Angry's Mods

[AngryAnt]

Took the bike out to the local reservoir today and grabbed a few pics, thought I'd update on my progress so far, and give a few opinions on my mods that did and did not work out so far.

When I got home I was at 980 miles, and I have three quarts of Amsoil waiting for next weekend's oil change.

My mods so far (in the order they were put on):

• Roaring Toyz Lowering Link & Kickstand
• Yahaha blue bar ends
• Puig Dark Smoke Racing Windscreen
• Tapeworks.com #6145 Rim stripes
• 12V Plug
• Removed all decals except the Yamaha logo
• Relay and Power distribution block
• GPS holder
• Oxford Heated Grips
• Powermadd Hand Guards (not pictured)
• Vista Cruise Universal (not pictured)

 

[AngryAnt]

Roaring Toyz lowering link & kickstand:

These were put on before the bike left the shop, along with the yamaha blue bar ends.

2009 2010 Yamaha FZ6R Lowering Link

Billet Lowering Kickstand 2009 2010 FZ6R Black Anodized

I can't say how it rides without the lowering link, I never used it without. I do like the kickstand, it seems more stable and less likely to sink into asphalt like other kickstands.

The bar ends were mainly just b/c they were shiny...

Yamaha FZ6R Accessories, Yamaha FZ6R Bar Ends

 

[AngryAnt]

The Puig Dark Smoke Racing windscreen:

Puig Racing Windscreen - Street Bike - Motorcycle Superstore

I bought this hoping for less wind buffeting over the stock windshield, but honestly I didn't notice much of a difference at all. I think it does look better, but I'm still toying with the idea of cutting down my stock one, and if I like that, possibly cutting down the Puig windscreen.

 

[AngryAnt]

The rim stripes came from Tapeworks.com, #6145. I went through one other kit that didn't match very well, and I ended up taking it off. It did not come with an applicator, but only took me about 25 minutes to put it on quite easily.

Tapeworks Rimstripes Homepage

 

[AngryAnt]

The 12v adapter I installed using this tutorial. I came back later and wired it to a relay to make sure I didn't leave my GPS on and kill the battery.

http://www.600cc.org/forum/f91/how-install-12v-outlet-22391/?highlight=adapter

 

[AngryAnt]

To Remove all the decals from the bike, I first heated it up using a standard hair dryer. The front two came off like they just begged for it. The decals on the side left a lot of stubborn residue that only finally came off using the side of a credit card and some PB Blaster I had sitting around. (Pictures to follow in a few posts)


For the power distribution block and relay, I followed this tutorial exactly:

.: Distribution Block / Powered Relay | Canyon Chasers Motorcycle Sport Touring :.

The only major problem I had is fitting heated grips, a relay, and distribution block under the seat. I finally ended up pulling some stuff under the gas tank and zip tying it all in place. For the relay, I used the blue wire going to the tail light, mostly because it was convenient.

 

[AngryAnt]

GPS Holder:

Its a rather cheap one off amazon.com. It seems to do the job well, and so far, seems water proof. The wire runs out the back to the 12v plug.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035TZS14]Amazon.com: Motorcycle / Bike WATERPROOF Handlebar Mount for Garmin Nuvi 200 200W 205 205W 250 250W 255 255W 265WT 500 550 750 755T 760 765T 770 775T 780 785T 850 855 860 880 885T GPS: Electronics[/ame]

 

[AngryAnt]

Oxford Heated Grips:

The install really wasn't all that bad. I used a standard screwdriver and a hammer to tap the screwdriver under the OEM grips, and rotated the screwdriver around then handle for a number of minutes, working the grips towards me. Afterwards, a little hair spray on the bars and a little superglue, the new grips went right on.

They aren't comfortable if you're not wearing gloves (all the more reason to never go out not wearing gloves).

I mounted the control box by the digital instrument panel, and my only complaint is its really hard to see if its on in the day light, I normally cover it with my hand to double check. It also would be nice if it would remember your setting when you turn off the bike and turn it back on. My first ride I was afraid it wasn't going to be warm enough, as I didn't feel much through my gloves. It took a couple miles to get warmed up, but by the time 5 miles rolled around, I was reaching to turn it down as it was *too* hot at the 75% setting. I know these guys will keep my hands toasty this winter, and so far I'm very happy with them.

