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« on: February 12, 2022, 10:06:37 PM »
Update Time!!
I added a sploch of paint to the top part of the headlight to reduce the "In Your Face" glare, could have extended it further for optimum effect, but it's much better.
Same silver grill paint (heat resistant) was used to spray on the heat shield, looking much better, not a perfect match, but anyone looking at it would never know the diff.
NEW SKINS!!! At the advice of you all and a good friend that was a crew chief for LMP3 class racing car I ditched the old tires and got the City Grip 2's. Balanced them myself, was surprised that I needed seven 1/4oz weights on the back and six on the front. I suppose I could have rebroken the bead and rotated the tire on the rim to try and find a better pre-weight balance, but I just peeled the sticky tape a few more times instead. Rides very smooth now. The handling is just great now too, it feels much more responsive to swerve about at speed. The old tires felt as though they didn't want to turn as expected, like a car with a lot of understeer, you really had to push it to move and even then it felt somehow out of balance like it was wanting to zig while I was still zagging. Now it feels like it's on rails that I decide where to go, so much more natural, push into the turn and follow with appropriate weight balance. Somewhere along the way I saw a guy that was racing on a scooter...I was like, yeah right, the way mine handled before that would be a scary prospect and not a bit fun trying to get the scoot to respond to what I wanted. Now, with the City Grippers, I'm like, "Where do I sign up for that?!?!!?"
On a side note, getting the tires on and off the rim is a freaking chore. I followed tips on rear wheel R & R from Stig, used a shot of paracoard to hold muffler in place to remove it then tied the same way to reinstall. Worked like a champ, would not have thought to do that were it not for your guide. Only removed the one screw holding on the mud shield and smooshed it up out of the way, the wheel cleared. Had to deflate the rear for it to get past the back part of engine just above the oil dipstick. Otherwise no issues, the scooter having started out in Austin Texas then here in Florida, it's in amazing condition, zero corrosion.
Got the color matching helmet from Amazon, really like the color, fit, and quick release buckle. It has a flip down visor that still seems to let a bunch of wind smack me in the eye. Might look to getting a pair of goggles fitted with prescription poly carb lenses for riding and dusty work in the shop and such.
Still thinking about the H4 headlight option. My concern is if it will behave right in low beam having a crisp line to not glare at oncoming drivers and when going from low to high beam perform as expected too.
Would also like to replace the rear view mirrors with something wider. I bought a different set and tried them out but they were still too narrow, I need them to be about 2 inches longer sticking out above the hand grips more so I can see past my arms. As of now, I see 2/3rds of me and 1/3rd what's behind me, I'd like to invert that ratio. The one's on there now are kinda beat too and when I replaced them temporarily I noticed they're mismatched as well.