600 mile oil and filter change since BB351 install. Engine smoothing out with miles. Power feels better. Still getting around 62 mpg. Kawi should have made it like this from the start.

 

Just got a kx 450 front fender in the mail along with a couple random screws and pins that have fallen out

 

Just swapped out my fat-50 ammo can for a seahorse se540. Bigger, lighter, mo betta.

 

Overhauled my front brake caliper(new slide pins and piston seals), new pads installed, bled out the air, and installed new master cylinder cap screws. Now it's gonna rain, but Wed looks OK. Am thankful for not getting 40" rain in a couple of days. Sometimes living in Va. Beach has its benefits.

 

Got almost 10,000 miles on my rear 130/70-17 IRC tire, installed the new tire, same model in 130/80-17. The new diameter is 1 inch greater as expected and seat height is up to 35 inches, about as high as I want to go. That tire kicked my ***. I really hate changing those damn things. The car tires I changed the other day at home were so much easier. The taller tire should reduce rpm by almost 300. Will be interesting to see if the bike handles noticeably differently.

 

Prepped for Heart Surgery.<br/>Second hand bike, redoing the BB351 as the old owner scored the piston somehow...<br/>





It hurts my heart to look at it.

 

Ouch! Looks like a case of start it up and hammer on it. Piston warms up faster then steel sleeve.

 

I wonder if the person who broke the 351 piston in used the motoman break-in procedure which I have my doubts as to it's efficacy. Would be nice to hear Bill Blue chime in with his reason for his BB351 break-in recommendation for light throttle (<1/2) for 100 miles.

 

I changed my fork oil back to Maxima 85-150 (~5W) from synth ATF (~7W).

I was experimenting to see if I liked a little more rebound damping. When I went to ATF, I also dropped a step on both H and L compression on the GV's. Overall everything was stiffer... probably better for track-like conditions with small jumps and such... not quite right for tight woods singletrack.

I left the GV's where I had them and just put in the lower weight oil. I was 18 clicks out with the ATF and have settled on 6 clicks out using the 5wt. I figure I'm more on the GV's now and less on the bypass. When I get time, I may try 4 click out and see how that feels.

This whole "suspension is an art" thing is ringing true. I haven't found a setting I just plain didn't like, but I keep finding settings that I like better... LOL

 

All this recent talk of BB351 piston damage pushed me to order a thermobob a few minutes ago. I figure that more temperature uniformity in the cylinder may keep my engine healthier. Question to you BB351 thermobob users: have you experienced pre-ignition or detonation at all? I am concerned the higher thermostat temperature set-point(compared to OEM; 195f vs.160f OEM) that comes with the thermobob may require a cooler set-point or use of premium gasoline.