Josh Hayes (Yamaha YZF R1) wins at 2011 AMA Pro Road America provisonal

Wow. Anytime my bike does win I am elated. Graves Yamaha Team rider Josh Hayes won the provisional qualifying - and get this - even after running off the track in the dirt, falling on his shoulder and not feeling to well in his stomach during the session AND facing a headwind!! WoW! his time was 2:12.869

Yamaha R1 Rules!

Importance of correct tire inflation pressure on sportbikes

For about a month or so, my Yamaha R1 sportbike felt like driving soft, and I didn't think much of it, knowing it had to do with the tires not being adequately inflated, I thought to myself, heck, the roads here are pretty bad, I don't want to be shaken up by hard tires, so I left it like that.

The consequences of having the wrong tire inflation pressure:

- I noticed that I had to tank more often
- I had to watch out taking curves, felt like I was touching the rims on the ground, having to correct by countersteering (dangerous)
- bike has tendency to swerve

This morning by the gas station, I decided to fill up some air in the tires, 35psi pressure on the front, 45 psi pressure on the rear tire. MAN! When I drove off the gas station lot, I was like having the feeling of being a 5 year old child not knowing how to ride a bicycle. The bike was superstraight and hard, but my brain had a hard time registering the difference of change. I drove like 10 miles to the gas station, subconsciously driving so to speak, and after the tire inflation, my subconscious driving processor (for lack of words) couldn't handle the ride and I was like scared and driving very slowly, my subconscious has to re-learn the bike, it is such a BIG difference. Amazing.

So, guys, always keep your tire pressure in check.

Have to buy a new chain and sprocket set for the R1

There were some rainy days, and I always neglected my chain. Results are after rain, the chain gets rusty and of course, as you use the bike, it abrades and before you know it, your chain gets longer and longer...

I adjusted my rear wheel already to the maximum end, and still, my chain is now sliding over the rear wheel swing arm (ouch!) High time to buy that chain. I don't have to buy a chain/sprocket kit, but I might just as well do this when the old chain is off and while I undertake this job.

Changing the chain will give me the possibility to choose a lighter chain, and play with the gear ratios buy maybe choosing a teeth less on the front and 2 more on the back sprocket. I am riding on a Caribbean island, hitting the max speed here is not possible. I need max torque. I want to beat the juiced gixxers and hayabusas :-)

The slipping clutch is kinda interesting

You know, the clutch is slipping with full open throttle at around 6-7000 rpms, and in a way I kinda like it. It is like I am purposely clutching by hand to rev the engine higher up, but I'm not. So now, when I'm taking over cars, full throttle, slight release (to get some clutch traction) I am hitting that max torque range.

I'm just afraid that I will burn the clutch friction plates. Didn't have time yet to check the oil level.

R1 Clutch slipping again

My Yamaha R1's clutch is slipping again. I had this before, and even after adjusting the hand levers or the lever by the gearbox, I couldn't get the clutch from slipping, I then decided to replace the clutch with a Barnes Racing Clutch for the R1.

That solved it for a while, but you know, not necessarily because of the new clutch, more so because of the new oil. I'm saying this because when I had all the clutch plates in my hand, there was visually plenty of friction material left.

About 6 months later the clutch is slipping again. I didn't take a good look at the oil again, but its weird since I changed the oil like only 3 months ago.

The clutch slips at hard acceleration around 6,500rpm. I have to let go of the throttle for a second and back full throttle.

I'll keep you posted if I figure anything out.

Fuel pump whirr

Since this week, I am getting another unusual event with the R1. Normally as soon as you turn the ignition key, you hear two distinctive 'whee - whee' sounds, which should be the high pressure fuel pump (and maybe also the low pressure fuel if there is one) because the whee sound has two different pitches. Well, I hear the first whee sound, but the second is a 'CLUNK' noise. It does not affect the operation of the bike though. Just don't know what it is.

water in gas tank of Yamaha R1

I am at this again, yesterday my Yamaha YZF-R1 started but it sounded like it ran on 3 cylinders. I've had this before. Again, I'm sure there is a manufacturing default on the gas tank cap. When it rains, rainwater sips in on the side, then stays around the gas tank lip, when that overflows, it goes into the gas tank itself. Some time ago, I met another R1 rider, and guess what he had the same issue. I asked him to open his gas tank cap, and yes, he also had a corroded gas tank cap.
Previously and unmounted the cap, cleaned it, sanded etc, but it doesn't help.

I threw in a red bottle of STP gas treatment, and after 2 days, the phenomena of running on 3 cylinders is gone.

Grrrrr. Not happy.