Mecanica 900R update

Been busy tinkering on the 900R and making some good progress. I sourced a different flywheel to address the ignition timing issue then put it on a diet before fitting it. A bigger oil cooler to help with engine temp and a bigger main jet in the rear carb. The handling was pretty close apart from on the sweepers. It felt like buggered steering head bearings (which were new) so I tried a different steering damper.

Test Day 3

The next available test day was the day before race day so I was hoping all would be well. The tuning changes worked and I now had some top end with the engine easily revving to the shift light. Handling issue fixed too so I started concentrating on putting down some fast lap times. Finished the day with a best of 1:41.9 and told myself I wouldn't be going any faster until I replaced the tyres. They were secondhand when I started and were now well past their best. I was having the occasional missed down shift too which I blamed on my new boots but even after a linkage adjustment it was still there. I had to slow down the down shifts or it wouldn't hook the next gear. Maybe something else which will need looked at.

Race day

Not my most successful race day I would have to say. Practice revealed the down shift problem was still there and I should have listened to myself and changed the tyres. A few slides were not inspiring much confidence. One front end lose resulting in a bit of adventure riding through the infield. Superstock Open race 1, starting from 5th on the grid, I worked my way up to 3rd. About half a lap from the chequered the bike suddenly got very loud. I suspected an exhaust issued so throttled off a bit before bringing it home in third.

On inspection the muffler had exploded. Those cool sounding exhaust pops on the upshift had proven too much for the Chinesium carbon muffler blowing the carbon sleeve off the end cap. Luckily the strap and spring were still holding everything mostly in place. I think it's called teething problems. That was my day done but happy none the less. Consistently lapping in the 1:42s and slowly getting the bike sorted.

I can see it won't be long before I will be looking at the exhaust pipes of my old M1100RS with Damo on board.

Off to the workshop for some more tweaks.