ZX-9R Tyres and Brakes

Just had a set of Pilot Road 2's put on the 9 as I like them so much on the Viffer. When getting the tyres, I also found out that the rear was the wrong size at a 180/55 instead of a 190/50.

Well, the tyres have made a massive difference to the bike. On the initial scrub in run I noticed that the rear doesn't chatter so much now over very bumper roads, the turn in is predictable and quick enough for me and it holds the line I want through the corner. The downsides were the front felt a lot harder and I was pulling power wheelies for fun.

Went out again yesterday after backing the preload off the front, the front is much better now and doesn't want to lift as easy. I did the same section of road about 10 times in either direction getting a bit quicker each time (funnily enough I kept passing the same 2 guys doing the same in the opposite direction), the rear end didn't move once when previously on this same road not going as quick it did. All in all very happy with the tyres in the dry, not really tested them in the wet but can't be any worse than the previous Hi Sports.

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Back Roads to Whitby

I went out on a run to Whitby yesterday with NUKB, the ride was planned and led by Camsdad. Helen didn't come out as her wrist is giving her problems at the moment.

I left home at about 9:30am on the ZX-9R and made my way over to the meeting point at Squires Cafe on the B1222 near to Newthorpe. We left Squires at about 11:00am and headed on the B1222 towards Sherburn in Elmet, we turned left there and head North on the A162. We turned right just after Towton onto the B1223 and followed that to Cawood. We turned left in Cawood and back onto the B1222, we only followed this for a short while before taking to minor roads. We took these minor roads to Escrick and then onto Wheldrake. From there we continued to Elvington then Kexby before turning North and heading to Kirby Moorside via Barton le Willows and a lovely roman road with a gatehouse and obelisk near to Slingsby. At Kirkby Moorside we headed out onto the North York Moors and travelled via Hutton-le-Hole and then onto Danby High Moor. We turned right at Castleton and went over Glaisdale Moor and through Grosmont before joining the A169 and heading down into Whitby. We parked up in Whitby at the Whistle Stop Cafe and headed out for some fish and chips.

We left Whitby and headed out on the A171 heading towards Scarborough. Just before Cloughton we turned right onto minor roads towards East Ayton. In East Ayton we joined the B1261 and headed to Staxton where we turned onto the B1249 towards Driffield. We then turned right just before Langtoft onto the B1253, we took this past the Seaways Cafe at Fridaythorpe where we joined the A166. We soon turned off this onto minor roads and went through Huggate on our way to North Dalton. Here we joined the B1246 and headed towards Pocklington. We then cut across the A1079 onto minor roads again and past through Allerthorpe. Back on minor roads again we travelled via Thornton and Elvington where we picked up our outbound route again at Wheldrake. We then followed the same route in reverse back to Squires Cafe. After a brief stop for a brew at Squires I headed home on the M62.

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Sedbergh and Back

Helen and I went out yesterday with NUKB on a rideout to Sedbergh and back. We left home at around 10:30pm and headed up the M66 and soon arrived at Clitheroe Services to fill up with fuel. I had posted up the ride to Sedbergh on NUKB and due to it being a nice day we had a good turnout.

We left Clitheroe at around 11:15am and took our usual route to Settle via Wigglesworth and Rathmell. In Settle we joined up with some of the guys from Yorkshire. We left Settle shortly after meeting up and turned onto the B6479 and headed for Ribblehead Viaduct. We turned right at the viaduct onto the B6255 and took that all the way to Hawes. A couple of guys stopped on the way to mark a load of snow and ice that was on a very fast section by Widdle Foot. We all stopped at Hawes and went to the Penny Garth Cafe for some coffee and lunch. Except Helen who went in search of a healthier option, in the form of a baked potato.

After lunch we took the A684 to Sedbergh, which is normally a nice road. But after we passed the Moorcock Inn the road turned into an awful potholed mess, which lasted for about 75% of the whole stretch of road. We soon arrived in Sedbergh though and then took the A683 to Devils Bridge. Devils Bridge was very busy for this time of year, but we managed to find a space to park and got some coffee.

We left Devils Bridge and headed on the A65 towards Ingleton. After Ingleton we turned right onto minor roads at Newby Moor. We then went over Clapham Common and past Stocks Reservoir. We then joined the B6478 to Clitheroe via Slaidburn and Waddington. We then proceeded home via the A56/M66.

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