[hiren.mistry]

Originally Posted by N1Krider_R

3rd Service - 20-01-2024


Vinayak at Anzen was the service advisor who took all the details and checked for any problems. Everything was ok, just had to adjust the chain slack. Engine oil replacement was recommended and Airfilter cleaning was planned, he also said that they will not be washing the bike due to some issue at their end. Everything was ok upto this point. As he continued with his inspection and taking photos, Vinayak observed that the brake pads on the front rotors were up for replacement and had 20% life left in them. My heart skipped a beat and on listening the cost of the OEM replacement pads my wallet also trembled. He quoted a cool 12,000/- rupees, and asked if we could go ahead and replace. Without any research and hesitation, I said please change and left the SVC.


Next day rode 100kms to check if everything was ok and parked the bike for adventures to come ahead.

Hey Rohan,
Sorry for the rather delayed response, I'm surprised to see you go through your brake pads at 10K KMS, you need to ease up on the throttle hand a bit.

You'd can't ever go wrong with sticking to OEM parts, but keep an eye on EBC pads during the next change. My bike is still on the stock pads as it nears 14k KMS.

Cheers
Hiren

[N1Krider_R]

Originally Posted by hiren.mistry

Hey Rohan,
Sorry for the rather delayed response, I'm surprised to see you go through your brake pads at 10K KMS, you need to ease up on the throttle hand a bit.

You'd can't ever go wrong with sticking to OEM parts, but keep an eye on EBC pads during the next change. My bike is still on the stock pads as it nears 14k KMS.

Cheers
Hiren

Thanks Hiren, will check out the EBC pads next time.
I also received advice on utilizing engine braking often, considering the bike already has a slipper clutch and a downshift auto-blipper.

Utilizing your advice on going easy on the throttle combined with engine braking I think the new set should last longer.

[N1Krider_R]

Quick update : New Arrow Exhaust Installed

It will almost be a year next month when we got the Nimbus home, so far we have done 14,000 kms. While we are a month early, I have already jumped the gun while browsing the parts catalogue.

Recently did a 2K kms trip doing a bucket list circuit of Gujarat, and while the trip progressed the itch to install a after-market exhaust was getting unbearable. Once back home I looked up on the internet on the best exhaust system for Nimbus, the usual suspects were Akrapovic, Arrow and Scorpion. So we dwelled deeper on YouTube to find the best symphony creating can, as performance was not on the cards. Given the fact that 95% of us install these exhausts only for the sound and aesthetics, and never in my life i would be able to extract all those 142 horses or that 110 nm of earth moving torque.

Spoke to a couple of friends and a fellow Team bhpian @hiren.mistry on probable options. Full system was ruled out for the fact that it would be extremely loud for the purpose this bike is built for. I agreed, as it would be really head numbing to ride 500-1000 km days with loud full system exhausts. So, the search begun for Slip-On exhausts. Akrapovic was out of the list first given how exquisite and expensive their products are, Scorpion was also out as only a race can (shorty) was available. Arrow had the Indy race exhaust on offer for INR 57k, which was right in the sweet spot in terms of both cost and required output.

I had experienced the Arrow slip-on earlier at the Kawasaki dealership on the same bike. So, the gut instinct was also to go with the tried and tested option. I admit that i would have loved to have the Akrapovic slip-on, but it was double the cost. Same goes with Scorpion slip-on, but again it was also expensive and loudest of the lot. You get the gist; it was easier to narrow down on the arrow.

Weekend was near and my Lizard and Monkey brains were all lit up, the newer part of the brain was put to sleep by these 2 asking it to just shut the F up - "Tu to naya hai, don't teach us." Called up Performance Racing Store, which is located in Tardeo, Mumbai. They confirmed that they had 1 piece in stock and sent me a couple of photos and the part number (71914AKN) for confirmation. Called up my younger cousin brother-in-law (Parth) and off we went in his car.

We reached the shop, and it was a quick transaction, some discount asked, and some given. Quickly we took a couple of photos for posterity as this was an epic moment of my motorcycling journey. Exactly 10 years back I had been on the opposite side of the road, with a Leo-Vince exhaust for my Fazer150 at Bachoo Motors. 10 Years later I come back, albeit on the other side of the road, holding an Arrow Exhaust for the Ninja1000 at Performance Racing Store.

