have that problem anymore. The gixer rear seat
can easily cope with tailpack and panniers. I want the sportsrack on
there to carry a little more clothing for my meander down to Salerno.

I heard a Gixer Thou with a Yoshi TRS Tri-Oval can on Monday evening.
It wasn't at all loud but did have a lovely deep growl rather than a
sharp edged bark, that's more the kind of pipe I'd go for. I've also
been looking on eBay at BS approved Akropovic cans with a removeable
legal baffle.

 

What's the difference between the can and a full system; performance
wise?

There was a Tri Oval on ebay...now where was it...
No the one I was looking at has gone; but there are a couple of others
on there now.

 

Black Mike says...

http://photo.noddingdogs.org/98/g9893.jpg

I'm watching a couple at the moment, I may buy one but I'm not sure
yet. I just have this aversion to loud cans, but they do look better
than the stock one.

 

Oh OK

FX/ looks at shoes

 

Black Mike says...

Well, you don't expect me to know about these sorts of things do you?

 

Well I guess I gave it no thought. However, you may have been
secretly reading up on such delights ;-)

 

Black Mike says...

I have.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7975714083&rd=1
&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

This is one of the Tri-Oval cans I'm watching, there are two dyno
charts at the bottom of the page. I can't find one for the full system
though.

I like the way the torque curve is smoother and slightly higher in the
midrange, which is where I use the bike most. There isn't a huge amount
of difference in power until you get to the upper regions of the tacho,
where it gains about 5 or 6 hp. At least it hasn't robbed power
anywhere to shove it somewhere else.

 

Why I told you they were

Why did you take them off!

Cheek! I just said it wasn't the nicest bit of kit around

'Hog

 

'Hog says...

For the same reason I took the tank cover off. I like seeing the frame
as it should be. I can see exactly why they're needed on the track. A
young lass[1] who turned up at Bear's Swindon gaff with her R6 had a
frame that looked like it had been sandblasted. She'd had a slowish off
at Mallory and the gravel had destroyed the finish along the whole side
of the bike. Had she had protectors on the damage would certainly have
been minimised. For road use I think they're a bit unnecessary and make
the bike look like it's got a huge dent behind them.

It certainly looks a bit better now. You'd have thought Harris would
have used a slightly more upmarket rear light lens though.

[1] She worked for TWO Mag, was a mate of one of Bear's London friends.

 

Do they come left handed, then? ;-)

It generally seems to be good. We went out last night and for someone
who's pretty nervous and just ain't used to going too fast, she did
very well. She did stress a little on the smaller bumpier lanes at
70mph.

Still she still happy to keep going out, with a view to getting more
relaxed about it all.

I don't think it went above 5k rpm last night; which is really a
credit to the motor.

 

I don't think I want to know that. ;-)