Who fits Ivan kits in addition to Mike?

[Rusty]

I've spoken to Mike about Ivanising my FZS1000 but it's not looking like he can do it until next year. Does anyone else fit them?  I'm in the North west by the way but don't mind travelling a little if necessary.

[sadlonelygit]

it's not brian surgery.
the hardest thing is getting the foccing carbs off, after that it's a matter of repitition.

[kebab19]

Agreed, if you're mechanically competent it's not that difficult.

[ghostbiker]

Takes a little time and a half decent work space. there are a couple of good walk throughs around to help you do it all and mod the airbox etc.
i dont know i would trust most dealers to do it as it should be done though

[dekker555]

I was in that situation and ended up doing the job myself, and it worked out well. The most difficult bit I thought was revising the float levels, havig completed the job, it all worked brilliantly, but I still wasn't sattisfied, so I took the carbs off again, made a template, checked all the floats (they were all OK), put it all back again and stopped worrying. Just depends if you feel capable of doing it or not I suppose. It's certainly a job worth having done. Sorry but I'm in Chelmsford, Essex, so not much help.

[Falcon 269]

Like everyone has said, Rusty, it's a DIY job if you are reasonably competent with the toolkit, can follow instructions and are patient. 

Dealers have a tendency to cut corners and only follow those instructions they can do easily, excusing themselves on the others by claiming that in their experience "this or that isn't necessary".  They're wrong, invariably, and there are more dealer installations that cause problems than DIY jobs.

I may be making another trip this year in early November but I know that's the wrong time of year for most owners.  It's just that my business here has grown and I simply can't get away until then.  Next year I should have a partner on board, though, which could free me up to make trips pretty much all year round if the demand is there.

Mike

[mcyoungy]

November eh? Noted in diary 

[Rusty]

Like everyone has said, Rusty, it's a DIY job if you are reasonably competent with the toolkit, can follow instructions and are patient.

Mike this is like one of those 'Alchoholics anonymous' type introduction moments.

"My name is Rusty and I am mechanically incompetent, I own no decent tools, and lack patience to the point of throwing things and turning the air blue in frustration"  Admitting to being rubbish at spannering - especially among motorcyclists, is often viewed as tantamount to saying you have a very small whatsit, but rather than bluff and muddle through, breaking/overtightening things as I go, I'm quite happy to say so.

I agree with your analysis of many dealers. Having no mechanical ability myself I've always relied on dealers to work on my car and bikes, and some of the tales I could tell would turn your hair white. Having no mechanical aptitude doesn't make you stupid, but apparently things like old oil filters that have just been wiped with a rag to appear new are supposed to fool me.

If the November trip looks like it might be on then I'll just have my carbs balanced for now to hopefully rid me of the horrible 4-5k vibration I'm suffering, because to be honest if I can't get rid of those vibes then I'll get rid of the bike, they're that intrusive!

[ChrisJH]

Mr Pigs bike garage in Manchester did mine good job too

[Rusty]

Thanks ChrisJH.


I think I'll wait until Mike hits these shores now as quite by accident I think I've cured the mysterious vibration.  It's the weirdest thing. The bike is fitted with a front fenda extenda which the previous owner had only put one screw each side in to hold it on, the gluey tape held the central part.


I noticed that the gluey tape had let go leaving the mudflap to move back and forth as if on a double pivot. Obviously at certain speeds/revs the mudflap must have been flapping/resonating and the vibes travelling up the forks and into the bars.  I've put two more securing screws into it and the vibes have gone!  I've now sent a cheque off to dekker555 for the R1 gear shift mod and look forward to the Ivanising experience when Mike is next in the UK. 

[Falcon 269]

Got to smile at that.

I was sat thinking what could be causing vibes bad enough to put you off the bike that much.  Didn't think a carb synch would do the trick but I could have sat here til Doomsday and not thought of the Fenda Extenda thing.

Good catch - now, just a matter of me sorting out a UK trip, I guess.

[ghostbiker]

I had a prob with a fender extender to, though mine had come lose on 1 side so at speed it deformed and became a rudder. This gave a nasty steering wobble, but park up and the fender extender looked normal. Took me ages to find the problem and ended up at 100 plus hanging over the front looking at it to find it LOL.