Improving Your Motorcycle's Brakes... Cheaply.

As the lever fades...
With a few miles, or years, under its belt, most bikes start to feel a little bit lacking when it comes to the feel at the lever. And I, for one, am not keen on riding bikes where the lever almost touches the bars. Now, if money is no option, there are plenty of easy fixes:

• New discs and pads
• Braided brake lines
• Rebuild the calipers with new seals, maybe pistons if damaged
• Brembo adjustable master cylinder 

But this gets expensive, and changing parts could be masking an actual problem — something that could be easily fixed. So what if you could improve your standard brakes where things have deteriorated over time? Well read on...

Oil Filters — Part Deux.

Where are we at?
OK, so I've changed the oil twice since doing the original oil and filter change when I first got the bike. For those that remember, the filter fitted had no manufacturer's markings on it and, when I cut it up, found it to be absolute crap. 

I fitted a genuine Honda one, and since then just dropped the oil a couple of times to try and get everything running clean inside again. Today I put another flush in the engine and changed it all again. And this, my very bored friends, is how it went down.

2011 CBR600RR
Really like this bike, the paint, the shape, its agility... it's awesome. But someone decided it was a good idea to hide the oil filler cap behind that black fairing panel. Doesn't make sense that to top up the engine oil, or check the filler cap for tightness (as they do before you enter the racetrack), you have to remove part of the fairing.

Valvoline Superbike Hot Laps!

I've just been gifted a "hot lap" on the back of Glenn Allerton, Aussie superbike rider and all round top fella!  It was on his "wet" race bike and what a buzz!  The venue - Queensland raceway and round 5 of the Australian Superbike series.

The Valvoline sponsored Honda Fireblade.  Down about 10 - 15 BHP on the "dry" bike but still around 180 at the wheel!  With extra bars mounted to the tank for the pillion, I had to hang on as tight as possible when accelerating and push hard when braking.  


Can't really describe the experience - it was just awesome.

From left:  Brett (team manager), Ray (another lucky pillion), Glenn Allerton and me.

Yep, we weren't hanging around.  In fact, around 8 seconds off race pace.  Pretty cool!

Dave, the top geezer that sorted out the ride!  Thanks mate, I owe you on... hundreds!


I'd write more but was left speechless and smiling!