Found this site a while ago and thought I should say Hi.
I am a Kiwi that ended up in the US via Oz and have bounced around the US racing and working for Aprilia and ended up in a shop in the North East (for now). It's crazy when you look at a forum like this based around some of the more technical infomation and you have actually met a bunch of the people on here.
I have always been able to set a bike up when given the right tools but now it is pretty cool to learn why and how things are designed (even though everyone has a different theory). I have been installing the GP Suspension 20mm valving kits in various street/track Aprilia's for 2 years now and evryone is amazed how much better a bike feels with suspension that actually works 'with' rather than 'against' the bike.
My Aprilia RSV-R Factory I raced in 2005 had the basic Ohlins forks and shock and were revalved by Dave @ Gp Suspension and all I can say is WOW! I also built an Aprilia for a mate of mine in Phoenix that was in a couple of magazines and we managed to get a set of the Ohlins Gas Forks on it thanks to Joey when he was still with Ohlins.
In 2006 I am racing a GSXR1000 with a set of GP Suspension 25mm cartridges in the forks and a Penske 8987 shock on the back of it, and after reading and learning for a couple of weeks on this forum i just had to pull the cartridges apart to see what Dave had done and found some very cool stuff.
Anyway keep all the good info coming but remember just because you think you may have figured out the best way to do something doesnt mean that someone else cant get the same result by taking another path
wow that feels like it was a lifetime ago! I think it was 98 but you have hit your head as many times as i have..... what was the question again
The one thing I remember was having a great race with my buddy Jay Normoyle, ah yes, isnt it funny how friends little sister grow up into something that blows your mind
Hi Clarkie. I met you at the Seacoast open house. I had the red and white 83 honda Interceptor you ran on the dyno, the one that was super rich. Based on what I learned that day, I returned to the stock needle and mixture screw setting and while the bike did not seem to run any different, ( you didn't think it would) the bike does get noticably better gas milage, which I figure validates the dyno sniffer. While the bike was literally off the chart rich in the midrange, the plugs showed no sign of richness that I could see. I have showed them to about a dozen folks and not one said rich. Weird huh? By the way, I also have an Aprillia Mille R, which I bought at Seacoast, but before you were there. Actually i picked it up on another open house when you were there with the Aprilia test ride program. I have learned a ton from you on the Aprilia forum and hope to learn more here as well. Saw you ride at Louden this year, way fast!!! Cain't wait to see the Suzuki. Steve
when you are checking the plugs are you doing a proper plug chop and pulling the plugs on the side of the road or are you just riding the bike into the garage and then pulling them?
I did not do a proper plug chop, which I do know how to do. The plugs were fresh at begining of the season and had about 5000 miles on them so when I changed the jetting I changed them. I was surprised at how little evidence they showed. Did not look rich or lean. Basically, they looked about like they did when I installed them. I am having a freind make up some brackets to mount 05 zx6rr calipers so I can do a few track days with it next year. Getting it slowed down is too hard on my sneakers with the oem front brakes. It was nice to meet you as well. It is rare that someone as knowledgeable as you is so willing to share information. I figure your influence has been a big asset for us Aprilia riders. Steve
