[BlackIce619]

Congratulations!!  I agree.  When I took a test ride everything about the bike felt great. 

The first curve it felt it did not wanted to turn but that was just me not used to it, plus I was going faster than I thought... 5 minutes later it all felt normal...

Now, after a few hundred miles, it is just getting better and better.

I very happy with my purchase.

Wishing you many happy and safe miles on your new ride!

Yes! I had to get used to the feeling. I dont know if its just the more narrow tires or me never trusting "stock tires". Either way, I have not checked reviews on the stock Pirelli tires, but my guess is that they should be able to handle my hooligan moments.

I am interested to see how these Pirelli's hold up. I ultimately want a tire that can do well for mileage, but also but just sticky enough to push limits. I know the bike is not a track bike, but when you see a turn or freeway onramp sometimes you just have to play....

[Jack Straw]

Many of us noticed a significant improvement in overall handling behavior after replacing the Brazillian Pirellis. Three popular choices have been the Bridgestone BT 46, Michelin Pilot Activ, and the latest Michelin Road Classic.

[BlackIce619]

Many of us noticed a significant improvement in overall handling behavior after replacing the Brazillian Pirellis. Three popular choices have been the Bridgestone BT 46, Michelin Pilot Activ, and the latest Michelin Road Classic.

Sweet! Thanks for the info. Glad to keep the notes on this post so that I can make use of the tires I have not and begin to adventure with those options listed.

[SandSquid]

Sweet! Thanks for the info. Glad to keep the notes on this post so that I can make use of the tires I have not and begin to adventure with those options listed.

I kept the stock Pirelli tires on for quite some time, but never really felt confident enough with them to get more aggressive. My chief complaint with them was that they tend to track every parallel line it can find on the road, which feels odd and shaky at times when it shouldn't feel odd and shaky; like they have a mind of their own. Finally, I replaced them with the BT46 Battleax tires, and the difference has been night and day. The Bridgestones let the bike handle the way it's supposed to.

I can't speak for the other two that Jack mentioned, but he mentioned them for a reason.

[Voun]

A warm Welcome BlackIce619 !

About the color's names, I'm still wondering why they have called my chromed Interceptor  "Glitter and Dust" ? Why not for Glitter, but Dust ?? Maybe an Indian joke   ...

[Jack Straw]

Voun, I've wondered about that.  I had the impression Glitter and Dust would be polished chrome with chrome over bead-blast or something.

Sorry to hijack the thread BlackIce but we do that alot here.

[Karl Fenn]

I think the front fairing would be a good upgrade for stabilility, l road tested my intercepter yesterday despite its ability to climb to a ton it did become very light on front end and a bit stressful on the arms, you could not keep that up for to long, but with the right fairing and bars the front end would stay down a lot better with the front end being forced to the ground, l think a bike designed and reworked in that direction would make a noticible difference being much more manageable at high end, that is of course if you are in to that kind of thing, but based on my tests l think it would be good for at least 105.

[NVDucati]

I think the front fairing would be a good upgrade for stabilility, l road tested my intercepter yesterday despite its ability to climb to a ton it did become very light on front end and a bit stressful on the arms, you could not keep that up for to long, but with the right fairing and bars the front end would stay down a lot better with the front end being forced to the ground, l think a bike designed and reworked in that direction would make a noticible difference being much more manageable at high end, that is of course if you are in to that kind of thing, but based on my tests l think it would be good for at least 105.

Karl, I think you will find agreement among the owners who have done it that single biggest improvement to handling is to replace the stock tires. I have not seen one comment that did not remark in terms of "transformative", "grounded" confidence building", etc. Personally I took my OEM tires off at about 1500 miles. I could not see struggling with it for another 4000 miles just to get my money's worth efficient in any way. That is the same logic I would apply to paying a cover charge to a musical the turned out to be bad. I just leave.

