More water/rain Questions

[Nate R]

OK, my windscreen doesnt line up perfectly with the fairing, and even if it did, it wouldnt be watertight.

When I was washing the bike, a lot of water was getting into the wiring and such through the screen/fairing gap.  

Is this a problem on the track, or does the wind keep the water moving enough? I'm thinking of caulking the gap, as I have some connections that won't stand up to continous water in the front.

[TreyBone]

never thought about it. :-/

[Litespeed]

I would think the water would continue up and over the windscreen while riding and very little would get down into the crack.  Unless of course you are out in teh torrential down pour like we had at Firebird...

[rick]

I never really worried about it either. And, at firebird, the water was going anywhere it wanted!  :D

[Super_KC124]

I bought my bike from a salvage yard. It sat outside in the weather for months. I have had no electrical problems. If all the connections are stock, it should be fine. If you have respliced or reconnected wires that are not at least a little water resistant, mabe you should redo them. ;)

[Super Dave]

I'm thinking of caulking the gap, as I have some connections that won't stand up to continous water in the front.

Nate, I hope you're measuring your suspension and all too.  Did you remove your swingarm and linkage along with the steering head to see if you've got water or grim in there?  

[Nate R]

No, didnt remove the steering head or swingarm pivot. The bike had been in the rain once before I got it, and I know how much water it's seen since then. Not much time either, this winter. I will definitely be checking that stuff over the season, or before next season.

I AM attempting to set up the suspension, as well as I can.  I have to change the fork oil level (got WAY too much in there), and set proper sag.  

When I said continous water, I was just meaning while riding. The bike is garaged almost all the time.

[Super Dave]

I'm just messing with you.  Good to see that you're motivated.

Proper sag only relates to the correct spring and geometry of the bike.  So, if' someone is telling you the sag to run without understanding the tires you're using, the springs you're using, the length of your rear shock, and has measured your chassis accurately...  

If those items are not known, when you set your sag, you are only setting one thing based on the potentially incorrect assumption that everything else is correct given all the variables.

[Nate R]

So, basically, to even get a good sag #, I need to talk to a suspension/setup person?   Makes sense. I guess I'll start with the most common # I've seen for SVs and work from there. I mean, if I can't yet spend the money to have someone else help me with that, where else to start?     I suppose you'll help me in August with this.

[Super Dave]

So, basically, to even get a good sag #, I need to talk to a suspension/setup person?   Makes sense. I guess I'll start with the most common # I've seen for SVs and work from there. I mean, if I can't yet spend the money to have someone else help me with that, where else to start?     I suppose you'll help me in August with this.

Sag only sets the operating height.  If the geometry is such that the bike does not function correctly, a correct sag number like 30mm in front and 35mm in back really doesn't matter.  In fact, it might make problems worse.

Will a suspension guy know all this?  Potentially, no.  You can chase the sag all day long when it might actually be a matter of setting the shock length or the fork height is actually what you need.  Do you see the difference?

Then there is the difference in some tires.  Some are taller or shorter even though the sizes are listed the same.  This can have dramatic results in the chassis too...good or bad depending upon how the bike was before the change.

I can help.  Often times, we've got a window where it should be at.  Someties you've got to fudge things based on what you can't change at the time.  But the reality is to learn how it works and to recognize what the differences are by feel.  Kind of like giving someone fish to eat or teaching them how to fish...there is a difference.

[Nate R]

OK. That all makes sense. We'll work on this when I take the school, I guess. For now, I'll use some general #s and see how they work.

[Super Dave]

Glad it makes sense.  

[lil_thorny]

dave,
be sure to check your messages on this forum,
i e-mailed you a love letter....."ahhhhhhhhhh"
benny.

[sdiver68]

Damn S_D,

You are going to scare the newbies to death!

"CCS reports remarkable decline in new racer entires due to fear of suspension adjustments!"

 :o  ;)

Nate,

Get some general numbers from the WERA board or the SV rider list or maybe even Ed Key and go with them.  Sure, going to GMD and taking Super Dave school will help a ton but most do not so until they've had a few races under their belt or are looking for that last couple/3 seconds, and you can be plenty competitive in AM races without all that.

I guess I'm saying start from the best place you can start from, and add the other things as time and money permit!

[Super Dave]

Damn S_D,

You are going to scare the newbies to death!

"CCS reports remarkable decline in new racer entires due to fear of suspension adjustments!"

LOL!
 ;D

But actually, it's the newest riders that SHOULD have a decent set up.  With experience, you can ride past some of the problems.  But for the new guy, a bike that isn't right...

It gives feed back to the rider that he doesn't understand.  So, the rider sees other riders going faster, so he goes faster and throws it in.  But, because he doesn't necessarily notice the set up differences or he's just not experienced, the rider falls, breaking his wallet in the process.

And that's really the key to what I learned over a long period of time.  I was never a natrually gifted rider, but I was at least motivated and stupid enough to continue spending money, and learning in the process.

Keeping a rider in the sport is sometimes a matter of keeping him from blowing all the money.  If the rider learns quickly to understand what makes the bike faster, why he's not as fast, and what NOT to spend money on...they are around a lot longer than other guys.  And they go faster, too.

How's that one lay on ya?

[lil_thorny]

so dave, being a newbie racer myself, i shouldn't
"blow" all my money on strippers and speeding tickets? how 'bout i give you my paychecks and you make me faster. btw, i got all the school days off
and i'll be there .....remember, "it's not a tumor"
hey, just to follow this thread, should i sipe some
take-offs and see how that works? ;D ;) :P
" i have tooth decay....ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!"
lil thorny.

[Super Dave]

"AAAAH!  I wake up and my pants unbuttoned!  AAAH!"

I've got it killed.  Tumor or not, no carbs will starve it.  

If the strippers help your riding, then, by all means, do it.  

And don't they just like hangin' out with you?  Tell me about that girl...Brittney S....

[chris_chops]

OK, my windscreen doesnt line up perfectly with the fairing, and even if it did, it wouldnt be watertight.

When I was washing the bike, a lot of water was getting into the wiring and such through the screen/fairing gap.  

Is this a problem on the track, or does the wind keep the water moving enough? I'm thinking of caulking the gap, as I have some connections that won't stand up to continous water in the front.

I've seen all sorts of methods to protect those connections from water.  Some get a big enough plastic bag, like a ziplock and make a condom thingy with rubber bands or zip-ties.  I slather the connections real good with di-electric grease and tape em up nice and tight with black electrical tape.  The old grease and wrap.  
     On the subject of your suspension, don't copy a fast experts set-up, yet.  I don't think it will be right for you, yet.  Because there are so many SV's out there, start gathering as much set-up info as you can and then have someone like S_D filter it for you.
     I used to have this palmpilot with all my setup info on it, now it's broken and lost is the info.  I'm using a pen and paper this year and then I'll back it up on disk.
     I'll be at the track with two new lightweight guys this year, Pete and Spencer.  See ya soon.  And if you decide to caulk, come over and show it to me.  I've never seen that on an upper before.

Matt