#42 Ollie and Steve GD's 2008 DD Bike Preparation

[Steve GD]

Originally Posted by Dan

The waiting as been going on for so long I'd almost stopped reading this thread, but credit where credit is due, your bike looks stunning fellas. Have a great time in testing and I hope all goes well and is trouble free.

See you both Saturday if not before.

O Ye of little faith!

[998gsb]

The sponsors logos on the side of the bike look particularly fetching fellas!!

[Steve GD]

Ok, so today was a St George's day of firsts.
First time our DD bike was run on a track
Ollie's first day on a track
Ollie and the bike's first ACU day
It was the first day that the housemartins who live under my roof returned
So we went to our very good friends at Forza Italia, where the expert Ian set up the carbs, and Ian and Martin offered advice about control positioning. Then Ian and Ollie (separately!) gave it a short test on the Silverstone private roads, after which we trundled up the M1 to Mallory for the ACU test day in the afternoon. The p155down rain which had graced the morning cleared before start time so that was nice. And Mark (Captain Soup) came to support too...even better!
Track time was split between the sidecar lunatics and the solo machines, with the solos getting the lions' share. After a short first session, Ollie decided the gear linkage needed adjusting, and that was about it.
Later sessions were longer, and Ollie certainly learned the track, judging by the way the lap times fell during the afternoon.
Most successful, in my opinion, and not too many shakedown problems to contend with.

Well done Ollie!

[Ghost]

Great news congratulations, I feel by your post that you are not giving much away.

[Steve GD]

What do you want to know, Phil? Lap times???

[Ghost]

Not really as your pacing the clock, I was hoping for all the nitty gritty as its the first time its turned a wheel. Your ready to race this weekend too so it must have been all positive.

[Steve GD]

Originally Posted by Ghost

Not really as your pacing the clock, I was hoping for all the nitty gritty as its the first time its turned a wheel. Your ready to race this weekend too so it must have been all positive.

Our specific concerns going into this session were
Oil leak from around filter
Fairing obstructing bars
Rider position 1 (heels fouling on exhaust)
Rider position 2 (ability to use foot controls given small bike and tall rider)
As well as all the general concerns about a newly built engine and bike.
In the event, the bike ran really sweetly all day after warmup.
The oil leak had been fixed by removing the spigot onto which the oil filter threads and putting it back upside down, which removed a section of dodgy thread from play. The oil we saw was just what had not been cleaned properly.
Lockstops cured the bar/faring problem
The rider position problems were just not there in practise.
Two unexpected things we did find
A Chain adjuster worked loose
B Rear brake lever connections need resetting due to footpeg flex

So, a good day. And the times were good too...better than I had hoped for a first time out.

[captain soup]

Originally Posted by Steve GD

Ok, so today was a St George's day of firsts.
First time our DD bike was run on a track
Well done Ollie!

Well done Steve and Ollie, the bike looked very clean and fast and sounded well smooth, I put the photos of the day on another thread merely so they would go on the home page.

Mark

Testing Ollie

[Steve GD]

Thought it was about time I updated this thread with what we have changed since the season started....

In no particular order, and not including tyres/oil/filters


1 Replacement of reg/rec as it had ceased to function (found that out at Pembrey- d'oh)
2 Repaired solenoid-to-starter motor and cable between start-switch and solenoid.
3 Replaced front disk and pads and bled lines (much better "feel" now)
4 Set up valve gaps
5 Adjusted gearing several times but returned to original

(Big thanks to Amazing Al for 1, 2 and 5)

We also have (although we have not yet fitted)
Uprated brake master cylinder assembly
Zero Gravity screen
Alloy swingarm

On the shopping list but not yet bought
New forks (Showas)
A lighter seat bracket (might be here this week)
A lighter exhaust system

And, most important , track time for Ollie.

I have to stick my fingers in my ears and say lalalala whenever I think about costs!

[jasonboswell]

Originally Posted by Steve GD

Thought it was about time I updated this thread with what we have changed since the season started....

In no particular order, and not including tyres/oil/filters


1 Replacement of reg/rec as it had ceased to function (found that out at Pembrey- d'oh)
2 Repaired solenoid-to-starter motor and cable between start-switch and solenoid.
3 Replaced front disk and pads and bled lines (much better "feel" now)
4 Set up valve gaps
5 Adjusted gearing several times but returned to original

(Big thanks to Amazing Al for 1, 2 and 5)

We also have (although we have not yet fitted)
Uprated brake master cylinder assembly
Zero Gravity screen
Alloy swingarm

On the shopping list but not yet bought
New forks (Showas)
A lighter seat bracket (might be here this week)
A lighter exhaust system

And, most important , track time for Ollie.

I have to stick my fingers in my ears and say lalalala whenever I think about costs!

Let me know re: forks. I have a pair of Showas recently refurbished by Louigi Moto - Gilps can vouch for quality. Unused, and still in bubble-wrap, I was saving them for next season, but I need funds now to repair my bike/leathers/helmet after incident at Brands...

[Steve GD]

Originally Posted by jasonboswell

Let me know re: forks. I have a pair of Showas recently refurbished by Louigi Moto - Gilps can vouch for quality. Unused, and still in bubble-wrap, I was saving them for next season, but I need funds now to repair my bike/leathers/helmet after incident at Brands...

Thanks for the info, Jason....I'll PM you