[Karl Fenn]

Well l think if l were 30 years younger l probably would have bought a continental but personally l think these days l'm just to old, but in saying that l would have done a few transformations on the bike, tires, suspension, bars, cockpit race fairing, l would have given it a similar treatment programme to what l used to give the RDs, but as for now l am just an old plodder so tires are not part of the criterion for me, but in saying that the capabilities of the bike are perhaps untapped in standard format for sure, l tested it just to see if the alleged performance is true, to this l have no absolute doubt it is, l would say in the case of the continental more so. I agree you are right about top tires has been that way for decades and decades, but for my speeds l find the standards OK of course l will have to replace them at some point, but at least l know it will do what it says on the tin.

[BlackIce619]

Going to try and share this as it happened. (Having issues loading images appropriately, sorry NOOB moment here. My format of excitement was killed because now you have to see all images as attachments below.)

Kids went to sleep and I was ready to get on the computer last night to place an order on a couple of the items I wanted. Since the motorcycle was purchased used and I truly knew nothing about it or what it had, at the time when purchased, I went to my little motorcycle man cave. My thinking was that if someone went ahead and purchased and exhaust, chances they may have other goodies are possible. Before I "impulse" purchase again, let me see if I can find other items.

I walk into the garage and try to look through the cover where a filter would be.... This is what I see


Are those shiny things I see a high-flow intake plate? Lets take things apart and look closer....








BAM!!!

YES! It is what I thought I saw....

I decided to pull out the filter just to check the brand.

Sweet!!!

After futher inspection I then realize.... WTF IS THIS!!!


I jump on the computer in my little motorcycle man cave and my guess based on its shape is that it's a booster plug? If my motorcycle came from the dealer with exhaust, filter, and booster plug.... then the prior owner was a good man. I am super excited because I saved the money, but part of the fun is feeling the power gains or motorcycle improved response as you make the changes. Ok now its time to spend the money elsewhere.

Feeling happy that I had the couple upgrades I wanted, I decided to purchase a helmet that matches the motorcycle a little better. I had seen this lid at the store when I purchased the motorcycle and know my size. In person it has more of a PEARL color to it to match the Ice Queen. Order placed and should arrive soon!!!

Shoei GT-Air II Redux Helmet
https://ibb.co/KmqwkDX

[NVDucati]

After futher inspection I then realize.... WTF IS THIS!!!

That last image is a part of the BoosterPlug. It is the air temperature sensor.
A fair number of folks locate the temp sensor there because it is convenient. But it is not the best location because it is in the engine heat path. It is recommended that it gets placed as near to the front and in ambient air. After all that is the goal.
Attached is where I mounted mine. So the next time you have the tank off ... or if you want the full value reroute the cable and send it just under the rear tank perch up toward the front.

[BlackIce619]

That last image is a part of the BoosterPlug. It is the air temperature sensor.
A fair number of folks locate the temp sensor there because it is convenient. But it is not the best location because it is in the engine heat path. It is recommended that it gets placed as near to the front and in ambient air. After all that is the goal.
Attached is where I mounted mine. So the next time you have the tank off ... or if you want the full value reroute the cable and send it just under the rear tank perch up toward the front.

Truly appreciate that information, I will do that today!!!

Time to start looking at other mods to purchase. I am a fan of LED's (Headlight, Tailight, Turn Signals) so time to do some research on this forum and pull the trigger.

[Jack Straw]

Looks like you got some bonus parts there. Splendid.   It sort of figures that if the previous owner spent the dough for S&S mufflers he would also get the trick air filter and a booster plug.   Very cool.

[BlackIce619]

Looks like you got some bonus parts there. Splendid.   It sort of figures that if the previous owner spent the dough for S&S mufflers he would also get the trick air filter and a booster plug.   Very cool.

Yes, a win for sure. I had it on my to-do list and now I can look at other things. Still bummed I did not get to experience the difference of how it feels without these mods. (Maybe I can go to a dealership and ride a stock one...hahaha)

[Jack Straw]

Some will disagree but the differences are subtle IMHO which makes it all the better that you didn't spend your own dollars on those goodies.  Those mods are nice to have but just kinda like nuts on a banana split.