Attention connecticut riders

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Yeah, Ant, I wouldn't worry.

Of course, we might "decorate" your bike for you... you know, as part of the Premium Service Package.

I wonder how long it would take to unwrap a bike completely encased in duct tape? Hmmm.......

lol, Normally, we get out the sharpie and put some "unique" tats on the bike (on the tape of course).

Thing we have drawn before;
penis
mustaches
girly eyes

Sometimes we write words too;
Slow
Go Faster
Kick me
Brake here
Pass on this side >> or <<

[adouglas]

[csmith12]

Oh! Ant, when you leave the bike... make sure you leave the key. lol, we will take care of it real good...

[adouglas]

Ant, talking to himself while looking up into the trees on Sunday morning...

"How the HELL did they get that thing all the way up THERE?"

Don't worry, buddy... we're not allowed out on track before noon Sunday anyway. You'll have plenty of time to get her back down on the ground.....

Y'know, Chris, Thompson is also right next to a golf course run by the same people. A yellow Duc would look pretty cool parked in the middle of the 18th green, don't you think?

[csmith12]

lol, I will bring the come along and heavy duty straps.

[adouglas]

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Ducati999]

Well it looks like you guys will get your chance to mess with my 748 IT RUNS!
I worked on it a little today (wife was mad at me) and cleaned the injectors, adjusted the throttle bodies and cleaned the crank sensor connection and checked the air gap. Hit the starter and it runs great! I wont bore you with the details of the rest of the work I will need to do but I am well on my way. I will have the track plastics on the bike so any "decorations" anyone may add will only make it look better! I am so happy

[adouglas]

New paint is in order.

[csmith12]

Lol!!! Hold up, I have helped with this paint job before... lemme get the pic.

[Ducati999]

My wife has already staked a claim on the 748 and if you guts paint it pink I will never get to ride it again (she really prefers purple). She has sat on the bike and asked if I could lower it a little so she can flat foot it! I have nice new all yellow plastics but she wants me to run the beat up "track" plastics in yellow and black (see pics on my build thread). She does not care about the scratches and chips).

[adouglas]

Staked claim?

You're not going to race her for it?

[adouglas]

Look what the nice man in the big brown truck brought me!

giggity

[adouglas]

ehhh... made a dumb mistake with the lower. Put it down wrong and got a stress crack on one of he end bits where it mates to the upper. Repair was easy, lesson learned.

I did a trial fit and hooray... the lower fits over the stock cat converter. I was expecting to have to cut it. It's in direct contact, but that's okay. If I get heat blisters it's not the end of the world.

Lesson learned... you have to take a LOT of stuff off to put race plastics on. More work than I thought it'd be. No riding this week; too much of a hassle to put the stock pieces back on.

Plastidipping is underway. For comparison I used Krylon on part of the tail.

Results with Plastidip are mixed. The jury is still out. Finish is no better than rattlecan, but I expected that. I've made some mistakes that will show. No surprise; I have essentially zero experience with painting. It'll look good on the track.

The biggest benefit is being able to remove it... but then, you can always paint over rattlecan. We'll see how it turns out. My graphics are pretty cool. Very understated but there's a little bit of visual "pop" via some hi-viz yellow. Pics forthcoming when done.

[csmith12]

And so it begins... the trailer is being loaded.

[adouglas]

I'm making every mistake possible with my "paint." But it's easy to correct...

Been raining here. Going to be nice starting later today. Then things get going in earnest.

[Bigballsofpaint]

i had a few hiccups with the plastidip as well. Ill honestly never use it again, but its not that bad once you start using it correctly. Vinyl or rattlecan for me next time. Heres the bike so you guys can recognize me when im there. Ill have White dainese leathers.

[adouglas]

nice! I hear you on not wanting to use it again. I really do like the fact that is a no-commitment thing and I'm learning a lot about things like masking and what the graphics look like

PS: Found out last night that you need to use "delicate surface" painter's tape. I had some of the regular stuff on there for a few days and it lifted some of the dip. Reset..... do over.

I'm thinking rattle can next time around.

[Ducati999]

Well the verdict is in. I will be bringing the SV and the 999. I just did not have time to finish the 748. She runs strong but I have not ridden her yet and there is still too much to do (set suspension, new tire and a slight oil leak) so it will remain at home. Next time! I will be renting a Ryder or Uhaul box truck to transport the bikes and my wife will follow with her car. I plan on riding down to the track (unless it rains) Saturday night to meet everyone and then bring the truck and bikes in on Sun morning (taking orders for Dunkin Donuts on the way). Hope to meet/see all of you there. Anyone can PM me if they would like my number since I live close I can assist you in getting anything you may have forgotten!

