KITTYS MAIDEN VOYAGE 😁😁😁😁

[AshimotoK0]

Looks Lovely Julie .. I guess it's Menno paint job in Candy Custom Gold?
Obviously, I have seen it at your place before but nice to see it up and running.

[Nurse Julie]

Yes Ash, Menno paintwork.

[Nurse Julie]

Just wondering if Graham had the main stand problem being reported with the CMS exhausts Julie, sorry for all the questions but I'll be doing the same shortly so might as well learn from experience. I'll be going with Starlight Gold though and mine will be a mix of 500 and 550F parts with one Yamaha part. I'll leave you wondering what that is and no it's not the master cylinder.

I'll also be seeing if I can convert it to an hydraulic clutch, I have all the parts now, I just need a good alloy welder.

No issues with the exhaust and centre stand at all Ken but we bought these pipes at least 3 years ago, so don't know how they compare to later manufactured ones.

[Nurse Julie]

Still running in 🙄🙄🙄 Done just under 300 miles with another 200 to go until Trig does the 1st service. Had her up to about 65mph / 5000 rpm, she runs beautifully and handles fantastically.

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[Nurse Julie]

So how does it compare to the 400. I much prefer them as they are bigger, handle better IMO and don't need quite so much revs. Plus they look miles better 

I would have to say that riding Hettie was like trying to ride a wasp in a bad mood 😁😁😁😁 Yes, she was very nimble, cornered exceptionally well but, she was very small and light, too small and light for me actually, she was bloody hard work to ride, up and down the gears all the time to keep her revving high but, I absolutely loved riding her because she was such a challenge. The exhaust note was a real scream when riding hard and she was certainly not a lazy riders bike.
Kitty is a totally different ball game, get into 5th gear and she cruises along lovely but, I can overtake a car, or get a move on without even changing down. The handling is superb, very positive around tight bends, the exhaust tone is very 'refined' but sounds fantastic, even when riding quite hard and she obviously revs a lot lower than Hettie. The size and weight is better, although I do prefer the heavier weight of the 750's when riding.
When Kitty is run in fully, I can see I'm going to have great fun on her but in a slightly more sedate way than the fun I had on Hettie.

[oldtuggie]

Kitty is a very lovely lady!

[Nurse Julie]

Kitty is all run in now and has had her 1st service. She is running very well and is lovely to ride. Just one problem, the throttle grip isn't sticking to the tube, even with some very special glue that doesn't melt or go gooey under 100°F , it still broke free today after sitting in the sun for an hour 🙄🙄🙄.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Pleased to hear you are enjoying Kitty.

As the only Hondas I have previously ridden were my 250 Dream & 250 SS twins circa 1960's sounds like my 400/four will be like my 250 SS a continuous battle to keep it on revs.
I used to commute at weekends between Chester & Derby on the 250 SS - if the wind was against me even at 60 mph I would have to change down a gear on the flat or she would just loose speed. Overtaking was always a high rev thought out maneuver.

[JamesH]

Kitty is all run in now and has had her 1st service. She is running very well and is lovely to ride. Just one problem, the throttle grip isn't sticking to the tube, even with some very special glue that doesn't melt or go gooey under 100°F , it still broke free today after sitting in the sun for an hour .

Have your tried Honda ‘grip cement’ Julie?


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[Johnwebley]

Kitty is all run in now and has had her 1st service. She is running very well and is lovely to ride. Just one problem, the throttle grip isn't sticking to the tube, even with some very special glue that doesn't melt or go gooey under 100°F , it still broke free today after sitting in the sun for an hour .

Have your tried Honda ‘grip cement’ Julie?


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Sounds like a version of denture fixative,

The 500 has the ability to drop as low as 5,000rpm before overtaking

But ideally 9k in 3rd will do the manoeuvre quickly and safely.

Might even blow the cobwebs out of the exhaust as well

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[K2-K6]

Clean the plastic grip with MEK as it should prep the surface to take glue better.  Don't use tissue but a more resilient non synthetic cloth in case it sticks to the plastic   

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Clean the plastic grip with MEK as it should prep the surface to take glue better.  Don't use tissue but a more resilient non synthetic cloth in case it sticks to the plastic   

On pedal cycles we used to use hair spray to stop grips rotating.

[K2-K6]

Oh, and wash the grip with household washing up liquid (has salts to degrease incorporated*) and bottle brush,  then give a gentle simmer in water for 5 minutes to properly clean it.

* it's why you shouldn't use it on cars, paintwork etc including aluminium or UPVC window installation. From my obscure facts file that sometimes gets snagged as it's wirling around inside my head and may have no relevance to your current situation 

[Sesman]

Oddly enough I used hair spray on my grips. I recently scuffed the End of one while manoeuvring in the garage and had to replace it. It proved to be a devil to get off again. Couldn’t tell which brand is best as I ‘borrowed, it from the wife without her knowledge.

[Nurse Julie]

Done just over 1000 miles on Kitty now, 12 weeks since she went on the road. I've not managed to do as many miles on any of my bikes so far this summer as have had other stuff going on that took priority. Kitty is a lovely bike and rides beautifully.