The last time I encountered a false neutral, I did not know how to recover from it, and the outcome wasn't fantastic. It gave me a broken elbow.
I hope with this video, you know what to do in the unfortunate event that you encounter a neutral, false or real alike.
The solution is so simple. Just clutch in and upshift. Or if you encounter it mid-corner, clutch in and coast to the exit. Clutching in is very important, because it will prevent the motorcycle from suddenly engaging into gear, and if it engages into a lower gear, expect massive torque from the rear pushing towards the front. Mid-corner, that would translate into a highside.
The chief mechanic of HKL Racing, Benedict, asked me to help review their new traction control system, the GRIPone 2. HKL Racing recently became the distributor of GRIPone products, and are trying to bring their products into the local market.
The brand is still quite unknown among riders, shadowed by other mainstream traction control systems such as the one from Bazzaz. But the GRIPone brand stands out from the pack, because it is developed and used by the MotoGP Go & Fun team. The system is also based on speed sensors, rather than the Bazzaz which just monitors acceleration at the crank.
GRIPone 2
The GRIPone 2 is the entry version of the traction control systems that GRIPone offers. Honestly, it is enough for most riders, except the most hardcore racers.
It comes neatly packed in a plastic box with all the components that you need to install onto your motorcycle.
Installation
The components included in the box are:
1. The ECU, in layman terms, the traction control computer (Shown below)
2. Wiring Harness
3. Front and rear speed sensors
4. Sensor brackets
5. Installation and user manual
Although the installation is straightforward, I suggest that you get a qualified workshop (e.g. HKL Racing) to help you with the installation if you are not comfortable meddling with your bike's electronics.
Benedict helped to route the speed sensors safely onto my R6. Don't want any 'Marc Marquez' on the race track clipping my rear speed sensor, sending me into a massive highside.
Now, the front speed sensor installed on the left front brake disc.
And finally, the ECU mounted on the front of the bike, near the left front fork.
Settings
The GRIPone 2 has 2 basic settings: Spinning, and Cut. The settings are programmable via 2 buttons on the ECU.
Spinning refers to the slip sensitivity, which detects tire slippage by comparing the wheel speeds of your front and rear tires. Select from a setting range of 1 to 8, where 1 is the most sensitive to any tire slippage. At maximum sensitivity, a tiny amount of tire slippage will trigger the power cut.
Cut refers to the amount of power cut when tire slippage is detected. Select from a setting range of 0 to 8, where 0 has no engine power cut. and 8 cuts the most power.
The 2 settings work hand-in-hand, in fractions of a second, to effectively reduce or completely stop any tire slippage.
Performance
What better way to show you the GRIPone 2's performance than to show you a video of me testing it. In the video, the Spinning was set at 2, and Cut at 8.
Even though the traction control system cut in very often (due to the high Spinning setting), the power delivery was very well-controlled, and there is no jerky feeling when the power cut kicks in. In most of the corners, I was at neutral throttle from entry to apex, and near full wide opened after that.
(The red indicator LED shown in the video is sold separately.)
Finally as a bonus, because the GRIPone 2 reduces/removes tire slippages, it also helps to save your tires! Look at the beautiful wear pattern on my rear tire.
Price
I don't have a confirmed price from Benedict, but it is somewhere in the area of SGD$1000, including installation. Considering the fact that many people spend much more for a slip-on exhaust, the price is worth it for added safety on the road, or the race track.
You can message me on the RB Facebook Page, and I'll direct you to Benedict for quotations. Or you can just look for him in person at his workshop.
Conclusion
Before you spend money to buy the loudest exhaust, or the coolest looking helmet, consider getting your motorcycle a traction control system (if it doesn't already have one). It can save your ass in low traction situations, or just prevent you from doing something potentially stupid.
But remember that traction control systems are not foolproof, and you can still highside. But I would rather have the confidence that I have a safety net if I do something stupid. The traction control system just needs to save you once, and it would pay for itself.
I'm definitely keeping it for that eventual day, what about you?
I once encountered a rider who had to replace his motorcycle radiator because a rock busted through it. Such mishaps are actually not uncommon. Would you rather replace a radiator which can cost SGD$400 or would you rather spend less than a quarter of that to get some protection for your radiator? The answer is obvious.
For those of you in Singapore, you are in luck because we have a local talent who specializes in custom radiator guards for motorcycles. And that talent is Kel, founder of Godsendworx. They have been in business for 7 years! I approached them to custom-make a radiator guard for the R6, and their service was so excellent I promised to write a review for them.
So, let me cut to the chase.
Customization & Ordering
Ordering a custom radiator guard from Godsendworx is very simple. Just visit the Godsendworx Facebook Page, and follow the instructions. I got a reply within 24 hours, where I was given a few designs to choose from. You can request for your own design, but I opted for a simple black with white Yamaha logo.
Radiator Guard
Within a week, my radiator guard was ready, and I was offered a few installation time-slots. I arrived at the meeting point early, and Kel was already there serving 2 other riders. Business must be good. It was also thoughtful of Kel to provide me with a bottle of water while I waited for my turn.
