Rockster, Reborn!

[arbik]

Greetings all,

I just got back from a 3 day tour of Central California, riding twisties, eating good food, and enjoying good company. Every time I ride my Rockster, I love it that much more.

here is a picture of the dirty girl!
27K miles and counting...



Cheers!!

-arbi

[Nakigara]

Nice photo. BTW, what kind of headers are those?

Dan

[arbik]

The headers are a part of the Laser "Race" system for the R1150R.
Basically, it comes complete with the headers, Y-pipe, Ti Muffler, and a matched chip.
Lets just say, This thing cooks. My buddy who rides an R1100S rode it before the trip (I crashed my R1100S, which is how I ended up with the Rockster), and he said it feels faster than his R1100S!!!

Down side is, You loose your center stand.


-arbi

[DJ Downunder]

Very nice..That's a great looking bike..and a great pic.

DJ

[riceburner]

I'm sure a centre stand could be fineagled on around those pipes.


Nice looking bike - you'll be wanting a GS paralever arm though.

[arbik]

riceburner,

Actually, I own a GS lever arm. the Ohlins rear shock for the Rockster hikes up the tail quite a bit. With the GS lever arm, the tail goes up almost another inch, and the side stand no longer works well, and I am on my tippy toes. Actually, with the Ohlins and the GS lever arm, my rockster is taller than my buddy's GS. Thats why I keep it off there, as the Rock is turning into my sport touring bike.

As for finagling a center stand, I looked at it, and it wont work.
I'm looking into going back to a standard aftermarket exhaust system.
Basically, getting a Y-pipe, putting the stock headers back on, and figuring out something for a muffler.

-arbi

[toner87]

Painting the wheels black would really complete the transformation! Great looking bike.
T.

[riceburner]

riceburner,

Actually, I own a GS lever arm. the Ohlins rear shock for the Rockster hikes up the tail quite a bit. With the GS lever arm, the tail goes up almost another inch, and the side stand no longer works well, and I am on my tippy toes. Actually, with the Ohlins and the GS lever arm, my rockster is taller than my buddy's GS. Thats why I keep it off there, as the Rock is turning into my sport touring bike.

As for finagling a center stand, I looked at it, and it wont work.
I'm looking into going back to a standard aftermarket exhaust system.
Basically, getting a Y-pipe, putting the stock headers back on, and figuring out something for a muffler.

-arbi

The Ohlins rear shock is longer than OE?? Is it specified for a different bike?

[duke]

This bike looks evil ... and probably eats small children for breakfast!

There are too many stock Rocksters out there ... this is unique.

Instead of reverting to stock headers - why don't you check to see if the AC Schnitzer belly pan fits this thing with the headers?

[arbik]

Rice,

The Rockster shock I got was speced longer, to hike up the rear a bit, and it sure did that! Turn in is MUCH quicker, even with the stock lever arm.
With the GS arm, its almost too quick for me.

Duke,

You definitely got the message I was looking to put out with it.
The tank, oil coolers covers, eyebrow, valve covers and rear luggage rack + passenger footpegs are all painted with truck bedliner paint, so its all rough.
The belly pan would probably work, but I really want my centerstand back.
in all honesty, this bike used to be my only bike, and if I can have one bike only, I want a hooligan bike, which this beast is. Like you said, hide the women and childrenz. But now, I have a moto guzzi Stone that I have hooliganized, so the Rock is becoming my long distance/sport touring/girl friend duty motorcycle. I'm putting in more miles and it needs more service, so a centerstand would make things easier for me.

As for why the wheels are still green; I"m too cheap. It'll cost me 2-3 hundred bones to make them black, and I'd rather spend that money on gas, oil, food, women and booze.


-arbi

[fnfalman]

Rice,

The Rockster shock I got was speced longer, to hike up the rear a bit, and it sure did that! Turn in is MUCH quicker, even with the stock lever arm.
With the GS arm, its almost too quick for me.

-arbi

You can adjust the height of the front shock so that the steering can be slower too. Or you can add a steering damper. I'm thinking of adding the GS Paralever to my Rock so that I can take advantage of the Ohlins shocks. Might have to get a steering damper too. Some European outfit makes steering dampers for BMW (HyperPro, I think).

[sweatmark]

Great looking Rockster! When my wife sees this she'll get ideas about her blacked-out Roadster project.

Please let me know if you decide to remove the Laser system... might find a good home on my Edition80.

Mark
Oregon

[R4R&R]

Black valve covers, black engine, black oil coolers - that bike looks HOT! Nice mods. "Faster than an R1100S, and taller then a GS!"

Pretty cool.

[EvMachina]

I've been thinking of repainting part of my Rockster as well, I'm curious what paint did you use on the oil guards and windscreen? Did you do anything to prep those plastic parts before painting?

Thanks

[arbik]

Scuff them up real good using "scotch bright" type of material.
Then I used Dupi-color Truck Bedliner paint...

-arbi

[m@rco]

Very nice picture, perfect angle. What is the "2" for on the side?

[arbik]

the 2 sticker is a "California Hwy 2" sign sticker. The CA Hwy 2 is the Angeles Crest Hwy. Perhaps, one of the best motorcycling roads in the world. I grew up 3 miles from its base. I now live 4 miles from its base, and work 2 miles from its base (its on the way to work for me).
So the local guys got together and made the sticker for the local riders who frequent the hwy and stop at the watering hole 29 miles up (Newcomb's Ranch).

-arbi

[Keis]

The headers are a part of the Laser "Race" system for the R1150R.
Basically, it comes complete with the headers, Y-pipe, Ti Muffler, and a matched chip.
Lets just say, This thing cooks. My buddy who rides an R1100S rode it before the trip (I crashed my R1100S, which is how I ended up with the Rockster), and he said it feels faster than his R1100S!!!

Down side is, You loose your center stand.


-arbi

Hi Arbik,

So laser provides a complete system, how much profit did you gain? Any idea if I can find it in Europe (Belgium)

I ow an Ed80, no center stand there

could you please explain the suspension thing?

[Pussy]

Arbik

I've got the laser can and y pipe fitted but standard headers. I saw on the Laser website power graph for the full system (like yours) that the headers added loads of bottom end power say 20% from 1000 - 4000 revs.

How does it feel to you?

Also does it melt the rhs indicator?

Puss

[arbik]

Per my understanding, the system is no longer in production.
however, it does add GOBS of power/torque, and the bike feels amazing with it.
The down side is, you need to change your rear left turn signal, to something smaller and metal, because it does hit the stock turn signal, and it will melt it over 2 years of use.

Since that post, i've turned my Rockster into my touring rig, and I really wanted the center stand back, so I have taken off the Laser system, and its sitting in my garage.

If anyone wants it, Ill entertain fair offers.

-arbi