At the Store


We waded back home in the Saturday afternoon traffic and reached X-shaft motorcycle garage. While my cousin waited at the workshop, I quickly went home and got the Nimbus. While we were in queue for our turn, we both were dying in anticipation how the bike would sound, Parth was a bit sceptical on the purchase as he had experienced slip-on exhausts and written them off as duds, i.e no change in sound only aesthetics. And mind you this exhaust was an Aluminium build, so it was not right up the looks department either. I on the other hand was kind of sure about the sound as I had experienced it earlier.


Installation
Anyhow, our turn came, and we opened up the box. Everything was in place, it looked like a simple swap, and it was. By the time I could register, the skilled mechanics at X-shaft had already taken off the stock exhaust.
Stock end can weighed - 6.25 Kgs.
Arrow slip-on weighed - 2.4 Kgs.
+ now I have clearance to install spools, which I did not have with the stock exhaust.



Quickly the new exhaust was installed, in the meanwhile I was getting some unsolicited advice on how to choose an exhaust, maps etc. by a guy who was servicing his Ducati Panigale at the workshop. I missed capturing a couple of photos due to this, but managed 1 photo while the old exhaust was out. 1 mounting point and 2 bolts to tighten + some solution being applied which came with the package (The mech said it is for ensuring there are no leaks), and we were ready.

The first time we fired her it was with the DB killer in, and there was a noticeable rumble. I did not like it and Parth confirmed it, Ishan (who owns the workshop) was of the opinion to let it be as it would be much louder without the DB killer. He quickly asked "should i remove the DB killer?" Myself and Parth both excitedly shouted, "DB killer off" and waited in anticipation like kids drooling in a candy shop.

Turns out, the DB killer is held in place by a small piece of weld, which once removed can only be welded back if you want to install the DB killer again. We both shouted again, "Please take it off". With a small screwdriver it was taken off and the ring that held in place was pinched with a special tool and slowly taken out. The DB killer required some wrestling and eventually it came off. Ishan gave the signal to switch on and start the bike.

Words aren't enough to describe it, we were grinning like kids as the bike started. Sweet bass, nothing loud like a Full-system exhaust. A nice deep rumble at idle and bass when on the move.

Took the bike out for a spin, as we were hungry since we did not eat anthing post lunch. The 2 km ride upto the shawarma joint was revelling. The bass sounded much deeper in the helmet than i expected and the bike felt alive.



Next day we went for a quick breakfast ride, the morning starts now require a slow push to the gate as you would not want the neighbours to get up along with you at 5 am. Enjoyed the 270 km ride, soul satisfied.


Nimbus on XP100 diet


Rear View


I asked chat gpt to write a short poem to sum up the experience, here it goes:

In the heart of the Ninja, a transformation was found,
An Arrow slip-on, with a deep bassy sound.
Gone is the electric whistle, so thin and light,
Replaced by a rumble that ignites the night.

The throttle unleashed, a symphony of power,
Roaring through valleys, a beast to devour.
Each twist of the wrist, a thunderous growl,
Echoes of freedom, breaking the mundane scowl.

The Ninja 1000 SX, now a beast untamed,
With Arrow's melody, its spirit reclaimed.
No more whispers, but a roar from within,
The road is alive, with a new tune to spin.

So let the asphalt tremble, and the wind sing along,
With Arrow's deep bass, the heart beats strong.
A symphonic ride, where the soul takes flight,
Thanks to Arrow's slip-on, the Ninja owns the night.

A little lighter to maneuver


PS : The Arrow website FAQ section

[kaza]

What a fun weekend!! Cant wait to get slip ons for my interceptor now.

[hiren.mistry]

Originally Posted by N1Krider_R

Quick update : New Arrow Exhaust Installed

Awesome!! Finally after a few hiccups the search has ended for you. Cant wait to hear Nimbus in all its glory soon.

Cheers!

