[AtheK]

nice pics and great update on the brembo, thinking myself to get it for the 959.

[Xaos636]

Originally Posted by AtheK

nice pics and great update on the brembo, thinking myself to get it for the 959.

Thank you. That's a good place to start for brake upgrades. I have now completed around 2000kms with this setup and there is no brake fade at any temperatures, no sharp feel at times, no spongy feel at other times(these were my issues) and the brake feel and feedback has been really consistent. I would recommend to go for it

[Xaos636]

Upgraded the ASV shorty clutch levers to longer ones. Finally after a long wait, I got my hands on these. The shorties were all well and fine, till I used the long one on another bike. The stock clutch lever sits so far from the handle and your fingers needs a good stretch to reach them, which can get tiring in long runs coupled with traffic.

The long clutch levers give you so much area to use it, especially when you have bigger hands and I also felt the clutch pull to be so much lighter now compared to the shorter ones.

How it looks, before removing the shorter one.


The difference in length is very noticeable and have so much of useable area now.

[VijayAnand1]

Considering the way this thing looks, all these add-ons make it stand out even better. What was the price you paid for the MC setup, if you don't mind sharing it.

Cheers!
VJ

[Xaos636]

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

Considering the way this thing looks, all these add-ons make it stand out even better. What was the price you paid for the MC setup, if you don't mind sharing it.

Cheers!
VJ

Hei VJ, I am concentrating less on bling factor and more on better functionality for the machine. I have PM’d you the cost involved for the Brembo. I am in search of front Brembo M4 calipers from the stock 2014-19 Fireblade SP. New one costs a bomb, so search for a clean used one still continues.

Next one is the front fender extender, which I consider one of the most helpful accessory on any bike with a stock short mudguard. Got it from Puig along with the ASV clutch lever.

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by Xaos636

Hei VJ, I am concentrating less on bling factor and more on better functionality for the machine. I have PM’d you the cost involved for the Brembo. I am in search of front Brembo M4 calipers from the stock 2014-19 Fireblade SP. New one costs a bomb, so search for a clean used one still continues.

Next one is the front fender extender, which I consider one of the most helpful accessory on any bike with a stock short mudguard. Got it from Puig along with the ASV clutch lever.

I actually love a bike that's sweeter on the outside and meaner on the inside. Bling factors aside, all these add-ons to your Ducati and Krish's modified R15 are in fact practicality oriented. Bling is an over-used and undermined term, because sincerely the difference between a bling factor and an expensive accessory that's actually useful is a very thin line on the dance.

But hey, when today's folks consider the entire bike as a single bling factor... well that's another topic for another day.

But jokes apart, Ivin, thanks for the DM and your progressive updates. Would like to thank Krish here too, because , it would be considered a one-liner there in his thread. You both keep churning out quality brain-food updates. I am sincerely hoping to see you guys someday, all four of you, of course.

Cheers
VJ

[Odeen12]

Originally Posted by Xaos636

Upgraded the ASV shorty clutch levers to longer ones.

ASV levers are the bomb. I got introduced to these some 8 years ago. Had them on my Speed. Just amazing feel, the machining on these is top notch. Should last you a lifetime mate.
In my personal opinion anything that comes from Motocross is awesome!! Super stuff.

Honda is a such a beaut to ride. Wish you many many miles with her

R

[Xaos636]

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

But jokes apart, Ivin, thanks for the DM and your progressive updates. Would like to thank Krish here too, because , it would be considered a one-liner there in his thread. You both keep churning out quality brain-food updates. I am sincerely hoping to see you guys someday, all four of you, of course.

Cheers
VJ

Maybe once the bike builds are sorted, you get to see them in their complete form. But by the looks of it, mods are never ending. At every upgrade, I tell myself that I wont spend more on upgrades anymore, and this thought just last a day or two before I hit the internet again

Originally Posted by Odeen12

ASV levers are the bomb. I got introduced to these some 8 years ago. Had them on my Speed. Just amazing feel, the machining on these is top notch. Should last you a lifetime mate.

Honda is a such a beauty to ride. Wish you many many miles with her
R

Absolutely. They are perhaps the best I ever used as well. The quality is just outstanding.

Puig front fender extender

I have used these on my Ninja 300 and CBR650F, but skipped the R3 as the R3 already had a slightly longer stock mudguard. Perhaps the tiny mudguard has to do something with aerodynamics, else I don't know why they make them so tiny that it throws everything on the road to the radiator. On a rainy day, it even throws up through the fork gap on to the handlebars and instrument console as well. I got a chance to get the Puig ones through a friend travelling back home from the US of A and hand carried it to our shore. First impressions are good, and anyway it will be better. I used riveting(like the new HSRP number plate) instead of the flimsy clips given by Puig.

How it looks out of the box.


Tried the size of it. Matches the mudguard design to the T, as it should. i removed the mudguard and handed it over to a trusted friend who deals with these.


