Finally bought a bike

**JohnC** · 05-31-2005, 09:25 AM

As many of you already know, I bought Rob's old Ninja 500R. It's in "ok" shape, I spent yesterday afternoon trying to repair the front plastic with epoxy - seems to be holding pretty well, it just looks ugly :roll: I spent about 10 minutes trying to be neat about it, then I accidentally got some on my hand, then I grabbed a piece of bodywork, then I gave up and decided that eventually the whole front will be ghetto-painted anyhow, so what do I care.

After fixing the plastics, my next project will be lining the thing up - Any tips/tricks I should know about aligning a bike? The front end pulls *slightly* to the right, once per wheel revolution. I'm going to take the wheel off and see if it's straight. No flat spots or chunks missing from the tire. Front forks *might* be uneven, not sure as I haven't accurately measured it yet...

Pictures soon.

Feersty · 05-31-2005, 10:07 AM

[Image: wOTQ4MzYyNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

[Image: wOTQ4MzYzNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]

Good luck with it, John. Now who want to buy my Buick, $500 with a nice stereo.

CaptainHenreh · 05-31-2005, 10:15 AM

I remember the 'alignment' that my buddy got for his enduro bike. The bike was pulling to the left so this big mexican came over put the wheel between his knees and jerked the handlebars.

I wouldn't try that on yours, though.

**Mike** · 05-31-2005, 10:19 AM

rob that mm sign looks like it hurts.

ScottyB · 05-31-2005, 10:23 AM

are there any OG's that either don't want, or don't have a bike yet? :lol:

nice to see the 500R still stays in the MM family. looks like it will be a good way to start off John.

Dragon · 05-31-2005, 10:24 AM

JohnC Wrote:Any tips/tricks I should know about aligning a bike?

Hold handle bars tight, kick wheel in direction you think it needs to go. . . .. this worked all the time on my BMX growing up. :lol:

***ViPER1313*** · 05-31-2005, 11:05 AM

Feersty Wrote:Good luck with it, John. Now who want to buy my Buick, $300 with a nice stereo.

BLINGMW · 05-31-2005, 01:30 PM

Mike Wrote:rob that mm sign looks like it hurts.

ARGHH!!! MY HAND! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY HAND?!!

**Mike** · 05-31-2005, 02:05 PM

BLINGMW Wrote:
Mike Wrote:rob that mm sign looks like it hurts.

ARGHH!!! MY HAND! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY HAND?!!

you get season 2? was on sale last week at best buy for $20.

fuck yo thread chapin!

Feersty · 05-31-2005, 02:59 PM

Damn some haters up in this piece. My right is the only one that has given me the problems....lol.

**Mike** · 05-31-2005, 03:15 PM

Feersty Wrote:My right is the only one that has given me the problems

Right what? Half of your brain?

Daaaaaaamn! :lol:

Feersty · 05-31-2005, 03:51 PM

nah my right hand. Stitches in the thumb. Dislocated pinky...

.RJ · 05-31-2005, 05:17 PM

BLINGMW Wrote:ARGHH!!! MY HAND! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY HAND?!!

Martian law!

Ginger · 05-31-2005, 05:28 PM

Congrats, John! More bikes rocks.

You should come out to the DCSportbikes.net events so that I can have somebody to chill with..... how far are you from DC, anyways?

**JohnC** · 06-01-2005, 10:33 AM

asteele2 Wrote:Congrats, John! More bikes rocks.

You should come out to the DCSportbikes.net events so that I can have somebody to chill with..... how far are you from DC, anyways?

Thanks. I'm ~3 hours away from DC proper. Definitely won't be making that ride for some time yet.

Bike report - didn't use enough epoxy on it yesterday. I completely missed a major joint, and the resultant flexing was enough to make me just tear it apart and start over. Re-sanded everything and re-epoxied last night, hopefully it'll hold better.

Martin · 06-01-2005, 11:01 PM

sweet man.

pulls once per revolution? like a wobble? sounds like a rim bent in that case. theyre a dime a dozen online.

You can realign the handlebars to the front tire like a bicycle. Crank the handlebars against a curb. You gotta loosen the triple tree clamps to align it easily.. do them one at a time, / uppers then lowers.

**JohnC** · 09-19-2005, 10:54 AM

And 3.5 months later, I finally took it out for a decent ride.

I finally got sick of RJ ragging me all the time about the bike sitting in the garage, unfinished, so - sanded the front piece down real quick with some 1000 grit, threw on a coat of firecracker red (well, most of a coat, since I didn't buy enough paint) and a coat of clear. It looks ok from 50ft away, and it looks pretty ghetto from 5ft, but whatever. I can redo it over the winter if it gets too annoying. I might put some pics up - but maybe not since it could be pretty embarrassing. Definitely no worse than Andrew's piece though Wink

Oh and btw - the problem with it pulling to the right was just a bent handlebar. Easy fix.

Anyhow, this is a nice bike - thanks again Rob. I was out for about 20 minutes just running around on the back roads to get a feel for it. My biggest issue was braking *way* too early, and leaving the turn signal on long after I made a turn. I'm looking forward to riding it a lot before the weather gets too cold - then a couple of times a week when the sun is out..

:twisted:

Sijray21 · 09-19-2005, 11:00 AM

JohnC Wrote:My biggest issue was braking *way* too early, and leaving the turn signal on long after I made a turn.

lol, i have the SAME problem. I look forward to riding with everyone once we all get together. A little MM riding posse Wink

. Glad to see you're enjoying! As always, be safe.

Feersty · 09-19-2005, 11:28 AM

Now that I think about the engine was in outstanding mechanical shape and you did get a damn good deal. But my lost is your gain Smile

**JohnC** · 09-22-2005, 01:19 PM

Rode into work today, about 25 miles. Very nice ride, the weather is perfect - the only thing I didn't like was when the school bus tried to run me over. Hello, throttle!

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