[50]

No I always keep my parts in a bag marked what it is and where it goes.
I guess my reasoning isn't comprehended on the sealing. 🙃

With the reeds removed the plate that retained them is what actually provides the seal of the block off plate hence no need for the reed on the reed plate.

No biggie really.
I'll keep mine sans the reeds and see how it goes. 👍

 

[AV80R]

Metal on metal won't seal without some kind of gasket. I'm willing to bet you'll have visual evidence of an exhaust leak and quite possibly an audible one too.

I really urge you to just unscrew 4 bolts and put those reed valves back in! You got nothing to gain by leaving them out...

 

[50]

Metal on metal won't seal without some kind of gasket. I'm willing to bet you'll have visual evidence of an exhaust leak and quite possibly an audible one too.

I really urge you to just unscrew 4 bolts and put those reed valves back in! You got nothing to gain by leaving them out...

Ok last attempt ti try to explain what I'm talking about. 😂😝
Notice in the picture below is the OEM assembly for the pair.
See where it says 'replace' which is replaced with the aftermarket block off plate.

The plate just below the 'replace' cover is what I am referring to. It's only that plate with the rectangular holes that seals the cover and would be devoid of the teed assembly held ti that seal plate via the two screws.

See below.

The reed assembly would be gone but the sealing plate holding the reed to it will be used for the new block off plates.
My setup is without the reed assembly and winder if if anyone else is or has done this. 👍

My apologies for ruining your thread @AV80R 🙏🏽😐

 

[AV80R]

Not ruining at all! Discussion boards are for...discussion!

So these two brown items pictured below are still in your bike, but you gutted the reeds out of them?

 

[50]

Not ruining at all! Discussion boards are for...discussion!

So these two brown items pictured below are still in your bike, but you gutted the reeds out of them?

Yessir
Ding ding ding ding. 😂🥰
Yes and was inquiring if I'm the only o e doing it this way.
Hey any kind of weigh savings is a bonus no? 😁

 

[AV80R]

Isn't the internet fun? Communicating through posts can leave a lot to be desired.

You are 100% good to go and I fully support your decision to gut the reed valves! You are the true weight weenie king [emoji146]

I misunderstood and thought you completely removed the reed valve housing, not just gutted the unneeded parts off them.

I've had dummy ones 3D printed to save even more weight while sealing things up still on another bike.

Here is a photo of some polished paper thin titanium ones I had made for my other Kawi. They are really light and super shiny [emoji16]

 

[50]

You are the true weight weenie king

😂😂
Much love for this comment. 😂🤙
I lol'd so hard.
Ok back on topic. 👍

 

[AV80R]

@misnblu has a great build thread he started and he showed off his horn relocation and I had to follow suit.

Got to ditch another bracket that was on the right side of the steering head.

Slotted right in where the EVAP canister used to live.

The existing wire length is perfect and routes really nicely.

 

[50]

Glad to help and the reason why these build threads are so important for information resources for the next person.
I've taken notes on your progress as well. 👍

 

[AV80R]

Instead of repurposing the existing hose to vent the tank to the ground (instead of the canister) I opted to buy some silicone hose from Amazon for $7.

The existing hose is too short for my taste, and the Amazon hose is more compact (8mm ID, 10mm OD) and makes it cleaner.

https://a.co/d/furc5Td

I bought the wrong hose above. It's way too thin walled for my liking.

I've switched to this one which should arrive tomorrow and be a closer match to what used to go from the tank to the canister.

Amazon.com: AC PERFORMANCE High Performance Black Silicone Vacuum Tubing Hose, ID 3/16" (5mm), Wall Thickness 2.5mm, 3.3 Feet per roll (1 Meter), 60 psi Maximum Pressure : Automotive

Buy AC PERFORMANCE High Performance Black Silicone Vacuum Tubing Hose, ID 3/16" (5mm), Wall Thickness 2.5mm, 3.3 Feet per roll (1 Meter), 60 psi Maximum Pressure: Vacuum - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

a.co

 

[AV80R]

The second Amazon silicone hose for the tank vent matches the Kawasaki OE hose much better.

 

[AV80R]

First track day was a lot of fun. Of course I loved the bike but the real treasure of the day was meeting @Chuck Graves, Shane @Gravesport, and the rest of the Graves gang (Tom, Jorge, Chris...)

Seriously the most welcoming and happy group of guys ever!

The van was packed up and it took me 5 1/2 hours in 100F heat to drive up to the track Friday afternoon

I got there at 7:30pm and set up camp. It was so clear out at night.

