Let the improvements begin!

Step one, get some weight off the bike.  Like all my motorcycles, carrying a passenger is not a requirement, so pillion pegs, along with other items, can be removed.

HRC rear brake hose setup.  I had this lying around the shop for a number of years.  The original plan was to put in on the racebike, but the switch to a thumb brake on that bike meant this wasn't required.  Glad I held on to it.

Lightweight battery.  A Ballistic model that I had as a spare.  Charged it up, and it turns the big beast over quite easily.  Note the foam required to keep it in place.  Smaller and a fraction of the weight of the OEM spec lead acid anchor.

The shock -- found on Toronto kijiji.  Seller was obviously a knowledgeable guy, and it was taken from a bike that was ridden, not sat around.  It has been rebuilt once by LE suspension (back in 2005!), and has since had 20,000 km put on the bike.  It was also set up for a 165lb rider, so it will need a respring and a revalve, but long-time sponsors Race-Tech will do it for me.  After drooling over it for awhile, it will be back in the box and off to California for the service.



Nice!  You can tell KTM own this company, or maybe that's why they bought WP, 'cause of the orange adjusters...

High and low speed compression damping (and labeled for a muppet like me!)