preparation for IBA ride

[Kevin1123]

Morning everyone, this is my first post here, my names Kev, nice to meet you.

By way of introduction I've been riding for thirty seven years, mostly Kawasaki's, and I'm an endurance/mountain rider.

I don't own a car, and I ride pretty much every day.

In two weeks I'm doing another 1000 miles in 24 hrs, and I thought you guys might be interested in the process of preparing a machine and following the progress of the ride.

I'm using a chin mounted GoPro and the first film shows my daily commute, yes I really am that lucky, riding my bog standard Z750R after a very wet winter, prior to any work being done on the machine.

 

[Kevin1123]

Sheep dodging

The ride will be between Wales and Castellane in France, as usual the biggest stumbling block is getting a clean tunnel crossing. Arrive too soon and I'm pacing about wasting time, too late and I miss the train, both not good. Anyway, on the lightest night of the year, traditionally the best time for endurance riding, I'll be out there, somewhere.
When I get down there I'm linking up with friends. 10r 12r and Blade, for a week in the Alps, then back over the Pyranees, using the legendary N260.

 

[Kevin1123]

Parts list.
Wilbers 633 competition shock
Ohlins front
New discs, Hel brake lines.
Akrapovic slip on
Renthal R4 chain, HA rear sprockets, steel front, standard gearing.
optimate usb.

Status, scrubbing in PR4's, suspension being fitted today, then up to Derbyshire on Tuesday to see a man who knows a bit about suspension set up.

 

[Kevin1123]

How the machine stands today, just off to get the suspension fitted.

 

[Kevin1123]

The IBA ride route, 1036 miles, because you cant count sitting on the tunnel as distance traveled on a bike... 1000 in 24hrs.

Machine still in dry dock having, wheel bearings, head bearings and engine service. I've yet to test ride her. 12 days to go.

Sorry the system wont let me post the link to google maps, but no doubt I'll be able to on the day...

 

[Kevin1123]

Ahhh miracle I can now post my route.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/M...6549e7d3!2m2!1d6.5098744!2d43.8458876!3e0!4e1

 

[Kevin1123]

My Akro has arrived, I'm off to get it fitted this afternoon and to start suspension testing, I'll get the bike up on a paddock this afternoon, and post an update. 12 days to go.

 

[Kevin1123]

The machine isn't finished yet, I still have brake lines, a scottoiler, I have cable ties on my front suspension at the moment so the guys can measure for adjustment. The rear feel's like it could do with a couple of clicks more rebound, so I'm making notes for the 19th and 20th. The Akro has smoothed out my torque 'hole' at 4,000/5,000 rpm and again at just over 6,000 rpm, so I now have a smooth linear power curve. New discs, Renthal R4 chain, HA rear, which means I'm in direct communication with my contact patch. Controls need adjustment to handspan and foot movement.
All in all the guy's at West Wales MC have turned out a great machine as usual. Think street fightered 6r meets KTM, and you wouldn't be far off the mark.
Optimate usb with four bus connector to power my sat nag, phone, mp3, and camera.
The Z750R has a big tank for a Kawasaki which is one of the reasons I chose it, should get 180 miles to the tankful which should cut down on refueling stops.

Ten days to go. I've caved in to peer pressure and ordered a screen to get my head behind.

A brief clip, sorry about the wind noise, it's only me babbling on anyway.
ABS not required

 

[Kevin1123]

The calm before the storm of a timed distance ride, bike now loaded up, ride check. All good. Two and three quarter hours to go..

 

[CBRHoonigan]

Was the bike high milage before you went on this ride, because otherwise all the suspension servicing is abit excessive for 1000 miles

 

[Kevin1123]

Was the bike high milage before you went on this ride, because otherwise all the suspension servicing is abit excessive for 1000 miles

No you misunderstand

It's like a thousand miles to the Alps, followed by about six hundred miles riding the French Alps, then a quick days blast along the French coast to the Pyranees, because no mountain trip would be complete without riding the legendary N260, where wide open sweepers meet craggy twisty hairpins and double chevron turn in or die corners
Here's a brief glimpse...

 

[Kevin1123]

In fact I was about three hours late arriving in Castelane, my sat nag malfunctioned south of Dijon... overheated, maybe or could have been down to a map update I did on the friday night. Never mind, anyone familiar with road sign's in the French Alps will understand that passes are poorly signposted, and huge empty roads appear out of nowhere. Apparently my Gopro pictures are too large to upload, so I'm trying to reduce the size at the moment

 

[Kevin1123]

Now would a thousand quids worth of ABS, have helped at any time during the 3,500 mile ride.... Well, yes actually, wet peage covered in diesel, enter Kev, braking from a ton, front locks... released front, aimed for dry spot, reapplied brake... back paddled to pay my fare, boots slipping all over... gloves off, card in the machine... extortionate 44 euros paid, barrier up, wheelspin out of said death trap

I hate peage's when it's ninety degrees in the rain, you just cant get your gloves back on

Would the ABS have stopped the front locking, yes no doubt.... would it have registered in my brain cell that I was hurtling towards a barrier and not stopping... would panic have set in... would I have hit the barrier... I have no idea.

Muscle memory... priceless

 

[Kevin1123]

Some pictures from the trip

 

[Kevin1123]

And a few more

 

[Kevin1123]

Last Couple

 

[Kevin1123]

The PR4's performed perfectly, no loss of grip, despite extreme heat and braking conditions, and plenty enough meat on them to last me for a couple of thousand miles of commuting, before we go again in September...

So PR4's 10/10, rapid warm up in the wet or dry, excellent wear, brilliant levels of grip.

Scottoiler chain luber, chain always looked wet and well oiled, filled the reservoir up once. Renthal R4 chain needed no adjustment in 3,500 miles of hard riding.. so excellent, 10/10 from me.