Yamaha MT-09. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

Today was both a day of sadness and happiness.
I was simultaneously and preemptively pining for the soon to be gone Ape, whilst excitedly anticipating the arrival of the new Yammy.

I busied myself in the morning with housework, bike-trade preparation and YouTube.
Trying NOT to play the waiting game......

Tick-tock.....

I'd been sitting in my riding gear for well over an hour - when the phone rings.
Yeah.........not toey at all..
The MT-09 is ready for pick up. Game on.

I make it to the dealer in record time to take delivery of the new girl and trade the old girl.
"Cheers fellas - see 'ya later."
Onto some black stuff.

First impressions of the MT-09A

The good:

• The throttle mapping and ECU tune are greatly improved - dramatically so. Both A and STD modes are eager and satisfying whilst remaining usable. B-mode is not required. 
• The mirrors are brilliant - excellent vision
• The chassis is taught, tight and nimble with a small, flick-able footprint. 
• That engine - sublime, tractable. Instant torque, instant response. A masterpiece.
• The brakes have great feel and power, the ABS module has not diluted this. 
• The gearbox is tight as a drum. I'm still breaking her in and clutchless shifts are laser precise. 
• I LOVE THE ERGOS! Damn - nothing like a sit in bike steered by telepathy!

The not so good:

• The OEM Dunlops are terrible - I'm going to reduce tyre pressure to shred them ASAP. Yuk!
• The suspension is very soft. I have not yet adjusted from factory settings (plush), once I have dialled this in as much as possible I will reassess.

So. The time has come for this Blog to turn a corner.

Stay tuned for some Yammy antics.

Thanks Ape, you were a good girl. 

Day 1 - photo-roll.

/BitSar

I think I'm turning Japanese-A!........I really think so. 

Black dog ride - 2015

Sunday March 22nd marked the day for the Annual Black Dog ride - a ride I participate in each year, this year was no different.

The Black Dog ride provides awareness for depression and mental health and raises money to support integral services such as Lifeline. No more worthy a cause to pull on the boots, stuff my head into a helmet and throw a leg over the Ape......game on.

Like years in the past - I am riding as a corner maker to assist in the marshalling of the main bunch - this means the day starts early.

By the time I hit the road the sun is just up, the low-level fog is refusing to shift. The roads are damp. The tyres are cold. It's 9c and I have nearly an hour slab at free-way speed. Great!

The solution - base layers, thermal layers, wind-stopper layers and heated grips cranked. Slab done and done.

We meet at the official start point in Pakenham -  standard affair, corner marker briefing, then main bunch briefing, then go.

The corner markers head off, hitting the black stuff - most of the riders manage to follow most of the marshals, most of the time - most being the operative word.....

I'm dropped on a corner as we head into Yarra Glen - a marker-mate is dropped on the entry corner and I am on the exit. We're going to be here a while.

Ample time for me to remove my base layers and wind-stopper.

I get busy on the side of the road redressing myself.

I also take the opportunity to let some air out of the tyres - I'd been a little too generous with my set-up adding too much air when cold. The Ape was chattering around from both the front end and the rear - taking some air out, adds more give to the hoops, making her nice and compliant.

Done and done....




My marker-mate standing stoically - waiting for riders to marshal. The seriousness of it all is overwhelming. :))

And here comes a component of the main bunch - it did get quite spaced out this year......

We continue into Yarra Glen for a mid-ride regroup allowing any stragglers to catch up. A quick "splash and dash" for bikes with limited range and we're off again.

We point the bikes towards Toolangi then King Lake. Beautiful roads out this way - up the front, in the corner marker bunch we get a clear run through some pearler roads.

I'm dropped on another corner or two before the ride finishes up back in Pakenham - the local Lions club putting on a BBQ lunch with many hungry and deserving riders to feed.

All in all, another great run for a great cause.

See you all next year.
\BitSar
--getting redressed by the side of a road, marking his corner.

Tail-light replacement

During the Touring Twins ride the guys informed me I was down one tail-light.

The Shiver uses a dual-filament lamp with each globe running a 12V and 21V rail.
12V for tail-light, 21V for brake.

Turns out one lamp was blown on both rails, no tail-light, no brake light.

So - time to replace them (both). Yeah, one is still good, but if I'm going in there to replace the blown lamp I might as well freshen them both up eh?



Step 1
Seat comes off and 8 fixings are removed:

2 x 12mm hex bolt
2 x 10mm hex bolt
2 x Phillips screw
2 x 3mm allen bolt

Step 2 

Move the grab-rail assembly and main fuses out of the way to allow access to the tail-light reflector and lens

Step 3

The lamp housing is locked into the reflector and lens via a removable ballast.

One quarter turn to the left and the globes are free.

It is somewhat fiddly getting the ballast out - however it can be done.

Step 4

Globes replaced and tested.
Done and done.

\BitSar

Touring twins - the (not so) Shiver ride

There had been talk - for quite some time now - to get a bunch of Shivers together for an Italian-Ape blat.

Turns out one local Shiver rider is down with mechanical gremlins and a few others are MIA - no matter, the call went out and a total of 3 Shiver pilots popped up their heads.

A fellow Shiver rider (chillibutton) gathered a crew of 5, 3 x Shivers, 1 x BMW F800S, 1 x Firestorm. The common denominator? Twin cylinder engine configuration:

Italian 750 V-Twin = Braaaaarp
Japanese 996 V-Twin = Rrrrrrraaaarrrgh
Austrian (Rotax) 798 Parallel Twin = I need less fuel stops than all of you! (sorry, couldn't help myself petesul)

So - we were in business.......game on.

