It's getting closer to a cool...
It's getting closer to a cool retro cafe racer, but it's still not quite there.
Dave Sonsky: Triumph Speed Triple ValterMoto Rearsets
Miles Ridden: 2750
Modifications this month: ValterMoto rearsets
Over the years I've had my hands on more pipes than Cheech and Chong, rolled with more wheels than the Michelin Man and kinked more chains than your local Goth night, but the one installation that always seems to throw me for a loop is a rearset job.
Regardless of all the included hardware and instructions, over the years I've encountered more hiccups with the aftermarket rearsets than I've got from slamming Jager bombs at 2 a.m. But why all the hassle? The part should be an easy mod as there are only a handful of replacement bolts to deal with.
The stock 'sets aren't too...
The stock 'sets aren't too bad, but the Italians have serious style.
My luck has been to either bolt them on easily, only to have a shifter that gets hung up in one way or another, or to find that the linkage doesn't quite fit. Worse still is that there aren't any adjustments and my heels end up holding more of my ass than the seat.
None of these are desirable features, particularly when the cash involved is usually upward of the $300 mark. With these past experiences in mind I wasn't in a great hurry to install a set that arrived for the Speed Triple. Despite their matching blue color and slick shape they sat on the shelf for several months.
Ultimately I couldn't leave the stock ones on simply for aesthetic reasons, so the ValterMoto rearsets finally got to shake the dust they'd collected and prove themselves once and for all. Sure, I was impressed with their excellent finish, but would they install easily? Would they shift and brake smoothly or hang up and cause me more of the grief I'd experienced with other brands?
Italy loves the Speed Triple, and with these Italian-made rearsets it's obvious. They bolted right on easily and instantly improved the bike's appearance. Though they have race-inspired lines they could easily smarten up an all-out custom as well.
Though I'd prefer a hook for the brake light and return springs, it's not the end of the world. The shift rod fit fine and has adjustments to alter the lever angle, while the brake side lowered the pedal to actually make the riding position more ergonomically correct.
Shifts are crisper and chunkier with the sturdy new 'sets, and the short folding pegs will allow for maximum lean the next time it's on-track. This feature is a nice improvement because the stock pegs were dragging on a recent run through the canyons.
So am I converted? Indeed. These little Italian jobbies have saved the day in my book for aftermarket rearsets. Cool looks with improved performance are a winner where I'm from.
Contact Info:
ValterMoto rearsets
http://www.valtermoto.com
John Zamora: Kawasaki Zx-14
Modifications this month: Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires, Staintune exhaust, H2O Cycles chrome parts
Miles Ridden: 3445
Back on the road and back to the bling for this month. Before the weather turned sour, I was able to put the bus through its paces in a city, track and highway test. In addition to some performance products, my final bits of bling arrived to help finish off the original retro look I had been going for.
By far the greatest performance improvement I've made to date are the Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires. I accidentally (cough, cough) rode off with them after the recent press introduction to see how they would perform in a real-world longterm environment. Even though Pirelli is Italian, the Rossos have proved to be the Swiss Army knife of tires-capable of tackling the streets, track and highways with ease, and they inspire confidence in virtually any condition.
Our pipe test this month allowed me to see, hear and run 11 different systems on the ZX-14. After all the exhaust smoke cleared, the Staintune slip-ons were left on the bike. A couple of tiny screws removed the baffles and left me with two of the sweetest sounding trumpets I have heard on any bike. The highly polished finish complemented my all-chrome theme perfectly and I gained some power in the process.