Happy new bike day.... WTF, what do you mean it's a Yamaha ???

[Supermofo]

Yes the XSR has some go I was opening it up then shutting off so as not to get too close to you mainly to stop the risk of stone chips, I have 3 chips on the 690 forks from that but on WOT the 690 got bigger quickly

One of the overtakes I had to hang back a bit more so got to explore the top end of the rev range and it was very nice indeed.

[weeksy]

So i'm now sitting here thinking about a few things on the XSR.

First one is the black and grey paintjob on the tank... That's a cracking idea i think, but maybe a little excessive... However it's certainly way up at the top of my thoughts of Mmmmmm. But it does mean 2 weeks without the bike unless i can find 2 alternative panels to paint.

However, i'm also thinking about 'blacking' some bits. I contacted an anodiser who informs me you cannot anodise stainless, so that won't work on the bits i have in mind. But you can of course powdercoat them, which should in theory look OK.

The 2 parts i've got here are circled in red.
coating by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

But then the question is, if i go for them, where do we draw the line, do i then need to do the bits highlighted in green too... but then if i do them too, do i then need to do the headlight brackets, what about the footrest assembly and pillion footrests...

Or indeed, do the rad side guard and the other bits of silver actually 'flow' correctly, changing 1-2 of them would actually disrupt it?

[Supermofo]

I'm the wrong person to ask. I think it looks great, just ride it!

But then I have a top box

[weeksy]

I'm the wrong person to ask.

Not at all, i'm asking the question because i'm interested in others opinions, i don't just want validation of my thoughts.

[Tricky]

I'd probably do the red bits plus the front guard trim supports, but leave the bit under the seat, unless I was going to do the headlight brackets too, but I reckon those two bits would be better left

[KungFooBob]

How about plastidip?

Spray them black with Platidip, if they look alright maybe think about doing them properly, if they don't, peel it off.

[lostboy]

I'd leave it. I still think it's a cracking looking bike as it is.

[weeksy]

How about plastidip?

Spray them black with Platidip, if they look alright maybe think about doing them properly, if they don't, peel it off.

I kinda went with your plan and painted them at home myself. Keyed them up a bit first and then gave them a coat of satin black, so they're sitting drying now. I'll leave them until tomorrow, knock them back a smidgen and give them a 2nd coat. At the end of the day if i like the look and go with powder, then they'll media-blast them anyway, so it's a no lose situation really. If i don't like the look, i can just throw both in the bin anyhow

[weeksy]

2021-04-22_03-01-21 by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode LITE

[weeksy]

2021-04-23_07-05-07 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

2021-04-23_07-04-58 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Works for me, so they're back off and will take them to powder coating today..I can't get the level of finish and quality i want at home.

The side rad covers will need black bolts of course.

[Taipan]

I couldn't do the seat bits without the headlight brackets. They kinda mirror themselves and it'd look odd not doing both?

[Couchy]

As Weeksy mentioned we met up yesterday and he kindly let me ride the XSR. Although it's pretty much the same bike (bar ecu/suspension mods) as last time I was just riding a mates bike then for a laugh. This time I was treating it more like a test ride for buying one. And....


I 'kin loved it

Handling was great and the suspension felt pretty much perfect for me for the roads we were on. The brakes were a lot better than last time, when they were too sharp. The engine I gave more of a work out this time although I was more blatting then slowing up as its wayyyyy quicker than the 690 was ahead. Twice had the front lift a smidge on very small bumps without meaning too. Whereas last time I found the engine a little featureless in terms of power steps when ridden with some more purpose it's a mid-range missle. Again not sure if it's the ecu mods or more likely that I was riding with a view to getting one but I really enjoyed the engine this time.

I enjoyed it so much I popped into Powerbiking on the way back to sit on a Tracer. One of the things I noticed on the XSR (to be fair all bikes compared to the 690) was the bars were lower which was great in the twisties but a little wristy in town. But that's only compared to mine and I don't think that'll be a problem. The seat felt hard too and the pegs high. But thats something that I don't actually think will be that bad, but thought a back to back comparison to a Tracer would be interesting for a sit.

