By the way, I can be reached at (coded 'cause I think it fools net bots)
text: sex 1 too ate 6 eight 3 for 1 fore
email: mudduc AT comcast DOT net
Or by PM but I don't check that very often.

Once I get the two bikes complete I'm going to have a bunch of extra stuff to sell off. Anyone who feels like coming over and completing the bikes for me can just have all the extra stuff (controls, signals, cush-drives, wheels, etc.) As it is, I'll probably be a year+ before I get down to where I know what I'll no longer need.

Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

 

Nobody at rc51foru... had a reply for this post:

Way back when, 2005ish, I needed the B bike ready for the track and it was running weird. I tracked the problem down to the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) which wasn't (and still isn't) sold as a separate part.

So I pulled the whole assembly from the A bike. Over the next few years, the A bike donated other parts for the track bike and hasn't been back together since but _will_ be by April.

For the B bike I still need a fuel pump and working throttle body. I purchased a "working" system 5 or 6 years ago but I'm not positive now which was which. My one nice clean working throttle body assembly is now installed in the A bike. I'd like to test and assemble the best of what is left for the B bike but both TPS test as bad based on the manual's test.

I read way back when that you could use a TPS from a Civic or something. I'm pretty sure that I (embedded systems programmer) and my buddy (EE major) could work out a calibration for it but I haven't yet found anything online.

Questions:
1. Did anyone see anything about using a Honda car part for the TPS? If so, what year/make/model car and was there a calibration procedure?
2. Is there any market for the extra throttle body with bad sensor if I fixed the spare as well? Would anyone even want a repaired throttle body assembly with new 2nd-sourced TPS?

Thanks for the consideration and response.

Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

 

Akrapovic cans back back in shape

I just got the Akrapovic cans back from my buddy.
He cut down one inner core and put on the new tube so that it matches the length of my other can and took the cracked long tube and a brand new CF tube as payment.

I think he did a great job!

I'm sending the headers to Jet Hot for in and out coating. Filled out their forms two days ago and haven't heard back yet. Going for "Black" not "Flat Black" so they will match the frame better (I hope).

Anyone know if I need to mask off the overlapping parts of the headers or will they still fit after ceramic coat is added? Answered: Jet Hot says coat both sides no masking. The coating is thin enough that they need at most a little light rubbing with scotch guard to get it back together again.

Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

 

Jet Hot quoted the header job:
The cost to coat your part in Extreme 1300 2002 Black finish is $270 plus the cost of return shipping.

The same job at Performance Coatings...Auburn WA looks like it would be about $180 based on their antiquated web-site. But they want me to print-out and mail in an order form so I decided to ask Jet Hot if they would do two sets of SP1 headers for around $400. I want to unwrap the headers on the "B" bike and do them too and maybe save on setup fees by doing both at once.

I'll let you all know what they say.

Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

 

*subscribed*:thumb:

And if I may just offer a suggestion. If you're going to flood your posts with pictures. LIKE I DO , using a web host is much easier on the viewer, as they are larger and ready to view without having to open each one individually to properly view. Other than that, looking forward to more:thumb:

 

That looks like two awesome builds.

If I was closer, I would help.

For me, wrenching is a stress reliever.

So I say, take your time and make them right.

In the big scheme of things, It looks like you really don't have far to go.

If they have been sitting that long, just try to remember that sound at roll on!!

That will motivate you.

 

Bike B's last ride

I worked on Bike B a bit today as new parts just came in.

Of the two, Bike B was the last running on the track or road. I think I dumped it and caused its current damage in Fall of 2009. It was a cool morning, maybe 40 or 45 degrees-F. Warm enough, I thought as I turned right onto the 50 mph posted road that brings me to the freeway after a few miles.

Bike B has the full system titanium Akrapovics, modified air filters, CF snorkel with flapper bypass, Power Commander II and makes enough power to do nice 2nd gear power wheelies--which I did with great enjoyment for about 1/4 mile.

I put the front wheel back on the ground in plenty of time to make the stop required at the 4 way stop sign about 1/2 mile from my side street (now replaced by a stop light so stops are seldom required). Anyway, I was feeling so good from the epic wheelie that I was picturing how cool it would look to pull the back up in the air for the last few hundred feet to the stop sign and pulled the front lever hard.

SLAM. No warning. No squirming. Just SLAM on the ground as if the front tire was on ice.

Not my first or last stupid crash but the last time I forget that I'm running cold race rubber on a street bike. In fact, I make a point to use only street tires on the street now. Race tires don't work well on the street and definitely don't give any grip after rolling for just a few feet on a cold day.

Don't be me.

Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

 

Got B bike parts from 'Aeh' today

Parts!

Got these from 'Aeh'. Nice and clean and complete as described. Thanks Aaron!

They are for the B bike. I think they are all the parts I need besides tires to get that bike back on the road. However, I still have some bodywork repairs and I'd like to unwrap and ceramic coat the headers.

But, Aaron's parts have got me motivated so I pulled the B bike out of the corner and got it ready to take off the pipes.

