8 hours ago, fabiamk2SE said:

I'm no suspension set up genius.. i never have been and tbh i havent set the time aside to try and learn to be.. however.. i'd still say a few things.   The R3, and dont be offended by this, at the price point isnt going to be the best suspension ever known to man... infact its probably quite basic. That doesnt mean you need to spend stupid money on ohlins, but it does mean that set up is more important to get it the best it can be for you.. in my experience.  I'd set aside £50 or whatever and take it to a suspension specialist near you. They will talk through it all with you and set it up to your requirements... it will never be spot on and its personal taste, but i think you'll find it well worth the money as it'll put you in the ball park.   You could upgrade it if you wished, but that depends on your feelings towards it. If you've done the above and its still lacking, you cant get improvement etc, its time for a higher quality set up.  Finding the limits of the suspension is usually fun though. 

 

Thanks for this and I think you are spot on as the R3 is silly money ie £4.8k, and there has to be compromises at that price and I do get the impression that bikes we buy are increasingly as starting point for us to personalize.  Keep making tweaks to get the standard setup where it is best for me and then I can think about chucking some more money at it if it looks fun to do so.  

 

Such as small price for 0-60 in 5 seconds is good value and it surprised me that there is so much tuning stuff from the official Yamaha site ie specific springs for fat b*st*rds like me ie in the 90-110 kg range of porkyness..

https://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/products/motorcycles/supersport/yzf-r3.aspx?view=accessories&partcode=SPR-08429-75-00&year=2016

 

I am sort of glad it does not do a lot over the 100 mph as it will hopefully keep my licence safe(r).  I reading a technical article on the new R6 and was amazed that it was saying that the new bike was not as quick as the model it replaces as it is constricted to me EURO4 emissions and needed a further grand or two on it to make it similar or better than the 2016 R6.  Weird world.  The R3 is averaging over 60 mpg and that is starting to give it lots of beans, is it really that crucial to the air quality for a machine with such a low fuel consumption to have a cat I wonder (maybe in India where it is so bad) bu then it is not illegal, in the UK/EU, to replace the can with a non-cat one, madness.  

Edited 24 May, 20179 yr by lol-lol

2 hours ago, lol-lol said:

 

Thanks for this and I think you are spot on as the R3 is silly money ie £4.8k, and there has to be compromises at that price and I do get the impression that bikes we buy are increasingly as starting point for us to personalize.  Keep making tweaks to get the standard setup where it is best for me and then I can think about chucking some more money at it if it looks fun to do so.  

 

Such as small price for 0-60 in 5 seconds is good value and it surprised me that there is so much tuning stuff from the official Yamaha site ie specific springs for fat b*st*rds like me ie in the 90-110 kg range of porkyness..

https://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/products/motorcycles/supersport/yzf-r3.aspx?view=accessories&partcode=SPR-08429-75-00&year=2016

 

I am sort of glad it does not do a lot over the 100 mph as it will hopefully keep my licence safe(r).  I reading a technical article on the new R6 and was amazed that it was saying that the new bike was not as quick as the model it replaces as it is constricted to me EURO4 emissions and needed a further grand or two on it to make it similar or better than the 2016 R6.  Weird world.  The R3 is averaging over 60 mpg and that is starting to give it lots of beans, is it really that crucial to the air quality for a machine with such a low fuel consumption to have a cat I wonder (maybe in India where it is so bad) bu then it is not illegal, in the UK/EU, to replace the can with a non-cat one, madness.  

 

Thats it. Its personal taste anyway, no one size fits all option. 

 

They're all victim of the emissions n its only going to get worse. Theyd all benefit from an ECU reflash to get rid of the open loop and you could then map in an aftermarket exhaust with no cat if you wanted. You wont gain much power but the engine will breathe better and it will become smoother. Theres a guy called Simon who is sworn to be the best around on the 07 and 09's, ill find his details if you're interested. 

 

I bet its capable of silly mpg though? I was cruisinh around the scottish mountains on the 09 Tracer at around 50mph and getting 77mpg. Couldnt believe it . The mt10 had a job getting over 40mpg . 

Thats me that is, on the right.

Still not famous though.

Went out for a ride with the old man today, Hereford, Ledbury, Ross, Monmouth,  Abergavenny then back home to Hereford.  

On 5/24/2017 at 09:16, fabiamk2SE said:

 

Thats it. Its personal taste anyway, no one size fits all option.   They're all victim of the emissions n its only going to get worse. Theyd all benefit from an ECU reflash to get rid of the open loop and you could then map in an aftermarket exhaust with no cat if you wanted. You wont gain much power but the engine will breathe better and it will become smoother. Theres a guy called Simon who is sworn to be the best around on the 07 and 09's, ill find his details if you're interested. 