[ManualMaestro]

I'm pretty sure these aftermarket exhaust don't have catalytic converters right. If so, how do you pass the PUC?
India really does have some of the worst laws for car and bike enthusiasts. Our ministers, while doing exceptional work in building our highway infrastructure, regularly pass off, what can only be termed "stupid" statements like phasing out all petrol and diesel vehicles for EVs. Things like this actively make me think about moving out of India

[N1Krider_R]

Well, the travel log has not been getting the love it needs no matter how much I try. Anyway, guess what? It's been a year already since I embarked on this incredible journey with the Kwacker. And what a ride it has been! Join me as I peel back the layers of my time and travels with the Nimbus, sharing the raw data and heartfelt emotions behind each kilometer traveled. (Not literally every km, don't worry )

I intend to write down the complete list here as a reference for myself and anyone aspiring to purchase this beautiful machine. Here I have been gathering all the intel on kilometers ridden, money spent on fueling, service, tyres, insurance, modifications, and riding gear upgrades.

Kilometers Ridden:
Let's kick things off with the hard numbers - the kilometers I've clocked on my trusty steed in the last 12 months - 15,000. From the first exhilarating ride Home to the latest breakfast run, each kilometer has been a testament to the freedom and joy that comes with exploring the traf**kked roads of Mumbai to the open Highways of MH, GJ, KA, GA, KL, TN. From city streets to winding mountain passes, we have covered it all, and the odometer bears witness to the kms of memories etched into every twist and turn.



Money Matters:
Now, let's talk finances - because every journey comes with its costs, both tangible and intangible. I've been tracking (roughly) the amount spent on fueling my passion, servicing my ride, replacing worn-out tyres, securing insurance, and indulging in the occasional upgrade for both myself (apparels) and my machine. It is a proof of the investment required to keep the wheels turning, but each expense has been worth the priceless experiences gained and the amazing friendships forged along the way.

Ninja 1000sx - RY-2023-24 (1st year) ownership running cost



I have deliberately kept the insurance cost out of the above calculation, as I intend to count it in the RY-2024-25

Emotional Rollercoaster:
But beyond the numbers lies the heart and soul of my journey - the emotions that have accompanied me through every mile. There have been moments of pure exhilaration, as we flew to our destinations like an intercontinental ballistic missile, carved the corners like a MotoGp maniac, and explored breathtaking landscapes. There have been a couple of moments of frustration, as I've faced unexpected obstacles and mechanical gremlins (Read : Punctures and a TC sensor covered in muck). And there have been moments of sheer joy, as I've forged bonds with fellow riders and shared in the camaraderie of the road.

As I close the chapter on this first year of my journey, I'm filled with a sense of gratitude for the experiences I've had and the memories I've made. And as I look ahead to the road stretching out before me, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement for the journeys yet to come. Collated a few pictures from each month for posterity, enjoy !!

April
Out on a solo run to complete the run-in; returned back home meeting a random bike enthusiast who was riding a Honda Fireblade - now friends for life. Thanks to VT for introducing to HRC and all the amazing people in the group.


May
First service and a midnight run with the missus



June
18-day trip to the southern tip of India


July
Monsoon trip with the group where it all started - NHT


August
City run, last ride with the Tall Boy V650 - btw bff still cries after selling off the beloved NightRaven. Idiot refuses to buy it back as images of the bike float around the internet since its back on SALE again! - Universe does give you a chance, pounce on it! Money can be made back again; health and memories aren't coming back.


September
Took Nimbus to my native in the monsoons; beautiful vistas all over.


October
Trip to Baroda


November
Forged friendships with a few more bike enthusiasts (Doc RS - CBR650R) who helped improve my riding skills. Changed tyres to Vreds thanks to the master of resources - fellow Team Bhpian Hiren Mistry.


December
High-speed runs and some more inputs on riding techniques by Doc, Hiren (Z900), and VT (CBR650R - another idiot friend who sold his beloved 650)


January
Roaming in the Tamhini ghat with missus


February
5-day Gujarat ride with younger brother MG (keeping the KTM legacy alive), his friend, and my good old friend (the latter two are RE guys)
Stranded by the mighty Himalayan



March
As I mentioned earlier, this bike just keeps on raking in new friends. This is the new crazy touring group that I love riding along with, called "Mars". Amazing bunch of people with an equal love for motorcycling and wandering.



