950 Supermoto Chronicles

[Thumper996]

Originally Posted by angustoyou

This may have been mentioned before, but I've had time to test them myself properly, and it may help someone.

On the Michelin site, the recommendation for tyres for the 950SM is for Power Ones or Pilot Power. They're a bit full on sports for me, I wanted a more versatile tyre for my recent Scotland trip, (read good in the wet) so I went for the Pilot Road 3, a sports touring tyre that's been well rated in all the magazines, and from asking around the guys that do regular all weather riding.

When I fitted and balanced them, I found I had a weave at around 100mph, I was advised to up the rear pressure by 4psi, and sure enough, it vanished.

We did 1500 miles in 6 days, and the weather went from cold and driving rain on day one, through cold and dry (snow on the roadsides at the mountain tops!) to getting warmer, finishing hot on the ride home (typical!)

Immense riding, great views, and the tyres were superb. Day one, when we hit Loch Lomond and the first really good, quiet twisties in the driving rain, I cleared off from the other guys, Fazer 1000, Bandit 1200, Tiger 950, turned round, then caught them back up again. Not a twitch or a slip anywhere, felt really good. Equally at home in the dry, and after 2000 miles now, wearing slowly and evenly.

Recommended.

I am currently running PP Road II on the rear and PP 2ct on front on both my SV650S and KTM Duke II and i flat out love them. The mid-liter bike engine brake eats up the softer tires, but the PP Road III is soft on the sides and harder in the middle more than a 2CT and is wearing great.

[scooterqualified]

I've read and researched about x-bike jetting but I cannot figure out where to purchase jets for that carb andare there any suggested settings with a stock exhaust

[EastSideSM]

Originally Posted by scooterqualified

Mine was so bad that it would hardly start and if I did start it, it would stumble and die off choke and if I gave it any throttle or even adjusted idle. The trick its to blow into the vacuum line and see if u can hear the fuel spray out of the carbs, any restriction while you blow is unacceptable. After I got it right everything ran as it did before. I read earlier in the thread that if the hose is vented the wrong way or behind somewhere where an air pocket develops it will cause performance problems but don't remember specifics.

Thanks. I'll take another look tonight.

[Garry]

Originally Posted by scooterqualified

I've read and researched about x-bike jetting but I cannot figure out where to purchase jets for that carb andare there any suggested settings with a stock exhaust

http://www.JetsRUs.com

[eSONG]

DID 525ZVM-X Chains Super Street X-Ring Chain Gold

120 links

Is this the correct chain for the 950sm???

[preppypyro]

I have 16/41 sprockets on my bike and I bought a 120 link chain and had to cut links off. Cant recall how many though.

[Garry]

Originally Posted by eSONG

DID 525ZVM-X Chains Super Street X-Ring Chain Gold

120 links

Is this the correct chain for the 950sm???

I put a new chain and sprockets on the bike over the winter. My notes show a 16/41 sprocket combo and a 112 link 525 chain. I ordered the set from www.SprocketCenter.com. They sell it as a kit with a chain cut to the correct length.

The parts PDF also says the stock chain is 112 links.

[wpbarlow]

Hard to believe it's been 6 years since the thread was started. And it surprises me that it's the most replied to and viewed thread in Road Warriors:

Replies




Views



More impressive than that is the high level of discourse that's taken place in the thread. And for that I thank you.




On a more topical issue- all is not well with the SM-- it overheated on the way home from a ride Sunday. It would climb through 5 bars, the fan would go on and it just went to 6 and then 7 bars if I let it. No hint of anything until it just started happening. Fortunately, it started about 12 miles from home, so I was able to ride about a mile or two, turn it off for 10 minutes, ride another 1-2 miles, etc.. I was too hot to look into things when I got home, and then went away for the week. I'll have a look tomorrow. I suspect either a thermostat failure or something with the water pump drive mechanism (which was replaced about 1,000 miles ago). Again, no hint of anything, and the oil pressure light is not going on. We'll see.

[KHVol]

How many miles do you have on your SM now Walter ?

[eSONG]

Originally Posted by Garry

I put a new chain and sprockets on the bike over the winter. My notes show a 16/41 sprocket combo and a 112 link 525 chain. I ordered the set from www.SprocketCenter.com. They sell it as a kit with a chain cut to the correct length.

The parts PDF also says the stock chain is 112 links.

Cool thanks!

[duroturk]

Originally Posted by wpbarlow

Hard to believe it's been 6 years since the thread was started.

[wpbarlow]

Originally Posted by KHVol

How many miles do you have on your SM now Walter ?

Just passed 34,000.

[wpbarlow]

I also asked this in the Orange Crush Section to get the wider expertise base, but it's worth doing here as well.


Other than via the water pump mechanism, what might be other ways that oil could get in the water on the LC8? I have enough oil in my water to tint it dark; but there doesn't seem to be water in the oil (by oil filter inspection anyway and the oil pressure light staying off {yes, the light and oil pressure switch work})





TIA

[aerone]

My friends very low miles SMR kept putting fresh oil into the coolant. After a couple of water pump rebuilds. It was pulled down and found to have a tiny breech either on the base or the head. It was almost like a casting imperfection, cured by using some Honda product similar to Yamabond. The oil is pressurized when it goes up through the cylinder. He did new gaskets and rings, problem has not reoccured.

[corndog67]

OK, my brothers, I've been riding it for a week now.

Going to a 16 on the front, and if cash allows, a DID ZVM and Stealth/Sidewinder/Supersprox 41 on the back soon.
Countershaft for sure, soon though.

When riding it in town, today was Pismo, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, and the general area, the cooling fan keeps cycling on and off, if I'm at a light, it generally comes on when I'm sitting there, going off as soon as I get rolling. Is this normal? The temp indicator is usually one or two bars above the middle line. Also, I thought I smelled coolant when sitting in traffic, although it could have been a nearby car. Level seems fine. What are the indications of the water pump failing? Your stories have got me nervous, and the bike is just over 10,000 miles. Anything I can do to make it run cooler? I've always been of the mind that cooler is better.

Front brake has a light squeal to it, the Brembos on my Ducati don't. The KTM brakes feel fine though, other than the "squeal like a pig, boy!".

I'm betting that with the 16 on the front, it will wheelie even better than it does now.

Other than those issues, it's a big time fun bike to ride.

Thanks, Robert