Well, not a lot been happening, but did get round to doing the oil and filter change this weekend at mileage 22402, so 5220 miles after the last one.

Longer than I would have liked, but circumstance prevented and it was still well within the 7k stated in the handbook.

One the plus side, I ordered the oil from M&P, they got it wrong and sent mineral oil, rather than semi-synth and to compensate got 4 litres of full synth a couple of days later.

Also intended to put the standard can back on to let me quieten down the MTC one as it may fail the Knockhill trackday noise check... could not separate it from the down pipes, then Jim Allan had run out of exhaust padding, so that will need to get done another day.

Anyway, more later, inbcluding mocked up naked pics...

Supension sussed

Finally got a chance to pop out the rear shock and check the 07 R1 unit for fitment and it looks to be a fairly straight forward fit:

I need a couple of bushed made to bring the lower frame locating holes down from 12mm to 10mm and a couple of 1mm washers to take up the gap in the slightly wider ER6 fitting.

As far as the top mounting goes, as the frame is threaded it will be easier to stick with the original bolt; luckily that bush on the new shock is removable, so I can get a replacement made with the same external diameter with the internal diameter opened out to 12mm.

So far so good - next I trial fitted the ZX6R F3 forks and while it was looking good, though longer than standard, the wheel would need different spacers to centre it and to top it all the discs were running very close to the for lowers, so much so that the brake calipers would not fit - the ZX6R F3 wheel must a bit thinner around the centre to allow the discs to sit in a bit. Looks like it is back to the plan of fitting the ZX6R stanchions into the ER6 lowers.

The only quandry is what difference will it make with there being no compression adjustment screw, or if I can simply use the ER6 damper rod... some more investigation needed; will need to split the ZX6R forks first... at some point

Will also try and upload the photos of the fork trial fit

Oxygen sensor woes

After a great wee run last weekend, commuting this week was cut short by the red FI light coming on; this was because the oxygen sensor heater had 'failed'.

Replaced the sensor and found that the reason for the apparent failure was that the lower fairing was rubbing against the sensor and wiring and severed one of the wires for the heater element; verified by getting the correct resistance reading when measuring at the sensor side of the broken wire.

The full details have been posted here:

http://www.bikersoracle.com/er5/forum/showpost.php?p=70823&postcount=10

Service day

Better slightly late than never...

Also checked brake pads, coolant level and chain; all ok, though think I may clean up the breaker pistons, probably will be ok, but nightmares about the 6 pots I had on the zx6.

looking forward to many more happy, if slightly 'cooler' miles till the next service, which will be on schedule.

Planned activity

Not been up to much, other than commuting back and forward to work and the occasional rideout.

One slight faux pas, was missing the oil and filter change interval after mis-reading the manual, so am about 500 miles over :-(  This will be rectified this week as note have the filter and oil successfully delivered on the second attempt - some how the courier company were informed that I was in hospital...most peculiar.

Oh, also put the taller screen back on as its heading to winter now.

Hand guards might her an idea as, compared to the zx7, the fairing does not deflect much passed the hands.

Have also been noticing how basic/rough the standard suspension is, especially compared to the zx7.

Shorty levers

Good fit, no fluid return issues, great feel, far better than standard :-)

Screen choice dilemma

Forgot to add in photographs taken after it's first service and before the highland tour, so here are the photos of the new tyres and the mileage that it all happened at - the date was the 16th July