April
Photo shoot done by an old friend
Admiring the beautiful Japanese engineering


Some cornering fun


Well, this was it folks! See you again with a new post; hopefully, I can push through the travelogue soon.

Cheers!

[AKSO]

Good going. You are putting the N1K through its paces which is what it is meant for. Ride safe

[Prashant1286]

Originally Posted by hiren.mistry

You'd can't ever go wrong with sticking to OEM parts, but keep an eye on EBC pads during the next change. My bike is still on the stock pads as it nears 14k KMS.

Hi Hiren!

My N1k will be due for brake pad change soon. Can you please give me a real world feedback of EBC pads in our conditions? I am planning to go for OEM pads and your post has caught my eye.

Thanks,
Prashant

Originally Posted by N1Krider_R

Well, the travel log has not been getting the love it needs no matter how much I try. Anyway, guess what? It's been a year already since I embarked on this incredible journey with the Kwacker. And what a ride it has been!

Hi N1Krider_R!

Great to see you putting Nimbus to good use. The arrow exhaust looks sweet. I am sure it sounds even sweeter. Hopefully it won't cause the issue with spools that we last discussed.

Had to report that, against your advice, I have parted with my D390. But I sure miss her everyday. Now restricted to a single bike garage and am already feeling the pinch.


Wish you and Nimbus more happy memories.
Ride Safe!

Prashant

[N1Krider_R]

Happy Diwali to TeamBhp Family
I am sure by now you must have gorged on all those festive sweets and loaded up good amount of calories.
Hat Tip : Easiest way to burn these calories off ? Put up some extra mileage on your 2 wheeled beauties this winter, and log more trips on the forum.



Lets Go !!

Updates post June

Got my bike serviced in June for the rides that were upcoming in monsoons. It was the usual affair, basic service with a airfilter change, below are the details. Plus some gear, accessories, tyre update and luggage purchase details.

Spares Cost - 6,935.20
Labour Cost - 4,363.64
Total Service Cost - 11,298.84

Airfilter had accumulated a good amount of dust, thanks to our riding conditions here in and around Mumbai - the construction madness is never ending. Don't even bother asking about the AQI. Do let me know if there are even so effective airfilters for the Ninja. The usual suspects I know off are BMC and K&N, but are the better than OEM ?



Pre-ride shopping

Shopping just before a ride hits a different high, the excitement to use new gears is through the roof, I am sure you must have also experienced it - the smell of the cushions in a new helmet, the ultra clear new visor, feel of the new gloves, you just can't forget.

After using the MT and SMK helmets for quite a while I decided to switch to better helmets, primary use is touring so I started searching and zeroed in upon the LS2 from a shop in Mumbai after failing to get an import. Never the less, I loved how light the LS2 Challenger HPFC is and it feels premium compared to MT or SMK helmets. Amazing cushions and comfort, and absolutely amazing internal and external visor. The internal visor is optically correct and is large enought to cover up a good amount of area, you do not see any line demarcating clear vs dark, which is a big plus in touring as that line can get irritating. Airflow control is good and the windnoise is minimal compared to MT or SMK. This came with a Pinlock 100 which was absolutely amazing in the monsoons, never though I would get such an amazing performance. All in all it costed me a cool 18,500/-, not bad I would say. The only problem I see is sourcing another clear visor.



I don't like using leathers in monsoon, so got myself a Raida textile glove. Nothing much to write home about as the protection is adequate with more focus on comfort. I won't lie, I love these gloves more as the feel on the throttle is much better through them and gives more control compared to a Race glove like the Viaterra GRID that i own. But there are no questions on the race glove when it comes to protection, so it is just a matter of getting used to. Cost - 3000/-


Since this was a long ride after a long time, I though about getting a tyre pressure gauge to check the cold tyre pressures in mornings. This particular aspect always played on my mind since I switched to Verdenstines, more on that later. This tiny instrument is worth the money, accurate reading, fits in the space just need to press a little hard to get the reading in PSI or BAR, also has a tyre depth gauge, all in all a good gadget. Cost - 1,600/-



The quintessential bachelors ride to Goa



A ride was planned to Goa with the boys, however me and one of the group member were not able to plan the leaves, so we both decided to cut short the trip and return on day 3 itself. It was a beautiful ride, the route we took was staple (Mumbai - Karad - Malkapur - Anuskura - Oni - Goa). Loved riding in the rains, it was a proper monsoon "Aaj kuch toofani karte hai ride" post hitting the NH66. But before that, boy it was amazing - just loved the Malkapur section.



