Recent content by alexk

The gain is within margin of error - the gain is tiny, the engine has had more time running, the humidity and air density are different (though the air temp is higher), the tires have had more wear on them (slightly lighter at the very edge means more horsepower on the dyno), the fuel is a...

Popping is definitely worse than aftermarket, but blocking the AIS could clog and melt your catalytic converter. I'm actually interested in a Guhl's ECU flash - should work better than a juicebox or other fuel controller.

Has anyone replaced his or her horn? What did you do? What do you think? I used my horn last night, and burbled quietly. Seriously... burbled. :mad:

I have extensions, and love em. They keep the mirrors up, which means a mirror check takes a fraction of the time that a bar end mirror would take me. Give em a try before committing to a bar end mirror. That way you can make a properly edumacated decision. =)

Gave it its first at-home oil and filter change. New Magnetic-tipped Drain plug: $7 at O'Reilly's Auto Parts Oil Filter: Purolator PureONE PL146412 ($7 at Amazon) Oil: Shell Rotella T Triple Protection 15W40

I'm definitely a purist when it comes to my vehicles. Get as little between me and the road as possible - when I'm driving or riding, I want to be driving/riding the ROAD not the vehicle. That said, after over 100 hours of track time in various cars, I can tell you that I'm only better than...

Having come from cars, I can tell you this thing has a serious shot at making a major dent in the track day world. It should handle a lot like a car (Radical for example is also bike-derived), but the single rear wheel should keep costs down by bypassing crash safety requirements. Plus, for a...

'13 DOES have a different ECU I was pretty sure there were minor ECU differences in the 2103 model, hence why Guhl's doesn't list '13 as an ECU they work on. So, I pulled the parts off Yamaha Motorcycle OEM Parts, Flemington Yamaha 2013's ecu is 39P-8591A-50-00 2012's ecu is 39P-8591A-30-00...

Steering stabilizers are a contentious topic, and I'll let someone with more experience pipe up. I've put 14,000 miles on my FZ8 over the past 15 months, and only once have I encountered a situation where it would have helped - I was doing 80mph (the speed limit) into a gusty 50mph headwind...

Get a rope and a friend!

I had an idea this week, and I'm not sure if it's brilliant or stupid. Probably a bit of both. I've always said that my '13 looks like it belongs parked in a hangar on the death star. So, I'd like to pull the tuning fork logos and replace them with a vinyl cut of the Empire logo, made out of...

+1 for the Pilot Road 4. I'm running those on my '13 and LOVE em. Plenty of grip wet and dry, predictable handling, and a large temperature range. Don't go GT - that's for a heavier bike.

Insurance costs... a never-ending saga. So here's me and my only bike. Male, 34, no accidents or tickets. Riding for 3 years now. My driver course discount has expired. Car, House, Bike all insured through State Farm Mutual. Full coverage (and I do mean full)... $523/yr. Bundling insurance...

Loose gravel backroads for a renfaire. FZ8 loves those roads, especially in the wet. Whee!

6'5". Very comfy with the stock ergos.