We met mid morning in the Eastern hills of Melbourne, quick "G'day" with the obligatory "Nice bike mate," then off - pointing the bikes towards Kinglake.

Traffic was acceptable - a few slow patches, but all in all a great fist leg - a mix of tighter twisties to open sweepers to flowing changes of left/right, left/right - very nice indeed.

The fun continued as we rolled into Beechworth Bakery in Healesville - a standard issue stop for riders.

Quick caffeine and food stop for the riders with a tank top-off for the bikes - sans BMW :)) - before heading towards Yarra Glen. 

Another wonderful route - the BMW pilot has fantastic local knowledge and directed the group through some pearler country side - zero traffic, excellent road condition and composition........absolutely magic!

The Ape - thoughtfully surveying the road travelled and the route ahead 

Along the way we pull over for a photo opportunity - bikes in their natural environment - in the hills, with plenty of black stuff travelled, with plenty more to go.

Ohhhh - I am a sucker for a Firestorm

Twin, twins......I wonder which one is the evil twin?

All in all - a fantastic run gentleman - cracker ride with an, even more, cracker group. Let's not wait so long before we head out again eh?

Oh.......I also managed to scrub away some of my commuter tyre shame........

'Till next time fellas.....

\BitSar 

-- hopefully sooner rather than later. 

Toy Run - 2014

That time of year once more......Xmas....really? Already....bah!


Yet again, time for the annual MRA toy run. Get some toys, ride some road, give to kids....done.


An old mate whom I've not seen or ridden with for years was back in town after working interstate, then enlisting. He's keen for a toy run.




Added bonus? He's just bought an Ape. Another Shiver in the ranks.....game on.

We meet at my place and head off to one of the official start points in Port Melbourne. We're early this year so have time to get parked up reasonably well.



All types of bikes gather and gather. A larger turnout than last year, and - as always, VicPol were at the ready for an escort.

We'll take all sorts.....

Without breaking tradition we convoy out of Melbourne to Calder Park Raceway. Meh. It's hot, it''s a freeway - it's not for us......that's why we do it.

Once we arrive, donate some toys - have a wander around then point the bikes home.

The obligatory toy run pin.....to add to the collection.

\BitSar

Another year done.....

15T - Shakedown

It was recently chain and sprocket replacement time - why not opt for a 15T countershaft sprocket eh? Adding a little more immediacy to acceleration and bringing that punchy torque curve a little lower sounded like a great idea to me.......game on.

Living in Australia severely limits choice in terms of aftermarket parts, especially for a Euro bike. The search began. 

I found one Aussie importer - however they could only source rear sprockets for the Ape. My dealer told me it was hard enough for them to get OEM sprockets, let alone third-party alternatives........bah!

After further looking - and reading about other Ape-ists sourcing parts via a UK seller I was in business. Order placed: 1 x AFAM 15T 525 pitch sprocket on the way


A shameless plug is now required - I am a pretty organised kind'a guy (some say, anal-retentive) - so I placed my order well in advance, giving the sprocket plenty of time to arrive.

Then a month went by.........
Then another 2 weeks........hmmm - time to contact the seller.

I purchased from UK seller biketorqueracing - once contacted, the response was immediate.
Adam from BTR provided parcel tracking details and followed up with me within 24 hours. Looked as though the sprocket was en-route and already within Australia.

Then another week went by........nothing

Got back in contact with Adam - he was willing to swallow the loss and send me another part at no cost. I am astounded. What service.

Turns out when I got home from the office that very day the initial order had finally arrived after being held up with border/custom inspection - good news for both me and Adam.

So! Now time to get this part on the Ape and get going.

As a commuter, the 15T provides a brilliantly smooth bottom end. 1st and 2nd gear slow creeping work is an absolute pleasure, no chugging, very little need to feather the clutch. The transition from closed throttle to small roll on when filtering in tight places is significantly better.

When you need to pick up and get your butt out of trouble the acceleration difference is noticeable - albeit manageable.

Commuter approved modification? Check.

But how about the fun stuff.......the weekend blat - when you've got a devil on your shoulder willing you to dance?

Yesterday called for a shakedown blat in the hills - and dance we did. The Ape: 'Au naturel'

On the fast open sweepers - being a little higher in the rev range and with the shorter gearing the throttle action/response has improved - very smooth with better feedback.

Powering out of tight twisties in 1st and 2nd gear will now let the front end skip across the top of the black stuff. Snapping open in 1st as the forks unload will loft the front hoop without too much trouble - much easier than stock........that little devil was having fun.......

The only criticism I would report, minor however still valid, would be long hi-way hauls.

I returned from the hills via the freeway and constant, steady-state ~100 - ~120+ kmh speeds is less comfortable - now hovering around 6k rpm......again - MINOR gripe......but it is worth noting.

Weekend scratcher approved modification? Check.

Obviously my speedo is now out - but meh, I rarely look/care what speed is being reported. I know when to be a saint or a devil.......

All in all, the 15T modification is one of, if not the ultimate, cost effective way to make the Ape more responsive, less chuggy off the bottom and hell of a hoot to ride - now even moreso....

Game on.

\BitSar
Devil on his shoulder willing him to dance.

Another "Not Forgotten"

I've been shit.......really shit in getting Blog pieces organised.

Getting married, moving, changing jobs etc.....Bah! No excuse eh!

There is an overnighter coming shortly.
Plus new Tyres (segue to long, long, long term Pilot Road 3 review)
Plus 15T
Plus further "formal" training.

In short......not forgotten - just getting more and more busy......life huh?

Back soon.
\BitSar