The feeling was very different riding through the Sahyadris and it did not feel like MH, more like KA - the interior roads were so good. I would risk it anyhow say it - this was the closest I would ever get to the "Isle of Man TT" kind of experience blasting through Anuskura ghat, with 4 riders along with me ripping it through and to top it all - non existent traffic (we barely spotted a couple of cars, that's it).



Why am i writing this ? - A short review on the Vredestine Centauro ST tyres that I had installed in the month of Feb 2024. The initial impressions were not that great as during the GJ tour I had encountered a crazy wheel spin when I was doing unmentionable speeds on a hot tarmac of the GQ. It was a heart in the mouth moment as I did not expect it to happen, new tyres 6 hours of riding, blazing sun, hot tarmac, I believed were the ideal conditions for a super sticky tyre experience. Traction Control saved my life, and overall it kind of put a question mark on the compound being used on these tyres. Do they not perform well in hot conditions, do they overheat and loose grip at those speeds. Well all those questions are still unanswered. Anyhow, the tyre went through its paces for 8k kms with just 2 punctures due to nails being embedded. Other than that I had no issues, until the last ride this month of Oct 2024, while returning from a trip the tyre developed a puncture in the thread, which was only fixable with an internal patch - but when you are out of cities the facilities to handle these bikes are limited and local guys do not want to mess around with such machines - understandable. We plugged in 2 strips and still it was leaking - all details mentioned on a separate log which you can check out in the Travelogue section -
Anyhow came back home and the first task at hand was to install new tyres. The primary choice was to go with the Michelin Road 6 GT, however it was unavailable and there was no end to the wait after checking with multiple shops. Finally I decided to go with what was available, in the heat of the moment I kind of decided to save money and go with the same Vred Centaruo ST and continue touring. But another part of me was not convinced, do we really wanna risk it ? push the chances of a mishap ? I asked for options to my local tyre dealer in Bhayander - Super Tyre. He told me that he has the Metzeler Sportec M7RR in stock, however the wall size was larger - 190/55 instead of the recommended 190/50. After doing the research on international forums for Kawasaki Ninja, I understood that upsizing might have some foul play on the electronics, especially the Traction Control unit. This played on my mind a bit, so consulted some Ninja 1000sx owners starting with Mr.Vinay Desai who was running the Pirelli Rosso 2s with 180/55 section on the rear without any issues. So I also decided to take the plunge, booked a saturday appointment with Hardik at Super Tyre and got the installation done. The first look at the tyres and I was like damn these look soft, would it be ideal for touring ? But then again I thought even the hard compound Vreds kind off went kaput at 8K kms, so why not ? Just that we have to be super updated on the tyre pressures and avoid riding in the dirty sections of our highways which are filled with nails, screws and what not.



400 Kms have been done so far on these tyres and I have a bit of mixed feeling.
Looks - Round profile, seems chunky due to upsize. Its beautiful and soft.
At slow speeds - the stability seems to be a bit off - this could probably be due to change in geometry due to the 5 mm upsize.
At high speeds - there is no issue feels solid, hooks hard on straight line pulls same as the stock Bridgestone Battalax S22s.
Cornering - is amazing on these tyres as the bike intuitively dips in, however I am not used to this feeling, I loved the stability and response which was on offer when on the 190/50's instead of the 55's.
I will keep this thread updated, as this is an early impression with just 400 kms of riding.





Metzeler Sportec M7RR Cost - 33,500/- with installation and wheel balancing
120/70 ZR17 58W
190/55 ZR17 75W

Note : Stock Rear is 190/55 ZR17 74W
https://www.avontyres.com/en-gb/tyre...eed-rating-sy/

Moving on to next big ticket item, Helmet !!

