Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
with hot summer days...
https://i.imgur.com/RVBzuOP.jpg?1
come cool coastal street bike rides
today we did Malibu
https://i.imgur.com/Tm5Qj00.png?1
it's arguably the closest canyon carving to "LA" - if you live in Santa Monica/Marina Del Ray/Hollywood/Culver City/etc.
but from OC, you have to cut through a lot of traffic in LA to get to the coastal malibu spots...so you have to deal with it; but once you do, it's awesome :cool:
https://i.imgur.com/irfQxC6.png?1
check out the twisty options :hellyeah:
and with anything California, it has neat canyon views
we started out on freeway to PCH, and lane splitted coastal until we got Neptune's Net; it's pretty much just a stop on the way to the canyons
https://i.imgur.com/vQnqBfS.jpg?1
literally the first street off of Neptunes is where the canyon carving starts...we took a leisurely 30-40 mins to the rock inn
https://i.imgur.com/1pMbzkf.jpg?2
^^1.6 miles/10 mins from "the snake"
famous canyon where everyone crashes...but it's been closed since the fire over a year ago
then we took a couple more canyon roads, then got back on the slab home
you can follow mullholland and other roads connect to other canyon roads to get a few hours of canyon riding in...would recommend!
I also need to get my steering head bearings done...front end gets lightly stuck in one bar position during low speed manuevers. neutral light still flickering on and off
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
flu season sucks :violoin:
squeezing in rides helps to balance it out
https://i.imgur.com/Lb6u9bc.jpg?1
in your spectrum of friends, you know which crew this is :lol:
cruising the 6 lane boulevards in north orange county w' a ratchet crew is always fun
compared to last week's hot canyon ride, the cooler temps definitely help to pick up some extra ponies. The Ninja 500 is *just* short of being a fun bike sometimes...a modern twin solves this, but at 3-4 times the cost. Meh.
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
another hot week(end)
https://i.imgur.com/Q6e7icr.jpg?1
California is on fire...literally...and what's worse, is that thousands of acres were burned, from a gender reveal at a park. California problems...
anyways, at one point, I decided to cruise out at night to get Tacos to beat the heat
now my purely anecdotal/single data point says: if you want late night tacos, head to LA county (the equivalent of the greater boston area).
Why? other areas just don't have any late night options. For example: my friend suggested some food trucks inland, at Riverside (the equivalent of Worcester/Western MA). It took me 1 hour to ride out there, and upon arrival just after midnight, everything was closed. No food trucks in sight, and it was actually kinda creepy how empty the roads were on the Covid background. Bike was not having the heat either and it was idling at 3,000rpm, so I stopped and twisted the idle adjustment screw, and that helped bring down the coolant temps.
https://i.imgur.com/9CbH5iV.jpg?1
at that point, I gave up on referrals, and went to google. Found a place open til 2am.
https://i.imgur.com/n6VLJDM.jpg?1
and how was it?
https://i.imgur.com/4CCqEgK.jpg?1
it was satisfactory, but it wasn't the best. I had the hankering for the slightly spicy, overly salty, fresh carne asada taco, that I should really plan ahead to find.
oh well, continued the cruise down to huntington beach, a short wheelie filled cruise down PCH, then looped back around to get home. 3 hours and 140 miles for Tacos. Check.
I dunno if it was the heat, but I just wasn't jiving on the Ninja last night; I just didn't feel peppy and excited to ride it all night...100 miles felt like enough :lol: . Do I really want to tour to Death Valley on this?
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
Those look alright. My go to on a real taco craving is Tacos al Pastor. Hard to beat that smokey chili flavor of the pork with the sweet of the pineapple, add some pickled onion and cilantro to balance it out and you've nailed tacos. That said (reading the Wiki article) there ain't much traditional about al Pastor. Turns out 19th century Lebanese immigrants to Mexico brought the spit roasting method with them that they use for shawarma and that was adopted for cooking the pork. I love shawarma too so I guess there's no wonder I like the al Pastor so much.
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
I did Death Valley back in Feb. Lots of mostly straight roads but it's beautiful. I did some of the dirt canyons also, that was probably my favorite. You probably want to trailer that 500 out there if you decide to go.
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Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
hmm...the two guys before me both ordered al pastor, maybe that was the hot ticket at that spot! added to the list
Death Valley is sort of up in the air at this point in terms of planning...work is sucking, so we just want to go. Two of the guys are doing dual sport/dirt for sure, one guy has suggested bringing an S10...I was planning on riding there and back, but trucking out actually sounds less fatiguing for the slab. Definitely need to do it on a dual sport at some point.
