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Duke Xmas List

7K views 25 replies 15 participants last post by  CDN Duke 
#1 ·
I'm sure most of us have a running list in our minds of what we want Santa/Krampus/FSM to bring us for the winter holiday. Personally I am dropping hints for a Spal fan (though my OEM is running fine at 3,000 miles {knock on wood}) and a set of silicone coolant lines. Its cool in Florida now, but come spring and summertime I don't want my engine to cook.
I am also hunting for a Werks exhaust and maybe a new shock, but I have a daughter's wedding to pay for next spring so maybe the bigger purchases can wait till next xmas.
 
#4 ·
As my father told me when I was growing up, "There's never a bad time to get pants"

Of course I know intuitively that I am not the only one who is lacking on chain maintenance, but it is always nice to hear that someone else struggles with keeping it clean and adjusted. Kind of spoils me having a shaft-driven cruiser in the garage that only needs new oil in the pumpkin every 25,000 miles.
 
#6 · (Edited)
The Dukino's main Christmas present just arrived: Frando 15mm radial MC, from japan.webike.net. The latter provided a great price and exceptional service - I had the part in hand only 5 days after ordering. Look forward to improved front brake efficiency, feel and control. It's a beautiful piece of mechanical sculpture from the well-regarded Taiwanese brake specialist. Looks like it will require a new brake line from MC to ABS.

Other upgrades in process:

--G2 throttle from MNNTHBX

--R6 shock, reconditioned and resprung.

--Cyclops LED headlight (Already installed. Astonishing output. Review forthcoming.)
 
#8 ·
Zippy, The shock swap from Yamaha R6 to D390 is amply documented in this thread from the RC390 forum. There have already been quite a few successful conversions already, and the first-generation R6 shock is said to be very effective, good quality, adjustable for both rebound and compression, and exactly the right length to fit either of the 390 variants. Only the spring and the preload adjuster, as well as bushings for the lower mounting bolt, need to be changed to make the R6 shock work on our bikes. I think it's an interesting project of not great difficulty, which hopefully will result in a high-quality shock for a very modest investment. A full shock rebuild will run you some $, but I intend to try only the minimum in this regard first, then proceed to more complete rebuild as needed. I bought the shock off eBay for $35. If perchance the shock doesn't hold up, I can have it rebuilt, buy another R6 shock for $35, or go to an Ohlins or JRi for $750-1200. The OEM shock, IMO, is inadequate.

Shock Swap with 99-02 R6
 
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#17 ·
Zippy, The shock swap from Yamaha R6 to D390 is amply documented in this thread from the RC390 forum. There have already been quite a few successful conversions already, and the first-generation R6 shock is said to be very effective, good quality, adjustable for both rebound and compression, and exactly the right length to fit either of the 390 variants. Only the spring and the preload adjuster, as well as bushings for the lower mounting bolt, need to be changed to make the R6 shock work on our bikes. I think it's an interesting project of not great difficulty, which hopefully will result in a high-quality shock for a very modest investment. A full shock rebuild will run you some $, but I intend to try only the minimum in this regard first, then proceed to more complete rebuild as needed. I bought the shock off eBay for $35. If perchance the shock doesn't hold up, I can have it rebuilt, buy another R6 shock for $35, or go to an Ohlins or JRi for $750-1200. The OEM shock, IMO, is inadequate.

Shock Swap with 99-02 R6
Missed this post. Got a shock on the way, and I live 10 miles from Racetech. My only concern is the heat from the exhaust (which I'm keeping stock for now) but I have some header wrap tape. Thanks for the link!
 
#11 ·
I'm flying low this season, don't have a job currently, so no spending for me at the moment. Otherwise I would have liked a whole host of mods, or maybe rather sink the money into paying it off quicker.
 
#12 ·
Hang in there mate... something will come along & you'll be back modifying before you know it. :)
 
#21 · (Edited)
Hang in there mate... something will come along & you'll be back modifying before you know it.
Cheers! If I HAD TO make a list, then (in no paticular order)...
* SuperTrapp SC Elite 10" exhaust
* DynoJet Power Commander V plus time on a dyno
* Shorai 9AH LitIon Battery
* High lift cam kit with forged pistons and a thinner head gasket (from rc390-forum.com)
* Almost the whole MNNTHBX catalog
* The Galfer 320mm front rotor and rear petal rotor upgrades from HardRacing
* Brembo HH Sintered Metal brake pads front and rear
* Brembo RCS19 levers and associated reservoirs
* Marchesini M10RR forged aluminium motard wheels in "GP Orange" colour
* New Philips DayLightGuide LED DRLs to replace my Made In China handlebar LED strips
* Moulded plastic rear tyre hugger/mud guard with custom Registration Plate mount
* Custom Tail Tidy to completely eliminate the rear fender and then paint it white under the tail
* The RC399 Cup WP front suspension tuned to my riding weight (or the cheaper Ohlins internals)
The RC390 Cup WP rear shock tuned to my weight (or the cheaper 99-02 Yamaha R6 rear shock rebuilt with 12.5 spring)
* A white Skully AR-1 Helmet for me to go with my awesome white Duke
* Associated KTM branded gimp suit and AlpineStars GP Pro gloves
* Some alone time with my bike...
 
#14 ·
Very interesting project, PeteV! A lot of us would like to follow your progress, I'm certain. At the Duke's power-to-weight ratio (already very good), losing 15 lbs (7Kg) is the effective equivalent of gaining about 2 HP.

I second PhoCup's suggestion: Please keep us posted!
 
#26 ·
Zippy, if you factor in colder weather, would you still suggest the 9Ah or step up to the recommended 14?
 
#20 ·
I put one in my MuZ Skorpion a couple of years ago. Then I stored it for six months in my bike trailer, no trickle charger. It fired up first try. If that size battery was adequate for a 660cc single, it should be fine for the little 390.

Lithium batteries work much differently than lead-acid. The output current varies with the internal temperature. So if the bike is very cold, you should leave the ignition and lights on for a minute before hitting the button. Or just give it a try a few times - that will wake it up.

I even put one on my Buell XB12Ss. That was 14 AH, and sometimes it took two tries to spin that big twin. But it always started. That one saved nearly 10 pounds...that's 2% of the weight of the bike!

We own seven bikes. All have Shorais save our 1951 Velocette. It's a show bike, we don't ride it much so we keep it dry of fuel.
 
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