[tuccatucca]

:mad Well first off I'd like to say thanks for all your replies to every thread that is on this board. I've been a long time reader of your posts here, and all info has helped me tremedously with all the riding tips and upgrades to my bike etc. Hands down best GSX-R resource on the net.

Today is the day for my first post. Just for some background to keep the squid remarks at bay, I've been riding for about 10 years on dirt, and about 3 on street. I did take a course simply to help with licensing bullsh** here in BC, so I am a confident rider and up to this point never had an issue or even a close call. I guess my questions are 2-part... '02 600, put a new rear tire on because last one picked up a chunk of glass. Thought I would put day insurance on it for a nice weekend... first rip up my street to get the new tire broken in didn't make it 100 feet.

Just as I slowly roll the throttle on and start a LIGHT weave on dry pavement to warm up the tire, freakin thing lets go on me and goes left, I save it, then swings right and I high side it ... head first as I remember I fly off at about 50 kph (Metric system, yes I'm in Canada...) Now I've broken in new front and rear tires before and they were NEVER this slick in my experice :wtf

Anyways so looks like I'm in the market for a new rear cowl, clutch lever, windscreen, left mirror, shifter, possibly peg / rearsets as mine are BENT, left crankcase cover.... fairing and tank are perfect THANK YOU FRAME SLIDERS.

So where do I turn to here in the experience of this board? Most of the stuff thats damaged is simply bolt-ons so I will have a go fixing it myself... Insurance company wants to rape me by taking away my discount if I decide to claim :hammer

I used WD-40 to clean the rim, chain, swingarm etc of all the slag and grease and junk before putting the tire on, but didn't get any on the tread. Plus I scrubbed the tire with soap / water, thurough rinse after that.

Question 1 - WHY the f*** was this tire so slippery ?! Do I take sandpaper etc to it to take that slight glaze off the rubber beforehand?! I've never had to do this before as my new tires would 'wander' if I pressed them but never THIS slick. I did NOT see it coming when it slid out. What the hell do all of you do to avoid this...

Question 2 - Best sites online to pick up replacement - mostly stock - parts cheaply, and ships to Canada? Can I get a rear cowl pre-painted for Blue 02 colors? What about decals etc? How "bendable" are those footpegs ?

Thanks in advace for the advice, until NOW I have kept the rubber side down...

 

[orangegsx]

i've always taken scotchbright after my new tires to scuff them up. Put the bike on stands and spin the tires, scuff the tires. Maybe do a burn out,, then go!

 

[tuccatucca]

Thanks orange, thats a pretty solid plan I think an I'll put it into practice from now on.

I also heard from a guy at one of the local shops that he scrubs new tires with bleach??? :confused apparently this softens up the rubber, takes off the first initial layer somehow but I'm worried about it messing up the tire, the paint on the rim etc etc.

Anybody know site online that I can order a tail section for my bike? I just need the plastic, none of the framing or taillight components are damaged. Preferable prepainted with decals etc etc. I think its pretty rare paint, silver / blue... never actually seen another bike with the same up here.

Thanks

PS these pics are what it USED to look like

 

[mikeb12]

scuffing your new tire will remove the mold casing residue but will not heat the tire up which is primary in breakin. the tire has to come up to temp so the rubber compounds can come in together. weaving on a tire does not heat it up- you see racers do it to clean the tire. the best way to heat a tire is with accelleration and braking. modern tires are super nasty at first so break them in with extreme care (as I am sure you now know). It take two to three laps on a track just to heat up a cold tire that is not new and a new tire takes longer so do not go rip up the street until you have had that tire on the freeway for a bit. be progressive with you lean as well. basically, take it very easy at first. when you have done it a few times you will be able to feel it 'come on' more. pros can break in new tires in a few laps but mortals like us take a bit longer.

ebay is your friend for parts. nice colors I must say, I do not think we got that one stateside.

 

[96gsxr11000]

How cold was it outside?

 

[dJt3xtbook]

weaving on a tire does not heat it up- you see racers do it to clean the tire

+1

I thought it warmed up your tyre too, until someone on this board a few years ago explained that it's actually detrimental to heating the tyre.