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
https://youtu.be/F8hkZQX1V4A
Once my shed is finally cleared out enough to do a sport bike, me thinks I should check these steering head bearings :lol:
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
Check? Are you going to measure the race indentations with a 6p nail? :D There is no check, you're in replacement overdue three years ago land now.
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
Yes, not a check, it will be new bearings...I am just dreading it :lol:
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
Light the entire bike on fire
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
Quote:
Originally Posted by
loudbeard
Light the entire bike on fire
The needles will expand...as will the outer race...fail.
Ahh crap that is probably still the stock loose ball type bearing.
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
Ninja Fire-hundred-r 2005 as trash bike ?
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
yeah, so this kinda worked
https://i.imgur.com/XYnqOvq.jpg?1
mini camp chair in backpack w' bluetooth speaker, lighter, food and honestly that was enough
the only issue is that kindle burned in 45-60 mins...luckily the CVS or 7-11 on PCH 3 mins away sold more kindles...loaded up two more after friends came to secure the spot, and burned until 10pm when the beach fire pits close
I would do this again
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
California: OMFG WE'RE ON FIRE FUCK
Also California: Feel free to have a nice camp fire on the beach :shredder:
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
yes, you get it!! I think 2 years ago we had simultaneous flooding and droughts at the same time :lol:
edit: hopefully valve check and carb clean w' rebuild kit w' new seals/jets this weekend
ordered up the bearings for maybe 1-2 weeks out
meanwhile, can't beat the free moto parking at John Wayne airport when you rent a car for long drives
https://i.imgur.com/jVWR0dy.jpg?1
ride up 17-20 mins from home, park bike for free, walk over to rental counter, get a cheap rental on a midweek low demand day :hellyeah:
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
https://i.imgur.com/ICek7t8.jpg?1
okay, it's time
stopped by Chap Moto to grab a cylinder head valve cover gasket
already got my steering head bearings & carburetor rebuild kit
delegating some tasks out
Chaparral was unusually empty on the sales floor...
https://i.imgur.com/fGTAjTV.jpg?1
combo of people recreating in the high desert plus reduced production due to covid
oof - no wonder it stinks at traffic lights
https://i.imgur.com/s6oqhve.jpg?1
carb overflow tube broken...ordered up a replacement, ETA the 15th, so bike will be parked awhile. Wait - it was already being parked awhile :lol: Other jobs are getting done on it in the meantime.
EDIT: holy cow the S20 EVO in a 110/70/17 is an $81 tire at Chaparral right now :lol: ordered!
May even do the rear but I'd have to step up to a 140/70/17 instead of the stock 130/70/17
EDIT #2: and two new plugs
https://i.imgur.com/ra5XA6K.jpg?2
EDIT #3: and an air filter
EDIT #4: steering head bearings are done!
oh shizz...it's also time for new front pads
https://i.imgur.com/gAXWzVp.jpg?1
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
https://youtu.be/x3lnFPEVerI
smooth as butter!
definitely safer to ride, easier to steer in turns, tracks more straight over pavement imperfections
the engine sounds quieter now since the cam chain was super noisy
the idle is smooth like a kitten...feels fuel injected!
a little better pickup on the freeway
overall the bike feels "tighter" in terms of throttle response
so this is what a properly running EX500 feels like :spit:
still need to do a caliper rebuild front/back
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
https://i.imgur.com/yZn6SLY.jpg?1
having a street bike helps to fill in the gaps when I'm not dirt bike riding
100%: 2 bikes to cover the spectrum
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
Aaaaand sold
Covid supply and demand sale :lol:
Never took it to the track :spit:
30+ inquiries
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
Im curious if you have ever rode a ninja 400 and how it compared to the old 500. Ive always had a softspot for the ex500 and have been considering picking up a 400 as a replacement. The 650 just doesnt do anything for me.
Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TheIglu
Not surprised.
wait! wait!
correct me if I'm wrong, but won't the 690 do everything posted here?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boosten lebaron
Im curious if you have ever rode a ninja 400 and how it compared to the old 500. Ive always had a softspot for the ex500 and have been considering picking up a 400 as a replacement. The 650 just doesnt do anything for me.
nah, never rode the 400
but you sure about the soft spot? the ex500 just doesn't compare to the newer 300/400/500's out there. The new ones are FI, easier to ride, better suspended, and "tighter" in every way from a rider feel standpoint.