Update 27/12/1999 :  I thought I'd better post these updates before the 1st of January just in case my machine doesn't handle Y2K properly.  I hope everyone had a fab Christmas and got lots of pressies.   The best one I got was Star Trek - Starfleet Command.  I've spent hours playing it already. 

Latest updates include various revisions to the content.  Mainly a general tidy up.  The first update for 2000 should be pretty big though, if the Internet still works ! That update should include a host of new pictures a 2000 'horrorscope' prediction for your star sign etc.. Part of the update includes a article on the 2 fat ladies.

Well, it was a very wet Christmas period. Darwin is in the midst of a tropical depression.  Huge storms with wind, thunder and lightening and huge amounts of water.  Admittedly there where a few hours of sun.  So I didn't do much riding. 

However I did manage to take a spin out to Litchfield park again.  Again the Hayabusa surprised me by tackling the corners really well.   I didn't feel like pushing it as most of the road was either damp or wet however what I can say is that the Hayabusa makes up time by entering the corner quicker and exiting the corner much quicker then smaller capacity bikes.  Average speed for a variety of corners was 120km.   

I've also noticed that the Hayabusa's engine is really smooth up to about 4500rpm.  After that the engine starts punching real power and it start to send out a few vibes.  The vibes are not as bad as smaller engines but it is noticeable.

I also managed to get another flat (the rear tyre - again) .... arrrrgh !

Update 19/12/1999 :  Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all visitors I've had throughout the year.   Ride safely and stay in one piece so you can visit again ! 

Well, another busy week getting the Hayabusa Club Site up and running.  Also the 10,000km service for my Hayabusa.  Looks like it'll be covering 20000kms for the year (next June).   No updates next Sunday   but I'll be posting a major one including a new site look after Christmas so you know what Adventures my Hayabusa has been up to.  The Net will probably be congested with heaps of traffic anyway.

Now I'm not sure what to do when it hits 20,000km.   I am well aware about the re-sale bogey at 20,000kms, at least in my bike experience.  There's nothing else at the moment that I can replace it with, it looks like I have to get another Hayabusa !

The fuel problem has finally been fixed !  As I mentioned earlier, it was primarily contaminated fuel not helped by having a kinked fuel hose which made it run rich.  There are 2 fuel filters on the Hayabusa.  One which was addressed by the recall and another hidden away.  The second one or is it the first one was filled with quite a bit of crap.  This is not my first encounter with contaminated fuel.  With thanks to the Suzuki Territory service staff for solving this problem.  I can once again travel more than 200kms without worrying about running out of petrol !  I am once again very content with my bike.

Further  Wynand Cillie  from South Africa has pointed out a problem with the side stand not extending at a correct angle which could lead the the bike falling over !  I'll post the pictures shortly along with heaps more over the next few feeks.

NEWS : Announcing the formation of the Australian Hayabusa Club.  So for now, if you live in Australia and have a Hayabusa, please contact Volvi or myself to keep you up to date with its progress.

week I've basically transversed Australia's east coast and back again.  Huge work load now and just before Christmas too.  Hope you liked the new screen saver Click here to download I compared the 2 when I finished and the new one is honestly much better, not commercial quality yet... but no more smudged graphics and continuous annoying music.  I again apologise for the various errors to the text in the previous update.  e.g 2000km for 17 litres ?  hmmm...  I was busy packing for my trip.  I will hopefully have a comparison of sorts with the K1200 shortly and the anime site completed.  Probably over the Christmas break.  But for now, a few fixes, lots of new links including one to Alstare - Official Suzuki racing team web site and fixes to some which didn't work...

Just attended the Salvo's Christmas Toy run.  It had been raining for most of the afternoon so I presume the turn out would have been much better.  I think about 200 bikes turned up and even more riders and pillions !   There was police escort and everything ! Pictures shortly.  

Exhaust hunting...  Les  from Aust has a problem with his Hayabusa after adding Remus exhausts, can anyone help Click here to send Les a message ?   As for me I'm still looking.  At the moment I'd rather buy some luggage than new pipes as I want to head off for a longer run soon.

From my little blast down the track last week, I can atest that one can never be tried of too much power.  As my mate who rode the CBR6 said, he ran out of gears trying to catch me.

The fuel problem ? it was caused by a kinked fuel hose apparently ! The ride home on Thursday was almost free of 'surges' when throttling hard, but most of all no more petrol smells.  I'm still not 100% happy with it but its definitely better than before.  Its going back again anyway because its still using a lot of petrol (still about 17 litres for 200km)  Hope its not anything major...more news next week.

Update 5/12/1999 :  Well, all behind the scenes stuff this week.  The screen savers are coming along very nicely.  Just finished the Hayabusa version.  Click here to download.  Just another 12 to go...  Even more  links  And thanks to those who sent get better mails !  My back is getting much better.  Only abit of a twinge in the mornings. 

The center stand, well I've got it up ! a few times now.  I lubed the chain for the first time on the center stand and it was pure joy !  The trick to using the stand seems to be placing all your weight at the end (literally) of the pedal, transfer your body weight as if walking and lifting the bike at about 45 degrees.  Left hand on the bar and right hand in on the grab rail.  There's a handle inside the black recess on the rear fairing but I haven't used it yet,  seems easier using the grab rail if you have the rear seat installed.  The effort required was not that great.

Regarding the recall stuff, my Hayabusa now definitely has a jerk when throttling on hard.  Progressive throttling seems fine though.   Apparently this was the problem with various Hayabusi prior to the fix.  Although now I have the problem post recall.  Annoyed ? yes just a tad.   However it's also using more petrol but the trip computer doesn't seem to be detecting it ?  So, I suspect that I may have put in a bad batch of fuel or a few bubbles.  That's happened to me before.   It's booked in for next week sometime.  So it gives me time to give it a good run to see if it clears up.   The recall was to replace the metallic gauze filter with a finer one.. apparently.   Furthermore I'm off to Canberra for a conference next week so I can't take it in any earlier but I'll be back by Wednesday.  Other than that the tensioner has definitely made the bike feel and sound much tighter !

Following a quick trip I can confirm that my bike is definitely using significantly more petrol.  The computer said 6.8 litres per 100 and the fuel gauge lighted up after 200 kms.  Refuelled, the bike used about 17 litres for 200 kms.  This was 100km less than what I usually get.  There's a distinct smell of fuel too.  arrrrrgh...  More next week.

Whilst doing all that I also tried 45psi at the rear and 42 in the front tyres.  There was noticeable less shimmering with those pressures too. However at high speed ie 160-200kms it was feeling a tad lively.   Regardless new original J spec tyres for me shortly.  I planning a trip south soon so hopefully I be able to get more interesting gadgets for my Hayabusa, like new exhausts !