I bet its capable of silly mpg though? I was cruisinh around the scottish mountains on the 09 Tracer at around 50mph and getting 77mpg. Couldnt believe it . The mt10 had a job getting over 40mpg . 

 

It is disappointing that the display cannot show mpg over 99.9 mpg as it spends much of it time, if you have it on instant fuel consumption at the display of 99.9 mpg so I tend to keep it on the average fuel consumption figure which dips from 65 mpg to one or two less for a mile or two and then rebuilds to 65 mpg again.  When it is sub £40 road tax and I am only paying £45 a month lease  (used the SV as a £2K deposit) it is indeed cheap fun.

 

Does the remap show up when Yamaha do the service?  Wonder if they would object and it affect warranty.  Also intend to do some research whether changing the air filter to a K&N type would mess it up or help.

 

Double screen is suppose to reduce wind resistance, by 12%, not sue if that is just for the screen area, cannot see how it would be for anything else, and then the big re-gearing I am planning should also help further.  Getting too hot to wear all the kit, we Brits always moaning about the weather.   Weather for Donnington this weekend looking interesting ie not hot ..http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcrh897fd#?date=2017-05-28

 

 

   

4 minutes ago, lol-lol said:

 

It is disappointing that the display cannot show mpg over 99.9 mpg as it spends much of it time, if you have it on instant fuel consumption at the display of 99.9 mpg so I tend to keep it on the average fuel consumption figure which dips from 65 mpg to one or two less for a mile or two and then rebuilds to 65 mpg again.  When it is sub £40 road tax and I am only paying £45 a month lease  (used the SV as a £2K deposit) it is indeed cheap fun.

 

Does the remap show up when Yamaha do the service?  Wonder if they would object and it affect warranty.  Also intend to do some research whether changing the air filter to a K&N type would mess it up or help.

 

Double screen is suppose to reduce wind resistance, by 12%, not sue if that is just for the screen area, cannot see how it would be for anything else, and then the big re-gearing I am planning should also help further.  Getting too hot to wear all the kit, we Brits always moaning about the weather.   Weather for Donnington this weekend looking interesting ie not hot ..http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcrh897fd#?date=2017-05-28

 

 

   

 

Very cheap fun then! Nice one. 

 

Thats one of the questions i asked and apparently hes never heard of any problems. If you did have a problem though you could always take the ecu out, take it to him and have it put back to standard before taking it to the dealers. 

 

Not sure about the 3 but with the 9 people have tested with the K&N and found no benefit. Apparently the oem is as free flowing as it needs to be. You can wash and reuse k&n's though which would be handy if you're home servicing. 

 

Weathers awesome at the mo! 

Most benefits from a panel air filter are negligible unless you make other mods too which would normally be a less restrictive exhaust and then mapping to suit. To get these kind of gains the airbox is usually changed out for a less restrictive design and CAT removed from exhausts which normally means they will be marked as "not for road use". 

The maps themselves would be classed as "not for road use" too as one of the first things the tuners do is get rid of the lean running that manufacturers have in the lower revs to get through emission tests. This gives you much better power and torque lower down the rev range and the mid range which is where you need it on the road. 

As you know I have changed out my airbox for a much less restrictive one with tuned trumpets too. O2 eliminators have been fitted to richen up the bottom end and the engine is very smooth and responsive. The end can was changed too but my CAT is still intact as it would require cutting into the pipes to remove then welding back up or changing the pipes to some Arrow ones which are marked as "not for road use". Whilst my local MOT garage turns a blind eye to the end can markings it doesn't with the actual pipes. 

The bike is getting booked in with Hilltop's with a group booking to get remapped and this will exploit the modifications that the standard map can't. 

 

Remaps do not show up with dealer servicing. They would need to send your ECU off to the manufacturer to be read which is only likely if you're making a claim for a blown engine under warranty.

 

Power Commanders and Auto Tune can work well but they are also expensive compared to a remap but you can always sell them when you get rid of the bike.

 

Got my insurance renewal through yesterday which now includes the CX500 on a multibike policy. Was shocked it had actually gone from the previous year. I'll still be shopping around though as I intend to completely strip the CX500 down. 

Edited 26 May, 20179 yr by CWARD

1 hour ago, CWARD said:

Most benefits from a panel air filter are negligible unless you make other mods too which would normally be a less restrictive exhaust and then mapping to suit. To get these kind of gains the airbox is usually changed out for a less restrictive design and CAT removed from exhausts which normally means they will be marked as "not for road use". 

The maps themselves would be classed as "not for road use" too as one of the first things the tuners do is get rid of the lean running that manufacturers have in the lower revs to get through emission tests. This gives you much better power and torque lower down the rev range and the mid range which is where you need it on the road. 