When my turn came, Kel installed the radiator guard onto my R6 with much professional zest. Within 15 minutes, it was done.
The gaps of the radiator guard are big enough for wind to flow to your radiator, and should not cause any overheating problems. The R6 heats up to over 100 degrees Celsius in stop-go traffic in tropical Singapore, and I have had no problems.
Quality
The radiator guard is a little flexible, and therefore can be bent to fit the shape of my radiator. The paintwork on it is amazing, Kel told me that they use 6 layers of laquer on it! Cleaning the radiator guard is as easy as cleaning your motorcycle. Just wash it like you would wash any of your motorcycle bodywork.
Price
The quotation varies from different bike makes to the complexity of the design. They might give you a discount if you tell them that you found them after reading this review. No promises though! All I can say is I paid well under SGD$100 for mine.
Conclusion
This is a very small investment for a peace of mind. Functionally, it does its job well. Cosmetically, well it just looks amazing. Stop procrastinating and get your radiator protected today!
Even though Singapore technically does not have a winter season, it does get colder and much wetter during the last quarter of the year. Not particularly good weather for riding in general. Which is why I took the opportunity to do something which I had been procrastinating for way too long.
As the title of this article suggests, I bought track fairings for the R6. If you do enough research on the topic, two names would pop up a lot, namely Sharkskinz and Armour Bodies. When it comes to race body kits, Sharkskinz is without a doubt the leader in the market. But they are also one of the most expensive manufacturers out there. Armour Bodies' race body kits rank a close second to Sharkskinz, but they are substantially less taxing on your wallet. It is ultimately your money and your choice, I chose Armour Bodies.
Here's why.
Service
Service, service, service. Armour Bodies is all about service. I probably spent close to 4 weeks shooting emails back and forth with an Armour Bodies sales representative. Not because they were lousy, but because I asked a lot of questions. And partly because I was waiting for the 2013 Triumph Daytona 675R body kit to be ready, so I could order for a friend who changed his mind last minute, sigh. If I did not have to wait, and could order right away, I would have probably received the body kit within a week, which brings me to my next point.
Delivery Time
Armour Bodies used DHL to deliver the body kit, which provided very accurate real-time tracking. From being shipped out from their factory in China (I'll explain more on this later), to me receiving the parcel took no more than 4 days. The parcel was huge, I could probably fit myself in it. Inside, the body kit was properly insulated with foam, though I would wish it had more foam but it did its job.
Product
On to the important stuff, the product itself. I mentioned earlier that the body kit was shipped out from China, that is because it is currently being manufactured there, well that was not always the case. Armour Bodies started by making them in the United States, but due to rising costs, they moved their entire manufacturing to China. It took a while for them to resolve quality issues to be at least on par with the quality they had in the United States. The important thing is, they managed to resolved the issues.
Using my acute sense of touch, the fairings feel tougher than the OEM R6 fairings, but at the same time also have pretty good flexibility in case of a crash. I have seen people crash Armour Bodies fairings, and they seem to hold up pretty well.
If you're considering buying from Armour Bodies, do note that the lower fairing does not come with heat shields, and I strongly recommend that you get it in case your exhaust headers burn a hole through it.
Overall, I am happy with the quality of the body kit.
Fitting
Fitting was fantastic. The drill markings on the upper and lower fairings were spot on, just drill onto the markings and you would be guaranteed a perfect fit. The only minor issue I had was with the superbike tail, there were no drill markings. Not a big problem if you are patient and don't mind spending the extra 10 minutes marking out the drill spots. To put it simply, I had zero problems with fitting. The lower fairing could even accommodate my catalytic converter, which was a huge plus because I had intended to keep my exhaust legal. There are no legal full exhaust systems for the R6 in Singapore, bummer.
Paintwork
There is no paintwork so to speak, but the fairings do come pre-primed and ready to accept fresh coats of paint. I decided on a black and white paintwork, which my missus calls a killer whale. Oh well, time to find some decals to spice up the paintwork.
Legality
If you live in Singapore like me, you must remember that track fairings can be considered as an illegal modification. And unless you cut the fairings to fit your OEM headlight, brake light and signal lights, your bike would be 100% illegal on the streets. Or you could be like me, and do what I did and hope for the best.
An aftermarket projector headlight, mirrors with integrated signal lights, small brake light and rear signal lights. The lights and mirrors were secured in such a way where they can be easily removed by just loosening a few nuts and unplugging some sockets. The mechanics at HKL Racing helped me to do that, I'm a total idiot when it comes to motorcycle wiring.
Oh, and when you get cheap Chinese mirrors, remember to add some glue as reinforcement or it could end up like my right mirror. The damn thing flew away!
Price
Including shipping costs, a seat foam for the superbike tail, and a set of Dzuz fasteners, it cost me SGD$1171. That is after splitting the shipping costs between myself and Edwin, who bought similar things as me except it was for his GSX-R750.
Conclusion
I would definitely recommend the Armour Bodies Pro Series Bodywork if you are looking for a set of quality track fairings. A lot of value for the money you are paying. If you have extra dough and want something slightly better, try Sharkskinz.