The Tracer seat is nicer, wider, longer and the bars are higher, the suspension is a lot softer but it does feel like a bigger bike all round. They have a 2020 demo I can try back next week so might book a go on that ASAP while the XSR is fresh in mind.

I suspect I'll prefer the XSR but would be silly not to try the comfy version to see how much it loses in the fun stakes.

I'm also gonna test a Z but it'll need to be bloody good for me to prefer it.

Cheers Weeksy.

Sounds like he enjoyed the 690 too. To echo his comments on jumping back on mine I still love riding it it's so much fun.

My tracer 900 lasted 200 miles, I thought a comfy MT/XSR sounds great, in reality they’d taken a fun hooligan bike and made it into a VFR. The extra weight and sensible bits dulled it too much.

[weeksy]

I couldn't do the seat bits without the headlight brackets. They kinda mirror themselves and it'd look odd not doing both?

It's a fair point and I guess to an extent a work in progress.
One I won't know until bits are done, or not.

I dropped them into powder coaters today, should be ready early next week. Will throw them on and see where we are next.

[weeksy]

2021-04-30_03-21-20 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

2021-04-30_03-21-05 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[weeksy]

Well that was a good and half rubbish day at Silverstone today.
We arrived to dry weather and i got the bikes ready, the warmers on (thanks to Fil2) and the bike had plenty of fuel.

The sighting laps were devestatingly slow, which was good in a way as the mount i'd used for the GoPro was a disaster and it was close to falling off. It was held on also with cable ties so i wouldn't have lost it as such. Quick removal of that and i went out at the back of the group.
Silverstone had put both me and Mrs Weeksy in group 1... i ideally wanted group 2 but wee got what we got. The pace of the group was slow and i was catching and passing many riders, only being overtaken once in the session but i held onto him after he went past and we stayed together to the end of the session.
Session 2 was faster at the pointy end and in some ways highlighted to me just how fast some big bikes are... I was there in the corners, but on the straights i was killed by a Big Bang R1 and a Fireblade. I had someone else who was on a late gsxr750 who i could hang onto on the straight but passing them wasn't happening. I'd lose about 5 bike lengths in the straight and i could have made a lunge but would have been harsh. So i sat behind until right near the end of the session when we had a light smattering of rain on the visor and they lacked confidence compared to me and it became an easy pass then.

Sadly after that the big boy rains came and that was end of day... so there's not a lot else to report.

Enjoyed it though.

2021-05-03_01-55-16 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[scottyuk]

It wasn't that wet this afternoon. The WOW's worked fine with no issues....but the wind was insane. They kept reviewing whether to stop the day. I've never had to pull so hard on the clip ons in my life just to stay on! A good challenge today.

Oh and I took a pic too

20210503_084919 (Small).jpg (111.94 KiB) Viewed 883 times

[Asian Boss]

You should have had them on the brakes.

[weeksy]

Funny day today in some ways... Not so much in others.

Bike hasn't moved since Silverstone.. But started up first time on the button, well, it's Japanese of course.

Checked tyre pressures and went out for a play.

Downsides,
Roads are crap after the rain, covered in gravel and muck
There were 1,000,000 cars, even on the back-lanes.

Pluses
Bike was ace
It's still ace even cruising behind cars

Ended up at Premier Bikes as i've not seen the lads forever... Darren was telling me the 890s are selling well in base model format and they're not coming back with the usual quirks/issues the 790 had.
Chatting with another bloke outside he was looking at the XSR900 and telling me how it looked brilliant. He's an RAF guy i guess close to 60 and lives in Shropshire, but chatting with Darren he's a regular and buys plenty of bikes from them. So the chat continues and he asks "what's it like then"
I take the key out of my pocket and throw him it, "find out for yourself".

20 minutes later he comes back and gets off the bike smiling "That's bloody epic, i'm buying one of them" loved everything about it. He was saying how the QS works effortlessly compared to his 790Adv, doesn't miss gears... How smooth it is to ride and effortless and the engine is an absolute joy... LOL

Well yes i replied "that why i have this and not the KTMs i've owned for many years"

It basically summed up my ownership.

2021-05-27_04-04-36 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[Supermofo]

Yamaha should pay you commission!

[tricol]

It looks absolutely tiny in that photo next the KTM!