Spent the last 2 days cussing with tonight being the full on, native Texan, ear blistering tirade. The supposedly simple crap is the stuff taking the most time: raising the bike.

Took forever yesterday getting the stock dogbone on, trying to adjust the jack just perfect so things would line up right. And tonight the front forks were a massive PITA. Who the hell thought metric hex screws would be good for the forks??? Ran out of time and had to just jam the front axle in the wheel so I could lower the jack. And will have to raise it again and put the front tire on right on the morrow.

I hate DIY

 

I don't know what you're talking about, that **** is the LEAST simple stuff on the whole bike. Hell, an engine rebuild is less frustrating.

 

My plan for today was raise the front of the bike, do a quick victory lap round the block, then put on a LED kit and dress er back up. The LEDs still sitting in the box and I have fairing pieces all over the house (which my gf is whining about)

 

I think metric is a great idea, but then I don't have any choice.
My wife always know's, that when I say it's only going to take an hour, its going to be a couple of days. And I swear (cuss) everyday, because I can.

 

Tooling up is expensive but it is necessary if you're going to do it yourself.

 

Seriously. Who'd have thought Japan uses the metric system?

 

Very expensive but worth it in the end. I'll have to have a real bike mechanic look over a few things (like the wheel alignment). But everything I've done should be up to spec. Prolly a little higher that shop spec in some cases as I've been slavish about the proper torque on bolts

 

Pretty much the entire rest of the industrialized world.... But if the US wants to be grouped with Leberia and Burma, thats their choice.... Grow up with the metric system and you'll never look back to imperial. It'll be a generation of change for the greater good.

 

Lol, my complaint isn't about the metric sizes bolts. It's about using a friggin hex **** for the damn forks

Whoever lowered the bike damn near stripped it. I had to take a hammer and pound a hex key socket in to prevent stripping it further. A regular bolt, standard or metric, woulda been smarter

 

You have to do it the American way: use a dremel to cut a slit in the heads of ALL your bolts. Now they're all flatheads.

Don't mess with Texas.