Dad at last ...

Warning ! For the second time only in that blog's story, the post you are about to read is not motorcycle-oriented nor is it closely related to motorbikes. 

What were we you doing 8 years ago ? Where were you and what were your projects ? Think about a honest answer to these questions for a couple of minutes. If you don't end up thinking 8 years is a long period of time during which we've been doing so much things, then you will miss out a part of this message.

Eight years ago, we (my lovely wife and I) decided we would have a baby. We had been married for a bit more than 2 years at that time and thought it was time for us to start a family. Eight years have passed, all of our friends' and brothers' kids have grown up so fast and we were still just the two of us. 

I'm passing on the details, joy and pain moments and all the stress generated by this unfair situation to announce that we are a family at last. Readers, please give a warm welcome to our daughter :

May all ours friends who had kids in the meantime forgive us for us having been so rude when they were just trying to share their happiness.

To the others who have no kids yet, please do as we did : enjoy your life as a couple. We are a living example that there's hope until the very last attempt of the very last protocol has failed ...

Rear seat cowl

I've had this part for months ... unpainted. That seat cowl had been ordered new from Germany with a bunch of others. At the time of order, it had been chosen only primed ready for a custom paint that still needed to be decided.

Recently when looking for parts still waiting to be fitted to the R1100S, I thought it was a waste to have it gathering dust in a cardboard and decided I would paint it myself. I found an old matt black spray and gave it a go.

I'm not unhappy with the roughly good finish.

Racy R1100S

It might not look that much prep'ed, but that R1100S has received a racy special treatment. To many it will certainly be looked at like a dull naked BMW though ...

Miob's petition

It's been 10 days without a single post on Miob's blog and I must admit I'm getting worried ... I know he's been really busy and concerned with his master's report these days, but he has such a nice blog that we're all waiting for posts and can't help wondering when he'll be back.

Let's start a petition. We would all like to help him, but don't know how ! If someone knows where he lives, let's organize a trip there to have some kind of support party with a barbecue and beers.

Alright this is a joke of course (although I'm not against that trip idea) ... Miob, keep on concentrate on your work. This is really important, you won't regret it, so it's worth you spend all your spare time on it.

Carbon arm

This is a pair of nicely shaped carbon arms for a BMW R1200S. How much weight is shaved in the swap process or who actually builds this arm is unknown.

Some people are gifted and know how to use their hands. Some others aren't, but are wealthy enough to buy carbon parts from gifted ones.

The shops

Went to the shops the other day to order parts for the BMW. Boy I hate when I have to order parts from that  BMW dealer. They just about know how to sell new bikes, not how to keep their old customers happy.  Do they remember BMW builds durable motorcycles ? Anyway, I had lost a caliper bolt (yes, it did happen when riding ... trust me that's a strange feeling that you don't want to experience one day) and had to order a new one.

While I was there, I took shots of the new bikes parked in front of the shops. It kind of saved the afternoon (even if the Diavel is still a curiosity to me).

2011 Ducati Diavel :

2011 Triumph Speed Triple :

500 2 stroke french mountain climb championship

Watch this video. This is pure 2 stroke porn : the rider is good, the 500 2 stroke ride looks sharp and this is well shot, almost artistic. There's that moment when the bike shaves pass a straw bale wall throwing some in the air ... this is really really nice. Plus there's that stunning 2 strike sound !

BikeExif

Nice BikeExif wallpapers available here and here.

Prettify your desktop, download one.

Fireblade transport

Those little trucks are bigger than I thought.

Sorting fueling

Ok, here's what I had to do to kind of cure the fueling issues : 

- Reset the TPS sensor by removing the factory sealant and by using a good voltmeter

- Adjust the throttle cables free play for both left and right throttle bodies

- Tighten the choke cable which appeared to be very loose

- Upload the map that came standard with the RapidBike (I'll retry the one Foster Performance provided later).

 Left : the map by Foster Performance / right : the standard one

It starts properly, still needs some work on the throttle bodies synchronization, but overall it's 10 times better than it used to.

Now to the brakes.