As you know I have changed out my airbox for a much less restrictive one with tuned trumpets too. O2 eliminators have been fitted to richen up the bottom end and the engine is very smooth and responsive. The end can was changed too but my CAT is still intact as it would require cutting into the pipes to remove then welding back up or changing the pipes to some Arrow ones which are marked as "not for road use". Whilst my local MOT garage turns a blind eye to the end can markings it doesn't with the actual pipes. 

The bike is getting booked in with Hilltop's with a group booking to get remapped and this will exploit the modifications that the standard map can't. 

 

Remaps do not show up with dealer servicing. They would need to send your ECU off to the manufacturer to be read which is only likely if you're making a claim for a blown engine under warranty.

 

Power Commanders and Auto Tune can work well but they are also expensive compared to a remap but you can always sell them when you get rid of the bike.

 

 

Worth saying though that there is no emissions test for bikes on the MOT, so the mixture doesnt really matter after its new. 

 

Ive had alsorts of exhausts too and never had a problem. Didnt even bother putting the baffles in the Tuono.   

 

I wouldnt spend too much on the hunt for power out of the R3 tbh. Itd get to the point where its cheaper and easier to just buy a more powerful bike. 

Edited 26 May, 20179 yr by fabiamk2SE

My MOT garage has never bothered with the end cans and stated that people who bring them in with originals on they'd bet they're changed back straight after the test. The exhaust though they have actually checked on the previous SM and was surprised it was stamped up as it was a very fruity sounding full titanium Akrapovic system. They also checked the Adventure exhaust to ensure it was stamped but not the end can which isn't! 

My scooter has been cutting out randomly, they suffer with the spark plug cap going crap and causing issues. Got a new one, along with a new spark plug but cant get it back in. Screws in most of the way then just stops. I didnt want to cause any damage so I've just left it, probably best sending it to a garage to be looked at. Annoying. 

2 hours ago, matt1chelski said:

My scooter has been cutting out randomly, they suffer with the spark plug cap going crap and causing issues. Got a new one, along with a new spark plug but cant get it back in. Screws in most of the way then just stops. I didnt want to cause any damage so I've just left it, probably best sending it to a garage to be looked at. Annoying. 

 

Is it defo the same spark plug? 

 

Yeah dont fluff that up.  

54 minutes ago, fabiamk2SE said:

 

Is it defo the same spark plug? 

 

Yeah dont fluff that up.  

 

Yeah, I put the old one in and it done the same. 

 

Annoyingly though, my dad come round, checked and said the spark plug was fine and in as far as it should. We started it and as it had done before with me, idled perfect but sounded rough and under power when revved. He suggested I took it up the road and it went just as it should.

 

I dont know how I've never noticed it sounding so boggy when revved on the stand but then I dont tend to stand there opening it up while stood still lol. 

 

Hopefully it gets me to work without issue tomorrow. 

Edited 26 May, 20179 yr by matt1chelski

20 hours ago, fabiamk2SE said:

 

Worth saying though that there is no emissions test for bikes on the MOT, so the mixture doesnt really matter after its new. 

Ive had alsorts of exhausts too and never had a problem. Didnt even bother putting the baffles in the Tuono.   

I wouldnt spend too much on the hunt for power out of the R3 tbh. Itd get to the point where its cheaper and easier to just buy a more powerful bike. 

 

I decided last year that I wanted something lighter than FZ6, SV650 but something that looked the Bee's knees but also was really comfortable and the R3 was the only bike that ticked the boxes although I probably should have tried the Kawasaki 300 and KTM 390 as they are closest I suppose to the R3 but I am a Yamaha fan right through to the MotoGP.

 

An R6, and R1, are 190 Kgs wet compared to the R3's 165 kgs so 50lbs in old money and the R6/R1, I find, uncomfortable to ride long distance, even 50 miles, where the R3 is more like an MT's riding position.

 

It will be interesting to see the World SSP 300 times for the R3 round the various WSB circuits.  Aorund Donni yesterday the R3 was doing 1'45"s against the R6/R1 s 1'30" so a big difference there but with a cooler wetter track today and tomorrow it will be interesting in conditions that more reflect our normal British weather.  I suppose I want to get to something like the pciture below but probably without the forks pushed through and clip-ons below the top yoke.... 

r3.bmp

Edited 27 May, 20179 yr by lol-lol

I spent Monday removing the tank to change the fuel filters over and refit the O2 sensors as I had an issue with what felt fuel starvation at high revs/speed. It was a rainy day so thought I'd put it to good use rather than going around the shops with the wife. 

The fuel filters didn't look too bad but since the pump was in pieces after removing from the fuel tank they been changed anyway. O2 sensors back in and engine started on the button which always a relief. 