 

[AngryAnt]

The powermadd handguards were found here:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/PowerMadd-Star-Handguards-Blue-Black/dp/B000VXBMBW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319413324&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: PowerMadd Star Series Handguards - --/Blue/Black: Automotive[/ame]

At I ordered this mounting kit with them: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Powermadd-Star-Series-Tri-Mount-PM14269/dp/B0036GI566/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319413363&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: Powermadd Star Series Tri-Mount PM14269: Automotive[/ame]

So far I am disappointed, as this particular mounting kit does not allow you to get the hand guards in that "sweet" spot where its not interferring with brake / clutch, and doesn't hit the mirrors in a full lock.

My gut feeling is that the hand guards just aren't going to work out, but as a last ditch effort, I've ordered a different mounting kit that I hope will work better:

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/PowerMadd-PM14252-Trail-Black-Handguard/dp/B001AVU0X0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1319413363&sr=8-4]Amazon.com: PowerMadd PM14252 Trail Star/Star Series Black ATV/Moto Handguard Mount Kit: Automotive[/ame]

I will post more when I get this mounting kit in to know whether or not it works like I want it to.

 

[AngryAnt]

Vista Cruise universal throttle lock:

For $30, nothing was terribly wrong with the device itself: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/MOTORCYCLE-VISTA-CRUISE-CONTROL-UNIVERSAL/dp/B002EYZZSC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319413532&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: MOTORCYCLE VISTA CRUISE CONTROL 7/8 INCH BAR UNIVERSAL FIT: Automotive[/ame]

The problem, however, came when I tried to put it over my oxford heated grips. It was functional, but I found it difficult to engage without letting go of the throttle, and because the Oxford grips have that wire "nodule" close to the kill switch assembly, I didn't like there was less room left over on the grip for my hand. My pinky was on the bar ends (and I have small hands). I've taken the Vista Cruise off completely, and I believe I am going to ante-up and try out a Throttlemeister instead.

 

[AngryAnt]

And last, but not least, bike porn.

 

[AngryAnt]

Oh, one more thing:

Placed my order for two Givi V35's and mounting bracket tonight. Can't wait for those to come in!

 

[rjohnson5481]

Bike looks awesome man!
Get a FE, will finalize the clean look you have from removing the decals!

 

[oldtouring b]

Looking gooddddd

The way you coordinated around the blue idea is awesome. The FE will really help your clean look. Nice job.

Think about Marthy's rack before you spend the Givi money unless you already have them on order!

Ride safe..

 

[AngryAnt]

Bike looks awesome man!
Get a FE, will finalize the clean look you have from removing the decals!

Thanks! Yeah, I think after the first of the year (it's going to take that long for me wife to forget how much these Givi's are costing me) my next two are going to be a Targa FE kit and Proton flushies.

 

[Superzoom]

Fantastic and informative write-up, Angry Ant.

It sounds like the grips were fairly simple to install. They may be one of my next accessories.

 

[AngryAnt]

The way you coordinated around the blue idea is awesome. The FE will really help your clean look. Nice job.

Think about Marthy's rack before you spend the Givi money unless you already have them on order!

Ride safe..

Thanks. I've looked at Marthy's rack a many times, but it all boils down to the functionality of soft bags for me. I carry a fairly expensive camera / laptop / ipad combo around a lot of the time, not to mention my gps, phone, etc. Ever since I got the bike I've wanted a solution that I know I could put electronics in and not have to worry if I found myself in a surprise downpour of rain, whether or not I would get the rain covers on in time, and whether somebody would jack my stuff if I wanted to run in a restaurant / store for a few minutes without taking it all in (all my stuff won't fit in a backpack).

I'm not sure how I'll go about it, but I'm very seriously considering taking off the top part of the givi cases when they come in and painting them to match the bike too.

 

[AngryAnt]

Fantastic and informative write-up, Angry Ant.

It sounds like the grips were fairly simple to install. They may be one of my next accessories.

The only tricky part is figuring out where to put everything. The grips themselves are easy to get on, and the on/off switch is easy to place, but they do have a somewhat bulky data connection and an extra "control" box with a in-line fuse that was hard to fit under the seat in combination with everything else. I tied all the extra stuff for the grips underneath the gas tank to make room for the relay / distro under the seat.

 

[Marthy]

Well done. Nice and clean... I really like it.

 

[6R Blackout]

Well done. Nice and clean... I really like it.

100% Agree, bike looks great the way you have it set up! Nice Job AngryAnt!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Casey (aka) Hunter77!