 

Bike B bodywork damage

Here is a close-up of the B bike bodywork damage:

 

B Bike scuff on left pipe

I think I have a new titanium band and enough rivets to replace the scuffed band and get the left pipe looking good again. I'm going to unwrap and ceramic code the headers on Bike B when I do them for Bike A. I hope the headers are still in good shape under the wrap.

 

Tanks for Bike B

To finish up today's sharing, here are pictures of the two tanks for Bike B. The first is a carbon/Kevlar signed by Nicky Hayden and Miguel DuHamel. That tank is going to stay on the wall.

The tank I'm going to use looks pretty good but has a ding here or there. I'll have to verify it doesn't have rust or holes after sitting on the wall for 8 years. The undertail for Bike B is in this picture as well.

 

I must say Kent, I'm glad you decided to share this here:thumb:

And that's one helluva "B" bike son:eyebrows:


Oh, and "thanks" for the better pic links. They're awesomeatriot:

 

Again, What Ian said.

Bike "B" is sweet!!

 

Now you need Edwards to sign that tank. :thumb:

 

Would if I could. Who's near the Texas Tornado Boot Camp? I'll have to make it down there some day.

 

Stripped the "B" bike.

Did some work on the "B" bike today.
Got her naked:

Stored all the bits up on the pegboard for safe keeping:

Pulled off the pipes and unwrapped them for sending to Hot Jet. Here's a pile of fiberglass wrap, hardly used, free for anyone who wants it.

Here are some brand-new packs of wrap heading for eBay. I'm never going to use the stuff again. Anyone want to make an offer?

Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

 

Need a new mid-pipe or repair this?

Looks like the header wrap was covering up a past sin. Seems like I should repair or replace this before sending it out to Jet Hot. Wouldn't want to put that beautiful finish on a part that will show gouges through the coating.

Anyone have a new right side mid I can buy? Akrapovic preferred but is Ladybird a direct replacement? Is this going to bend and buff out?

My oil fill plug is still safety wired from her last track time 8 years ago and it looks like the clutch cover survived ok. Too bad 'cause an excuse to pick up that engraved cover from 02RC, clutch-cover, would be nice.

Later,
Kent Larson from Minnesota

 

Any update???

 

Thanks for the prompt. I need help to keep this going. Work has given me a ton of overtime for the next two or three months. It will help getting money for these projects but will rob me of time.

Not much going on as I'm waiting for the headers to come back from Jet Hot. They called to get credit card information and quoted me $545 for two sets of Akrapovic headers in Satin Black. Since they called, they must be getting ready to do them up. Project is on hold until I get the headers back in a few weeks.

I had a friend heat up and rub out the dent in the one mid-pipe and then took a polishing wheel to it to smooth out the scratches. Didn't get a picture since I was in a hurry to get them shipped off to Jet Hot but it came out, eh, let's say 'better'. I'll provide a close up once the parts are coated and ready to mount.

Meanwhile I spent some time putting together this scoot; A 2001 Aprilia RS50 (now a 86cc).

The RS50 engine had been sitting on my bench for the last 6 years after I destroyed the 5th gear treating it like my WR250R. It's now all back together and running so I can use it as a bad-weather replacement once I sell the WR.

Oh, I also got some parts from my buddy (well acquaintance) Eric Wood of Woodcraft Technologies. I decided to go all stock except for paint job on the 'A' bike and move all the race stuff (Ohlins Shock, Magnesium Subframe, Racetech Forks, Rearsets, etc.) to the 'B' bike.

I also decided to go low-key, race focused instead of gold and gaudy (not that there's anything wrong with that). Which is why I sold off the Gold Sato rearsets. I'm going to move my Woodcraft rearsets from the 'A' bike and put them on the 'B' bike. Since I hated having to use the OEM brake lever with the Woodcraft setup, I asked Eric if there was something we could use from his catalog. He came up with the '00 F4 brake lever to try. I'll get this stuff mounted up next weekend and post pictures of how it turned out.

Eric even tossed in a t-shirt so I sent him a copy of my book as a thank-you.

I'll post results of the rearset experiment this weekend.

Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

 

I really like the Aprilia!!

Thanks for the update.

Looking forward to seeing them come together.

 

Looking forward to seeing them come together.

Ya. Me too. Just takes time, money and enthusiasm. Never seem to have all three at the same time.

 

this is awesome!

 

Got a box back from Jet Hot yesterday!

It had these inside:

Look great! Can't wait to get them mounted but doing taxes may have priority. The damaged piece came out pretty good. Here's what it looked like before treatment:

I had a friend heat it up and push out the dent as much as possible. Then I gave it some buffing with a fine-grit sandpaper wheel and sent it out for ceramic coating. If you get it reflecting light just right, it is still definitely noticeable but not too bad.

The flaw disappears in the shadows:

I'll try to make some progress soon and post pictures of bikes being put together. I have everything I need now to complete the 'A' bike. The 'B' bike still needs some fairing repair and I'm soooo tempted to add the Ohlins forks and custom cooling kit offered over here:
Forks, Front Mount

More progress soon, I hope...meanwhile, here's another picture of my RC50 from my book "Motorcycle Track Day Handbook" (Google it but don't buy it. Ask me for a signed copy instead.)

Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

 

progress...? I like progress :thumb:

 

The exhaust came out really nice!