Took it for a test today and the problem has gone so can only assume it was the O2 eliminators that were causing the problem. Spent a bit more time fine tuning the quickshifter and the bike is flying. Bike now locked away again before I push my luck and end with some points on my licence. 

I still think it has more to offer and waiting on the group booking at Hilltop Motorcycles to get sorted and see what it can do at the hands of an experienced tuner. 

Taking the bike (and wife) to Whitby tomorrow and may call in to see my uncle and his new £30k  Harley Davidson trike. 

Ordered a new drive belt for my Triumph America as the belt is now too big as I have fitted a new rear pulley to lengthen the gears and reduce the rpm.

Booked the Tracer in for an ECU Reflash. 

 

Get rid of that emissions *******s...

Rode the Harley to a Chapter Meeting in Chelsea on Thursday night, thought that I should after spending most of the afternoon washing dead flies off of it accumulated from the trip to St Tropez and back, it was nice to hit the capitals street on a balmy evening and for once the traffic wasn't too terrible

I got plenty of miles in last week around North Yorkshire, especially around the coast. Mainly two up with the wife as pillion who was enjoying the bike too. Great to be able cut through the half term traffic, once the wife had got used to filtering again and stopped hitting the back of my head. I've probably eaten my body weight in ice creams and unfortunately forgot to apply sun cream as burnt my head when I was walking about with no helmet on. I think I was successful in reducing the insect population as I had thick crust of dead stuff all over the bike and helmets (should take Chubb up on his helmet detailing offer).  Lucky too to still have my Sat Nav after I had left it unsecured on the bike for a few hours whilst at Robin Hoods Bay. Only realised on the way back and quickly ran up the hill to check it was still there. OK, I didn't run up that hill quickly, it's very steep and I'd just had my fish and chips 

The PDOiler chain oiler has been brilliant with no fling just a nicely lubed chain, so much better than my previous experiences with the Scotoiler that had but me off using them again.  

Did the little Normandy trip last week on the K1600, got back Saturday and Sunday headed out to work in Inverness. Had a great time in Normandy with my son, stayed away from Autoroutes and National Routes and did the trip exclusivley on D Roads. 

 

Finished off off a lot of the WW2 areas, and got 120ish miles per day in. 

 

Weve been a fair fair few times before but just wanted to finish a few sites off, and going close to the 6th June, the area is buzzing. Had to double take when overtaking a WW2 American Column lead by a Stuart light tank, a couple of M2 Half tracks, one with a quad 50, trucks, jeeps and a DUKW, with all occupants dressed in period Uniform.

 

Had a cracking time and only 60 ish days to go before we head off to Italy on the bike.

 

Hopefully a Google Album below with a few snaps

 

https://goo.gl/photos/2xpCxLFv1o3JaeQw5

 

 

Edited 6 June, 20179 yr by fluffmeister

With it being D-Day anniversary today you picked a good weekend to go. You may have passed through some of these places before but the then and now photos are really good viewing especially with sheer scale of the operation.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/ng-interactive/2014/jun/01/d-day-landings-scenes-in-1944-and-now-interactive

Had it flashed! 

 

Got rid of the closed loop, new fuel map (richer at low revs and leaner at high) then the speed limiter removed (it was at 140 odd mph anyway, so, meh) and sorted the modes out so theyre all smooth. Even A mode (sport) is very usable in town, even though 50% throttle movement equates to around 90% power. 

I've had a few beers and misread you're first line as you'd got flashed and thought bugger. Glad to hear it was the bike and not you. 

The closed loop makes a big difference to how smooth the bike runs but emissions rules makes it an easy way for manufacturers to comply. I assume they've pulled the torque lower down revs to make it more road usable. 

Hope it's dry for you to test it tomorrow. 

 

12 hours ago, CWARD said:

I've had a few beers and misread you're first line as you'd got flashed and thought bugger. Glad to hear it was the bike and not you. 

The closed loop makes a big difference to how smooth the bike runs but emissions rules makes it an easy way for manufacturers to comply. I assume they've pulled the torque lower down revs to make it more road usable. 

Hope it's dry for you to test it tomorrow. 

 

 

Wouldnt of been surprised if i did write it wrong last night . 

 

Yeah showed me the graphs n it looks loads better. So many inputs for the modes too. Crazy complicated. 

 

Worth the extra to have it done properly. Some do it for half the price but they dont have the R&D into the 900's like he does n some dont even change the fuelling. 

Today I found 4th gear again in my Tiger Cub. After stripping the box down to repair something else and putting it all back together again I only had 1, 2 and 3, so the box had to come apart again where I realised that I had done something dumb in the original repair. On the upside, I now fully understand how the gearbox works....