The next morning I was pretty nervous since it's been 6 years since my last track day and 23 years since I last rode this track.

I used some warmers for the first session mostly to make myself feel better, but they weren't really needed.

I was very timid the first few sessions but I eventually started to get comfortable and trust the tires. The track is freshly repaved, and smooth as silk.

I remembered the advice from a friend about riding on the track: "Ride fast, take chances" So I started going for it a bit more after lunch. Had to be super smooth with the stock forks on corner entry since they have what feels like basically zero damping.

After lunch I was trying to follow Chuck's buddy, Tom, who was riding a tricked out N400. I just tried to let go of the brakes and get on the gas as early as possible to try and keep him in sight.

While flat out in 3rd gear in turn 7 behind him, the shifter scraped the ground and scared the heck out of me! When I was younger I would have been like "yeah! That's rad" at 46 I'm like, "thank goodness I didn't fall!" [emoji1787]

So the bikes and track were great, but the people and community I met were even better.

Shane @Gravesport is the nicest guy! Was awesome to hear his interesting story of how he joined the Graves family and all the cool moto stuff he's accomplished.

When you think your bike is really cool but then you park it at the Graves pit and realize you're not even close [emoji1787]

I'm taking off my forks today and sending them to @Gravesport tomorrow. The Bitubo suspension is the way.

Everyone who rode @Chuck Graves personal bike came back into the pits with a wide eyed ear to ear grin.

I know mine won't be 340 lbs like his, but that suspension is a bargain. I consider it a "safety item" and my wife agreed.

She said "pretend you crashed just one time because your suspension sucked and buy it without crashing".

Chucks bike [emoji7]

Mine, with the last time you'll see the stock suspension on it!

 

[Gravesport]

Great to meet you Arash. I suspect there will be many more tracks days lol

 

[Gravesport]

btw for those that didn't know Tom is Tom Aquino his son was one fast Graves rider back in the day! Tommy Aquino RIP

 

[AV80R]

It was an honor to meet Tom, and may the memory of his son be eternal [emoji1374] RIP

 

[AV80R]

Great to meet you Arash. I suspect there will be many more tracks days lol

That's the plan! No more dumb stuff on the street...we'll, maybe less dumb stuff. [emoji51]

 

[AV80R]

I overheard @Chuck Graves yesterday telling someone that these Bitubo suspension kits will probably sell out, and their suspension wizard, Chris, is in Van Nuys until this Friday before going back home to Georgia.

Of course that means I'm gonna get moving and yank these forks off tonight. I gotta box em up and ship them out tomorrow to @Gravesport so hopefully they'll land in his hands by Tuesday, giving him and Chris enough time to do all the black magic to gut the Kawasaki stuff and stuff it with the Bitubo goodies.

I'm sure they will tell me how high to have the tubes in the triple, but measured the stock position for reference.

I forgot these forks have a top out spring. Very evident when you're holding them off the bike.

My journey of buying other peoples parts and bolting them together is not anything special, but I'm having fun with it.

 

[50]

Bike looks toothless. 😂😁
Can't wait for the review of the new setup. 👍

 

[Swamp Daddy]

I overheard @Chuck Graves yesterday telling someone that these Bitubo suspension kits will probably sell out, and their suspension wizard, Chris, is in Van Nuys until this Friday before going back home to Georgia.

Of course that means I'm gonna get moving and yank these forks off tonight. I gotta box em up and ship them out tomorrow to @Gravesport so hopefully they'll land in his hands by Tuesday, giving him and Chris enough time to do all the black magic to gut the Kawasaki stuff and stuff it with the Bitubo goodies.

I'm sure they will tell me how high to have the tubes in the triple, but measured the stock position for reference.

I forgot these forks have a top out spring. Very evident when you're holding them off the bike.

My journey of buying other peoples parts and bolting them together is not anything special, but I'm having fun with it.

It’s good to measure how high they sit. I did that also before pulling the forks on my dirt bike. I shipped them back east to be reworked.
any word if another batch of suspension parts will be made for our bikes latter on? I would like to do this to my bike too, but my pockets aren’t as deep as yours.

 

[AV80R]

It’s good to measure how high they sit. I did that also before pulling the forks on my dirt bike. I shipped them back east to be reworked.
any word if another batch of suspension parts will be made for our bikes latter on? I would like to do this to my bike too, but my pockets aren’t as deep as yours.

No idea what their plans are, but I'm sure they will be able to make more.