After riveting it. Inside and outside view.




The final look after mounting it back on the machine. Just looking at it we can see how much area it covers compared to stock, without compromising on the looks too.

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by Xaos636

Maybe once the bike builds are sorted, you get to see them in their complete form. But by the looks of it, mods are never ending. At every upgrade, I tell myself that I wont spend more on upgrades anymore, and this thought just last a day or two before I hit the internet again

Just like they say, more HP is never enough, so are the mods to make it unique.

I hope those TOKICO anchors are able to handle the fluid force offered by the Brembo MC. That is a neat looking fender. My mind thinks, painting that front half of that fender red and leaving the black flap as it is, would blend well and look stunner. Gotta say, they've designed it proportionate with right amount of flab and length, not much length making it look gawdy nor too little making it look skimpy, perfectly proportionate. This should reduce the downtime hunkering down and scrubbing post a rainy day session.

Cheers!
VJ

[Xaos636]

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

I hope those TOKICO anchors are able to handle the fluid force offered by the Brembo MC.

Not a 100%, Tokico's call out for help at times, but gets the job done much better than before. The workaround is, just don't get on a bike with a Brembo M50, Stylema or similar upto date caliper's. With the current upgrades done, its working just fine, especially with the inside thought that you have much better braking than any other 08-16 Blades out there

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

That is a neat looking fender. My mind thinks, painting that front half of that fender red and leaving the black flap as it is, would blend well and look stunner. Gotta say, they've designed it proportionate with right amount of flab and length, not much length making it look gawdy nor too little making it look skimpy, perfectly proportionate. This should reduce the downtime hunkering down and scrubbing post a rainy day session.

Cheers!
VJ

Or in simple terms, its going to be a massive help in rainy season, especially when someone like me who does not care about the weather to take the machine out. *cough @krishnaprasadgg and his R1 cough*. I have been thinking about a few panel color changes, but every next day I see the bike, I think that it looks just fine with the right amount of everything, much similar to the 2010-14 Repsol RC213V. Lets see what is in store for the future.

[krishnaprasadgg]

Originally Posted by Xaos636

Or in simple terms, its going to be a massive help in rainy season, especially when someone like me who does not care about the weather to take the machine out. *cough @krishnaprasadgg and his R1 cough*.

Low blow man..low blow. You’re way too ocd about some muck on your machines, tsk tsk.. Meanwhile I enjoy it and just clean it out when its time.

All jokes aside. I think maybe I’ll also just get one, having seen it work exceptionally well on your 650F i have no doubt it’ll do the same for the blade too. So now it is high up on the list.

Cheers
Krishna

[Xaos636]

Work came calling for an unplanned quick office meeting last week and I took the Blade for a joy run to Bangalore and back in a span of 2 days. The chain of the Blade is shot after 13.5k kms(one side too tight, other side too loose) and it needed a tightening every 200 kms and also a rear brake pad replacement was almost up.

Still decided to go ahead with the Blade as I wanted to try the new Mysore- Bangalore expressway before it closes down for motorcycles.

A freezing Waynad morning(12-13 degrees) made sure I need more tea/coffee breaks than usual.


Just entering the new expressway and took a breakfast break at a decent restaurant.


The road layout of the expressway could have been a lot better, some areas shows poor road work and unwanted curves, and bridges becoming smaller than the connecting roads comes as a surprise. I wonder which engineer supervised this one. Its very clear that some unwanted curves have been made to save some apartments as you reach closer to Bangalore. Engineering fails, money/contacts win.


Went to Highlander for chain tightening and replaced the rear brake pads as well.


A bit more life was left, but decided to change it anyway.




New DP pads.


Instructions explains us to give the pads 250kms for setting in, as usual with all the pads.


Mounted the new pads.


Return ride pics. The new highway can be covered inside 1.5 hours, but there are dangers lying in the dark as well. Lorries without tail lights and scooters carrying load like a small lorry can be a disaster waiting to happen. Extremely low speed tractors, scooters and auto's are definitely a cause for concern. However I hope they allow motorcycles atleast above 350cc or 500cc.




At the Waynad ghats.

[Sman999]

@Xaos636 I wonder why No tank or tail bag for the trip?

[Xaos636]

Originally Posted by Sman999

@Xaos636 I wonder why No tank or tail bag for the trip?

I dont use a tank bag, and bunchee chords scratching up my tail made me do away with a backpack

[Sman999]

Originally Posted by Xaos636

I dont use a tank bag, and bunchee chords scratching up my tail made me do away with a backpack

oh.. Backpacks take a heavy toll on the shoulders and back, especially on sports tourers/super sports. So i prefer a tank bag or tail bag but i make sure nothing scratches the paint work. Its doable you should try it sometimes

Anyways if you can physically manage the toll then no problem. But for long term i humbly suggest you look for alternatives.