MacLean

I'm going to have a look into how awkward (or not hopefully) the front sprocket is to change. I've previously had sprockets and chain done at shop so haven't had to touch a front sprocket before, I guess I'm assuming that due to the crap that gets dragged in there and the load on the front sprocket that its going to super tight and potiential for rounding off bolts or snapping things or other fun stuff like that?

Well that might be an idea.... I have read though that 16tooth front sprocket can cause issues on drz with rubbing a plastic guard piece or something... I was also put off by guys talking about locktite and the like on the front - making me think that a front sprocket is a bit of hastle if you want to swap it on a semi-regular basis. But I dunno - perhaps I need to have more of a look into that.

Hi, I have a drz400 with 18/21inch dirt wheels on and I have a set of 17inch wheels with road tyres. I'm wanting to be able to switch between the two but the gearing with my dirt wheel is 14/47 which is bang on for green laning, but need to lower the teeth on rear sprocket quite a bit to make it more suitable when in 'road mode'. After using this very handy tool http://www.gearingcommander.com/ I have found that by reducing the rear sprocket to my ideal which is around 40 - 42 teeth i will not have enough room to adjust rear wheel to take up the slack.... Which led me onto chains - I thought maybe having two chains would be a good idea, but the chain on it does not have the clip on master link therefore - can this type of chain be removed and reasembled without destroying/weaking them? I'm thinking that perhaps I may just have to accept a less than ideal gearing and just go with a large sprocket on the back in road mode and just avoid motorways! The bike is primarliy for green laning which I've been using it for so far so will not compramise it for its intended purpose but would like to have a bit of fun on it with some solid road tyres on the road. (knobblys are scary on road lol) Cheers

I agree with little cat. I rekkon it only seams as though the right is worse as you tend to need to keep your right wrist low when operating throttle... On left side, you can hold your wrist in a higher position without impacting your ability to control the machine meaning full locking to the left is easier. I know because I thought the same when I went from fazer to r6. However measure it and see if the bars are bent! All I can say is if ur thundercat is like the r6 - then slow speed stuff is a friggin nightmare. Tight u turns are very difficult due to poor turning circle - and something about the ergos of sports bikes just makes them bloody awkward at very slow speed compared to for example my drz which is easy to turn on the spot more or less! BUT you do get used to it... So measure it all up make sure nothings bent or twisted - if not then just practise in a car park!

Nice 1. Getting plenty of track days under your belt! The number of guys that go down in the wet vs the dry is like night and day. It really is pretty treacherous in the wet.. But when its dry, you really cant beat whizzing a sports bike round a track, its so fun its just unreal. I got a voucher for bday, but am just reluctant to book anything as I can't help but feel all our sunny days have been and gone lol.

I think that was a good call to not carry on. I will think a bit more about it next time it starts pissing down. Although it hurts to pay so much money for a day and then have it written off by the crappy weather. But riding on the track in the rain is really not fun and thats the whole point of the day aint it.

I had quite an eventful day yesterday! Got two dry as a bone sessions that were fantastic then the heavens opened . Felt some serious rear end traction loss giving too much beans out a corner in the wet. Had me standing up feeling the back end moving around with engine screeming, but it stepped back in-line. Calmed the feck down after that. Later on in the day the front end went on me and I went down like a tone of bricks on the first low speed chicane at Oulton. Was down before I knew what was happening. I still haven't figured out what went wrong. Frame slider saved the bike from pretty much any damage at all. I seriously don't know how my right bar end, fork, peg, lever, pipe etc didn't even make contact with floor. Picked it up and was out for the rest of the sessions! New rhs frame slider is only repair needed. Quite a lot of guys went down yesterday 10+. Although not as much fun as the first due to wet track, deffo learned more lessons this time in the wet!

Oh! It just seemed you were on the track every week or something lol! Must admit having a coach or someone experienced would be really handy! You should be biting his hand off for advice! I totally agree and I feel the bike is so much more where it belongs at the track, and my enthusasim for the road has dwindled a bit since going to a few trackdays

Encase anyone digs this up in future with simillar symptoms - a new relay fixed the problem

My nomination is the pidgeon that scared the shit out of me. Driving into work gate at about 15mph with window down. This pidgeon is flying on perfect collision course with my face through my window... Causes me to duck, hit brakes and feel stupid that such a little creature disrupted me so much WHAT A NOB

Haha yeh I thought you sounded like you've done a bit more than just the odd bit of tinkering with electrics. I guess you like something to really sink your teeth into. I can imagine electric faults really get the cogs in your head turning. Do you mean the two chunky connection on the relay? Err looked okay to me. It all looks in reasonable nick to me. Not particularly corroded or anything. Cheers for tips re the grips - will check that vid out tonight.

Cheers am with you now. Sound like you know what your doing with electrics? I have a set of heated grips on my bike that came on it when bought - however I took off the extra terminal from the battery negative terminal to disconnect them as I had suspicions they were draining my battery and obviously don't need em in summer. I think they may be pinching voltage from another circuit or something like you say. BTW bypassing the relay starts engine perfect every time and yes it was a bit sparky. Ordered another relay off ebay for 15quid - hopefully problem solved!

That shit man. Just look as late as you need to then book it first then you'll be really determined to push your boss for the day off when you're 100 - 150 quid out of pocket

Wow littlecat, I am jealous of how many trackdays you've been able to get under you belt. Must be a good few? I take it your completely under the influence of trackday addiction

Cheers for help guys, I didn't realise the relay is just a switch at first. I was thinking in terms for example if you bypassed a processor in a computer - it wont work. I though that the relay done something more than just make a connection so was just a bit confused till I realised its just a switch that can by bypassed. Matt, last question.. promise... What did you mean in your first post about bypassing chassis ground by connecting - terminal to a ground point on the bike. I don't understand that? Everything else makes perfect sense now. Thanks for the help Will hopefully diagnose the relay tonight. Cheers