With birthday approaching quick (2nd Oct - No Drishyam references pls, bored of them), I had already identified a shop which had opened in our vicinity called RoaringToyz33 in Dahisar, they stocked the AGV's and Nolan's. A couple of visits had already been made and the day just before I had visited it and found out that they had the AGV K1 Element VR46 edition in exact size Asian Fit M56 . It was kind of a done deal, I was returning from the gym and it was already 9 pm i.e. closing time, however the sales rep Mr.Kareem was more than happy to open the shop at 12 midnight on knowing that it was a special occasion. I politely declined, and informed my wife about the Helmet being available at the store. She quickly dialed my brother and voila - both of them decided to gift me. I was secretly hoping for the same



Next day all decked up we went to the shop together as it was kind of an occasion for me - I just loved that helmet so much + the middle class rider dream of owning a AGV, won't deny that. Got the helmet, ogled at it for a couple of hours and stacked it in the showcase - used it only once during a breakfast ride and it is back in the showcase.





Feel of the Helmet - 8/10 - Premium, period. the padding is soft and comfy, even better than my comfortable LS2 Challenger HPFC. Padding is packed in so neatly that i did not want to disturb it, so did not install the Bluarmor speaker kit which I had purchased.



The vents work good, noise levels are similar to the LS2 - you will need to wear ear plugs. No whining or whistle noises, silent under 80kmph, but if you want to protect your hearing best would be to use plugs.



This one does not feature to sun visor which drops down on the SV versions of AGV, to be fran the Sun visors on SV versions are not at all good, only cover upto half point on your nose. Love the spec friendly version of the padding, I am back to using goggles.
AGV K1 Element - Cost - 29,500/-

Bluarmour additional helmet kit for the AGV which is still not installed (Cost 3,500/-) and the Bluarmour HS1 for the daily duties on the local SMK helmet. My take on the HS1, avoid !! Just not worth the 3,000/- price tag as the speakers are weak, button operation is a mess.



Moving on - next up is Luggage.
Tail Bag - For the June Goa trip I had purchased the Viaterra Element tail bag. 40ltr and you are good for 4-5 days worth of luggage. This is a relatively old product as most you must have moved on to Mod packs. I decided to stick to this simple version, does the job, nothing fancy.
ViaTerra Element - 2,700/-



Tank Bag - For the Oct Tapola trip I got the GIVI 602-B 5 ltr tank bag with the BF29 flange. Installation was simple and boy I must say the Italians make fine products. Looks, design, simplicity 10/10. First the AGV helmet and now this tank bag, man I am in love with the designs and materials used by these Italians.





GIVI 602B + Flange Costed - 9000/-

Tyre Inflator
After the Tapola ride tyre nightmare I got myself a Qubo Tyre inflator as well. There were multiple options, however I stuck to this brand due to the warranty and Hero backing this product. Got myself the MAX version as it operates on 5200 MaH battery as well as direct connection from a 12V port. On the last ride we observed that a tyre inflator that a fellow team member was using did not hold much juice and also did not have external input. Plus when we used it recently, we found out that the Qubo is much much faster compared to its other counterpart. It works as a Power Bank and has a Torch as well. So a 10/10 from me for the amazing product.



Mind you it has -2 psi error so keep a +2 target while punching in your desired pressure. But it keeps my tyre pressure worries away as I just have to spend 5-10 mins late night or early morning setting up the correct tyre pressure and enjoy a worry free ride.



Qubo Smart Tyre Inflator MAX - Cost - 2,700/-

Up next is the Kriega fork seal/sleeve protectors.
Well this is a bit of a grey area, but to be frank I have been using the MotoTrendz version for more than 18 months, no issues. Ideally it should be opened up cleaned and repacked frequently, so that the accumulated dirt does not seep in and damage the tubes.



So when I removed them for the first time I saw a considerable amount of much which could have seeped in, threw them instead of washing and ordered myself a pair of Kriega's. Man I must say, the quality on these imported products is top notch. There is no going back to other options, be it luggage, helmet, tyres, or small and simple thing such as a fork seal protector or handle bar grips from GripPuppies. Take my money.

Kriega fork seal/sleeve protectors - Cost - 1,700/-


Got my bike detailed post monsoons, same folks at ProCare Dahisar got it done for 800/-, this has by far been the best VFM workshop when it comes to detailing your ride. Highly recommend.



