As I stated in my last post, I installed the Ohlins fork kit on Saturday. Been raining on & off here on Sunday, so I decided to install the shock, even if the swingarm has not made it from the UK yet. Installation was pretty much straight forward, with the exception of the rezzi mounting bracket. Hard Racing did tell me it would not work with the 18 and the kitty cat clutch cover. He thought it could be modified though. He is correct. A little grinding (a lot actually) and it fits like a glove. I was also informed that the rezzi gets in the way of adding oil. Correct on that point also. Either a narrow funnel or removal of the rezzi is the order of the day.
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Since I had the bodywork off, I also installed a USB port. Also fairly straight forward, altho a PITA 'cause I had to remove the left side grip & controls to get the mounting ring to where I wanted it. All in all, a very sano install.
In the afternoon it cleared up enough to put some miles on the new additions. Mini5 & Ohlins as well as the RAM mount.
I could tell the difference in the suspension immediately. Just climbing on, the suspension was held up higher in the stroke due to the better spring rates. I was expecting the ride to be on the harsh side. My road, to get to the main highway, is an old tar & chipped affair that has compacted over the years, into broken & pot holed tarmac. I was surprised it had a better ride overall on this surface too. Much better controlled dampning and due to better spring rates, held up higher in the stroke for more travel available for the nasties. Is it worth 800 bux? I think the more you weigh (anything over 150ish), the more that it is worth it. I weigh 175ish after a massive #2, and I give it 2 thumbs up. Or if you have a BBK and you are going faster & shoving it harder into turns, it does not take long to over ride the stock suspension. Or the stock brakes. Brakes are the next item on the chopping block.
RAM mount. Works as expected. Solid as a stone, even on my poor road. I did not use the silicone strappie thingee either. Good stuff.
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The mini5 software is almost impossible to read in the daylight though. The biggest cell I have, on the home screen, using the AFR, can be barely seen in the day time. Any other cell or information on the home screen, forget it. Not happy with that. Other than using the DG1 display, which might have the same issue, I don't know if anything will work in the day light.
As far as programming and using the Mini5, a steep learning curve was to be expected. After watching Hard Racing's video, I dived in & started swiping. After a few minutes, the Grom was purring at 13.3 AFR. I still do not know what the hell I am doing, but the motor has not seized yet! LOL
I am toying around with the idea of picking up another stock engine & modding that with a BBK in the very near future. Can someone tell me if the '14 to '18 engines are interchangeable? My concern stems from the fact, from what I have read, that the '18 is more different than previous models. As long as the electrics are plug & play, I think it would be good to go.
Thanks for reading...
Blue Skies
