What I have done to my RSV ths year.

[grubsie]

Been somewhat busy with the work I've done to my "new to me last fall" '08 RSV in the past 5 weeks.

The bike had only 5K miles on it when I bought it. (6K now) Think I should be set for a while.

 

 

Took the Baron's rear lowering kit off my '02 RSV with the intent to put it on the '08. Still debating whether I am going to do it or not.

 

New Mobil 1 V-Twin oil and Mobil 1 filter

 

Handlebar risers that I had customized at my friends machine shop

 

Avon Cobra tires

 

Cleaned and re-greased the splines and pins

 

Kuryakin highway pegs

 

New windshield 13"

 

Black leather clutch and brake lever covers

 

New fork seals - one was leaking causing a sag - real fun job - previous owner probably put an air hose to it.

 

10w Belray fork oil

 

EBC semi-sintered brake pads all the way around

 

New brake fluid front and rear

 

Installed Dion's ignition bypass switch

 

Die electric greased every connector I could find in the fairing, under the tank and under the fuse cover

 

Plug the AIS

 

 

To do list:

Barnett clutch pressure plate - Only 6K on bike at present so I think I have a while

 

Hagon rear shock - still have a few miles before having to switch yet

 

Upgraded speakers and add an amp.

 

Go to some yard sales to get me some cassettes.

 

Ride it like I stole it and ride it until I can't anymore.

 

What has anyone else done? Always looking for ideas.

Edited May 7, 2017 by grubsie

[Rodburner]

have you put your lowering kit on yet? did you not feel any difference between the 02 with the lowering kit and the 08 without it?

I raised the rear a few years back to level things out and recently put the 130 front tire on. its working pretty good but I would still like

more of my feet on the ground. I was thing about having the seat done but than I would be more cramped to the floor boards.

Did you have trouble dragging the pipes going into parking lots?

[grubsie]

have you put your lowering kit on yet? did you not feel any difference between the 02 with the lowering kit and the 08 without it?

I raised the rear a few years back to level things out and recently put the 130 front tire on. its working pretty good but I would still like

more of my feet on the ground. I was thing about having the seat done but than I would be more cramped to the floor boards.

Did you have trouble dragging the pipes going into parking lots?

 

I haven't put the rear lowering kit on yet although I am thinking about putting it on over the winter. When I had it on the the 02 it didn't drag the stock mufflers. When I put my Vance&Hines Monster Oval mufflers on they dragged when I turned on to , or exited steep inclines so went back to stock. I also lowered the front end 7/8" on the 02 which really helped in getting my feet flat footed on the ground.

 

There isn't much difference in feel from the 02 with the lowering kit and the 08 without as far as sitting on the bike goes for being flat footed. The 02 was a Midnight Venture and the seats on those are much stiffer than the pillow seats on my standard 08. Seats do make a difference. The softness of seat on my 08 made my decision not to put the rear lowering kit on for this season. Since it wasn't lowered, I have been running with the monster ovals and no dragging. I put custom modified handlebar risers on that allowed me to lower the from 1 1/4" by raising the fork tubes in the triple trees which made a huge handling difference along with lowering the bike some more. After hitting a huge pot hole, I wound up trimming 5/8" off the bottom of the lower fork tins/covers because the because the front fender mounting ears on the fork lowers hit the tins on impact. That solved the problem. The lower fork tins still cover the lowers if I put the fork tubes back in stock position by about 1/8" if I wanted to go back that way. I also put on Avon Cobra tires which have a lower profile than most other tires which helps lower the bike a little more, not to mention that these tires stick like glue. I like them so much that I now have them on all my other street bikes.

 

If I lower the rear this winter which most likely happen, I will also cut the length of the Monster Ovals so they just reach beyond the rear of the saddlebags. I think the reason they dragged when I had them on the 02 was because they extended about 3 1/2" beyond the rear of the saddlebags.

[videoarizona]

Finally got out for a ride this morning after some work on the RSV.

 

I put on new air cleaners, took the diaphragms out and cleaned them (no pinholes) and the carbs with carb cleaner, cleaned and gapped the iridium plugs (looked good). Balanced the carbs.

 

Amazing difference for so little work!

 

She pulled strongly right from the start all the way up to the limiter. Never had that happen before. I was shocked, to put it mildly. Almost like she was running from a 1st Gen!! And my 1st Gen is fast...

 

I'm pleased.....but...(there is always a "but").... My mpg's are still down. 1st bar on gas gauge dropped around 35 miles. second on 52 miles. That usually indicates about 35 mpg's from past experiences. She idles better, runs better, pulls stronger, but it seems like no increase in MPGs. It could be the nature of the beast. I normally get 38 mpgs at 75 true. But for the past few months, around 35 mpgs on the highway...that's why I did some maintenance on her. And no, I wasn't on the throttle more than twice. Rest of time was cruising.

 

Only thing different is the gas formula is still on "summer". Crap stuff. I'll reserve judgement on that being the problem after we go back to winter formula (whatever that is). Thanks California.

 

Don't think I missed anything. Just reporting in.

Edited October 8, 2017 by videoarizona
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