Ant

[Bigballsofpaint]

Originally Posted by adouglas

nice! I hear you on not wanting to use it again. I really do like the fact that is a no-commitment thing and I'm learning a lot about things like masking and what the graphics look like

PS: Found out last night that you need to use "delicate surface" painter's tape. I had some of the regular stuff on there for a few days and it lifted some of the dip. Reset..... do over.

I'm thinking rattle can next time around.

I watched a ton of videos, the trick is to take the tape off BEFORE the dip fully dries, basically spray it, wait 5 min and peel it off. (which then means retape the same spot to do your next coat) So i actually just dipped the whole bike black, and then rattle canned the red and white you see on the bike. Any touch ups i used black rattle can. And my chain cleaner ate away the plastidip on the bottom fairing when cleaning the chain last week. It also needs to be warm when doing it or it sprays very blochy (i did mine during the winter). So i had to put the cans in hot water for about 5 min and them go spray the fairings, it worked. By warm i mean like 70 degrees, so my 55-60 degree basement wasnt cutting it haha.

[adouglas]

Yeah, I knew the wet-lift thing about edges. This was general masking to protect finished parts of the fairing while I worked on other pieces. I'm using four colors... generally trying to mimic the stock three-color graphics, but with some neon stripes.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Ducati999

Well the verdict is in. I will be bringing the SV and the 999. I just did not have time to finish the 748. She runs strong but I have not ridden her yet and there is still too much to do (set suspension, new tire and a slight oil leak) so it will remain at home. Next time! I will be renting a Ryder or Uhaul box truck to transport the bikes and my wife will follow with her car. I plan on riding down to the track (unless it rains) Saturday night to meet everyone and then bring the truck and bikes in on Sun morning (taking orders for Dunkin Donuts on the way). Hope to meet/see all of you there. Anyone can PM me if they would like my number since I live close I can assist you in getting anything you may have forgotten!

Ant

Woot woot! I will take a large coffee please!

[Ducati999]

Will require more detail than that, hot or cold, flavor, sugar?, cream? details!

[csmith12]

Hot please, straight black, house blend. It's the easiest coffee order evar!

Thanks!

[adouglas]

A man after my own heart. Straight leaded hi-test all the way.

I bring a French press with me when car camping. NOTHING like fresh-brewed coffee at dawn.

[Ducati999]

I am planning on hanging out Sat night and driving in on Sun and Mon morn so I can grab anything on the way in. There are 2 D&Ds and a McDonalds on the route there. There is also a Wal Mart just ten mins from my house and a few gas stations. I have been to the Thompson track and I do not remember there being much close by.

[adouglas]

You're right. It's way out in the sticks. Do not plan on easy access to stores.

Note that they will have gas at the track. When I was there in June they announced the availability of fuel -- at $10 a gallon. I don't know if this was race fuel or what, but holy moley. Bring a can.

I saw a *few* outlets on the outside of some buildings, but they'll all be snatched up in a heartbeat. Plan for no on-site power.

[csmith12]

Lol, typical...

Bringing my own gas and power, like normal.

[Ducati999]

Like I said above. I will be heading home each night and can get most anything (within reason) for the next day!

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Ducati999

Like I said above. I will be heading home each night and can get most anything (within reason) for the next day!

Thanks, we will make it work. Appreciate the offer.

[Bigballsofpaint]

Full tank of gas and a spare 5 gallon container should be fine right?

[csmith12]

That is fine for most bikes yep, that is all I am bringing.

[adouglas]

Fairig recognition photo

Not entirely awful, but I swear if I ever open a paint shop I'm going to call it "Government Work."

The camera doesn't catch the neon yellow very well.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Jealous. I've got a couple friends riding but I'm not signed up until the razee TTD in sept.

[Ducati999]

Attention all Thompson track riders!!! The national weather service has given us a great forcast for Sunday and Monday. They say it will be in the mid to low 70s and low humidity. Yeah! I really did not want to sweat my a** off in my black leathers

[csmith12]

Plan to sweat anyway. You still easily sweat when the temps are in the high 40's.

[Bigballsofpaint]

C a n t W a i t.....

Ive been getting excited/nervous for the last few days. Really looking forward to Monday

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Plan to sweat anyway. You still easily sweat when the temps are in the high 40's.

You got to relax and be cool!

[Ducati999]

On the subject of sweat and temp control, WHAT SHOULD I WEAR UNDER MY LEATHERS (they are all black). I have heard people wear under armor like thermal underwear they just don't hold the heat in as much. My leathers have perforations and lots of spandex like material which lets in air. I have ridden on 80 degree days on the street with shorts under my leathers and been fairly comfortable (not working nearly as hard as I will be on the track).,

Advise me.

[Bigballsofpaint]

I bought the psycleskins from sbtg. Im sure they will be fine, i just wanted something moisture wickening. I have white perf leathers so im not worried about being cooked at least.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Ducati999

On the subject of sweat and temp control, WHAT SHOULD I WEAR UNDER MY LEATHERS

Something FABULOUS, thweety.