Also decided to get a good paddock and spools for Nimbus, these are locally made. The Paddock came from GA Engineering for big bikes is called "Heavy Duty" strengthened for the weight that these bikes have. Comes with 2 types of adaptors - rubber L stand and conventional U shaped forks. That called for new swing arm spools purchase as well, you know the story it never ends. Spools were purchased from Motofusion and both the quality of both the products is top notch and I highly recommend them. Motofusion was recommended by our inhouse TeamBhp master of resources Mr. Hiren who has sold off his Imran Hashmi Special Edition Z900RR and moved to the US of A since the Charoti GP aka Circuit of De'Ahuras is no longer operational - courtesy ? Govt deciding to mess up a beautiful tarmac strip and replacing it with a Uber Poor Quality white top, the work seems to be never ending but that topic is another thread altogether. Anyway, coming back, both products are made in India and are of good quality/spec, my only gripe is with the paddock - we tried multiple times, multiple angles but we are just not able to mount it on the spools, either the paddock length needs to shortened or elongated, the current length smacks it right into the rear number plate. Wonder if a Tail Tidy could solve this problem now that I think of it heading over to motofusion website right away.





Last but not the least, while upgrading all the other things, this monsoon break lead me to the biggest and best upgrade ever that no amount of money can buy. These last 3 months it has been raining crazy in this part of the coast, due to which the garage time increased and we could not do much of riding. The FZ did handle some duties in terms of touring, but not much riding was done. So to keep my mind sane I joined a local Gym, my brother is a regular feature there and knows almost everybody. As everybody has done or will do in theri lives, I too had paid my membership fee last year itself but did not go to the gym more than a month or two. But this year it was a different feel altogether - 2 Months of training with my brother on and off and 2 solid months with a Personal Trainer. Boy I was surprised what the body can do if you are focused, put your mind to it and maintain discipline to see through your daily schedule. Happy to report that all the strength gained has translated to an even better riding posture, grip on the bike, and general lightness felt as I put on more miles on this beautiful machine. (Body & Bike)

I urge you to watch some podcasts from Mr.Shumi on MotorInc (which for some reason are to be subscribe monthly now), I am sure you too would jump on the fitness wagon if you have not.

Earlier the shelf used to be stocked with bottles, now there are different kind of containers in it and yes you do start to count Macros - mostly protein and fiber.



That's it folks, do let me know if you like it and would like to see any travelogues in this thread itself. I have separately started logging the rides in the Tourer section do check out - https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...ml#post5865877 (Tapola Group Ride Log - A Tale of Two Puncture Warriors and their Amigos)

Some more pics from a breakfast ride. What's special ? Younger brother got bit by the touring bug, honing his skills on the trusty KTM Duke 200. And my brother in law also got into touring on his trusty RE Interceptor 650. Kids learning and growing, good to see them riding. And yes Misus back on Nimbus after a long break, so ek photo to banta hai !!

Me and Misus on weekender to Pawna Lake


Newbies


Signing off
Cheers

[OmV]

Originally Posted by N1Krider_R

my only gripe is with the paddock - we tried multiple times, multiple angles but we are just not able to mount it on the spools, either the paddock length needs to shortened or elongated, the current length smacks it right into the rear number plate.

I face this issue as well with the well-endowed rear of my ZX14R with the stock tail. If you have someone helping you when you get the bike on the paddock, have them hold the bike upright (can be done by holding it by the mirror stems). At least for me when the bike is upright the tail does not foul the paddock stand.

[Laks]

Originally Posted by N1Krider_R

Kriega fork seal/sleeve protectors - Cost - 1,700/-
Attachment 2677216

For what specific purpose have you installed the Kriega fork seal protectors? Is it to protect / extend the life of the rubber seals or is it to protect the inner shiny rod from stone chips? I have the same bike and have considered if I should install it, but, the accumulation of dust and debris underneath this skin and the consequent scratches / damage to the inner rod has stopped me. Keen to hear your thoughts as you might have done some research before installing it. Thanks.

[N1Krider_R]

Originally Posted by OmV

I face this issue as well with the well-endowed rear of my ZX14R with the stock tail. If you have someone helping you when you get the bike on the paddock, have them hold the bike upright (can be done by holding it by the mirror stems). At least for me when the bike is upright the tail does not foul the paddock stand.

