Continuing - So what did you do to your bike today...?

[Tony Nitrous]

B-King hasn't been out much or in a while. Only used it 7 times this year and it's sat gathering dust since I changed the wheels, tyres, brake pads etc and wasn't impressed with it.

So today I cleaned the front callipers up a bit. Pumped the pistons out, cleaned them, added the lightest coat of copper slip, cleaned up the pins etc.

Despite being sat a while it fired up first touch.

Gave it a clean, checked tyre pressure, dropped them a little, lubed chain, let it run for a few minutes.

It needs a service but I might give it a run out and see how it go's and assess what comes next.

 

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Wheels back on the BMW, tpms re-coded to the bike, so now the annoying yellow triangle has gone away.  Teet ride on the new boots between showers, nice and gentle. Completely different bike, very smooth and almost thought-like steering now. Happy days.

1402 got a dust off, still need to ride it since the new levers went in, but ran out of daylight.

[Coopz]

B-King hasn't been out much or in a while. Only used it 7 times this year and it's sat gathering dust since I changed the wheels, tyres, brake pads etc and wasn't impressed with it.

So today I cleaned the front callipers up a bit. Pumped the pistons out, cleaned them, added the lightest coat of copper slip, cleaned up the pins etc.

Despite being sat a while it fired up first touch.

Gave it a clean, checked tyre pressure, dropped them a little, lubed chain, let it run for a few minutes.

It needs a service but I might give it a run out and see how it go's and assess what comes next.

 

How do you find the B-King? I was chomping at the bit 18 years ago when they came out and literally went running to he local dealership as they had 2 new ones and a demo arrive but as soon as I sat on it I realised I was too big for it (192cm) and had zero leg room under the tank. My shorter mate bought their demo a few months later as he was 175cm tall but he dropped it twice in 6 months due to the high, fat seat, short legs, he ended up selling it although he did like it, the bike made him to anxious in traffic/car parks.

[Tony Nitrous]

Bought mine new in Oct 2007, it's a low VIN early bike.

I love it, but I have mixed feelings. I accept what it's good at and what it isn't.

Torque like a GSX1400, 160+hp, modern running gear, radial brakes, huuuuge tuning potential, stuff like the ECU, frame etc are still fairly modern. Easy low 10's or a high 9.9 at the strip.

However... 16.5ltr tank, tank top controls mean poor for tank bags etc, not great for pillions, some cosmetics and trim getting harder to find now.

I bought my GSX1400 after my B-King. The 14 does a heap of stuff better, bigger tank, classic looks, pillions, more traditional riding position etc, but the B-King is just great fun, riding it back to back with a 14 the King feels like a hooligans bike, a Thug.

The 14 isn't a great performance bike.
The B-King isn't a great retro bike.

[Coopz]

Bought mine new in Oct 2007, it's a low VIN early bike.

I love it, but I have mixed feelings. I accept what it's good at and what it isn't.

Torque like a GSX1400, 160+hp, modern running gear, radial brakes, huuuuge tuning potential, stuff like the ECU, frame etc are still fairly modern. Easy low 10's or a high 9.9 at the strip.

However... 16.5ltr tank, tank top controls mean poor for tank bags etc, not great for pillions, some cosmetics and trim getting harder to find now.

I bought my GSX1400 after my B-King. The 14 does a heap of stuff better, bigger tank, classic looks, pillions, more traditional riding position etc, but the B-King is just great fun, riding it back to back with a 14 the King feels like a hooligans bike, a Thug.

The 14 isn't a great performance bike.
The B-King isn't a great retro bike.

Nice, I do like the look of them but was always a bit confused how Suzuki made a big bike that big riders cannot ride and small riders struggle on it. I had its spiritual brother, a Gen 2 Hayabusa years ago and found it be pretty accommodating for my large frame.

[Tony Nitrous]

Nice, I do like the look of them but was always a bit confused how Suzuki made a big bike that big riders cannot ride and small riders struggle on it. I had its spiritual brother, a Gen 2 Hayabusa years ago and found it be pretty accommodating for my large frame.

I'm about 5'10 or 5'11", 80kg.
I ride it back to back with a Gen-2 Busa.
Both fit me fine, but a lot of miles on both may just mean they are my normal now.
I remember the first time I rode one it felt a bit odd, but my first Busa ride was a bit like that too.

The King is a bit different, where my legs touch the Busa tanks on their side they touch the B-Kings pods the same and a little on the top above. It's never a drama, it just feels different. I guess it wouldn't be good for someone taller or longer in the leg.

[MickyJB]

Just catching up on the tyre thesis ..😁

Pirelli Rosso Diablos 3's on the XJR1300

Road 6 on the GSX1400

Bridgestone Battlax on the ZZR1200

They are all black and round and they have all done the job .. no idea of how many klms I get out of them, with 4 bikes they get spread around for rides.

I did have an oops moment on the ZZR recently which resulted in scratched fairings both sides and nose fairing and front guard       

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Ride report from Sunday on brand new Road 6's on wet roads.  I have never gone so gingerly around roundabouts and turning into side roads. Straight line all ok, nice an comfy,  very nice steering feel, very light and lots for road feedback.  Not much confidence yet at lean angles, but so far so good. Only 100km in.

[KiwiCol]

Yeah, I hate braking in new tires in the wet, not because they let go, because I'm much more wary of the possibility of them letting go. (Rightly or wrongly)  I'd say wrongly as it's never happened, but I do take it easy in the wet on new rubber.

[grog]

While ago got new clutch lever from Webike.Pattern copy supposedly. All looked good except 4 adjustments not 5. Fitted up with new bush & pushrod. Problem was something a bit different, worked perfectly except clutch take up around 30-35 mm out.I couldn't get used to it, refitted original today, bush a bit worn.Take up now back to 20mm, much better. No more nearly getting rammed at the lights.

[Irish in Oz]

Yeah, I hate braking in new tires in the wet, not because they let go, because I'm much more wary of the possibility of them letting go. (Rightly or wrongly)  I'd say wrongly as it's never happened, but I do take it easy in the wet on new rubber.

I think it's good thing because because any residues from manufacture/fitting will be washed off.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Valid point Irish, hadnt thought about that. Anyways, will slowly build confidence in these, waaaaaay better than the old road 2's that were on there

[KiwiCol]

Yeah, but if that's all it was, how come we aren't all washing a new tires with the bike on the main stand at home before we go anywhere on it?  Never seen that done.

[Irish in Oz]

I have but don't use degreaser or other detergents.

[grog]

I remember when new tyres were scrubbed all over with sandpaper then hosed off, just how we did it. prob still applies ??