My 950 Refresh or Mission Creep...

[sakurama]

Originally Posted by LocuL

So do this mean that you will settle for "only" 41mm? Serious how much can these babies take(off)? RFS/XC4 bikes would be 43mm as an maximum, but i´m not sure.
I get the idea with stroke would be to much since the engine runs fine. Lots of work involved in that. Do you have any timeframe of this build?

You're like some sort of horrible pusher man - crack is whack, don't push me. I have a weak resistance to the modification habit.

Umm, yeah, I suppose you could bore them out more. Then engine was tapering off slightly and the larger carb bore would most likely help that. It might be the thing that would also cost you down low and right now we're just a bit better than the 39's - don't want to lose that.

Well, good news on the gasket front. Cometic doesn't make a KTM 950/990 head gasket but Chris' email was the impetus they needed and they said they will start working on it now. We've sent them one of my gaskets and they'll work on it so we should have something soon. If we don't have to cast a cylinder I could see having the parts in a few months. Pistons will become the next part of the equation but Chris thinks blanks should be pretty easy to find. From there it's working on the design and having them made.

I'll go out on a limb and say that the 1080 version of this bike would be running by March/April. Just in time to ride home in the spring for a good long test. Unless I go to version 2 of the plan - that might take a lot longer. Version two... complicated...

Gregor

[LocuL]

Sorry and i love this.

[Katoom119]

Originally Posted by sakurama

I've ridden an RC8 and it was one of the hardest pulling bikes I've ever ridden - silly power.

Swing by Deal's Gap and I'll arrange for dad to bring over one of his track big bang R1's. The last time it was dyno'd it pulled in the 170's and the way Team Velocity Racing had it setup it topped out at 198 mph. Makes my RC8 look like a kiddie bike.

Back on topic, what are your plans for the other engine? Using my unbelievably amazing lawyerly analytical skills, I see you have one bike but two engines. Why do I get the feeling there's going to be a SE in the picture? Adventure and the street wheels for road duty, SE and knobbies for fun time in the dirt? Or you planning on having an East coast and West coast Adventure?

I bet you're going to leave the Adventure as it is and put the bored/stroked engine in the SE, that way you can have more torque but be able to lug it more for the dirt and mud.

[sakurama]

Originally Posted by Katoom119

Swing by Deal's Gap and I'll arrange for dad to bring over one of his track big bang R1's. The last time it was dyno'd it pulled in the 170's and the way Team Velocity Racing had it setup it topped out at 198 mph. Makes my RC8 look like a kiddie bike.

Back on topic, what are your plans for the other engine? Using my unbelievably amazing lawyerly analytical skills, I see you have one bike but two engines. Why do I get the feeling there's going to be a SE in the picture? Adventure and the street wheels for road duty, SE and knobbies for fun time in the dirt? Or you planning on having an East coast and West coast Adventure?

I bet you're going to leave the Adventure as it is and put the bored/stroked engine in the SE, that way you can have more torque but be able to lug it more for the dirt and mud.

I don't have any plans or desire to rebuild the old one. It was a 2004 and I had the same problem that Flanny was having with hemorrhaging base gaskets before the cam chain went. The metal of the cases typically corroded so the answer was to replace the cases - not worth the trouble on an engine with 70,000 miles. I'll pull the cams and then use it as a spare parts holder - when I need a clutch plate, 5mm bolt, rotor, etc. I'l know where to find it. Did think about building a go kart for my kid briefly but then came to my senses. I like him. Kinda want to keep him around.

I do need a bike for the city and for when I'm back in NYC but the 990 was just made for Oregon so it has to go back. Gino and I might try to do Alaska next summer.

Gregor

[sakurama]

Today was my last free day in NY until January and while I was hoping we might get the carbs finished Chris had pressing jobs to do so he couldn't devote the time. He says they should be done by the time I get back the first week of January. That should be cold enough to test them.

In other news our offer on a house was accepted and we'll close on the 14th of January provided everything goes well. It's been a long time waiting for my own garage and while I'm not looking forward to moving all this junk I am looking forward to having it all next door. It will be a real revelation to not have to commute an hour to change my oil or work on my bike. I sure will miss the dyno though. I was thinking it might be nice to find a group of people that would be willing to split one in Portland. They're not too crazy and split 5-6 ways it could work. Something to consider.

Anyway, I did manage to get a few hours at the shop to explore some cosmetic stuff. I wanted to start exploring the pinstripe idea a little so I found some red striping tape (no orange) and tried two different ideas. Not really sold on it yet.

Right side:



and the Left side:



I'm liking the left better but it's not quite there. I've also toyed with the idea of doing an orange topo map wavy line graphic as well. I'll think on it.

Also, just for fun and to piss off Gino I got my 41 FCR dyno chart overlayed on Gino's 990R. It's pretty amazing how solid the gain and pull is in the meat of the curve. It's about 8-9ft/lbs and the same in hp all through the middle. I'll take that!



I'm not sure how long Cometic will take to get us an answer on the gaskets but with the holidays it probably won't be too soon. If anything happens I'll update you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Gregor

[HappyGoLucky]

Fecking A Gregor. Merry Christmas to you and yours

[VertigoCycles]

Such an inspiring project. Thanks for documenting it! Congrats on the PDX house too... Great news!

[sakurama]

Thanks Sean!

I won't have a Deckel party but I do think ill have my welding table Blanchard ground to become a fab table so that will be my excuse for a shop warming party. This spring probably. You will be invited of course and we will talk about your 990's (upcoming) custom titanium exhaust.

Thanks Happygolucky!

Gregor

[Pete640]

Hey G - enjoy the moving. Its the one job that prevents me from changing locations...not that I really want too..

On the overlays I see the lines crossed over at @ 8700 rpm. Any idea as to why?

[Flanny]

Bitchen dude.

Mad Props.

[jonnykilo]

Congrats on the house (and shop) Gregor. Personally - not a fan of the pinstripe idea. I like the idea of the topo map lines - or, take a line drawing of a citi-scape or recognizable "adventure" horizon. Merry Christmas to you and yours out on the West Coast.

[zgfiredude]

I'm loving the thread, not so much the pinstriping, but it is your call.

Idea: These bikes already have an "interesting" profile, and I'd try for something that pulls the whole thing together a little rather than segmenting it even more. What if you tried the topo map idea straight through the lower section where the c/f tank guards are located. Sort of a lower beltline area. I think it would "lengthen" the look of the bike rather than make it appear taller, and perhaps in charcoal with a little orange vs. all orange. Kind of a "ghosting" look.

Just a thought, sweet bike all day long!

[sakurama]

I agree with both of you guys - the pinstripes aren't really working... yet. Peter has a vinyl cutter so I might tap him to do some ideas and I'll try the topo idea the next time I'm back in a week or so. Not sure of what more there is to do as we wait on the gasket question so I'll see if we can finish the choke next week.

Gregor

[Katoom119]

Is it next week yet? Class starts Wednesday so I'm going to need something to read in class.

[DRjoe]

Are you ready for stage 2