 

[Booenson]

If you want to heat your tire quickly, do some rapid accelerations and decelerations, that will flex the carcass causing the tire to heat up.

 

[TheGeek]

North North America in mid-late October. Bad combination to wear in a new tire.... Cold pavement, sealed over tire....highside... yeah, sounds about right.

 

[re5]

The best way to warm up the your tires is the night before a big ride is to put tire warmers on. That way there is no guessing the morning of the ride. Don't be a squid!

 

[Jon no h]

Just as I slowly roll the throttle on and start a LIGHT weave on dry pavement to warm up the tire

It still amazes me that even experienced riders think weaving warms up the tires. :rolleyes

Booenson has it right for how to heat the tires. :thumbup

 

[lagwagon23]

Ronayers.com they have all the suzuki parts and there reasonable..call em and ask about the cowl though your best bet is to get one and take it too a good paint shop and have them match it..if your looking for some good aftermarket stuff go to indysuperbikes.com thats where i buy all of my stuff..

 

[tuccatucca]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

How cold was it outside?

Well it was definitely not warm, probably about 10 degrees C or I guess that would be about 50 fahrenheit.

Yeah I've broken in new tires before... in late June! I guess there is a little difference in temps in June huh?!! :squid

I was able to find the OEM tail plastic here from a dealer (pre-painted with decals,) but the price is not nice, just under 800 canadian with taxes. I told the guy to take his time with the order as I'm not riding during the winter, and made a deal that if I'm not in a hurry, he'll take 20% off the price of it... so far thats the best deal I can find.

I'm going to check out some of the sites lawagon suggested and see if I can get my dealer to match prices etc. Only thing I'm worried about just buying it online is high shipping cost, then maybe they ship a blue / white one and have to send it back, ahh what a pain in the ass.

Edit: Just called Ronayers.com they have an AWESOME price on it but its only blue / white, but he gave me the exact part number of the silver / blue so I think I can try to track it down little better now.

Stator cover is just lightly scratched, think I'll just file down the scratches and repaint. Also anyone tried to straighten the stay bracket on rearsets? I was going to try it but not sure if I will weaken / break the cast or whatever its made of....

Thanks guys

 

[striker_69]

Stator cover is just lightly scratched, think I'll just file down the scratches and repaint. Also anyone tried to straighten the stay bracket on rearsets? I was going to try it but not sure if I will weaken / break the cast or whatever its made of....

Just paint it. My stator cover has been painted twice now. No need to file it down to make it flat. When its black you can't see the marks unless you are looking for it. If you want a mint bike again buy a new cover

Greetings from the eastcost I'll be riding till the first salt on the road but the gixxer goes away the end of the month. My safety will be up and I need to put a new front tire on and don't want to break it in with my temps over here.

 

[tuccatucca]

Cool thanks Striker, so I'll just blast the cover with some fresh black in that case. Shouldn't have to use high-temp paint or anything don't think. I was looking at a billet cover but they are pretty pricey.

I just found out too that apparently my girl decided to order me some parts! So new shift lever and clutch lever are on their way... I guess thats how you know when their a keeper?! haha.

Thanks for the suggestions guys I'm going to take it easy on new tires from now on goddamnit!!!

Striker never been out your way, is there even any decent riding in Nova Scotia? :scratch You should come to BC we have a little town called Oliver that hosted a HUGE rally this year...

 

[striker_69]

oh man there are some awesome roads out here since most are backroads the the CP highlands are susposed to be amazing but I haven't been up there yet. I'd love to visit out there. My goal is to will money and then rise across Canada

I'm not sure if you'll need high temp pant. I can't remember what I used. I think I used some hitemp flat black just because I had some around. I didn't file mine down because you only see it from a distance because the silver of the metal catches the eye, once its black you don't see it.

Top Notch GF!!

 

[mikeb12]

I 'fixed' my cover with standard krylon. no problem.

oh yeah, your girlfriend rules. mine bought me alpinestar gptech boots in 2000 and that pretty much sealed the deal.