New FMX Owner

[pash]

Hi All
Just thought I would introduce myself.
Bought an FMX off fleabay a few weeks back.
A mint 07plate (06 model) with 1700 miles in white and black.
It has had an Acerbis front end (mudguard and lights) put on as well as Remus cans.
Finally got it on the road this week after waiting to get a new rear tyre and baffles for the exhaust, which were a bit too fruity without.

I have a fazer 1000 which wasn't working out too well now I have decided to commute by bike. It was just too heavy and powerful for filtering. Although I could have coped I decide a second bike was in order and wanted an sv650, but spent three months not being able to find what I was after for the price. By chance I saw a local advert for a FMX, a bike I had never heard of. At first I dismissed the fmx as i had had a CCM 404 SM with (dual wheels) before and hated it. But the more I read the more I realised it was what i was looking for. All the critisms I saw about it i.e. not being a focused SM, were all the points I hated about the CCM.
On a whim i went for one on ebay and lost but got rung up by the guy when the deal went sour as he was being duped.

At first I wasn't sure what i had in the garage, but riding it now, it makes perfect sense.
There are some oddities about it. The rear shock is an odd length neither road, nor off road orientated and the sag settings are completely against the norm. The front is a little under rebound damped but as i have nearly reached the edge of the tyres already the setup can't be that bad.

The bike is better with the baffles in and pulls a bit cleaner.
After reading all the thread on this forum. I will be getting a dynojet kit fitted and have ordered a smog removal kit from 6sigma engineering on ebay. (I've since found cheaper though) arrggh.

I'm not sure if the acrebis front lights will pass an mot but we will cross that when we get to it.
I put on a the H rated diablo on the rear and left the mtr on the front. i cant believe how far the tread goes around the tyre profile. Way more than the mtr. In the current weather it is beahving really well and I have no confidence problems which I had on the CCM.
The tyre guy suggested that the Avon wet qualifier was a good tyre for the front on the fmx so I'm going to try it in 1500 when the rear wears out.
I must admit i am rding it like a nutter which doesn't do much to support my IAM training. .

I really pleased with it and well worth the money.

Couple of questions if i may....
1. I changed the oil and filters when i got it.
When topping back up I let the engine run then rechecked the level leaving it about 5mm bellow the full mark. When I checked it after riding home the other night it was about 15mm above the max line. and after cooling down was still 10mm above the max line. I syringed some out (40ml) to take it 5mm below the max line agin. Yet last night I did the same check and it is back reading well above the max again. What is going on. What am I doing wrong? Should I take some out again? There isn't any oil in the air filter box to suggest that the pressure is too high and I'm not screwing it when checking the level.

2. has anyone changed the rear shock or had it resprung and if so where.
3. has anyone had the fork internals redone if so where.
4. Does anyone have a low seat they don't want. I'm ok but if one is going I'll have it. I'm not going to pay the 120 quid being asked for a lowering kit as I don't think it is needed.

Sorry for the long post.
Cheers
Pash

[sbikerbud]

welcome to the club.

The problem with the oil level is familiar.

When i first had mine i wuld check the level and find it very low, so i would top it up a bit, next ride low again, top it up a bit. So on and so forth

When i took it for a service the mechanic said i had over filled by approx half a litre (it still showed only half way on the dipstick). I give up.

If there is some oil showing on the stick i leave it alone now

[pash]

Ah That's the opposite problem. Had that one on the CCM. it was the return / release value thingy. Wondering if mine is stuck shut and yours is open.
Just taken out another 160ml so it is on the U of word upper and going to see what happens

Perhaps it is just all part of getting to know what she wants and using the "ride more, worry less" philosophy.

[switch]

About the oil... these bikes (NXs, FMXs, SLRs) are quite picky aobut oil checking. Try this method: take a ride (5 miles should do it) then stop and let the bike idle a minute. Now hold the bike straight and stop the engine. Wait half a minute or so then check the oil. Repeat the procedure a few times and average the result.

That's the safest way to properly check the oil in a '96 Dommie or a '97 SLR. Can't be much different on the FMX (which has the same lubrication system).



For the oil change, I usually fill 2L on regular oil change (2000miles) and about 2.2L when changing the filter (every other oil change). Your mileage might vary but close to those values is ok. When filling, I put 1L and then some more. Run the engine for 10-15 seconds, then fill some more then run again and so on - until I put the 2L / 2.2L.