Random from the archive

Abstract:

Circa 2005. Back then, we were waiting for our new house to be finished in a long term cottage. With the lack of any sort of workshop (not to mention a simple garage), motorcycle projects could have been stopped short but kept on thanks to cottage owner's kindness. The old farm had horse stables with a strange domed-roof extension. Despite being a rather high building, it had a low roof once inside and very narrow window holes. The owner had used it as an extra stables stall since he'd bought the place, but would have lent it for just a cleaning session. That's what I did and this is how I ended up building a 2003 Kawasaki ZX9R track bike in a WW1 bunker.

Worst throttle cable routing ever

I'm currently in the process of converting the Speed Triple to clip-ons. While normally being a rather simple operation - off goes the wide bars, on goes the clip-ons - it seems like there was an issue with the throttle cable that was waiting to be fixed. That is, even if the bike is supposed to have been serviced at the Triumph dealer, the throttle housing sticks on the bars for the first few millimeters. Nasty as you had to insist to have the grip twist a little and then more to have it come back to zero position.

Daytona clutch and throttle cables have been sourced from ebay to try to sort this out. But then, as the unmounting process had begun, I discovered the worst throttle cables routing ever ... Now look at this thing ... So the cables get out of the bars housing, go around the headstock, then dive through the frame.

Up until now, it doesn't sound that bad. But then, what is that tight turn and curvy bend ? 

The Daytona cable seems to have a more straight shape overall. and once installed really makes the difference on the throttle feeling. Long story short, now for the final result (detailed post with pictures will follow) :

(Notice the really nice and racy Renthal diamond grip on the left bar ... that's a bit of teasing for my friend Yvan :P )

Hipnotizing

That's 4 and a half minutes of some guy going around in circles on a Speed Triple. Call that boring or mesmerizing.

No you can't have your time back, sorry.