Sure, will give it a try. Thanks for the input.

Originally Posted by Laks

For what specific purpose have you installed the Kriega fork seal protectors? Is it to protect / extend the life of the rubber seals or is it to protect the inner shiny rod from stone chips? I have the same bike and have considered if I should install it, but, the accumulation of dust and debris underneath this skin and the consequent scratches / damage to the inner rod has stopped me. Keen to hear your thoughts as you might have done some research before installing it. Thanks.

This is for the fork seals. You would notice sweating on 3-4 year old bikes, there would be a thin film of oil on the stentions due to fork seals leaking. The leak is primarily caused due to particles entering the seals as they cycle through. So to avoid this, I had earlier installed MotoTrendz and now switched to Kriega. The quality is day & night. It's been almost 20k kms and 19 months, I installed it on day 1 itself - no complaints. You just need to clean them once every 6 months.

[N1Krider_R]

Originally Posted by ManualMaestro

I'm pretty sure these aftermarket exhaust don't have catalytic converters right. If so, how do you pass the PUC?
India really does have some of the worst laws for car and bike enthusiasts. Our ministers, while doing exceptional work in building our highway infrastructure, regularly pass off, what can only be termed "stupid" statements like phasing out all petrol and diesel vehicles for EVs. Things like this actively make me think about moving out of India

Your assumptions are wrong, this is a slip-on exhaust. In terms of sound, it adds a deep bass or a mellow rumble if you may. What you are referring to are full system race exhausts, which are obnoxiously loud due to removal of catalytic converter box. No changes on the PUC numbers for me as the CatCon box does the filtering job. As for the Off topic remark - India is absolutely amazing, no regrets. Yes other developed countries are ahead of us, we will get there too in a couple of decades.

[N1Krider_R]

This is a quick update on a teething problem faced by Ninja 1000 sx owners: All sorts of errors flashing on the dashboard.

TLDR, what is the solution you ask? - Answer : Just ride.

- KTRC malfunction
- Power/Riding modes jammed in the last used setting
- Quick Shifter Disengaged
- Engine warning light flashing
- Speedometer reading is off

While riding your bike you may have witnessed, out of the blue - all the above-mentioned system alerts flashing. Chances are that this must have happened multiple times. You may have also visited the Kawasaki ASC for resolution, but to find out that even they do not know how to resolve it.

This particular thing happened to me thrice in my ownership of 20 months and 20,000 km. After digging a bit on the international forums, I have been able to find out what causes this.

This is basically an issue caused by sensors going out of sync. I noticed it in 3 different scenarios.

1. Bike wash - The washing center lifts the bike using a paddock and starts washing the rear wheel, spinning it manually. All this while the key is still on the bike and the electricals still running.

2. Chain lube on the go - Whenever you are on a ride, there are times when you need to lube the chain. However, for the lack of a main stand and all that luggage - you just ask one of your friends to pull the bike and lift the rear wheel using the side stand. You get your deed done, however, all this while the key is still in and the electricals still running.

3. Monsoons - Yup, some muck on the rear wheel sensor and all the inputs stop. The magnet is weak they say, due to which the sensor stops collecting data if there is even a tiny amount of muck accumulated.

In all these scenarios, the onboard computer goes crazy and is unable to solve the equations. It keeps cycling through its codes and as it finds 1 variable off or missing it would start sending error codes on the dash.

Now you would ask what is the solution once you have accumulated all these error codes. Hard and Easy, 2 options that should have been the other way around.

1. Hard - Go to your ASC and ask them to connect the diagnostic tool. Resync the TC settings. That's it. 10-minute job max.

2. Easy - Ride your bike 3 times for 15 minutes i.e. a total of 45 mins. After every 15 minutes, switch off the bike, and take the key out of the ignition. When you take your 4th lap, the sensors are synced, and error codes vanish.

Mind you, when you get those errors, you will not be able to use KQS, Power Modes, or Cruise Control. Neither can you enter the rider mode and switch off all the electronic aids.

Below are the excerpts for reference. Personally, I take care of the 2 scenarios where I just take the keys off, for 3rd one you just need a good spa treatment.





Cheers
Bye

Next up: 20,000 km review