Saturday Evening Post...

[CatTomb]

Front Sprocket, back sprocket, Uni pods - Check!

Installed the 18/38 sprockets. Had a bugger of a time getting the sprocket nut off. Took Georges advice  and bought a 36mm socket and had the last 1/4" grinded off. First tried a breaker bar.... then penetrating oil with a breaker bar.... then heat with a breaker bar. Then I went and borrowed a friends impact drill. That nut twisted and broke the bit in 2.4 seconds.... Then I went to Harbor Freight and bought a $49 electric impact wrench. It worked in 1.7 seconds.

Thanks Mark! 

Installing the rear sprocket was a snap. Adjusting the chain was a snap. My first attempt at clutch bleeding was a snap and a half.

Unipods went in pretty easy. Filling up the gas tank the night before probably wasn't my best idea... Pat's suggestion to drop the subframe seems like it is essential. Pods went on easy, I cleaned the flanges after oiling the filter and didn't over tighten the clamps (another forum suggestion).

Seems like I need to find something useful to do with all that extra space under the seat.... anybody have any creative ideas?

Took a quick test ride from my house at 3000 feet elevation to 5000 feet. Bike ran great! The RPM's went from 4500 to 4000 at 75 mph. First gear seems a little tall now but I'm not much a drag racer anyway. I like the throatier sound of the pods.

I took out the plugs while I had the tank off and checked them. They looked perfect and I took some pics to compare later. The bike still seems to be running really well with the pods without any carb adjustments.

This was a test ride for some new Tecnik gloves and a yellow pinlock insert for my shield. Glove were super comfortable and the yellow tint really helped to cut the late afternoon glare.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/teknic-chicane-street-glove Gloves were 33% off, extremely comfortable and seem to be really well made. A good value for $40. Probably 40 degrees at the top of my ride and my hands were cold. Not a winter glove but seemed to have good ventilation.

I also ordered a pair of these http://www.revzilla.com/product/teknic-chicane-gloves  At $24, they seemed too good to pass up. They should be here tomorrow. If anyone wants a review, let me know. 

Thanks to everybody for the posts and suggestions that made this easier and DOABLE! 

Jeff

[movenon]

Good, you are making head way ! I spent some of the day thinking about what to pack and how to secure everything. I took the top box off and installed some safety pins to prevent it from accidentally departing my company in route.... The stock latching mechanism is OK but I feel better with a back up system. I installed 3 multi hole clevis pins with quick disconnect clips so it is easy to remove.
George

[fj11.5]

Job well done mate, , as for using the underseat space, , airhorn, alarm system,tool box,  power inverter, ect ect

[yamaha fj rider]

Tool storage is what I was thinking of. Have some things that would be nice to have. After reading Pat's account of the ten tire plugs. Need to find the right box for the space.

Kurt