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I've been holding off making this thread as you guys are probably pretty sick of hearing me talk about my newly purchased bike, but I still have some unanswered questions and I need some answers. Supermotojunkie has been of little help responding, and I think Christian is sick of being my sole human source of motard knowledge, so I am opening it up to the whole NESR community. So think of this thread not as a build thread, but more a consolidated version of all the crap I've been spewing around lately to prevent me from bumping old threads and cluttering up other topics that don't involve me.
I started with an 02 crf450 with the following:
-Suspension rebuilt using stock components
-Beringer 6 Piston front
-Aftermarket Crank
-Larger aftermarket case cover
-Excel wheels, with what appear to be stock hubs, although I'm not 100% positive
-Michelin Pilot rains 16/63/17 mounted (excellent shape)
-Michelin Pilot Supermotos Slicks 16/63/17 unmounted (excellent shape)
And a few other, not as important, odds and ends
Since I've bought the bike I've done the following:
-STM Slipper (Thank you Smutty) While doing this, I realized how good of shape the previous clutch was in
-Excel wheels/talon hubs/39t rear sprocket (Thank you Smutty) with the Supermoto Slicks mounted.
-Air filter, spark plug, oil filter, fluids
-Checked valve clearances (perfect)
-Inspected all bearings, all good
My Plans
-Inspect the top end
-Replace Beringer pads, the previous owner gave me a receipt with a place to order them from as they are hard to find, so I think I'm good there
-Replace radiators. The stock have no leaks, so they will make good spares, but they are significantly bent, so much that I can't get the radiator braces on them.
-Finish up the safety wiring
And here are my current questions
-The rains rub the chain a real good amount, more than I am comfortable with. The Slicks have minimal rub, but it does touch. I have read on Supermoto Junkie that you can back off the spokes on one side of the wheel half a rotation and tighten the other side half a turn and this helps a good amount. A lot of people swear by it on there, any thoughts? I've also noticed that lots of people just deal with the rub. At full lean, how would the chain grease getting on the tire not affect you?
-I have no chain guide underneath the swingarm near the rear axle. The bracket for it is still there, though. Is this bottom guide recommended? The previous owner mentioned it is fine without it, and it seems to be fine without it, but I see most motards running this slider. If it is not necessary, I am going to cut off the bracket for it.
-My Beringer brakes are giving me the hardest time in the world bleeding. They stop on an absolute dime, with just a fraction of an input, and the lever is firm to pull, but there is substantial squish, and I can pull them all the way to the bar if I try hard enough. Maybe I should just buy the pump bleeder and be done with it.
-Do motards need a belly pan? I read in the rulebook that ex500s do not need them, maybe I just missed the part about motards, since I haven't seen any run with them. All my hoses run into one catch can or another, so I think I am good on that part.
-Are the Michelin Supermoto Slicks good for road racing? I don't see a reason why not, but you never know.
-The seat hump, is it really necessary? My seat does not have it, but I think I could buy one pretty cheap, or easily make one.
Thanks guys, I'll be updating this thread with questions as I get further along. Probably won't be a picture intensive type build thread though, as nothing magically is going on here, just trying to get into racing without spending a ridiculous amount of money.